Dennis Ribant – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dennis Joseph Ribant made his mark in baseball history during a six-year Major League Baseball career, bouncing between six different teams from 1964 to 1969. Born and raised in Detroit, he brought an unexpected athletic background to the mound. Before he committed to baseball, he actually played professional hockey. His journey through the majors is a story of a talented pitcher who managed to find success, even as he constantly moved from roster to roster.

Ribant retired from professional baseball after the 1969 season. Over his career, he suited up for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds.

His biggest achievement came in 1966. That year, he became the first full-time starting pitcher in Mets history to post a winning season, going 11-9 during the team’s early years. This accomplishment solidified his place in Mets lore, especially as the team started building toward their 1969 championship with young stars like Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman.

Dennis Ribant’s story isn’t just about stats. It’s about his journey from Detroit sandlots to major league ballparks. His career really reflects the baseball world of the 1960s, when players often switched teams and sometimes even played multiple sports professionally.

From his early days playing with future stars like Willie Horton and Bill Freehan, to his final years bouncing around National League clubs, Ribant’s career is a testament to perseverance and the changing face of pro baseball in that era.

Early Life and Background

Dennis Joseph Ribant was born on September 20, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan. He learned his baseball skills in neighborhood games, guided by his family.

He grew up in a working-class family and quickly earned a reputation as one of Detroit’s top teenage pitchers. In the end, he chose professional baseball over other sports.

Family and Upbringing

Dennis grew up in Detroit’s East Forest-Chene area, right on the near east side. His parents, Helen and Arthur Ribant, raised Dennis, his brother, and his sister in a modest home.

Arthur Ribant worked as a foreman for the Farmcrest Baking Company. When he got home from work, he’d spend time with Dennis teaching him how to throw a curveball.

That father-son time ended up being pretty important for Dennis’s development as a pitcher. The family lived in a neighborhood where baseball was a big deal for kids.

Dennis and his friends practiced at a nearby school, using a wall to outline a strike zone and rubber balls for hours of pitching and hitting. Younger kids in the neighborhood chased down balls hit into the field.

This simple, old-school approach helped Dennis sharpen his skills long before personal trainers and video analysis became the norm.

High School Years in Detroit

As a teenager, Dennis Ribant stood out as Detroit’s best pitcher. Oddly enough, he never played baseball for St. Joseph High School.

He thought the season was too short and the competition wasn’t good enough. Instead, he played sandlot baseball, facing better players and tougher games.

He played with and against future major leaguers like Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Alex Johnson, and Carmen Fanzone. Those games gave him more experience than he could have gotten from high school ball.

Ribant also joined several organized leagues around Detroit, including the Pony League in Hamtramck, the Colt League, and the Firemen’s League. In 1960, he played for a strong team sponsored by Herbert Smith Roofing.

During the winters, Dennis played hockey and often skated on Belle Isle. He said he had “a good shot” and could “certainly hold his own” on the ice.

Path to Professional Baseball

Major league scouts noticed Ribant’s talent on the sandlots. Ray Garland, a Milwaukee Braves scout, watched him pitch in Detroit and set up a tryout during the 1961 season.

The Detroit Tigers also wanted to sign him. Tigers GM Jim Campbell told Dennis, “Dennis, before you sign, we’d like to talk to you. We’re really interested in having you join the Tigers.”

But the 19-year-old Ribant felt impressed by the Braves’ presentation at County Stadium. He threw batting practice to Eddie Mathews and Joe Adcock while Warren Spahn watched.

The Braves told him they might not make an offer if he didn’t sign right away. That pressure worked, and Ribant signed with Milwaukee before leaving town.

This decision launched his baseball career, though it meant giving up hockey. By age 17, he’d played left wing for the Teamsters’ hockey team, with James Hoffa Jr. as goalie.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Dennis Ribant pitched for six different teams during his MLB career from 1964 to 1969. He found his greatest success with the New York Mets, where he became the first full-time starting pitcher in team history to record a winning season in 1966.

MLB Debut With the New York Mets

Ribant made his MLB debut on August 9, 1964, with the New York Mets. The Mets got him from the Milwaukee Braves in exchange for Frank Lary just a day earlier.

He pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief against the Phillies in his first game. At 22, he became the 12,274th player in major league history.

He spent most of 1965 with the Triple A Buffalo Bisons, gradually working his way into the Mets’ rotation over the next couple of seasons.

His time with the Mets was the highlight of his career. He stayed with the team through 1966, then got traded to Pittsburgh.

Career Highlights and Notable Performances

His best season came in 1966 when he went 11-9 with the Mets. His .550 winning percentage was the best by any Mets pitcher at that time.

