Rick Wolff Named to NYS Baseball Hall of Fame
Rick Wolff, Clinton Pilots
The Wolff family is thrilled to share that Rick Wolff was named to the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame this year.
Rick Wolff was lucky enough to have two loves of his life: his wife, Trish Wolff, and baseball. As a natural athlete, Rick played (and excelled) at almost every sport as a kid. From football to basketball to track, Rick had an innate ability to deftly move around his opponents, using both speed and intellect, to give himself the competitive edge.
But baseball always stood out. Known as the “thinking man’s game,” baseball’s combination of strategy, skill, and psychological resilience appealed to Rick’s own tendency to analyze and then to act.
After a stellar high school career in Edgemont, NY, Rick joined the baseball team at Harvard. However, his coach there failed to see the potential that Rick had already seen in himself. Despite not getting much playing time in the Ivy League, Rick was undeterred. After all, he was an Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League All-Star and, as a sophomore, played in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Rick Wolff at Edgemont High School
Rick was drafted after his junior year at Harvard as a second baseman by the Detroit Tigers in the 33rd round of the 1972 amateur draft.
Rick recalled receiving the big news in his book, “What’s a Nice Harvard Boy Like You Doing in the Bushes?”
“I felt like exploding. I felt like running out of the house and into the street to shout to the world the incredible news. Imagine, after all the years of sweat and strain, of ups and downs, of successes and failures, to be chosen as one of the select few to play pro ball! It was simply a glorious, wonderful feeling.”
Of course, not all of his Harvard classmates understood the level of elation that Rick was feeling. One pal, after hearing the news, “cackled over the absurdity of someone taking a year off from Harvard to play a little boy’s game.”
After signing with the Tigers, Rick played for the Anderson Tigers in the Western Carolinas League, where he hit .246 with one home run and 26 runs batted in. The following year, Rick played for the Clinton Pilots in the Midwest League. He hit .229 with one home run and 25 RBI.
While Rick’s minor league career may have not taken him to the big leagues as a player, it cemented baseball’s role in his life. Not only did Rick’s time with Detroit help him secure his first book deal, but it also proved that he was able to incorporate the game into his professional life, no matter what kind of work he was pursuing.
He became a prominent book editor, working with best-selling business and sports authors (and athletes!) who all credited Rick with having the vision, the tenacity, and the brilliance to help them achieve their goals.
He became the first ever team psychologist for the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) where he worked with major leaguers on supporting their mental health in order to improve their on-field performance, resilience, and general well-being.
He became a beloved college coach, working with the baseball team at Mercy College, posting the highest winning percentage in school history with a 114-81-3 record.
Coaching at Mercy College
He became a nationally recognized sports parenting expert, speaking with parents, coaches, and kids on how to get the most out of their athletic careers at any competitive level. He made appearances on Oprah, “The Today Show,” ESPN, and other major television networks. He wrote countless articles for Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, and other major publications as well as dozens of critically acclaimed books.
He became a mainstay WFAN radio host, broadcasting his show, “The Sports Edge” for 25 years, answering topical questions on how youth sports was evolving and how parents and coaches could best support the kids playing the game.
And he even returned to the minor leagues at the age of 37, making a one-series comeback with the South Bend White Sox of the Midwest League, finishing the series 4-for-7 with a ground-rule double, three RBIs and a .571/.556/.714 slash line.
Rick Wolff playing in South Bend
In his Sports Illustrated piece about the big return, Rick wrote, “For a brief moment, I had been able to go back and experience minor league ball again: The unique smell of fresh pine tar. The grainy grip of a wooden bat. The sound of spikes clacking on a cement runway. That final pregame rush of adrenaline as you stand at attention during the national anthem. The playful but biting wit of teammates. And, of course, the pure joy of hitting a pitch solidly for a base hit.”
Rick didn’t just love baseball. It was a part of him. And his impact on the game will be felt for many generations to come.
The Wolff family would like to thank Rene LeRoux, Kevin Gallagher, and Pat Geoghegan for their support in this induction process.