Rick Reichardt – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Rick Reichardt wrapped up his baseball career in 1974 after just one at-bat. That’s a pretty poetic way to close a journey that started with so much hype but got derailed by health problems.

The outfielder, who once landed the biggest bonus contract in baseball history, stepped away at age 31. He left behind eight seasons in Major League Baseball—maybe not what everyone expected, but still a solid run.

Reichardt retired in 1974 after a single at-bat, where he actually got a hit. That gave him a perfect 1.000 batting average for his last season. It’s a quirky ending, but it fit a career shaped by a kidney removal in 1966, which really kept him from reaching the heights folks predicted when the California Angels signed him for a reported $200,000 in 1964.

From his time as baseball’s priciest “bonus baby” to that final swing, Reichardt’s story is full of highlights, memorable moments, and a lot of grit. He moved through several teams and eventually had to figure out life after baseball—something a lot of pro athletes face when the games stop.

Rick Reichardt’s MLB Career Overview

Rick Reichardt played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1974. He put up a .261 batting average with 116 home runs and 445 RBIs across four teams.

He started with a record-breaking signing bonus and even hit the first home run at Anaheim Stadium.

Debut and Signing with the Angels

Reichardt broke into the majors on September 1, 1964, with the Los Angeles Angels. He was just 21.

His path wasn’t typical—there was an all-out bidding war among 18 MLB teams.

The Angels locked him up with a $200,000 signing bonus. That made him the highest-paid bonus baby in the game at the time.

That kind of money would be about $2.05 million today. It’s wild to think about.

The scramble for Reichardt’s signature shook up baseball. That bidding war pushed MLB to start its first amateur draft in 1965, changing how teams grabbed young talent.

At Wisconsin, Reichardt absolutely earned the hype. He led the Big Ten in batting twice and was a fullback on the 1962 Rose Bowl team.

Key Milestones Until 1974

Reichardt made history in 1966 by hitting the first home run at Anaheim Stadium. That season looked promising—he batted .288 with 16 home runs in 89 games.

Later that year, though, doctors found a kidney problem. He had to get one removed, which changed everything for his playing career and future in baseball.

Even after surgery, Reichardt still had some strong seasons:

• 1967: .265 average, 17 home runs
• 1968: .255 average, 21 home runs (his best)
• 1971: .278 average, 19 home runs

He hit only 13 home runs in 1969. After that, injuries and age kept him from ever reaching double-digit homers again.

Teams Played For

Reichardt’s MLB journey took him through four teams:

The Angels traded Reichardt and Aurelio Rodríguez to the Senators early in 1970 for Ken McMullen. He didn’t stay long in Washington before heading to the White Sox in 1971.

Reichardt’s last MLB game happened on April 9, 1974, with the Royals. He retired after just one at-bat that season—a career that had its moments but never quite hit the heights everyone once imagined.

Performance Highlights and Career Statistics

Rick Reichardt finished with a .261 batting average over 11 seasons, 116 home runs, and 445 RBIs in 997 games. His 13.9 WAR showed solid production during a time when offense was tough for everyone.

Notable Offensive Achievements

A .261 career average might not jump off the page, but for his era, it was actually above average. In 1968, when the American League as a whole hit just .230, Reichardt managed .255.

His OPS+ of 115 meant he was 15% better than the league average hitter, even after adjusting for ballparks and era. That’s a pretty good measure of his real value.

The Angels put him at #62 on their list of 100 Greatest Angels. Not bad, especially considering the offensive drought of the late ’60s.

He ended his career memorably in 1974. One at-bat, one hit, and a perfect 1.000 average to walk away on.

Home Run and Power Numbers

Reichardt hit 116 home runs in his career. His best power year came in 1968, when he knocked out a career-high 21 home runs.

He kept up the power after that, hitting 17 home runs in 1969. That consistency helped keep him in the lineup.

That 1968 season really stands out. To hit 21 home runs in one of baseball’s toughest years for hitters says a lot about his raw strength and talent.

Not many players reached 20 homers in those days. Reichardt did.

Runs Batted In and Scoring

Reichardt drove in 445 runs and scored 391 runs over his 11 seasons. That’s a pretty good sign he could deliver in clutch situations and help his team score.

He averaged around 40 RBIs per season when you factor in his playing time. That made him a reliable middle-of-the-order bat.

The 391 runs scored show he could get on base and help create offense. His run production worked well alongside his power numbers.

He wasn’t just padding stats. Reichardt’s knack for driving in runs actually helped his teams in those low-scoring games that were so common back then.

Strikeouts and WAR Analysis

Reichardt posted 13.9 WAR for his career, meaning he added nearly 14 wins more than a replacement-level player would have. That takes into account his hitting and defense.

He had 3,686 plate appearances, so we’ve got a solid sample size to judge his performance. The WAR shows he was consistently above average.

With 1.1 Wins Above Average, he outperformed the typical big leaguer at his position.

Health problems, especially the kidney surgery, definitely affected his resilience. Reichardt himself admitted, “I never had the resiliency after that,” when asked about the surgery. “Who’s to say how I would have done, I was on my way when that happened.”

Achievements, Awards, and Honors

Rick Reichardt’s career achievements got limited by health issues, but he still picked up recognition in college baseball and made solid contributions during his 11 MLB seasons.

His biggest honor came much later. In 2015, the College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him.

