Bishop Kelley Honors MLB’s O’Brien and Wrona

The Comets honored alumni and former MLB players Charlie O’Brien and Rick Wrona for their career long baseball achievements.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:12 pm

By: News On 6

Bishop Kelley Honors MLB’s O’Brien and Wrona

Originally Published: Apr 15, 2011 3:29 PM CDT

Layna Dewell
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Okla.—Bishop Kelley High School honored alumni and former Major League Baseball players Charlie O’Brien and Rick Wrona Thursday before the Comets home game against Tahlequah.

O’Brien and Wrona were presented with achievement plaques that will be permanently installed at the Comets’ field in honor of their outstanding achievements on and off the baseball field.

Both Charlie and Rick were multiple sport athletes during their high school days at Bishop Kelley, and after both found themselves playing in the major leagues.

O’Brien, who graduated in 1978, played both baseball and basketball at Bishop Kelley. He was a part of the state championship baseball teams his sophomore and senior years.

While at BK he was named to the All-Metro second team his junior year and his senior year was not only named to the All-City and All-State teams but also was named Baseball Player of the Year.

After high school, Charlie went on to play at Wichita State from 1980-1982 where he earned All-American and All-Conference honors. In addition, in 1981-1982, he batted .359 and broke a school record with 25 home runs and 116 RBI in 87 games.

After his time with Wichita State he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. All-in-all he spent 18 years playing professional ball for the Brewers, Mets, Braves and Blue Jays. In 1995 the catcher won the World Series while with the Atlanta Braves.

Charlie and Traci O'Brien's son Cameron is on the 2011 Comet roster and has signed a national letter of intent to play for Louisville. His older son Chris O'Brien (Class of 2008) currently plays for Wichita State University.

Charlie and Traci's daughters are Andrea O'Brien Bunch (Class of 2004) and Alisha O'Brien Deao (Class of 2002).

Wrona, a 1982 graduate, was also a state champion in high school, winning the 1981 football state championship. As a defensive back he was named to the First Team All Metro and First Team Tribune All City.

Rick was an All Star catcher and he played in the Oklahoma All Stars vs. California All Stars game.

He also played at Wichita State from 1983-1985 and went on to be a drafted in the fifth round of the 1985 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs.

In the major leagues, he played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers.

Wrona coaches baseball and football for his sons, Will (Class of2009), and Walt (Class of 14).

O’Brien and Wrona have both been inducted into the Bishop Kelley Athletic Hall of Fame. O’Brien was a member of the inaugural hall of fame class in 2004 while Wrona was inducted in 2009.

The Comet baseball team returns to action on the road Friday April 15 against Bishop Carroll at 4:30 p.m.