On a warm summer day in 1966, the roar of the crowd echoed through the stadium as Rich Rollins stepped up to the plate, a moment that would forever be etched in baseball history. But beyond the stats and the accolades, Rich was a man of profound character—a loving husband and father, a mentor, and a friend. As we remember him today, we celebrate not just the player, but the incredible person he was.
A Passion for the Game
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Richard John Rollins—Rich to those who knew him—wasn’t just a talented third baseman for the Minnesota Twins. He was a quiet cornerstone of a team that helped shape Major League Baseball in the 1960s. Rich passed away this week on May 13, 2025, at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy of grit, humility, and timeless memories both on and off the field.
But to me, Rich was more than a ballplayer. I married his daughter, Ashlea Rollins, back in 1993. Over the years, I came to know the man behind the stats—kind, funny, and sharp as ever about the game he loved. And I’ll share some personal reflections at the end of this story. First, let’s take a look at the career that made him a standout to so many.
From Parma to the Pros
Rich was born on April 16, 1938, in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Parma. At Parma High School, he starred in baseball and basketball. He went on to Kent State University, where his athleticism blossomed.
He was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection at Kent State and led the team in batting average three straight years—peaking with a remarkable .399 in 1959. That same year, he was named team MVP. Despite his stellar college numbers, Rich was overlooked in the amateur draft system that existed at the time. But scout Frank Lane saw something special and signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1960.
Rich told me about attending a tryout camp, getting an offer, but turning it down. When he arrived back in Cleveland, he found out the Washington Senators (soon to become the Minnesota Twins) had increased their offer, both of pay and which minor league level he would begin. Rich decided his teaching career could wait.
Rising Through the Ranks
Rollins quickly worked his way up through the Twins’ farm system. In 1960, he debuted in Wilson (Carolina League) and hit .341. That performance fast-tracked him to Charlotte in 1961, where he continued to impress. Later that same year, he was promoted to the Twins and made his Major League debut on June 16, 1961.
The Minnesota Star Tribune wrote this: "After graduating in June 1960, he signed with the Washington Senators. He began his professional career with Wilson (N.C.) of the Class B Carolina League and hit .341 in 62 games. Rollins started the 1961 season with Class AAA Syracuse of the International League but after just one at-bat in three weeks he was sent to Charlotte of the Class A Sally League. While with Charlotte, where he hit .270 in 36 games, he was moved to third base. He was recalled the Twins, who were in their first season in Minnesota, in mid-June and made his debut on June 16. Rollins hit .294 in 13 games for the Twins."
Interestingly for me, some of Rich’s minor league games were played right here in Jacksonville - where I now work for WJXT, Channel 4. It’s one of those full-circle details that makes telling this story even more meaningful.
All-Star Breakout with the Twins
Rich’s breakout season came in 1962, when he batted .298 with 16 home runs, 96 RBIs, and scored 96 runs. His steady play earned him the most votes of any American League player that year, and he was selected as the starting third baseman for both All-Star Games (yes, there were two that year). Rich was nearly AL rookie of the year in 1962.
In the first All-Star Game on July 10 at D.C. Stadium, Rich was hit by a pitch from future Hall of Famer Don Drysdale in his first at-bat, but he later singled off Bob Purkey and scored the AL’s only run in a 3–1 loss. In the second All-Star Game on July 30 at Wrigley Field, he singled in his first at-bat and helped the AL to a 9–4 win.
In 1964, Rich led the American League in triples with 10. And in 1965, he was a key part of the Twins team that won the AL pennant and faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. He appeared in five of the seven games.
The week Ashlea and I got married, I took Rich, my father, and my grandfather to see an LA Dodgers game. Rich said it had been a long time since he was at Dodger Stadium. How long? Since the 1965 World Series.
Rich told me his most memorable baseball moment was facing Sandy Koufax in game 7 of that series. I couldn’t wait to hear what happened when Rich pinch hit in a tight game, eventually won 2-0 by the Dodgers. Rich drew a walk. I said, “Rich, a base on balls was your biggest moment? I don’t understand.”
Rich’s reply: “It was SANDY KOUFAX.”
Okay, noted. Koufax was that good, that legendary. And he didn’t get an out from Rich Rollins that day.
