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LSU Tigers baseball
2016 LSU Tigers baseball team
Founded1893
UniversityLouisiana State University
Head coachPaul Mainieri (9th season)
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
West Division
Home stadiumAlex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field
(Capacity: 10,326)
NicknameTigers
ColorsPurple and Gold
   
NCAA Tournament champions
1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009
College World Series appearances
1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015
NCAA Tournament appearances
1975, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Conference tournament champions
1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014
Regular season conference champions
1939, 1943, 1946, 1961, 1975, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2015

The LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. It is one of the elite college baseball programs in the nation, ranking seventh all-time with 17 College World Series appearances and second all-time with 6 national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2009). The Tigers play home games on LSU's campus at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field, and they are currently coached by Paul Mainieri.

Championships

National championships

Year Coach Record Result
1991 Skip Bertman 55–18 Beat Wichita State, 6–3
1993 Skip Bertman 53–17–1 Beat Wichita State, 8–0
1996 Skip Bertman 52–15 Beat Miami, 9–8
1997 Skip Bertman 57–13 Beat Alabama, 13–6
2000 Skip Bertman 52–17 Beat Stanford, 6–5
2009 Paul Mainieri 56–17 Beat Texas, 7–6, 1–5, & 11–4
Total National Championships 6

College World Series appearances

Year Coach Record
1986 Skip Bertman 55–14
1987 Skip Bertman 49–19
1989 Skip Bertman 55–17
1990 Skip Bertman 54–19
1991 Skip Bertman 55–18
1993 Skip Bertman 53–17–1
1994 Skip Bertman 46–20
1996 Skip Bertman 52–15
1997 Skip Bertman 57–13
1998 Skip Bertman 48–19
2000 Skip Bertman 52–17
2003 Smoke Laval 45–22–1
2004 Smoke Laval 46–19
2008 Paul Mainieri 49–19–1
2009 Paul Mainieri 56–17
2013 Paul Mainieri 57–11
2015 Paul Mainieri 54–12
Total College World Series appearances: 17

History

LSU Baseball team playing near the Pentagon Barracks on the old downtown campus in Baton Rouge, 1900
1900 LSU Baseball team.
1908 LSU Baseball team in Gettysburg, PA.

The early years (1893–1926)

During the program's first thirty seasons, LSU had a total of 15 head coaches. No coach's tenure lasted longer than two seasons, with the exception of C.C. Stroud, who was head coach for eight seasons. Stroud coached LSU from 1914–1921 and had an overall record of 73–58–5 (.595). The program won at least ten games during four of his eight seasons as head coach.

Harry Rabenhorst era (1927–1956)

In 1927, Harry Rabenhorst became head baseball coach and would become the longest tenured head baseball coach in LSU history. Rabenhorst began his career at LSU in 1925 as the head coach of the men's basketball team and two years later, in 1927, he also added head baseball coach to his duties. As baseball coach, he won two SEC baseball titles and was named SEC Coach of the year in 1939 and 1946.[1][2] Rabenhorst coached the baseball team from 1927 until 1942 when he left to serve in World War II. When he returned, he again coached the baseball team from 1946 until 1956. He finished his baseball coaching career with a record of 220–226–3. Later, as an athletic department administrator, he became the school's athletic director in 1967.

In 1938, LSU's new baseball stadium referred to as either LSU Diamond or LSU Varsity Baseball Field opened. The stadium was later renamed Alex Box Stadium for Simeon Alex Box, an LSU letterman (1942) who was killed in North Africa during World War II.

A.L. Swanson (1943–1945) During Rabenhorst's absence serving in World War II, A.L. Swanson served as head coach from 1943–1945. The Tigers won the 1943 SEC Championship under Swanson.

Ray Didier era (1957–1963)

Raymond "Ray" Didier was head coach at LSU for 7 seasons from 1957–1963. He had an overall record of 104–79 (.568). He coached the 1961 team to the SEC championship. He left LSU to become Athletic director and head baseball coach at Nicholls State University.

Waldrop-Smith-Lamabe era (1964–1983)

From 1964–1983, LSU was led by three head coaches. From 1964–1965, Jim Waldrop coached LSU for two seasons and had a 17–24 (.415) record. Jim Smith was head coach for thirteen seasons from 1966–1978. He finished with an overall record of 238–251 (.487). When he left LSU after the 1978 season, he had the most wins of any head coach in program history. His 1975 team won an SEC championship and was LSU's first NCAA Tournament team. From 1979–1983, Jack Lamabe was head coach at LSU for five seasons and had a record of 134–115 (.538).

