Former slick-fielding, light-hitting minor league infielder Ron Shelton first tried his hand at sculpture before establishing himself as a screenwriter in the early 1980s and as a leading writer-director by the end of the decade. With his literary values, sharp ear for naturalistic dialogue, and penchant for strong, interesting female characters, Shelton has become Hollywood's premier purveyor of the sports film. His character-driven scripts have emphasized acting far more than any formal attributes, and he has used the rehearsal process to discover the right behavior before blocking for the
Signed as second baseman by the Baltimore Orioles farm system out of college
Started out at Bluefield in the Appalachian League
Advanced to Stockton (California) Clearwater (Florida), Fort Worth (Texas), and finally, a Triple-A team of the International League, the Rochester Red Wings in Rochester, New York
Worked at various jobs including digging ditches and dressing mannequins at Sears to support his family
Invested his savings in attending graduate school to study sculpture at the University of Arizona
