Rich Ritzheimer

Richard F. Ritzheimer

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.
• School Western Illinois University, Quincy University
• High School Aviston High School
• Born August 14, 1931 in Trenton, IL USA
• Died January 22, 2013 in Belleville, IL USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Rich Ritzheimer played in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system during the 1950's. He began his professional career with the Mount Vernon Kings of the Class D Mississippi-Ohio Valley League in 1953. He hit .249/.334/.287 over 75 games for the Kings and fielded .916 as their main shortstop.

In 1956, Ritzheimer split his time between the Kokomo Dodgers and the Hornell Dodgers. He hit just .210 over 55 games. One of his teammates at Hornell was a 17-year-old Tommy Davis who went on to a long major league career with two batting titles.

In between his two stints in minor league baseball, he served in the US Army. Following his baseball career, he had a long career as an educator and baseball coach (at Wesclin High School). Rich died of bone cancer in 2013.

Sources include 1954 Baseball Guide, Obituary