ASU debuts new $3.9 million baseball complex

MONTGOMERY, Alabama-- For the first time in 15 years, the Alabama State University baseball team will play on Hornet territory at the ASU Baseball Complex inaugural game this Saturday.

The first pitch of Saturday's game against Alcorn State will be preceded by a special pregame ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m. followed by an introduction of former Hornet baseball players in attendance between the first and second games of the doubleheader.

The baseball complex is the first of several athletics construction projects that will come on line at Alabama State, including a new on-campus football stadium and softball complex currently under construction.



ASU Baseball set for return to campus

MONTGOMERY, AL - For the first time since the 1996 season, Alabama State baseball has returned home to the ASU campus. This Saturday, March 26th, the Hornets will play the inaugural game at the ASU Baseball Complex at 1 p.m. vs. Alcorn St.

The splendor of what will be a grand event will commence with a special pregame ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m. leading right up to the first pitch of Saturday's doubleheader. Other special events for the complex opening include an interactive area for kids and the introduction of former Hornet baseball players in attendance between the first and second games of the doubleheader.

The baseball complex is the first of several athletics construction projects that will come on line at Alabama State. The football team is scheduled to move into its new football complex building later this spring and the initial phases of the new on-campus football stadium and softball complex are underway.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Atlanta Braves to host annual Ralph Garr-Bill Lucas HBCU Baseball Classic presented by Truist

The inaugural event will feature a three-game series between Grambling State University and Florida A&M University March 12 – 14 at Coolray Field

ATLANTA (February 16, 2021) – The Atlanta Braves will host an annual weekend series between two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) baseball programs while honoring two Braves greats and HBCU graduates with the Ralph Garr-Bill Lucas HBCU Baseball Classic presented by Truist. The inaugural series will take place Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 14, at Coolray Field, home of the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers. The best-of-three series will feature Grambling State University and Florida A&M University, the alma maters of Braves Hall of Famers, Ralph Garr and Bill Lucas.

Designed to highlight baseball programs at historically black colleges and universities in the Southeast, the showcase is an extension of the organization’s efforts to foster the next generation of diverse baseball players. The classic will also serve as an opportunity to expose student-athletes, support staff, and coaches to a Major League setting.

“We are excited to introduce this annual HBCU series to honor two great men while focusing a spotlight on HBCU baseball programs,” said Derek Schiller, Atlanta Braves President and CEO. “HBCUs have been developing outstanding baseball talent and we are proud to facilitate the connection between college programs and the major leagues.”

HBCU alumni Ralph Garr and Bill Lucas both played pivotal roles within the Braves organization. Known as ‘The Road Runner’ for his speed and agility, Garr posted a career .317 batting average over eight seasons with the Braves. After his playing career, Garr joined the Braves Scouting department in 1984 under the direction of Hank Aaron, the director of player development at the time. Garr has spent more than 25 years with the organization and was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2006.

Lucas spent over 20 years with the Braves and in 1976 he became the first African American to oversee a player personnel department in baseball and the highest-ranking African-American in baseball at the time. He helped draft key players such as Dale Murphy and Bob Horner and hired eventual Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox. Lucas was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2006 for his immeasurable impact on the Braves organization and on the game.  

First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday, March 12, with game two on Saturday, March 13 at 7 p.m. Game three will complete the series on Sunday, March 14, starting at 1 p.m.

Tickets are $10 and are available for purchase online at https://www.ticketmaster.com/coolray-field-tickets-lawrenceville/venue/115610 or at the Gwinnett Stripers Ticket Office the day of each game starting at 5:00 p.m. and at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets are limited and will be socially distant.

As part of the classic, the Atlanta Braves partnered with Rapsodo, a leading technology company in sports analytics, to capture, track and deliver player statistics for the athletes participating in the series.

For more information on the Ralph Garr-Bill Lucas HBCU Baseball Classic, please visit www.braves.com/hbcuclassic

SWAC Baseball Opening Day

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

 

Friday - Feb 15

North Dakota State @Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 12:00 p.m.
Texas Southern @Jackson State - 12:00 p.m.
Alcorn State vs. Wake Forest - 2:00 p.m.
Texas Southern vs. Eastern Illinois - 3:00 p.m.
Alabama A&M vs. Morehead State - 4:00 p.m.
Savannah State @Jackson State - 6:00 p.m.
Stillman @Southern - 6:00 p.m.

Alabama State vs. Chicago State, Montgomery, Ala. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday - Feb 16

Alcorn State ULM Monroe, La. - TBA

IPFW @Alabama A&M - 11:00 a.m.

Eastern Illinois @Jackson State - 12:00 p.m.

Prairie View A&M  @Mississippi Valley State - 1:00 p.m.

North Dakota State @Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 1:00 p.m.

Stillman @Southern - 1:00 p.m.

Alcorn State vs. Wake Forest - 2:00 p.m.

Texas Southern @Jackson State - 3:00 p.m.

Prairie View A&M  @Mississippi Valley State - 3:00 p.m.

IPFW @Alabama A&M - 4:30 p.m.

Chicago State @Alabama State Chicago State - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday - Feb 17

Chicago State @Alabama State Chicago State - 12:00 p.m.

Eastern Illinois @Jackson State - 1:00 p.m.

North Dakota State @Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 1:00 p.m.

Prairie View A&M  @Mississippi Valley State - 1:00 p.m.

Stillman @Southern - 1:00 p.m.

Prairie View A&M  @Mississippi Valley State - 3:00 p.m.

Alcorn State @Louisiana Monroe - 3:00 p.m.

