Santa Clara Broncos baseball

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Santa Clara Broncos baseball
2023 Santa Clara Broncos baseball team
Founded1883
UniversitySanta Clara University
Head coachRusty Filter (6th season)
ConferenceWest Coast Conference
LocationSanta Clara, California
Home stadiumStephen Schott Stadium
(Capacity: 1,500)
NicknameBroncos
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
College World Series runner-up
1962
College World Series appearances
1962
NCAA Tournament appearances
1959, 1962, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2023
Conference tournament champions
2023
Regular season conference champions
1962, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1997

The Santa Clara Broncos baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team that represents Santa Clara University in NCAA Division I college baseball. Santa Clara Baseball competes in the West Coast Conference, of which the Santa Clara Broncos were a charter member. The Broncos play their home games on campus at Stephen Schott Stadium, which opened in 2005. The Broncos and are led by head coach Rusty Filter, currently in his fifth season.

Having begun play in 1883, Santa Clara is currently in its 129th season of varsity baseball, and has enjoyed a long history of baseball excellence. Santa Clara has won 11 Conference Pennants, and appeared in 12 NCAA Tournaments, including a runner-up finish in the 1962 College World Series. Individually, 34 Broncos have been named All-Americans, and 158 players have been drafted in the MLB Draft, with 48 players making it to the Major Leagues.

History[edit]

The early years[edit]

Baseball is the oldest sport at Santa Clara, with the first recorded season coming in 1883. Prior to that, Santa Clara students had long engaged in baseball games against one another. Santa Clara's first intercollegiate baseball game came in 1883, when the Jesuit fathers finally allowed Santa Clara students to take an overnight trip to play fledgling Saint Mary's College, then located in San Francisco. Santa Clara lost the game, but began an athletic relationship with Saint Mary's that has blossomed into one of the oldest and most heated athletic rivalries in the west. For years, it was a long-standing tradition for Santa Clara and Saint Mary's to play on St. Patricks day. Early opponents like Pacific (1895), and Stanford (1892) remain fixtures on Santa Clara's baseball schedules 140 years later.

The seriousness that the students and administration gave to baseball is reflected in the caliber of coaches that were hired by the school. Early managers like Billy Hulen, Joe Corbett, Jay Hughes, Jimmy Byrnes, and Patsy O'Rourke were all former major league players who had made the trek west to coach baseball at what was the known as Santa Clara College.

Charlie Graham was a Santa Clara Player, Coach and Professor prior to a Major League Career.

Santa Clara's Frank Arellanes was the first Hispanic professional baseball player, who played for the Boston Red Sox in 1908. Another Bronco baseball player from the early period was Harry Wolter, who recorded the first hit in then-new Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox. Elmer Stricklett, who played at Santa Clara and made his way to the Major Leagues, is considered the inventor of the spitball.

The most notable contributor to Santa Clara Baseball was 1898 graduate Charlie Graham. A Santa Clara native, Graham played two years of baseball at Santa Clara, returned to teach Latin and Greek, as well as coach from 1901 to 1903. Graham then embarked on a baseball career which saw him rise from obscurity in the western minor leagues to becoming the starting catcher for the Boston Americans, and star pitcher Cy Young. Unfortunately, Graham was heartbroken by the news of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, ending his career only a few months into the season. He returned home, and ultimately became the owner of the San Francisco Seals, and donated generously to Santa Clara and the baseball program. The university's largest dormitory, Graham Hall, is named in his honor.

Due to the nature of College Baseball in the Pre-War years, Santa Clara had no conference affiliation and made no post-season appearances in the early years, as those things had yet to come into existence. However, the competitiveness of the Santa Clara teams from prior to 1946 is exhibited in the number of Major League players produced in this period, notably Harry Wolter (Major League debut in 1907), Elmer Stricklett (1904), Hardin Barry (1912), Justin Fitzgerald (1911), Hal Chase (1905), Charlie Graham (1906), Tillie Shafer (1908), Frank Arellanes (1908), William Hogan (1911), Erv Kantlehner (1914), Frank Shellenback (1918), Bevo LeBourveau (1919), Bill Lawrence (1932), Jim O'Connell (1923), Marv Owen (1931), and Les Powers (1938).

Wartime cancellation, post-war success[edit]

Santa Clara was forced to cancel the baseball program for two seasons, 1943 and 1944, due to wartime restrictions and a devotion of resources and manpower to the war effort, though baseball remained a popular form of recreation on campus.

Following the end of the war, Santa Clara returned to the diamond and found immediate success under John "Paddy" Cottrell, who coached the team from 1946 to 1951. Cottrell retired in 1951, but after watching Santa Clara languish under subsequent coaches, the university and Alumni asked him to come out of retirement in 1961. With Cottrell at the helm things began to fall into place for Santa Clara.

Santa Clara, along with Stanford, California, USC, and Others, formed the California Intercollegiate Baseball Association in 1960. For the first time in their already 80-year-long history, Santa Clara baseball had a conference home. The CIBA stood as one of the preeminent baseball conferences, and allowed Santa Clara to recruit the highest possible caliber of player. Though Santa Clara stumbled in Cottrell's first year at the helm, in 1962 the Broncos jumped out to an impressive start, and held the #1 spot in the polls for almost the entirety of the 1962 season. The baseball crazed Bay Area, who had just received their first major league franchises a few years earlier, lent their full support to the Broncos. During this season, Santa Clara games were first made available by radio broadcast. Led by five future major leaguers – Bob Garibaldi, Ernie Fazio, John Boccabella, Pete Magrini, and Tim Cullen, the Broncos found their way to the College World Series finals. In heartbreaking fashion, Santa Clara fell to Michigan on a 15th inning passed ball. Bob Garibaldi was the College World Series MVP, and became the first player to have a million dollar signing bonus.

