1992 BYU Hall of Fame
A year before infielder Ron Hill finished playing for BYU he had a career record with 34 stolen bases. The All-American's bat had the pop combined with other tools that made him a three-time All-Western Athletic Conference player.
The 5-10, 160-pound speedster from Portland, Oregon, batted from the portside and threw from the right side. As a sophomore he was All-Western Athletic Conference at third base and followed up the final two seasons as an All-WAC selection at second base.
Typifying a stalwart Hill performance was a 1975 game at Las Vegas against defending NCAA champion USC. Ron was 3-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases in the Cougars' 9-7 loss.
Often he batted in the number two position behind future major leaguer Vance Law. Once Ron was on base, opposing pitchers faced a dilemma as they looked down the gun barrel at All-American slugger Lee Iorg in the third slot while pesky Ron played mind games.
As a junior in 1974, Ron led the nation with eight triples, which established a BYU season record, and he batted .399. His 21 stolen bases in 1974 was another Cougar season record. Against Colorado State in Provo he set the school record with four stolen bases in one game. A scholar as well as an athlete, he was selected to the Academic All-America squad that same season.
Ron was co-captain with Dave Coon in 1975 and was an All-District VII selection. He owned the school career records in stolen bases (45), triples (15) and bases on balls (92). He was fourth in the nation in triples.
"Ron was gifted. He could do everything: run, field, and hit with power." says BYU coach Glen Tuckett. "He is the best baserunner we've had at BYU. Others may have been faster, but none have been more accomplished."
Ron graduated in 1976 from BYU with a bachelor's degree in communications.