 

News and Notes

 

Four SWAC Schools to Compete in MLB 2013 Urban Invitational

The 2013 Urban Invitational, which is returning to Houston for the second consecutive year, will exclusively feature four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the first time in the event's history.

The four participating collegiate baseball programs are Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama), Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas) and Texas Southern University (Houston). The Urban Invitational is the annual, round-robin collegiate baseball tournament designed by Major League Baseball to give HBCUs and their baseball programs national exposure.

 

All Urban Invitational games will be played at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, from Friday, February 22nd through Sunday, February 24th. The games on Saturday, February 23rd will air live on MLB Network and MLB.com, beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT (5:00 p.m. ET), with play-by-play from MLB Network Analysts Joe Magrane and Paul Severino.

 

Southern University has participated in all six Urban Invitationals, while this is the second time for Alabama State University, Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University.

 

Complete Game Schedule (Central Time):

2/22 Southern vs. Texas Southern - 3:00 p.m. 

2/22 Prairie View A&M vs. Alabama State - 6:30 p.m. 

2/23 Alabama State vs. Southern - 4:00 p.m.

LIVE on MLB Network & MLB.com

2/23 Texas Southern vs. Prairie View A&M - 7:30 p.m.

LIVE on MLB Network & MLB.com

2/24 Alabama State vs. Texas Southern - 12:00 p.m. 

2/24 Southern vs. Prairie View A&M - 3:30 p.m.

Alcorn State's Rosa Named To Top Prospect List

Alcorn State junior short stop Angel Rosa is projected to be a 4-10th round prospect, coming in at No. 6 overall in the state of Mississippi. He's rated third among position players. Angel was also listed as the 2nd ranked short stop in the state. Coming off a 2012 all-conference season, Angel became the 1st player in Alcorn State history to play in the Cape Cod League for the Contuit Kettleers.

AAMU's Tompkins Set for First Season Without Interim Tag

Alabama A&M University baseball coach Michael Tompkins had his interim tag removed prior to the start of the 2013 season. Tompkins, at 24 years old, is the youngest head baseball coach in Division I.

Melendez Named One Of Top 10 Coaches Under 40

Alabama State head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez was named as one of top 10 baseball coaches in the country under 40 years old by Baseball America Magazine.

 

In his first season with the Hornets, Melendez led Alabama State to 20 victories, its highest win total since 2002 and the most victories in one season against Division I opponents in the programs' history. The Hornets' 14-10 Southwestern Athletic Conference record was also the highest conference win total ASU since 2002, as Alabama State tied for second in the Eastern Division.

MVSU to Host Games in Greenville
The Mississippi Valley State University Athletic Department has announced that the Delta Devils baseball team will play eight games at Legion Field in Greenville, Miss. this season. MVSU will play Prairie View A&M (Feb. 16-17), South Dakota State (March 1-3), and Jackson State (April 14).

Southern's Home Opener Relocated

Southern University baseball's 2013 home opening weekend series against Stillman College has been relocated to Pete Goldsby Field due to ongoing renovations to the infield at Lee-Hines Field. Pete Goldsby Field, serves as the home of Baton Rouge Community College Bears. Friday's game also marks the 2013 season opener for the Jaguars as well.

 

Texas Southern's Cabral Participates in Life Saving Donation

Texas Southern catcher Manny Cabral helped save a life by donating bone marrow to a patient in need. 

He received the extraction in December at the Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Cabral says he became a donor by chance a few weeks after high school graduation. He was with his ex-girlfriend in the mall when his opportunity appeared. Cabral had signed up for the Caitlin Raymond International Bone Marrow Registry. Two years later he received a phone call saying he was identified as a potential match and more tests were needed.

Cabral donated two units of blood in preparation for bone marrow extraction, just in case it was needed during the procedure. The procedure went well and Cabral has recovered.

 

RELATED LINKS

SWAC All Preseason Team

College Sports Madness Preseason All SWAC Team

 

 

COURTESY SWAC.org

College Baseball: ASU's schedule revamped

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - One of the first things Mervyl Melendez did when he was hired as Alabama State's baseball coach was to take the Hornets' proposed 2012 baseball schedule and tear it up.

There are 24 required Southwestern Athletic Conference games on the 56-game schedule, a home-and-home series with the other five East Division rivals.
Even that was subject to change as Melendez tried to put his signature on the ASU schedule that was released today.

"Conference games were set," said Melendez, the first-year coach." Some of the opponents were set at different venues. But we rearranged the entire schedule, one way or the other. If we had the (right) opponents on the schedule, I didn't like the site.

READ MORE


ASU welcomes their new Head Baseball Coach, Mervyl Melendez, to Montgomery and Alabama State University, June 22, 2011.

Alabama State Hornets Baseball Releases 2012 Schedule

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The Alabama State University baseball team released its 2012 baseball schedule, a 54-game regular season slate which includes 22 home contests at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex as the program will play its first full season on campus since 1996.

Highlighting this year's schedule are home-and-home games with Alabama-Birmingham, Georgia State, Mercer, Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State, and a home game against Troy. Alabama State will also travel to Auburn for a two-game series and to Oklahoma for a three-game series against the Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. The Hornets will open the season at home Saturday, Feb. 18 with a three-game series against Grambling State.

“Our schedule shows our commitment of playing the best Division I teams in the country,” first-year head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. “I am most proud of opening our season at home and bringing college baseball back to the ASU campus for a full season for the first time in many years.”

