Richie Ashburn Tilden Athlete. Tilden High School Class of 1944. Don Richard Ashburn was a outstanding high school athlete, won all-state in basketball player in 1944 and was a noted speedster, Ashburn gained fame in baseball, leaving Northeast Nebraska for a professional baseball career. Richie Ashburn was a durable, hustling leadoff hitter and clutch performer with superb knowledge of the strike zone. A fan favorite, "Whitey" batted .308 with nine .300-plus seasons and 2,574 hits in 15 years, winning batting championships in 1955 and 1958. A core player for the 1950 Whiz Kids, the center fielder established major league records for most times leading the league in chances (nine), most years with 500 or more putouts (four) and most seasons with 400 or more putouts (nine). Ashburn spent 35 years broadcasting Phillies games after his playing days. He died in 1997 in New York. In the off season during his playing days, Ashburn returned to Tilden and refereed high school games and worked out with the Tilden high school teams during the winter. He'd bring cases of Wheaties for families in Tilden because of his endorsement of the product.

Don Richard Ashburn

• Born: March 19, 1927, Tilden, Nebraska
• Died: September 9, 1997, New York, New York
• Batted: left
• Threw: right
• Played for: Phillies, Cubs, Mets
• Elected to Hall of Fame by Committee on Baseball Veterans: 1995
• Career Batting Record
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• Did you know ... that Richie Ashburn was the only rookie elected to the 1948 All-Star Game?

From: Leo Harvill, commenting by email on Ashburn's death.
I grew up in Tilden, NE. Richie and his family lived one block away from my family. His children played with my younger brother and sister. I would babysit with his kids. He and his family were friends of our family. He was my boyhood hero and idol but he was also my friend even though he was 14 years older. I didn't think it was unusual to have a major league baseball star living next to me. I guess I thought everyone did.

I can remember Rich bringing cases of Wheaties over for our family (I have three brothers and a sister). He was given cases of them because of his endorsement of the product but he told us that he and his family didn't eat them.

I can remember Rich working out with our high school basketball team so he could keep in shape in the off season. He could drive around anyone on our team; his speed on the basketball court was amazing! I was particularly slow and could not believe anyone could be that fast.

My wife, youngest son, and I had the opportunity to visit Rich in 1993 and attend several Phillies games (when  Ashburn was an announcer). My wife and I were also able to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1995. It was a special time for me to see a friend inducted into the HOF. I never saw Rich play in a major league baseball game but I followed his career very closely.