The success of the 1962 Broncos helped spur the fundraising efforts that lead to the building of Buck Shaw Stadium, home to Bronco baseball from 1963 until they moved to a baseball specific venue in 2005, Stephen Schott Stadium. John Cottrell, in his second stint as the Bronco manager from 1961 to 1964, amassed a 102–44 record, good for a .699 winning percentage. Collectively, the Broncos won nearly 70% of their games from 1961 to 1979.

Taormina takes over[edit]

He was followed as manager by Sal Taormina, who went 511–249 from 1965 to 1979, a .672 winning percentage. "Dirty" Al Gallagher, a future major leaguer, helped ease the transition from Cottrell to Taormina.

The CIBA Era ended when the WCAC, the former name of the modern WCC, began sponsoring baseball in 1968. The Broncos reeled off Conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances for four consecutive years, followed by three straight second-place finishes, setting the early tone that Santa Clara would be a name to respect in WCC baseball. To date, only Pepperdine holds more League Titles, NCAA Tournament Appearances, and College World Series appearances than the Broncos.

In his final year as Head Coach at SCU, Taormina took the Broncos back to the NCAA tournament in 1978.

Hot and cold[edit]

After the retirement of Coach Taormina, the Broncos were led by Al Endriss and Jerry McClain, neither of whom could replicate the success that Coach Taormina had sustained over his tenure. Santa Clara, however, found a dependable manager once again when alumnus John Oldham took the reins in 1985. Oldham would coach the Broncos for 12 seasons, leading SCU to 4 NCAA tournaments appearances, first in 1988, and then in 1994, 1996, and 1997. Notable players to play for Oldham include John Savage, Randy Winn, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Santa Clara's Randy Winn, who also played basketball for the Broncos, enjoyed a decade long Major League career, and helped lead the Broncos to the NCAA tournament in basketball in 1994.

For 8 seasons, from 1977 to 1984, the WCAC ceased to sponsor baseball, and the Broncos found a home in the NCBA, the Northern California Baseball Association. Santa Clara and rival Fresno State dominated NCBA competition, as the Broncos and Bulldogs were the only teams to win the NCBA championship while the league existed. Santa Clara won the league twice in their stay, and appeared in the NCAA tournament in 1978. In 1985, the Broncos returned to the WCAC, which shortened its name to the WCC in 1988.

Santa Clara's success has been peculiar, as in the NCAA tournament era, the Broncos have been coached by 11 men, but only 4 have taken the Broncos to the Tournament- Bill Leonard, Paddy Cottrell, Sal Taormina, and John Oldham. Still the Broncos 12 NCAA tournament trips ranks good enough for second all-time in the WCC. Santa Clara's baseball team has enjoyed periods of being both hot and cold, the history of Santa Clara baseball can be summed as having sustained success and NCAA tournament appearances under those four long tenured coaches, but sitting on sitting on the outside looking in while coached by anyone else.

In 1998, Santa Clara introduced Mark O'Brien as head coach. O'Brien would stay until 2011, in a tenure characterized by tantalizingly close results, with many years finishing in the top third of the conference, but never winning a conference title or making an NCAA tournament trip.

Despite a string of 4 consecutive 1st and 2nd-place finished from 2001 to 2004 under Mark O'Brien, Santa Clara has not returned to the NCAA tournament since 1997. While at the helm of the Broncos, Mark O'Brien and his staff were said to have struggled to compete in recruiting while playing at the outdated multi-purpose Buck Shaw Stadium. Santa Clara responded by building the $8.6 million Stephen Schott Stadium, a 1,500 seat state-of-the-art baseball specific venue that is one of the finest facilities of its size on the West Coast. The stadium was financed in large part by Santa Clara Alumnus Stephen Schott, a varsity baseball player in 1960, and at that time, owner of the Oakland Athletics.

However, the push to the top that the university and boosters expected from the new facility didn't materialize. From 2000 to 2004, the last seasons at Buck Shaw, the Broncos never finished lower than third place. However, when the Broncos moved to the new Stephen Schott Stadium, Mark O'Brien never lead the Broncos to anything higher than third, and twice finished as low as eighth. Since playing in a conference for the first time in 1960, the Broncos had never finished lower than fifth, and that had only happened three times in the 45-year span of conference play prior to moving to Schott.

Because of these disappointing results for the historic program in a brand new facility, Mark O'Brien was fired in 2011 and replaced with longtime UCSD manager, Dan O'Brien, no relation.

Mark O'Brien's tenure was not without notable products—Santa Clara's Daniel Nava made an improbable run from SCU baseball manager to a contributing player on the 2013 Red Sox, who won the world series, and Santa Clara's Tommy Medica made his MLB debut in 2013 for the San Diego Padres.