Skip Bertman era (1984–2001)

After playing college baseball at Miami (FL), coaching high school baseball, and serving as an assistant at Miami, Skip Bertman became LSU's head coach for the start of the 1984 season.

In Bertman's second season, 1985, the Tigers qualified for postseason play for the first time in ten years. In his third season, LSU made its first appearance in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, the first of 11 appearances during Bertman's eighteen-year career. LSU returned to Omaha during the 1987 season, then failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 1988, despite having a 39–21 record.

Bertman's 1989 team returned to the postseason, an appearance that started a streak of 17 consecutive postseason appearances. The 1989 team defeated Texas A&M in a regional final to qualify for the College World Series. The program also made the College World Series in 1990.

1991 national championship

See also: 1991 College World Series

The program won its first national championship in 1991, defeating Wichita State in the College World Series final.

1993 national championship

See also: 1993 College World Series

The program won its second national championship in 1993, again defeating Wichita State in the College World Series final.

1996 national championship

See also: 1996 LSU Tigers baseball team and 1996 College World Series

In 1996, the Tigers entered the NCAA Tournament on a two-game losing streak, after being eliminated from the SEC Tournament by consecutive losses to Florida and Kentucky. However, based on the team's regular season performance, LSU was selected as one of the eight regional host sites for the NCAA tournament. The Tigers defeated Austin Peay, UNLV, and New Orleans before defeating Georgia Tech, 29–13, in the regional final. In the game, LSU broke multiple NCAA records, two of which still stand today: 13 hits in an inning and 8 doubles in an inning.Template:Http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball RB/2012/D1.pdf

In the College World Series, the team defeated its first opponent, Wichita State, 9–8. LSU then faced Florida, which had beaten them three times in the regular season and once in the SEC Tournament, and won, 9–4. Florida came out of the losers' bracket to face LSU again, and LSU won, 2–1, to advance to the national championship game against Miami (FL).

In the game, LSU defeated Miami, 9–8, on a walk-off home run by Warren Morris. In the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs and the tying run on third base, Morris hit a home run to right field off of Miami freshman Robbie Morrison. The home run was Morris's first of the season, and it won the 1997 Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award.[3]

1997 national championship

See also: 1997 LSU Tigers baseball team and 1997 College World Series

LSU entered the 1997 season attempting to become the first team to win consecutive national championships since Stanford won championships in 1987 and 1988. The Tigers began the season with 19 consecutive wins, giving them 27 straight wins starting with the 1996 regional.

The team's lineup was led by shortstop Brandon Larson, a junior college transfer who set the LSU and SEC single-season record for home runs with 40, one less than the national leader, Rice's Lance Berkman. LSU finished the season with 188 home runs, breaking the old record of 161 set by Brigham Young in 1988.[citation needed]

In its final regular season series, the team played Alabama for the SEC championship. The Tigers lost the second game 28–2 to Alabama, the worst loss in the program's history.[citation needed] The Tigers recovered the next day to win 6–4, winning the SEC title by one game over Alabama. In the SEC Tournament, LSU lost to Alabama in the championship game, 12–2.

In the South I Regional, LSU lost the winner's bracket final to South Alabama, meaning the team had to win three games within 24 hours in order to advance to the College World Series. The Tigers won a five-hour game against Long Beach State, 14–7 in 11 innings, in which Bertman was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing a balk call. LSU then defeated South Alabama 14–4 and 15–4 to advance to the World Series.

There, the Tigers narrowly defeated Rice, but Larson's home run in the bottom of the seventh gave LSU a 5–4 victory. The Tigers then defeated Stanford, 10–5 and 13–9, before defeating Alabama 13–6 in the championship game.

1998 season

In 1998, LSU hit 161 home runs. Eddy Furniss won the Dick Howser Trophy as the nation's most outstanding player and finished as the LSU and SEC all-time leader in home runs (80), RBI (308), hits (352), doubles (87) and total bases (689). Brad Cresse and Trey McClure also earned All-America honors by hitting 29 and 27 home runs, respectively.

The Tigers went undefeated in the South II Regional to reach the College World Series, seeking to become the first team to win three consecutive championships since USC won five consecutive from 1970–1974. LSU hit eight home runs in its first game in Omaha, defeating USC, 12–10, then hit six more in a 10–8 victory over SEC team Mississippi State. However, in the final two games, and the Tigers lost 5–4 and 7–3 to USC, which went on to win the championship with a 21–14 victory over Arizona State.

