Angelina College baseball honors team manager who died

Michael Garcia
·2 min read

LUFKIN, Texas (KETK) – The Angelina College Roadrunners honored former team manager Tyler Rayburn on Saturday after he died unexpectedly in January of 2023.

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Tyler Rayburn in the dugout.
Tyler Rayburn in the dugout. Photo courtesy of Angelina County.

“Tyler Rayburn was sitting outside the press box during an AC baseball game one spring day in 2014, keeping a scorebook the way he’d done since he was a child. An AC official noticed his knowledge of the game and his meticulous stat-keeping, and in no time, Tyler had his own reserved seat in the press box as the official statistician. In fact, Tyler once insisted a man remove himself from Tyler’s reserved seat. The man? Only the Angelina College president, Dr. Larry Phillips,” Angelina College said in a press release.

Phillips gave him back the seat but then Tyler got a seat in the dugout after Roadrunner head coach Jeff Livin brought him in as a Team Manager.

“During one playoff run, the ‘Runners pulled off a big win in late innings. When the players ran to celebrate, many of them ran straight to Tyler,” an Angelina College press release said.

  • Tyler Rayburn's family and friends.
    Tyler Rayburn’s family and friends. Photo courtesy of Angelina College.
  • Steve Rayburn throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday, March 23.
    Steve Rayburn throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday, March 23. Photo courtesy of Angelina College.
  • Steve Rayburn and catcher Jack Brinson after the first pitch.
    Steve Rayburn and catcher Jack Brinson after the fiSteve Rayburn and catcher Jack Brinson after the first pitch. Photo courtesy of Angelina College.rst pitch. Photo courtesy of Angelina College.
  • The Rayburn family poses with Roadrunner Coaches.
    The Rayburn family poses with Roadrunner Coaches. Photo courtesy of Angelina College.

Tyler held the position for the next two seasons before he transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University where he got his bachelor’s degree in communications.

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Tragically and unexpectedly, Tyler died in January of 2023. He’s survived by his wife Tracy, his family and his empty press box seat.

Tyler’s father Steve Rayburn threw out the first ceremonial pitch prior to a Roadrunners double-header on Saturday, March 23. Livin presented a framed photo of Tyler that looked over the field from the dugout and will take it’s place in the press box with a plaque to memorialize him as a beloved Roadrunner.

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