Ricky Williams was born May 27, 1977. After playing with the New Orleans Saints, and then the University of Texas Longhorns before him, he joined the Miami Dolphins as a running back in the National Football League. Ricky Williams has proven to be a valued player on any team that he plays for and, in certain respects, seems to be improving with age. This is a rare feat at running back. Many people don’t realize that Ricky played minor league baseball while he was in Austin, Texas.
Ricky was born on December 6, 1970 in San Diego. His parents split when Ricky was just six years old. Ricky was a high-achieving teenager at Patrick Henry High school in San Diego. He excelled in a variety of sports, including being a varsity player on track, baseball, and wrestling teams. Ricky received the San Diego paper’s coveted Offensive player of the year award after running for more than 2,000 yards and scoring 25 touchdowns. The award speaks volumes to Ricky Williams grid iron skills, given the San Diego population and the number of football players.
Williams’s promise on the field was not enough to keep him from choosing a baseball career. Most football fans think of Ricky Williams as a player for University of Texas Longhorns. However, he also played in minor league baseball for Philadelphia Phillies while playing for the UT Longhorns. Ricky Williams was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies eighth-round in 1995’s baseball draft.
Many people do not know Ricky Williams’s baseball career. It never took off. Williams was in Single A for four years, which is one of three minor league divisions, along with Double A and Triple A. Triple A, the highest minor league level before being called up into the major leagues, is where Williams spent four years. Most college football fans didn’t realize that Williams was also breaking records in college football running, including the most rush yards record. However, Williams spent his college football offseasons playing baseball.