Rich Bordi – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Rich Bordi put together a solid nine-year run in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher, suiting up for five different teams between 1980 and 1988. Born in San Francisco in 1959, Bordi climbed through the minor leagues after the Oakland Athletics drafted him in 1980. He eventually became a reliable bullpen arm during the mid-1980s.

Bordi retired from professional baseball after the 1988 season at just 29, wrapping up a career that had him pitch for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles. His journey took him from being Charlie Finley’s last signed player to contributing steadily during his best years with the Cubs and Yankees.

You can see the challenges middle-tier players faced during baseball’s changing landscape in the 1980s just by looking at Bordi’s career path. Early on, he bounced between the majors and minors, but in his prime, he became an effective reliever. His story really shows the kind of dedication it took to stick around in pro baseball back then.

Rich Bordi’s Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Rich Bordi was born on April 18, 1959, in San Francisco, California. His journey started in the Bay Area, playing college baseball and eventually making it to the pros.

He stood out in both high school and college, catching the attention of scouts. That’s not something every kid from the neighborhood gets to say.

Family and Childhood in San Francisco

Richard Albert Bordi spent his childhood in San Francisco during the 1960s and 1970s. The Bay Area shaped his love for baseball.

Bordi showed promise early on. His height became obvious as a teen, and he eventually grew to 6’7″.

That height ended up being a big part of his pitching identity. Living in California, he could play baseball year-round.

The warm weather meant he could develop his skills across all seasons. His family encouraged his athletic dreams during these years.

El Camino High School Highlights

Bordi attended El Camino High School and kept developing as a player. His height made him stand out on the mound.

He worked on his pitching mechanics in high school and built a solid foundation for what was ahead. California high school baseball is no joke.

The tough competition there prepared him for the next step. Scouts and college recruiters started to notice his performances.

Collegiate Career at California State University, Fresno

Bordi moved on to California State University, Fresno, playing college ball for the Bulldogs. Fresno State’s baseball program had a good reputation and offered tough competition.

He kept improving as a pitcher through college. Facing better hitters and new challenges helped him grow.

His time at Fresno State really got scouts interested. The school was known for turning out solid players.

Bordi’s college years were key for his development. He got experience against top college talent and sharpened his game.

Drafted by the Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics

The Minnesota Twins showed interest in Bordi during the draft. Still, his pro career started elsewhere.

In 1980, the Oakland Athletics picked him in the third round, 56th overall, straight out of Fresno State.

He actually became the last player legendary A’s owner Charlie Finley ever signed. That’s a unique footnote in A’s history.

Oakland didn’t wait around. Bordi made his Major League debut on July 16, 1980, after just 11 minor league games.

He was only 21 when he first pitched in the majors. That kind of fast track is rare.

MLB Debut and Early Years

Rich Bordi jumped into Major League Baseball soon after the Athletics drafted him in 1980. He had to move between different levels as he learned the ropes as a relief pitcher.

Major League Debut in 1980 with the Oakland Athletics

Bordi debuted in the MLB on July 16, 1980, at just 21. He was the last player Charlie Finley signed before selling the A’s.

Oakland picked him in the third round, 56th overall, that year. He’d been drafted by the Twins in 1977 but didn’t sign.

Debut Performance:

• Date: July 16, 1980
• Opponent: Detroit Tigers
• Stats: 2.0 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run

Bordi’s quick jump to the majors was unusual. He had only 11 minor league games before his MLB debut. Oakland clearly believed in his talent.

He pitched just that one game in 1980. Even with limited action, he allowed only one run in two innings and showed some promise.

Transition Between Minor and Major Leagues

From 1980 to 1983, Bordi bounced between the minors and majors. Those years helped him grow and adjust to pro ball.

The A’s worked with him on his pitching mechanics. He needed to figure out how to face tougher hitters in the majors.

Bordi picked up experience in all sorts of game situations. He learned what it took to pitch as a reliever and deal with pressure.

Key Development Areas:

• Pitch command
• Mental approach vs. batters
• Relief pitching roles

Teams moved young players like this a lot, balancing experience and development. By 1983, Bordi had improved enough to get more steady chances.

First Experiences and Initial Performance

Bordi’s first MLB games taught him a lot. Major league hitters were a big step up from college or the minors.

