Gordie Richardson
Encyclopedia
Gordon Clark Richardson is a retired American
professional baseball
player, a left-handed
pitcher
who played in the Major Leagues
from 1964–1966 for the St. Louis Cardinals
and New York Mets
. He stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) as an active player.
As a rookie
in , Richardson made a substantial contribution to the eventual National League
and 1964 World Series
champion Cardinals. After a stellar 9–3 record and 1.55 earned run average
for the Triple-A Jacksonville Suns
, he was recalled by the Cardinals and made his MLB debut as a starting pitcher
against the first-place Philadelphia Phillies
on July 26 at Connie Mack Stadium
. Richardson responded with a complete game
, 6–1 victory in which he gave up only five hits
and three bases on balls. It was Richardson's only complete game in the Majors. He also recorded his first Major League save against the Phils on September 30 at St. Louis, preserving an 8–5 win for Redbird lefthander Curt Simmons
. Richardson's efforts were crucial, as they enabled the Cardinals to overtake the Phillies to finish in first place in the NL by a single game.
Richardson appeared in 19 games for the 1964 Cardinals, 13 in relief
, fashioning a 4–2 record and a 2.30 earned run average in 47 innings pitched
. However, he was not effective in the 1964 World Series, giving up three earned run
s in two-thirds of an inning over two appearances.
Traded to the Mets during the offseason, Richardson appeared in parts of the and seasons for New York, largely as a relief pitcher. All told, Richardson gave up 105 hits and 37 bases on balls, with 86 strikeout
s, in 118 MLB innings. He retired from baseball after the 1966 season, his tenth as a professional.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
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 left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
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...
who played in the Major Leagues
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 1964–1966 for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) as an active player.
As a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in , Richardson made a substantial contribution to the eventual National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
and 1964 World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
champion Cardinals. After a stellar 9–3 record and 1.55 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for the Triple-A Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
, he was recalled by the Cardinals and made his MLB debut as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
against the first-place Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on July 26 at Connie Mack Stadium
Connie Mack Stadium
Shibe Park, known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a major league baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When it opened April 12, 1909, it became baseball's first steel-and-concrete stadium. In different eras it was home to "The $100,000 Infield", "The Whiz Kids" and "The 1964 Phold"...
. Richardson responded with a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
, 6–1 victory in which he gave up only five hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and three bases on balls. It was Richardson's only complete game in the Majors. He also recorded his first Major League save against the Phils on September 30 at St. Louis, preserving an 8–5 win for Redbird lefthander Curt Simmons
Curt Simmons
Curtis Thomas "Curt" Simmons is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1947–50 and 1952-67. With right-hander Robin Roberts, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Simmons was one of the twin anchors of the starting rotation of the "Whiz Kids", the Philadelphia Phillies' ...
. Richardson's efforts were crucial, as they enabled the Cardinals to overtake the Phillies to finish in first place in the NL by a single game.
Richardson appeared in 19 games for the 1964 Cardinals, 13 in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, fashioning a 4–2 record and a 2.30 earned run average in 47 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...
. However, he was not effective in the 1964 World Series, giving up three earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s in two-thirds of an inning over two appearances.
Traded to the Mets during the offseason, Richardson appeared in parts of the and seasons for New York, largely as a relief pitcher. All told, Richardson gave up 105 hits and 37 bases on balls, with 86 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, in 118 MLB innings. He retired from baseball after the 1966 season, his tenth as a professional.