Indiana State Sycamores baseball
The Indiana State Sycamores baseball team is the NCAA Division I baseball program of Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2019. Their first season was 1896. The Sycamores have had 12 All-Americans, 24 Major Leaguers, and more than 1,920 victories. The team's most successful season was in 1986, when the team appeared in the College World Series and finished with a record of 48–21. The Sycamores have appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2012, 2014 and 2019.
Indiana State Sycamores | |
---|---|
Founded | 1896 |
University | Indiana State University |
Head coach | Mitch Hannahs (7th season) |
Conference | Missouri Valley |
Location | Terre Haute, Indiana |
Home stadium | Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium (Capacity: 2,000) |
Nickname | Sycamores |
Colors | Royal Blue and White[1] |
College World Series appearances | |
1986 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 1989, 1995, 2012, 2014, 2019 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
Missouri Valley Conference: 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986 1989, 1995, 2019 | |
Conference champions | |
Missouri Valley Conference: 1982 (East Division), 1983 (East Division) 1985 (Co-Champions), 2012 Indiana Collegiate Conference: Indiana Intercollegiate Conference: Indiana College Athletic League: 1919, 1920, 1921 |
They appeared in the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1958 and won an NAIA District Championship in 1964. In 2013, the 1958 team was honored on the 55th Anniversary of their appearance at the NAIA Baseball World Series.[2]
Past coaches include John Wooden, Bob Warn, Paul L. Wolf, and Wally Marks. The Sycamores play their home games at Sycamore Stadium at Bob Warn Field (900) and are coached by Mitch Hannahs; Hannahs was named as the 29th head coach on July 25, 2013 and returns to his alma mater following a 9-year stint as the head coach at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. Hannahs was an assistant at Indiana State from 1995–1999 and the 2001 season. An All-American 2B for the Sycamores, Hannahs spent three seasons (1989–1991) in the Milwaukee Brewers system, spending two seasons in AA-ball with the El Paso Diablos of the Texas League.
Division I NCAA Tournament results
The Sycamores have appeared in 10 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships. Their combined record is 10–20; they won the 1986 Mideast Regional and reached Regional Finals in 1989 and 2019.
Year | Result | Games |
---|---|---|
1979 | Midwest Regional | 0–2 |
1983 | Mideast Regional | 0–2 |
1984 | Mideast Regional | 1–2 |
1986 | Mideast Regional | 3–0 |
1986 | College World Series | 0–2 |
1987 | Central Regional | 1–2 |
1989 | South Regional | 2–2 |
1995 | Midwest II Regional | 1–2 |
2012 | Eugene (OR) Regional | 0–2 |
2014 | Bloomington (IN) Regional | 0–2 |
2019 | Nashville Regional | 2–2 |
National awards (1)
Year | Player | Organization |
---|---|---|
2010 | Ryan Strausborger, CF | Rawlings Gold Glove[3] |
All-Americans (14)
Year | Player | Organization |
---|---|---|
1963 | Harlan Lautenschlager, IF | NAIA |
1985 | John Howes, P | Baseball America |
1979 | Wallace Johnson, 2B | CoSIDA NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship |
1981 | Marty Martino, 2B | CoSIDA Academic All-American |
1986 | Paul Frye, OF | Collegiate Baseball |
1989 | Mitch Hannahs, 2B | ABCA, Baseball America |
1990 | Chad McDonald, 3B | ABCA, Collegiate Baseball |
1991 | Mike Farrell, P/1B | Collegiate Baseball |
1992 | John LaMar, OF | ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball |
1993 | Casey Whitten, P | ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball |
1995 | Todd Tatlock, DH | ABCA, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA |
1996 | Dan Olson, OF | ABCA, NCBWA |
2014 | Ryan Keaffaber, SP | Louisville Slugger |
2016 | Tyler Ward, SP | Louisville Slugger |
Most Valuable Player
Conference (reg. season)
- 2012 Jeremy Lucas, C Missouri Valley Conference
Conference Tournament (5)
- 1979 Wallace Johnson, 2B Missouri Valley Conference
- 1986 Dave Travis, DH Missouri Valley Conference
- 1989 Larry Russell, OF Missouri Valley Conference
- 1995 Jeff Leaman, 3B/P Missouri Valley Conference
- 2019 Chris Ayers, OF/DH Missouri Valley Conference
All-Conference (113)
Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State baseball media guide at www.gosycamores.com
All-Indiana Collegiate Conference (35)
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All-Missouri Valley Conference (78)
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Conference Speciality
Defensive Player of the Year (2)
- Tyler Wampler - 2014
- Jake Means - 2019
MVC Newcomer of the Year (4)
- Rich Angell – 1998
- Clint Barmes – 2000
- Tim Brewer – 2005
- Collin Liberatore - 2019
MVC Freshman of the Year (1)
- Mitch Stetter – 2000
- Ryan Keaffaber – 2014
Career leaders
Batting average
Name | Average |
---|---|
Larry Bird (1979) | .500 |
Todd Tatlock (1994–95) | .423 |
Wallace Johnson (1977–79) | .422 |
Rob Barker (1981–83) | .399 |
Pete Piskol (1978–82) | .396 |
Paul Frye (1984–86) | .383 |
Hits
Name | Hits |
---|---|
Bob Zeihen* (1985–88) | 290 |
Mitch Hannahs (1986–89) | 274 |
Steve Ruckman (1990–93) | 257 |
Dan Roman (1984–87) | 253 |
Pete Piskol (1978–82) | 250 |
- Bob Zeihen holds the National NCAA career record for triples (32)[5]
HRs
Name | HRs |
---|---|
Boi Rodriguez (1985–87) | 48 |
Dan Frye (1989–92) | 39 |
Mike Eberle (1984–87) | 37 |
Tyler Thompson (1995–98) | 32 |
Dan Olson (1994–96) | 30 |
Wins
Name | Wins |
---|---|
Mike Gardiner (1984–87) | 30 |
John Howes (1982–86) | 29 |
Mike Farrell (1988–91) | 27 |
Casey Whitten (1991–93) | 27 |
Paul Quizner (1983–86) | 25 |
Blaine Ilsley (1983–85) | 25 |
Randy Keaffaber (1990–93) | 25 |
Brad Finken (1994–97) | 25 |
ERA
Name | ERA |
---|---|
Jim Ridenour (1977–78) | 3.03 |
Casey Whitten (1991–93) | 3.04 |
Dave Thomas (1977–78) | 3.09 |
Blaise Ilsley (1983–85) | 3.20 |
Jim Rasmussen (1977–78) | 3.32 |
Strikeouts
Name | Strikeouts |
---|---|
Casey Whitten (1991–93) | 299 |
Mike Gardiner (1983–86) | 296 |
Brad Finken (1994–97) | 275 |
Blake Ilsley (1983–85) | 274 |
Mitch Stetter (2000–03) | 254 |
Sycamores in MLB
While long-time baseball great Tommy John is an alumnus of Indiana State; he did not play baseball for the Sycamores as he attended classes around his professional baseball schedule. Future New York Yankees-great, Don Mattingly, declined his baseball scholarship from Coach Bob Warn after he was drafted by the New York Yankees.
