Chris Richard (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|image=IMG 5419 Chris Richard.jpg

|image_size=

|caption=Richard with the Durham Bulls in 2010

|name=Chris Richard

|position=Outfielder / First baseman

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1974|6|7}}

|birth_place=San Diego, California, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=July 17

|debutyear=2000

|debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=October 4

|finalyear=2009

|finalteam=Tampa Bay Rays

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.255

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=34

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=122

|teams=

St. Louis Cardinals ({{baseball year|2000}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{baseball year|2000}}–{{baseball year|2002}})
Colorado Rockies ({{baseball year|2003}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{baseball year|2009}})

}}

Christopher Robert Richard (born June 7, 1974) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He is an alumnus of University of San Diego High School in San Diego and of Oklahoma State University. He last played in the majors in {{baseball year|2009}} for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Career

Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19th round of the 1995 MLB Draft, Richard made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cardinals on July 17, {{mlby|2000}}. He hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, becoming the fourth player in the history of the club to do so. After appearing in six games with the Cardinals, Richard was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on July 29, 2000, for pitcher Mike Timlin.

With Baltimore, Richard's {{mlby|2001}} campaign would be the best of his career. In 136 games for the Orioles, he compiled a .265 batting average with 15 home runs and 65 RBI.

After appearing in 50 games for Baltimore in {{mlby|2002}}, Richard was traded to the Colorado Rockies on March 21, {{mlby|2003}}, for outfielder Jack Cust.

Initially a first baseman, Richard was converted to an outfielder with Jeff Conine being the Orioles' mainstay at first base, and later Todd Helton being the Rockies starter at first.

After being out of organized baseball in {{baseball year|2004}}, Richard played for the Oklahoma RedHawks in the Texas Rangers organization in {{baseball year|2005}}. After spending the {{baseball year|2006}} season playing for the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, he played {{baseball year|2007}} and {{baseball year|2008}} with the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Richard returned to Durham to start the {{baseball year|2009}} season. He was called up by the Rays on September 7, 2009, after Carlos Peña suffered two broken fingers on a CC Sabathia pitch, and had one plate appearance in the second game of a day/night doubleheader against the New York Yankees.

Richard was released and became a minor league free agent in 2009.

He played for the Durham Bulls once again in 2010.

Richard retired on March 4, 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://www.indyweek.com/triangleoffense/archives/2011/03/04/the-lion-in-winter-durham-bulls-all-time-home-run-leader-chris-richard-retires |title=The lion in winter: Durham Bulls all-time home run leader Chris Richard retires |access-date=2011-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111611/http://www.indyweek.com/triangleoffense/archives/2011/03/04/the-lion-in-winter-durham-bulls-all-time-home-run-leader-chris-richard-retires |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}

Richard lives in his hometown of San Diego, CA with his wife and daughter, where he co-owns and operates his family business, Personal Pitcher.[http://personalpitcher.com/ PersonalPitcher.com]