He was the first full-time starting pitcher in Mets history to finish with a winning record. That year, the Mets also avoided last place for the first time.

After his strong year in New York, the Mets traded Ribant to the Pittsburgh Pirates. With Pittsburgh in 1967, he went 9-8, though his ERA climbed to 4.08.

On June 17, 1967, Ribant started a historic game for the Pirates. Every other starter in the lineup was black or Hispanic, which made it a notable moment in baseball history.

Ribant later played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds. He wrapped up his career with a 24-29 record in 165 games.

Pitching Style and Skills

Ribant stood 5’11” and weighed 165 pounds. He threw and batted right-handed his whole career.

His dad taught him to throw a curveball when he was a kid in Detroit. Ribant developed his skills the old-fashioned way, practicing with rubber balls against a school wall.

As a teenager, he earned a reputation as Detroit’s best pitcher. He dominated sandlot games with and against future big leaguers like Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, and Alex Johnson.

The Milwaukee Braves signed him after scout Ray Garland saw him pitch on the sandlots. In the minors, Ribant even threw a perfect game in the Midwest League on July 2, 1961.

Throughout his major league career, teams used Ribant as both a starter and a reliever. His versatility made him valuable to a bunch of organizations during his journeyman days.

Trades and Transitions Between Teams

After his time with the Mets, Dennis Ribant bounced between teams, starting with his trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1967. His journey took him to the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and finally the Cincinnati Reds before he retired in 1969.

Move to the Pittsburgh Pirates

After three seasons with the Mets from 1964-1966, Ribant got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 1967 season. This was a big change after he had established himself as a reliable pitcher in New York.

With the Pirates, Ribant focused on control—a style he’d developed over the years. “I’ve always had control,” Ribant told Baseball Digest in 1967. “Now I have a sinker, a fastball, and a change-up taught to me by Warren Spahn when he was a Met in 1965.”

The Pittsburgh stint was his first major team change. He had shifted away from relying on his curveball, refining his pitching arsenal.

Trade to the Detroit Tigers for Dave Wickersham

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded Ribant to the Detroit Tigers during the 1968 season. The deal sent veteran pitcher Dave Wickersham to Pittsburgh.

Ribant’s time with Detroit was short, but it brought him back to his home state. Born in Detroit, the move felt like a bit of a homecoming.

The Tigers wanted Ribant to help strengthen their pitching staff. His experience and control made him a good fit for what Detroit needed at the time.

Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals Stints

After Detroit, Ribant joined the Chicago White Sox, also in 1968. That marked his second team change in a single year, which says a lot about how often players moved around back then.

The White Sox stint ended when the expansion Kansas City Royals purchased his contract in December 1968. But by spring training 1969, Ribant had already moved on to the St. Louis Cardinals.

He spent most of 1969 in the minors while with the Cardinals. At this point, younger players were starting to take over major league roster spots.

Final Games With the Cincinnati Reds

Ribant’s last major league stop came with the Cincinnati Reds, after a mid-season trade from the Cardinals in 1969. This would be his final move as a player.

The Reds gave him one last shot in the big leagues. His last MLB appearance happened on September 27, 1969, closing the book on a career that spanned six teams.

While with Cincinnati, Ribant mostly pitched in the minors. The Reds gave him a few chances in the majors as his career wound down.

Statistical Achievements and Legacy

Dennis Ribant put together a modest but respectable statistical record in his six MLB seasons from 1964 to 1969. He finished with a 24-29 win-loss record and a 3.87 ERA, which says a lot considering he pitched during baseball’s second deadball era. Over six teams, he logged 518 innings as both a starter and a reliever.

Win–Loss Record and Earned Run Average

Ribant wrapped up his career with a 24-29 record and a 3.87 ERA in 149 games. His best year was 1966 with the Mets, when he went 11-9 with a 3.20 ERA.

That 1966 season was his only winning year. He made 26 starts, completed 10 games, and threw 188.1 innings.

His ERA jumped around depending on the team. With Detroit in 1968, he posted his lowest ERA—2.22—over 24.1 innings. On the flip side, his short time with the Cardinals in 1969 ended with a 13.50 ERA in just 1.1 innings.

Ribant’s 3.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), according to Baseball Reference, shows he brought modest value above a replacement-level player. His top individual season WAR was 3.3 in that standout 1966 season with the Mets.

Strikeouts and Innings Pitched

Ribant racked up 241 strikeouts in 518.2 innings during his career. He managed a strikeout rate of 4.2 per nine innings, which was actually below average for pitchers back then.