2000 national championship

See also: 2000 LSU Tigers baseball team and 2000 College World Series

In 2000, LSU's regular season record was 39–17, and the team went undefeated in the SEC Tournament to earn the #2 National seed in the NCAA Tournament. LSU won the Baton Rouge Regional in three games, outscoring opponents 45–4. LSU then swept a best-of-three Super Regional against UCLA, winning 8–2 and 14–8.

LSU began play at the College World Series with a 13–5 win over Texas. In game two, LSU defeated USC, 10–4. In a close third game, LSU defeated Florida State, 6–3, and advanced to the championship game to face Stanford.

In game one on June 17, Stanford held an early 5–2 lead, LSU scored three runs in the eighth inning with two home runs. LSU reliever Trey Hodges did not allow a run in the top of the ninth, his fourth scoreless inning of the game. In the bottom of the ninth, LSU lead the inning off with a single and a walk to bring Brad Cresse to the plate with two runners on base. Cresse, who was 1–12 in the CWS prior to the at bat, hit a line drive single into left field to score Ryan Theriot from second, giving LSU its fifth national championship in 10 years. LSU had 5 players named to the All-Tournament team– Blair Barbier, Mike Fontenot, Brad Hawpe, Hodges, and Theriot. Hodges was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after finishing the CWS with a 2–0 record and one save.

LSU finished the 2000 postseason with a 13–0 record and moved to 5–0 all time in national championship games.[4]

Retirement

Skip Bertman led the Tigers to a 44–22–1 mark during his final season as head coach in 2001. The Tigers won the West Division, reached the SEC Tournament championship game, and won the Baton Rouge Regional, but lost in three games in a Super Regional against Tulane at Zephyr Field.

Bertman won 870 games, seven SEC titles, and 11 CWS appearances. His teams averaged 48 wins per year and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 18 seasons.

His jersey number, 15, is one of four numbers retired by LSU. LSU also renamed a part of South Stadium Drive, between Nicholson and River Road, Skip Bertman Drive in his honor. The renamed portion runs past the old Alex Box Stadium, which has now been demolished following the opening of LSU's new stadium in 2009, the field of which is named for Bertman.

In a Baseball America poll published in 1999, Bertman was voted the second greatest college baseball coach of the 20th century, behind Rod Dedeaux of Southern California.

In June 2002, Bertman was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2003. In 2006, Skip Bertman was inducted into the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, TX.

After the end of the 2001 season, Bertman became LSU's athletic director. During his tenure, LSU won six total national championships and two BCS National Titles. Bertman served in the position until June 2008, and as Athletic Director Emeritus until June 2010.

In anticipation of Bertman's retirement, Louisiana-Monroe coach Smoke Laval was brought on as an administrative assistant for the LSU baseball team in 2001 and succeeded Bertman as coach in 2002. Laval was returning to LSU where he served as an assistant coach under Bertman from 1984–1993. In 1993, Laval left LSU for ULM (then known as Northeast Louisiana). While at NLU/ULM, Laval posted a record of 241–159, a winning percentage of .603, and led the Indians (Now Warhawks) to 3 NCAA regional appearances.

The Smoke Laval era (2002–2006)

Main article: Smoke Laval

The expectations were lofty for Laval when he accepted the job as head coach at LSU. In his first year, Laval led the Tigers to a 44–22 record overall. The Tigers hosted a regional in Baton Rouge, which they won, and moved on to the Houston Super-Regional to face Rice, where their season ended. His first year at the helm raised expectations even more after he experienced great success.

In 2003 and 2004, Laval would lead the Tigers to 45–22–1 and 46–19 overall record respectively. LSU would earn the No. 2 national seed in the 2003 tournament, and would host a super regional both years, meaning the road to Omaha went through Baton Rouge. LSU made the College World Series both years, but disappointed both years, posting an 0–2 record each year. Tiger fans were not used to leaving Omaha without a win, so questions about Laval's leadership and ability to continue the success of the program began to arise.

In 2005, LSU struggled during the regular season despite a 40–22 record overall. The Tigers lost 12 games in SEC play and lost to Southern for only the second time in 41 tries. Rice would go on to defeat the Tigers in the Baton Rouge Regional Finals.

It was obvious that 2006 would be a critical year for Laval. However, that year would see LSU post a 35–24 mark overall, their worst since 1983. They also posted their first losing SEC record in 23 years and would miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years. Under growing pressure from fans and the administration, Laval officially resigned on June 4, 2006.

The Paul Mainieri era (2007–Present)

Main article: Paul Mainieri
See also: Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament
See also: 2008 LSU Tigers baseball team

On June 28, 2006, Paul Mainieri was named the twenty-fifth head coach of LSU Baseball. Mainieri returned to Baton Rouge, where he began his career in college baseball 30 years earlier as a freshman at LSU in 1976. Mainieri finished his collegiate playing career at the University of New Orleans. Prior to his arrival at LSU, Mainieri coached St. Thomas University in Florida, Air Force, and Notre Dame.

In his first season at LSU, the Tigers posted a mark of 29–26–1. The season was full of ups and downs, with the Tigers winning four SEC series against Top 25 opponents, but struggling in non-conference play. After the season, Mainieri realized changes had to be made and informed certain players that they should consider other options,[5] as well as making some changes to his current staff.[6] Mainieri was able to put together a tremendous recruiting class following the 2007 season, which was later ranked No. 1 by Baseball News.[7]

Major League All-Star and Gold Glove winner, DJ LeMahieu, helped lead Mainieri's 2009 team to a National Championship.

In his second year, LSU was predicted to finish fifth in the SEC Western division by the SEC baseball coaches before the year started.[8] Following an amazing turnaround, Coach Mainieri led LSU to the SEC Western Division championship[9] with a conference record of 18–11–1, and the No. 2 seed in the 2008 SEC Baseball Tournament.[10] The Tigers finished the regular season record at 39–16–1.[11] The team won the 2008 SEC Tournament (held May 20–25 in Hoover, Alabama). With the win, LSU won 20 consecutive games, breaking the previous school record of 19 consecutive wins during the 1997 season and tying the SEC's second-longest streak of wins.[12] Fourteen of those wins were come-from-behind wins, while the last fifteen were made wearing the distinctive gold jerseys.

By winning the SEC Tournament, LSU earned a 7th national seed in the NCAA tournament and extended the life of the old Alex Box Stadium as Baton Rouge hosted a regional bracket of the NCAA tournament. LSU swept the series, defeating Texas Southern (12–1) and Southern Miss (twice, 13–4 and 11–4) to win the regional bracket. With the sweep of the Regional series, LSU extended their winning streak to a SEC-record 23 straight games.[13]

As a result of the Regional, LSU and Baton Rouge earned a spot in the Super-Regional series, hosting UC-Irvine in the last three games to be played in the old Alex Box Stadium. LSU lost the first game, 11–5, ending their streak of wins at 23.[14][15] LSU recovered in the second game of the series, scoring six runs in the top of the ninth inning to force a third game with a dramatic come-from-behind win, 9–7.[16] On Monday, June 9, 2008, in the final game to be played at the Alex Box Stadium, with a record-setting crowd of 8,173 watching, LSU dominated UC-Irvine with a 21–7 win to move to the 2008 College World Series.[17][18]

In the 2008 College World Series, No. 7 LSU faced the No. 2 North Carolina Tarheels in the first round, losing 8–4.[19] The Tigers, facing elimination in a game against the Rice Owls, won in dramatic fashion, 6–5, continuing their string of come-from-behind victories.[20] On June 20, 2008 after a rain delay of nearly 24 hours, UNC and LSU resumed their elimination game matchup, resulting in a 7–3 loss for LSU. The team was defeated after giving up the only grand slam in the 2008 CWS in the top of the ninth inning. During the 2008 regular and post-regulation baseball season, LSU's games have continuously featured both dramatic victories and controversial calls.[20][21]

2009 National championship

See also: 2009 LSU Tigers baseball team

LSU traveled to Omaha after sweeping Southern University, Baylor University and the University of Minnesota in the regionals and Rice University in the super regionals. They started play at the College World Series and faced the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round, winning 9–5. In the winner's bracket game, LSU played the Arkansas Razorbacks and won by a score of 9–1. In a rematch, the Tigers beat the Razorbacks again by a score of 14–5, advancing to the CWS finals for the first time since 2000. They played against the Texas Longhorns in a best-of-three series for the title, and won Game 1, 7–6 in a dramatic comeback win in 11 innings. The Longhorns beat the Tigers in Game 2, 5–1, to force a third and final game. The Tigers out-slugged the Longhorns 11–4 in Game 3 to win their 6th National Championship and first since 2000. The series MVP was outfielder Jared Mitchell.

