Richard Wendell Reichle (November 23, 1896 – June 13, 1967) was a professional baseball player who appeared in 128 games for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 1922 and 1923 seasons. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 185 pounds (84 kg), he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Reichle was also a college football player, and played in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1923 season.
Reichle's major league debut was on September 19, 1922,[1] appearing for the Boston Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians; he went hitless in four at bats in a 7–4 loss.[5] Reichle got his first major league hit the next day,[6] singling against George Uhle of the Indians in a 5–2 loss.[7] With the 1922 Red Sox, Reichle went 6-for-24 for a .250 batting average in six games with Boston.[1]
Reichle played in 122 games with the 1923 Red Sox,[1] a team that compiled a 61–91 record. On April 20, 1923, Reichle hit the only home run of his career, coming off of Waite Hoyt of the New York Yankees;[8][a] it was also the first home run hit by a visiting player at Yankee Stadium,[3] which had officially opened two days earlier. For the season, Reichle batted .258 with 39 RBIs.[1]
Overall, Reichle appeared in 128 major league games, all with the Red Sox, recording a .257 batting average with one home run and 39 RBIs.[10] In 101 defensive appearances (99 in the outfield, 2 at first base) he posted a .978 fielding average.[10]
After his brief professional sports career, Reichle pursued a career in insurance.[2] Per his April 1942 draft registration card, he was employed by Investors Syndicate (present-day Ameriprise Financial) in St. Louis.[14] Reichle died at the age of 70 in Richmond Heights, Missouri,[1] a suburb of St. Louis.
Notes
^Reichle's home run actually bounced into the stands,[8] as such hits were considered home runs in the American League prior to 1929;[9] since then, they have been ground rule doubles.
