Topic: Chris Richard

Christopher Robert Richard (born June 7, 1974 in San Diego, California) is an American Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He is an alumnus of University City High School in San Diego and of Oklahoma State University. He last played in the majors in 2003 for the Colorado Rockies.

Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19th round of the 1995 MLB Draft, Richard made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cardinals on July 17, 2000. He hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, becoming only the fourth player in the history of the club to do so. After appearing in only six games with the Cardinals, Richard was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on July 29, 2000, for pitcher Mike Timlin.

With Baltimore, Richard's 2001 campaign would be the best of his career. In 136 games for the Orioles, he compiled a .265 batting average with 15 home runs and 65 RBI.