Dick Simpson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dick Simpson | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 21, 1962 for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| Final game | |
| August 27, 1969 for the Seattle Pilots | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .207 |
| Home runs | 15 |
| RBI | 56 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Richard Charles Simpson (Born: July 28, 1943 in Washington, DC) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played seven seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and California Angels, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Seattle Pilots. A righthander, he was 6'4" tall, but he weighed only 176 pounds.
Originally signed by the Angels as a free agent in 1961, he made his debut with them on September 21, 1962 at the age of 19 against the Cleveland Indians. He pinch hit for pitcher Fred Newman in that game, collecting a single off of Mudcat Grant and driving in Leo Burke in his one and only at-bat.
The rest of his career did not fare him very well. Used mostly off the bench in his career, Simpson would end up hitting .207 in 288 career games. In 518 at-bats, he hit 15 home runs, drove in 56 runs and scored 94 times. He walked 64 times but struck out 174. He committed eight errors in his career for a .967 fielding percentage. He played his final game on August 27, 1969. Statistically, he compared most to Neil Chrisley.
[edit] Major transactions
- On December 2, 1965, he was traded by the Angels to the Baltimore Orioles for Norm Siebern.
- On December 9, 1965, he was traded by the Orioles along with Jack Baldschun and Milt Pappas to the Reds for Frank Robinson.
- On January 11, 1968, the Reds traded him to the Cardinals for Alex Johnson.
- The Cardinals traded him with Hal Gilson to the Astros for Ron Davis on June 15, 1968.
- On December 4, 1968, he was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for Dooley Womack.
- Was traded for Jose Vidal of the Seattle Pilots by the Yankees on May 19, 1969.
- He was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers, along with Steve Whitaker, to the San Francisco Giants for Bobby Bolin on December 12, 1969.
[edit] Other information
- Was the second youngest player in 1962, trailing only Ed Kirkpatrick.
- Was considered one of the fastest players of his day, but still only stole 10 career bases.
- Did not play Major League baseball in 1963.
- Hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch from Mickey Lolich in a June 9, 1969 game. This would end up being the only run Lolich gave up in the game, a game in which he struck out 16 batters. That was the final home run of his career.
- His uniform numbers: 10 (1962, 1964-1965), 20 (1966-1967), 12 (1968), 37 (1968), 9 (1969), 16 (1969).
- He earned $7,000 in 1965 and $16,000 in 1969.
- Collected his final career hit off of Fred Talbot on August 12, 1969.
- At last check, he lived in Venice, California.
