WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2010

Written by Bryan Messerly

John Radosevich, a three-year letterwinner in baseball from 1963-65, helped the Mountaineers to a 73-17 record during his career.

One of the most dominant pitchers in Mountaineer history, he is the only WVU player to record more than 300 strikeouts (339) during his career. Radosevich recorded back-to-back seasons with 120 or more strikeouts and holds the school record for strikeouts in a season with 123 in 1964 and 120 in 1965. He set the single-game record that still stands with 22 strikeouts against Waynesburg in 1964. Radosevich had six career games of 15 strikeouts or more.

Captain of the 1965 team, Radosevich is fourth all-time on WVU’s wins list with 25 and is second in career winning percentage at .862 (25-4). One of the most durable pitchers in WVU history, he completed 21 starts to establish a school record.

A native of Ronco, Pa., he led West Virginia in wins in each of his three seasons and also led the team in earned run average in 1964 and 1965. Radosevich led the Mountaineers to the NCAA tournament in 1963 and 1964. He holds the school NCAA tournament record for pitching appearances and strikeouts.

Radosevich earned all-Southern Conference first-team honors in 1964 and 1965. He pitched a one-hitter against VMI in 1964. He was the first-ever Mountaineer selected in the Major League Baseball draft, picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth round in 1965.

Radosevich played three seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, compiling a 24-5 record. He was forced to retire prematurely after tearing his rotator cuff, and went on to become a physical education and biological science teacher for 39 years at Broadway High in Rockingham County, Va.

In his retirement, Radosevich has taken an interest in photography.

Radosevich married his wife, Diane, in 1967, and they continue to reside in Harrisonburg. They have one son, Brad, and four grandchildren.