Ronnie Giddens was born in Saugus-Newhall, California in 1961. He was destined from the beginning to be a baseball standout. Ronnie began his play with the Southern League in 1970 and followed with Little League from 1971-74 and was a Little League All-Star in district, regional, and state play in 1974. He was a valuable asset to the team which participated in the Little League World Series, taking 5th place in 1974. To date, this is the only team from Jackson, Tennessee, to play in the Williamsport, Pennsylvania series. Ronnie went on to have an outstanding career in Babe Ruth, American Legion and Jackson-Central Merry High School baseball, leading the team at J-CM with a batting average of .586.
Ronnie came to the Union University Bulldogs Baseball team in 1979 on full athletic scholarship. As a freshman he was the only starting shortstop to make the All Conference VSAC team. Ronnie’s versatility was demonstrated as he started as left fielder in 1982 and second baseman in 1983. In that same year he distinguished himself as All District, All Conference VSAC, District Player of the Year, the All World Series Team, NAIA All American and the Jackson Sun College Player of the Year. He is the only player in conference history to receive All Conference honors in all three positions: short stop, left fielder, and second baseman. In 1983 Ronnie played in all 57 games and led the team in batting at .435. Union University ranked 10th entering the NAIA World Series play in 1983 and placed third. At Union University Ronnie holds a career batting average of .409 and stills holds the record for career assists with 351.
In 1983, Ronnie was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds, playing for the Billings Mustangs and the Pioneer League Champions. He later played in the Cedar Rapids Reds Midwest and Tampa Tarpons Florida State Leagues. In 1986 he was traded to the Montreal Expos and then to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Today Ronnie makes his home in Jackson, Tennessee, with his wife, Tina, who works at Union University, and with his two daughters Aly and Anna Katherine.