The three-game season opening series against Grambling State is part of a five-game homestand to open the season, as the Hornets will then host UAB and Kennesaw State. Alabama State will end the season's opening month by playing three games in the Nicholls State Tournament, followed by a pair of games at Auburn.

2012 ALABAMA STATE BASEBALL SCHEDULE (.pdf)

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

Sat. Feb. 18 GRAMBLING STATE (DH) MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. Feb. 19 GRAMBLING STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Tue. Feb. 21 ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4 P.M.

Wed. Feb. 22 KENNESAW STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4 P.M.

Fri. Feb. 24 Stony Brook Thibodaux, La. 2:30 P.M.

Sat. Feb 25 Nicholls State Thibodaux, La. 1 P.M.

Sat. Feb 25 Stony Brook Thibodaux, La. 5 P.M.

Tue. Feb. 28 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 5 P.M.

Wed. Feb. 29 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 5 P.M.

Sat. March 3 ALABAMA A&M (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. March 4 ALABAMA A&M* MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Wed. March 7 Alabama-Birmingham Birmingham, Ala. 6 P.M.

Fri. March 9 Jackson State* Jackson, Miss. 6 P.M.

Sat. March 10 Jackson State (DH)* Jackson, Miss. 2:35 P.M.

Tue. March 13 Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. 4 P.M.

Wed. March 14 Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. 4 P.M.

Fri. March 16 Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, N.C. 5 P.M.

Sat. March 17 Gardner-Webb (DH) Boiling Springs, N.C. Noon

Sun. March 18 Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, N.C. Noon

Tue. March 20 GEORGIA STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 4:30 P.M.

Sat. March 24 Mississippi Valley State (DH)* Itta Bena, Miss. 1 P.M.

Sun. March 25 Mississippi Valley State* Itta Bena, Miss. 1 P.M.

Wed. March 28 TROY MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M

Sat. March 31 ALCORN STATE (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 1 ALCORN STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Wed. April 4 Georgia State Atlanta, Ga. 4 P.M.

Sat. April 7 Alabama A&M(DH)* Huntsville, Ala. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 8 Alabama A&M* Huntsville, Ala. 1 P.M.

Wed. April 11 Kennesaw State Kennesaw, Ga. 4 P.M.

Sat. April 14 JACKSON STATE(DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 15 JACKSON STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. NOON

Fri. April 20 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 6 P.M.

Sat. April 21 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 22 Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 1 P.M.

Tue. April 24 MERCER MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Wed. April 25 MERCER MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Sat. April 28 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (DH)* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Sun. April 29 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE* MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M.

Tue. May 1 Jacksonville State Jacksonville, Ala. 6:30 P.M.

Wed. May 2 JACKSONVILLE STATE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.

Sat. May 5 Alcorn State (DH)* Alcorn State, Miss. 4:35 P.M

Sun. May 6 Alcorn State* Alcorn State, Miss. 1:35 P.M.

Tue. May 8 Mercer Macon, Ga. 5 P.M.

Wed. May 9 Mercer Macon, Ga. 5 P.M.

Wed. May 16 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Thur. May 17 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Fri. May 18 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Sat. May 19 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Sun. May 20 SWAC Tournament Baton Rouge, La. TBD

Schedule subject to change; Home Games in CAPS; All Times Central

READ MORE AT BAMASTATESPORTS.COM

Delaware State Announces 2013 Athletics Hall of Fame Class

DOVER, Delaware  -- Delaware State University’s all-time leading baseball and softball home run hitters, along with the Hornets’ career-best pass catcher, top the list of new inductees into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

A total of seven former athletes and a coach will be enshrined during a ceremony on Fri., Nov. 1 at the Martin Luther King Student Center on the DSU campus. In addition, Delaware State’s 1956 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-champion football team and the school’s 1962 CIAA co-champion baseball team will be honored during the ceremony. The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the Hornets’ football contest against Howard University the following day (Nov. 2).

The latest DSU Hall-of-Fame class includes baseball standout Scott Martin (2000-03), the Hornets’ all-time leader with 55 home runs and 221 runs batted in. A three-time All-MEAC First Team selection, Martin captured the conference “triple crown” in 2001, topping all league players in home runs (18), RBI (77) and batting average (.432). He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. Prior to enrolling at Delaware State, Martin was a star player at Middletown (Del.) High School.

The Hornets’ Hall of Fame will also welcome its third softball player. Catrina Ansbach (2004-07), the MEAC’s all-time leader with 44 home runs, is also tops in school history in hits (224), runs batted in (164) and doubles (45). Ansbach was an All-MEAC First Team selection in 2005 and 06, a second-team pick in 2007 and was the league’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2004. The former Caesar Rodney High School (Del.) star led the Hornets to two MEAC North softball titles and two MEAC Tournament championship game appearances.

The star receiver and head coach of the Hornets’ 2007 MEAC champion football team have also been selected to the school’s hall of fame.

Shaheer McBride (2004-07) is Delaware State’s career leader with 201 receptions and 3,007 receiving yards. McBride also shares the Hornets’ career record with 33 touchdown catches. He’s tied for second in MEAC history in touchdown receptions, fourth in receiving yards and fifth in receptions. McBride was a two-time All-MEAC First Team selection and was the league’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2004. He was signed by NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 2008.

The head coach of Hornets’ 2007 MEAC championship team, Al Lavan, will join McBride in the 2013 DSU Hall of Fame class. Lavan was recognized as the Football Championship Subdivision Region II Coach of the Year and was runner-up for the Eddie Robinson Award for top FCS coach after leading Delaware State to the ’07 MEAC crown, the school’s first in 16 years. That season, the Hornets became the second team in MEAC to post an 8-0 league mark; and set a school record with 10 wins.

