The City of Andalusia on Friday revealed the new sign in front of the Ralph Wells Batting Facility in Johnson Park.
Wells was an Andalusia native, was a member of the City Council from 2012-2023 and played a key role in numerous community improvements such as the construction of the new batting facilities.
The Mayor Earl Johnson said the shade structures for the facility are scheduled to be delivered in the next week, however the city debuted the new signage at this facility last Friday since it was the only time all his family members was expected to be there.
Wells participated in Little League, Babe Ruth in high school, and Babe Ruth growing in Andalusia. He made it to Auburn University’s varsity and freshman team and, by the end the course of college, he had been awarded a full scholarship as well as an enviable reputation as a third baseman. Auburn Head Coach Paul Nix said in 1966 that Wells was the best player for that position on the field.
A large part of his reason for his success in the field was playing his brother Ashton Wells Jr. Ashton Wells Jr., who played at the University of Alabama.
The Star-News quoted Auburn’s Coach Nix in 1966, stating, “I have always felt that one of Ralph’s goals was to match the success of his brother Ashton. It all comes back to the battle among Auburn as well as Alabama.”
Despite the fact that the Wells brothers had their respective business careers together at TPS and, later, Carquest, they remained forever rivals, frequently arguing over which grandson would prevail against one of the others.
“We were in competitions to see who had the most beautiful grandchildren,” Ralph Wells said about his brother, who passed away in 2021. “His grandson would pitch against my grandson and I’m sure that neither of them was in support of the opposing .”
Ralph Wells was the only Auburn Tiger in his class who was a professional player. He joined the Atlanta Braves in 1966 and was awarded All-Star designation in their leagues for training. He was drafted by the U.S. Army interrupted his baseball career in the year 1967 when they selected him to the army.
When he was as a soldier in Vietnam at the time of 1968 mother sent his baseballs as well as a hand to help him keep his arm healthy.
Wells returned to with the Braves organization in the year 1969. After his first season The Braves gave him an position in the business wing of baseball.
“It seemed glamorous, so I accepted the offer,” he wrote in a baseball memoir that he created for his children. “I attended minor league games at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I took part with the Braves the top management team in the drafts for baseball. I was in the company of a number of famous baseball players. I rode the elevator and had a chat with Gil Hodges of the Dodgers, Red Schoendienst and Stan Musial of the Cardinals. I was in the room along with many others. I formed a strong relationship and a close relationship with Bill Lucas, the brother-in-law of Hank Aaron. Naturally, I was awestruck .”
He was tasked with being the assistant manager of business for Shreveport Braves. Shreveport Braves, an apprenticeship kind of program intended to help him learn the basics of running a baseball team.
“Not too long after taking this choice, I realised that it was not the best choice to make for myself,” he wrote. “I quit my job towards the end in the season of 1970. .”
In Andalusia He used the knowledge he gained from his Auburn MBA to great use, first in the TPS Distribution Center and then CARQUEST for the last 37 years. His responsibilities throughout the years included salesperson, sales manager and marketing and business development manager.
The couple, along with their wife Sue and Sue, have twin daughters: Kristen Wells Wiggins (Russell) from the Carolina community, and Kim Wells Dienstl (Keith) from Anchorage, Alaska. They have seven grandchildren: Riley Grace Kelley (Mason), Maggie Ruth, Jack Russell, Mollie Jae, Pitt Stieger and Ella Grae Wiggins as well as Kolten Ryker Dienstl.
The article Wells is honored for the naming ceremony of the Johnson Park batting facility Johnson Park batting facility was originally published in The Andalusia Star-News.
