| BAHS Hall of Fame |
Broken Arrow High School Athletics
Richard Spradling
He first won attention with his pitching arm and his hitting from either the left or right side of
the plate. By the time he graduated from Broken Arrow High School, he was gaining as
much attention for his speed and toughness on the football field. But Richard Spradling
was saving his biggest accomplishments for his years after graduation, when he developed
into a nationally recognized weightlifter.
Although he had early success in baseball, including several no-hitters, it was 1964 while
playing for a 13-14 year old team that Spradling made the sports pages of the Tulsa
Tribune. He had pitched four no-hitters that summer, with a record of 13-1, striking out 190
and walking only 15 during that span. In one inning of one game Richard crashed two
grand-slam home runs – one from each side of the plate. His baseball success continued
through high school and on into college. He was a 4-year starter, with a 19-6 record as a
pitcher. He was also a standout pitcher for Southwestern State College.
As a junior in 1966, Spradling played for Coach Lee Snider on one of the most exciting –
and successful – Tiger football teams of that era. It was a team loaded with stars, but he
made his presence felt because of his speed and toughness and versatility. Listed as a
halfback, Spradling was sometimes called on to play quarterback. And when he did, he was
in the game to run, not pass. At 5-foot-5 and 155 pounds, he was hard to find and harder
to catch. In a game against Okmulgee his senior year he scored three of the four BA
touchdowns – including a 90-yard kickoff return. His season ended when he was injured
against Miami. But he wound up making Honorable Mention All-State and the Six Lakes All-
Conference team.
Retiring in 1993, he still makes Broken Arrow his home and has a successful business here.
Broken Arrow High School is proud to induct Richard Spradling into its Athletic Hall of
Fame.
He first won attention with his pitching arm and his hitting from either the left or right side of
the plate. By the time he graduated from Broken Arrow High School, he was gaining as
much attention for his speed and toughness on the football field. But Richard Spradling
was saving his biggest accomplishments for his years after graduation, when he developed
into a nationally recognized weightlifter.
Although he had early success in baseball, including several no-hitters, it was 1964 while
playing for a 13-14 year old team that Spradling made the sports pages of the Tulsa
Tribune. He had pitched four no-hitters that summer, with a record of 13-1, striking out 190
and walking only 15 during that span. In one inning of one game Richard crashed two
grand-slam home runs – one from each side of the plate. His baseball success continued
through high school and on into college. He was a 4-year starter, with a 19-6 record as a
pitcher. He was also a standout pitcher for Southwestern State College.
As a junior in 1966, Spradling played for Coach Lee Snider on one of the most exciting –
and successful – Tiger football teams of that era. It was a team loaded with stars, but he
made his presence felt because of his speed and toughness and versatility. Listed as a
halfback, Spradling was sometimes called on to play quarterback. And when he did, he was
in the game to run, not pass. At 5-foot-5 and 155 pounds, he was hard to find and harder
to catch. In a game against Okmulgee his senior year he scored three of the four BA
touchdowns – including a 90-yard kickoff return. His season ended when he was injured
against Miami. But he wound up making Honorable Mention All-State and the Six Lakes All-
Conference team.
Retiring in 1993, he still makes Broken Arrow his home and has a successful business here.
Broken Arrow High School is proud to induct Richard Spradling into its Athletic Hall of
Fame.