Former 1962 Met Turned Orthodontist: Rick Herrscher (1962)

Richard Franklin Herrscher was born on November 3, 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri. The six foot two righty, attended SMU and was a member of their 1958 Final Four basketball team.

He also played baseball getting signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1958. He showed some promise in the minors jumping from A to AAA in 1960 batting .320 overall.

In May of 1962 he was sent to the New York Mets as part of transactions that included Frank Thomas coming to New York & Gus Bell going to Milwaukee. In 1962 at AAA Louisville he hit .337 before getting traded then hit .260 at AAA Syracuse.

He got called up to the expansion '62 Mets team in August. He debuted on August 1st, as a pinch hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies reaching on an error at second base. He found himself penciled in as the starting third baseman the next day, going 0-3.

A week later he got his first career hit which was also his only career HR. It was a three run shot down the right field line at the Polo Grounds, against Jim O'Toole & the Cincinnati Reds. It helped the Mets win the first game of a double header 5-2. Historically, that was the same day Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood, California home at age 36.

The versatile Herrscher would play in 35 games at third base, short stop, outfield & first base for the ’62 Mets. He made some pinch hit & pinch running appearances as well, batting .220 with one HR three doubles & six RBIs.

It was back to the minors the next two seasons before giving up his baseball career in 1964.

Retirement: After baseball he went to dental school & became a successful orthodontist in the Dallas Texas, area.