The 2013 DSU Hall of Fame class also includes football greats Dwight Williams and Stanley Burris, two-sport star Pedro Swann, Sr.; and basketball standout Paul Newman.

Williams (1967-70) was the top defensive back on the Hornets’ 1970 squad that led all NCAA Division II teams in total defense (103.5 ypg) and rushing defense (-4.9 ypg), which still stands as a national D-II record. He also ranks among the school leaders with 12 career interceptions.

Burris was a two-time All-MEAC and Black College All-America Third Team offensive lineman. A Division I-AA Academic All-America, he was a member of the Hornets’ 1991 MEAC championship team; and helped pave the way to a school-record 730 total yards vs. Morgan State in 1993.

Swann, a baseball and football standout, was Delaware State’s 1970 Male Athlete-of-the-Year. In baseball, he was tops in the CIAA and among the national Division II leaders with a .471 average to help lead the Hornets to a share of the conference championship in 1970. That same year, he was top receiver and punter on the Hornets’ football team.

Newman (1987-91) ranked fifth in DSU men’s basketball history with 1,485 points when he graduated in 1991. He averaged 17 points per game to help lead the Hornets to their first MEAC Tournament championship game appearance in 1991.

The 1956 Delaware State football team was the first in school history to share the CIAA title. That year, the Hornets were 7-1-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the CIAA, outscoring league opponents 208-39. The ’56 Hornets posted five shutouts, including three in a row.

The 1962 Hornet baseball team captured a share of the CIAA championship for the first time in school history. Led by eight .300 hitters, Delaware State was 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the CIAA that year.

2013 Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame Class: Catrina Ansbach – Softball Stanley Burris – Football Al Lavan – Coach (Football) Scott Martin – Baseball Shaheer McBride - Football Paul Newman – Basketball Pedro Swann, Sr. – Football, Baseball Dwight Williams – Football

Special Honors

1956 football team

1962 baseball team

 

COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU Rattlers 'Hawk' Dawson finally wings his way into MLB Hall of Fame

Former Florida A&M University Rattlers baseball star and alumnus, Andre Dawson (1973-75) was the lone inductee to Major League Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday. A graduate of Miami's Southwest High School, Dawson will be enshrined on July 25, 2010 in Cooperstown, NY., 15 days after his 56th birthday.

OTTAWA, Canada — Baseball graduated its 2010 Hall of Fame class on Wednesday, which turned out to be a class of just one player: Andre Dawson. At last, The Hawk is in the Hall. A joyous day, not just for the elegant outfielder and his cast of supporters, but for fans of the Montreal Expos, able to reflect on another fond figure from their long-gone ball team. Dawson, in his ninth year on the ballot, received 77.9 per cent of the vote, comfortably past the 75 per cent margin. He leaped more than 10 per cent in the voting by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America after reaching 67 per cent last year.

Dawson, angular, powerful and fleet in his youth, had Hall of a Fame markings in his 21 seasons with four clubs, but was severely hampered by injury late in his career. It wasn’t character that slowed Dawson, but a pair of bad knees, preventing this “five-tool” player from posting automatic Cooperstown numbers. Dawson finished his career as a .279 career hitter with 438 home runs, 1,591 runs batted in and 314 stolen bases. He was the National League’s rookie of the year with the Expos in 1977 and the 1987 NL most valuable player with the Chicago Cubs. Eight times he was an all-star and 12 times he underwent knee surgery. In history, only Willie Mays and Barry Bonds shared Dawson’s combination of at least 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases. (Read more, click main blog title)

'Well worth the wait' for baseball hall inductee Andre Dawson

The Hawk has a new nest: the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Andre Dawson, considered by some to be the best player ever produced by the Montreal Expos, was elected Wednesday to the baseball shrine — the only player to make the cut this year in voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. "It was well worth the wait. I can’t really describe the elation," Dawson, who made the Hall on his ninth try, told reporters on a conference call. "If you’re a Hall of Famer, eventually you’re going to get in, no matter how long it takes."

Dawson appeared on 77.9 per cent of the ballots, after falling 44 votes short last year of 75 per cent needed for induction. A strong-armed outfielder whose speed and power on the diamond and class off it made him a fan favourite, Dawson played 21 seasons for four teams (the Expos, the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins), hitting 438 home runs, collecting 1,591 RBIs and stealing 314 bases. He is one of only three players in MLB history to hit 400 home runs and steal 300 bases in his career. Willie Mays and Barry Bonds are the others.

Dallas Green recalls Andre Dawson 'blank check' signing

Most free-agent negotiations are conducted under clandestine circumstances, far from the prying eyes of the public and media. But in 1987, for all to witness during spring training in Mesa, Ariz., free agent Andre Dawson and agent Dick Moss demanded the immediate and undivided attention of Cubs management. Dallas Green, then the Cubs' bombastic general manager, took umbrage at the fact the future Hall of Famer and Moss showed up with a blank contract. Green huffed and puffed, then referred to Dawson and Moss as "a dog and pony show."

I was the Tribune's Cubs beat reporter at the time, and In the Wake of the News columnist Bob Verdi and I thought the entire surreal scene was made for TV, as well as newspapers. I spoke with Green on Wednesday about the scene and he provided some background. "It all started in 1984 when we won (the division) and I had to sign all of those guys to multiyear contracts, and big contracts," said Green, 75, now the senior adviser to the general manager of the Phillies.

