Richie Ashburn

Don Richard "Richie" Ashburn (March 19, 1927 – September 9, 1997) was an American professional baseball player and television sports commentator who played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball from 1948 to 1962. Known by the nicknames "Putt-Putt," "the Tilden Flash," and "Whitey," the last for his light-blond hair, he spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was a four-time All-Star and a member of the 1950 National League pennant-winning team known as the Whiz Kids.

Ashburn was a two-time National League batting champion and finished with a .308 career batting average. He also excelled defensively, routinely leading the league in putouts. His 5,803 career putouts rank third among center fielders in Major League Baseball history, behind only Willie Mays and Tris Speaker. He ended his playing career with the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets.

Following his playing career, Ashburn served as a color commentator for television broadcasts of Philadelphia Phillies games from 1963 until his death in 1997, developing into one of the most beloved sports figures in Philadelphia sports history. In 1995, following a lengthy fan-led effort for his inclusion, he was honored for his place in the game.