| Ricky Williams was born in May of 1977 and is a | | | | this award speaks volumes about the grid iron |
| famous National Football League (NFL) running | | | | abilities of Ricky Williams. |
| back who arrived with the Miami Dolphins after | | | | Despite the promise that Williams showed on the |
| playing for the New Orleans Saints and the before | | | | football field it was a career on the baseball |
| them the University of Texas (UT) Longhorns. | | | | diamond that he originally chose to pursue right |
| Ricky has repeatedly proven himself as a valuable | | | | out of high school. While most football fans |
| player for whatever team he is playing on and in | | | | primarily think of Ricky Williams as a football |
| some respects seems to be getting better with | | | | player for the University of Texas Longhorns |
| age, a statement that is simply unheard of at the | | | | before his entrance into the NFL he actually |
| running back position. Most fans do not realize that | | | | played minor league baseball in the Philadelphia |
| while Ricky was playing football in Austin, Texas | | | | Phillies farm system while at the same time |
| he was also playing minor league baseball during | | | | playing football for the UT Longhorns. Ricky was |
| the football off season. | | | | taken in the 1995 baseball draft by the Philadelphia |
| Ricky was born in San Diego, California in the late | | | | Phillies in the eighth round. |
| 1970s he primarily grew up with his mother after | | | | Most people are not as familiar with the baseball |
| his parents separated when he was six years old. | | | | career of Ricky Williams because it never really |
| As a teenager at Patrick Henry High School in San | | | | took off. Williams spent four years in Single A |
| Diego Ricky excelled at a number of sports as a | | | | which is the lowest of the minor league divisions |
| varsity member of the track, wrestling, and | | | | of Single A, Double A, and Triple A. Triple A is the |
| baseball teams in addition to the success he | | | | highest level of minor league baseball before being |
| enjoyed on the football field. After rushing for | | | | called up to the big leagues. Unbeknownst to most |
| over 2,000 yards and punching in 25 touchdowns | | | | college football fans while Williams was breaking |
| as a senior at Patrick Henry High School Ricky | | | | college football rushing records (including the |
| was awarded the coveted Offensive Player of | | | | coveted most rushing yards record) he was |
| the Year award by the local San Diego | | | | spending his football off seasons playing baseball |
| newspaper. Considering the population and number | | | | and struggling in vain to break into Major League |
| of athletes playing football in the San Diego area | | | | Baseball. |