Two-sport legend Ryan Minor, who played both baseball and basketball, passed away on Friday afternoon after a battle with colon cancer. His twin brother, Damon, announced the saddening news on social media. Minor is survived by his wife, Allyson, and two daughters, Regan and Finley.
Minor was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer last fall and sadly passed away at the age of 49.
“He truly was the best twin brother you can ask for,” Damon Minor wrote on Twitter. “His family and I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support during this time.”
After a courageous and hard fought battle I’m sad to say that Ryan lost his fight with cancer this afternoon. He truly was the best twin brother you can ask for. His family and I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support during this time. BOOMER SOONER.. pic.twitter.com/MRqaHrhbSj
— Damon Minor (@ReedMinor) December 23, 2023
“Lost a brother today,” wrote Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski, a member of the Sooners’ 1994 baseball team. “Sending prayers to the Minor family.”
Ryan Minor in Baseball
In the past, Minor helped the Oklahoma Sooners team to the 1994 national title and was drafted professionally in both sports. He arrived at Oklahoma in the fall of 1992 as a member of Billy Tubbs’ men’s basketball team and Larry Cochell’s baseball squad. He played his final two seasons of basketball under former head coach Kelvin Sampson.
Minor became a popular face being the player who replaced Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. in the lineup on September 20, 1998, ending Ripken’s Major League Baseball record of 2,632 consecutive games played.
Ryan Minor in Basketball
Speaking about his Basketball career, Ryan Minor was a two-time Big Eight scoring champion and the conference’s player of the year in 1994-95. He averaged 16.5 points per game in his four-year college career from 1992-96. He was also selected 32nd overall by the 76ers in the 1996 NBA Draft, one round after Philadelphia selected Allen Iverson first overall.
