Merritt Ranew – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Merritt Thomas Ranew made his mark in baseball during a seven-year Major League run, suiting up for five teams before calling it quits in 1969. Born in Albany, Georgia, this lefty-hitting catcher stood out not just for his .247 batting average or reliable glove, but for the way he bounced around the baseball world in the 1960s.

Ranew played during the era of baseball expansion, making history as the first Houston player to wear number 7 when he debuted with the Colt .45s in 1962. He moved from Houston to Chicago, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and finally Seattle, where he wrapped up his career with the brand-new Pilots.

He faced both high points and setbacks, including a serious injury that cost him an entire season.

Merritt Ranew’s story gives us a glimpse into pro baseball at a time when the game was changing fast. Starting out in the Milwaukee Braves farm system and ending with a final at-bat in Seattle, he lived the ups and downs of a journeyman player in the majors.

After baseball, he found success as a horse trainer down South, which just adds another interesting twist to his life.

Early Life and Discovery

Merritt Thomas Ranew was born May 10, 1938, in Albany, Georgia. He fell in love with baseball as a kid and chased that dream through his school years.

His journey from small-town Georgia to professional baseball started at Lee County High School in Leesburg. Scouts noticed his talent pretty early on.

Family Background and Hometown

Ranew came into the world in Albany, Georgia, on May 10, 1938. Albany sits in southwest Georgia, and during Ranew’s childhood, it was a small city with a classic Southern feel.

The town’s community vibe in the late 1930s and 1940s helped fuel a love for baseball. Lots of local kids played in neighborhood leagues or just on sandlots.

Ranew’s family encouraged his sports interests from the start. Growing up in Georgia back then, baseball was just part of daily life.

He ended up back in Albany for good. When he passed away in 2011, his family buried him at Crown Hill Cemetery, right in his hometown.

High School Years

Ranew went to Lee County High School in Leesburg, Georgia, where he sharpened his baseball skills. The school gave him the chance to show what he could do as a catcher.

In high school, Ranew worked on the basics that would help him later. His lefty swing and strong arm behind the plate made him stand out.

Lee County’s baseball program let Ranew compete at a high level. He learned how to handle pitchers and call games—stuff every good catcher needs.

His play at Lee County caught the eye of pro scouts. After graduation, he didn’t have to wait long to make the jump to pro ball.

Discovery by Paul Eames

Scouts started following Ranew while he was still in high school. His mix of hitting and defense made him an interesting prospect for big league teams.

The Milwaukee Braves really liked what they saw. In 1957, right after he graduated, Ranew signed a pro contract with them.

That first contract kicked off his minor league journey. The Braves liked his left-handed bat and his knack for working with pitchers.

Signing with Milwaukee turned out to be a big move for Ranew. It put him on a five-year path in the Braves’ farm system, where he got ready for the majors.

Path to the Major Leagues

Ranew’s road to the big leagues started in 1957, when he signed with the Milwaukee Braves straight out of high school. He spent five years grinding it out in the minors, and by 1961 he’d reached Triple-A and hit .347—a number that caught the eye of the new Houston Colt .45s.

Signing with the Milwaukee Braves

After finishing up at Lee County High School, Ranew drew major league interest. The Milwaukee Braves offered him a contract in 1957.

This signing was the start of his pro career. The Braves had a reputation for building strong farm teams back then.

Ranew became a left-handed hitting catcher in their system. He threw right-handed, which is pretty standard for catchers. He measured in at 5’11” and 170 pounds.

Getting that contract was a huge chance for a kid from Georgia. Back in 1957, baseball contracts didn’t pay much—guys mostly signed for a small bonus and a shot at their dream.

Minor League Development

Ranew spent five seasons working his way up in the Braves’ farm system, from 1957 to 1961. He kept getting better at the plate and behind it.

His hitting really took off in his last few minor league years. Ranew put up three straight seasons with batting averages over .300, showing real growth as a hitter.

