| Rich Hand | |
|---|---|
 Hand with the California Angels in 1973 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: July 10, 1948 Bellevue, Washington, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 9, 1970, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1973, for the California Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 24–39 |
| Earned run average | 4.01 |
| Strikeouts | 278 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Richard Allen Hand (born July 10, 1948) is an American former professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played for four seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and California Angels.
Born in Bellevue, Washington, Hand graduated from Lincoln High School in Seattle and attended the University of Puget Sound.[1] Drafted three times, he signed with the Indians when they selected him in the supplementary phase of the 1969 MLB Draft. Named the number three pitcher in the starting rotation in 1970, he posted a 3.83 earned run average (ERA) in 35 appearances. Hand was sent to the minor leagues for part of 1971; he threw a no-hitter for the Wichita Aeros but posted a 5.79 ERA in the major leagues.
Traded to the Rangers for the 1972 season, Hand began the season in the minor leagues but was promoted to the major-league team after only two starts. He posted a career-best 3.32 ERA but had only a 10–14 record, partly due to poor run support. He was traded to the Angels midway through the 1973 season, pitching mainly out of the bullpen after coming to California. Following one last professional season in 1974, Hand retired, his pitching arm sore from injuries sustained over the years. Remaining in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Hand worked in business, real estate, and construction.