"You know, Rick Sutcliffe and Steve Trout and Scott Sanderson and Dennis Eckersley. ... I had to re-sign all of those guys because they were on one-year deals. It took a pretty good chunk of dough. And, of course, in '85 we didn't do too well, and in '86 we struggled a little, as well. It was where Tribune Co. finally had to put (its) foot down and say, 'Hey, we're approaching the payroll we want to be at.' I said, 'Well, I love this guy (Dawson)'.

Andre Dawson receives just due with Hall of Fame election

Never one to sweat the details, Andre Dawson is happily on his way to Cooperstown. A man who generated respect along with run production throughout his 21-year career, six of his most satisfying seasons coming when he was based at Wrigley Field, Dawson will take his place in the Hall of Fame alongside Ryne Sandberg, who like "The Hawk" knew Wrigley before there were lights. There was never a real question of Dawson's Hall of Fame worthiness -- anyone who saw him dominate the National League with the Cubs and Montreal Expos knew he had earned his spot among baseball's greats. The question was how long he would have to wait, and that finally was answered Wednesday.

Dawson, whose signing with the Cubs in 1987 was one of the most amazing stories in team history, was more gracious than he needed to be on the subject of hard-to-convince voters. "The wait isn't a big factor in the scheme of things," said Dawson, 55, who was a huge fan favorite on the North Side. "You get frustrated when people say, 'When are you going to get in?' and you don't have an answer for that. As I sit here now, I think it was well worth the wait."

READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLES.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
VIDEO: Andre Dawson selected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Andre Dawson Career in pictures
Greg Cote: Hall of Fame could not have picked a classier inductee than Andre Dawson
Following Long Wait, Dawson Enters Hall Alone
Cooperstown hits a single
Andre's arrival worth the wait
Dawson crosses Hall's threshold
Dawson's determination evident in election
Andre Dawson elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Grambling's Jones and Southern's Goodwin heads to College Baseball Hall of Fame

The late GSU Coach 'Prez' Jones
(Courtesy Grambling State Athletics)

GRAMBLING, LA -- Grambling State’s former president Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones along with six others will be inducted as members of the 2011 College Baseball Hall of Fame class and will be honored during the induction ceremony on July 3 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the College Baseball Foundation’s annual celebration of the greatest players in the past and present of college baseball.

President Jones coached at Grambling State from 1926-77. During his tenure, he won six titles in the now-defunct Midwest Athletic League from 1952 to 1958 and five titles in the Southwestern Athletic Conference from 1961 to 1967. He was named NAIA Coach of the Year in 1967. Jones coached 11 NAIA All-Americans including Tommie Agee and Ralph Garr, while compiling a career record of 816-218.

Jones, who served as the university’s president from 1936-77 was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1992 and in May of this year, had the distinction of having GSU’s baseball stadium named in his honor.

Grambling Fight Song
Fight for dear old grambling
Fight we're gonna win
Light the torch of victory
We will win this game...RAH RAH RAH
Fight for dear old grambling
Fight we're gonna win
There's no doubt that we are
The pride of the USA



READ MORE, CLICK HERE

Goodwin and Jones becomes first inductees from HBCU's

The two HBCU inductees will be former Southern University standout Danny Goodwin (1972-75), who had a .394 career batting average with 20 home runs and 166 RBIs and was the 1975 Sporting News Player of the Year while Southern transitioned from NAIA to NCAA status.

He is joined by former Grambling State head coach Ralph Waldo Emerson “Prez” Jones, who coached the Tigers from 1926 to 1977 and was the school’s president from 1936 to 1977. Jones led Grambling to six Midwest Athletic League and five Southwestern Athletic Conference titles.

“This really means a lot because I didn’t come from a well-known baseball school, at least nationally,” Goodwin said.

“This gives schools like Southern an opportunity to let the nation know there are some quality young men playing baseball. I don’t know if many people understand the real history of baseball or how revered baseball is in the black community at large.”

READ MORE, CLICK HERE

The legend of Danny Goodwin

Danny Goodwin, a catcher at Southern University from 1972 to 1975, still has the distinction of being the only player to twice be the overall No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft. He was a three-time All-American — twice at the NAIA level and once at the NCAA level — and was The Sporting News’ 1975 College Player of the Year. He had a .394 career batting average and compiled 20 home runs and 166 RBIs.

Danny Glover
(Courtesy SU Athletics)

Danny Goodwin is hardly a household name, but he remains the only ballplayer to be taken with the first overall pick on two different occasions. In spite of being the most heavily desired amateur player in two separate and distinct drafts, Goodwin never became the star that most talent evaluators had anticipated. Such is the crapshoot that comes with any player who is drafted, no matter how high he is taken and no matter the accompanying level of hype.

In the late 1960s, Goodwin began developing a legendary reputation as a high school ballplayer in Peoria, Illinois. An athletic but powerfully built, left-handed hitting catcher who carried 195 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame, Goodwin flashed the kind of strength that left fans—and teammates—in awe.

Playing in a game for Central High School in late April of 1971, Goodwin delivered the signature moment of his amateur career. Leading off the game, he blasted a gargantuan home run to right-center field, the ball clearing a hill and a driveway before it hit the second deck of a swimming pool that lay well beyond the ballpark’s boundaries. To observers of the blast, the home run not only had stunning length, but remarkable height and hang time. By the time the ball touched down against the pool structure, it had traveled over 400 feet, an unfathomable distance for a high school player swinging a wood bat.

