I think it was a nickname from childhood that the Phillies didn’t immediately drop.
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Seems like Richie is what everyone from western PA called him in the 70s
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Poz looked into it (end of this article). Phils called him that, possibly to make him seem less threatening.https://joeposnanski.substack.com/p/whats-in-a-name …
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Probably a lot of the same attitude that kept people, including writers, calling Roberto Clemente “Bob” or “Bobby” against his wishes.
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Different though. Hispanic players were a novelty in the late 50s. Guys named Dick were a dime a dozen in MLB before the color line.
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I’ve always heard it had somethiing to do with Richie Ashburn, reporters tying the two together like Mays and McCovey, etc.
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I also have a 1961(?) "Bob" Clemente card.
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Hank was foisted on Aaron by Braves PR, too. He ended up going along with it, but he was Henry at home and to friends until then.
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