Hall of Fame
Ronald Owen '55 was the pitching ace of the 1953 and 1954 College World Series Teams. An All-District II selection in 1954, he finished his career with a 22-6 record and still ranks first at Lafayette in career wins. In the 1953 College World Series, he started three games in five days, throwing a complete game and giving up only three hits while striking out 12 in an elimination game win against Stanford. That season the Leopards finished third in the College World Series after beating Northern Colorado in the opener. Owen was an integral part of the 1953 squad advancing to the College World Series as he struck out 15 batters in a 5-1 win vs. Pitt to advance to the 1953 Regional Final.
In 1954, the Leopards beat Villanova in the NCAA Regional to advance to the Regional Final. At the 1954 College World Series, he threw seven innings without allowing an earned run vs. Oklahoma State. A two-sport athlete, Owen also played soccer and was a three-year starting defender.
After graduation, he was drafted into the Marine Corps in 1955, forcing him to leave professional baseball where he was playing in the Brooklyn Dodgers' farm system. He served in the Marines as a pilot for 20 years before retiring as a Lt. Colonel. Owen passed away in 2011.
