Diamond/Priest

[awp]

Just came across this story (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Oakland-As-prospect-leaving-baseball-for-priesthood-012210), and I thought it was pretty crazy...~AWP

[Stuck in Seattle]

Just came across this story (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Oakland-As-prospect-leaving-baseball-for-priesthood-012210), and I thought it was pretty crazy...~AWP
AW, did you ever hear of Rob Richie? He grew up in my home town of Hawthorne, NV, transferred to Reno for HS to improve his baseball skills (Hug I think) and went on to be drafted in the second round (53rd overall) by Detroit in 1987. At age 23 after a year in the minors he was called up late in the season and played 19 games with the Tigers and hit for a .265 average and an 820 OPS. He was being touted as a rookie of the year candidate for the following season. That season never came. He quit because he didn't think MLB fit with his religion, Jehovah's Witness. That was the end of his baseball career. He was certainly as nice a guy as you could hope to meet, but wow.

[awp]

I never heard that story SiS, but that's right there in line with this kid. ~AWP

[Posturedoc]

AW, did you ever hear of Rob Richie? He grew up in my home town of Hawthorne, NV, transferred to Reno for HS to improve his baseball skills (Hug I think) and went on to be drafted in the second round (53rd overall) by Detroit in 1987. At age 23 after a year in the minors he was called up late in the season and played 19 games with the Tigers and hit for a .265 average and an 820 OPS. He was being touted as a rookie of the year candidate for the following season. That season never came. He quit because he didn't think MLB fit with his religion, Jehovah's Witness. That was the end of his baseball career. He was certainly as nice a guy as you could hope to meet, but wow.

Rob was a year behind me at Hug - played basketball with him my senior year. He was a really great guy. I know the woman he married (dating at that time). She was, I believe, a year behind him in school and had a sister in my class, who was very nice. That's all beside the point. I talked to Rob for a brief period when he came back to Reno for the Nevada HOF ceremony. He's remarried with at least one kid, lives (at that time, 5,6,7 years ago or so if memory serves) in Memphis and was, I believe, a police officer or something related. He struck me again as a super nice guy. I'm pretty sure he left the church a long time ago. I would think he has 'what if' thoughts from time to time.

[Stuck in Seattle]

Rob was a year behind me at Hug - played basketball with him my senior year. He was a really great guy. I know the woman he married (dating at that time). She was, I believe, a year behind him in school and had a sister in my class, who was very nice. That's all beside the point. I talked to Rob for a brief period when he came back to Reno for the Nevada HOF ceremony. He's remarried with at least one kid, lives (at that time, 5,6,7 years ago or so if memory serves) in Memphis and was, I believe, a police officer or something related. He struck me again as a super nice guy. I'm pretty sure he left the church a long time ago. I would think he has 'what if' thoughts from time to time.
I'm guessing that sister was Nicole? He was two years ahead of me at Nevada (though about 4 years younger than me) and we always talked when we saw each other. He was just a great guy back then and probably still is. His whole family was nice.

[Posturedoc]

I'm guessing that sister was Nicole? He was two years ahead of me at Nevada (though about 4 years younger than me) and we always talked when we saw each other. He was just a great guy back then and probably still is. His whole family was nice.

Nope, it was Lorelle, though I should probably consult a yearbook to make sure I remember her name correctly. The sister in my class was Lorinda, who looked nothing at all like Lorelle. I don't think I ever met Nicole. She must be younger than L & L.

[packwackthewac]

My older brothers played baseball with Ritchie at Hug and apparently he was nothing short of amazing. Some of the home runs he hit went a long, long way. One might argue he is the best athlete this area has produced from what I have heard. But I guess we will never know for sure.