Baseball (1975-78)

Ronnie Gooch made his mark as a prominent player in the great Savage baseball tradition. Born April 16, 1957 in Thomas, Oklahoma, he grew up in Midwest City where he was an outstanding four-sport athlete. He was a football quarterback, a basketball point guard, and Oklahoma All-State baseball infielder, and he won a state championship in wrestling.

Gooch was recruited to Southeastern Oklahoma State University by baseball coach Don Parham. He found immediate success as a second baseman on Savage teams that won three Oklahoma Collegiate Conference championships and played in the NAIA College World Series as they posted a three year record of 142-31.

He was a key part of Southeastern’s baseball success. He was an outstanding defensive second baseman who could run, hit, and hit for power. The 1977 Savages posted a 56-8 record and reached the national finals before losing the championship game 2-1 in the NAIA College World Series. He was selected for the World Series All-Tournament Team.

Gooch was twice an All-Conference selection, and in 1978 he was named the Oklahoma Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. He was also selected as an NAIA All-American.

Gooch passed up his senior year at Southeastern after being drafted by the Texas Rangers. He played five years in professional baseball, mostly at the AA and AAA levels. He suffered a broken wrist in 1980 and a knee injury in 1982 that ended his career.

Ronnie Gooch was one of the great players who helped make the Savages a national power in college baseball. The university officially honored him by his induction into the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame on February 23, 2002.