Major League Baseball Player, Horse Trainer. Signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, he played five seasons in the major leagues as a catcher with the Houston Colt .45s, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Braves, California Angels and Seattle Pilots. He was selected as the 17th pick in the 1961 Major League Expansion Draft by the Houston Colt .45s from the Milwaukee Braves. He made his major League debut on April 30, 1962 against the Philadelphia Phillies, and played his final major league game with the Seattle Pilots on September 30, 1969 against the Oakland Athletics. He was critically injured in a Pacific Coast League game between the Seattle Angels and Vancouver Mounties on May 11, 1966. Following a bench clearing brawl earlier in the game, that resulted from a hit batter, he was attacked from behind during a bunt play down the first base line, by Vancouver Mountie Santiago Rosario, who had charged Ranew from the on-deck circle. Rosario struck Ranew in the head with his bat, resulting in a three inch gash, partial facial paralysis and internal bleeding. Unconscious for the next three days following surgery to remove a blood clot, he remained in a local hospital near death for the next three weeks. The incident resulted in intense national media coverage, including a major write-up in "Sports Illustrated" magazine. Following recovery from his injuries, he returned to his career in the minor leagues before signing with the expansion American League Seattle Pilots. He appeared in 269 major league games, including 594 at bats, 54 RBIs, 8 home runs, and a lifetime .247 batting average. Following his baseball career, he spent the next three decades of his life as an award winning horse trainer and judge in Texas and Florida.
Major League Baseball Player, Horse Trainer. Signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, he played five seasons in the major leagues as a catcher with the Houston Colt .45s, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Braves, California Angels and Seattle Pilots. He was selected as the 17th pick in the 1961 Major League Expansion Draft by the Houston Colt .45s from the Milwaukee Braves. He made his major League debut on April 30, 1962 against the Philadelphia Phillies, and played his final major league game with the Seattle Pilots on September 30, 1969 against the Oakland Athletics. He was critically injured in a Pacific Coast League game between the Seattle Angels and Vancouver Mounties on May 11, 1966. Following a bench clearing brawl earlier in the game, that resulted from a hit batter, he was attacked from behind during a bunt play down the first base line, by Vancouver Mountie Santiago Rosario, who had charged Ranew from the on-deck circle. Rosario struck Ranew in the head with his bat, resulting in a three inch gash, partial facial paralysis and internal bleeding. Unconscious for the next three days following surgery to remove a blood clot, he remained in a local hospital near death for the next three weeks. The incident resulted in intense national media coverage, including a major write-up in "Sports Illustrated" magazine. Following recovery from his injuries, he returned to his career in the minor leagues before signing with the expansion American League Seattle Pilots. He appeared in 269 major league games, including 594 at bats, 54 RBIs, 8 home runs, and a lifetime .247 batting average. Following his baseball career, he spent the next three decades of his life as an award winning horse trainer and judge in Texas and Florida.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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