Rich McKinney

Infobox MLB retired
name=Rich McKinney
position=Utility player


bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1946|11|22
city-state|Piqua|Ohio
debutdate=June 26
debutyear=by|1970
debutteam=Chicago White Sox
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=by|1977
finalteam=Oakland Athletics
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.232
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=4
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=26
teams=
*Chicago White Sox (1970-71)
*New York Yankees (1972)
*Oakland Athletics (1973-77)

Charles Richard McKinney is a former Major League Baseball player. Over the course of his eight-year career, he played at least 11 games at seven different positions, including designated hitter, and another 6 in left field.

White Sox

After playing college baseball at Ohio University, McKinney was selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox. By by|1970, he was in the major leagues, playing 43 games, mostly at third base and shortstop. However, it appeared that his bat was not ready for the majors, as he batted just .168. Despite this, McKinney broke camp with the White Sox in by|1971 and had his best season, batting .271 with 8 home runs in 114 games, this time playing mostly second base and right field.

Yankees

During the following offseason, McKinney was traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher Stan Bahnsen. McKinney began the season as the Yankees regular third baseman, but his struggles at the plate returned in by|1972, as he batted just .215 and spent over half the season in the minor leagues, his job being taken by rookie Celerino Sanchez.

A's

That offseason, McKinney was once again traded, this time to the Oakland Athletics, as part of a deal to bring outfielder Matty Alou to the Yanks.Over the next three seasons, McKinney was given brief trials, but his batting average was only marginally better at .228, and his power was lacking as well, hitting just one home run in 79 at bats.

McKinney was given one last shot in by|1977 when the A's, with Charlie Finley having traded off most of their stars, turned him into a first baseman, although he also played 18 games at DH. While McKinney finally began hitting with some power, with 6 home runs in just 189 at bats, his batting average sunk to .177, and his major league career was over.

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