Dan O'Brien and the "relentless development" era[edit]

Dan O'Brien, the 43rd manager of the Santa Clara Baseball program, came to Santa Clara from University of California, San Diego, where he was a player, assistant coach, and then head coach for a total of 16 seasons. O'Brien had led the Tritons from Division III to Division II, building the program into a national championship contender. He had led the Tritons to the NCAA Division II baseball tournament six times, and twice to the Division II College World Series, finishing as runner-up in 2010.

O'Brien began the task of rebuilding the Bronco baseball program, leading the Broncos to a 26–28 record and a 9th-place finish in the WCC. Following the loss of the top five pitchers from 2012, Santa Clara sank to its lowest baseball nadir, finishing in last for the second year in a row with a 1–23 mark in the WCC. Despite the early rebuilding struggles, in 2014 O'Brien guided the Broncos to a 16–11 record in league play, their best record in the WCC since 2003, which earned them their first ever berth in the WCC Baseball Tournament. The four-team tournament was introduced in 2013, replacing the two-team championship that the conference had used since 1998. The appearance in the WCC Tournament marked the first time that Santa Clara had appeared in the post-season in 16 years.

O'Brien vowed to return to Santa Clara to the baseball prominence it had enjoyed for nearly 110 years prior to the struggles of the Broncos since the retirement of John Oldham. O'Brien placed an emphasis on constant player development, with a system he called "relentless development". In addition, O'Brien felt that Santa Clara had shifted away from the old-school baseball mentality that once had characterized the program. As a result, Santa Clara introduced throwback uniforms in the 2013 season which were based on the uniforms worn by the Broncos in the late 1930s.

Rusty Filter Era[edit]

Rusty Filter was brought in as the 44th manager of the Santa Clara Baseball program in June 2017; after spending the previous eight years at Stanford where he was among the top pitching coaches in the nation. In his first season at the helm, Filter led the Broncos to a 26–26 record and a 6th-place finish in the WCC, doubling the Broncos win total from the 2017 season. The Broncos could not build on the season in 2019, finishing the season with a 12–40 record overall, including 5–22 in WCC play, leading to finishing 10th in the conference. With two years two learn Filter's style of play, and 18 seniors on the roster, the Broncos got off to a hot start to the 2020 season with a 12–5 record. Two of the 12 wins were against top 25 teams in #25 Stanford at home and #3 Georgia on the road. Just before conference play started, the NCAA canceled all spring sports for the remainder of their respective seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced in May that 15 of the 18 seniors would be returning for their extra year of eligibility in 2021, granted by the NCAA to all spring athletes.

Santa Clara University conference history[edit]

  • 1960–1967: CIBA
  • 1968–1976: West Coast (Athletic) Conference
  • 1977–1984: NCBA
  • 1985–present: West Coast Conference

Santa Clara Baseball Stadium History[edit]

The Santa Clara Baseball team played their home games on campus at Buck Shaw Stadium from 1963 to 2004. Prior to 1963, Santa Clara played their games at the extant Washington Field, a large diamond located on the campus of Santa Clara High School, now Buchsher Middle School. A new era for Santa Clara University baseball began on April 30, 2005, with the sold-out opening of Stephen Schott Stadium. The $8.6 million project was kicked off in January, 2004 with a $4 million pledge from former SCU baseball player and former owner of the Oakland Athletics, Stephen Schott. The 1,500-seat stadium houses the entire Santa Clara baseball program, including its training, practice and equipment facilities. Also equipped with a 600 square-foot press box and VIP suite, Schott Stadium is one of the premier college baseball stadiums on the West Coast. Designed with player development in mind, Schott Stadium provides the Santa Clara baseball staff and players with every possible tool for success.

Coaching Records[edit]

Head Coach Years Wins Losses Ties Pct.
Rusty Filter 2018–Present 50 71 0 .413
Dan O'Brien 2012–2017 128 194 0 .398
Mark O'Brien 2002–2011 258 289 0 .472
Mike Cummins 1998–2001 92 132 0 .411
John Oldham 1985–1997 433 324 6 .571
Jerry McClain 1981–1984 125 115 1 .521
Al Endriss 1980 25 30 0 .455
Sal Taormina 1965–1979 511 249 0 .672
John Cottrell 1961–1964 102 44 0 .699
Bill Leonard 1958–1960 57 48 0 .543
Chuck Bedolla 1954–1957 36 77 0 .319
Bill Prentice 1952–1953 32 27 0 .542
John J. “Paddy” Cottrell 1946–1951 76 56 0 .576
Pee Wee Reese 1943 12 8 0 .600
Len Casanova 1940–1942 39 25 0 .609
Justin Fitzgerald 1935–1939 26 79 0 .248
Duster Mails 1931–1933 25 30 2 .455
Marv Owen 1930 6 10 1 .376
Justin Fitzgerald 1927–1929 31 19 1 .620
Sam Agnew 1926 8 12 0 .400
Sam Agnew; Charlie Scherf 1925 8 12 0 .400
Eddie Kienholz 1924 8 8 0 .500
Joe Aurreocoechea 1922–1923 8 15 2 .320
Robert E. Harmon 1920–1921 10 13 1 .417
Joe Aurreocoechea 1919 8 15 2 .320
Edward R. “Tub” Spencer 1917–1918 12 12 0 .500
Justin Fitzgerald 1916 6 10 0 .375
Harry Wolter 1914–1915 20 18 2 .500
Patsy O'Rourke 1912–1913 30 20 3 .567
Bobby McHale 1911 9 9 1 .474
Tom Kelly 1908–1910 41 18 0 .695
Jimmy Byrnes 1906–1907 19 7 2 .679
Wallace Bray 1905 11 8 0 .550
Nick Williams 1904 11 6 1 .611
Joe Corbett; Charlie Graham 1902–1903 20 12 2 .588
Charlie Graham 1901 6 4 1 .545
Billy Hulen 1900 9 5 0 .643
Jay Hughes; Joe Corbett 1899 10 4 0 .714
Joe Corbett 1898 9 0 0 1.000
Billy Hulen 1897 6 5 0 .545
Unknown 1883–1896

Year By Year results[edit]

YEAR OVERALL CONFERENCE CONFERENCE POST-SEASON
2020 12-5* WCC N/A Season ended by COVID-19
2019 12–40 WCC 5–22 (10th)
2018 26–26 WCC 12–15 (t-6th)
2017 13–40 WCC 9–18 (7th)
2016 23–29 WCC 10–17 (9th)
2015 26–28 WCC 12–15 (7th)
2014 26–30 WCC 16–11 (t-4th) WCC baseball tournament
2013 14–39 WCC 1–23 (10th)
2012 26–28 WCC 5–19 (9th)
2011 17–34 WCC 4–17 (8th Place)
2010 23–31 WCC 8–13 (t5th)
2009 19–34 WCC 6–15 (8th)
2008 33–22 WCC 13–8 (3rd)
2007 27–29 WCC 9–12 (8th)
2006 28–26 WCC 9–12 (t5th)
2005 28–28 WCC West 11–19 (3rd)
2004 27–29 WCC West 16–14 (2nd)
2003 31–26 WCC Coast 21–9 (2nd)
2002 25–30 WCC Coast 15–14 (2nd)
2001 23–33 WCC Coast 17–13 (t1st)
2000 22–37 WCC Coast 12–18 (3rd)
1999 20–36 WCC West 11–19 (4th)
1998 27–26 WCC 16–14 (5th)
1997 41–20 WCC 23–5 (1st) NCAA Regional
1996 40–22 WCC 22–6 (1st) NCAA Play-In
1995 35–20–1 WCC 22–7–1 (2nd)
1994 40–20 WCC 21–9 (1st) NCAA Regional
1993 27–29–1 WCC 16–14 (3rd)
1992 23–32 WCC 14–16 (3rd)
1991 34–25 WCC 20–18 (4th)
1990 26–30–1 WCC 17–19 (4th)
1989 40–22 WCC 14–10 (3rd)
1988 43–18–1 WCC 18–5–1 (2nd) NCAA Regional
1987 25–30–2 WCAC 11–12–1 (3rd)
1986 26–31 WCAC 10–12 (4th)
1985 33–25 WCAC 13–11 (3rd)
1984 29–31 NCBA 15–15 (3rd)
1983 32–25 NCBA 15–15 (4th)
1982 36–26–1 NCBA 26–10 (1st)
1981 28–33 NCBA 15–21 (5th)
1980 25–30 NCBA 12–21 (5th)
1979 27–22 NCBA 18–17 (4th)
1978 40–23 NCBA 24–12 (1st) NCAA District 8
1977 26–26 NCBA 18–16 (4th)
1976 27–23 WCAC 6–11 (4th)
1975 39–16 WCAC 13–5 (2nd)
1974 38–17 WCAC 12–6 (2nd)
1973 35–16 WCAC 13–5 (2nd)
1972 42–13 WCAC 18–2 (1st) NCAA District 8
1971 43–13 WCAC 18–2 (1st) NCAA District 8
1970 42–16 WCAC 18–2 (1st) NCAA District 8
1969 40–10 WCAC 16–4 (1st) NCAA District 8
1968 31–12 WCAC 15–5 (1st) NCAA District 8
1967 24–14
1966 27–17 CIBA 7–13 (5th)
1965 29–11 CIBA 11–9 (3rd)
1964 28–8 CIBA 16–4 (2nd)
1963 20–16 CIBA 9–7 (2nd)
1962 39–8 CIBA 12–4 (1st) College World Series Final
1961 15–12 CIBA 5–11 (4th)
1960 16–19 CIBA 6–10 (3rd)
1959 23–13
1958 18–16
1957 5–23
1956 6–22
1955 11–19
1954 14–13
1953 14–15
1952 18–12
1951 12–4
1950 18–8
1949 17–10
1948 15–11
1947 10–15
1946 4–8
1945 WWII
1944 WWII
1943 12–8
1942 18–7
1941 7–11
1940 14–7
1939 5–18
1938 5–14
1937 3–17
1936 5–16
1935 8–14
1934 NA
1933 5–11
1932 12–6–1
1931 8–13–1
1930 6–10–1
1929 19–3–1
1928 7–3
1927 5–13
1926 8–12
1925 8–12
1924 8–8
1923 1–13–1
1922 7–2–1
1921 5–9–1
1920 1–13–1
1919 7–2–1
1918 3–4
1917 9–8
1916 6–10
1915 10–9
1914 10–9–2
1913 12–11–2
1912 18–9–1
1911 9–9–1
1910 21–5
1909 10–6
1908 10–7
1907 10–3–2
1906 9–4
1905 11–8
1904 11–6–1
1903 10–9–1
1902 10–3–1
1901 6–4–1
1900 9–5
1899 10–4
1898 9–0
1897 6–5
1896 Unknown
1895 Unknown
1894 Unknown
1893 Unknown
1892 Unknown
1891 Unknown
1890 Unknown
1889 Unknown
1888 Unknown
1887 Unknown
1886 Unknown
1885 Unknown
1884 Unknown
1883 Unknown

Program Records[edit]

Awards[edit]

All-Americans[edit]

YEAR STUDENT-ATHLETE TEAM
2008 Dane Smith Freshman
2007 Tommy Medica Freshman
2006 Matt Long Freshman
2006 Matt Wickswat Freshman
2004 Anthony Rea Second
2003 Patrick Overholt Freshman
2003 Joe Diefenderfer Honorable Mention
2003 Scott Dierks Honorable Mention
2002 Joey Gomes First
1998 Bill Mott Honorable Mention
1997 Mike Frank First
1997 Todd Hughes Freshman
1996 Brian Carmody First
1994 Karl Thompson Second
1994 Mike Frank Freshman
1993 Karl Thompson Freshman
1992 James Eidam Freshman
1989 Ed Giovanola First
1988 Troy Buckley Second
1988 Wes Bliven Academic
1987 Wes Bliven Academic
1986 Wes Bliven Academic
1974 Gene Deylon First
1972 Bruce Bochte Second
1971 Rich Troedson Second
1968 Vince Bigone First
1965 Ray Henningson Second
1964 Tim Cullen Second
1962 Ernie Fazio First
1962 Bob Garibaldi Second
1962 John Boccabella Second
1959 Jim O'Rourke First
1956 John Russo First
1949 Bill Renna First

Conference award winners[edit]

YEAR STUDENT-ATHLETE CONFERENCE CONFERENCE AWARD
2011 Cory Hall WCC All-WCC First Team
2011 Patrick Terry WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention
2011 Kyle DeMerritt WCC All-Freshman Team
2011 Patrick Terry WCC Rawlings WCC Player of the Week 5/23/11
2011 Curtis Wagner WCC All-Academic Team
2011 Brock Simon WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention
2011 Paul Twining WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention
2011 Joe Supple WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention
2010 Tommy Medica WCC All-WCC First Team; Preseason All-Conference Team; Rawlings WCC Player of the Week 5/4/10 and 6/1/10
2010 Geoff Klein WCC All-WCC First Team; Preseason All-Conference Team; Rawlings WCC Player of the Week 3/16/10
2010 Evan Peters WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention
2010 Matt Ozanne WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention; All-Freshman Team
2010 Ryan Rieger WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention; All-Freshman Team
2010 Alex Rivers WCC Rawlings WCC Pitcher of the Week 4/13/10
2009 Nate Garcia WCC All-WCC First Team; Rawlings WCC Pitcher of the Week 2/23/09 and 3/9/09
2009 Jon Karcich WCC All-WCC First Team
2009 Geoff Klein WCC All-WCC First Team
2009 Andrew Biancardi WCC All-Freshman Team
2009 Matt Long WCC All-Freshman Honorable Mention; Rawlings WCC Player of the Week 5/11/09
2009 Alex Rivers WCC Rawlings WCC Pitcher of the Week 3/23/09
2008 Brady Fuerst WCC All-WCC First Team
2008 Nate Garcia WCC All-WCC First Team
2008 Jon Karcich WCC All-WCC First Team
2008 Evan LeBlanc WCC All-WCC First Team
2008 Tommy Medica WCC All-WCC First Team
2008 Thain Simon WCC All-WCC First Team; WCC Freshman of the Year; All-Freshman Team
2007 Tommy Medica WCC All-WCC First Team; All-Freshman Team
2007 Nate Garcia WCC All-Freshman Team
2007 Steve Kalush WCC All-Freshman Team
2007 Alex Rivers WCC All-Freshman Team
2006 Kris Watts WCC All-WCC First Team
2006 Daniel Nava WCC All-WCC First Team
2006 Matt Wickswat WCC All-WCC Second Team; All-Freshman Team
2006 Matt Long WCC All-WCC Second Team; All-Freshman Team
2006 Brady Fuerst WCC All-Freshman Team
2005 Kevin Drever WCC All-WCC First Team
2005 Anthony Rea WCC All-WCC First Team
2005 Eric Newton WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention
2005 Kris Watts WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention
2004 Ryan Chiarelli WCC All-WCC First Team
2004 Anthony Rea WCC All-WCC First Team; All-Academic Team
2004 Michael Thompson WCC All-WCC First Team
2004 Nic Crosta WCC All-WCC First Team
2004 Kellan McConnell WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention
2004 Robert Perry WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention
2004 Will Thompson WCC All-WCC Honorable Mention
2004 Nic Crosta WCC Rawlings WCC Player of the Week 4/26/04
2004 Robert Perry WCC Rawlings WCC Player of the Week 5/17/04
2003 Joe Diefenderfer WCC All-WCC First Team
2003 Scott Dierks WCC All-WCC First Team; WCC Player of the Year
2003 A.J. LaBarbera WCC All-WCC Second Team
2003 Jack Headley WCC All-WCC Second Team
2002 Joey Gomes WCC All-WCC First Team
2001 Jack Headley WCC All-WCC First Team
2001 Matt Queen WCC All-WCC Second Team
2001 Joe Diefenderfer WCC All-WCC Second Team
2000 Jack Headley WCC All-WCC Second Team; WCC Freshman of the Year; All-Freshman Team
1998 Bill Mott WCC All-WCC First Team
1998 Ryan Bulich WCC All-WCC First Team
1997 Paul Chiaffredo WCC All-WCC First Team
1997 Bill Mott WCC All-WCC First Team
1997 Mike Frank WCC WCC Player of the Year; All-WCC First Team; Rawlings WCC 40th Anniversary Baseball Team
1997 Tobin Lanzetta WCC All-WCC First Team
1997 Jeff Perry WCC All-WCC First Team
1996 Ross Parmenter WCC WCC Player of the Year; All-WCC First Team
1996 Bill Mott WCC All-WCC First Team
1996 Brian Carmody WCC WCC Pitcher of the Year; All-WCC First Team
1996 Mike McDonald WCC All-WCC First Team
1996 Mike Frank WCC WCC Player of the Year; All-WCC First Team
1995 Karl Thompson WCC All-WCC First Team
1995 Ross Parmenter WCC All-WCC First Team
1995 Mike Frank WCC All-WCC First Team
1995 Randy Winn WCC All-WCC First Team
1995 Bob Pailthorpe WCC All-WCC First Team; WCC Pitcher of the Year; Rawlings WCC 40th Anniversary Baseball Team
1994 Lou Donati WCC All-WCC First Team
1994 Tommy Thompson WCC All-WCC First Team
1994 Jeff Frankel WCC All-WCC First Team
1994 Karl Thompson WCC WCC Player of the Year; All-WCC First Team
1994 Mike Frank WCC All-WCC First Team; WCC Freshman of the Year; All-Freshman Team
1994 Bob Pailthorpe WCC All-WCC First Team; WCC Pitcher of the Year
1994 Ken Lorge WCC All-WCC First Team
1993 Nick Mirizzi WCC All-WCC First Team
1992 Nick Mirizzi WCC All-WCC First Team
1991 David Tuttle WCC All-WCC First Team; WCC Pitcher of the Year
1991 Adam Melhuse WCC WCC Freshman of the Year
1989 Ed Giovanola WCC All-WCC First Team
1989 Matt Toole WCC All-WCC First Team
1989 Greg Gohr WCC All-WCC First Team
1988 Troy Buckley WCAC All-WCAC First Team; Rawlings WCC 40th Anniversary Baseball Team
1988 Matt Toole WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1988 Jeff Healy WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1988 Wes Bliven WCAC WCAC Player of the Year
1985 Sal Vaccaro WCAC All-WCC First Team
1984 Jeff Melrose NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1984 Rich Martig NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1983 Kent Cooper NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1983 Ron Hansen NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1982 Dave Oliva NCBA NCBA Player of the Year; All-NCBA First Team
1982 Kevin McKenna NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1981 Gary Davenport NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1978 Sean Everton NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1978 Frank Convertino NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1978 Skeeter Rivas NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1978 Rick Foley NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1977 George Hahn NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1977 Rick Foley NCBA All-NCBA First Team; NCBA Pitcher of the Year
1976 George Hahn NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1976 Gordon Hahn NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1975 Gordon Hahn NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1975 Steve Kelley NCBA All-NCBA First Team
1974 Gene Deylon WCAC WCAC Player of the Year; All-WCAC First Team
1974 Jim Wilhelm WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1974 Ron Mosely WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1974 Chris Kinsel WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1974 Dave Judnick WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1973 Mike Denevi WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1973 Gene Delyon WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1973 Walt Kaczmarek WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1972 Rich Troedson WCAC WCAC Player of the Year; All-WCAC First Team; Rawlings WCC 40th Anniversary Baseball Team
1972 Lou Caviglia WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1971 Duane Larson WCAC WCAC Player of the Year: All-WCAC First Team
1971 Lou Caviglia WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1971 Rusty Weeks WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1971 Rich Troedson WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1971 Joe Pupo WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1970 Duane Larson WCAC WCAC Player of the Year; All-WCAC First Team
1970 Mike McMonigle WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1970 Kurt Lohrke WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1970 Bruce Bochte WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1970 Don Paxton WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1970 Rich Troedson WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1969 Leo Rippo WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1969 Hank Mott WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1969 Bill McMonigle WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1969 Vince Bigone WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1969 Rich Troedson WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1968 Alvin Strange WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1968 Fred Ott WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1968 Albert Strane WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1968 Rod Pommes WCAC All-WCAC First Team
1968 Vince Bigone WCAC All-WCAC First Team

In the Pros[edit]

Former Major Leaguer Baseball Players[edit]

NOTE: Team listed in parentheses is the Major League Baseball team they played for during their professional debut.

