# Ron Stillwell > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ron_Stillwell > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ron_Stillwell.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Stillwell > Source revision: 1287026642 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American baseball player (1939-2016)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name =Ron Stillwell |image=Ron Stillwell.JPG | position =[Shortstop](/source/Shortstop) / [Second baseman](/source/Second_baseman) | birth_date ={{birth date|1939|12|3}} | birth_place =[Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles), U.S. | death_date ={{death date and age|2016|1|25|1939|12|3}} | death_place =[Poway, California](/source/Poway%2C_California), U.S. | bats =Right | throws =Right |debutleague = MLB | debutdate =July 3 | debutyear ={{mlby|1961}} | debutteam =[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1961%E2%80%9371)) |finalleague = MLB | finaldate =September 30 | finalyear ={{mlby|1962}} | finalteam =[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1961%E2%80%9371)) |statleague = MLB | stat1label =[Batting average](/source/Batting_average_(baseball)) | stat1value =.211 |stat2label=[Games played](/source/Games_played) |stat2value=14 |stat3label=[Hits](/source/Hit_(baseball)) |stat3value=8 | awards = *Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame (2011){{Cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/sports/ron-stillwell-longtime-area-baseball-coach-dies-at-76-2a451e40-0210-647f-e053-0100007fe9aa-366641171.html|title=Ron Stillwell, longtime area baseball coach, dies at 76|website=www.vcstar.com}} *NAIA Coach of the Year (1976) | teams = * [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1961%E2%80%9371)) (1961–1962) |highlights= }} '''Ronald Roy Stillwell''' (December 3, 1939 – January 25, 2016) was an American [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) player who played parts of two seasons for the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1961%E2%80%9371)). A [shortstop](/source/shortstop), he batted and threw [right-handed](/source/right-handed), stood {{convert|5|ft|11|in}} tall and weighed {{convert|165|lb}}. Then, as a coach, Stillwell also helped build the baseball programs at [Thousand Oaks High School](/source/Thousand_Oaks_High_School), [Moorpark College](/source/Moorpark_College) and [California Lutheran University](/source/California_Lutheran_University). As a player, he played shortstop at [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California) (USC) and captained its 1961 national championship team. A week after graduating, he signed a contract with Major League Baseball’s Washington Senators. His MLB career was limited to fourteen games. Born in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), Stillwell attended [John Burroughs High School](/source/John_Burroughs_High_School) in [Burbank, California](/source/Burbank%2C_California) and the [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California), where he co-captained the national champion 1961 [USC Trojans](/source/USC_Trojans) varsity baseball team. He was signed by the Senators as an amateur [free agent](/source/free_agent) during the {{mlby|1961}} season—the inaugural season of that incarnation of the Senators—and made his big league debut on July 3 against the [Boston Red Sox](/source/Boston_Red_Sox) at [Griffith Stadium](/source/Griffith_Stadium). Starting at shortstop in back-to-back games, both Washington victories, he collected one [hit](/source/hit_(baseball)) in eight total [at bats](/source/at_bats), a [double](/source/double_(baseball)) off [Don Schwall](/source/Don_Schwall). That was Stillwell's only MLB [extra-base hit](/source/extra-base_hit) in 38 at bats and 42 [plate appearances](/source/plate_appearances). He notched three [runs batted in](/source/runs_batted_in). Stilwell retired after five [professional](/source/professional_baseball) seasons in 1965. He became a teacher, and was baseball coach at [Thousand Oaks High School](/source/Thousand_Oaks_High_School), [California Lutheran University](/source/California_Lutheran_University) and [Moorpark College](/source/Moorpark_College).{{cite web|last=Sondheimer|first=Eric|title=Ron Stillwell, former baseball coach and USC co-captain, dies at 76|date=January 27, 2016|work=[The Los Angeles Times](/source/The_Los_Angeles_Times)|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-ron-stillwell-former-baseball-coach-and-usc-captain-dies-at-76-20160127-story.html|access-date=February 18, 2016}} He died of cancer on January 25, 2016.