Rich Harden, baseball player, 2003-2011

Rich Harden

Born: 11/30/1981 in Victoria, BC, CAN

MLB Debut: 2003-07-21 | Final Game: 2011-09-25

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: James Richard Harden

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Biography

Rich Harden was a talented pitcher whose career spanned from 2003 to 2011, leaving an indelible mark on Major League Baseball. Born in 1981, Harden made his debut with the Oakland Athletics, showcasing a powerful right arm and an impressive array of pitches that included a fastball and a devastating slider. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 59-38, with a solid earned run average (ERA) of 3.76. Known for his strikeout ability, he recorded a total of 949 strikeouts, demonstrating his capacity to dominate opposing hitters. Harden's playing style was defined by his striking ability and the fierce competitiveness he brought to the mound. He played during a period that was marked by offensive explosions and enhanced performance, yet he consistently stood out for his effectiveness and poise under pressure. Although his career was marred by injuries, which limited his appearances and disrupted his potential for even greater success, he remains a significant figure in the game, remembered for his skill and the promise he exhibited during his prime years. After his retirement on September 25, 2011, Harden left behind a legacy as a formidable pitcher who captivated fans and hitters alike.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
59 38 170 160 2 1 0 928.3 781 388 105 422 949 3.76 0

Career ERA 3.76 vs. league average 4.31 across their career seasons — 12.8% better than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
2003 OAK AL 5 4 15 13 0 0 0 74.7 72 37 40 67 4.46 4.40 (-1%) 1222.5
2004 OAK AL 11 7 31 31 0 0 0 189.7 171 84 81 167 3.99 4.46 (+11%) 3700.4
2005 OAK AL 10 5 22 19 2 1 0 128.0 93 36 43 121 2.53 4.29 (+41%) 4584.6
2006 OAK AL 4 0 9 9 0 0 0 46.7 31 22 26 49 4.24 4.53 (+6%) 414.0
2007 OAK AL 1 2 7 4 0 0 0 25.7 18 7 11 27 2.45 4.47 (+45%) 343.3
2008 OAK AL 5 1 13 13 0 0 0 77.0 57 20 31 92 2.34 4.32 (+46%) 2914.6
2008 CHC NL 5 1 12 12 0 0 0 71.0 39 14 30 89 1.77 4.32 (+59%) -
2009 CHC NL 9 9 26 26 0 0 0 141.0 122 64 67 171 4.09 4.32 (+5%) -
2010 TEX AL 5 5 20 18 0 0 0 92.0 91 57 62 75 5.58 4.08 (-37%) -5220.2
2011 OAK AL 4 4 15 15 0 0 0 82.7 87 47 31 91 5.12 3.94 (-30%) -1581.2

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
171 76 4 11 1 0 0 1 0 1 31 0.145 0.156 0.158 0.314 0.0

Career AVG .145 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — 45.1% below league average.

Career OBP .156 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — 53.0% below league average.

Career SLG .158 vs. league average .418 across their career seasons — 62.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.314 vs. league average 0.749 across their career seasons — 58.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
2003 OAK AL 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
2004 OAK AL 31 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.000 — — — — 0.0
2005 OAK AL 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
2006 OAK AL 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
2007 OAK AL 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
2008 OAK AL 13 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.250 — — — — 0.0
2008 CHC NL 12 23 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 12 0.087 — — — — 0.0
2009 CHC NL 27 43 3 8 1 0 0 0 0 1 15 0.186 — — — — 0.0
2010 TEX AL 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
2011 OAK AL 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
2008 NLDS1 CHN 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000
2006 ALCS OAK 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
2003 ALDS2 OAK 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1 3 4 2 0 11.3 12 8 10 9 6.35

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
2008 NLDS1 CHN 0 1 1 1 0 4.3 5 3 3 4 6.23
2006 ALCS OAK 0 1 1 1 0 5.7 5 3 5 4 4.76
2003 ALDS2 OAK 1 1 2 0 0 1.3 2 2 2 1 13.50

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 170 160 66 73 8 11

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
2003 OAK P 15 13 5 11 1 3
2004 OAK P 31 31 15 18 1 2
2005 OAK P 22 19 12 8 1 2
2006 OAK P 9 9 6 7 0 0
2007 OAK P 7 4 3 0 0 0
2008 OAK P 13 13 3 3 0 0
2008 CHN P 12 12 6 3 0 0
2009 CHN P 26 26 7 9 2 2
2010 TEX P 20 18 5 5 1 1
2011 OAK P 15 15 4 9 2 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 170

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
2011 OAK AL $1,500,000
2010 TEX AL $6,500,000
2009 CHN NL $7,000,000
2008 OAK AL $4,750,000
2007 OAK AL $2,250,000
2006 OAK AL $1,250,000
2005 OAK AL $336,500
Total Career Earnings $23,586,500

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Central Arizona College Coolidge AZ 2000, 2001