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Texas Tech Red Raiders
2024 Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team
Founded1926
UniversityTexas Tech University
Head coachTim Tadlock (12th season)
ConferenceBig 12
LocationLubbock, Texas
Home stadiumDan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park
(Capacity: 4,801)
NicknameRed Raiders
ColorsScarlet and black[1]
   
College World Series appearances
2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
NCAA regional champions
2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
NCAA Tournament appearances
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Conference tournament champions
1995, 1998
Regular season conference champions
1995, 1997, 2016, 2017, 2019

The Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team represents Texas Tech University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference and plays at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. Their head coach is Tim Tadlock and is entertaining his 9th season with the Red Raiders.

History

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Early years

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The inaugural 1926 Texas Tech baseball team.

Along with the football and men's basketball teams, the Texas Tech baseball team was founded during the university's initial academic year, in 1925–26. The team's first series was against the West Texas A&M Buffaloes in 1926, an 18–9 victory in the first game and 14–9 loss in the second.[2] The third game in the team's history—this one against Daniel Baker College—ended in a 3–3 tie after 11 innings.[3]

E. Y. Freeland was the first coach of the Red Raiders, though the team was known as the Matadors at the time. He remained in the position for three years before R. Grady Higginbotham took the role. Higginbotham coached for only two years.[2] From 1930 to 1953, Texas Tech did not field an intercollegiate baseball team.[3]

Revival era

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When the program returned in 1954, Beattie Feathers became the head coach of the Red Raiders and remained until 1960. He was followed by Berl Huffman (1961–1967), Kal Segrist (1968–1983), and Gary Ashby (1984–1986). Texas Tech joined the Southwest Conference in 1968, but experienced little success. During this 26 season period, the Red Raiders had only seven winning seasons; only twice finishing as high as third, with only three winning records in conference play.[2]

Modern era

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Larry Hays took over the Red Raiders baseball team in 1987. Under Hays, Texas Tech endured only two losing seasons, his first and last, and enjoyed their greatest success in baseball. Hays took Texas Tech from having a losing tradition to being a national contender. When Hays started with the Red Raiders, the team's overall record stood at 550–576–5. By the time he left, he was the fourth-winningest coach in college baseball history and improved the team's record to 1,365–1,054–8.[4] The Red Raiders reached eight straight NCAA tournaments from 1995 to 2002 and again in 2004, three of which were held at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.[5] They also won the 1995 Southwest Conference championship, and the inaugural Big 12 Conference championship in 1997. The Hays-led Red Raiders also won the SWC Tournament in 1995, and the Big 12 Tournament in 1998.[4]

On June 2, 2008, Larry Hays announced his retirement, paving the way for assistant coach Dan Spencer to take over. Spencer, a former Texas Tech player, won back-to-back national championships as an assistant head coach for the Oregon State Beavers.[6] In Spencer's four seasons as head coach, he led the Red Raiders to only one winning season. Prior to Spencer's fourth, and final, season as head coach, Tim Tadlock was hired as associate head coach for the Red Raiders under Dan Spencer. The following season saw Tadlock replace Spencer as the ninth head coach of the Red Raiders following Spencer's firing.

Tadlock was a starting shortstop for the Red Raiders during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. Tadlock previously led the Grayson College Vikings to back-to-back NJCAA Division I World Series championships in the team's five appearances over his 9 seasons as head coach. Tadlock's first season saw the team finish 26–30, and 8th of 9 in Big 12 play. Prior to the 2014 season, the Red Raiders were selected to finish in 8th place in the Big 12 Conference in the preseason polls. In only his second season, the Red Raiders won their first NCAA tournament Regional Championship, defeating the Columbia Lions and host team Miami Hurricanes to advance to the program's first Super Regional appearance. The team would host College of Charleston in the Lubbock Super Regional before shutting them out twice in two 1–0 games, earning the programs first berth in the College World Series on the back of a 0.65 post season earned run average produced by assistant coach Ray Hayward's pitching staff.[7] The Red Raiders have since gone on to win Big 12 regular season conference championships in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and again host both Regional and Super Regional rounds of the NCAA tournament in Lubbock while also making three more appearances in the College World Series (2016, 2018–2019).

Ballpark

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Main article: Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park

Season-by-season results

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Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Independent (1926–1967)
1926 Ewing Y. Freeland 11–2–1
1927 Ewing Y. Freeland 4–9–1
1928 Grady Higginbotham 8–6
1929 Grady Higginbotham 2–11
No Team Fielded (1930–1953)
1954 Beattie Feathers 1–7–1
1955 Beattie Feathers 3–17
1956 Beattie Feathers 8–7
1957 Beattie Feathers 7–4
1958 Beattie Feathers 6–9
1959 Beattie Feathers 7–6
1960 Beattie Feathers 8–7
1961 Berl Huffman 13–5
1962 Berl Huffman 15–11
1963 Berl Huffman 12–10
1964 Berl Huffman 9–16
1965 Berl Huffman 7–16
1966 Berl Huffman 10–13
1967 Berl Huffman 14–16
Southwest Conference (1968–1996)
1968 Kal Segrist 9–20 2–15 7th
1969 Kal Segrist 13–13 9–6 3rd
1970 Kal Segrist 12–16–1 5–10 5th
1971 Kal Segrist 26–14 11–7 3rd
1972 Kal Segrist 23–19 6–12 T–5th
1973 Kal Segrist 12–16 6–10 T–6th
1974 Kal Segrist 11–21 9–15 T–8th
1975 Kal Segrist 22–23 9–15 6th
1976 Kal Segrist 32–21 10–11 6th
1977 Kal Segrist 25–24 12–12 5th
1978 Kal Segrist 23–25 8–16 7th
1979 Kal Segrist 16–23 9–15 6th
1980 Kal Segrist 28–23–1 14–10 4th SWC Tournament, L 1–2
1981 Kal Segrist 26–21 8–13 7th
1982 Kal Segrist 21–22 9–12 5th
1983 Kal Segrist 18–23 8–13 6th
1984 Gary Ashby 33–22 9–12 T–5th
1985 Gary Ashby 18–33 2–19 8th
1986 Gary Ashby 34–25 7–14 6th
1987 Larry Hays 21–28 7–14 6th
1988 Larry Hays 34–25–1 7–14 6th
1989 Larry Hays 32–22 9–12 T–4th
1990 Larry Hays 31–29 6–16 7th
1991 Larry Hays 42–18 9–12 7th
1992 Larry Hays 29–25 15–19 4th
1993 Larry Hays 43–15 11–7 T–2nd SWC Tournament, L 0–2
1994 Larry Hays 40–17 12–6 T–2nd SWC Tournament, L 2–2
1995 Larry Hays 51–14 16–8 1st SWC Tournament, W 3–1
NCAA Midwest I Regional, L 3–2
1996 Larry Hays 49–15 15–9 2nd SWC Tournament, L 3–2
NCAA Central II Regional, L 2–2
Big 12 Conference (1997–present)
1997 Larry Hays 46–14 23–7 1st Big 12 tournament, L 3–2
NCAA Central Regional, L 0–2
1998 Larry Hays 44–20 18–11 3rd Big 12 tournament, W 4–1
NCAA Atlantic I Regional, L 1–2
1999 Larry Hays 42–17 18–8 3rd Big 12 tournament, L 0–2
NCAA Lubbock Regional, L 2–2
2000 Larry Hays 36–26 18–12 5th Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Houston Regional, L 1–2
2001 Larry Hays 43–20–1 19–10–1 2nd Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Fullerton Regional, L 3–2
2002 Larry Hays 42–20 16–11 2nd Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Houston Regional, L 1–2
2003 Larry Hays 30–25 8–18 9th
2004 Larry Hays 40–21 17–9 3rd Big 12 tournament, L 0–2
NCAA Atlanta Regional, L 2–2
2005 Larry Hays 34–25 9–16 8th Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
2006 Larry Hays 31–26–1 9–16–1 8th Big 12 tournament, L 0–3
2007 Larry Hays 28–27 8–18 10th
2008 Larry Hays 25–30 9–18 T–9th
2009 Dan Spencer 25–32 12–15 7th Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
2010 Dan Spencer 28–29 13–14 5th Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
2011 Dan Spencer 33–25 12–15 7th Big 12 tournament, L 0–2
2012 Dan Spencer 29–26 7–17 T–8th
2013 Tim Tadlock 26–30 9–15 8th Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
2014 Tim Tadlock 45–19 14–10 4th Big 12 tournament, L 0–2
NCAA Coral Gables Regional, W 3–1
NCAA Lubbock Super Regional, W 2–0
NCAA College World Series, 0–2
2015 Tim Tadlock 31–24 13–11 T-3rd Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
2016 Tim Tadlock 47–20 19–5 1st Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Lubbock Regional, W 3–1
NCAA Lubbock Super Regional, W 2–1
NCAA College World Series, 1–2
2017 Tim Tadlock 45–17 16–8 T-1st Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Lubbock Regional, L 2-2
2018 Tim Tadlock 45–20 15–9 3rd Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Lubbock Regional, W 3–0
NCAA Lubbock Super Regional, W 2–1
NCAA College World Series, 1–2
2019 Tim Tadlock 45–19 16–8 1st Big 12 tournament, L 3–2
NCAA Lubbock Regional, W 3–0
NCAA Lubbock Super Regional, W 2–1
NCAA College World Series, L 2–2
2020 Tim Tadlock 16–3 0–0 — Season cancelled due to COVID-19
2021 Tim Tadlock 39–17 14–10 3rd Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Lubbock Regional, W 3–0
NCAA Lubbock Super Regional, L 0–2
2022 Tim Tadlock 39–22 15–9 T–2nd Big 12 tournament, L 1–2
NCAA Statesboro Regional, L 2–2
2023 Tim Tadlock 41-23 12-12 6th Big 12 tournament, L 2-2
NCAA Gainesville Regional, L 2–2
Total:

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Source:[8][9]

Head coaches

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Main article: List of Texas Tech Red Raiders head baseball coaches

Individual accomplishments

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Unanimous All-American

National Pitcher of the Year Award

Big 12 Conference Player of the Year

Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year

Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year

  • Hudson White (2022)
  • Gabe Holt (2018)
  • Josh Jung (2017)

Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year

Big 12 Conference Tournament MVP

Southwest Conference Coach of the Year

Southwest Conference Tournament MVP

NCAA Division I Regional Tournament MVP

  • Kurt Wilson (2021, Lubbock)
  • Cam Warren (2019, Lubbock)
  • Zach Rheams (2018, Lubbock)
  • Hayden Howard (2016, Lubbock)
  • Dylan Dusek (2014, Coral Gables)

Skip Bertman Award

Retired jerseys

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Number Player Seasons
22 Brooks Wallace 1977–1980
23 Clint Bryant 1993–1996
24 Kal Segrist 1968–1983
27 Larry Hays 1987–2008

Red Raiders in the Major Leagues

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Dallas Braden with Oakland
Josh Bard with Washington

At least 30 former Texas Tech Red Raiders have gone on to play Major League Baseball.[10]

Player MLB Career Dates Round Drafted Team Drafted
Chuck Harrison 1965–1969, 1971 N/A N/A
Doug Ault 1976–1980 Free Agent Texas Rangers
Donald Harris 1991–1993 1st (5th pick) Texas Rangers
Mike Humphreys 1991–1993 15th San Diego Padres
Mark Brandenburg 1995–1997 26th Texas Rangers
Ryan Nye 1997–1998 2nd Philadelphia Phillies
Travis Smith 1998–2006 19th Milwaukee Brewers
Brandon Kolb 2000–2001 38th Oakland Athletics
Keith Ginter 2000–2005 10th Houston Astros
Stubby Clapp 2001

2019–present (Coach)

36th St. Louis Cardinals
Matt Miller 2001–2002 2nd Detroit Tigers
Trey Lunsford 2002–2003 33rd San Francisco Giants
Travis Driskill 2002–2005, 2007 4th Cleveland Indians
Josh Bard 2002–2011

2016–present (Coach)

3rd Colorado Rockies
Steve Watkins 2004 16th San Diego Padres
Joe Dillon 2005, 2007–2009

2018–present (Coach)

7th Kansas City Royals
Chris Sampson 2006–2009 8th Houston Astros
Jeff Karstens 2006–2012 19th New York Yankees
Dallas Braden 2007–2011 24th Oakland Athletics
Dustin Richardson 2009–2010 5th Boston Red Sox
Josh Tomlin 2010–present 19th Cleveland Indians
Zach Stewart 2011–2012 3rd Cincinnati Reds
AJ Ramos 2012–2018, 2020–2021 21st Florida Marlins
Roger Kieschnick 2013–2014 3rd San Francisco Giants
Nathan Karns 2013–2017, 2019 12th Washington Nationals
Chad Bettis 2013–2019 2nd Colorado Rockies
Danny Coulombe 2014–2018, 2020–present 25th Los Angeles Dodgers
Kelby Tomlinson 2015–2018 12th San Francisco Giants
Robert Dugger 2019–present 18th Seattle Mariners
Parker Mushinski 2022–present 7th Houston Astros
Davis Martin 2022–present 14th Chicago White Sox
Caleb Kilian 2022–present 77th San Francisco Giants
Josh Jung 2022–present 1st Texas Rangers
John McMillon 2022–present 11th Detroit Tigers
Jace Jung 2024-present 1st Detroit Tigers

Pro Red Raiders in other sports

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Former Texas Tech football player and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was also a baseball player at TTU
Player Years Baseball
Position 		Position in
other sport 		League Team
Patrick Mahomes 2015 Relief pitcher Quarterback NFL Kansas City Chiefs

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Visual Identity | Colors". July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "2008 Baseball Media Guide". Texas Tech University Official Athletic Site. Archived from the original on 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  3. ^ a b "Texas Tech Year-by-Year Scores". Texas Tech University Official Athletic Site. Archived from the original on 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  4. ^ a b "Larry Hays steps down as Texas Tech baseball's head coach". The Daily Toreador. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  5. ^ George Watson. "Larry Hays ends 22-year love affair with Texas Tech baseball". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  6. ^ "Dan Spencer Named Head Baseball Coach at Texas Tech". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved 2008-07-04. [dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Texas Tech Enters CWS Ranked Seventh Nationally" (Press release). Texas Tech University. June 11, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  8. ^ "Textas Tech Baseball - 2013 Red Raider Baseball media supplement" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-11.
  9. ^ "Texas Baseball - 2010 Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-15.
  10. ^ "Texas Tech University Baseball Players Who Made it to a Major League Baseball Team | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.
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