Chandler Tullis, a longtime athletic supporter, made the grueling trip to Omaha to celebrate with the team with a champagne shower in the locker room after the final victory. (Omaha World Herald)

At the end of the 2015 regular season, Alex Bregman was selected by the Houston Astros with the second pick of the 2015 MLB Draft. He was the fifth LSU Tiger to be drafted in the first round in seven years, the highest-drafted position player in LSU's history, and the second-highest overall behind pitcher Ben McDonald (1989).[22][23]

Traditions

Main article: Louisiana State University traditions

Attendance

Total Attendance: As of the 2015 baseball season, LSU has finished No. 1 in the final college baseball total attendance rankings for the 20th straight season. LSU posted a total attendance figure of 421,171 in 39 games, which was 147,576 greater than second-place team South Carolina which had 273,595 in 33 games.[24]

In 2013, LSU posted an NCAA-record total attendance figure of 473,298 in 43 games, which was 191,458 greater than second-place team Mississippi State (281,840). LSU is also the only school in NCAA history to exceed 400,000 in total baseball attendance in a season.[25]

Average Attendance: As of the 2015 baseball season, LSU finished No. 1 in the final average attendance rankings for the 19th time in 20 years (Arkansas finished No. 1 in average attendance in 2007). In 2015, LSU averaged 10,799 tickets sold per game, which was 2,509 greater than second-place team Arkansas which averaged 8,290.[24]

LSU's paid attendance figure of 12,727 for the LSU-South Carolina game on April 27, 2013 established a school record.

LSU Bat Girls

The LSU Bat Girls are a support squad that contributes to the LSU Baseball program. The Bat Girls consist of 30 individuals who work in team's of 10 at all home games, post-season games and various charity events. The squad serves as hostesses at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field and their responsibilities include selling game day programs, recovering foul balls, retrieving bats and helmets, answering fans questions, assisting with game day promotions and giveaways and checking on umpires. They also assist the athletic department with many different aspects of the game such as attending coaches committee meetings.

Tailgating

Tailgating is found across campus with many fans tailgating in the same spot year after year. Some tailgaters form affiliations or organizations and name their "tailgating krewes".[26]

LSU has continually been ranked as the top tailgating location in the country. ESPN.com ranked LSU as the top tailgating destination in America. LSU's tailgating was named No. 1 in a Associated Press poll on top tailgating spots and by a CNN network survey on top tailgating locations.[27]

Visiting team supporters can be heckled and chants of "Tiger Bait! Tiger Bait!" are sometimes directed at opposing teams fans. The opposing fans who take the jeers and jaunts with a sporting disposition will be invited to join in on the party, the drink, the regional Cajun cuisine, the spirit of Baton Rouge, and the vibrant tradition of LSU sports.[26] During baseball season some fans will tailgate for the entire three days of a weekend series.

Gold Jerseys

LSU introduced gold jerseys for the 1996 post-season. The Tigers went on to win their 3rd National Championship that year while wearing the gold jerseys in the championship game. The jerseys became part of LSU Baseball lore when with 2 outs and a runner on third base with LSU losing 8–7 in the bottom of the 9th inning, LSU's Warren Morris swung at the first pitch and lined the ball just inches over the right field fence for a game winning walk-off home run. This was his first home run of the season as he had missed 39 games with a broken bone in his hand. The jerseys became more ingrained in LSU lore when the Tigers also wore them during the 1997 post-season which resulted in another national championship, the program's 4th. After the 1996 and 1997 National Championships, the baseball program reserved the gold jerseys for select games.

Under head coach Paul Mainieri, the team wears the gold jerseys regularly on the third game of a three-game series, as well as during important tournament games. One such game was game 3 of the 2009 College World Series Finals versus the Texas Longhorns. The Tigers defeated the Longhorns 11–4 to win the programs 6th National Championship wearing the gold jerseys.

Stadiums

Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field
The Intimidator behind the right field fence in Alex Box Stadium

Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field

Main article: Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field

Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field is a baseball stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[28] It is the home stadium of the Louisiana State University Tigers college baseball team. The stadium section (and LSU's previous baseball stadium 200 yards (180 m) to the north) were named for Simeon Alex Box, an LSU letterman (1942), purple heart and distinguished service cross recipient, who was killed in North Africa during World War II. In 2013, the field was named in honor of former LSU head baseball coach and athletic director, Skip Bertman.

