Chris Richard, 2001 Upper Deck MVP #68

Here we see Chris Richard employing the rarely-used and since-discredited "Itsy Bitsy Spider Technique" for fielding ground balls. The Orioles fired their infield coach later that night.

Chris Richard, 2002 Fleer Flair #90

Do you want to feel old? Of course you do, who doesn't? I know I love it whenever my sister points out how many gray hairs I have. Anyhow, try this on for size: Chris Richard retired last week.

Truth be told, I don't have many memories of Chris' two and a half seasons in Baltimore. They coincided with my first few years of college, probably the span of time when I was least attentive to the Orioles. But I stirred up a hornet's nest in September of 2009 when I made an offhand mention on this blog that the one-time Bird had a reputation as arrogant back in those days. I had no first-hand knowledge, I was just repeating what had been reported in the past by writers on the O's beat. No less than four people left comments on this post to disabuse me of that notion. As I conceded in response to one comment, there are two sides to every story and it was possible that the local media members had rushed to judgment on Chris based on a regrettable comment here or a bad day there.

I didn't give Chris Richard much more thought until I read a thoughtful article from the Independent Weekly of Durham, NC. Writer Adam Sobsey paints a picture of a player and a man much more like the one that my readers seemed to know. He disappeared from the major leagues after a serious shoulder injury in 2003 (save for a late-season stint with the Rays in 2009), but converted full-time to first base and kept plugging along for six full seasons of bus rides and AAA stadiums. The last four of those seasons were spent with Tampa Bay's Durham Bulls affiliate, and he became the face of the team. That's not usually what a pro baseball player (especially one with big league experience) aspires to, but Chris thrilled Bulls fans with a franchise-record 84 home runs from 2007-2010. Off the field, he always had time for an autograph or public appearance, or a quote for a reporter. But he's 36, and the Rays went younger and didn't ask him back for 2011. He plans to chip in on some Durham radio broadcasts and is opening a baseball academy nearby for kids ages 8-18. It sounds like he's moving on with his life and looking to share his talents with the community that has adopted him. Best of luck, Chris.

Chris Richard, 2001 Upper Deck Gold Glove #20

If there were any lingering hopes that 2009 would be another enchanted season for the Tampa Bay Rays, they were likely extinguished on Tuesday night, when 35-year-old Chris Richard started at first base for the injured Carlos Pena. Yes, that's the same guy who the O's acquired for Mike Timlin in 2000 and tabbed as their budding star first baseman, ignoring the fact that he'd repeated AA twice because, ooh shiny, he hit a home run every 15.3 at-bats in one 200-at-bat sample size in the majors. He's also the same guy who disappeared from the majors after 2003 and who has spent the last three seasons with the Durham Bulls, becoming the famed minor league team's career home run leader in the process (64 HR total). I don't wish him any ill will, even though he had a reputation as an arrogant guy during his time in Baltimore. I'd like to think that a six-year exile from the big leagues would humble a guy. Of course, his return has been humbling on its own: he's 1-for-5 in three games with a crucial error that sparked the Yankees' game-winning rally last night. Baseball's not easy, as it so happens.

Chris Richard, 2002 Upper Deck Vintage #58

If you're unfamiliar with Upper Deck Vintage, it was essentially Upper Deck's attempt to cash in on the throwback card design craze by blasphemously ripping off some of Topps' most classic card designs. This card is from the 2002 set, and as you may have surmised, it is patterned after the ultra-cool 1971 Topps series. In other years, the crumbums at Upper Deck also borrowed from the iconic 1965 and 1963 Topps issues. I suppose this idea was worth a shot if Upper Deck could get away with it, but I still consider it to be a poor imitation.

It's funny that this card would feature outfielder Chris Richard standing alongside then-first base coach Eddie Murray. Not only was he a poor imitation of Eddie, but Richard is also a relic of the Orioles' previous feeble attempt at rebuilding. As the 2000 season trudged on with the aging O's in a nosedive, past-his-prime baseball executive Syd Thrift sold away every veteran player with any shred of trade value, and got virtually nothing of worth in return. Gone were B. J. Surhoff, Mike Bordick, Will Clark, Mike Timlin, Harold Baines, and Charles Johnson. The only player who ended up being a true asset to the Birds was Melvin Mora (acquired for Bordick), and that was something of a surprise; he was a 28-year-old minor league veteran with 246 major-league at bats.

Richard was acquired from the Cardinals for Timlin; many desperate Baltimore fans drank the Kool-Aid that Thrift and Co. were handing out. Here was a kid who hit 30 home runs in 1999! He'd bring much-needed power to the O's for years to come, maybe settle in at first base and become the next Eddie Murray. Sure, it took him five years to reach AAA, and maybe 26 was a little old for a prospect, but who's counting? When Chris hit 13 home runs in his first 200 at-bats in orange and black, our hopes were officially up.

The following season, Richard played regularly but only upped his longball total to 15. Still, he was slightly above league average. 2002 was disastrous for the San Diego native, as a shoulder injury limited him to 50 games. A .232 average and four home runs weren't enough to keep him around, especially since he'd gained a reputation for arrogance that was out of proportion to his actual talents. Baltimore traded Chris Richard to the Rockies in Spring Training 2003 for Jack Cust.

Jack Cust...now there's a story for another day.