Rick Santarone had the distinction of being drafted three times by three different major league teams: Seattle Mariners (1977), Detroit Tigers (1978) and New York Yankees (1979). He signed with the Yankees and spent time in their minor league system playing for Oneonta in the Rookie League and Single A Fort Lauderdale.

His local mark on baseball was made at Cherry Hill High School East under coach Dave Martin where he was an All-State catcher in 1977, All South Jersey in 1976 and 77, all Group Four in 1976 and 77 and all conference from 1975 to 77. He also starred for Jack Don at Camden County College where he was named All Conference, All Region and All American Honorable Mention.

At East, Santarone's career batting average was .406 and he drove in 70 runs in an era when fewer games were being played. Not only was Rick an All-State catcher, but he had a respectful career on the mound winning five and losing one. In his senior year, his earned run average was 1.20.

From 1982 to 96 he played in the Rancocas Valley League for the Vincentown Merchants and won recognition as an RVL All Star and Bridgeton Invitation Tournament All Tournament selection several times. He's among the top three all-time home run hitters in Bridgeton Tournament history, having hit seven in one tournament, alone. And, more than just a footnote, one season in summer ball, Rick threw out 28 runners trying to steal. The next season, runners were content staying on first base until the batter advanced them.

Santarone is a health and physical education teacher at the Woodbury Public Schools. He spent five years as an assistant baseball coach at the University of Pennsylvania and 10 as head baseball coach at Woodbury High School. After a few years off, he's backcoaching as an assistant at Eastern High School. Rick lives in Voorhees.