Rick Mathews

Rick R. Mathews (born 1947) is the bullpen coach for the Colorado Rockies. He has held that position since October 15, 2002, after spending seven years as Colorado's roving pitching coordinator.

In 1969, Mathews graduated from Drake University, where he was a pitcher on the Drake baseball team. He was a high school and junior college baseball coach, as well as a part-time scout for the Kansas City Royals (1971-74) and Philadelphia Phillies (1974-77). He then became a minor league manager in the Kansas City organization, with posts in Charleston (1981), Ft. Myers (1982-83), Memphis (1984) and Eugene (1987). He also was Kansas City's Assistant Director of Player Development (1985-86). From 1988-90, Mathews was the Royals' traveling minor league instructor.

Mathews joined the Rockies in the summer of 1992 as the pitching coach at Mesa of the Arizona Rookie League. He was then slated to work at Bend the following season but coached in the big league bullpen for most of the year. He was Colorado's bullpen coach for a large portion of the inaugural season of 1993 and then again in 1995.

Nov. 9 proclaimed ‘Rick Mathews Day’Centerville mayor made announcement on Friday

During a ceremony at city hall on Friday morning, Mayor Greg Fenton proclaimed Friday, Nov. 9, 2007 “Rick Mathews Day” in Centerville. The proclamation was spearheaded by former CHS classmate Kris Koestner.

Mathews is from Cincinnati and graduated from Centerville High School in 1965. He is the bullpen coach for the Colorado Rockies – recently competing in the World Series. Mathews was honored with the proclamation for his many years of faithful dedication and helping the community of Centerville and also for his success in Major League Baseball.

Mathews earned national media attention and is currently the longest tenured employee with the Rockies, in uniform. Mathews began his career with Colorado in 1992 after 12 years with the Kansas City Royals organization.

“I choose to live in Centerville, Iowa,” commented Mathews.  “I could live anywhere in the United States. I choose to live here because I love the community, I grew up in Cincinnati – my family still lives there. I moved back here 24 years ago to raise my family and have my kids graduate from Centerville High School. My wife, Mary Louise, is from here and we’ll spend the rest of our time here. This is home. Thank you very much, it means a great deal to myself and my family,” added Mathews.

Mathews’ pro experience dates back to the 1970s. After playing at Indian Hills Community College in the late 1960s, Mathews returned to IHCC to coach the Falcons in 1987. He spent six seasons at IHCC before joining the Rockies.

“Rick has a true love for the game of baseball and has for many years touched not only Centerville youth but youth throughout Iowa playing the game of baseball by working with Little League Baseball and holding pitching and hitting camps and working with Indian Hills Community College students,” said Centerville Mayor Greg Fenton while reading from the official proclamation. “I, Greg Fenton, mayor of Centerville, hereby proclaim Nov. 9, 2007 as Rick Mathews Day and call upon and urge all citizens to recognize Rick Mathews for the many years of faithful dedication to baseball and patronage in the Centerville community.”

Mathews and his wife, Mary Louise, have a son, Jonathan, and a daughter, Sarah.

External links

* [http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=col&coachorstaffid=414103184240 Colorado Rockies profile]
* [http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_7041675 Woody Paige, "Great view of new glory"] , The Denver Post, Sept. 30, 2007