George Washington University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1999
- Class:
- 1986
Gregory A. Ritchie, a Washington native and a high school star at North Stafford, Va., was an outstanding baseball player at GW for four seasons (1982-86). While this outfielder-pitcher's senior campaign was his best--batting .492 during the regular season, second highest in the nation, and notching a 6-3 record as a pitcher with a stingy 1.91 ERA--his entire GW career was noteworthy. Twice Ritchie led his team in batting (.492 and '86 and .390 in '84). And another time he batted above .400 (.406 as a junior in 1985.) Even as a freshman he managed to hit .319 in 47 games. Three times he was named an All-Atlantic 10 outfielder.
After earning team MVP honors, being named Atlantic 10 Conference "Player of the Year" and winning All-America third team honors by the National Baseball Coaches Association in 1986, Ritchie was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the eighth round. He played seven years in the Giants system, including three at the Triple A level at Phoenix, before concluding his playing career in 1995 in the Texas Rangers' organization at its Triple A affiliate at Oklahoma City.
Having initially gained coaching experience while serving for three off-seasons as assistant baseball coach at Mary Washington College ('87-89), and also helping three GW coaches. Ritchie became a batting instructor in the Chicago White Sox organization in 1996. Ritchie is currently the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates after serving as minor league hitting instructor for the previous five seasons.
Ritchie and his wife, the former Kelly Siegel--also an '86 GW grad and a member of the Colonials Rowing team-- have four children: Kaetlin, Logan, Riley and Arizona.
