Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame inducts four area icons

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — There were seven new inductees into the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon. Many of them are familiar faces to the baseball community in the ICT.

Wichita native and former catcher Ronn Reynolds is on of them. Reynolds graduated from Southeast High School and led the Golden buffaloes to a State Championship in 1976. Reynolds then played at Garden City Community College and the University of Arkansas.

He was a part of the Razorbacks first ever runner-up finish in the College World Series. He was drafted to the Mets in the fifth round of the 1979 MLB draft and played in 143 games over six seasons.

“I had a great community when I was in high school playing in summer ball. So I think it’s just an honor. I’m glad it’s on me to be chosen, you know? So I’m treated with reverence and appreciation,” explained Reynolds.

Another inductee was Joe Ruocco, the infamous founder of Rock’s Dugout. He spent 45 years running the sports shop, which features bats, balls, gear, and hundreds of sports cards.

Ruocco got his foundation in Kansas while attending college in Dodge City. He then went on to be an elementary school teacher in Wichita for 34 years.

Ruocco’s shop opened in 1977 and still stands as Kansas’ oldest sports memorabilia shop. In 2022, Ruocco retired from his business and sold it to a dedicated customer. However, his legacy is still recognized by area sports fans, and he was reminded of that by many people at Sunday’s banquet.

“​It gives me the thought that I’m being recognized for the things that I brought to Wichita. Bringing in the big stars like Hank Aaron and Mark McGuire and Bob Gibson to Wichita so people could meet them up close,” said Ruocco.

Two other inductees both happened to be former Wichita State Shockers. First was former outfielder Andy Dirks, who is a Hutchinson native and played for the Blue Dragons at Hutchinson Community College for two seasons before transferring to WSU.

Dirks was named the Shockers Most Valuable Player and Most Inspirational Player. In 2008, he was drafted to Detroit in the eight round of the MLB draft.

“I was born and raised here, and it’s just really a genuine time for all those people who helped us along the journey. Gene Stevenson, Brent Kemnitz those guys throughout those journeys, you know, gave you the ability, the opportunity to pursue a career, right. Nobody has to give you an opportunity, but they chose to. The Kansas community helped me, you know, make it to the big leauges,” said Dirks.

The other WSU graduate recognized was Braden Looper, who made the College World Series field during his time with the Shockers. He only spent one season at WSU before getting drafted to St. Louis his sophomore year. In total, Looper spent 12 seasons in the major league.

“It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of years put in to, you know, it for me, it all started Wichita State as a freshman coming in here as a small town Oklahoma kid. But, you know, it means a lot and it’s special,” he explained.

All of Saturday’s inductees included:

• 1887 Topeka Golden Giants

• Joe Ruocco

• Ronn Reynolds

• Ted Power

• Braden Looper

• Andy Dirks

• Aaron Crow

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