Catching takes a lot of defensive work, so Ranew spent plenty of time learning to call pitches, throw out runners, and manage games. Those skills matter just as much as hitting.

He moved through the minor league levels and kept showing promise. The Braves invested in his development, and his lefty swing made him valuable behind the plate.

1961 Season and Expansion Draft

The 1961 season was a turning point for Ranew. He reached Triple-A with the Louisville Colonels and made a splash.

Ranew hit .347 in limited time at Louisville, his third straight year over .300. That kind of offense made him a hot prospect.

On October 10, 1961, the expansion Houston Colt .45s picked Ranew in the MLB Expansion Draft. He was the 17th overall pick and the ninth player Houston grabbed.

That draft was a big moment for Ranew. Suddenly, he had a shot at the majors, and Houston needed players with some experience for their first season in 1962.

Major League Baseball Career

Ranew played five seasons in the majors from 1962 to 1969, getting into 269 games for five different teams. He debuted with the Houston Colt .45s on April 13, 1962, and had his best offensive season with the Chicago Cubs in 1963.

Houston Colt .45s Debut and Rookie Season

Ranew became the first Houston Colt .45s player to wear number 7 in a regular season game. He made his MLB debut on April 13, 1962, against Philadelphia at age 23.

In his rookie year, Ranew played 63 games and started 45 at catcher through July 15. He struggled with the bat, hitting just .227 with three homers.

The team sent him to Triple-A Oklahoma City for six weeks, then brought him back up in September. Adjusting to big league pitching wasn’t easy.

Even with the struggles, Ranew showed he could handle defense. His lefty bat and right-handed throw gave Houston a solid backup catcher.

Time with the Chicago Cubs

Houston traded Ranew to the Chicago Cubs during spring training in 1963. That move helped his offense and gave him more chances.

He played the whole 1963 season mostly as a pinch hitter and third-string catcher, batting a strong .338 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 78 games. As a pinch hitter, he was especially good, picking up 17 hits in 41 at-bats for a .415 average.

In 1964, things went south. Ranew hit a slump and was batting just .091 with three hits in 16 games when Chicago traded him back to the Milwaukee Braves on June 3.

His time with the Cubs marked the peak of his hitting. That .338 average in 1963 stayed one of his proudest stats.

Brief Stints with Other Teams

After the trade to Milwaukee in 1964, Ranew managed only two more hits before heading to Triple-A Toronto. The Los Angeles Angels picked him up before the 1965 season.

The Angels called him up from Triple-A Seattle in June 1965. He spent the rest of the year with them, playing 24 games and collecting 19 hits.

Ranew came back to the majors in 1969 with the expansion Seattle Pilots after missing 1966-1968 because of injury. He played 54 games, starting nine at catcher, three in left field, and one at third base.

His last MLB game was September 30, 1969, against Oakland. He wrapped up his career with a .247 batting average, 8 home runs, and 54 RBI in 269 games.

Final Seasons and Retirement

Ranew finished up with the expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969, having missed three major league seasons. In his last year, he mostly pinch-hit, then played two more years in the minors before stepping away for good.

Joining the Seattle Pilots

The Seattle Pilots picked Ranew for their first-ever season in 1969. After three years out of the majors, Ranew found a spot with the new American League team.

The Pilots were looking for experienced players to fill out their roster. Ranew’s veteran presence and ability to play different roles made him a good fit. He could catch or pinch-hit, giving Seattle some options.

Seattle became Ranew’s fifth big league team. He’d already played for Houston, Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Angels.

Performance in 1969 and Retirement

Ranew saw action in 54 games for the Pilots in 1969, mostly as a pinch hitter instead of a regular catcher. That was a big change in his role.

His numbers reflected the limited playing time. Ranew hit .247 with 20 hits in 81 at-bats, scored 11 runs, drove in 4 RBIs, and walked 10 times.

He played his last major league game on September 30, 1969. That closed out a five-season MLB career, with a three-year break in the middle.