MVP and AL-MVP Voting

Rick Reichardt never really got in the MVP conversation during his career. His best year was 1968, when he hit 21 home runs for the Angels.

But that was during a period when offense was way down across baseball. The league hit just .230, while he managed .255.

His career OPS+ of 115 shows he was an above-average hitter for the era. Still, the kidney surgery kept him from reaching the kind of elite level needed for MVP buzz.

League-Leading Stats

Reichardt didn’t lead the American League in any major stats during his pro career. His best power year—21 home runs in 1968—was solid but not enough to top the charts.

In college, though, he was a force. In 1963, he led the Big Ten in both receptions (26) and home runs (5) and kept his average high.

By 1964, he hit .443 and finished second in the nation. That kind of performance made him one of the most coveted prospects out there.

Significant Career Seasons

Reichardt’s 1968 season was his best in the majors. He hit 21 home runs and batted .255, which was impressive given the pitching dominance that year.

His 1966 season was historic—first player to homer at Anaheim Stadium. But then the kidney disease struck, and surgery changed his career for good.

His last season in 1974 was quick but memorable. One at-bat, one hit, a perfect average, and that was it.

His college days got a final nod in 2015 with his Hall of Fame induction, cementing his legacy at Wisconsin.

Special Skills and Playing Style

Reichardt’s playing style showed off his power potential, but he had some weaknesses that shaped his career path. He had certain habits at the plate, especially under pressure or when shifting around defensively.

Hit By Pitch and On-Base Contributions

Reichardt had decent discipline at the plate. He drew his share of walks, which helped his on-base percentage.

He found ways to get on base besides just hitting—he got hit by pitches here and there, though not more than the average player.

Coming out of Wisconsin, Reichardt understood how important it was to reach base. His on-base skills helped make up for some of his batting average issues during those tough late-’60s seasons.

His patience at the plate worked for him at times. Even when the power wasn’t there, he could work counts and contribute.

Grounded Into Double Plays

Reichardt’s power approach sometimes backfired in big moments. He hit his share of ground balls, which could kill rallies.

He grounded into double plays at a rate that matched the power hitters of his era. It was just part of the game back then.

His swing and stance sometimes sent balls to the left side, especially later in his career.

Angels coaches tried to help him adjust with runners on base, but situational hitting always seemed to be a hurdle for him.

Transition, Trades, and Retirement in 1974

Reichardt’s final years in baseball saw him bounce between teams before finishing with the Kansas City Royals.

He retired after just one at-bat in 1974, closing out a ten-year major league career.

Trades and Team Changes

Reichardt’s career took some unexpected turns in his final years. The Los Angeles Angels traded him in 1970, even though he’d already proven himself as a solid power hitter for them.

Bouncing between teams is just part of life in professional baseball. Players have to adapt as organizations chase roster upgrades or try to cut costs.

These trades made it tough for Reichardt to form long-term bonds with teammates or coaches. He had to adjust to new systems and different playing styles over and over.

By 1974, Reichardt landed with the Kansas City Royals. That would end up as his last stop in Major League Baseball, although he probably had no idea at the time.

Final Season and Decision to Retire

Reichardt’s 1974 season lasted just one at-bat with the Royals. He singled in that lone appearance, so his batting average for the year was a perfect 1.000.

His final game came on April 9, 1974. That one at-bat closed out an 11-season career that started back in 1964 with the Angels.

After years of health problems, especially kidney issues, Reichardt decided to retire. The kidney surgery he’d had earlier in his career really affected his ability to bounce back and play at his best.

“I never had the resiliency after that,” Reichardt admitted about his kidney problems. “Who’s to say how I would have done. I was on my way when that happened.”

He wrapped up his career with 116 home runs and an OPS+ of 115, which shows he was an above-average hitter during the second dead-ball era.

Post, Baseball Life and Legacy

After his playing days, Rick Reichardt moved into business. That record-breaking signing bonus he got as a rookie actually helped change baseball’s amateur draft system. His impact on the sport’s finances went way beyond what he did on the field.

Life After MLB

Reichardt started a new chapter in the business world after retiring in 1974. He settled in Gainesville, Florida, and built a career in the insurance industry.

He didn’t stop there. The former outfielder also became a part owner of a restaurant in Gainesville, showing some real entrepreneurial drive after baseball.

By age 51, Reichardt was already well-established as a businessman in Florida. His post-baseball career really showed he could succeed outside of sports.

That move from athlete to business owner was actually pretty common for players back then. Reichardt’s ventures gave him financial stability after his playing days.

Lasting Impact on Baseball

Reichardt signed in 1964 for a whopping $200,000, and honestly, that move shook up the whole baseball world. The Angels outbid 17 other teams to land him, sparking a wild bidding war that really made team owners nervous.

This scramble for talent pushed Major League Baseball to introduce its first amateur draft in 1965. The new draft system tried to rein in those huge signing bonuses and, hopefully, make things fairer across the league.

Rick Monday ended up as the first overall pick in that first-ever draft, signing for $100,000. That was less than half of what Reichardt got the year before, which is kind of wild when you think about it.

The draft system that came out of all this still shapes baseball today. Every amateur player now has to go through this process.

Reichardt held onto the title of baseball’s highest-paid “bonus baby” ever. His signing kind of closed the door on the days when teams could just throw money at young talent without limits.