Robin Mark Ventura was born in Santa Maria, California, to John and Darlene Ventura. His father was of Italian descent and his mother was Portuguese. He is a former third baseman and manager. Ventura played 16 seasons for the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was also the manager for the White Sox for five seasons. The White Sox selected Ventura with the tenth overall pick in the 1988 amateur draft from Oklahoma State University (OSU). He is a six-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, two-time MLB All-Star selectee and a National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee.

Robin Ventura was arguably the best third baseman of the 1990s, known for his excellent fielding, grand slam home runs, and clubhouse leadership.

While playing college baseball for the Cowboys at OSU, Robin was a three-time All-American who authored a Division I-record 58-game hitting streak. In 1988, he won the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award and played for the gold medal-winning Olympic baseball team. After the 2011 season, the White Sox hired him to be their manager, making him the 17th former White Sox player to manage the club.

On August 4, 1993, he was involved in a fight with Nolan Ryan. Ryan threw at Ventura in the third inning of the game, hitting him on the elbow. Robin began to trot to first base, but after taking a couple of steps, he charged Ryan. Ryan grabbed him and began to flail away at him, landing punches on his head. Both benches cleared.

On September 4 1995, Robin hit two Grand Slams in two innings vs Texas. He also was the only player to hit a grand slam during each end of a double-header (May 20, 1999). He finished his career with 18 Grand Slams, tied for 5th all time.

(excerpted from Wikipedia, BR Bullpen & SABR)