From SABR Encyclopedia
| John Franklin Ritchey
|
| "Hoss"
|
| Bat/Throw:
| L/R
|
| Height:
| 5' 10"
|
| Weight:
| 180
|
| Born:
| 1923-1-5 at San Diego, CA (US)
|
| Died:
| 2003-1-14 at Chula Vista, CA (US)
|
| SABR Searches: | Pictures of John Ritchey | width:90% height:65% scrolling:auto | Pictures}} · Bibliography
|
John Ritchey was a professional player.
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Profile
Personal
- Resided in San Diego, California in 1953.
- Self-identified as being of African-American and Spanish ancestry.
Pre-professional career
- Attended high school in San Diego, California.
- Won three letters in baseball and was named to the all-city team each year in high school.
- Was named All-Southern California in baseball as a senior in high school.
- Attended San Diego State.
- Won two letters in baseball and one in football at San Diego State.
- Made all-California Collegiate nines in 1942 and 1946.
- Played American Legion baseball.
- Played one year in the Negro American League with the Chicago Giants.
Achievements
- Led the 1947 Negro American League in batting average.
- Led the 1951 Western International League in batting average with .346.
Contract signing
- Was the first Negro to sign a Pacific Coast League contract, signing with San Diego in 1948.
Sources
- 1953 Pacific Coast League Sketch Book.
