Bio

Ricardo “Ric” Ramirez attended Chula Vista High School from 1986 to 1990. He competed on the Spartans’ varsity baseball, soccer, and water polo teams. A gifted and hardworking athlete, he was named to the All-Metro League teams in both baseball and water polo.

After graduation, Ricardo enrolled at Southwestern College in 1990. He joined the baseball team and was coached by Hall of Famer Jerry Bartow. As SWC’s third baseman, his performance was key to the success of the Apaches, and he was recognized and selected to the Pacific Coast All Conference Team. Recruiting college scouts also valued his stats and skills, and offered him a chance to play baseball at the four year level knowing he was an impact player who could make a difference.

After receiving an Associate’s Degree, he left Southern California for the Midwest. There, in 1992-93 as a junior he played intercollegiate baseball for upper Iowa University who made the Division III playoffs. In 1993-94 and missing California, Ricardo returned to play his final baseball season for the University of California, San Diego. Impressively, he led the Tritons with six home runs, batted .303 with 11 doubles, 24 runs, and 27 RBI’s; consequently, Ricardo helped the Tritons finish with a 33-8 overall record. Advancing through the playoffs, UCSD participated in the Division III College World Series reaching the Semifinals before losing to Wesleyan University.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and his California Elementary Teaching Credential from San Diego State University, Ricardo was hired to teach kindergarten at Castle Park Elementary School. There his outstanding teaching abilities were recognized when he was named Castle Park Elementary Teach of the Year. He currently teaches at Finney Elementary and continues to enjoy teaching young students.

Always the consummate teacher, Ricardo turned to Little League baseball to help his children and other young boys experience the joys of playing baseball as he did in his youth. For the past seven years he has coached a team in Park View Little League. Molding young minds, he was able to teach the boys the fundamentals of baseball while also having them learn how to compete and be mature as young men.

Ricardo’s coaching philosophy and abilities gained national attention when his team captured the 2009 United States Championship and the 2009 Little League World Series Title in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Impressively, his players demonstrated throughout the series not only what they had learned about baseball but what he had taught them about teamwork, integrity and sportsmanship. As a result, the Park View team personified respect, perseverance, and hope to a nation beaten down by political and financial hardships.

Baseball fans and regular citizens followed and cheered their success. Because of their outstanding achievement, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded Ricardo their Unity Award for 2010 for uniting the San Diego Region during the Little League World Series. And, on February 5, 2010, he and the Park View Champions were honored by the United States President Barack Obama and met with him in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. what an amazing memory for coaches, players, and their families!

Ricardo has been married for 15 years to his beautiful wife Kassandra (Klaser) Ramirez who is also being inducted this evening for her athletic contributions in Women’s Basketball and Volleyball. The Ramirez’s have two sons, Luke who played on the World Series team and Ben who is aspiring to go back to the World Series next year.

Ricardo’s fondest SWC memories are the lifelong friends he made while playing baseball for the Apaches and the cold oranges he received from Coach Bartow in recognition of some spectacular play he has just completed.

Congratulations Ricardo Ramirez! Southwestern College is distinctly honored tonight to acknowledge your athletic achievements, contributions as an elementary educator, Little League accomplishments, and to induct you into 2009-2010 Athletic Hall of Fame.