in the major leagues and, he also helped Gus Triandos become a respectable catcher. He is known for designing the oversized catcher's mitt first used by Triandos to catch Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm. Despite his skills as a motivator, mentor and strategist of the game, Richards never was able to lead a team to a pennant. Sixteen of his players became major league managers. Richards died of a heart attack in Waxahachie, Texas at the age of 77. In 1996, Richards was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Paul Richards Park in Waxahachie has been named a Texas Historical Landmark. Waxahachie swap Beginning in 1951, Richards reintroduced and was erroneously credited with inventing a tactic which had not been used in the major leagues since 1909. Four or five times in his career, Richards shifted a pitcher to the outfield and inserted a new pitcher in order to gain a platoon advantage before putting the original pitcher back on the mound. Rob Neyer, writing for ESPN.com in 2009, endorsed a reader's suggestion and introduced a name for the gambit, "the Waxahachie Swap." Managerial record Notes and references Further reading Richards, Paul (January 22, 1952). "Need 'Punch' to Bolster Good Hurling". New York Daily News. Trimble, Joe (September 11, 1954). "Richards to Quit Chisox, Take Over as Birds' Boss". New York Daily News. External links Baseball Hall of Fame candidate profile Baseball Almanac Georgia Sports Hall of Fame 1908 births 1986 deaths Asheville Tourists players Atlanta Braves executives Atlanta Crackers managers Atlanta Crackers players Baltimore Orioles executives Baltimore Orioles managers Baseball players from Texas Brooklyn Dodgers players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) managers Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Chicago White Sox managers Crisfield Crabbers players Detroit Tigers players Hartford Senators players Houston Astros executives Houston Colt .45s executives Macon Peaches players Major League Baseball catchers Major League Baseball executives Major League Baseball general managers Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players Minor league baseball managers Muskogee Chiefs players New York Giants (NL) players People from Waxahachie, Texas Philadelphia Athletics players Pittsfield Hillies players Waterbury Brasscos players