1976 Topps #611 - Rich Folkers

• Rich Folkers was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round in 1967. Rich pitched in the minors in 1967 and in 1968 and then did a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969. Folkers started four games for AAA Tidewater in 1970 and then came up to the Mets in June. Rich pitched in 16 games for the Mets in 1970 and was 0-1 with a 6.44 ERA.
• Folkers was in Tidewater for the entire season in 1971. After the 1971 season Rich was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals in a multi-player deal.
• Rich split the 1972 season between the minors and St. Louis. Folkers went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in nine late season games with the Cardinals in 1972.
• Rich started the 1973 season in the minors and came back to St. Louis in late April. Folkers was 4-4 with three saves and had a 3.61 ERA in 34 games (9 starts) for the Cardinals in 1973.
• Folkers was a reliever for the entire 1974 season. Rich appeared in 55 games and was 6-2 with two saves and had a 3.00 ERA.
• Rich was traded to the San Diego Padres after the 1974 season in a multi-player deal. Folkers appeared in 45 games, 15 of them starts, in 1975 and was 6-11 with a 4.15 ERA.
• Folkers pitched in 33 games (3 starts) and was 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 1976.
• Rich was placed on waivers during spring training in 1977. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Folkers and assigned him to AAA Spokane. Rich came up to Milwaukee briefly in May and June and pitched in three games (0-1, 4.26 ERA). 
• After the 1977 season Folkers was traded with Jim Slaton to the Detroit Tigers for Ben Oglivie. Rich didn't make the Detroit ballclub in 1978 and was released during spring training.
• Folkers coached at Eckerd college in the late 1980s and early 1990s and lives in St. Petersburg, FL.
• Liked to face: Richie Hebner (.063 in 16 AB); Cesar Geronimo (.111 in 18 AB); Joe Morgan (.118 in 17 AB)
• Hated to face: Willie Montanez (.667 in 18 AB); Johnny Bench (.467 with 3 HR in 15 AB); Manny Sanguillen (.444 in 18 AB)

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