Ron Rubenzer

Class of 2017

1^st Baseman, Outfielder

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1986-90, 93-03; Cadott Red Sox 1991-92

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A left-handed slugger, Ron Rubenzer’s large stature and monstrous swing cut an imposing presence for Chippewa River Baseball League pitchers during his 18 seasons of league play.

As a young player, Ron entered the CRBL in a part-time role with the talented, successful, and veteran laden Jim Falls Sturgeons of the late 1990s.

Moving to the Cadott Red Sox in 1991, Rubenzer had a breakout campaign, getting named All-CRBL as an outfielder on the merits of his .397 average (23 for 58) to go along with 4 doubles, 3  home runs, and 11 RBI’s.

After one more season in Cadott, the Big Lefty returned to his hometown Sturgeons in 1993, which began an eight season run (1993-2000) in which he averaged over 4 home runs and 14 RBI’s while hitting a accumulative .325 (145 for 446).  Within that stretch, Ron had perhaps his finest season in 1994, when he hit .500 (26 for 52) with 4 doubles, 5 home runs, and 16 RBI’s in route to his second All-CRBL award as an outfielder.

Rubenzer’s performance in his last two seasons as a full-time CRBL player in 1999 and 2000 validates his reputation as a true masher.  In 1999, the Big Sturgeon tied for the CRBL lead in home runs with 7 while knocking in 26 run in 18 league games.  He followed that up in 2000 by hitting .411 (23 for 56) with 6 long balls and 22 RBI’s in another 18 game CRBL season.  In both years, Ron was named Honorable Mention All-CRBL.

Rubenzer was also a very durable and valuable pitcher for both Cadott and Jim Falls.  Logging 422 innings over his CRBL career, the left-handed thrower posted a league leading ERA of 2.66 in 1990 (7 ER in 22.2 IP) for the Sturgeons.  In six seasons, Rubenzer pitched over 40 league innings (1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) and surpassed 50 innings twice – 54.1 in 1992 and 54 in 1997.

From 2001 to 2003, Ron circled back to a part-time player role with the Sturgeons before going on to finish his amateur baseball career with the Weyerhaeuser Black Hens of the Dairyland League, playing in to the late 2000s.

A participant in ten All-Star games (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), the thunderous power and towering home runs that Rubenzer regularly displayed make him one of the most prodigious power hitters in CRBL history.  Upon induction, Ron’s highest all-time rankings can be found in home runs (9^th), slugging percentage (14^th), RBI’s (33^rd), and innings pitched (39^th).