Ron Davini
Encyclopedia
Ronald Lee Davini was a catcher who is most notable for winning the 1967 College World Series
Most Outstanding Player
award while a junior at Arizona State University
. He is one of five players from Arizona State University to win that award. The others are Sal Bando
, John Dolinsek
, Bob Horner and Stan Holmes
. Prior to playing collegiately, he attended Anaheim High School
.
He was also a Western Athletic Conference
All-Star twice (in 1967 and 1968).
He was drafted four times by big league teams. The first time, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox
in the 20th round of the 1965 amateur draft. He refused that. In 1967, he was drafted in the third round by the New York Yankees
. He refused that as well. In 1968, was drafted in the seventh round by the Cleveland Indians
, but once again, he refused to sign. Finally, after being drafted by the White Sox again in the first round (20th overall) of the 1969 draft, he did sign. Although he played professionally for five years, he never made it to the majors.
In his first year of professional baseball, 1969, he played for the Duluth-Superior Dukes
. With them, he hit .276 with four home runs in 66 games. He played for the Appleton Foxes in 1970, hitting .227 with five home runs in 91 games. Playing for the Lynchburg Twins in 1971, he hit .218 with four home runs in 115 games. He average again declined in 1972 as he played for the Tucson Toros
. He hit only .191 in 48 games. Finally, he played his final professional season in 1973 with the Iowa Oaks, hitting .250 in 24 at-bats.
Since 1992 he has worked for USA Baseball
. In 1997, he was selected the USA National Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year and in 2005 he won the National High School Baseball Coach of the Year Award. He also taught and coached at Corona del Sol High School
for 28 years, and at McClintock High School
for six.
He was the President of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association in 1997. Now he is serving as its Executive Director. He was inducted into the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as well.
In the National Baseball Hall of Fame, he has a spot dedicated to him because of his collegiate accomplishments.
1967 College World Series
The 1967 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 12 to June 18. The twenty-first tournament's champion was Arizona State University, coached by Bobby Winkles...
Most Outstanding Player
College World Series Most Outstanding Player
The College World Series Most Outstanding Player is an award for the best individual performance during the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The recipient of the award is announced at the completion of the College World Series Championship Game...
award while a junior at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. He is one of five players from Arizona State University to win that award. The others are Sal Bando
Sal Bando
Salvatore Leonard Bando is a former third baseman and executive in professional baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed. During the A's championship years of 1971-75, he captained the team and led the club in runs batted...
, John Dolinsek
John Dolinsek
John N. Dolinsek was an outfielder who is most notable for winning the 1969 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a junior at Arizona State University. He is one of five players from Arizona State University to win that award...
, Bob Horner and Stan Holmes
Stan Holmes
Stanley Craig Holmes was a college and minor league baseball outfielder who is most notable for winning the College World Series MVP award in 1981....
. Prior to playing collegiately, he attended Anaheim High School
Anaheim High School
Anaheim High School is a public, four-year high school in the city of Anaheim, California, United States. Anaheim High School was first established in 1898, which makes it the oldest of nine comprehensive high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District...
.
He was also a Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
All-Star twice (in 1967 and 1968).
He was drafted four times by big league teams. The first time, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the 20th round of the 1965 amateur draft. He refused that. In 1967, he was drafted in the third round by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He refused that as well. In 1968, was drafted in the seventh round by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland 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...
, but once again, he refused to sign. Finally, after being drafted by the White Sox again in the first round (20th overall) of the 1969 draft, he did sign. Although he played professionally for five years, he never made it to the majors.
In his first year of professional baseball, 1969, he played for the Duluth-Superior Dukes
Duluth-Superior Dukes (1960-1970 team)
For the independent league team, see Duluth-Superior DukesThe Duluth-Superior Dukes were a minor league baseball team that played from 1960 to 1970 in the Northern League. From 1960 to 1964, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers. In 1965, they were affiliated with the Tigers and Chicago...
. With them, he hit .276 with four home runs in 66 games. He played for the Appleton Foxes in 1970, hitting .227 with five home runs in 91 games. Playing for the Lynchburg Twins in 1971, he hit .218 with four home runs in 115 games. He average again declined in 1972 as he played for the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
. He hit only .191 in 48 games. Finally, he played his final professional season in 1973 with the Iowa Oaks, hitting .250 in 24 at-bats.
Since 1992 he has worked for USA Baseball
USA Baseball
USA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
. In 1997, he was selected the USA National Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year and in 2005 he won the National High School Baseball Coach of the Year Award. He also taught and coached at Corona del Sol High School
Corona Del Sol High School
Corona del Sol High School located in Tempe, Arizona, United States, was established in 1977 and is a part of the Tempe Union High School District. It was expanded in 1986. It was expanded again in 2001.-Campus:...
for 28 years, and at McClintock High School
McClintock High School
McClintock High School is located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately two miles southeast of the campus of Arizona State University. McClintock High School was established in 1964. McClintock moved to the Arizona 4A Conference beginning with the 2001-02 school year...
for six.
He was the President of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association in 1997. Now he is serving as its Executive Director. He was inducted into the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as well.
In the National Baseball Hall of Fame, he has a spot dedicated to him because of his collegiate accomplishments.