Rich Harden
Born: 11/30/1981 in Victoria, BC, CAN
MLB Debut: 2003-07-21 | Final Game: 2011-09-25
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: James Richard Harden
Biography
Rich Harden was a talented pitcher whose career spanned from 2003 to 2011, leaving an indelible mark on Major League Baseball. Born in 1981, Harden made his debut with the Oakland Athletics, showcasing a powerful right arm and an impressive array of pitches that included a fastball and a devastating slider. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 59-38, with a solid earned run average (ERA) of 3.76. Known for his strikeout ability, he recorded a total of 949 strikeouts, demonstrating his capacity to dominate opposing hitters.
Harden's playing style was defined by his striking ability and the fierce competitiveness he brought to the mound. He played during a period that was marked by offensive explosions and enhanced performance, yet he consistently stood out for his effectiveness and poise under pressure. Although his career was marred by injuries, which limited his appearances and disrupted his potential for even greater success, he remains a significant figure in the game, remembered for his skill and the promise he exhibited during his prime years. After his retirement on September 25, 2011, Harden left behind a legacy as a formidable pitcher who captivated fans and hitters alike.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 38 | 170 | 160 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 928.3 | 781 | 388 | 105 | 422 | 949 | 3.76 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | OAK | AL | 5 | 4 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74.7 | 72 | 37 | 40 | 67 | 4.46 | 1222.5 |
| 2004 | OAK | AL | 11 | 7 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 189.7 | 171 | 84 | 81 | 167 | 3.99 | 3700.4 |
| 2005 | OAK | AL | 10 | 5 | 22 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 128.0 | 93 | 36 | 43 | 121 | 2.53 | 4584.6 |
| 2006 | OAK | AL | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46.7 | 31 | 22 | 26 | 49 | 4.24 | 414.0 |
| 2007 | OAK | AL | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.7 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 27 | 2.45 | 343.3 |
| 2008 | CHC | NL | 5 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71.0 | 39 | 14 | 30 | 89 | 1.77 | - |
| 2008 | OAK | AL | 5 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77.0 | 57 | 20 | 31 | 92 | 2.34 | 2914.6 |
| 2009 | CHC | NL | 9 | 9 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 141.0 | 122 | 64 | 67 | 171 | 4.09 | - |
| 2010 | TEX | AL | 5 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 92.0 | 91 | 57 | 62 | 75 | 5.58 | -5220.2 |
| 2011 | OAK | AL | 4 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82.7 | 87 | 47 | 31 | 91 | 5.12 | -1581.2 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 171 | 76 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 0.145 | 0.156 | 0.158 | 0.314 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | OAK | AL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2004 | OAK | AL | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2005 | OAK | AL | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | OAK | AL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2007 | OAK | AL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2008 | CHC | NL | 12 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0.087 | 0.0 |
| 2008 | OAK | AL | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 2009 | CHC | NL | 27 | 43 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0.186 | 0.0 |
| 2010 | TEX | AL | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | OAK | AL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NLDS1 | CHN | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 2006 | ALCS | OAK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2003 | ALDS2 | OAK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 11.3 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 6.35 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NLDS1 | CHN | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4.3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6.23 |
| 2006 | ALCS | OAK | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4.76 |
| 2003 | ALDS2 | OAK | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13.50 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 170 | 160 | 66 | 73 | 8 | 11 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | OAK | P | 15 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
| 2004 | OAK | P | 31 | 31 | 15 | 18 | 1 | 2 |
| 2005 | OAK | P | 22 | 19 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 | OAK | P | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | OAK | P | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | CHN | P | 12 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | OAK | P | 13 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | CHN | P | 26 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
| 2010 | TEX | P | 20 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | OAK | P | 15 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 170 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | OAK | AL | $1,500,000 |
| 2010 | TEX | AL | $6,500,000 |
| 2009 | CHN | NL | $7,000,000 |
| 2008 | OAK | AL | $4,750,000 |
| 2007 | OAK | AL | $2,250,000 |
| 2006 | OAK | AL | $1,250,000 |
| 2005 | OAK | AL | $336,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $23,586,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Arizona College | Coolidge | AZ | 2000, 2001 |