Rich Thompson, baseball player, 1985-1990

Rich Thompson

Born: 11/1/1958 in New York, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1985-04-28 | Final Game: 1990-04-22

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 225 lbs

Full name: Richard Neil Thompson

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Biography

Rich Thompson, born in 1958, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1985 to 1990. Known for his determination on the mound, Thompson played during a transitional period in Major League Baseball, characterized by a shift toward more specialized pitching roles and a growing emphasis on relief appearances. Over the course of his career, he recorded a win-loss record of 3-10, with an earned run average (ERA) of 5.05. His ability to strike out hitters was evident in his total of 45 strikeouts, and he also contributed to his teams as a reliable option in high-pressure situations, notching 5 saves. Thompson's playing style was marked by a competitive spirit and versatility, allowing him to adapt to various roles within the pitching staff. Although he did not achieve superstar status, his contributions to the teams he played for were significant during the late 1980s, an era marked by a burgeoning emphasis on bullpen specialization. After retiring from professional play on April 22, 1990, Thompson's legacy remains as a testament to the dedicated athletes who helped shape the game during a period of evolving strategies and player roles.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
3 10 77 1 0 0 5 114.0 123 64 10 59 45 5.05 0

Career ERA 5.05 vs. league average 3.82 across their career seasons — 32.2% worse 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
1985 CLE AL 3 8 57 0 0 0 5 80.0 95 56 48 30 6.30 3.89 (-62%) -2776.7
1989 WSN NL 0 2 19 1 0 0 0 33.0 27 8 11 15 2.18 3.71 (+41%) -
1990 WSN NL 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.0 1 0 0 0 0.00 — -

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
77 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.000 0.333 0.000 0.333 0.0

Career AVG .000 vs. league average .256 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OBP .333 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .000 vs. league average .384 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.333 vs. league average 0.706 across their career seasons — 52.8% 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
1985 CLE AL 57 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1989 WSN NL 19 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1990 WSN NL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 77 1 2 11 3 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1985 CLE P 57 0 2 7 3 1
1989 MON P 19 1 0 4 0 0
1990 MON P 1 0 0 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 77

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1990 MON NL $104,500
1989 MON NL $68,000
Total Career Earnings $172,500

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Amherst College Amherst MA 1978, 1979, 1980