Imagine the Cardinals opening the season with a starting shortstop who had a career batting average of .217, more than twice as many strikeouts (68) as walks (29) and had earned a reputation as such an erratic fielder he was compared with a juggler.
That’s precisely what the Cardinals did when they selected Lee “Bee Bee” Richard their Opening Day shortstop in 1976.
Richard, a speedster, was acquired on Dec. 12, 1975, by the Cardinals from the White Sox for outfielder Buddy Bradford and pitcher Greg Terlecky. The Cardinals projected him as a backup to veteran shortstop Don Kessinger, who had joined St. Louis two months earlier in a trade with the Cubs.
Nicknamed “Bee Bee” as a hard-throwing high school pitcher in Louisiana, Richard attended Southern University _ the same school that produced Cardinals outfielder Lou Brock _ and converted to shortstop.
Scouts were enamored with his speed and strong throwing arm. Richard was a first-round choice _ the sixth pick overall _ of the White Sox in the June 1970 amateur draft. He was the first shortstop selected. “We were fearful he might be picked by the time our turn came,” White Sox general manager Ed Short said to The Sporting News.
After watching Richard in a workout, White Sox coach Luke Appling, a Hall of Fame shortstop, said, “He’s got good hands. He’ll be a good one.”
Richard, 22, made his big-league debut on April 7, 1971, as the starting shortstop and leadoff batter for the White Sox in their season opener against the Athletics at Oakland. He singled twice against starter Catfish Hunter, drove in a run and was caught stealing by catcher Dave Duncan. (Tony La Russa appeared in the game for Oakland as a pinch-runner.) Boxscore
But Richard wasn’t ready to be a big-league regular that season. He committed 26 errors in 68 games at shortstop. “I know some people told me I’d have been better off if I’d go down to the minors,” Richard said to The Sporting News.
Still, White Sox manager Chuck Tanner said of Richard, “He’s going to be a great shortstop … Give him a couple of years.”
The White Sox did. Richard spent four seasons with them. His fielding was so poor that White Sox broadcaster Harry Caray nicknamed him “The Juggler.” The White Sox also tried him at center field, third base, second base, right field and designated hitter.
During a game in which Richard committed a pair of errors, the Washington Post reported, Caray told listeners, “Richard just picked up a hot dog wrapper. It’s the first thing he’s picked up all night.”
On April 9, 1976, the Cardinals opened their season at home against the Cubs. Manager Red Schoendienst posted this batting order:
1. Lou Brock, left field.
2. Lee Richard, shortstop.
3. Bake McBride, center field.
4. Ted Simmons, catcher.
5. Reggie Smith, right field.
6. Keith Hernandez, first base.
7. Hector Cruz, third base.
8. Mike Tyson, second base.
9. Lynn McGlothen, pitcher.
McGlothen retired the first two batters. Bill Madlock then grounded to Richard, who booted the ball for an error on his first chance as a Cardinal. The next two batters reached before McGlothen worked out of the bases loaded jam by retiring Manny Trillo on a fly out.
Richard did single (off starter Ray Burris) in four at-bats and St. Louis won, 5-0. Boxscore
Kessinger got the start at shortstop in the next game and he remained the starter until the Cardinals called up rookie Garry Templeton in August.
In 13 games, six as a starter, at shortstop for the Cardinals, Richard committed four errors. By July 15, Richard’s batting average had dropped to .059. Used primarily as a reserve infielder, Richard appeared in 66 games for the 1976 Cardinals, batted .176 (16-for-91) and stole one base.
The Cardinals released him after the season and he never appeared in the major leagues again.
Previously: Why Cardinals career had sour ending for Julian Javier
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