No one happened to film or videotape the Goodwin monstrosity, but the epic home run was not missed by major league eyes. About 20 big league scouts had gathered in Peoria to watch Goodwin that day. The home run, one of nine that he would hit in his senior season, confirmed what most scouts had already suspected: Goodwin, who would hit .488 in 25 games as a senior, would be taken with the first pick of the upcoming June draft.

Southern University Fight Song
Southern University defenders of the Gold and Blue
We will always loyal be and sing a cheer for you
All for one and one for all we've got the will to win for thee
So we'll fight, fight, fight, fight, til we win the victory."
Go Jags!!!!!



The Chicago White Sox owned that pick. They already had a decent left-handed hitting catcher of their own in 24-year-old Ed Herrmann, but he was no star. The White Sox had not enjoyed a standout season from a catcher since their pennant-winning campaign of 1959, when Sherm Lollar hit 24 home runs for the famed “Go Go” Sox. More importantly, the Sox considered Goodwin the best available player in the draft, someone they simply could not bypass. Even in off-the-field areas, the likeable Goodwin graded out highly; he did well in school and owned a good attitude. On all counts, the draft direction pointed toward Goodwin.

After drafting him at No. 1, the White Sox offered Goodwin a contract paying him an estimated $60,000. He turned down the less-than-impressive offer, which he believed to be worth less than a college scholarship from Southern University in Louisiana. Goodwin opted to continue his education. A highly intelligent young man who possessed interests in science and math, he enrolled at Southern, eventually becoming a zoology major. As part of his four-year tenure at Southern, Goodwin earned collegiate baseball player of the year honors.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE

Perdue Stadium to host MEAC baseball championships

SALISBURY, Maryland -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Department of Athletics has partnered with the Delmarva Shorebirds to host the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Championships starting this season and continuing through 2017. The partnership will have Division I championship baseball in Salisbury, Maryland, for the next three years. This year's championship will start Wednesday, May 13 and runs through Saturday May 16 with a possible rain date of Sunday, May 17.

"We think this will be an exciting event for all of Delmarva," said UMES Director of Athletics Keith Davidson. "Teaming up with a premier organization, like the Delmarva Shorebirds, at one of the greatest minor league baseball stadiums in the nation, Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, in an area that loves baseball, like the Eastern Shore, seems like a winning combination for everyone involved."

2015 MEAC Baseball Ticket Flyer 



Six teams will vie for the conference title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Championship field, earning a spot in a regional series. The top-three seeds from the conference's northern and southern division will earn a spot in the championship which will feature at least 10 games over the four days.

The northern division includes Coppin State, Delaware State, Norfolk State and the host UMES. The southern division includes Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central and Savannah State.

The championships begin on Wednesday with four games. The second and third seeds from each division match up in the first two games, starting at 9 a.m. Then the winners of those two games play the top seeds from the two divisions in the night games.

The tournament is a double elimination format. Thursday features three games, starting at 9 a.m. while Friday will serve as the semi-finals, starting at 10 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and will feature a second game if necessary due to the double elimination format.

Tickets are $8.00 per day or just $25.00 for all four days. Parking is free. To purchase tickets go online at umestickets.com , call 410-621-3311, or mail in the form here. Tickets can also be purchased at the door each day.

UMES will also be hosting a discount promotion each day. Wednesday is slated as Little League night. All youth that participate in little league play or any affiliated youth sports will be admitted free of charge thanks to Atlantic Stand of Ocean City, Md. Thursday is Family Day where buying one ticket gets up to four more family members in for free. Friday's Military Day with all members of the military, active, reserve and retired free admission. In addition, all first responders, police and firefighters will also be admitted free.

Saturday's championship day is highlighted as Negro League Day. All day long, children in eighth grade or younger will receive free admission. The Negro League Day will feature onsite exhibits and information about Negro League Baseball, including various players who played in the leagues from Delmarva. All children who attend will have the opportunity to talk with players and see the display, then see the MEAC championship finals, pitting two of the best HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) going head to head for an NCAA berth. The Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame, located in the stadium, will also be open that day, showing the Shore's contributions to the game.

UMES is also encouraging their faculty, staff and students to attend the event. Anyone who presents a UMES ID at the time of purchase will be able to buy one ticket and get one free each day of the MEAC Baseball Championships. The offer is also extended to all Salisbury University and Wor-Wic Community College students, faculty and staff.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

Hollins named new Golden Tigers baseball coach

Hollins, a Tuskegee alum, has been with the program as an assistant since 2010

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Tuskegee University athletic director Curtis Campbell announced the hiring of Reginald Hollins as the new head baseball coach for the Golden Tigers, replacing Montressa Kirby who's sole focus will now be on coaching quarterbacks for the Golden Tigers football program.

"Coach (Reginald) Hollins has been a part of the resurgence of baseball at Tuskegee University both as a player and a coach," Campbell said. "He has played an integral part of the success that the baseball program has had in the past several years, and I trust he will continue to do that as I know he will. He will also bring in good men of character and continue the tradition of Tuskegee baseball."

Hollins has been with the baseball program as an assistant coach since the 2010 season, helping the team to their first winning record in 13 years. The following year, the Golden Tigers claimed the NCAA Division II statistical championship for triples as they averaged 0.8 per game.

"I am just excited to fill such large shoes and embark on a journey with history already being set for the program," Hollins said. "I just want to continue and build on that; baseball was the first program on campus, and the pedigree that was built from all of the former players and coaches is history in itself."

After a sub-par 2012, the Golden Tigers rebounded by playing for the SIAC Championship for the first time in 24 years. The team made a second appearance in the championship game the following year, 2013.

