Rich Hinton

Born: 5/22/1947 in Tucson, AZ, USA

Died: 8/7/2025 in Sarasota, FL, USA

MLB Debut: 1971-07-17 | Final Game: 1979-09-27

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Richard Michael Hinton

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Biography

Rich Hinton was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1971 to 1979. Born in 1947, Hinton made his debut during a transformative era for the sport, marked by the increasing competitiveness of teams and the emergence of more specialized pitching roles. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 9 wins and 17 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.87. Hinton struck out 152 batters and recorded 3 saves, showcasing his ability to contribute both as a starter and in relief. Hinton's playing style reflected the evolving nature of pitching in the 1970s, as he balanced between traditional starting duties and the growing emphasis on closers. Although his win-loss record may not have been stellar, his contributions on the mound were significant during a period when the game was experiencing considerable change. Hinton's career, though not among the most heralded, remains an important part of the rich tapestry of baseball history, illustrating the challenges and dynamics faced by pitchers during a decade that set the stage for future generations of players.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
9	17	116	13	2	0	3	249.7	283	135	23	91	152	4.87	0

Career ERA 4.87 vs. league average 3.62 across their career seasons — 34.6% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1971	CHW	AL	3	4	18	2	0	0	24.3	27	12	6	15	4.44	3.47 (-28%)	-
1972	NYY	AL	1	0	7	3	0	0	16.7	20	9	8	13	4.86	3.26 (-49%)	-
1972	TEX	AL	0	1	5	0	0	0	11.3	7	3	10	4	2.38	3.26 (+27%)	-631.4
1975	CHW	AL	1	0	15	0	0	0	37.3	41	20	15	30	4.82	3.71 (-30%)	-
1976	CIN	NL	1	2	12	1	0	0	17.7	30	15	11	8	7.64	3.51 (-117%)	-1340.5
1978	CHW	AL	2	6	29	4	2	1	80.7	78	36	28	48	4.02	3.69 (-9%)	-
1979	CHW	AL	1	2	16	2	0	2	41.7	57	28	8	27	6.05	4.00 (-51%)	-
1979	SEA	AL	0	2	14	1	0	0	20.0	23	12	5	7	5.40	4.00 (-35%)	-843.5

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
116	7	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	0.143	0.143	0.429	0.571	0.0

Career AVG .143 vs. league average .255 across their career seasons — 44.0% below league average.

Career OBP .143 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — 55.6% below league average.

Career SLG .429 vs. league average .372 across their career seasons — +15.1% above league average.

Career OPS 0.571 vs. league average 0.694 across their career seasons — 17.7% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	3B	SB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1971	CHW	AL	18	1	1	0	0	1	0	0.000	—	—	—	—
1972	NYY	AL	7	3	0	0	0	0	2	0.000	—	—	—	—
1972	TEX	AL	5	2	0	1	1	0	1	0.500	—	—	—	—
1975	CHW	AL	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1976	CIN	NL	12	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—
1978	CHW	AL	29	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1979	CHW	AL	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1979	SEA	AL	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—