Custom Class: header-breadcrumb

Ronald Liptak '55

Tough and talented, Ron Liptak excelled in both basketball and baseball at Fairfield Prep and is one of the select few athletes who played in both the Little League World Series and the College World Series.

In between, the 6-foot-1 Liptak was a power forward for coach George Bisacca’s Jesuits, leading the team in scoring and rebounding in his junior and senior seasons. Named a co-captain as a senior, he set a then-school record with 32 points in the Eastern States Catholic Invitational in Newport, R.I., in 1955. Not recognized by the CIAC until the fall of 1955, the 1954-55 team was nonetheless considered the state’s premier Catholic school squad.

Liptak was also a standout shortstop, starting all four seasons for Prep coach Ted Seymour and served as captain his senior season.

He received a baseball/basketball scholarship to Holy Cross, where he averaged 21 points per game for the freshman team and was a three-year starter at shortstop for legendary Crusaders coach Jack Berry. He and fellow AHOF member Jack Ringel helped Holy Cross reach the College World Series, where it beat UConn 2-1 on Ringel’s RBI double in extra innings but lost to eventual champion USC to finish third.

Liptak was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1958 and he played three seasons in the minors before being activated by the U.S. Army Reserve in 1961. He retired from pro ball in 1963 and went on to a successful 31-year career with the Travelers Insurance Company.

Prior to playing for Prep, Liptak was a member of the Bridgeport Original All-Stars team that finished third in the Little League World Series in 1949 and second in 1950.

He was honored with the Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award by the Greater Bridgeport Oldtimers Association in 2010.

Ronald Liptak '55 address at Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony