Richard Hidalgo
Born: 6/28/1975 in Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela
MLB Debut: 1997-09-01 | Final Game: 2005-08-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 220 lbs
Full name: Richard Jose Hidalgo
Biography
Richard Hidalgo was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2005. Born in 1975, Hidalgo played primarily as a position player and accumulated a total of 987 games over his career. He was known for his powerful hitting, finishing his time in the league with 929 hits, 171 home runs, and 560 RBIs. His career batting average stood at .269, and he demonstrated speed on the bases with 48 stolen bases, showcasing a well-rounded skill set that made him a valuable asset to his teams.
Hidalgo's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the emergence of numerous power hitters and increased offensive production. He played for several teams, but is perhaps best remembered for his time with the Houston Astros, where he developed a reputation for his strong offensive performances. His ability to hit for power combined with a respectable batting average placed him among notable contemporaries of his era, making his mark in a league that was rapidly evolving. Richard Hidalgo's contributions to the game remain a testament to his talent and the era in which he played.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 987 | 3459 | 531 | 929 | 214 | 19 | 171 | 560 | 48 | 358 | 737 | 0.269 | 0.345 | 0.490 | 0.835 | 6608.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | HOU | NL | 19 | 62 | 8 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 0.306 | 118.6 |
| 1998 | HOU | NL | 74 | 211 | 31 | 64 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 35 | 3 | 17 | 37 | 0.303 | 351.2 |
| 1999 | HOU | NL | 108 | 383 | 49 | 87 | 25 | 2 | 15 | 56 | 8 | 56 | 73 | 0.227 | -329.7 |
| 2000 | HOU | NL | 153 | 558 | 118 | 175 | 42 | 3 | 44 | 122 | 13 | 56 | 110 | 0.314 | 3751.3 |
| 2001 | HOU | NL | 146 | 512 | 70 | 141 | 29 | 3 | 19 | 80 | 3 | 54 | 107 | 0.275 | 777.2 |
| 2002 | HOU | NL | 114 | 388 | 54 | 91 | 17 | 4 | 15 | 48 | 6 | 43 | 85 | 0.235 | -144.1 |
| 2003 | HOU | NL | 141 | 514 | 91 | 159 | 43 | 4 | 28 | 88 | 9 | 58 | 104 | 0.309 | 2840.8 |
| 2004 | HOU | NL | 58 | 199 | 21 | 51 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 1 | 17 | 53 | 0.256 | -273.1 |
| 2004 | NYN | NL | 86 | 324 | 46 | 74 | 11 | 1 | 21 | 52 | 3 | 27 | 76 | 0.228 | -273.1 |
| 2005 | TEX | AL | 88 | 308 | 43 | 68 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 43 | 1 | 26 | 74 | 0.221 | -380.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0.118 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | NLDS1 | HOU | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.125 |
| 1998 | NLDS2 | HOU | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 |
| 1997 | NLDS2 | HOU | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 967 | 909 | 2062 | 81 | 28 | 21 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | HOU | OF | 19 | 14 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | HOU | OF | 72 | 52 | 131 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1999 | HOU | OF | 108 | 103 | 214 | 15 | 2 | 3 |
| 2000 | HOU | OF | 150 | 149 | 425 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 2001 | HOU | OF | 144 | 137 | 332 | 11 | 3 | 4 |
| 2002 | HOU | OF | 110 | 101 | 210 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 2003 | HOU | OF | 137 | 136 | 277 | 22 | 4 | 5 |
| 2004 | HOU | OF | 56 | 51 | 107 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 | NYN | OF | 86 | 86 | 159 | 10 | 4 | 3 |
| 2005 | TEX | OF | 85 | 80 | 179 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 171 |
| Center Field | 361 |
| Right Field | 561 |
| Designated Hitter | 2 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Player of the Week | Week of 2004-04-10 |
| 2000 | Player of the Month | September |
| 2000 | Player of the Week | Week of 2000-09-09 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | TEX | AL | $5,000,000 |
| 2004 | HOU | NL | $12,500,000 |
| 2003 | HOU | NL | $8,500,000 |
| 2002 | HOU | NL | $5,500,000 |
| 2001 | HOU | NL | $3,500,000 |
| 2000 | HOU | NL | $330,000 |
| 1999 | HOU | NL | $260,000 |
| 1998 | HOU | NL | $170,000 |
| 1997 | HOU | NL | $150,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $35,910,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 9.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2000 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 2.0 | 448 | 0 |