Tramel: Former OU star Ryan Minor thinking of his daughters as he fights Stage IV cancer

The same thing that would scare you, scares Ryan Minor.

Whoever thought of Ryan Minor being scared? To Oklahomans, he’s been a Marlboro Man for three decades, a tough, stoic, rugged, active western Oklahoman.

But now Minor is scared. Scared that daughters Regan, 16, and Finley, 9, might be fatherless.

Minor discovered in September that he has Stage IV colon cancer, which has spread to his liver, and he’s been told he’s not a candidate for surgery, because the tumor is too big.

“It’s tough,” Minor said this week from his home in Salisbury, Maryland. “Knowing how young our kids are, and not growing up with a father, if something would happen. That’s one of the most difficult things you think about.

“That’s why I try to fight as much as I can.”

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The stunning news from Maryland’s Eastern Shore came last week, when Ryan’s twin brother, Damon, a fellow Major League Baseball alum, shared the gut punch via social media.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page for assistance with medical bills.

“I’ve always been that guy that could handle anything,” Minor said with a halting voice. Now, "you don’t really have any control.”

The Minor twins, now 48, were high school legends at Hammon High School. Ryan was a two-sport star at OU. Not just all-tournament at the 1994 College World Series, won by the Sooners, but also a basketball all-American. Drafted by the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and MLB's Baltimore Orioles.

Minor replaced Cal Ripken Jr. in the Oriole lineup after 2,632 straight Ripken starts. Minor played three seasons with Baltimore, one with Montreal, and in 2006 returned to the Oriole organization as a minor-league coach and manager.

Minor managed the Frederick Keys and Delmarva Shorebirds, both Maryland teams. He had married a Maryland girl, started a family and settled in Salisbury.

When the Orioles reshuffled their organization after the 2019 season, Minor joined the Detroit Tigers, managing their team in the Florida rookie league. But last off-season, the Tigers revamped their organization, and Minor again was out of a job. He had some interviews for the 2022 season, but nothing materialized.

Minor took a sales position in Salisbury. For the first time in forever, he didn’t have a baseball physical examination. Minor didn’t feel well during the summer, felt lethargic, and finally in September went to a minor-emergency clinic. A doctor there sent him to the emergency room. The hospital admitted him, ran bloodwork and discovered the awful news.

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Minor has undergone three chemotherapy treatments and is headed to Baltimore’s famed Johns Hopkins Hospital next week to discuss what else can be done to shrink the tumor or slow its growth.

The 6-foot-7 Minor has lost 70 pounds, back to his college weight.

“It’s been pretty rough,” Minor said. “I’m on a pretty aggressive regiment. That’s why my voice is kind of shaky.”

The chemo comes every two weeks. The first week after treatment is rough.

“You don’t realize how tough it is and how tough some people are that go through it,” Minor said.

His wife, Allyson, is in that group. Their 16-year-old daughter is special needs.

“A lot fell on Allyson’s plate,” Minor said. “She’s doing good. She’s done a tremendous job. She doesn’t show a lot of emotion. I’ve been really proud of how she’s handled this.”

But it can’t be easy. Especially with the same fears her husband has.

The Minor twins talk most every day. Damon and his family live on the other side of the country, in suburban Phoenix.

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“He’s been real supportive,” Ryan Minor said. “It hit him pretty hard as well. But I think he’s holding up. We talk pretty much every day. Still as close as ever.”

In the last week, the Minors have been overwhelmed with the outshowing of support. From the baseball community. From teammates and classmates at Hammon and OU. From his college basketball coach, Kelvin Sampson. From fans who remember glory days in Oklahoma.

“Been a long time,” Minor said of his final Sooner seasons, 27 years ago. “People still want to talk about my days there … it’s really remarkable that I feel like I had some type of impact on somebody.

“Just a credit to the people of Oklahoma. They always remember the people that come through there. They always stick with ‘em no matter what.”

On Damon Minor’s Facebook page this week, he posted “Wanted to give a big THANK YOU to everyone for the prayers, words of encouragement and the donations over the past week! The outpour of kindness and love from around the country has truly been remarkable! We are almost halfway to our goal. Ryan is the strongest person I know. He will get through this!”

But the ballplayer who had the ultimate seat for the end of Cal Ripken’s streak knows that most things end. So Ryan Minor is scared. Even the Marlboro Man has fears.

Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

Ryan Minor GoFundMe: How you can help

Former OU baseball and basketball star Ryan Minor is battling Stage IV colon cancer. His family has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay for medical expense. Click here to help.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Minor, ex-Oklahoma Sooners star, fighting Stage IV colon cancer