Remembering Vern Ruhle ’75 BY DON WINGER ’62
F
rom a shy farm boy in Coleman to a standout at Olivet College to a Major League pitcher to a respected pitching coach in the big leagues. That was the baseball legacy of Vern Ruhle, 55, who lost his battle with cancer on Saturday. With his death I have lost a good friend. It is a friendship that began nearly 40 years ago when Vern was a star pitcher for Coleman High School. It continued through his days as a student at Olivet, my alma mater, and on into his career as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and several other Major League teams. When I suggested that he attend Olivet, I thought it would be a place where he would fit nicely. He would have a chance to pitch college baseball while getting an education at a respected institution of higher learning. Never did I dream that he would get a chance to go to the major leagues and display his talents. It was only by happenstance that he did. As Vern Ruhle ’75 (left) accepting his diploma from John Skurski, a Olivet College president Ray B. Loeschner at scout for the Tiger Stadium in 1975. Detroit Tigers, told a Daily News reporter 30 years ago, a change in assignments shifted him from Western Michigan to Olivet, where he was told to scout a couple of MIAA teams. According to Skurski’s account, Vern wasn’t even on his radar screen. But he was so impressive in a relief performance that Skurski sent a report to head scout Bill LaJoie that here was someone with major league potential. The Tigers eventually followed up by choosing him in the 17th round of the draft in 1972. Two years later, he was pitching for the Tigers in September 1974. While he welcomed the opportunity to play professional baseball, he didn’t abandon his education. In 1975, I arranged for him to receive his diploma from the college president on the pitcher’s mound at Tiger Stadium. He was
dressed in his graduation cap and gown and good-naturedly took the ribbing from his teammates, who watched from the dugout. In 1975, he was named Detroit’s Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Vern pitched for the Tigers through the 1977 season. Then he went to the Houston Astros, where he hurled for seven seasons before finishing his career with one season each in Cleveland and California. During his 13-year career he appeared in 327 games, 188 of those as a starter. His win-loss record was 67-88 with a very respectable earned run average of 3.73. He pitched 12 shutouts. When his playing days were over, Vern had a successful career as a pitching coach. He started at the college level with Cal-State Fullerton for one year, then went to the University of Oklahoma for five seasons. At the major league level, he tutored pitchers with Houston, beginning in 1997. He followed that with stints with the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets and his latest club, the Cincinnati Reds. He also coached the Billings Mustangs in the minor leagues for one year. Vern never forgot our Vern Ruhle ’75 friendship. There were times during spring training in Florida when we would go out for dinner together. I would touch base with him by telephone many times. If I couldn’t reach him, he would always call back. When I first knew Vern as a high school student, he was shy and introverted. By the time he finished college, he was anything but shy. He was articulate and displayed an outgoing personality. The last time I talked to him, he was upbeat and determined to conquer his disease. Unfortunately, he lost the battle. Thankfully, the memories I have will not fade. I’ll always remember that smile he had and the times we had together talking baseball. To Vern, I say, rest in peace, friend. Rest in peace.
Reprinted from the Midland Daily News, Jan. 22, 2007. Don Winger ’62 is a former executive sports editor at the Midland Daily News.