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.vcstar.com/sports/ron-stillwell-longtime-area-baseball-coach-dies-at-76-2a451e40-0210-647f-e053-0100007fe9aa-366641171.html |title=Ron Stillwell, longtime area baseball coach, dies at 76 |website=Vcstar.com |date=1939-12-03 |access-date=2016-01-27}} His son, [Kurt](/source/Kurt_Stillwell), had a nine-season MLB career. ==Early life== Stillwell attended [John Burroughs High School](/source/John_Burroughs_High_School) in [Burbank](/source/Burbank%2C_California), where he was student body president and played both basketball and baseball. He graduated in 1957.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-ron-stillwell-former-baseball-coach-and-usc-captain-dies-at-76-20160127-story.html|title=Ron Stillwell, former baseball coach and USC co-captain, dies at 76|date=January 28, 2016|website=Los Angeles Times}} His high school career included being selected to the All Foothill League team as a shortstop in baseball and guard in basketball.{{Cite web|url=https://venturacountysportshalloffame.org/inductee/ron-stillwell/|title=Ron Stillwell|date=January 30, 2017}} ==Playing career== He graduated with a BA from the [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California) (USC) in 1961, the same university where he received his MA in 1967. During his time as a [Trojan](/source/USC_Trojans) at USC, he was awarded the Wills Hunter Award for best GPA of a USC athlete. He was an All PAC in shortstop and captained the 1961 NCAA Championship team. A week after graduation, at age 21, he signed a contract with the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1960-1971)). Stillwell played parts of two seasons with the Washington Senators. His career was cut short due to a collision during a game.Maulhardt, Jeffrey Wayne (2007). ''Baseball in Ventura County''. Arcadia Publishing. Page 107. {{ISBN|9780738547398}}. ==Coaching career== ===Thousand Oaks High School=== He began a 25-year career in the Conejo Valley School District in 1965, coaching varsity baseball, freshman basketball and cross country at [Thousand Oaks High School](/source/Thousand_Oaks_High_School). He was hired in 1964 when the school still was part of the [Oxnard Union High School District](/source/Oxnard_Union_High_School_District). He taught at Thousand Oaks High for 33 years, coaching for 25. Stillwell also taught physical education at Thousand Oaks High School for over twenty-five years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-20-sp-2191-story.html|title=Stillwell to Resign Baseball Post at Moorpark College|date=April 20, 1989|website=Los Angeles Times}} ===California Lutheran University=== While still a teacher at Thousand Oaks High School, Stillwell was hired by [Robert Shoup](/source/Robert_Shoup) and became the head baseball coach at [California Lutheran University](/source/California_Lutheran_University) in 1972, where he remained until 1978. He had a record 139-100-1 (.581) at Cal Lutheran and was named the 1976 NAIA Coach of the Year. ===Moorpark College=== Stillwell was a walk-on coach at [Moorpark College](/source/Moorpark_College) from 1985-1989. He resigned as baseball coach in his fifth season for Moorpark College in 1989. ==Personal life== Ron and his wife Jan had three children, Scott, Rod and [Kurt](/source/Kurt_Stillwell). Kurt played nine seasons in Major League Baseball, his best being 1988 when he was selected to the American League All-Star Team. He was the second pick for the 1983 amateur draft by the [Cincinnati Reds](/source/Cincinnati_Reds). Stillwell’s younger son, Rod, named after [USC](/source/University_of_Southern_California) baseball coach [Rod Dedeaux](/source/Rod_Dedeaux), played college ball at Arkansas and advanced to the [College World Series](/source/College_World_Series) in 1989. He was drafted by the [Kansas City Royals](/source/Kansas_City_Royals). ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=s/stillro01 |fangraphs= }} {{Cal Lutheran Kingsmen baseball coach navbox}} {{1961 USC Trojans baseball}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Stillwell, Ron}} Category:1939 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Baseball coaches from California Category:Baseball players from Los Angeles Category:Cal Lutheran Kingsmen baseball coaches Category:Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players Category:Deaths from cancer in California Category:Denver Bears players Category:Major League Baseball infielders Category:Richmond Virginians (minor league) players Category:Baseball players from Ventura County, California Category:Syracuse Chiefs players Category:USC Trojans baseball players Category:Washington Senators (1961–1971) players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:York White Roses players --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ron Stillwell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Stillwell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Stillwell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.