Rick Matula
Encyclopedia
Richard Carlton Matula is a former professional baseball
player. A right-handed pitcher
, he played in Major League Baseball
from 1979 to 1981 for the Atlanta Braves
.
Matula was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos
in the 16th round of the 1972 amateur draft
. However, he chose not to sign, instead going on to attend Sam Houston State University
. He was drafted again by the Braves in the 14th round of the 1976 amateur draft
, and after signing was assigned to the Kingsport Braves
. There, Matula went 3-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 20 appearances (48 innings pitched
). He also appeared in three games for the Greenwood Braves
, posting a 1-0 record and 7.50 ERA in six innings. Overall that season, Matula went 4-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 54 innings.
In 1977, Matula split time between the Greenwood Braves and Savannah Braves
. With Greenwood, he went 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings of work. With Savannah, he went 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 100 innings (22 games). Combined, he went 10-6 with a 3.05 ERA.
Matula went a combined 10-5 with a 3.12 ERA in 127 innings in 1978. He split time between the Savannah Braves and Richmond Braves
.
On April 8, 1979, Matula made his major league debut at the age of 25. Although he gave up no walks and only two earned runs in seven innings of work, he still lost against the Houston Astros
starter, Joe Niekro
(Niekro pitched a complete game shutout).
He made 28 starts in his rookie season, going 8-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 171.1 innings. Not a strikeout pitcher, he walked 64 batters and struck out only 67. In 1980, Matula made 33 appearances (30 starts), going 11-13 with a 4.58 ERA. In 176.2 innings, he struck out only 62 batters and his 13 losses were the ninth most in the league.
For the majority of the 1981 season, Matula was in the minors, with the Richmond Braves. He appeared in 16 games for them, making 11 starts and going 7-4 with a 2.97 ERA. He didn’t do so well in the majors, making five relief appearances and posting an ERA of 6.43. He played his final major league game on June 11 that year.
On March 29, 1982, he was released by the Braves. He played for the Evansville Triplets
in the Detroit Tigers
organization and Denver Bears in the Texas Rangers
organization, going a combined 3-8 with a 5.62 ERA in 36 appearances, (10 starts).
Overall, Matula made 66 appearances in the majors (58 starts). He went 19-23 with a 4.41 ERA, striking out 129 batters and walking 126 in 355 innings of work. As a batter, he hit .099 in 111 at bat
s, walking three times and striking out 48 times.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, he played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1979 to 1981 for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
Matula was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in the 16th round of the 1972 amateur draft
1972 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Montreal Expos had perhaps their best draft in franchise history. The Expos grabbed outfielder Ellis Valentine in round two of the June regular phase and then...
. However, he chose not to sign, instead going on to attend Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
. He was drafted again by the Braves in the 14th round of the 1976 amateur draft
1976 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
, and after signing was assigned to the Kingsport Braves
Kingsport Braves
The Kingsport Braves, located in Kingsport, Tennessee, were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1974 to 1979. Affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, they played in the Appalachian League...
. There, Matula went 3-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 20 appearances (48 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
). He also appeared in three games for the Greenwood Braves
Greenwood Braves
The Greenwood Braves were a minor league baseball team located in Greenwood, South Carolina that existed from 1968 to 1979. Affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, they were part of the Western Carolinas League. Notable alumni include Rafael Ramirez, Joe Cowley, Steve Bedrosian, Jose Alvarez, Gerald...
, posting a 1-0 record and 7.50 ERA in six innings. Overall that season, Matula went 4-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 54 innings.
In 1977, Matula split time between the Greenwood Braves and Savannah Braves
Savannah Braves
The Savannah Braves, were a baseball team that existed from 1971 to 1983 in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, they played in the Southern League and played their home games at Grayson Stadium...
. With Greenwood, he went 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings of work. With Savannah, he went 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 100 innings (22 games). Combined, he went 10-6 with a 3.05 ERA.
Matula went a combined 10-5 with a 3.12 ERA in 127 innings in 1978. He split time between the Savannah Braves and Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
.
On April 8, 1979, Matula made his major league debut at the age of 25. Although he gave up no walks and only two earned runs in seven innings of work, he still lost against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
starter, Joe Niekro
Joe Niekro
Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of Minor League Baseball pitcher Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and attended West...
(Niekro pitched a complete game shutout).
He made 28 starts in his rookie season, going 8-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 171.1 innings. Not a strikeout pitcher, he walked 64 batters and struck out only 67. In 1980, Matula made 33 appearances (30 starts), going 11-13 with a 4.58 ERA. In 176.2 innings, he struck out only 62 batters and his 13 losses were the ninth most in the league.
For the majority of the 1981 season, Matula was in the minors, with the Richmond Braves. He appeared in 16 games for them, making 11 starts and going 7-4 with a 2.97 ERA. He didn’t do so well in the majors, making five relief appearances and posting an ERA of 6.43. He played his final major league game on June 11 that year.
On March 29, 1982, he was released by the Braves. He played for the Evansville Triplets
Evansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
in the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organization and Denver Bears in the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization, going a combined 3-8 with a 5.62 ERA in 36 appearances, (10 starts).
Overall, Matula made 66 appearances in the majors (58 starts). He went 19-23 with a 4.41 ERA, striking out 129 batters and walking 126 in 355 innings of work. As a batter, he hit .099 in 111 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, walking three times and striking out 48 times.