Current Minor League Baseball players[edit]

  • Daniel Nava: Pawtucket Red Sox – Triple-A International League (Boston Red Sox)
  • Kris Watts: Altoona Curve – Double-A Eastern League (Pittsburgh Pirates)
  • Matt Long: Inland Empire 66ers – Class A Advanced California League (LA Angels)
  • Jon Karcich: Inland Empire 66ers – Class A Advanced California League (LA Angels)
  • Mark Willinsky: Brevard County Manatees – Class A Florida League (Milwaukee Brewers)
  • Matt Wickswat: Winston-Salem Dash – Class A Advanced Carolina League (Chi. White Sox)
  • Evan LeBlanc: Savannah Sand Gnats – Class A South Atlantic League (NY Mets)
  • Nate Garcia: Bowling Green Hot Rods – Class A Midwest League (Tampa Bay Rays)
  • Geoff Klein: Quad Cities River Bandits – Class A Midwest League (St. Louis Cardinals)
  • Tommy Medica: Fort Wayne TinCaps – Class A Midwest League (San Diego Padres)
  • Alex Rivers: Idaho Falls Chukars – Rookie Pioneer League (Kansas City Royals)
  • J.R. Graham: Danville Braves- Appalachian Rookie League (Atlanta Braves)
  • Patrick Terry: Chico Outlaws- North American Baseball American League (Independent)

Santa Clara's Major League Baseball Draft history[edit]

