Chase Riddle (2012) - Hall of Fame - Troy University Athletics

Chase Riddle

Induction:
2012

The ultimate honor a coach can have bestowed upon them is for the field that they built their legacy upon to bear their name. Chase Riddle has that honor after he led an already proud Troy State baseball program to new heights during his 12-year career.

Riddle guided the Trojans to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances with the crowning achievement of back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 1986 and 1987. However, it was the way he carried himself on and off the field that will define his legacy.

Current Troy assistant coach Mark Smartt was a member of both National Championship teams and was so impacted by Riddle that he named his son after the legend.

“My only son is named Chase as are 14 other former players’ sons,” Smartt said. “I’m certain that is one of the highest honors you can bestow upon someone and my son truly understands why his name is Chase.

“I am so proud that I played for him and had the privilege of knowing him all these years. He is clearly a hall of fame coach and that doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story about him as a person.”

What is easy to chronicle about Riddle are his accomplishments as a coach. He is the all-time winningest baseball coach in Troy history with 434 wins to just 147 losses. He was twice named the National Coach of the Year. His Trojans won 71 percent of their conference games. He saw 30 of his players earn All-America honors and 36 earn first team All-Gulf South Conference distinction.

What is hard to put into words about Riddle is the way he affected those around him.

“It’s hard to explain,” Smartt said. “The best way to describe it is that he made whoever he was with feel like they were the most important person in the world. Whether it was a janitor or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company – that was just the way he carried himself. He possessed certain qualities that nobody else will ever have.”

The Trojans run to back-to-back National Championships under Riddle was pure domination. Troy State played four World Series games each year and won all eight by a combined 56-26 margin.

Jude Rinaldi was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1987 College World Series. Following a dramatic, last at-bat victory over Tampa, Rinaldi was asked about Riddle during a television interview. His answer was displayed on the video board at Riddle-Pace Field during the 25-Year Reunion for the 1987 squad and his eight-word answer spoke a powerful message, “I feel like I owe him my life.”

Riddle was a member of the inaugural Troy Baseball Hall of Fame class in 1992 and is a member of both the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He came to Troy State following 25 years as a player, manager and scout with the St. Louis Cardinals.

“Coach Riddle had a significant impact on every player and person he came in contact with,” Smartt said. “His presence was enormous yet his demeanor was gentle and gracious. Coaches are typically measured by wins and losses but his legacy will forever be the positive impact he had on all people. He is the most special person I’ve ever been around.”

Troy’s Pace Field was renamed Riddle-Pace Field on June 4, 1990, and less than one year later, on April 13, 1991, his number 25 jersey was retired.

Riddle passed away on June 12, 2011.