Alex Box Stadium

Main article: Alex Box Stadium

Alex Box Stadium was a baseball stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was the home field of the Louisiana State University Tigers college baseball team. It was most notable for The Intimidator, a large billboard behind the right-field fence featuring the six years in which LSU had won the College World Series while playing in the stadium. The field was also notable for giving up many home runs due to the high humidity of Louisiana, the prevailing winds out of the south which push balls hit to left field out of the park, and the short fences (the dimensions are believed to be anywhere from 7–10 feet shorter than what was posted on the fences).[29]

State Field

Main article: State Field

State Field was the home field for the LSU baseball team from 1893 to 1924. The field was located on the old downtown campus of LSU. It was located south of the Pentagon Barracks and slightly southwest of the site of the current Louisiana State Capitol Building adjacent to the Hill Memorial Library and George Peabody Hall.[30] The field was later moved to a site with bleachers that was north of the campuses experimental garden, and next to the old armory building.[31] The field was known on the campus simply as the "athletic field" and was also used for LSU's basketball and football teams.

Practice and training facilities

Worley Family Batting Cage Pavilion

Worley Family Batting Cage Pavilion

The Worley Family Batting Cage Pavilion holds the LSU indoor batting cages behind the right field wall at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field. The facility allows the Tigers baseball team to practice year-round without interference from inclement weather.

LSU Baseball Strength and Conditioning facility

The LSU Tigers baseball team weight room is over 10,000 square feet[32] and includes multi-purpose flat surface platform, bench, incline, squat and Olympic lifting stations along with dumbbell bench stations.[33] It is also equipped with medicine balls, hurdles, plyometric boxes, assorted speed and agility equipment, treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical cross trainers. The weight room features multiple high-definition TV's for multimedia presentations. It is located in the LSU Football Operations Center.

Head coaches

  • Records are through the end of the 2015 Season
Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1893 E.B. Young 1 1–0 (1.000)
1894 No games in 1894
1895 No coach in 1895 1 0–3–1 (.000)
1896 No games in 1896
1897 E.A. Scott 1 3–3 (.500)
1898 Allen Jeardeau 1 2–3 (.400)
1899 C.V. Cusachs 1 5–5–1 (.500)
1900–1901 L.P. Piper 2 8–6–1 (.567)
1902–1903 W.S. Borland 2 10–11–1 (.477)
1905–1906 Dan A. Killian 2 14–9 (.609)
1907 J. Phillips 1 11–7 (.611)
1908–1909 Edgar Wingard 2 16–22–1 (.068)
1910–1911 John W. Mayhew 2 15–16 (.484)
1912–1913 Bob Pender 2 15–17 (.469)
1914–1921 C. C. Stroud 8 73–58–5 (.555)
1922–1923 Branch Bocock 2 15–15–2 (.500)
1924 "Moon" Ducote 1 4–9 (.308)
1925–1926 Mike Donahue 2 15–15–3 (.500)
1927–1942 Harry Rabenhorst See Below
1943–1945 A.L. Swanson 3 27–21 (.563)
1946–1956 Harry Rabenhorst 27 220–226–3 (.493)
1957–1963 Ray Didier 7 104–79 (.568)
1964–1965 Jim Waldrop 2 17–24 (.415)
1966–1978 Jim Smith 13 238–251 (.487)
1979–1983 Jack Lamabe 5 134–115 (.538)
1984–2001 Skip Bertman 18 870–330–3 (.724)
2002–2006 Smoke Laval 5 210–109–1 (.658)
2007–Present Paul Mainieri 9 414–161–3 (.719)
Total 25 coaches 120 seasons 2441-1514-24 (.616)

Year-by-year results

*Through the end of the 2015 season.
*Final Rankings are from Collegiate Baseball Division I Final Polls (1959–2015)[34]

LSU in the NCAA tournament

Year Record Pct Notes
LSU did not make the tournament from 1947 to 1974.
NOTE: LSU was invited to play in the 1961 NCAA tournament as SEC champion, but declined.
1975 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Miami in the South Regional Semifinals
LSU did not make the tournament from 1976 to 1984.
1985 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Lamar in NCAA Central Regional
1986 5–2 .714 Won NCAA South I Regional
College World Series (5th place)
1987 6–2 .750 Won NCAA South II Regional
College World Series (4th place)
LSU did not make the tournament in 1988.
1989 7–3 .700 Won the NCAA Central Regional
College World Series (3rd place)
1990 7–3 .700 Won the NCAA South I Regional
College World Series (3rd place)
1991 8–0 1.000 Won the NCAA South Regional
College World Series Champions
1992 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Cal St. Fullerton in the NCAA South II Regional Semifinals
1993 8–2 .800 Won the NCAA South Regional
College World Series Champions
1994 4–2 .667 Won the NCAA South Regional
College World Series (7th place)
1995 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Rice in NCAA South Regional Semifinals
1996 8–0 1.000 Won the NCAA South II Regional
College World Series Champions
1997 9–1 .900 Won the NCAA South I Regional
College World Series Champions
1998 6–2 .750 Won the NCAA South II Regional
College World Series (3rd place)
1999 4–3 .571 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Eliminated by Alabama in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional
2000 9–0 1.000 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. UCLA
College World Series Champions
2001 4–3 .571 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Eliminated by Tulane in the Metairie Super Regional
2002 4–3 .571 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Eliminated by Rice in the Houston Super Regional
2003 5–3 .625 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Baylor
College World Series (7th place)
2004 5–2 .714 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Texas A&M
College World Series (7th place)
2005 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Rice in Baton Rouge Regional Finals
LSU did not make the tournament in 2006 or 2007.
2008 6–3 .667 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. UC Irvine
College World Series (5th place)
2009 10–1 .909 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Rice
College World Series Champions
2010 1–2 .333 Eliminated by UCI in the Los Angeles Regional
LSU did not make the tournament in 2011.
2012 4–2 .667 Won the Baton Rouge regional
Eliminated by Stony Brook University in the Baton Rouge Super Regional
2013 5–2 .714 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Oklahoma
College World Series (7th place)
2014 2–2 .500 Lost to Houston in the Baton Rouge Regional Final
2015 6–2 .750 Won the Baton Rouge Regional
Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
College World Series (5th place)
Total
140–55
.718

NCAA records

Individual records

Year Player Record Notes
1959 Butch Mixon Strikeouts in a game (24) April 28, 1959 against ULL; No. 2 all-time
1962 Fred Southerland Fewest hits allowed per 9 innings (4.07) Minimum of 50 innings pitched; No. 5 for 1962 season
1967 Bruce Bauder Perfect Game (7 Innings) May 5, 1967 against Alabama
2009 Matty Ott Saves (16) 2009 Season.
1993 Todd Walker Runs Batted In (102) Led the nation in 1993
1993 Todd Walker Total Bases (214) Led the nation in 1993
1995–1998 Eddy Furniss Home runs in a career (80) No. 4 All-Time
1995–1998 Eddy Furniss Total bases in a career (689) No. 3 All-Time
1996 Eddy Furniss Runs Batted In (103) Led the nation in 1996
1996 Eddy Furniss Home runs (26) (t)1st in 1996
1997 Brandon Larson Home runs in a season (40) No. 4 All-Time; No. 2 in 1997
2000 Brad Cresse Runs Batted In (106) Led the nation in 2000
2000 Brad Cresse Total Bases (217) Led the nation in 2000
2000 Brad Cresse Home runs (30) Led the nation in 2000
2000 Brad Hawpe Doubles in a season (36) No. 1 All-Time; Led the nation in 2000
2008 Matt Clark Home runs (28) (t)1st in 2008 with Gordon Beckham
Source:"Official 2007 NCAA Baseball Records Book" (PDF). ncaa.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2008.

Team records

Year Record Notes
1996 Hits in the 7th Inning (13) May 26, 1996 against Georgia Tech
1996 Doubles in an Inning (8) May 26, 1996 against Georgia Tech
1996–1998 Consecutive Games with a Home run (77) From June 8, 1996 to February 21, 1998
1997 Home runs in a Season (188) LSU played 70 games that season
1997 Home runs per game (2.69) LSU played 70 games that season
Source:"Official 2007 NCAA Baseball Records Book" (PDF). ncaa.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2008.

