Ritchie, John

Born: Jan. 5, 1923
Died: Jan. 14, 2003

John Ritchey led the Negro American League with a .369 batting average in 1947 while playing for the Chicago American Giants.

The following year, he signed with his hometown San Diego Padres (minor league) and broke the Pacific Coast League color barrier on March 30, 1948.  He hit a solid .323 for the year.