Rick was the starting pitcher for the Troy Buchanan High School Varsity baseball team from 1967-1970 with a won-lost of 35-3, including 3 no hitters. He was selected All-Conference all 4 years in the East Missouri Conference. He was scouted by 11 Major League teams and several college universities and in June 1971 was drafted and signed by the Cleveland Indians and played professional baseball with Cleveland organization for 5 years. In 1971 was selected to the Gulf Coast League All-Star team.

He was a player and manager in the East Missouri Baseball Association from 1975-1985 and was an All-Star team selection numerous years as a player and was the manager of the West League All-Star team in 1985.

He was a member of the 1977 Flint Hill E.M.B.A. Championship team. He was treasurer and vice-president of the E.M.B.A. from 1984-1998.

He was a Little League manager from 1995-2004. He was a ceremonial first-pitch honoree for the new Troy Buchanan High School baseball facility in 2000. He was inducted into the St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He was pitching coach for the Troy American Legion Baseball team from 2005-2007. He was vice-president and president of the Troy Baseball & Softball League from 2003-2023 and as president introduced and organized a T.B.S.L. T-Ball league and helped initiate and establish a baseball program for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs.

He was inducted into the inaugural Troy Buchanan High School Trojan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024. He was the president of the Lincoln County Athletic Association from 2012-2025.