Former Aztec Ralph Stewart begins his first year as a volunteer with the Aztecs baseball program. He will work with the hitters and outfielders in addition to serving as the SDSU first base coach.
Stewart is a native San Diegan who attended La Jolla High School where he received All-Western League honors as a baseball player in 1964. He was also named to the all-county team that season as a first baseman.
Following high school, Stewart attended Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. In 1966, he transferred to San Diego State, and after sitting out one season, he played first base and outfield for the Aztecs in 1968. After that season, he was signed by the Kansas city Royals. Stewart received his bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1969.
Following his baseball career, Stewart entered the insurance and investment business, ad was a vice-president in the employee benefits area of the Robert F. Driver Company, one of the largest insurance brokerage organizations in the west coast. In 1993, after more than 23 years with the Driver Company, he elected to semi-retire and get back into coaching as a volunteer.
Stewart served as a volunteer coach at Scripps Ranch High School for four years (1993-97), assisting with the varsity baseball program. In September 1997, he moved on to become the hitting instructor at Point Loma Nazarene University. During his tenure, PLNU?s hitting statistics were the highest of any of the school?s teams during the 1990?s. In addition, he also worked with the outfielders and served as third base coach during games.
Stewart also coached in the San Diego Collegiate Baseball League for two seasons (1996-197), helping the Beach City Cubs to a league championship in 1997. He has also been a member of the coaching staff of the San Diego School of Baseball (1994-99) which is operated by former Aztecs Bob Cluck and Tony Gwynn.
Stewart is married (Annette, SDSU ?67), and the couple has two children: daughter Lindsay, who graduated with a degree in child development from Long Beach State, and son Scott, a 1998 graduate of Point Loma Nazarene with a degree in communications. The Stewarts have resided in the Scripps Ranch area since 1972.