Murray State University Athletics
Former 'Breds pitcher Ricky Chism dies in automobile accident Sunday
2/7/2006 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cedar Avenue Chapel of McKenzie Funeral Home. The funeral will be held on Wednesday at 3 p.m., with interment to follow in the Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Chism is survived by his parents, Dewey and Keitha Chism; a brother, Randy, and his wife, Debbie, of Union City, Tenn.; and two nieces, Ashlyn and Caroline Chism.
Chism, 36, was a member of the McKenzie Church of Christ.
Chism played baseball at Murray State during the 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993 seasons, redshirting the 1991 season following a knee injury. He was featured on the cover of the 1993 MSU Baseball Media Guide.
He served as a relief pitcher and first baseman for the Thoroughbreds, hitting a career-best .274 in 1992. He had a career earned-run average of 5.44 in 34 games over his four seasons and a 6-8 career record with two saves. His best season on the mound was in 1990, when he went 2-0 with an ERA of 1.59, and he led the 'Breds with three wins in his senior season.
Chism earned his bachelor of science degree in finance at Murray State in 1993.
At McKenzie High School, Chism earned four letters in baseball and three in basketball. He had a career record of 20-3 as a pitcher at MHS and was a two-time district player of the year.
"He was a great asset to the team, and one of the most dedicated players we've had," said Johnny Reagan, Chism's coach at Murray State and a member of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. "He was really popular with his teammates, a good all-around kind of player."
"Ricky will always be remembered by his coaches and teammates as the most hard-working and dedicated player and fellow student," said Mike Thieke, who was Chism's pitching coach at Murray State. "Ricky's dedication to Murray State and Murray State University baseball will always stand out.
"It's always a tragic loss whenever an automobile accident takes one of your players and friends. The Murray State University baseball family will always miss one of its own."
Chism, a horse and bird dog trainer, was driving his 2001 Ford pickup truck southbound on Interstate 65 south of Franklin, Tenn., when it was struck from behind while pulling a horse trailer carrying more than a dozen English pointer dogs and four horses. The accident, which took place at 6:33 a.m. Sunday, caused his vehicle to leave the roadway and overturn.
The driver of the other vehicle, a 2002 Jaguar XT2, was identified as Anthony Weber, 48, of Brentwood, Tenn. He fled on foot after the accident and was the subject of a massive search by state troopers and National Guard soldiers. Tennessee Highway Patrol officers and guardsmen used helicopters to search by air and bloodhounds to search on land. Weber had not been located as of Monday afternoon, according to the Tennessee Dept. of Safety.
Authorities said Weber might be injured. His wife told troopers that he suffered a concussion two weeks ago.
Several of the animals, which scattered after the accident, had been found by Sunday evening, and the remainder had been found by Monday. One of the dogs had died and one horse was injured, but was expected to recover.
Chism raised and trained English pointers and horses at his McKenzie, Tenn., home, and was on his way to plantations in Alabama, where he was planning to negotiate the selling of some of his animals and "work" some of his dogs.
Chism had recently won first and second place in Carroll County field trials and won first place at a Fort Campbell field trial on Saturday.
Information for this story was provided by Linda Bolton of The McKenzie (Tenn.) Banner.
