Seton Hall
Rick Cerone Inducted Into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame
Date: August 6, 2020By: Rony Jerez
Seton Hall is no stranger to producing stellar-level talent, and for the very first time ever, a Seton Hall Pirate is inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Newark ➡ South Orange ➡ National College Baseball Hall of Fame
— Seton Hall Baseball (@SHUBaseball) August 6, 2020
Congratulations to @SetonHall's own Rick Cerone!
&>> https://t.co/9K9Mgr1gAh#HALLin#NeverLoseYourHustle pic.twitter.com/FIRvgYbMJ7
Rick Cerone has been announced to join the class of 2020 into the College Baseball Hall of Fame as the first player in Seton Hall’s program history to achieve this feat. As one of the best players the program has ever seen, Cerone adds on to an already illustrious baseball resume, both collegiately and professionally. He is the second person with Seton Hall ties selected into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Owen T. Carroll being elected as a coach for the Pirates.
The Newark native was the leading force on a Seton Hall team that reached the NCAA Tournament three times during his collegiate career. He played for the Pirates from 1972 to 1975, and during those years, the Pirates reached the College Baseball World Series in consecutive seasons (1974 and 1975). Cerone was awarded with two All-American honors, while also being in tune academically with two Academic All-American honors as well.
When Cerone graduated, he held records for total career doubles (27), most homeruns in a season (15), most career homeruns (26), slugging percentage (.779) and RBI in season (64). He currently still ranks in the top 10 all-time in Seton Hall career batting average and home runs. His Seton Hall career cemented him as a Pirate legend, and his legacy will live on as he was the first Pirate to get his number (No. 15) retired in 2001.
Cerone’s play in the collegiate level could not go unnoticed by MLB scouts and led him to a professional career in the MLB. In 1975, the Seton Hall Pirate catcher was selected 7th overall in the first round by the Cleveland Indians. That was the dawn of an 18-year Major League career for Cerone which spanned from 1975-1992. Over those 18 years, he sported many different uniforms within both leagues. He played catcher for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos.
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His best major league year was his first year with the Yankees in 1980, where he finished 7th in voting for the American League MVP. Cerone had tough competition that year as he was behind two of his teammates; Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson (2nd) and Goose Gossage (3rd) in MVP, with George Brett ultimately coming away with the award that year. He finished leading all catchers with 57 caught stealing and 2nd in assists for catchers.
Cerone’s postseason resume all came with the Yankees as he made it to a World Series in 1981, against the Dodgers, in which he hit a homerun. Although the Yankees lost in that World Series, he became the first Seton Hall Pirate to hit a homerun in a World Series.
Upon retirement, Cerone transitioned into the broadcast booth as he provided color commentary and baseball analysis for the Baltimore Orioles and his former team New York Yankees in the late 90s.
There are only a few resumes that feature the numbers, awards and success that Rick Cerone endured during his exuberant career at Seton Hall and in the Majors. Adding National College Baseball Hall of Famer to the resume only exalts it even further. Congratulations to Rick Cerone.
Rony Jerez is an assistant news director at 89.5FM WSOU, and can be reached at rony.jerez@student.shu.edu.
