ABOUT PAUL

For three years at Pasadena High School, Paul whole-heartedly dedicated himself to the school’s baseball team. With his facemask and chest guard, Paul was a familiar figure on the diamond and a favorite for many baseball spectators. Ratliff served as a co-captain, alongside George Dearing on the Eagles team.

After four consecutive years of placing second in the district 12AAAA race, the PHS baseball team, under Coach Lee Harrington and cocaptains Ratliff and George Dearing, fought off their favored opponents and captured the District 12AAAA Baseball Championship crown!

After capturing the district title during the 1961–1962 seasons, the Eagles did not stop at this level, but went on to represent their school in the state play-off. After defeating Texas City’s Stingarees, 6-1, South Houston became the next to fall before the Mighty Eagles, 8-0. Two doubles by Dearing and a triple by Paul paced the Eagles to their second district win. Several victories later, Paul produced triples as the Eagles won over the Galena Park Nine, 4-1. With that win, the Eagles finished the first half of District undefeated.

After winning the district crown, the Eagles went on to two straight victories and clinch the bi-district series with Paul, Dearing, Curtis Doolan and Rusty Rains supplying the power in both wins. PHS advanced to the quarter finals in the state playoff, but in the final fame of the series, they were unable to overcome strong pitching by the Bellaire Cardinals.

After Paul’s senior year of high school, he signed as a free agent to join the Minnesota Twins in 1962. By the next season, Ratliff, at age 19, was on the Twins opening day roster, appearing in 10 games. From 1962 to 1970, he was sent to the minor leagues to refine his game. He found his way back to Major League glory as a catcher for the Minnesota Twins during the 1963, 1970 and 1971 seasons and for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1971 to 1972. Ratliff split catching duties with George “the Baron” Mitterwald for the Twins and played in the 1970 American League Championship Series.

Ratliff shared the baseball field with many celebrated baseball figures like MLB Hall of Famers and Twins legends Rodney Carew and Harmon “Hammerin’ Harmon” Killebrew.

Ratliff put down his glove and picked up several Hollywood gigs, appearing in various soap operas including The Young and the Restless, Days