American professional baseball pitcher Ryan A. Vogelsong, was born July 22, 1977. In a career that spanned fifteen seasons he played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates for eleven years (2000-20, and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for three years with the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes. He won two World Series rings with the Giants (2012 & 2014).

Vogelsong graduated from Octorara Area High School in 1995, and played Legion baseball in Oxford, PA and little league baseball for Highland in the Southern Chester County Midget League. As a player for Kutztown University during the 1996-1998 seasons, he recorded 242 strikeouts and set nine school records during his three-year college tenure. His baseball achievements earned him induction into the Kutztown University’s Athletics Hall of Fame (2005).

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants during the 5th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft, Ryan debuted with the Single-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in Keizer, Oregon. He made his MLB debut on September 2, 2000 pitching two innings of relief in the Giants’ 13-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The Giants traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2001 where he became a starter and pitched with them for five years during two tours of duty with the team.

Ryan rejoined the Giants in 2011 and had his most productive professional year as he compiled a 13-7 record, 2.71 ERA, and was chosen for the National League All-Star team. He helped the Giants reach the World Series where he was 1-0 as they swept the Detroit Tigers, 4-0. A member of the Giants’ rotation he also pitched on the 2014 World Series championship team that beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3. Vogelsong played one year with the Pirates and sustained a broken orbital bone when he was hit by a pitch in Colorado on May 23, 2016. He retired in 2017.

Over his career he posted a 61-75 record, 4.48 ERA, recorded 900 strikeouts, and won two World Series rings. He was inducted into the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame (2018).