YEAR ROUND PICK # STUDENT-ATHLETE POSITION TEAM
2010 39 1169 Alex Rivers P Kansas City Royals
2010 16 491 Nate Garcia P Tampa Bay Rays
2010 15 469 Geoff Klein C St. Louis Cardinals
2010 14 424 Tommy Medica C / OF San Diego Padres
2008 30 921 Matt Long OF Los Angeles Angels
2008 23 704 Evan LeBlanc OF New York Mets
2008 19 570 Justin Kuehn P Chicago White Sox
2008 15 458 Mark Willinsky P Milwaukee Brewers
2006 33 992 Eric Newton 2B Milwaukee Brewers
2006 28 851 Dustin Realini 3B Cleveland Indians
2006 16 470 Kris Watts C Pittsburgh Pirates
2005 40 1208 Thomas Van Buskirk P Texas Rangers
2005 26 794 Michael Thompson 3B Houston Astros
2005 22 667 Patrick Overholt P Philadelphia Phillies
2004 47 1395 Kellan McConnell P Texas Rangers
2004 17 501 Nick Crosta OF Texas Rangers
2004 7 220 Will Thompson 1B San Francisco Giants
2003 36 1069 Jim Wallace C New York Mets
2003 32 938 Matt Travis P Tampa Bay Rays
2003 24 713 Scott Dierks OF Florida Marlins
2003 19 565 Joe Diefenderfer P Philadelphia Phillies
2002 33 1001 Pat Peavey 3B / SS Houston Astros
2002 8 224 Joey Gomes OF Tampa Bay Rays
2000 33 988 Tommy Callen 2B Toronto Blue Jays
1999 37 1132 Kevin Okimoto 1B San Diego Padres
1999 24 732 Mike Crudale P St. Louis Cardinals
1998 11 331 William Mott OF Los Angeles Angels
1997 24 736 Tobin Lazetta P Montreal Expos
1997 7 218 Mike Frank OF Cincinnati Reds
1997 6 179 Paul Chiaffredo C Toronto Blue Jays
1996 24 703 Ross Parmenter SS Milwaukee Brewers
1996 7 200 Brian Carmody P San Diego Padres
1995 10 261 Bob Palithrope P Florida Marlins
1995 6 164 Karl Thompson C Seattle Mariners
1995 3 65 Randy Winn OF Florida Marlins
1994 11 304 Bob Palithrope P Houston Astros
1994 4 99 Tom Mott P Minnesota Twins
1993 33 937 Randy Ortega C Oakland Athletics
1993 23 635 Brooks Drysdale P Los Angeles Angels
1992 40 1127 Mark Fabela P Pittsburgh Pirates
1991 6 172 Dave Tuttle P Cincinnati Reds
1990 27 719 Tom Hotchkiss P Toronto Blue Jays
1990 7 178 Ed Giovanola SS Atlanta Braves
1989 30 778 Matt Toole SS San Diego Padres
1989 29 764 Craig Middlekauff OF / 1B Detroit Tigers
1989 9 241 Troy Buckley C Minnesota Twins
1989 1 21 Greg Gohr P Detroit Tigers
1988 26 663 Wes Bliven P Los Angeles Angels
1988 14 361 Victor Cole P Kansas City Royals
1987 54 1197 Wes Bliven P Toronto Blue Jays
1987 15 391 Gary Maasberg 3B Philadelphia Phillies
1987 4 95 Scott Chiamparino P Oakland Athletics
1986 16 410 John Savage P Cincinnati Reds
1986 9 213 Ray Williamson OF Cleveland Indians
1985 2^ 38 Rich Martig 3B Oakland Athletics
1985 27 679 David Blakely P San Francisco Giants
1985 18 461 Sal Vaccaro P Kansas City Royals
1985 8 195 Ray Williamson OF Oakland Athletics
1985 4 97 Mike Macfarlane C Kansas City Royals
1984 34 766 Rich Martig INF Cleveland Indians
1984 24 612 Chuck Martin P Atlanta Braves
1984 24 607 Sal Vaccaro P Montreal Expos
1984 24 600 Ward Merdes P Cleveland Indians
1984 23 583 Jeff Melrose 1B / OF Texas Rangers
1984 23 581 Kent Cooper OF San Francisco Giants
1983 26 640 Ron Hansen C Texas Rangers
1983 10 244 Rogers Samuels C Texas Rangers
1982 17 430 Kevin Walters C Philadelphia Phillies
1982 10 254 Dave Oliva OF Boston Red Sox
1982 4 97 Lloyd Martin P Montreal Expos
1981 27 675 Gary Davenport 2B San Francisco Giants
1981 25 625 Joey Balderston P San Diego Padres
1981 16 392 Rick Sundberg C Los Angeles Angels
1981 7 177 Mike Beuder P Los Angeles Dodgers
1980 27 664 Jeff Walsh P San Diego Padres
1980 12 228 Sean Everton OF Toronto Blue Jays
1979 34 810 Jeff Walsh P Cleveland Indians
1979 22 551 Rickey Edwards P Cleveland Indians
1979 20 519 Sean Everton OF New York Yankees
1979 3 61 Fran Mullins SS Chicago White Sox
1978 27 638 Kevin Kirby P Chicago Cubs
1978 22 550 Ray Rivas INF St. Louis Cardinals
1978 5 118 Rick Foley P Los Angeles Angels
1978 3 64 Fran Mullins SS Detroit Tigers
1977 14 347 Glenn Hollands P Texas Rangers
1977 12 294 George Hahn C San Diego Padres
1977 10 253 Russ Brett 3B Baltimore Orioles
1977 3 60 Rick Foley P San Diego Padres
1976 9 208 Gordon Hahn 2B New York Yankees
1976 6 130 Bill Harris P Minnesota Twins
1975 2^ 34 Mike Denevi SS Milwaukee Brewers
1975 1* 18 Mike Denevi SS Kansas City Royals
1975 17 387 Mike Bartell SS Detroit Tigers
1975 6 121 Steve Kelley P Los Angeles Angels
1974 5^ 70 Walt Kaczmarek P Philadelphia Phillies
1974 1^ 5 Gene Delyon 3B New York Yankees
1974 1* 9 Gene Delyon 3B San Diego Padres
1974 10 218 Tim Ryan P Philadelphia Phillies
1974 7 145 Jim Wilhelm 1B / OF San Diego Padres
1974 6 126 Mike Denevi SS Milwaukee Brewers
1973 25 559 Gene Delyon 3B Texas Rangers
1973 18 409 Walt Kaczmarek P Texas Rangers
1973 5 119 Charles Staniland P Oakland Athletics
1972 1^ 6 Rich Troedson P San Diego Padres
1972 2 34 Bruce Bochte 1B / OF Los Angeles Angels
1971 3* 68 Paul Bagnasco 3B New York Mets
1971 3* 53 Joe Pupo P Baltimore Orioles
1971 3* 51 Kurt Lohrke SS Boston Red Sox
1971 1* 8 Rich Troedson P Houston Astros
1971 33 700 Charles Franklin 3B Philadelphia Phillies
1971 22 514 Stephen Chipp P Oakland Athletics
1971 17 384 Duane Larson 2B San Diego Padres
1970 7^ 138 Mel Bannon SS Minnesota Twins
1970 2^ 25 Bill Borelli 1B Washington Senators
1970 53 902 James Cavilglia C Pittsburgh Pirates
1970 21 482 Bill Borelli 1B Washington Senators
1969 6^ 124 Mike Sigman P New York Mets
1969 5^ 105 Vince Bigone OF / 3B New York Mets
1969 47 949 Albert Strane OF Seattle Pilots
1969 45 932 Bill Borelli OF / 1B Montreal Expos
1969 36 826 James McClain P Montreal Expos
1968 9* 136 Vince Bigone OF New York Mets
1968 7* 126 Mike Sigman P New York Mets
1968 28 618 Alvin Strane 2B Los Angeles Dodgers
1968 27 596 Albert Strane SS Los Angeles Dodgers
1968 21 473 Rod Pommes OF / 3B Chicago White Sox
1968 17 378 Richard Lang OF Philadelphia Phillies
1967 7 119 Frank Austin OF Los Angeles Angels
1967 4 79 John Mispagel C New York Mets
1967 3 48 Ray Henningsen 2B Washington Senators
1967 3 46 Seaton Daly C Los Angeles Angels
1967 1 8 Jan Dukes P Washington Senators
1967 1^ 4 Bob Spence 1B / OF San Francisco Giants
1967 11^ 177 Robert Walter P Baltimore Orioles
1967 8^ 140 James Townsend INF / OF Minnesota Twins
1967 5^ 91 Vince Bigone OF / 3B Chicago White Sox
1967 3^ 52 Doug Carson C Pittsburgh Pirates
1967 3^ 45 Rod Austin OF Boston Red Sox
1967 2 25 Ray Henningsen 2B Boston Red Sox
1966 6* 95 Rod Austin OF New York Mets
1966 4* 63 Ray Henningsen 2B Chicago Cubs
1966 45 760 John Mispagel C New York Mets
1966 35 658 Robert Walter P New York Mets
1966 27 523 Bruce Carmichael INF Chicago Cubs
1966 26 510 Seaton Daly C Cleveland Indians
1966 5 96 Jan Dukes P Baltimore Orioles
1966 4 67 Bob Spence 1B St. Louis Cardinals
1965 18 350 Rod Austin OF Los Angeles Dodgers
1965 14 273 Ray Henningsen 2B St. Louis Cardinals
1965 14 272 Howard Martin OF San Francisco Giants
1965 5 92 Rich Robertson P San Francisco Giants
1965 1 14 Alan Gallagher 3B San Francisco Giants
  • * indicates June Secondary Draft
  • ^ indicates January Secondary Draft

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "SCU Color Palette - University Marketing and Communications - Santa Clara University". Retrieved February 11, 2018.

External links[edit]