Rick Rhoden

Class of: 1999

Sport: Baseball

Team: Albuquerque
Daytona Beach
El Paso
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Yankees
Pittsburgh Pirates

School: Atlantic High School

Richard Alan Rhoden was born on May 16, 1953 in Boynton Beach, FL. Overcoming a childhood bone disease called osteomyelitis, he attended Atlantic High School in Delray Beach. There, he became the star pitcher for the school’s baseball team. Instead of attending college in 1971 after graduation, Rhoden elected to play minor league baseball.

From 1971 to 1974, he played minor league baseball for Daytona Beach, El Paso, and Albuquerque. In 1974, he was called up to the majors by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 5th. From there, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the New York Yankees, and the Houston Astros. His final game was with the Astros on September 29, 1989. During his baseball career, Rhoden batted .238 with nine home runs and 75 RBI. His career highlights were: two-time All-Star selection (1976, 1986) and three-time Silver Slugger Award (1984, 1985, 1986).

Since his retirement from baseball, Rhoden has picked up a new professional sport – golf. Qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open and becoming a dominant player of the Celebrity Players Tour, he has played in a number of Champions Tour events. Rhoden has won the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic eight times.