At 6’7″, he had an edge on the mound. Taller pitchers create tough angles for hitters.

Early Career Challenges:

• Adjusting to the game’s speed
• Pitching under pressure
• Finding consistency with control

He worked to become a reliable reliever. Relief pitching is a different beast—warming up quickly is part of the job.

His first performances showed both potential and areas to work on. Coaches helped him refine his approach and build confidence.

Playing with veteran A’s players gave him a sense of what he needed to succeed in the big leagues.

Prime Years and Team Contributions

Bordi hit his stride with the Chicago Cubs from 1983 to 1984, becoming a dependable relief pitcher. He kept up the success with the Yankees in 1985, notching a solid 3.21 ERA, and then helped the Baltimore Orioles bullpen in 1986.

Chicago Cubs Tenure and Breakout as Reliever

The Cubs got Bordi in December 1982, trading Steve Henderson to the Mariners for him. That move really changed the course of his career.

After bouncing around from 1980 to 1983, Bordi found his place with the Cubs in 1984. He settled in as a reliever, and that’s where he really thrived.

Chicago made the most of Bordi’s 6’7″ frame and right-handed delivery. His height gave hitters fits, making his pitches tough to track.

He finally showed the consistency that marked his best years. The Cubs’ coaches focused on his strengths, keeping him in the bullpen instead of trying to make him a starter.

Notable Seasons with the New York Yankees

The Yankees picked up Bordi in December 1984, along with Henry Cotto, Ron Hassey, and Porfi Altamirano. Chicago got Ray Fontenot and Brian Dayett in the deal.

Bordi’s 1985 season in New York was probably his best. He finished 6-8 with a 3.21 ERA, proving his value as a middle reliever.

Key 1985 Stats:

• Record: 6-8
• ERA: 3.21
• Team: New York Yankees

That year marked the peak of his effectiveness. The Yankees counted on him for multiple innings and all sorts of relief roles.

Being in a veteran clubhouse helped Bordi mature as a pitcher. The pressure in New York tested his nerves and prepared him for big moments.

Impact with the Baltimore Orioles

Bordi landed with the Orioles in December 1985 after a trade involving Rex Hudler for Gary Roenicke. Leo Hernández joined the deal later.

Baltimore used Bordi’s size and experience in their bullpen. In 1986, he kept his ERA under 4.00, building on his strong Yankees performance.

The Orioles leaned on him for middle relief when starters couldn’t go deep or in extra-inning games. He gave them steady innings.

Coaches liked his professional attitude and ability to handle tough spots. His veteran presence steadied the bullpen in 1986.

That season was really his last strong stretch before his numbers started to drop off.

Memorable Moments with Seattle Mariners

Bordi spent 1982 with the Seattle Mariners after Oakland traded him. That year gave him a chance to grow.

Seattle let Bordi work on his game at the major league level. He learned what it took to pitch consistently in the bigs.

He focused on refining his delivery and developing secondary pitches. Those lessons paid off later with the Cubs and Yankees.

The Mariners traded him to the Cubs at the Winter Meetings in December 1982. That deal set him up for his breakout years.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Rich Bordi finished his nine-year MLB career with a 20-20 record and a 4.34 ERA over 173 games. He posted a career WAR of 1.6, pitching 247 strikeouts and 10 saves for five clubs.

Career Wins, WAR, and ERA Overview

Bordi’s best season came in 1985 with the Yankees, where he went 6-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 51 games. He posted a career-high 1.3 WAR that year and tossed 98 innings, showing he could handle a heavy workload.

His top ERA came in 1981 with Oakland, when he didn’t allow a run in two relief outings. In 1984 with the Cubs, he went 5-2 with a 3.46 ERA in 31 games, his highest win total.

His career WAR of 1.6 put him in the steady, replacement-level category. A 4.34 ERA was just a bit above league average in his era, but he added value by filling multiple roles.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Bordi worked mostly as a reliever, pitching out of the bullpen in 156 of his 173 MLB games. He started only 17 times, showing his adaptability as a multi-inning reliever.

He struck out 6.0 batters per nine innings, thanks to his breaking stuff. He kept his walks down to 2.9 per nine, giving him a 2.04 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

His WHIP of 1.357 shows he let some runners on but could escape jams. Being able to pitch multiple innings made him valuable, especially in an era before bullpen specialization really took over.

