On this day in 1943, Rick Reichardt was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from high school in Stevens Point but returned to Madison for college (where he also played on a football team that appeared in the Rose Bowl) before the Angels signed him as an amateur free agent in 1964.
Later that same year, Reichardt made his major league debut in center field. Three years later he appeared in just 89 games for the Angels but, somehow, appeared on someone's AL MVP ballot. Finally, he received a full time opportunity as a 24-year-old in 1967, hitting .265/.320/.404. He was a regular in the majors for most of the next eight seasons.
All told, Reichardt appeared in 997 major league games as a member of four teams and finished his career with a .261/.326/.414 batting line and 116 home runs.
Thanks to the B-Ref Play Index for informing me that Reichardt turns 70 today. We'd also like to wish a happy birthday today to Columbus, Wisconsin native and Madison alum Bob Poser, who would have turned 102. He played in the majors in 1932 and 1935 as a member of two teams.