Former Dukes, Pirates player Ricketts dies

By Dave Mackall
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/
Monday, July 14, 2008

1968 Topps

Dave Ricketts, a former player and coach for the Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals who earlier teamed with his older brother, All-American Dick Ricketts, to play basketball for Duquesne University, died Sunday in St. Louis.

Dave Ricketts, a native of Pottstown, Montgomery County, turned 73 on Saturday. He died of renal cancer, according to the Cardinals, who concluded a series yesterday at PNC Park with an 11-6 victory over the Pirates.

Duquesne basketball coach Ron Everhart recalled Ricketts' visit to his team's locker room before a Jan. 6, 2007, Atlantic 10 Conference game at Saint Louis.

"He was unbelievable. He was just great with our guys," Everhart said. "You could tell when he was talking with our guys that he had such a competitive spirit. And he was very proud of Duquesne University. You could tell by the way he talked that he had a great experience at Duquesne."

Everhart paused for moment, then added, "We went out and won that game."

Dick Ricketts, Duquesne's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, was the first overall pick in the 1955 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He played three years in the NBA and one in the big leagues with the Cardinals.

Meanwhile, Dave Ricketts, a catcher, began a big-league career with the Cardinals in 1963.

Former Pirates MVP shortstop Dick Groat, who played for the Cardinals from 1963-65, remembered the Ricketts brothers from their basketball-playing days. Groat also was an All-American at Duke.

"I knew Dave and thought the world of him," Groat said. "He and Dick were two of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet."

1970 Topps

Groat's only playing time against the Ricketts in basketball came during a charity game in 1955 in Pittsburgh, when Groat was playing for a traveling Army team while stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va.

"That Duquesne team went on to beat us in what turned out to be a tremendous game. They were a great, great team," Groat said.

Dave Ricketts was remembered by those in the Cardinals organization for his "passion" for life.

"Sometimes, the word 'great' gets overused," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told mlb.com. "There have been some truly great Cardinals who have come through the organization, but I don't know anyone greater or more beloved than Dave Ricketts."

Ricketts, who earned World Series rings with the Cardinals in 1967 and the Pirates in '71, was known mainly for his teaching ability.

"He was totally dedicated to the game, to the team he worked for," Pirates broadcaster and former pitcher Steve Blass told mlb.com. "I've never seen a coach work harder than Dave Ricketts."

Dave Mackall can be reached at dmackall@tribweb.com or 412-380-5617.