| Rick Reuschel | |
|---|---|
 Reuschel in 1973 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 16, 1949 Quincy, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 19, 1972, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 22, 1991, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 214–191 |
| Earned run average | 3.37 |
| Strikeouts | 2,015 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Rickey Eugene Reuschel (RUSH-el, born May 16, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1972 to 1991, winning 214 games with a career 3.37 ERA.[1][2] His nickname was "Big Daddy" because his speed belied his portly physique.[3] He was known for his deceptive style of pitching, which kept hitters off balance by constantly varying the speeds of his pitches.[4]
Reuschel was listed as 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. Reuschel could run surprisingly well for his size (logging four triples in his batting career) and he was frequently used as a pinch runner on days he was not pitching. He was also a fair—though awkward-looking—hitter, batting well over .200 several times.[1] His older brother Paul Reuschel also pitched for the Cubs from 1975 to 1978, as Rick's teammate. Paul's career ended with the Cleveland Indians in 1979.[5] The Reuschel brothers were Illinois farm boys, with strong physiques and plain-spoken ways. The two are the only siblings to combine on a shutout.[3] On August 21, 1975, Rick started and went 6⅓ innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by Paul, who pitched the final 2⅔ innings for the Cubs' 7–0 win.[6]
- ^ a b "Rick Reuschel Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Rick Reuschel - The Baseball Cube". www.thebaseballcube.com.
- ^ a b "GIANTS BY ANY OTHER NAMES STILL ARE 1ST". Chicago Tribune. June 28, 1989. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
- ^ "Rick Reuschel: He Lets Batter Get Himself Out by Casey Tefertiller, Baseball Digest, December 1988, Vol. 47, No. 12, ISSN 0005-609X". google.com.
- ^ "Paul Reuschel Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs Box Score, August 21, 1975". Baseball-Reference.com.