Career totals: 269 games, .247 average, 8 home runs, 54 RBIs, and five different teams.

Minor League Closing Years

After 1969, the Seattle Pilots traded Ranew to the Washington Senators. Frank Coggins, an infielder, went to Seattle in exchange.

Ranew didn’t play in the majors again after that deal. He stayed in the minors for two more seasons, stretching out his career before retiring from baseball altogether.

The minor leagues gave him a way to keep playing a bit longer. Back then, a lot of players used the minors as a soft landing before leaving the game.

Ranew retired for good after the 1971 minor league season. He was 33 when he walked away and started chasing new interests outside baseball.

Notable Events and Challenges

Ranew’s career took a shocking turn in 1966 when he became the victim of a violent on-field assault. The attack happened during a minor league game and led to legal battles that made waves in baseball circles.

Injury and On-field Incident

Ranew’s career took a wild turn in 1966, right in the middle of a game with the Seattle Angels in the Pacific Coast League.

Things got heated during a matchup with the Vancouver Mounties in Vancouver, and suddenly a brawl broke out.

Ranew saw his teammate, pitcher Jim Coates, tangled up in the chaos and rushed over to help him out.

As Ranew tried to pull Coates away, Santiago Rosario from Vancouver swung a baseball bat and hit Ranew in the head.

That blow was brutal—honestly, it nearly killed him.

Ranew started bleeding internally in his brain and needed emergency surgery right away.

Doctors kept him in the hospital for weeks after the attack.

The whole baseball world felt stunned, and people started wondering if the game was really doing enough to protect players during these ugly fights.

Legal Aftermath

Ranew didn’t let it go—he took legal action against Santiago Rosario and the Vancouver Mounties organization.

He filed a lawsuit to get compensation for what happened to him.

The case became a big deal in pro baseball circles.

Back then, players almost never went to court over stuff that happened on the field.

Ranew won the lawsuit, and the court awarded him money for his injuries and medical bills.

That win set a whole new standard for player safety and responsibility in the sport.

People started talking about how teams needed to keep better control during fights.

It also showed that players could actually take legal steps if someone crossed the line during a game.

Impact on Career

The attack left a mark on Ranew’s career that he couldn’t shake off.

He had to sit out a lot of games while he recovered from brain surgery.

When he finally got back on the field, things just weren’t the same.

He played for Seattle again in 1967, then moved to the Yankees organization in 1968.

His time with the Syracuse Chiefs in 1968 didn’t go well—he only hit .204 in 43 games.

Honestly, that injury probably messed with his game behind the plate and at bat.

Ranew did get one last shot at the majors in 1969, joining the expansion Seattle Pilots.

He played 54 games, hit .247, and then decided to retire from professional baseball for good.

Life After Baseball

After leaving baseball in 1969, Merritt Ranew didn’t just fade away.

He found success in a couple of new ventures.

He became a horse trainer and also got involved in the nightclub business as a co-owner.

Horse Trainer Career

Ranew jumped into horse training after hanging up his glove.

It gave him a way to stay close to competition, but this time with animals instead of athletes.

He actually did pretty well as a horse trainer in the years after baseball.

The work brought in steady money and kept him in the world of sports, just a different kind.

His experience as a professional athlete probably helped him get the discipline and drive needed to train horses.

A lot of ex-athletes seem to find their stride in horse training, maybe because they already know what it takes to stay competitive and stick to a training routine.

Business Ventures and Later Life

Ranew didn’t just stick to horse training. He jumped into the business world as a co-owner of a nightclub. That move really showed his entrepreneurial spirit after his days in sports.

He found new income streams through the nightclub business once his baseball career wrapped up. A lot of former athletes try business ownership to keep their finances steady after retirement.

Ranew spent his later years in Georgia. On October 18, 2011, he died in Valdosta, Georgia, at 73.

They buried him at Crown Hill Cemetery in Albany, Georgia, where he grew up.