Kansas Jayhawks baseball
Encyclopedia
The Kansas Jayhawks
baseball team represents the University of Kansas
and competes in the Big 12 Conference
of NCAA Division I.
Baseball has been played at the University of Kansas since 1880 and for a total of 118 seasons. The Jayhawks had a 1621-1550-16 all-time record entering the 2009 season.
In 1993, Kansas had arguably its best season to date. That year the Jayhawks went to the 1993 College World Series
in Omaha, NE. This was their first, and so far, only CWS appearance. The Jayhawks were led by All-Americans Jeff Berblinger
, Jeff Neimeier and Jimmy Walker into the Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. After losing their first game to Fresno State, 7-4, the Jayhawks rebounded against host Tennessee for a 3-2 win. Jayhawk Junior Jamie Splittorff, son of former Kansas City Royal Paul Splittorff
, got the win for KU going 8 1/3 innings. KU then trounced Rutgers, 8-2, and Clemson, 9-1, to set up the all important re-match with Fresno State. Jayhawk coach Dave Bingham turned to Walker, who had been a reliever all season for KU, to start the Regional Final. Walker didn't disappoint as he pitched a complete game and the Jayhawks won in 10 innings, with some late game magic. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth with one out, Berblinger tripled. One out later, Berblinger scored on Josh Igou's infield hit to force extra innings. In the tenth, Brent Wilhelm scored on Darryl Monroe's hot shot to short stop. Once in Omaha the joy was short lived, as the Jayhawks lost to Texas A&M, and then Long Beach State for an early exit.
The Jayhawks returned to the Regionals in 1994, earning a bid to the Atlantic II Regional in Tallahassee, Fla.
The Jayhawks would once again find themselves in a regional in the 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
after winning the 2006 Big 12 Baseball Tournament
. That year KU traveled to Corvalis, Ore. for the Corvalis Regional. KU went 1-2 and did not advance.
The Jayhawks made the 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
as a 3 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional and went 2-2. They went 1-1 against 2-seed Coastal Carolina
, defeated 4-seed Dartmouth, and were finally knocked out by 1-seed and regional winner North Carolina
in the last game of the regional.
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
baseball team represents the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
and competes in the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
of NCAA Division I.
History
In 1993, Kansas had arguably its best season to date. That year the Jayhawks went to the 1993 College World Series
1993 College World Series
The 1993 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 4 to June 12. The forty-seventh tournament's champion was Louisiana State University, coached by Skip Bertman. The Most Outstanding Player was Todd Walker of Louisiana State University.Texas and Texas A&M...
in Omaha, NE. This was their first, and so far, only CWS appearance. The Jayhawks were led by All-Americans Jeff Berblinger
Jeff Berblinger
Jeffrey James Berblinger is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. He played during one season at the major league level for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the 7th round of the 1993 amateur draft...
, Jeff Neimeier and Jimmy Walker into the Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. After losing their first game to Fresno State, 7-4, the Jayhawks rebounded against host Tennessee for a 3-2 win. Jayhawk Junior Jamie Splittorff, son of former Kansas City Royal Paul Splittorff
Paul Splittorff
Paul William Splittorff Jr. was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who spent his entire career with the Kansas City Royals. Listed at 6' 3", Splittorff batted and threw left handed.-Early years:Splittorff was born in Evansville, Indiana...
, got the win for KU going 8 1/3 innings. KU then trounced Rutgers, 8-2, and Clemson, 9-1, to set up the all important re-match with Fresno State. Jayhawk coach Dave Bingham turned to Walker, who had been a reliever all season for KU, to start the Regional Final. Walker didn't disappoint as he pitched a complete game and the Jayhawks won in 10 innings, with some late game magic. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth with one out, Berblinger tripled. One out later, Berblinger scored on Josh Igou's infield hit to force extra innings. In the tenth, Brent Wilhelm scored on Darryl Monroe's hot shot to short stop. Once in Omaha the joy was short lived, as the Jayhawks lost to Texas A&M, and then Long Beach State for an early exit.
The Jayhawks returned to the Regionals in 1994, earning a bid to the Atlantic II Regional in Tallahassee, Fla.
The Jayhawks would once again find themselves in a regional in the 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from June 2nd through June 26th, . 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament, to play in the NCAA Tournament...
after winning the 2006 Big 12 Baseball Tournament
2006 Big 12 Baseball Tournament
The 2006 Big 12 Baseball Tournament was held at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, OK from May 24 through May 28. Kansas won their first tournament and earned the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament...
. That year KU traveled to Corvalis, Ore. for the Corvalis Regional. KU went 1-2 and did not advance.
The Jayhawks made the 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from May 29 through June 24, 2009 and is part of the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams were selected out of an eligible 286 teams on May 25, 2009...
as a 3 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional and went 2-2. They went 1-1 against 2-seed Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are the athletic teams that represent Coastal Carolina University. They participate in Division I of the NCAA and are a charter member of the Big South Conference. Coastal fields varsity teams in 16 sports, 8 each for both men and women. The football team competes...
