Johnny Francis Riddle (November 2, 1904 – March 1, 1993) was an American professional baseball player. A catcher, he played for three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Chicago Cubs (1927), Cincinnati Reds (1928), and St. Louis Cardinals (1929).
Early Life and Minor League Career Born in Columbus, Ohio, Riddle began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues. He honed his skills as a catcher before making his debut in Major League Baseball.
Major League Baseball Career Riddle's MLB career spanned three seasons, primarily as a backup catcher:
- Chicago Cubs (1927): Riddle made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on April 15, 1927. He played in 7 games, recording 3 hits in 12 at-bats.
- Cincinnati Reds (1928): He moved to the Cincinnati Reds for the 1928 season, where he saw his most significant playing time. In 47 games, he accumulated 30 hits in 137 at-bats, achieving a batting average of .219. He also recorded 11 Runs Batted In (RBI).
- St. Louis Cardinals (1929): Riddle concluded his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1929. He appeared in 22 games, collecting 14 hits in 57 at-bats for a .246 batting average and 5 RBIs.
Career Statistics (MLB) Across his three MLB seasons, Johnny Riddle's career statistics include:
- Games Played (G): 76
- At-Bats (AB): 206
- Hits (H): 47
- Batting Average (AVG): .228
- Home Runs (HR): 0
- Runs Batted In (RBI): 16
Later Life Following his tenure in Major League Baseball, Riddle continued to play in the minor leagues for several more seasons. He retired from professional baseball and passed away on March 1, 1993, in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 88.
References
- Baseball-Reference.com
- Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
- Major League Baseball (MLB.com) historical data