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The Citadel Bulldogs
2024 The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team
Founded1899; 125 years ago (1899)
UniversityThe Citadel
Athletic directorMike Capaccio
Head coachRussell Triplett (1st season)
ConferenceSouthern
LocationCharleston, South Carolina
Home stadiumJoseph P. Riley Jr. Park
(Capacity: 6,000)
NicknameBulldogs
ColorsInfantry blue and white[1]
   
College World Series appearances
1990
NCAA regional champions
1990
NCAA Tournament appearances
1960, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010
Conference tournament champions
1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010
Regular season conference champions
1960, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010

The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team represents The Citadel in college baseball. They are classified as NCAA Division I and play in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs are led by Russell Triplett, who will begin his first season in 2025.[2] They made their one appearance in the College World Series in 1990. They are the first and through 2022 only military school to appear in the College World Series. The Citadel has claimed eight Southern Conference baseball tournament titles and produced seven major league players.

Facilities

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College Park

The Bulldogs play their games at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park located just outside The Citadel campus in Charleston, SC. They share the facility with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, and have permanent rights to play in the stadium as it was built on formerly Citadel-owned land. The original home of The Citadel baseball team was on WLI Field, on the banks of the Ashley River on campus, and still in use today by The Citadel soccer team. From 1967 until the opening of Riley Park in 1997, The Bulldogs played in College Park, located northeast of campus on Rutledge Avenue. This facility is still in use as The Citadel practice facility and for community purposes. On-campus locker rooms are located in McAlister Field House, an indoor batting cage and other team spaces are located in Vandiver Hall. Like all Citadel athletic teams, the Bulldogs utilize strength and conditioning, medical, and video spaces in Seignious Hall.

Coaches

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Main article: List of The Citadel Bulldogs head baseball coaches

Coaching records
Below are records for all coaches who have known records at The Citadel[3]

Coach Years Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct
O. B. "Rip" Sanderson 1908 1 5 1 0 .833
George A. Schmick 1910 1 4 6 0 .400
"Barney" Legge 1911 1 2 5 1 .286
George C. Rogers 1914–15, 1921–24 6 26 33 1 .441
Thomas S. McMillan 1916, 1919 2 8 12 0 .400
"Shorty" O'Brien 1918 1 3 9 0 .250
Ed Sabre 1920 1 3 1 0 .750
"Bull Dog" Drummond 1925 1 2 7 0 .222
H. L. "Matty" Matthews 1926–30, 37–38 3 10 25 1 .286
Dusty Rhodes 1947 1 2 5 0 .286
Bunzy O'Neal 1948 1 6 7 0 .462
John D. McMillan 1952–53 2 14 15 0 .483
Harold Manley 1954 1 5 9 0 .357
Fred Montsdeoca 1954–56 2 22 31 0 .415
Mack Erwin 1957–60 4 62 30 1 .672
Jim Newsome 1961–64 4 37 43 0 .463
Chal Port 1965–91 27 641 386 2 .624
Fred Jordan 1992–2017 26 831 706 0 .541
Tony Skole 2018–2024 7 123 216 0 .363

Comprehensive records are only available beginning with the 1954 season. The Citadel continues to research and compile records for previous seasons.

Current staff

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Coach Position Years
Tony Skole Head coach 2
Aaron Gershenfeld Assistant coach (Hitting Coach, Recruiting Coordinator) 2
Blake Cooper Pitching Coach 2

Seasons and results

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See also: List of The Citadel Bulldogs baseball seasons
Plaque honoring The Citadel's baseball tradition at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park

The Citadel has posted four 40 win seasons and twenty-six 30 win seasons. The Bulldogs are one of the leading programs in the Southern Conference, trailing only Western Carolina in total championships by one, with all other programs several behind the two leaders.

College World Series

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The 1990 team overcame the damage of Hurricane Hugo to appear in the 1990 College World Series The Bulldogs hold a 1–2 record in the College World Series, defeating Cal State Fullerton in an extra inning thriller before falling to LSU for a second time in their elimination game.

