Feb. 10, 2011
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) Former UNLV Rebel baseball All-American and Major League All-Star Ryan Ludwick will be honored by having his jersey retired prior to the start of the Runnin’ Rebels’ basketball game against No. 6/6 San Diego State University on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m..
“It’s an unbelievable honor,” said Ludwick. “Definitely one of the top two highlights of my baseball career. Matt Williams and Fred Dallimore are the only two other guys there, and for the long tradition and history behind the Rebel baseball program, to be one of only three is pretty special.”
A former Rebel standout from 1997-99, Ludwick enjoyed a stellar three-year career at UNLV. After leading the Rebels in at bats, hits, RBI, home runs and total bases during his freshman season, he was tabbed a First Team Freshman All-American.
After again leading the Rebels offense his sophomore season, Ryan was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference team. Following a spectacular junior season in which he led the team in at-bats, runs scored, hits RBI, home runs, total bases, stolen bases and walks; recorded eight consecutive hits on two occasions and hit three home runs in a single game, Ryan was once again named to the All-Western Athletic Conference team. He is still ranked among UNLV’s leaders in several offensive categories, including fourth on the all-time home runs list.
“I still follow the team every year,” added Ludwick. “I’m really excited about Coach Chambers coming in. I had the opportunity to play against his teams at Bishop Gorman when I was in high school. He did great things at CSN and I think he will do the same at UNLV. He’s also been around the area for so long that I think you’re going to start seeing some of those kids that escaped to Arizona State, Arizona, or the California programs start sticking around.”
Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 1999 amateur draft, he made his professional debut in 2002 with the Texas Rangers. Following successful seasons with the Rangers and Cleveland Indians, Ludwick earned a starting role in the outfield for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008, a year in which he would be named to his first All-Star Game, played at Yankee Stadium.
He went on to win a Silver Slugger Award following 2008 for his dominating performance at the plate which included hitting 37 home runs. In 2009 he earned the National League Player of the Month after hitting .340 with six home runs and a league-leading 28 RBI.
Ludwick was involved in a three-team trade that sent him to the San Diego Padres in July and will enter his ninth season as a professional baseball player this year.
