Dick Simpson
Encyclopedia
Richard Charles Simpson (born July 28, 1943 in Washington, D.C.
) is an American
former Major League Baseball
right fielder
and center fielder
. He played from 1962-1969 for the Los Angeles/California Angels
, Cincinnati Reds
, St. Louis Cardinals
, Houston Astros
, New York Yankees
and Seattle Pilots
. However, Simpson did not quite live up to those expectations. During an 8-year baseball career, Simpson hit
.207, 15 home run
s, and 56 runs batted in
. He was listed at 6'4" and 176 lbs.
Originally signed by the Angels as a free agent in 1961, he made his debut with them on September 21, 1962 at the age of 19 against the Cleveland Indians
. He pinch hit for pitcher Fred Newman
in that game, collecting a single off Mudcat Grant
and driving in Leo Burke
in his one and only at bat
. Simpson appeared in five more games for the Angels that season, then returned to the team in 1964. Before the 1964 season began, Angels general manager Fred Haney
touted Simpson as a possible Rookie of the Year candidate.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
. He played from 1962-1969 for the Los Angeles/California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
. However, Simpson did not quite live up to those expectations. During an 8-year baseball career, Simpson hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.207, 15 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and 56 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. He was listed at 6'4" and 176 lbs.
Originally signed by the Angels as a free agent in 1961, he made his debut with them on September 21, 1962 at the age of 19 against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. He pinch hit for pitcher Fred Newman
Fred Newman (baseball)
Frederick William Newman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played his entire 6-year baseball career for the Los Angeles and California Angels...
in that game, collecting a single off Mudcat Grant
Mudcat Grant
James Timothy "Mudcat" Grant is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Los Angeles Dodgers , Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates...
and driving in Leo Burke
Leo Burke (baseball)
Leo Patrick Burke is a retired American utility player in Major League Baseball. The graduate of Virginia Tech played two full seasons and parts of five others in MLB as a rightfielder, second baseman and third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago...
in his one and only at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
. Simpson appeared in five more games for the Angels that season, then returned to the team in 1964. Before the 1964 season began, Angels general manager Fred Haney
Fred Haney
Fred Girard Haney was an American third baseman, manager, coach and executive in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he won two pennants and a world championship with the Milwaukee Braves and, as an executive, he was the first general manager of the expansion Los Angeles Angels of the American...
touted Simpson as a possible Rookie of the Year candidate.
Major transactions
- On December 2, 1965, he was traded by the Angels to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Norm SiebernNorm SiebernNorman Leroy Siebern was a Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox from to . His best season came in with the A's, when he hit 25 home runs, had 117 runs batted in and a .308...
. - One week later on December 9, he was traded by the Orioles along with Jack BaldschunJack BaldschunJack Edward Baldschun was a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres ....
and Milt PappasMilt PappasMilton Steven "Milt" Pappas is a former professional baseball pitcher...
to the Reds for Frank RobinsonFrank RobinsonFrank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
. - On January 11, 1968, the Reds traded him to the Cardinals for Alex JohnsonAlex JohnsonAlexander Johnson Alexander Johnson Alexander Johnson (born December 7, 1942, in Helena, Arkansas is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder and designated hitter over parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, California Angels,...
. - The Cardinals traded him with Hal GilsonHal GilsonHarold "Hal" Gilson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros in 1968....
to the Astros for Ron DavisRon Davis (outfielder)Ronald Everette Davis is a former right-handed Major League Baseball outfielder who played in 1962 and from 1966 to 1969 for the Houston Colt .45s/Houston Astros, St...
on June 15, 1968. - On December 4, 1968, he was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for Dooley WomackDooley WomackHorace Guy "Dooley" Womack is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher who pitched from 1966 to 1970 for the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Seattle Pilots and Oakland Athletics...
. - Was traded for José Vidal of the Seattle Pilots by the Yankees on May 19, 1969.
- After the Pilots relocated and became the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, he was traded, along with Steve WhitakerSteve Whitaker (baseball)Stephen Edward Whitaker is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played from 1966-1970 for the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and the San Francisco Giants. He was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1962...
, to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Bobby BolinBobby BolinBobby Donald Bolin is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was signed by the New York Giants on November 10, 1956 at the age of 17, and played for the San Francisco Giants , Milwaukee Brewers and Boston Red Sox .He began and ended his 13-year career as a relief pitcher,...
on December 12, 1969.
Other information
- Was the second youngest player in 1962, trailing only Ed KirkpatrickEd KirkpatrickEdgar Leon Kirkpatrick , nicknamed "Spanky", was a baseball utility player for the Los Angeles/California Angels , Kansas City Royals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Texas Rangers , and Milwaukee Brewers .He helped the Pirates win the National League Eastern Division in 1974 and 1975...
. - Was considered one of the fastest players of his day, but still only stole 10 career bases.
- Did not play in the major leagues in 1963.
- Hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch from Mickey LolichMickey LolichMichael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
in a June 9, 1969 game. This would end up being the only run Lolich gave up in the game, a game in which he struck out 16 batters. That was the final home run of Simpson's career. - His uniform numbers: 10 (1962, 1964–1965), 20 (1966–1967), 12 (1968), 37 (1968), 9 (1969), 16 (1969).
- He earned $7,000 in 1965 and $16,000 in 1969.
- Collected his final career hit off Fred TalbotFred Talbot (baseball)Frederick Lealand Talbot , is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1963-1970 for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Seattle Pilots, Chicago White Sox, and the Oakland Athletics....
on August 12, 1969. - At last check, he lived in Venice, California.
- He is the father of Colton SimpsonColton SimpsonColton Simpson ) was a Crip who is currently serving a 126-year prison sentence under California's three-strikes law. He is the author of Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang, a book detailing his life in the gang...
, the notorious CripCripsThe Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
OG who authored the book Inside the Crips, and is currently serving a 126-year sentence under California's 3-strikes law.