Baseball di Fresno State Bulldogs

Founded 1922
University California State University, Fresno
Head coach Mike Batesole (19th season)
Conference Western mountain
Position Fresno, California
Home stadium Pete Bothen Field
(Capacity: 5,422)
Nickname Bulldog
Colors Red and blue cardinal
2008
1959, 1988, 1991, 2008
1952, 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, 2019
1993, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2019
1988, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2019

The Baseball di Fresno State Bulldogs team represents Fresno State in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most of the 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 are currently coached by Mike Batesole.

Fresno state in the NCAA tournament

  • The 2008 NCAA Division I College Series I champions.
    • In one of the most unlikely Cinderella stories in American sports history, the Bulldogs have overcome a daunting series of obstacles on their way to the NCAA title:
    • Before winning the 2008 tournament, Fresno State’s only championship in a men’s sport dates back to 1968, when the men’s tennis team won the national championship held in Fort Worth, Texas.
    • Fresno State had previously won only two national championships in its school history, the 1968 NCAA College Division Men’s Tennis Championships and the 1998 NCAA Women’s College World Series.
    • The Bulldogs entered the Western Athletic Conference tournament 33–27; they probably wouldn’t have made the NCAA tournament without winning the WAC tournament, which they did.
    • They were the # 4 seed in their region. Since only four teams play in each of the 16 regional, this is the equivalent of a # 13 seeded team or lower in the NCAA basketball tournament. No # 4 seed had advanced to the College World Series. In contrast, no # 13 seeded or lower has reached the “Elite 8” of the men’s basketball tournament, which is likely equivalent to the eight College World Series teams.
    • Six times in the NCAA tournament, including three times in the College World Series, they faced elimination with one defeat. They have won all six times.
    • They have 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 by beating a 4-to-first seed. round, a 5 seeded in the second round, a top seeded in the Sweet 16, a second seeded in the Elite 8, another seeded in the Final Four and another 2 seeded for the championship.
    • The Bulldogs’ stellar journey to the CWS championship was nominated for an ESPY.

Fresno State’s 30+ NCAA tournament appearances are good enough to rank in the all-time top 10.

Notable pupils

  • Pat Doyle – Baseball coach.
  • Doug Fister – Pitcher, has been a fixture in the early rotation for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals and Houston Astros since his MLB debut in 2009. Signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2017.
  • Mark Gardner – Pitcher, 12-year MLB veteran enlisted in 1989 by the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Florida Marlins and ended his career with the San Francisco Giants. He has been on the Giants coaching staff as a bullpen coach since 2003.
  • Matt Garza – Pitcher, starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
  • Dan Gladden – outfielder with the Minnesota Twins for two World Series wins.
  • John Hoover – Sets three career records and three Bulldogs records in a single season, evidenced by his NCAA record of 42 career full games and 19 full games in one season, including 44 wins and 494 innings pitched in a career, and scores of a single season 18 wins and 205 strikeouts (Baltimore Orioles, first round, 25th pick, 1984 MLB draft).
  • Bobby Jones – Pitcher, selected by the Mets with the 36th pick in the 1st round of the 1991 amateur draft.
  • Aaron Judge – All-Star outfielder drafted by the New York Yankees in 2013, made his major league debut in 2016. American League Rookie of the Year 2017, 2017 Derby Home Run champion, broke the home run record of Mark McGwire from rookie of 49, of hitting 52.
  • Terry Pendleton – 3B, former All-Star and World Series champion with the Atlanta Braves. Currently the 3B coach of the Braves. He was 3 times Gold Glover (1987, 1989, 1992) and 1 time Batting Champ (1991 and 1 time MVP League (1991).
  • Dick Ruthven – Pitcher, enlisted in 1973 by the Philadelphia Phillies, spent 13 years in MLB spending time with the Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. He was twice named 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 baseman, Atlanta Braves) and 2008 World Series champion (bench manager, Philadelphia Phillies).

See also

  • List of NCAA Division I baseball programs
  • 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team

References