In 1966, he struck out 84 batters over 188.1 innings. That year really marked his most complete season as a starter.

He made 56 starts and came out of the bullpen for 33 relief appearances. Ribant finished 13 games and picked up 9 saves, showing he could handle different roles on the mound.

His busiest year came with the Pirates in 1967, when he threw 172 innings across 38 appearances. Teams valued his versatility, even if his strikeout numbers weren’t eye-popping.

Baseball Reference & Retrosheet Insights

Baseball Reference lists Ribant with a 1.276 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) and a 1.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio. These numbers show he had decent control, but he didn’t have the overpowering stuff of the best pitchers.

His Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) sat at 3.75, just a little better than his ERA. Maybe he got unlucky with balls in play, or maybe his defense let him down.

Retrosheet notes that he made his last big league appearance on September 27, 1969, against Houston. He tossed 2 innings, gave up one hit, walked one, and didn’t allow an earned run.

Ribant logged innings for six different franchises. He pitched effectively for multiple teams during a time when the game favored pitchers, and while his numbers were modest, he did his job.

Life After Retirement From Baseball

After Dennis Ribant left the majors in 1969, he switched gears and started working in insurance. He eventually settled down in Newport Coast, California, where he lived until his death in 2023 at age 81.

Post-Playing Career Activities

Ribant kept playing baseball in the minors after his big league days ended. He pitched in the farm systems for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies, finally retiring after the 1973 season.

Once he left pro baseball for good, Ribant got into the life insurance business. He made a solid career for himself there, relying on the work ethic and people skills he picked up during his playing days.

Switching from pro sports to business isn’t easy. Ribant brought the same focus from the mound to his new job, working to build trust with clients and learn the ropes of insurance.

His background as an athlete probably helped him relate to customers. A lot of former players struggle with life after baseball, but Ribant found his footing.

Later Years and Passing

Ribant made his home in Newport Coast, California during his later years. The coastal setting gave him a peaceful place to enjoy retirement after all those years on the road.

He stayed connected to the game, even after hanging up his spikes. That 1966 season with the New York Mets always stood out, since he became the first full-time starting pitcher in team history to finish with a winning record at 11-9.

Dennis Ribant died on April 24, 2023, at the age of 81 at his Newport Coast home. No one publicly announced a specific cause of death.

He lived a life that stretched from Detroit’s sandlots all the way to major league stadiums. Ribant outlived many former teammates and opponents, reaching his 80s in fairly good health.

Dennis Ribant’s Impact and Recognition

Dennis Ribant earned respect from teammates and opponents throughout his six-year career. He became the first Mets pitcher to finish with a winning record and later earned recognition in baseball research circles.

Reputation Among Peers

Teammates respected Ribant on every team he played for. When he joined the 1968 Detroit Tigers, he shared the clubhouse with Hall of Famers like Al Kaline, whom he called “number one, one of the best ever to play the game.”

He spoke highly of Bill Freehan, another Detroit native and Tigers catcher, calling him “a class guy, a good person.” Mickey Lolich roomed with Ribant during his Detroit stint.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis once pointed out Ribant’s unique place in baseball history. On June 17, 1967, Ribant was the only white player in the Pirates’ starting lineup, and Ellis joked about how unusual that was.

Managers trusted Ribant as both a starter and reliever. He appeared in 132 games over six seasons in the National and American Leagues.

Commemoration and Obituaries

Baseball research groups like the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) have covered Ribant’s career in detail. SABR’s research even mentions his background in both baseball and hockey.

When Ribant passed away on April 24, 2023, at 81, several baseball outlets paid tribute. RIP Baseball published a thorough obituary, mentioning his journey through six teams and his life in Newport Coast, California.

The 1960s Baseball blog marked his passing by highlighting his standout 1966 season. That .550 winning percentage was the best by a Mets pitcher up to that point.

Baseball reference sites still keep detailed stats and milestones from Ribant’s career. These records make sure fans and researchers won’t forget his place in baseball history.

Ongoing Influence in Baseball History

Ribant’s 1966 season still stands out as a big moment in New York Mets history. He actually became the first full-time starting pitcher for the Mets to finish with a winning season, racking up an 11-9 record and a 3.21 ERA.

That achievement helped the Mets finally avoid last place for the first time ever. This breakthrough came just before legends like Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan showed up.

Modern baseball researchers often look at Ribant’s career when talking about the journeyman pitcher era. He bounced around to six teams in six years, which really shows how common player movement was in the 1960s.

Sites like Retrosheet keep detailed, game-by-game records of Ribant’s appearances. Researchers can dig into these stats to see his performance patterns and what he brought to each club during his short but memorable career.