, defeated 4-seed Dartmouth, and were finally knocked out by 1-seed and regional winner North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels baseball
The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college baseball. They participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division....
in the last game of the regional.
First team All-Americans
- 1954 - John Trombold, OF (ABCA)
- 1980 - Matt Gundelfinger, DH (ABCA)
- 1993 - Jeff Berblinger, 2B (NCBWA)
- 1996 - Josh Kliner, 2B (ABCA, Baseball America)
- 2006 - Don Czyz, P (NCBWA)
Current
- Tom GorzelannyTom GorzelannyThomas Stephen Gorzelanny is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.-Personal life:Tom grew up in Chicago, IL, graduating from Marist High School in 2000...
, Starting pitcher, Chicago Cubs - Travis MetcalfTravis MetcalfTravis A. Metcalf is a professional baseball player, currently playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League...
, Third Baseman, Kansas City Royals (AAA) - Mike Zagurski, Relief pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies (AAA)
Former
| Player | Years | Teams | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Allison Bob Allison William Robert "Bob" Allison was born in Raytown, Missouri and was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played in the American League for the Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins from to .... |
1958-70 | Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins | 1959 AL Rookie of the Year, 3-time All-Star |
| Ferrell Anderson Ferrell Anderson Ferrell Jack Anderson , nicknamed "Andy", was a catcher in Major League Baseball.Anderson was signed by the New York Yankees in 1939 after spending four years as an all conference football tackle at the University of Kansas. He was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Yankees system in 1942... |
1946,1953 | Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Jeff Berblinger Jeff Berblinger Jeffrey James Berblinger is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. He played during one season at the major league level for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the 7th round of the 1993 amateur draft... |
1997 | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Herb Bradley Herb Bradley Herbert Theodore Bradley was a right handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1927 through 1929 for the Boston Red Sox. Bradley was born in Agenda, Kansas... |
1927–1929 | Boston Red Sox | |
| Clay Christiansen Clay Christiansen Clay C. Christiansen is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during one season at the major league level for the New York Yankees. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 15th round of the 1980 amateur draft... |
1984 | New York Yankees | |
| Chuck Dobson Chuck Dobson Charles Thomas Dobson is a retired professional baseball player who played 9 seasons for the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics, and the California Angels of Major League Baseball.-References:... |
1966-71, 73-75 | Kansas City / Oakland A's, California Angels | |
| Bob Edmondson | 1906,08 | Washington Senators | |
| Dale Gear Dale Gear Dale Dudley Gear was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of two seasons in the majors, for the Cleveland Spiders and for the Washington Senators.-External links:... |
1896-97, 1901 | Cleveland Spiders, Washington Senators | |
| Harry Huston Harry Huston Harry Emanuel Kress Huston was a professional baseball player and college football coach in the United States.-University of Kansas:... |
1906 | Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Phillip (Skip) James | 1977-78 | San Francisco Giants | |
| Steve Jeltz Steve Jeltz Larry Steven Jeltz is a former professional baseball player. He played in parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals... |
1983-90 | Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals | |
| Larry Miller Larry Miller (baseball) Larry Don Miller was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1964-1966 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. Before the 1959 season he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent. Miller was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Mets for Dick... |
1964-66 | Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets | |
| John Nelson | 2006 | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Ray Pierce | 1924-26 | Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Steve Renko Steve Renko Steve Renko, Jr. is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos , Chicago Cubs , Chicago White Sox , Oakland Athletics , Boston Red Sox , California Angels and Kansas City Royals .He helped the Angels win the 1982 American League Western... |
1969-83 | Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s, Boston Red Sox, California Angels, Kansas City Royals |
|
| Curt Schmidt Curt Schmidt Curtis Allen Schmidt played one year of Major League Baseball in for the Montreal Expos. In his 11 games, he pitched 10 and one third innings, allowing 15 hits and 8 runs.-External links:... |
1995 | Montreal Expos | |
| Roger Slagle Roger Slagle Roger Lee Slagle is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during one season at the major league level for the New York Yankees. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round of the secondary phase of the amateur draft... |
1979 | New York Yankees | |
| Scott Taylor Scott Taylor (right-handed pitcher) Scott Michael Taylor , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in with the Texas Rangers. He batted and threw right-handed. Taylor had a 1-2 record, with a 9.39 ERA, in three games, in his one-year career.... |
1995 | Texas Rangers | |
| Les Walrond Les Walrond Leslie Dale "Les" Walrond is a professional baseball pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.During his freshman and sophomore years in high school, Les played baseball at Booker T. Washington High School under the tutelage of Coach Corey Slagle. With Walrond anchoring the baseball... |
2003, 2006, 2008 | Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies |