Rich Reese
Born: 9/29/1941 in Leipsic, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1964-09-04 | Final Game: 1973-09-29
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Richard Benjamin Reese
Biography
Rich Reese, born in 1941, was a notable position player in Major League Baseball who had a career spanning from 1964 to 1973. Over the course of his 866 games, Reese established himself as a reliable hitter, accumulating 512 hits and achieving a batting average of .253. He contributed significantly to his teams with 52 home runs and 245 RBIs, demonstrating a solid power-hitting ability complemented by a respectable on-base presence. Additionally, his speed on the bases was evidenced by 16 stolen bases, showcasing his versatility as a player in an era where speed was a valued asset.
Reese played primarily during the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time characterized by a transition in baseball that included the rise of the pitching dominance and the early phases of the designated hitter rule. His contributions to the teams he played for, including the Minnesota Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates, were instrumental in shaping their competitive landscapes during his tenure. As a player who navigated through the evolving strategies of the game, Reese's impact extended beyond statistics, as he represented the transition period in baseball that sought to balance power and speed in player development.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 866 | 2020 | 248 | 512 | 73 | 17 | 52 | 245 | 16 | 158 | 270 | 0.253 | 0.312 | 0.384 | 0.695 | 566.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | MIN | AL | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | MIN | AL | 14 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.286 | 0.0 |
| 1966 | MIN | AL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | MIN | AL | 95 | 101 | 13 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 17 | 0.248 | 111.2 |
| 1968 | MIN | AL | 126 | 332 | 40 | 86 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 28 | 3 | 18 | 36 | 0.259 | 83.8 |
| 1969 | MIN | AL | 132 | 419 | 52 | 135 | 24 | 4 | 16 | 69 | 1 | 23 | 57 | 0.322 | 1974.8 |
| 1970 | MIN | AL | 153 | 501 | 63 | 131 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 56 | 5 | 48 | 70 | 0.261 | -66.6 |
| 1971 | MIN | AL | 120 | 329 | 40 | 72 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 39 | 7 | 20 | 35 | 0.219 | -639.0 |
| 1972 | MIN | AL | 132 | 197 | 23 | 43 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 25 | 27 | 0.218 | -127.4 |
| 1973 | DET | AL | 59 | 102 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0.137 | -770.3 |
| 1973 | MIN | AL | 22 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0.174 | -770.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.158 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | ALCS | MIN | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.143 |
| 1969 | ALCS | MIN | 3 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.167 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 640 | 399 | 4007 | 266 | 33 | 353 |
| OF | 74 | 61 | 102 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | MIN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | MIN | 1B | 6 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | MIN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | MIN | 1B | 36 | 4 | 93 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 1967 | MIN | OF | 10 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | MIN | 1B | 87 | 64 | 620 | 38 | 6 | 36 |
| 1968 | MIN | OF | 15 | 13 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | MIN | 1B | 117 | 95 | 924 | 56 | 7 | 97 |
| 1969 | MIN | OF | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | MIN | 1B | 146 | 127 | 1118 | 82 | 10 | 94 |
| 1971 | MIN | 1B | 95 | 76 | 673 | 43 | 4 | 71 |
| 1971 | MIN | OF | 9 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | MIN | 1B | 98 | 26 | 392 | 30 | 5 | 35 |
| 1972 | MIN | OF | 13 | 12 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | DET | 1B | 37 | 3 | 106 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1973 | DET | OF | 21 | 18 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | MIN | 1B | 17 | 4 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 641 |
| Left Field | 73 |
| Right Field | 2 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 29th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |