James Richard Harden was born on November 30,1981 and is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher.
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28 Facts About Rich Harden
2.
Rich Harden pitched for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball.
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3.
Rich Harden was a childhood friend and neighbor of Olympic diver Riley McCormick.
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4.
Rich Harden led all NJCAA Division I pitchers with 127 strikeouts in 2001, and his ERA of 2.
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5.
Rich Harden was drafted by the Athletics in the 17th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft, and signed by the team on May 28,2001, shortly after graduating.
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6.
Rich Harden was then promoted to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League, where he pitched very well.
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8.
Rich Harden made his major league debut on July 21,2003, against the Kansas City Royals.
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9.
Rich Harden held the Royals to only one run on four hits in seven innings, earning a no decision.
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10.
Rich Harden pitched in two games in relief with the Athletics in their Division Series matchup with the Red Sox.
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11.
Rich Harden began the 2004 season with the Sacramento River Cats, coming out of spring training as the A's 5th starter.
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12.
Rich Harden ranked 8th in the AL with 167 strikeouts, and was tied for 7th with 81 walks.
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13.
Rich Harden threw the fastest fastball of all major league starters, averaging 94.
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14.
In 2005, Rich Harden began the season with the Athletics, but was sidelined with an oblique injury, and missed more than a month.
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15.
Rich Harden appeared in three games late in the season, pitching 5 innings of shutout ball, striking out seven and walking one.
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16.
Rich Harden allowed only seven HR's all season long, and despite the injuries, he emerged as the ace of the Oakland Athletics pitching staff.
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17.
In 2006, Rich Harden had two lengthy stints on the DL, spending most of the season there.
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18.
Rich Harden started off the 2007 season with a win against the Seattle Mariners, going 7 innings, striking out 7, and allowing two walks and two hits, before returning to the DL, on April 23.
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19.
In Rich Harden's next start against his former teammate Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves, he pitched 7 innings only allowing 4 hits and a run while earning the win.
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20.
Rich Harden was traded to the Chicago Cubs on July 8,2008, in a six-player deal.
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21.
Rich Harden registered ten strikeouts and allowed only one run in both of his following starts, but was not able to earn a win.
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22.
Rich Harden finally recorded his first win as a Cub on July 31,2008, against the Milwaukee Brewers.
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23.
Rich Harden threw more pitches per inning than any starter in the league.
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24.
On October 9,2010, Rich Harden was released by the Texas Rangers after being left off the post-season roster.
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25.
Rich Harden rejoined the Athletics on a one-year contract in 2011.
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26.
Rich Harden remained with the Athletics through the next day's non-waiver trade deadline.
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27.
Rich Harden threw four pitches: a fastball, a changeup, a splitter, and a slider.
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28.
Rich Harden was well known for his ability to induce strikeouts.
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