Cerone gets the call to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame
8/5/2020 6:18:00 PM | Baseball
Newark native was a two-time All-American and helped lead the Pirates to two College World Series appearances
SOUTH ORANGE – Former Seton Hall baseball standout Rick Cerone – a two-time All-American who ranks as one of the best players in program history – has been announced as a member of the 2020 National College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class, the College Baseball Foundation announced Thursday.
Cerone is the first Pirate to be inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. He joins legendary head coach Owen T. Carroll, who was inducted as a player for Holy Cross in 2008, as the only two inductees with ties to the Seton Hall baseball program.
A native of Newark, Cerone helped further cement Seton Hall baseball as a consistent power in the Northeast in his four seasons as a Pirate from 1972-75. He was a catalyst on three teams that made it to the NCAA Tournament and two squads that reached the College World Series in back-to-back seasons (1974-75).
"Seton Hall University and Seton Hall baseball are very proud of Rick Cerone's induction into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame," said Seton Hall baseball head coach Rob Sheppard, whose father, Mike Sheppard, Sr., was Cerone's head coach at The Hall. "Rick is one of the best players to ever wear a Pirate uniform. Rick has been a great ambassador of our program and continues to be faithful supporter of our program.
"My dad, Mike Sheppard, Sr., was a catcher and he always had an affinity for the catchers that played at Seton Hall. He was demanding of them and had high expectations. He was very proud of Rick's accomplishments and toughness as a leader and player. He would say that this is a very deserving honor for Rick."
Cerone paced the 1975 team in hits (66), home runs (15), RBI (64) and total bases (125) en route to earning first-team ABCA All-America honors. His play in the 1975 World Series is still considered the best postseason performance by any Pirate. Cerone was named to the All-Tournament Team and hit .462 with five RBI in three games. Cerone's stellar senior campaign culminated with The Hall being ranked No. 6 in the country in the season's final poll.
As a junior in 1974, Cerone led the Pirates in doubles (8), home runs (7), total bases (74) and slugging percentage (.536). At the time of his graduation, Cerone held records for career doubles (27), most home runs in a season (15), most career home runs (26), slugging percentage (.779) and RBI in season (64). He still ranks in the top 10 in Seton Hall history in career batting average and home runs.
Cerone carried his strong play into the classroom – always an emphasis under legendary head coach Mike Sheppard, Sr. – where boasted a 3.32 GPA. His prowess scholastically helped him earn Academic All-America honors twice in 1974 and 1975.
His career on the diamond in South Orange catapulted him to the next level where he spent parts of 18 seasons with eight different Major League clubs. In 1975, he was the seventh overall first round pick of the Cleveland Indians in the MLB Amateur Draft and made his major league debut later that year. His big league career included a seventh-place finish in the MVP voting in 1980 with the New York Yankees where he hit .277 with 14 home runs and 85 RBI in 147 games played at catcher. Cerone also hit three home runs in the postseason for "The Bronx Bombers", including a two-run home run in game three of the 1981 World Series off of Fernando Valenzuela at Dodger Stadium. He's the only Pirate to hit a home run in the World Series.
In retirement, Cerone served as a broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees before spearheading an effort to bring professional baseball back to his hometown of Newark. Under his direction as president and owner, the Newark Bears won the Atlantic League Championship in 2002.
In October 2001, he became the first baseball player in Seton Hall history to have his uniform number retired. His No. 15 is still one of only four numbers to be retired alongside Martese Robinson (No. 9), Craig Biggio (No. 44) and Mike Sheppard, Sr. (No. 17).
This year's class, which will be inducted as a part of a virtual College Baseball Night of Champions ceremony later this month, is headlined by three-time All-American Jason Varitek and former coach Jim Morris, who led 13 teams to the College World Series and won two national championships. Cerone will be inducted alongside Jason Varitek (Georgia Tech, 1991-1994, catcher), John Scolinos (Pepperdine 1946-1960; Cal Poly Pomona 1962-1991, head coach), Jim Morris (DeKalb College 1976-1979; Georgia Tech 1982-1993; Miami, 1994-2018, head coach), Paul Molitor (Minnesota, 1975-1977, shortstop), Roy Lee Jackson (Tuskegee, 1973-1975, pitcher/designated hitter), Jim Gideon (Texas, 1973-1975, pitcher), Gary Gentry (Phoenix College/Arizona State, 1965-1967, pitcher), John Deutsch (Montclair State, 1986-1989, outfield/first base), Everett "Eppy" Barnes (player, coach, athletic director and ABCA founding father, 1922-1968), Pete Barnes (Southern University, 1964-1967, outfield) and Doug Ault (Panola Junior College/Texas Tech, 1969-1972, first base/pitcher).
