Dick Simpson

Richard Charles Simpson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 176 lb.
• High School Venice (CA) High School
• Debut September 21, 1962
• Final Game August 27, 1969
• Born July 28, 1943 in Washington, DC USA

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Biographical Information

Dick Simpson was 6' 4" tall, but he weighed only 176 pounds. He played in the majors and the minors between 1961 and 1971.

Originally signed by the Los Angeles Angels as an amateur 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. He was the second youngest player in the American League that season, trailing only teammate Ed Kirkpatrick. He then did not play in the majors in 1963.

The rest of his career did not fare him very well. Used mostly off the bench in his career, Simpson would end up hitting .207 in 288 career games. In 518 at-bats, he hit 15 home runs, drove in 56 runs and scored 94 times. He walked 64 times but struck out 174. He committed 8 errors in his career for a .967 fielding percentage. He was considered one of the fastest players of his day, but still only stole 10 career bases. Playing for the Seattle Pilots, he hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch from Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers in a June 9, 1969 game. This ended up being the only run Lolich gave up in the game, a game in which he struck out 16 batters. That was also the final home run of Simpson's career. He collected his final career hit off Fred Talbot on August 12th and played his final game on August 27th of that year.

Statistically, he compared most to Neil Chrisley. At last check, he lived in Venice, CA.

His son, Colton Simpson, a former Crip gang member, is famous—or infamous—in his own right. He is currently serving a 126-year prison sentence in California and authored the book Inside the Crips (2006).

Major transactions

• On December 2, 1965, he was traded by the Angels to the Baltimore Orioles for Norm Siebern.
• On December 9, 1965, he was traded by the Orioles along with Jack Baldschun and Milt Pappas to the Reds for Frank Robinson.
• On January 11, 1968, the Reds traded him to the Cardinals for Alex Johnson.
• The Cardinals traded him with Hal Gilson to the Astros for Ron Davis on June 15, 1968.
• On December 4, 1968, he was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for Dooley Womack.
• Was traded for Jose Vidal of the Seattle Pilots by the Yankees on May 19, 1969.
• He was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers, along with Steve Whitaker, to the San Francisco Giants for Bobby Bolin on December 12, 1969.