Happy Birthday Rick Leach Share this story Rick Leach turns 64 today. Rick was a first-round draft pick for the Tigers, 13th overall, in 1979. He made it to the majors during the strike-shortened 1981 season, hitting a big .193/.320/.289 in 83 at-bats, mostly pinch-hitting and playing a bit of first and right field. Rick played three seasons in Detroit. He never hit much, and the Tigers released him. The Blue Jays signed him before the 1984 season. He played five seasons for the Jays, playing DH, first, right, left, and occasionally center field. He even pitched an inning in 1984, but it didn’t go well. Rick walked 2, and gave up two hits, including a home run. In 1986 he had a .308/.335/.435 line. In 1987 he hit .282/.371/.405, not bad, but not he didn’t have the power you’d want from a corner outfield spot nor the speed. But for a 4th outfielder, he was pretty good.