Ricky Horton
Encyclopedia
Ricky Ness Horton is an American
former Major League Baseball
player who pitched from 1984-1990. He was known as Ricky during his playing career, but now goes by Rick. He currently provides color commentary
for television broadcasts of the St. Louis Cardinals
on FSN Midwest
and fills on KMOX radio broadcasts.
, New York
. He graduated from F. D. Roosevelt high school
in nearby Hyde Park
. Horton attended and played college baseball at the University of Virginia
. During the 1980 season, the left-handed pitcher led the Cavaliers
in innings pitched (66.2), earned run average (2.70) and strikeouts (70).
.
In 1984, Horton won a career high 9 games as a rookie for the Cardinals. While with the Cardinals, he appeared in the 1985 World Series
and 1987 World Series
. He also pitched in the 1988 World Series
as a member of the Dodgers and got a championship ring.
In 2011, Horton posed as Chris Carpenter in game 7 in the World Series. Horton pitched 6 innings giving up 2 runs and striking out 5 batters in what some fans call "one of the best pitching performances" they had ever seen by somebody posing as another player.
farm system. In 1993, he became the director of the St. Louis Fellowship of Christian Athletes
. He remains the clubhouse chaplain and religious advisor for the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 1997, Horton began filling in on Cardinals television broadcasts on FSN Midwest and radio broadcasts on KMOX. In 2003, he joined the three-man FSN Midwest television broadcast team, working roughly 100 games per year as well as post-game analysis.
, shown pitching for the White Sox in a scene where Ray Kinsella's young daughter is watching baseball on television.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who pitched from 1984-1990. He was known as Ricky during his playing career, but now goes by Rick. He currently provides color commentary
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for television broadcasts of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
on FSN Midwest
FSN Midwest
Fox Sports Midwest is a regional sports network that operates in eastern and central Missouri , central & southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, Nebraska, and Iowa.-History:...
and fills on KMOX radio broadcasts.
Early life and amateur career
Horton was born in PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He graduated from F. D. Roosevelt high school
Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School (Hyde Park, New York)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School is a public located in Hyde Park, New York in Dutchess County. Named for a native son, the school serves about 1550 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Hyde Park Central School District...
in nearby Hyde Park
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
. Horton attended and played college baseball at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. During the 1980 season, the left-handed pitcher led the Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers baseball
The Virginia Cavaliers baseball team represents the University of Virginia in NCAA Division I college baseball. Established in 1889, the team participates in the Coastal division of the Atlantic Coast Conference and plays its home games at Davenport Field. There was discussion at one time to...
in innings pitched (66.2), earned run average (2.70) and strikeouts (70).
Playing career
Horton was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 4th round of the 1980 amateur draft. Horton's first major league hit came on May 21, 1984, off Nolan RyanNolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
.
In 1984, Horton won a career high 9 games as a rookie for the Cardinals. While with the Cardinals, he appeared in the 1985 World Series
1985 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 19, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri-Game 2:Sunday, October 20, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri...
and 1987 World Series
1987 World Series
The 1987 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins versus the St. Louis Cardinals.Minnesota was victorious in a World Series that was the first in which the home team won every game...
. He also pitched in the 1988 World Series
1988 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 15, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaBecause of using ace Orel Hershiser in Game 7 of the NLCS, the Dodgers had to open with rookie Tim Belcher in Game 1. Meanwhile, Oakland sent a well-rested Dave Stewart to the mound. Both pitchers, however, would have...
as a member of the Dodgers and got a championship ring.
In 2011, Horton posed as Chris Carpenter in game 7 in the World Series. Horton pitched 6 innings giving up 2 runs and striking out 5 batters in what some fans call "one of the best pitching performances" they had ever seen by somebody posing as another player.
Post-playing career
In 1991, Horton was a minor league pitching coach in the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
farm system. In 1993, he became the director of the St. Louis Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
. He remains the clubhouse chaplain and religious advisor for the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 1997, Horton began filling in on Cardinals television broadcasts on FSN Midwest and radio broadcasts on KMOX. In 2003, he joined the three-man FSN Midwest television broadcast team, working roughly 100 games per year as well as post-game analysis.
Field of Dreams
Horton briefly appeared in the film Field of DreamsField of Dreams
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson and is from the novel Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella...
, shown pitching for the White Sox in a scene where Ray Kinsella's young daughter is watching baseball on television.