During his run as assistant coach, the Golden Tigers had 11 players selected either to the all-conference, all-tournament or all-academic teams.

Hollins has served in multiple roles during his tenure with the baseball program.

No stranger to Tuskegee, Hollins was a pitcher and infielder for the Golden Tigers for four years. During his junior season of 2009, he led the team in batting average (.364), and finished second in hitting (.321) during his senior season. Hollins finished third in the nation as the toughest hitter to strikeout, 60th in triples and 14th in walks allowed by a pitcher per nine innings.

Hollins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Tuskegee University in 2010.

"Being an alum and coming through the program, I have a sense of where the program is and was," Hollins said. "Just knowing what it takes to build a successful program, I am just excited for the opportunity to lead Tuskegee baseball."

For more information on Tuskegee University athletics, follow us on your favorite social media platform @MyTUAthletics and like us on Facebook.

COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Paine Baseball to Hold Press Conference/Purple and White Game

COURTESY PAINE COLLEGE ATHLETICS

AUGUSTA, Georgia  -- Paine College head baseball coach Kerby Marshall will host a press conference in the HEAL Complex Conference Room this Friday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. to announce details regarding the 2014 Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL) All-Star Game, the Bobby Bonds Symposium, guest attendees and former MLB players involved.

MJBL Executive Director William Forrester, Jr., former Major League ball player Mookie Wilson (Mets, Blue Jays), MJBL Commissioner Fred Plump, Jimmy Williams and Richard Lee are all tentatively scheduled to attend the press conference.

MJBL is a 47-year-old non-profit organization established during the days of segregation when there were limited opportunities for African-American youngsters to play baseball. Today, the league provides baseball, educational and cultural enrichment opportunities to primarily African American youth across the country with teams in 20 states, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.

To add to this weekend's festivities, on Sunday, Oct. 20 Coach Marshall and his staff will host the Purple and White Game, the annual end to Paine College baseball's fall workouts. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

About MJBL The Metropolitan Junior Baseball League, Inc. (MJBL) is a non-profit organization that was founded in Richmond, Virginia in 1966. In 1991, MJBL launched its Inner City Classic in Columbia, SC. It was designed to provide urban youth the opportunity to travel to other cities, compete in the game of baseball and to be exposed to diverse cultures. It has since grown to become a national network with teams throughout the United States and the Caribbean. MJBL Virginia welcomes you to read more about how our organization is helping to make a difference in the lives of others and how we are helping to bring baseball back to the inner city.

COURTESY PAINE COLLEGE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

2014 SIAC Baseball All-Conference Team Announced

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference today announced its 2014 SIAC Baseball All-Conference Teams, as voted by the SIAC Baseball Coaches Association.

The list of All-Conference and Superlative award winners is highlighted by Fernando Tanaka of Stillman College. Tanaka, a junior shortstop from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been selected as the 2014 SIAC Baseball Player of the Year. Tanaka registered a .394 batting average (54-of-137) in 41 games for the Western Division Champion Tigers, scoring 48 runs, driving in 38 additional and stealing 18 bases in the process. Tanaka's average of runs scored per game (1.17) ranked 21st nationally, while his 48 runs scored (25th) and four triples (28th) also ranked in Division II Baseball annals.

Stillman pitcher Joseph Falletta has been named the SIAC Starting Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season. Falletta, a senior from Franklin, Tennessee, made 11 appearances on the mound this season, posting a 7-1 record and an ERA of 2.07. Over the course of 61.0 innings pitched, Falletta recorded 58 strikeouts with 18 walks, en route to securing two shutouts. He also engineered six complete games, a number that ranked 12th nationally.

Stillman pitcher Tyler Vails has been selected as the 2014 SIAC Relief Pitcher of the Year. This marks Vails third straight Relief Pitcher of the Year honor, as he posted a 6-1 record with two shutouts, two complete games and one save on the year. Vails, a senior from Gordo, Alabama, ended his season with a 2.01 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 58.1 innings pitched. His WHIP of 0.94 ranked 32nd nationally.

Daniel Young of Benedict College has been chosen as the 2014 SIAC Utility Player of the Year. Young, a sophomore third baseman from Columbia, South Carolina, hit .350 (48-of-137) from the plate while notching six home runs, 14 doubles and two triples on the season. He also swiped 11 stolen bases and secured 14 walks to round out his second season with the Tigers. Young's eight sacrifice flies ranked third nationally, while his average of 1.2 RBI's per contest and total of 48 RBI's ranked 13th and 14th in Division II, respectively.

Reise McDaniel, an outfielder from Albany State University, has been named the 2014 SIAC Freshman of the Year. McDaniel, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, registered a .365 (58-of-159) batting average with 38 RBI's, 14 doubles, one triple and 13 stolen bases for the Golden Rams. His 50 runs scored during the season ranked 15th nationally, while his average of 1.16 runs scored per contest ranked 25th.

For the second consecutive season, Albany State head coach Kenyan Conner has been selected as the SIAC Coach of the Year. Conner guided his Golden Rams club to a perfect 20-0 record in conference play, capturing his second Eastern Division title in successive seasons. Albany State ended its campaign with a 28-16 overall mark.

The Panthers of Claflin University were named the 2014 SIAC All-Academic Champions.

