Major League Baseball

Sports psychologist Dr. Ken Ravizza has died at age 70

Published Jul. 9, 2018 10:09 p.m. ET

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Dr. Ken Ravizza, an innovator in the field of sports psychology who long worked with the athletics programs at Cal State Fullerton, Olympians and most recently with the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 70.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon was a close friend, and Maddon heard from Ravizza's wife, Claire, late Sunday with the news. The family also posted an update of his death on the Web site caringbridge.org. Ravizza had suffered a heart attack July 2 and Maddon said he was in a medically induced coma.

Ravizza helped Maddon utilize phrases such as ''attitude is a decision'' and find ways to help players through the mental part of the game. The two men met in the mid-1980s when Maddon was managing in the Angels organization. Maddon would visit Ravizza's classroom at Fullerton to help prepare for spring training.

Ravizza worked as a mental skills consultant for the Rays when Maddon managed there, then joined the Cubs when Maddon came aboard ahead of the 2015 season - and the Cubs captured their first World Series championship in 108 years with the 2016 title.

''I just want people to know he was the best at what he did,'' Maddon said Monday before his club opened a series against the San Francisco Giants.

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