RKCSJ Athlete Profile: Richie Sexson
Baseball is a funny game. You never know the mark you are going to leave. For Richie Sexson, it was a record he set that has yet to be broken. Sexson is the tallest position player to ever play in Major League Baseball. At 6-foot-8, he is just three inches shorter than the tallest player ever, Washington reliever Jon Rauch, and it has earned him the nickname “Big Sexy.”
Sexson’s professional career began when he was drafted in 1993 by the Cleveland Indians in the 24th round of the baseball amateur draft at No. 671 overall out of Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, Washingtonwhere he was an all-state football, basketball and baseball player.
After four seasons in the minors, he reached the major leagues for five games in 1997 with the Indians. Sexson would spend three seasons with the Indians. Sexson played 49 games in 1998. He batted .305 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. In 1999, he had a breakout year with 31 home runs, and 116 runs batted in in 134 games. Prior to the 2000 July trade deadline, Sexson was traded to Milwaukee in a seven-player deal for closer Bob Wickman.
Sexson would play for the Brewers for three more full seasons from 2001-2003. In 2001 he smacked 45 homers. He followed that up by a 29-homer season in 2002 and a monstrous 45-homer, 124 RBI season in 2003 in which he played all 162 games. Sexson was selected to the National League All-Star team for both the 2002 and 2003 campaigns.
Prior to the 2004 season, needing a power threat in their pitchers park, the Arizona Diamondbacks sent six players who would go on to play in the major leagues to Milwaukee to acquire Sexson. After only one injury shortened season with the Diamondbacks, Sexson signed a four-year deal with the Mariners. He hit 105 home runs with the Mariners over the life of that deal. During the 2008 season, Sexson was released but was grabbed right way by the Yankees for the AL East stretch run.
Sexson finished his career after 2008 with 306 career homers, tied with Fred Lynn and Ruben Sierra for 124th in major league history. He will be among the dozens of musicians, celebrities and athletes at the 2012 Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam on April 22, 2012 at The Dell Diamond. Tickets are $20 through March 31 and $30 beginning April 1. General admission tickets are $15 through March 31 and $20 beginning April 1.
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