Rick Ownbey

Richard Wayne Ownbey

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 185 lb.
• School Santa Ana College
• High School Savanna High School
• Debut August 17, 1982
• Final Game July 3, 1986
• Born October 20, 1957 in Corona, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Rick Ownbey graduated from Savanna High School in Anaheim, CA where he failed to make the school's baseball team as he stood at 5'7" and was only 16 years old. Following high school, Ownbey worked at a lock factory, making $5 an hour and playing in Sunday amateur baseball leagues. When he was 20, he had grown to 6'3" and was invited out to play for Santa Ana College's team. He was drafted for the first time in the January 1979 amateur draft, in the 4th round, by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ownbey did not sign and played another year for Santa Ana. He was again drafted in the 1980 amateur draft in the 13th round, when he signed with the New York Mets. He would go on to make his major league debut in 1982.

He is best remembered for going with Neil Allen to the St. Louis Cardinals in the June 1983 trade that brought Keith Hernandez to the Mets - a crucial turning point in the Mets' revival from several dreary years. Ownbey would get a few cups of coffee in St. Louis but ultimately would spend his time in Triple-A with the Louisville Redbirds.

Ownbey became a free agent at the end of the 1986 season before signing with the Kansas City Royals for the 1987 season. He pitched in 4 games for the Double-A [[[Memphis Chicks]] before injuries caused him to hang up his cleats.

He was elected to his college's hall of fame in 2006.

Sources

• Santa Ana Bio