Ralph Jon Fritz

Inducted 2019

Ralph Jon Fritz was born in the town of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. A hard worker from the start, he had a paper route and milk route, and set pins at the local bowling alley. RJ loved basketball and as a senior at St. Mary’s, he competed with his team in the boys state high school basketball tournament.

It didn’t take long for aspiring “RJ the DJ” to enroll in broadcasting school at Brown Institute in Minneapolis. Shortly after earning his degree he landed his first job at WAVN Radio in Stillwater, MN. After seven years at the station, RJ was hired for the Midday Show on WCCO-TV, starting his storied 40-year career as a sports broadcaster.

If Minnesotans like to talk about the weather, local sports would be a close second. RJ’s quick wit, professionalism, and guy-next-door personality made him a trusted source and household name. In addition to covering the highs and lows of the state’s professional sports landscape and the excitement of local amateur sports, RJ was an outdoorsman. He was a hunter, fisherman, and sportsman, which added to his appeal. In addition to the hours logged at the anchor desk, he was a host of numerous fan-favorite shows including Vikings Locker Room, Vikings Today, The Herschel Walker Show, and The Minnesota Gophers Coaches Shows. He announced four Super Bowls, two World Series, and all local professional teams along with the state high school hockey tournaments. In 1998, he created Out ’N’ About with RJ Fritz, a humaninterest series, producing 175 episodes over 11 years that appeared on WCCO-TV.

Among his numerous accomplishments, RJ was named “Best Sportscaster in Minnesota” in numerous Star Tribune reader polls during the ’70s and ’80s and earned the Ray Scott Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting in 2004.

RJ Quote: “I’ve had the coolest job in the world."