Dick Radatz
Born: 4/2/1937 in Detroit, MI, USA
Died: 3/16/2005 in Easton, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1962-04-10 | Final Game: 1969-08-15
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'6" | Weight: 230 lbs
Full name: Richard Raymond Radatz
Biography
Dick Radatz, born in 1937, was a prominent pitcher who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball during the 1960s. His career spanned from 1962 until his retirement on August 15, 1969. Radatz became known for his formidable presence on the mound, finishing his career with a record of 52-43 and an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 3.13. He accumulated a total of 745 strikeouts and recorded 122 saves, establishing himself as one of the era's most effective relief pitchers.
Radatz was selected as an All-Star twice during his career, showcasing his talent and impact on the game. He played in an era characterized by a shift in pitching strategies, where the role of the relief pitcher began to gain prominence. His ability to close games and secure victories for his teams reflected the evolving nature of baseball in the 1960s. As a key figure in the development of the modern relief role, Dick Radatz left a lasting legacy in the sport, remembered for his powerful pitching style and significant achievements on the field.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 43 | 381 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 693.7 | 532 | 241 | 65 | 296 | 745 | 3.13 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | BOS | AL | 9 | 6 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 124.7 | 95 | 31 | 40 | 144 | 2.24 | 5277.3 |
| 1963 | BOS | AL | 15 | 6 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 132.3 | 94 | 29 | 51 | 162 | 1.97 | 4331.7 |
| 1964 | BOS | AL | 16 | 9 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 157.0 | 103 | 40 | 58 | 181 | 2.29 | 3901.3 |
| 1965 | BOS | AL | 9 | 11 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 124.3 | 104 | 54 | 53 | 121 | 3.91 | 1206.3 |
| 1966 | BOS | AL | 0 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 19.0 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 4.74 | -392.7 |
| 1966 | CLE | AL | 0 | 3 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 56.7 | 49 | 29 | 34 | 49 | 4.61 | -917.1 |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 23.3 | 12 | 17 | 24 | 18 | 6.56 | - |
| 1967 | CLE | AL | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6.00 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | DET | AL | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.7 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 3.38 | 65.6 |
| 1969 | WSN | NL | 0 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 34.7 | 32 | 22 | 18 | 32 | 5.71 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 381 | 145 | 6 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 0.131 | 0.160 | 0.172 | 0.332 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | BOS | AL | 62 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0.097 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | BOS | AL | 66 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 0.069 | 0.0 |
| 1964 | BOS | AL | 79 | 37 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0.162 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | BOS | AL | 63 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0.185 | 0.0 |
| 1966 | BOS | AL | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1966 | CLE | AL | 39 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.111 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 20 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | CLE | AL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | DET | AL | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | WSN | NL | 22 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 381 | 0 | 25 | 55 | 7 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | BOS | P | 62 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | BOS | P | 66 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | BOS | P | 79 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | BOS | P | 63 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | BOS | P | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | CLE | P | 39 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | CHN | P | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | CLE | P | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | DET | P | 11 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | MON | P | 22 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 381 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | TSN Fireman of the Year | |
| 1962 | TSN Fireman of the Year |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | East Lansing | MI | 1957, 1958, 1959 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 37.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1963 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 84.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 8.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 3rd | 1.0 | 20 | 1 |