Fresno State Bulldogs baseball
| Fresno State Bulldogs baseball |
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Founded: 1922 |
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| University |
Fresno State |
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| Conference |
Mountain West |
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| Location |
Fresno, CA |
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| Head Coach |
Mike Batesole (12th year) |
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| Home Stadium |
Pete Beiden Field
(Capacity: 5,422) |
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| Nickname |
Bulldogs |
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| Colors |
Red and Blue[1]
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| National Championships |
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2008 |
| College World Series Appearances |
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1959, 1988, 1991, 2008 |
| NCAA Tournament Appearances |
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1954, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| Conference Tournament Champions |
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WAC: 1993, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| Conference Champions |
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WAC: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 |
The Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team represents Fresno State in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Fresno State athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Mountain West Conference. The Bulldogs play their home games on campus at Pete Beiden Field, and they are currently coached by Mike Batesole.
Fresno State in the NCAA Tournament
- The 2008 NCAA Division I College World Series Champions.
- In one of the more improbable Cinderella stories in American sports history, the Bulldogs surmounted a daunting array of obstacles on their way to the NCAA title:[2][3]
- Fresno State had never won an NCAA championship in any men's sport going into the 2008 tournament, with the exception of the 1968 men's tennis team which won the national championship held in Fort Worth, Texas. [4]
- Fresno State had previously won only two national championship in its school history, the 1968 NCAA College Division men's tennis championships and [5] the 1998 NCAA Women's College World Series.
- The Bulldogs entered the Western Athletic Conference tournament at 33-27; they would likely not have made the NCAA tournament without winning the WAC tournament, which they did.
- They were the #4 seed in their regional. Since only four teams play in each of 16 regionals, this is the equivalent of a team seeded #13 or lower in the NCAA basketball tournament. No #4 seed had ever advanced to the College World Series. By contrast, no #13 or lower seed has ever made the "Elite 8" of the men's basketball tournament, which is arguably equivalent to the eight-team College World Series.
- Six times in the NCAA tournament, including three times in the College World Series, they faced elimination with a loss. They won all six times.
- They won a total of 10 tournament games against six different teams ranked in the top 20. ESPN pointed out that in terms of the NCAA basketball tournament, Fresno State's run would be equivalent to a 13 seed beating a 4 seed in the first round, a 5 seed in the second round, a top seed in the Sweet 16, a second seed in the Elite 8, another top seed in the Final Four, and still another 2 seed for the championship.
- The Bulldogs' stellar underdog journey to the CWS Championship was nominated for an ESPY.
Fresno State's 30+ NCAA tournament appearances is good enough to rank in the top 10 all-time.
Notable alumni
- Mark Gardner (baseball) - Pitcher, 12-year MLB veteran drafted in 1989 by the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Florida Marlins and finished his career with the San Francisco Giants. He has been on the Giants coaching staff as their bullpen coach since 2003.
- Matt Garza - Pitcher, starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
- Doug Fister - Pitcher, has been a fixture in the starting rotation for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals since his MLB debut in 2009.
- John Hoover – Set three career records and three Bulldogs single-season records, highlighted by his NCAA record of 42 career complete games and 19 complete games in a season, including 44 wins and 494 innings pitched in a career, and single-season marks of 18 wins and 205 strikeouts (Baltimore Orioles, first round, 25th pick, 1984 MLB draft).[6]
- Terry Pendleton - 3B, former All-Star and World Series Champion with the Atlanta Braves. Currently the 3B coach for the Braves. Was a 3-time Gold Glover (1987, 1989, 1992) and 1-time Batting Champ (1991 as well as 1-time League MVP (1991.
- Dick Ruthven - Pitcher, drafted in 1973 by the Philadelphia Phillies he spent 13 years in MLB spending time with the Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. He was twice named an All-Star (1976, 1981) and won a World Series with the Phillies in 1980.
- Jeff Weaver - Pitcher, 2006 World Series champion (St. Louis Cardinals). Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1998 amateur draft.
- Jimy Williams – 1999 American League Manager of the Year (Boston Red Sox), 1995 World Series champion (third-base coach, Atlanta Braves), and 2008 World Series champion (bench coach, Philadelphia Phillies).
See also
References
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