LaPorte, IN

A LaPorte, Indiana native he played three sports while in high school and excelled in all three, receiving scholarship offers in all three sports. Turned down a bonus offer from Kansas City Royals to sign a scholarship to play basketball, his first love, at Notre Dame. Still holds the single season rebound record averaging 17 rebounds per game during his junior year. After graduation he signed with Detroit Pistons of NBA. In 1965 he also signed a minor league baseball contract with the then Milwaukee Braves. In 1966 the Braves move to Atlanta. During the next two years Ron played both sports but then decided to devote full time to baseball and played seven years in Atlanta. In 1969 he won 18 games when Braves won the Western Division and lost to the "miracle Mets" in the playoffs. The night Henry Aaron hit his 715^th home run to break "the Babe’s" record Ron was the starting and winning pitcher. A one year stint in St. Louis he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies and played for eight years. In those eight years he played in five playoffs and two World Series---winning the ’80 World Series and losing the ’83 Series to Baltimore. His final professional baseball year was 1984 with the Chicago White Sox.

Ron played two years with the NBA and 17 years major league baseball. In 1968 he played for the National League All-Stars in his rookie season. Won 146 games and had 140 saves as a reliever. He is the only athlete from LaPorte to play in the NBA or Major League Baseball. His favorite record as a starting pitcher is pitching 251 innings in one year and allowing only five home runs which is the modern day record for fewest home runs allowed with at least 250 innings. Tied with one other major league pitcher for that recognition

Currently residing in the Atlanta, GA area and is a Vice President for Development for MARKETING EVENT PARTNERS, INC.