Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1979
- Class:
- 1960
Richard "Rich" John Rollins - Graduated from KSU (B.S. HPER, 1960)…Born April 16, 1938 in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania…Graduated from Parma Senior High School…Three-year letterman on Kent State Baseball Team…Finished career with a .389 batting average for second best in school’s history behind Thurman Munson’s .390 average…Selected to All Mid-American Conference first team three times (1958, 59, 60) at second base…Team captain of 1959 squad and co-captain of 1960 team…Had batting averages of .378 in 1958, .429 in 1959, and .358 in 1960…Signed major league contract with the Washington Senators…Moved with Senators to Minnesota and became a standout third baseman for the Twins…Named the American League’s “Rookie of the Year” in 1962…Played with the Minnesota Twins in the 1965 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers…Later played for then-expansion Seattle Pilots and finally the Cleveland Indians before retiring…Presently associated with the Indians in an administrative capacity...While at Kent, played for “Moose” Paskert and teamed with another future major leaguer, shortstop Gene Michael.