A Historic Inning: June 9, 1966
One unforgettable moment came on June 9, 1966. With the Twins trailing the Kansas City A’s, Rich pinch-hit for Bernie Allen (one of his best friends) and launched a two-run homer off a young Catfish Hunter, giving Minnesota a 5–4 lead. That home run sparked a historic inning.
The Twins hit five home runs in that seventh inning—an MLB record at the time. After Rich’s shot, Zoilo Versalles, Tony Oliva, Don Mincher, and Harmon Killebrew all went deep in succession off three different pitchers. It remains one of the most electrifying offensive bursts in baseball history. Manager Sam Mele joked that he was going to fine the hitter after Killebrew, Jimmy Hall. Hall doubled off the wall, instead of clearing the fence. “I’m going to fine Hall $100 for breaking up a rally,” Mele told reporters as he laughed.
The Final Seasons and Beyond
Rich continued playing for the Twins until 1968 before being selected by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 expansion draft. He later moved with the team to Milwaukee as they became the Brewers, and he wrapped up his career with the hometown Cleveland Indians in 1970.
Here’s an aside about playing in that single season of the Seattle Pilots’ existence. On his own birthday in 1969, Rich dropped his wife off at the hospital, who was pregnant and unable to wait for the end of another 9-inning affair with gloves, cleats, and bases on the diamond. Ironically, the Pilots were hosting the Twins.
On that day, his daughter was born. Lynn Rollins says she called the ballpark from the hospital, trying to get to the dugout or clubhouse. Instead, she got the press box. During the game came the breaking news from the public address announcer, ringing out across the stadium speakers: a child is born, and she’s a healthy little girl. Congratulations, Rich Rollins.
In 1973, not long after retiring from the game, Rich opened a baseball school in Rochester, Minnesota. It was hosted at the Minnesota Bible College campus and catered to players ages 8 to 19. The program emphasized both fundamentals and character development, and it reflected Rich’s deep love for the game and for mentoring the next generation.
He later worked in scouting and instruction, and even held a position in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office—his competitive spirit and leadership easily translating beyond baseball.
Rich was inducted into several halls of fame, including Kent State University’s Varsity “K” Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. But he remained modest, always more comfortable praising his teammates than talking about himself.
This Story is Personal
I am so grateful to have known Rich for more than three decades. I had the immense privilege of knowing Rich not just as a baseball legend, but as my father-in-law. As I mentioned earlier, in 1993, I married his daughter. When I met Ashlea Rollins the year before, I fell head over heels for her. And then, as a bonus to a young sportscaster, I discovered her family’s connections to professional sports through her father.
The first time I visited Cleveland to see my long-distance girlfriend (I was working in southern California), Rich and the family hosted me for an NBA game: the Cavaliers entertaining the Detroit Pistons in December 1992. It was a slugfest of very physical basketball. Even better, though, I met “Grams,” Rich’s mom, and I got a full dose of Midwest family in my few days in town. Three brothers, two sisters, and a lot of good-natured but very serious investigation of the guy trying to win the heart of their sister. The next time I visited the Rollins homestead in Broadview Heights, Ashlea had agreed to marry me.
From the moment Ashlea and I said, “I do,” Rich became more than a name in the record books - he became family in a more than a legal sense. Over the years, I came to appreciate not just his achievements on the field but the warmth, wisdom, and humility he brought into our lives. I am not too proud to admit, I got my fair share of Father-to-Son-in-law speeches. I deserved every one of them, I’m sure. And they made me a better person.
Rich told me unforgettable stories of his time in baseball, in addition to some tall tales from behind the scenes in the NBA. What he didn’t have to say was this: family is important. Loyalty is important. Conviction and consistency and grit is a recipe for success. He modeled that.
Rich’s stories of the diamond were captivating, but it was his character off the field that truly left a mark. Whether sharing tales of his playing days or offering guidance, he did so with a twinkle in his eye and a generous heart. His legacy isn’t just etched in baseball history, but in the hearts of those who had the honor of knowing him.
As I reflect on his life, I’m reminded of the countless ways he enriched ours, not just through his athletic prowess, but through his unwavering love and support.
Rest easy, Rich. Your legacy lives on, both in the annals of baseball and in the cherished memories we hold dear.
