Paul Richards
Born: 11/21/1908 in Waxahachie, TX, USA
Died: 5/4/1986 in Waxahachie, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1932-04-17 | Final Game: 1946-09-22
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Paul Rapier Richards
Biography
Paul Richards was a professional baseball player who played as a position player from 1932 until his retirement in 1946. Born in 1908, Richards made his mark in an era when baseball was recovering from the Great Depression and the sport was beginning to see a resurgence in popularity. Over the course of his career, he participated in 523 games, accumulating 321 hits, 15 home runs, and 155 RBIs, with a batting average of .227. His contributions on the field also included 15 stolen bases, showcasing his versatility and speed as a player.
Richards' career spanned a transformative period in Major League Baseball, which included the rise of power hitters and the increasing integration of players from diverse backgrounds into the game. While he may not have been among the most celebrated stars of his time, his steady presence and commitment to the sport exemplified the dedication of players during the mid-20th century. As a member of the baseball community, Richards helped pave the way for future generations of athletes, leaving a lasting legacy in the annals of the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 523 | 1417 | 140 | 321 | 51 | 5 | 15 | 155 | 15 | 157 | 149 | 0.227 | 0.305 | 0.301 | 0.606 | -2851.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | BRO | NL | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1933 | NY1 | NL | 51 | 87 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0.195 | -542.8 |
| 1934 | NY1 | NL | 42 | 75 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 0.160 | -467.8 |
| 1935 | NY1 | NL | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1935 | PHA | AL | 85 | 257 | 31 | 63 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 24 | 12 | 0.245 | 0.0 |
| 1943 | DET | AL | 100 | 313 | 32 | 69 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 33 | 1 | 38 | 35 | 0.220 | -460.8 |
| 1944 | DET | AL | 95 | 300 | 24 | 71 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 8 | 35 | 30 | 0.237 | -364.7 |
| 1945 | DET | AL | 83 | 234 | 26 | 60 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 4 | 19 | 31 | 0.256 | -112.8 |
| 1946 | DET | AL | 57 | 139 | 13 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 23 | 18 | 0.201 | -323.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0.211 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | WS | DET | 7 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0.211 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 486 | 0 | 2103 | 302 | 31 | 49 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | BRO | C | 3 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1933 | NY1 | C | 36 | 0 | 74 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| 1934 | NY1 | C | 37 | 0 | 86 | 15 | 0 | 3 |
| 1935 | NY1 | C | 4 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1935 | PHA | C | 79 | 0 | 293 | 40 | 8 | 5 |
| 1943 | DET | C | 100 | 0 | 537 | 86 | 9 | 12 |
| 1944 | DET | C | 90 | 0 | 413 | 60 | 10 | 13 |
| 1945 | DET | C | 83 | 0 | 361 | 44 | 2 | 7 |
| 1946 | DET | C | 54 | 0 | 311 | 35 | 1 | 6 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 488 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |
| 1945 | TSN All-Star | C |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 35.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |