Padres News: San Diego Legend Honored with Mural

A great tribute to one of baseball's most important icons.

Alongside the legend that broke the color barrier in the MLB that is Jackie Robinson, you have Johnny Ritchey who was able to do the same for the Pacific Coast League.

Ritchey is the definition of representing the city of San Diego as he first participated in World War II and then played for SDSU and the San Diego Padres. Upon joining the Padres, he became the first African-American player to successfully touch down in their league.

His movement paved the way for equality within the sport and the Friars have made sure to carry on his legacy in every way possible. They already put together a Johnny Ritchey Scholarship that awards ten students who have had to overcome significant obstacles to pursue education dreams $10,000.

But the organization has now taken it a visual step further and unveiled a new mural of Ritchey at San Diego High School.

San Diego High students hear from leaders who embraced diversity and overcame it to achieve their goals as part of the #BreakingBarriers Forum. The school also unveiled a new mural dedicated to former @Padres player #JohnnyRitchey, who helped break the color barrier. #BetterSD pic.twitter.com/aC8iLMxisc

— San Diego Unified (@sdschools) April 15, 2023

"San Diego High students hear from leaders who embraced diversity and overcame it to achieve their goals as part of the

#BreakingBarriers

Forum. The school also unveiled a new mural dedicated to former

@Padres

player

#JohnnyRitchey

, who helped break the color barrier.

#BetterSD

"

(Via San Diego Unified)

John Talley, Ritchey's son, spoke to 'Good Evening San Diego' following the unveiling and described what it means to be able to have his father's story live on.

"It's a great honor to be able to tell his story when he couldn't have at that time," said Izidoro. "It's breaking barriers, helping other people in the same situation, and trying to help them succeed. I just wish he was here to see this."

(Via Good Evening San Diego)

Ritchey would've turned 100-years-old this year and so many great movements have already been placed under his name. We cannot wait to hear all of the positive impacts that these movements have on the next generations.