(Above photo: Tampa Bay Rays second baseman, and former Towson Tigers baseball player Richie Palacios celebrates after hitting a two-run double in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.)

For the first time in history, Towson University will have a former baseball player competing in Major League Baseball’s World Series.

Richie Palacios will take the field for the Tampa Bay Rays in their championship series against the Milwaukee Brewers. He is not only the first former Tiger to play in the World Series but also the first drafted or signed to appear on an MLB postseason roster.

This postseason, Palacios has started six games at second base, batting .269 with a double, four RBIs and two stolen bases.

His biggest contribution came in the second inning of Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Oct. 19.

Palacios lined a double to right field, driving in two runs and helping the Rays clinch the American League pennant. He then returned to his Tiger roots, celebrating with a roar toward his teammates.

Palacios joins several other Tigers who have seen postseason success in professional sports.

  • John Schuerholz '62, a former TU baseball player, is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame as an executive. As a general manager, he helped build two World Series Champions with the Kansas City Royals (1985) and the Atlanta Braves (1995).
  • Former Towson Tigers football offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod helped lead the New Orleans Saints to two Super Bowl Championships.
  • Former Tigers' defensive backs Tye Smith and Jordan Dangerfield reached the NFL postseason concurrently during the 2020–21 playoffs. Smith reached the postseason with the Tennessee Titans, while Dangerfield went with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • In basketball, former Tigers' forward Gary Neal made multiple deep postseason runs with the San Antonio Spurs, most notably during the 2013 NBA Finals, where he hit six 3-pointers in Game 3 to help the Spurs defeat the Miami Heat.

In fact, Palacios isn't the only Tiger who will be participating in this year's World Series. Andy Freed '94, will be calling the action as the lead play-by-play announcer for the Rays' radio broadcast. 

Richie Palacios while playing for the Towson University Baseball Team
Richie Palacios taking an at-bat for the for the Towson University Baseball Team

Before reaching the biggest stage in baseball, Palacios was making a name for himself in the middle of campus by patrolling the infield of Brooks Robinson Field at John B. Schuerholz Park.

Palacios played for the TU baseball team from 2016 to 2018. During his time at TU, he earned All-CAA honors twice and batted .324 over his collegiate career. He also ranks first in program history in stolen bases, with 76.

Cleveland selected Palacios in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He has since played for the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals. This season with Tampa Bay, he batted .235 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs.

Palacios and the Rays will take on the Brewers in Game 1 of the World Series on Fri., Oct. 23 at 8 p.m.