| Dick Selma | |
|---|---|
 Selma with thePhiladelphia Phillies, circa 1972 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1943-11-04)November 4, 1943 Santa Ana, California, U.S. | |
| Died: August 29, 2001(2001-08-29) (aged 57) Clovis, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 1965, for the New York Mets | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 9, 1974, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 42–54 |
| Earned run average | 3.62 |
| Strikeouts | 681 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Richard Jay Selma (November 4, 1943 – August 29, 2001) was a professional baseball player who was apitcher in the Major Leagues from 1965 to 1974. He played for theNew York Mets,Chicago Cubs,San Diego Padres,Philadelphia Phillies,California Angels, andMilwaukee Brewers during his 10-year major league career.
Selma attendedFresno High School and played college baseball atFresno City College.[1] After a year, Selma was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets on May 28, 1963, and made hisMajor League debut two seasons later.[2]
In only his second career start, he threw a 10-inningshutout in a 1–0 victory against theMilwaukee Braves, accumulating 13strikeouts in the process.[3] The 13 strikeouts were at the time a Mets franchise record.[4] He had two wins and one loss in four games that season, and spent the next two seasons with the Mets as arelief pitcher. During the 1968 season, Selma again became astarting pitcher and started 23 games, posting a 9–10 record with anERA of 2.76.[2] This, along with his 117 strikeouts, led the expansionSan Diego Padres to draft him with the fifth pick in the 1968 expansion draft on October 14, 1968.[2]
Selma was given the start for the Padres on opening day of the 1969 season. On April 8, 1969, Selma pitched acomplete game and threw 12 strikeouts en route to a 2–1 victory, the Padres' first in franchise history.[5] Selma ended up pitching only four games for the Padres, as he was traded to theChicago Cubs forJoe Niekro,Gary Ross andFrankie Librán on April 24, 1969.[6] It was during his time with the Cubs that Selma became known as a cheerleader for those sitting inWrigley Field'sbleachers.[4] He finished his tenure with the Cubs with a 10–8 record, 161 strikeouts, and a 3.63 ERA.[2] However, he had a 7–1 record before finishing 10–8, and partially as a result of this skid was traded.[4] Selma was traded to thePhiladelphia Phillies on November 17, 1969, withOscar Gamble for a player to be named later (who became Larry Colton) andJohnny Callison.[2]
The Phillies turned Selma into their closer for the 1970 season. He converted 22saves in 73 appearances, and his 73 games pitched and 47 games finished were both second highest in theNational League.[2] He started 10 games in the 1972 season, but in his four seasons in Philadelphia, Selma was primarily used as a reliever. He was released by the Phillies on May 8, 1973, but was signed by theSt. Louis Cardinals on May 21.[2] He never appeared in a game for the Cardinals, and at the end of the season his contract was purchased by theCalifornia Angels.[2] He played 18 games for the Angels during the 1974 season, his contract was purchased by theMilwaukee Brewers, whom he only played two games with.[2] Selma was returned to the Angels after the two appearances, and did not appear in a major league game again.
After retiring from the game, Selma returned to Fresno and took a night job so that he could play and coach baseball in the area. He was an assistant coach at his alma mater and served as the pitching coach atClovis High School. Selma died on August 29, 2001, inClovis, California, as a result of liver cancer.[1]