Bill Hayes had 2 "cups-of-coffee" in the majors but would go on to a long career as a Minor League manager before beginning a 15-year coaching career with the San Francisco Giants, winning 3x World Series Championships (2010, 2012, 2014); in Dec 2014, he was named 1st-base coach for the Giants.[6] Long-time college basketball coach Ron Felling was a 2-year letterman for the Sycamores.
In addition, basketball legend Larry Bird appeared in two games for the Sycamores, in the spring of 1979, following the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Over 75 former Sycamores have appeared in the Minors, while 25 former Sycamore baseball players have played in the Major Leagues or Negro Major Leagues. They are by order of appearance:
Coaching leaders
Years | Coach (Alma Mater) | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976–2006 | Bob Warn (Southern Illinois) | 1,070 | 745 | 5 | .598 |
2014–present | Mitch Hannahs (Indiana State) | 201 | 133 | 0 | .602 |
1938–1941, 1956–1967 | Paul Wolf (Indiana State) | 140 | 113 | 5 | .552 |
2010–2013 | Rick Heller (Upper Iowa) | 132 | 96 | 0 | .583 |
1968–1975 | Jim Rendel (Earlham, {Ind.}) | 129 | 141 | 0 | .478 |
1929-31, 1934–37, 1942, 1946–47, 1949-55 | Walter E. Marks (Chicago) | 108 | 81 | 2 | .571 |
2007–2009 | Lindsay Meggs (UCLA) | 77 | 79 | 0 | .493 |
1924–1928 | Art Strum (Wisconsin-LaCrosse) | 41 | 16 | 0 | .719 |
1918–1923 | Birch Bayh (Indiana State) | 40 | 13 | 1 | .750 |
1913–1917 | Alfred Westphal (unknown) | 24 | 24 | 1 | .500 |
1932–1933 | Jack Hannah (unknown) | 18 | 8 | 0 | .692 |
1948 | John Wooden (Purdue) | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 |
1912 | Bert Wiggins (unknown) | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 |
1910 | Jesse A. Wood (Indiana State) | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 |
1896-1909; 1911; 1918; 1944 | Others | 50 | 59 | 0 | .460 |
1896–present | All-time | 2,051 | 1,516 | 14 | .576 |
Coaching honors
Hall(s) of Fame
- 1987 – Paul Wolf (Coach) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[9]
- 1988 – Don Jennings (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[10]
- 1989 – Howard Sharpe (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[11]
- 1990 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[12]
- 2000 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Iowa Western Hall of Fame[13]
- 2002 - Junius "Rainey" Bibbs (Player) - Indiana State University Hall of Fame[14]
- 2002 – 1986 Baseball Team (College World Series participant) – Indiana State University> </ref>
- 2002 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame[13]
- 2002 – Paul Gries (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[15]
- 2003 – Bob Warn (Coach) – American Baseball Coach's Association[13]
- 2007 – Brian Dorsett (Player) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame[16]
- 2008 – Brian Dorsett (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[17]
- 2011 – Junius "Rainey" Bibbs (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[18]
References
- Color Palette (PDF). Indiana State Sycamores Official Style Guide. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- "1958 Baseball Sycamores Recognized - Indiana State University". Indiana State University. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- "Strausborger Earns Rawlings Gold Glove Award - Indiana State University". Indiana State University. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- "Gary Cunning Minor Leagues Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20150530025447/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball_RB/2015/D1.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 30, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - Haft, Chris (2014-06-30). "Bill Hayes named Giants' first-base coach; Roberto Kelly moves to third-base coach | sfgiants.com". M.giants.mlb.com. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
- Indiana State University Archives Home Archived June 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- http://www.mvc.org/baseball/baseballrecords.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100803021952/http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=47. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - Archived August 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100803022245/http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=56. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - https://web.archive.org/web/20100803023253/http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=98. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2010. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - Indiana State University Archives Home Archived June 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- "Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame Class List". Indiana State University. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100803021301/http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=108. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - "Five To Be Inducted Into 2008 Class Of Indiana State Athletic Hall Of Fame – GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- Archived August 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine