Harold Beland "Spec" Richardson was an American professional baseball executive.
11 Facts About Spec Richardson
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Spec Richardson served as the general manager of two Major League Baseball teams, the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants.
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Spec Richardson took over as Astro general manager after his two predecessors, Paul Richards and Tal Smith, had built one of the most talented farm systems in baseball.
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Spec Richardson traded 31-year-old Mike Cuellar to the Baltimore Orioles for Curt Blefary on December 4,1968.
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Spec Richardson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.
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Spec Richardson served as general manager for the San Francisco Giants from December 1975 to July 8,1981.
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Spec Richardson joined the Giants on the recommendation of other National League owners during a transitional period, while the team was sold by longtime owner Horace Stoneham, eventually to Bay Area businessman Bob Lurie.
8.
For four of the five full seasons during which Spec Richardson helmed the Giants, the team scuffled on the field, averaging only 74 wins a year.
9.
Spec Richardson was hailed as the Major League Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
10.
Spec Richardson was demoted from his general manager position on July 7,1981 and replaced by Tom Haller who had been the team's director of player development.
11.
Spec Richardson died in Columbus, Georgia at the age of 93 on April 12,2016.