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Subscribe to our NewsletterA REDBIRD LEGEND TURNS IN HIS WINGS
The announcement was made months ago, but now that the off-season has set in so has the fact that Ryan Harris, co-founder of the Redbirds franchise back in 2000, has decided to retire. Harris leaves as a 15 year veteran of the NABA, including 7 years at the helm of the Redbirds, 4 time All-Star, with 3 Naba championships and 1 National championship under his belt. He also served as a commisioner on the Naba board. Some of his on field records include, most games played as a Redbird, and in the top 5 in at bats, hits, singles, rbi's and walks. But its more than records that made Harris a Redbird Legend. He was once the glue that held the team together in the worst years years in team history. The 2005-2006 years when the team and franchise was on the brink of disbanding. He was a major factor or the Birds franchise continuing when he decided to hand over the coaching reigns to Brian Nix to run the team as they made the transition from the 18s to the 28s. He remained as a coach/player and helped Nix battle through his rookie season of managing. He also contributed to personel decisions and infleunce on bringing key members to the Redbirds. To help them not only to be a championship team, but to build team of integrity on and off the field that our oppenents respect and like to play. Harris was hoping to end his Redbirds career with a bang, a possible 3-peat in the regular season and another National Championship in Arizona. Unfortunately the Birds fell short, losing in the first round of the play-offs for both. Although he didn't hang up his spikes how he wanted, he did go out on his own terms. For his accomplishments on and off the field, no one else will don the number #9 in a Redbirds jersey. "Mr. Redbird" will definately be missed in the dugout by his teammates.
