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Ritch Price to be Inducted into ABCA Hall of Fame in 2027
7/1/2026 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Ritch Price, the all-time winningest coach in Kansas Baseball history, will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2027, the organization announced Wednesday.
Price is one of seven coaches who has been selected for induction into the ABCA Hall of Fame as the Class of 2027. All seven coaches will be formally honored during the ABCA Hall of Fame Banquet presented by C&H Baseball, on Friday, January 8, 2027, as part of the 83rd annual ABCA Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
Price was the head coach at Kansas for 20 seasons from 2003-22 and finished his career at KU with 581 wins. He led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2009, 2014) in his 20 seasons, which was more than the combined number of appearances the program achieved in its first 112 seasons before Price.
In his 20 seasons at KU, Price coached players to 117 All-Big 12 selections, 189 Academic All-Big 12 honorees, 75 professional contracts, two Big 12 Newcomers of the Year, two All-Americans and one NCBWA National Stopper of the Year.
The 75 professional contracts signed by Jayhawks included 10 Top 10-round draft picks. At least one player on Price's roster was either signed or drafted in 18 of his 20 seasons. Eight Jayhawks who played under Price made it to the Major Leagues, including pitchers Ryan Zeferjahn, Wes Benjamin, Sam Freeman, Mike Zagurski, Tom Gorzelanny, Colton Murray and Brett Bochy and third baseman Travis Metcalf.
Price guided KU to twelve 30-win seasons in his tenure. His 20 years in the Big 12 Conference matched Texas' Augie Garrido for the longest tenured coach in league history.
Price became the all-time winningest coach in program history on March 4, 2017, with an 11-7 win over Northwestern State. His 439th win on that day broke a record that stood over 35 years by legendary Kansas head coach Floyd Temple.
In 2008, Price was named an assistant coach for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Price coached future Major Leaguers Stephen Strasburg, Mike Leake and Mike Minor on the team. Price helped lead the Americans to a perfect 24-0 record in international play, the only USA Baseball Collegiate National Team to ever go undefeated.
Price coached baseball for 44 years and amassed 1,199 wins in his career between the Division I, junior college and high school levels. He accumulated 798 wins during his 28 years coaching at the Division I level and coached in more than 1,500 games.
Prior to his 20 seasons at Kansas, Price was the head coach at Cal Poly (1994-2002), where he transitioned the Mustangs into a Division I program. He also spent time at De Anza Community College (1987-94), where he was also the director of athletics and at Menlo College (1983-86). Price got his start at both Phoenix High School (1978-81) and at Jasper High School (1982-83).
The Sweet Home, Oregon, native and 1978 graduate of Willamette University is a Hall of Famer as a player and a coach. Price was inducted into the NWCA Hall of Fame as a player in 1998 for his two seasons at Linn-Benton Community College. Then, in May 2009, Price was inducted into the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his eight seasons coaching at De Anza Community College.
Price retired following the 2022 season, but he remains around the game of baseball as the manager of the Alaska Baseball League's Anchorage Glacier Pilots.
ABOUT THE ABCA HALL OF FAME
Induction into the ABCA Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Since the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1966, the ABCA has honored more than 350 individuals with induction. To be considered, a coach must have served as a head baseball coach and been an ABCA member for a minimum of 15 years. Candidates must also have made significant professional and personal contributions to the ABCA, contributed to the advancement of baseball at the local, national, or international level, and exemplified high moral character, ethical standards, excellence, and leadership.
ABOUT THE ABCA
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association members have broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II, and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
Price is one of seven coaches who has been selected for induction into the ABCA Hall of Fame as the Class of 2027. All seven coaches will be formally honored during the ABCA Hall of Fame Banquet presented by C&H Baseball, on Friday, January 8, 2027, as part of the 83rd annual ABCA Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
Price was the head coach at Kansas for 20 seasons from 2003-22 and finished his career at KU with 581 wins. He led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2009, 2014) in his 20 seasons, which was more than the combined number of appearances the program achieved in its first 112 seasons before Price.
In his 20 seasons at KU, Price coached players to 117 All-Big 12 selections, 189 Academic All-Big 12 honorees, 75 professional contracts, two Big 12 Newcomers of the Year, two All-Americans and one NCBWA National Stopper of the Year.
The 75 professional contracts signed by Jayhawks included 10 Top 10-round draft picks. At least one player on Price's roster was either signed or drafted in 18 of his 20 seasons. Eight Jayhawks who played under Price made it to the Major Leagues, including pitchers Ryan Zeferjahn, Wes Benjamin, Sam Freeman, Mike Zagurski, Tom Gorzelanny, Colton Murray and Brett Bochy and third baseman Travis Metcalf.
Price guided KU to twelve 30-win seasons in his tenure. His 20 years in the Big 12 Conference matched Texas' Augie Garrido for the longest tenured coach in league history.
Price became the all-time winningest coach in program history on March 4, 2017, with an 11-7 win over Northwestern State. His 439th win on that day broke a record that stood over 35 years by legendary Kansas head coach Floyd Temple.
In 2008, Price was named an assistant coach for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Price coached future Major Leaguers Stephen Strasburg, Mike Leake and Mike Minor on the team. Price helped lead the Americans to a perfect 24-0 record in international play, the only USA Baseball Collegiate National Team to ever go undefeated.
Price coached baseball for 44 years and amassed 1,199 wins in his career between the Division I, junior college and high school levels. He accumulated 798 wins during his 28 years coaching at the Division I level and coached in more than 1,500 games.
Prior to his 20 seasons at Kansas, Price was the head coach at Cal Poly (1994-2002), where he transitioned the Mustangs into a Division I program. He also spent time at De Anza Community College (1987-94), where he was also the director of athletics and at Menlo College (1983-86). Price got his start at both Phoenix High School (1978-81) and at Jasper High School (1982-83).
The Sweet Home, Oregon, native and 1978 graduate of Willamette University is a Hall of Famer as a player and a coach. Price was inducted into the NWCA Hall of Fame as a player in 1998 for his two seasons at Linn-Benton Community College. Then, in May 2009, Price was inducted into the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his eight seasons coaching at De Anza Community College.
Price retired following the 2022 season, but he remains around the game of baseball as the manager of the Alaska Baseball League's Anchorage Glacier Pilots.
ABOUT THE ABCA HALL OF FAME
Induction into the ABCA Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Since the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1966, the ABCA has honored more than 350 individuals with induction. To be considered, a coach must have served as a head baseball coach and been an ABCA member for a minimum of 15 years. Candidates must also have made significant professional and personal contributions to the ABCA, contributed to the advancement of baseball at the local, national, or international level, and exemplified high moral character, ethical standards, excellence, and leadership.
ABOUT THE ABCA
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association members have broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II, and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
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