NCAA Regionals

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The Citadel holds a 16–27 record in the NCAA tournament in 13 appearances, winning the 1990 Atlantic Regional in Coral Gables, Florida. Their finals matchup against the Miami Hurricanes resulted in headlines echoing the Hurricanes team name and noting the severe damage in Charleston, South Carolina, from Hurricane Hugo the previous fall, including damage to The Citadel's stadium, College Park.[4]

Southern Conference tournament

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The Bulldogs have claimed eight Southern Conference baseball tournament championships, second all-time after Western Carolina. The Bulldogs won their first tournament in 1990, and most recently won in 2010. The Tournament's greatest box office success has come when held in Charleston with The Citadel reaching the finals. The Citadel was a participant in each of the top 10 most attended SoCon Baseball Tournament games through the 2011 tournament.[5]

Southern Conference Regular season Championships

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The Citadel has won thirteen Southern Conference regular season championships. They won their first in 1960 and their most recent in 2010. The Bulldogs have won more Southern Conference regular season championships than any other program currently in the conference.[6]

Rivalries

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The Citadel's primary athletic rivals are Virginia Military Institute, Furman and College of Charleston. The recent rise of College of Charleston's baseball program has led to many close games and strong attendance both at Riley Park and at CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point. The Bulldogs have had success against most in state schools, with the exception of Clemson and South Carolina.

Citadel records against opponents through the 2010 season[7]

Bulldogs in the pros

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At least 47 players from The Citadel have played in the Minor Leagues.[8]

Major League Baseball Draft

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The Citadel has had 49 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965.[9] Notable picks include 1985 second round pick (46th overall) Tim Jones, 2001 second round pick (57th overall) Dallas McPherson and 2010 second round pick (41st overall) Asher Wojciechowski.[10]

Major League players

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Ten Bulldogs have played in the Major Leagues.

Years* Seasons^ Player Team(s)
1920–1924 3 Sumpter Clarke Cubs, Indians[11]
1984–1985 2 Jeff Barkley Indians[11]
1986–1988 3 Don Gordon Blue Jays, Indians[11]
1988–1993 6 Tim Jones Cardinals[11]
2000–2003 4 Scott Mullen Royals, Dodgers[12]
2000–2006 6 Britt Reames Cardinals, Expos, Athletics, Pirates[11]
2004–2011 5 Dallas McPherson Angels, Marlins, White Sox[11]
2013 1 Chris McGuiness Texas Rangers[13]
2015–2021 5 Asher Wojciechowski Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees
2016–2020 5 Mike Clevinger[a] Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres
2021 1 JP Sears New York Yankees

*Years span all seasons played ^Seasons includes partial seasons

  1. ^ Mike Clevinger spent the 2010 season with the Bulldogs before transferring.

Individual honors

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The Citadel frequently produces players who claim national and conference level awards. Below are selected postseason All-America awards as well as Southern Conference awards for full seasons and end of season tournaments.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Colors: The Citadel Brand Guidelines". Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Russell Triplett Introduced as The Citadel Baseball Head Coach" (Press release). The Citadel Bulldogs. June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  3. ^ 2011 Baseball Media Guide. proemags.com. p. 105. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  4. ^ 2011 Baseball Media Guide. citadelsports.com. pp. 96–99. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  5. ^ 2012 SoCon Baseball Media Guide. SoConsports.com. p. 48. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  6. ^ 2012 SoCon Baseball Media Guide. SoConsports.com. p. 45. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  7. ^ 2011 Baseball Media Guide. proemags.com. pp. 140–141. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  8. ^ 2011 Baseball Media Guide. citadelsports.com. pp. 116–117. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  9. ^ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from "The Citadel (Charleston, SC)"". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  10. ^ 2011 Baseball Media Guide. citadelsports.com. p. 119. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  11. ^ a b c d e f 2011 Baseball Media Guide. citadelsports.com. p. 118. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  12. ^ "Scott Mullen Baseball Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  13. ^ "Rangers put Mitch Moreland on DL, add Chris McGuiness | HardballTalk". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  14. ^ 2011 Baseball Media Guide. proemags.com. p. 114. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
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