Tracy Ringolsby

Tracy Louis Ringolsby

• Born April 30, 1951 in Cheyenne, WY USA

Biographical Information

Known for his cowboy hat and nicknamed "The Cowboy", Tracy Ringolsby has covered baseball for a number of sources since 1976. He began his career with the United Press International wire service covering games in 1976 and 1977 when he moved to the Long Beach Press-Telegram to cover the California Angels. He later moved on to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (1980-1983), Kansas City Star (1983-1986), and the Dallas Morning News (1986-1991). Ringolsby also helped in establishing the weekly publication Baseball America in 1981.

In 1992, Ringolsby joined the Rocky Mountain News in preparation for the arrival of the Colorado Rockies. He covered Rockies games starting with the club's inception in 1993. This allowed Ringolsby to move back to his hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He also wrote a syndicated column from 1986-2009. In 2009, the Rocky Mountain News folded.

After the Rocky Mountain News ceased to exist, Ringolsby wrote for foxsports.com, Baseball America and PBR Magazine. He also became a pregame and postgame show analyst for FSN Network, which since became ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain, and an insider for the MLB Network. In addition to the television duties, Ringolsby wrote a column for FOXSports.com, before joining MLB.com in 2012.

Ringolsby is a past president of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He is a pioneer in the coverage of minor league players and baseball's labor situation. He has fought to have scouts recognized for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Ringolsby incited a minor controversy when he admitted he did not vote for Wade Boggs for induction to the Hall of Fame. Also in 2005, Ringolsby was awarded the Spink Award by the Hall of Fame for his work covering baseball.

Ringolsby received the Shining Star from the Colorado Press Associaiton in 2000, when he became the only sports writer ever nominated for the award. He received an honorary doctorate in letters from the University of Wyoming in May of 2009.

A long-time associate member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, he is on the executive committee of the National Western Stock Show. Ringolsby also is on the board of directors of the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation, and the University of Wyoming's Cowboy Joe Club.