Personal
- Born in September
- Father is Andrew
- Majored in physical education
Career Highlights
- Selected as an All-American, All-Conference and All-District Seven performer
- Won 11 games his senior year while striking out 137
Before BYU
- Prepped at San Dieguito High where he was two-time all-league and team MVP
- Won the Crickmore Scholarship
- Played in the County-City High School All-Star game
- Played for the LaMesa Collegians
- Was all-conference for two years at Palomar Junior College
- Was team MVP
- Received the Sportsmanship Award
After BYU
- Drafted by the San Diego Padres
Post BYU Honors and Societies
- Named the Minor League Player of the Year
- Inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in 1983
Stats
Year ERA W-L APP GS CG SV IP H R ER BB SO 1968 2.94 5-3 12 10 4 - 67.3 54 34 22 44 74 1969 2.34 11-2 15 12 10 - 100.0 79 33 26 45 137
1983 BYU Hall of Fame
Former BYU athletic director and baseball coach Glen Tuckett said Rich was perhaps the most courageous pitcher he ever coached. When it came time to "bear-down" with a man on third, you would have to beat him with a stick to score a run, said Tuckett.
Concentration was just one of the qualities that has led Rich to success on the field and off. Before coming to BYU, he had proven himself as an outstanding athlete. He was all-league in basketball and baseball at San Dieguito High School in San Diego. Rich went on to be named all-conference in baseball at Palomar Junior College before continuing his career at BYU.
In 1969, Rich emerged as one of BYU's greatest pitchers. He was selected as an All-American and was also chosen as an All-Conference and All-District performer. He led the Cougars to many a victory with his excellent curveball and outstanding athletic ability.
Rich's career didn't end at BYU but continued successfully into professional baseball. Following the 1969 season at BYU, Rich was drafted by the San Diego Padres and went on to be named the minor league player of the year.
- All-Western Athletic Conference Northern Division first team
- Drafted in the 27th round by the San Diego Padres
- Third-team All-American
- All-District Seven
- All-Western Athletic Conference Northern Division first team
- Set school records with 137 strikeouts on the season (a record that still stands) and 347 strikeouts in a career
- Struck out 17 for a school record against the University of San Francisco
- ImageBaseball | Sep, 26
1968 College World Series-Texas
- ImageBaseball | Sep, 26
1968 College World Series-USC