Abstract:
On a cool May evening in 1952, Ron Necciai stepped into baseball history. Necciai, a 19-year-old right-hander pitching for the Bristol (Virginia) Twins of the Appalachian League, struck out 27 of the visiting Welch (West Virginia) Miners to establish a record in professional baseball which still stands after over 50 years.

“Rocket Ron” is the story of Necciai growing up poor in southwestern Pennsylvania after the early death of his father. Necciai persevered developing into a hard-throwing pitcher who was being called the next Dizzy Dean.

Necciai joined the Pittsburgh Pirates but a torn rotator cuff ended a once promising career.