Saint Francis University Athletics Hall of Fame
Dominic Joseph “Mike” Ryba lettered in baseball at Saint Francis in 1924 and 1925 before signing a professional contract. The Delancey, Jefferson Country, Pa. native was hitting .745 as a first baseman for Saint Francis when he signed the contract.
Ryba had a professional career that spanned ten years and pitched in the 1946 World Series. He was a right-hander and played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1935–1938) and Boston Red Sox (1941–1946). In 1946, at the age of 43, he was the second-oldest player to appear in an American League game that season.
After his pitching career, Ryba managed in the Red Sox, Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds farm systems, coached for St. Louis from 1951–55, and scouted for the Cardinals and Reds until his death, at the age of 68 in 1971.
Ryba, who attended the Loretto campus on football and baseball scholarships, was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame in August of 2010. (The International League consists of AAA affiliates of Major League Baseball teams).
Ryba was the 1940 International League MVP when he led the league in wins and innings pitched. In two seasons (1939-40) with Rochester, which is now the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, Ryba posted a record of 42-20 and won the 1939 Governors Cup. His .677 winning percentage and 2.82 ERA rank fifth in franchise history. In 1939, Ryba won 18 games with a 2.69 ERA to lead Rochester to its first Governors Cup. He led the IL in complete games and shutouts in 1939 and 1940, and briefly managed Rochester during its pennant-winning season of 1940.
Saint Francis University is proud to honor Dominic Joseph “Mike” Ryba with induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame on this date, Saturday, February 5, 2011. Accepting this award on Ryba’s behalf is John Nagy.