Significant Career Highlights

Oakland picked Bordi in the third round of the 1980 draft, kicking off his professional career. He became the last player that legendary Athletics owner Charlie Finley signed, which tied him directly to baseball history.

He hit his stride in 1984 with Chicago, helping a Cubs team that took the National League East division. That season, Bordi notched four saves and posted a 1.176 WHIP, the lowest of any full season he pitched.

Bordi bounced around, pitching for five different organizations. In 1986, he threw 107 innings for Baltimore, his highest single-season total, and showed he could handle the workload as a middle reliever during the mid-1980s.

Final Season and Retirement in 1988

Rich Bordi wrapped up his professional baseball career in 1988 with the Oakland Athletics. He made only two starts before retiring at 29.

His final appearance came on July 19, 1988, closing out a nine-year MLB run that started with the same team.

Return to Oakland Athletics

Bordi circled back to the Oakland Athletics for his last season, ending his career where it all began. The Athletics had given him his MLB debut back in 1980.

Charlie Finley, the owner at the time, brought Bordi into pro baseball with his first contract. That connection always meant something extra.

Coming back to Oakland felt like a homecoming. After his time with the Cubs, Yankees, Orioles, and Mariners, Bordi found himself right back at the start.

The Athletics organization played a big part in his career development. Bordi also stood out as the last player Charlie Finley ever signed, which gave him a quirky little spot in baseball history.

Performance in the 1988 Season

Bordi’s 1988 season was short and honestly, pretty rough. He pitched in just two games for the Athletics, both as a starter.

In those outings, he posted a 4.70 ERA over 7.2 innings. He gave up 6 hits and 4 earned runs, walked 5, and struck out 6.

He finished the year with a 0-1 record, unable to pick up a win in either start. The limited action made it clear that Bordi was struggling to keep up with the demands of MLB pitching.

His numbers showed a pitcher who just couldn’t quite compete at that level anymore.

Decision to Retire from Professional Baseball

Bordi played his last MLB game on July 19, 1988, facing the Cleveland Indians. He lasted 2.2 innings, allowed 2 hits and 3 earned runs, walked 4, and struck out 2.

That was the end of the line for him as a player. He chose to retire at 29, which is on the young side for a pitcher.

Maybe injuries or just declining performance pushed him to that decision. After stepping away from the mound, Bordi moved into scouting with the Cincinnati Reds.

He found a way to stay in the game, using his experience to help evaluate new talent. Eventually, he settled down in Rohnert Park, California, and stayed there after his baseball days.

Post-Playing Career and Legacy

After nine years pitching in MLB, Rich Bordi jumped into a scouting career that lasted 25 years. He earned respect as a talent evaluator and helped shape baseball’s future across several organizations.

Role as a Professional Baseball Scout

Once he retired in 1988, Bordi started scouting for MLB teams. He spent 25 years searching for and evaluating future big leaguers.

The Cincinnati Reds became his main team for the last 12 years of his scouting run. Bordi worked as the northern California scouting supervisor, which put him in charge of finding amateur talent all over the region.

His territory covered a part of California that’s always churned out MLB players. In 2023, the Reds honored Bordi before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That ceremony recognized his retirement after a long scouting career.

Influence on Future Generations

Bordi’s influence in baseball stretched way past his playing days thanks to his work as a scout. He shaped MLB rosters for more than two decades.

As a northern California scouting supervisor, he spent years evaluating high school and college players. His recommendations played a part in draft choices and player development.

Having pitched in the majors himself, Bordi brought a unique perspective to scouting. He knew firsthand what young players would face at the next level.

A 25-year run as a scout says a lot about the trust and respect he earned in baseball. Teams relied on his judgment when it came to picking new talent.

Life After Baseball

Bordi really cared about baseball, even after he stopped playing. For decades after his last MLB game, he stayed involved with the sport.

He moved from being a player to working as a scout, which actually happens a lot with former MLB guys. A lot of ex-players use what they’ve learned to spot and help shape new talent.

In 2023, the Cincinnati Reds held a retirement ceremony for him. That moment made it pretty clear how much the baseball community appreciated everything he did.

Bordi kept sharing his knowledge and experience, helping baseball grow even after his days on the field were over.