Oklahoma State University Athletics
Robin Ventura
Photo by: Oklahoma State University
Ventura Tabbed As Cowboy Baseball Volunteer Assistant
January 26, 2023 | Cowboy Baseball
STILLWATER – Robin Ventura is remaining on the staff of Oklahoma State baseball as he has joined head coach Josh Holliday's program as the volunteer assistant coach.
One of the greatest hitters in college baseball history during his OSU playing days prior to a big league career as a player and manager that spanned more than two decades, Ventura returned to Stillwater in January 2020 and joined the Cowboy Baseball staff as a student assistant, where he served for three seasons until earning his degree in the spring of 2022.
"I'm really happy to be back at OSU this year," Ventura said. "The school and OSU Baseball mean a lot to me, and I feel fortunate and appreciative to still be a part of it. This place and this program are special, and I look forward to working with these players as well as Josh (Holliday) and the staff."
Ventura has a decorated baseball resumé at the collegiate and professional levels. A three-time All-American at OSU from 1986-88, he is a National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, where he was a six-time Gold Glove winning third baseman and was twice named an All-Star. Following his playing career, he spent five seasons as the manager of the Chicago White Sox.
"We are thrilled to have Robin with us for the 2023 season. He makes us better each day with the way he treats people and the knowledge he shares, and we are lucky to have him," Holliday said. "He has great familiarity with so many of our players from his past three seasons, and our players love the time spent with him.
"When it comes to life experiences and baseball knowledge, very few can offer the perspective to our players that Robin can. He has walked the path our players seek to follow and has wisdom and experience that is rare in this game. He is one of a kind."
During Ventura's playing career at OSU, he established himself as one of college baseball's all-time greats. In three seasons, he posted a career .428 batting average, a program record, and he is also the Cowboys' career record holder in hits (329) and runs (300) while ranking second in doubles (71), home runs (68), total bases (608), RBIs (302) and slugging percentage (.792).
As a freshman in 1986, Ventura hit .469, the highest single-season batting average in program history, while smacking 21 home runs and collecting 96 RBIs.
The following season, Ventura turned in a .428 batting average to go along with 21 homers and 110 RBIs and set an NCAA record with a 58-game hitting streak as he led the Cowboys to the College World Series championship game.
Ventura capped his collegiate career in 1988 by carrying the Pokes to a school-record 61 wins while hitting .391 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs. He won the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy and also helped Team USA capture an Olympic gold medal at the '88 summer games in Seoul, South Korea.
Ventura was a part of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 2006, and he was inducted into the Cowboy Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 1988, Ventura was the 10th overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He debuted in the big leagues in 1989 and spent 10 seasons with the White Sox, winning five Gold Gloves and earning a spot on the American League All-Star team in 1992.
Over his final six MLB seasons, Ventura played for the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and he was named an All-Star with the Yankees in 2002.
Ending in 2004, Ventura's big league career spanned 2,079 games, and he posted a .267 batting average to go along with 294 homers, 1,182 RBIs and 338 doubles. He hit 18 grand slams during his career, which is the fifth most in MLB history.
In 2011, Ventura was named manager of the Chicago White Sox, and he guided the club to 375 wins from 2012-2016. In his first season at the helm, he led the White Sox to a second-place finish in the American League Central, where they finished just three games behind division champion Detroit, and was a finalist for American League Manager of the Year honors.
One of the greatest hitters in college baseball history during his OSU playing days prior to a big league career as a player and manager that spanned more than two decades, Ventura returned to Stillwater in January 2020 and joined the Cowboy Baseball staff as a student assistant, where he served for three seasons until earning his degree in the spring of 2022.
"I'm really happy to be back at OSU this year," Ventura said. "The school and OSU Baseball mean a lot to me, and I feel fortunate and appreciative to still be a part of it. This place and this program are special, and I look forward to working with these players as well as Josh (Holliday) and the staff."
Ventura has a decorated baseball resumé at the collegiate and professional levels. A three-time All-American at OSU from 1986-88, he is a National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, where he was a six-time Gold Glove winning third baseman and was twice named an All-Star. Following his playing career, he spent five seasons as the manager of the Chicago White Sox.
"We are thrilled to have Robin with us for the 2023 season. He makes us better each day with the way he treats people and the knowledge he shares, and we are lucky to have him," Holliday said. "He has great familiarity with so many of our players from his past three seasons, and our players love the time spent with him.
"When it comes to life experiences and baseball knowledge, very few can offer the perspective to our players that Robin can. He has walked the path our players seek to follow and has wisdom and experience that is rare in this game. He is one of a kind."
During Ventura's playing career at OSU, he established himself as one of college baseball's all-time greats. In three seasons, he posted a career .428 batting average, a program record, and he is also the Cowboys' career record holder in hits (329) and runs (300) while ranking second in doubles (71), home runs (68), total bases (608), RBIs (302) and slugging percentage (.792).
As a freshman in 1986, Ventura hit .469, the highest single-season batting average in program history, while smacking 21 home runs and collecting 96 RBIs.
The following season, Ventura turned in a .428 batting average to go along with 21 homers and 110 RBIs and set an NCAA record with a 58-game hitting streak as he led the Cowboys to the College World Series championship game.
Ventura capped his collegiate career in 1988 by carrying the Pokes to a school-record 61 wins while hitting .391 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs. He won the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy and also helped Team USA capture an Olympic gold medal at the '88 summer games in Seoul, South Korea.
Ventura was a part of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 2006, and he was inducted into the Cowboy Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 1988, Ventura was the 10th overall pick by the Chicago White Sox in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He debuted in the big leagues in 1989 and spent 10 seasons with the White Sox, winning five Gold Gloves and earning a spot on the American League All-Star team in 1992.
Over his final six MLB seasons, Ventura played for the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and he was named an All-Star with the Yankees in 2002.
Ending in 2004, Ventura's big league career spanned 2,079 games, and he posted a .267 batting average to go along with 294 homers, 1,182 RBIs and 338 doubles. He hit 18 grand slams during his career, which is the fifth most in MLB history.
In 2011, Ventura was named manager of the Chicago White Sox, and he guided the club to 375 wins from 2012-2016. In his first season at the helm, he led the White Sox to a second-place finish in the American League Central, where they finished just three games behind division champion Detroit, and was a finalist for American League Manager of the Year honors.
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