Cerone is the first Pirate to be inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. He joins legendary head coach Owen T. Carroll, who was inducted as a player for Holy Cross in 2008, as the only two inductees with ties to the Seton Hall baseball program.
A native of Newark, Cerone helped further cement Seton Hall baseball as a consistent power in the Northeast in his four seasons as a Pirate from 1972-75. He was a catalyst on three teams that made it to the NCAA Tournament and two squads that reached the College World Series in back-to-back seasons (1974-75).
"Seton Hall University and Seton Hall baseball are very proud of Rick Cerone's induction into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame," said Seton Hall baseball head coach Rob Sheppard, whose father, Mike Sheppard, Sr., was Cerone's head coach at The Hall. "Rick is one of the best players to ever wear a Pirate uniform. Rick has been a great ambassador of our program and continues to be faithful supporter of our program.
"My dad, Mike Sheppard, Sr., was a catcher and he always had an affinity for the catchers that played at Seton Hall. He was demanding of them and had high expectations. He was very proud of Rick's accomplishments and toughness as a leader and player. He would say that this is a very deserving honor for Rick."
Cerone paced the 1975 team in hits (66), home runs (15), RBI (64) and total bases (125) en route to earning first-team ABCA All-America honors. His play in the 1975 World Series is still considered the best postseason performance by any Pirate. Cerone was named to the All-Tournament Team and hit .462 with five RBI in three games. Cerone's stellar senior campaign culminated with The Hall being ranked No. 6 in the country in the season's final poll.
As a junior in 1974, Cerone led the Pirates in doubles (8), home runs (7), total bases (74) and slugging percentage (.536). At the time of his graduation, Cerone held records for career doubles (27), most home runs in a season (15), most career home runs (26), slugging percentage (.779) and RBI in season (64). He still ranks in the top 10 in Seton Hall history in career batting average and home runs.
Cerone carried his strong play into the classroom – always an emphasis under legendary head coach Mike Sheppard, Sr. – where boasted a 3.32 GPA. His prowess scholastically helped him earn Academic All-America honors twice in 1974 and 1975.
His career on the diamond in South Orange catapulted him to the next level where he spent parts of 18 seasons with eight different Major League clubs. In 1975, he was the seventh overall first round pick of the Cleveland Indians in the MLB Amateur Draft and made his major league debut later that year. His big league career included a seventh-place finish in the MVP voting in 1980 with the New York Yankees where he hit .277 with 14 home runs and 85 RBI in 147 games played at catcher. Cerone also hit three home runs in the postseason for "The Bronx Bombers", including a two-run home run in game three of the 1981 World Series off of Fernando Valenzuela at Dodger Stadium. He's the only Pirate to hit a home run in the World Series.
In retirement, Cerone served as a broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees before spearheading an effort to bring professional baseball back to his hometown of Newark. Under his direction as president and owner, the Newark Bears won the Atlantic League Championship in 2002.
In October 2001, he became the first baseball player in Seton Hall history to have his uniform number retired. His No. 15 is still one of only four numbers to be retired alongside Martese Robinson (No. 9), Craig Biggio (No. 44) and Mike Sheppard, Sr. (No. 17).
This year's class, which will be inducted as a part of a virtual College Baseball Night of Champions ceremony later this month, is headlined by three-time All-American Jason Varitek and former coach Jim Morris, who led 13 teams to the College World Series and won two national championships. Cerone will be inducted alongside Jason Varitek (Georgia Tech, 1991-1994, catcher), John Scolinos (Pepperdine 1946-1960; Cal Poly Pomona 1962-1991, head coach), Jim Morris (DeKalb College 1976-1979; Georgia Tech 1982-1993; Miami, 1994-2018, head coach), Paul Molitor (Minnesota, 1975-1977, shortstop), Roy Lee Jackson (Tuskegee, 1973-1975, pitcher/designated hitter), Jim Gideon (Texas, 1973-1975, pitcher), Gary Gentry (Phoenix College/Arizona State, 1965-1967, pitcher), John Deutsch (Montclair State, 1986-1989, outfield/first base), Everett "Eppy" Barnes (player, coach, athletic director and ABCA founding father, 1922-1968), Pete Barnes (Southern University, 1964-1967, outfield) and Doug Ault (Panola Junior College/Texas Tech, 1969-1972, first base/pitcher).
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