2014 SIAC Baseball First Team All-Conference
Name Position Class School
Robert Latner C Senior Albany State
Nick Baldelli-Boggs 1B Senior Stillman
Ryan Latner 2B Junior Albany State
Fernando Tanaka SS Junior Stillman
Cash Oliver 3B Senior Tuskegee
James Campbell OF Senior Albany State
Daniel Young OF Sophomore Benedict
Reise McDaniel OF Freshman Albany State
Joseph Falletta SP Senior Stillman
Tyler Vails RP Senior Stillman

2014 SIAC Baseball Second Team All-Conference
Name Position Class School
Johnny Surry C Sophomore Clark Atlanta
Andre Collum 1B Sophomore Albany State
Kevin Davis 2B Junior Benedict
Allen Hardy SS Junior Albany State
Paul Winterbottom 3B Junior Stillman
Caleb Pyscher OF Freshman Morehouse
Jonathan Richey OF Senior Paine

Sixto Guerrero OF Sophomore Claflin

John Paul Bernard SP Freshman Albany State

Justin Langdale RP R-Sophomore Miles

Player of the Year: Fernando Tanaka, Stillman
Starting Pitcher of the Year: Joseph Falletta, Stillman

Relief Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Vails, Stillman

Utility Player of the Year: Daniel Young, Benedict

Freshman of the Year: Reise McDaniel, Albany State

Coach of the Year: Kenyan Conner, Albany State

2014 SIAC Baseball All-Academic Team

Name School Class GPA Major
 Justin Vreeland Claflin Junior 4.00 Sports Management

Kent Fuller Lane Sophomore 4.00 Biology

James Cogman Claflin Sophomore 3.90 Politics & Justice Studies

Sixto Guerrero Claflin Sophomore 3.90 Finance

Theodore Woodward Kentucky State Junior 3.85 Psychology

Christopher Emerson Tuskegee Sophomore 3.82 Electrical Engineering

Anthony Ford Claflin Junior 3.80 Sports Management

Reginald Grimes Kentucky State Junior 3.77 Social & Political Science

Jalen Thompson Claflin Sophomore 3.70 Biology

Nick Baldelli-Boggs Stillman Senior 3.67 Psychology

2014 SIAC Baseball All-Academic Team Champions: Claflin

COURTESY THESIAC.COM 

DSU Announces 2012 Athletics Hall of Fame Class

DOVER, Delaware - Rahsaan Matthews, Delaware State University's career passing leader; and Jahsha Bluntt, who led the DSU men's basketball team to the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, head the University's 2011 Athletics Hall-of-Fame class. A total of 11 former athletes will be inducted during a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 12 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Dover.

The 2012 DSU Hall of Fame class also includes former baseball standouts Maynard Jack Miles, Shawn Phillips, Fred Ruben and Howard Smack.

In addition, Delaware State will honor former football stars Calvin Stephens and Greg Wright, along with basketball greats Robert Vanderhost and Terrelle Waller; and volleyball record-holder Dawn (Alford) Jones.

Matthews was the MEAC Football Offensive Player-of-the-Year and a Black College All-America selection in 2000. He ranks second on the MEAC's career list for passing yards (8,073) and touchdown passes (74), and is fourth in completions (563). He was a Delaware high school all-star before enrolling at DSU.

Bluntt is Delaware State's third all-time leading men's basketball scorer with 1,721 points and the team's career leader with 303 three-point field goals. He was the Most Outstanding Player of the Hornets' lone MEAC Tournament championship team in 2005. The team was the first in school history to compete in a NCAA national championship tournament.

Miles helped lead the Hornets to two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) baseball championships in the 1960s. A four-time All-CIAA selection, Miles was the conference leader, and ranked sixth among all NCAA Div. II players in hitting, in 1963. He also played two seasons with the Hornet basketball team.

Phillips, a former Laurel (Del.) High School star, is the Hornets' modern-day record holder in wins (24), complete games (18), strikeouts (281) and innings pitched (308.2). He led DSU to the MEAC Tournament championship game, and selected by the Texas Rangers in the Major League Baseball draft in 2004.

Smack, a resident of Seaford, Del., was selected as Delaware State's baseball Most Valuable Player after posting a 5-0 record and 1.84 earned run average in 1970.

A standout infielder, Ruben was an All-CIAA performer for the Hornets in the late 1960s.

Wright was a standout linebacker at DSU from 1976 to '79. He earned Associated Press Division II All-America honors in 1978, and was a three-time All-MEAC selection. He competed in the 1979 Black College All-Star Game, and signed by the NFL's Cleveland Browns after his senior year with the Hornets.

Stephens was a top offensive lineman for the Hornets in the late 1970s and 1980. An All-MEAC selection in 1978, he was selected to play in the Black College All-Star Game in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans in 1979.

Vanderhost was a two-time All-MEAC basketball selection and 1000-point scorer for the Hornets. He was also an assistant coach at DSU.

Waller was a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Hornets' basketball team. A three-time All-MEAC First Team selection and 1000-point scorer, she helped lead DSU to the MEAC Tournament championship game in 2003 and '04. Waller was named to the MEAC All-Tournament in each of those years.

Jones, formerly Dawn Alford, was the Hornets' volleyball career assist leader following her final season in 2005. She holds the top two single-season assist totals in team history.

For more information, contact George Robinson, DSU Director of Athletic Development at (302) 857-7087.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY 2012 ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASS

Jahsha Bluntt Basketball

Dawn (Alford) Jones Volleyball

Rahsaan Matthews Football

Maynard Jack Miles Baseball

Shawn Phillips Baseball

Fred Ruben Baseball

Howard Smack Baseball

Calvin Stephens Football

Robert Vanderhost Basketball

Terrelle Waller Basketball

Greg Wright Football

COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION