John Ritchey

John Ritchey was born in San Diego, California, on January 5, 1923. John attended public schools in San Diego, including San Diego High School, from 1938-1942. John Ritchey passed away in January 2003; his siblings and friends are also deceased. After retiring from baseball, John volunteered to coach Boys Little League Baseball teams in San Diego. After retiring from baseball, John volunteered to coach Boys Little League Baseball teams in San Diego. After completing a year at SDSU, John enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943. He served in World War 11 in the Engineer Corps at Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and in the Philippines, working his way from private to staff sergeant.

After completing 27 months in the Army, 23 of them overseas, he was honorably discharged in 1946. He subsequently returned to SDSU to resume his academic studies and baseball.

On February 21, 2017, John was inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame. He was given this award at the 71st Annual "Salute to the Champions". On April 14, 2023, a mural of John was unveiled at SDHS near the new SDHS baseball field (photo above).

On April 17, 2023, the Padres with the Masons of California and Reality Changers presented Johnny Ritchey scholarship awards to ten senior high school students. The purpose of the Johnny Ritchey Scholarship Program is to allow deserving students in San Diego County to have an opportunity to attend college.

In 2013, the Padres honored John with a bronze bust displayed at the PCL Bar & Grill at Petco Park from 2013-2022. His bust is now displayed in the Western Metal Building at Petco Park. The bust is one of three Padre players displayed as a bust/statue at Petco Park.

On May 14, 2001, John was recognized as "One of the Top 26 Most Influential Individuals in San Diego Baseball, 1900 -1999". This award was given to John by The San Diego Ted Williams Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research. At SDSU, his 25 stolen bases were an Aztec record for 23 years. This happened in 1946, his second year at State. John won the Linn Platner Trophy as the Aztec player, with the highest batting average of .356.

The Ritchey Family has resided in San Diego, California since 1898. The family was one of the pioneer Black families to live here. John remained a dedicated family man throughout his career. When a reporter asked him whether he would take his wife and daughter with him to Venezuela in the winter of 1948-49, he replied, "I take them everywhere I go". After retiring from baseball, he and his family returned to San Diego, where he and his wife raised their three children.

From baseball, John transitioned into a business career where his last job was with Continental Baking Company, Wonderbread and Twinkies Cupcake Division. He was a route driver/salesman and became the number one salesman due to earning the highest gross sales. He maintained this status until his retirement at age 56.

As one of our dear friends, Bill Swank, who has written several books on San Diego baseball history, said, "John was a wonderful man." I cannot say enough good things about him. This man is a San Diego native; he played Pacific Coast League ball and broke the color barrier." "He was everything a baseball player and an American hero should be."