Richard Carlton Matula is a former professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played in Major League Baseballfrom 1979 to 1981 for the Atlanta Braves. His last name is pronounced MUTT-TA-LA. Matula was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 16th round of the 1972 amateur draft. However, he chose not to sign, instead going on to attend Sam Houston State University. He was drafted again by the Braves in the 14th round of the 1976 amateur draft, and after signing was assigned to the Kingsport Braves. There, Matula went 3-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 20 appearances. He also appeared in three games for the Greenwood Braves, posting a 1-0 record and 7.50 ERA in six innings. Overall that season, Matula went 4-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 54 innings. In 1977, Matula split time between the Greenwood Braves and Savannah Braves. With Greenwood, he went 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings of work. With Savannah, he went 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 100 innings. Combined, he went 10-6 with a 3.05 ERA. Matula went a combined 10-5 with a 3.12 ERA in 127 innings in 1978. He split time between the Savannah Braves and Richmond Braves. 

November 22nd, 1953 in Wharton (Age 71)