National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees

Players

Player Position Career Induction
Ben McDonald P 1987–89 2008
Todd Walker 2B 1992–94 2009
Eddy Furniss 1B 1996–98 2010

Coaches

Player Position Career Induction
Skip Bertman Head Coach 1984–2001 2006

Retired numbers

No. Member Position Career Year No. Retired
15 Skip Bertman Head coach 1984–2001 2010
19 Ben McDonald P 1987–89 2010

Player awards

National award winners

1st Team All-Americans

The following is a listing of the selections listed in the 2015 LSU Baseball Media Guide on LSUsports.net.[35]

National Freshmen of the year

The following is a listing of LSU players selected as national freshmen of the year.[36][37][38]

SEC award winners

All-College World Series

The following is a listing of LSU players that were selected to the all-tournament teams during the College World Series.[39]

Legend

  • ^ denotes player was named MOP of the College World Series[40]
  • * denotes selection to College World Series All-Decade team[41]

National team members

Player Position Years at LSU Country Olympic year
Ben McDonald P 1987–1989 USA 1988
Rick Greene P 1990–1992 USA 1992
Warren Morris 2B 1993–1996 USA 1996
Jason Williams SS 1993–1996 USA 1996
Kurt Ainsworth P 1997–1999 USA 2000

Coaches awards

National Coach of the Year

Coach Years
Skip Bertman 1986, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000
Paul Mainieri 2008, 2009, 2015

National team coaches

Coach Position Years at LSU Country Olympic year
Skip Bertman Head coach 1984–2001 USA 1988 (Asst. coach), 1996 (Head coach)

LSU and MLB

The LSU Tigers baseball team has had 65 players reach Major League Baseball (MLB).[42]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Southeastern Conference". secsports.com.
  2. ^ "Southeastern Conference". secsports.com.
  3. ^ "The 2005 ESPY Awards – ESPY Awards past winners". go.com.
  4. ^ Roaring Back
  5. ^ Dubois, Carl (May 23, 2007). "Cuts Surprise Some". Advocate.
  6. ^ "Baseball Staff Changes".
  7. ^ "2007 Recruiting Class".
  8. ^ "Coaches Pick Vandy to Win Baseball Championship".
  9. ^ "The West is Won!".
  10. ^ "2008 SEC Baseball Tournament Bracket Announced".
  11. ^ "2008 Schedule/Results".
  12. ^ "LSU roars to school record, SEC title". May 26, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008. [dead link]
  13. ^ "Baseball: LSU's confidence grows with win streak". June 3, 2008. Archived from the original on June 12, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Hidden-ball controversy ends Tiger rally". June 8, 2008.
  15. ^ "UC Irvine Takes Game 1 of NCAA Super Regional, 11–5". June 7, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
  16. ^ "LSU unwraps win in Box". June 9, 2008.
  17. ^ "Emotions run high in victory". June 10, 2008.
  18. ^ "Dubois: Box's finish a true blast". June 10, 2008.
  19. ^ "Veteran ump Cox makes controversial call". June 16, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
  20. ^ a b "Another LSU thriller". June 18, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
  21. ^ "Veteran ump Cox makes controversial call". June 16, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
  22. ^ Randy Rosetta (June 8, 2015). "LSU star Alex Bregman goes to the Astros with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 MLB Draft". The Times-Picayune.
  23. ^ Ron Kaplan (June 9, 2015). "The next big JML thing?". New Jersey Jewish News.
  24. ^ a b "2015 Division I Baseball Attendance" (PDF). sportswriters.net. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  25. ^ "Baseball Attendance No. 1". lsusports.net. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  26. ^ a b "ESPN.com – Page2 – Welcome to Death Valley". Espn.go.com. September 18, 2003. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  27. ^ (2013), LSU Tigers Football media guide
  28. ^ "Bertman has impacted all of college baseball". rivals.com.
  29. ^ [1] LSU Baseball Facilities
  30. ^ Ruffin, Thomas F. Jackson, Jo; Hebert, Mary J. (eds.). Under Stately Oaks: A Pictorial History of LSU. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press. p. 49. ISBN 0-8071-2682-9. Retrieved September 26, 2011. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ Cowan, Barry. Louisiana State University. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 1467110981. Retrieved January 2, 2015. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "LSU Tigers' Weight Room". ESPN The Magazine. November 14, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  33. ^ "College Strength Profile: Louisiana State University". http://strengthperformance.com/. June 20, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ [2] Official 2007 NCAA Baseball Records Book
  35. ^ "LSUsports.net – The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics". lsusports.net.
  36. ^ "Holt Named Second-Team Freshman All-America". LSUsports.net.
  37. ^ "Mestepey Named Co-Freshman of the Year". LSUsports.net.
  38. ^ "Bertman, Fontenot Honored by Collegiate Baseball". LSUsports.net.
  39. ^ "College World Series of Omaha, Inc". cwsomaha.com.
  40. ^ "College World Series of Omaha, Inc". cwsomaha.com.
  41. ^ "College World Series All-Decade Teams". usatoday.com.
  42. ^ "Major League Tigers". lsusports.net. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
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