Clemson Tigers baseball
{{Short description|Division 1 college baseball team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox college baseball team
| name = Clemson Tigers
| founded = {{Start date and age|1896}}
| current = 2025 Clemson Tigers baseball team
| logo = Clemson Baseball cap logo.svg
| logo_size = 150
| university = Clemson University
| conference = ACC
| division = Atlantic
| coach = Erik Bakich
| tenure = 3rd
| location = Clemson, South Carolina
| stadium = Doug Kingsmore Stadium
| capacity = 6,346
| nickname = Tigers
| cws = 1958, 1959, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010
| regional_champion = 1976, 1977, 1980, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2024
| ncaa_tourneys = 1947, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1967, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025
| conference_tournament = 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2006, 2016, 2023
| conference_champion = SoCon: 1947
ACC: 1954, 1958, 1959, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2006, 2018, 2024
ACC {{small|(Atlantic Division)}}: 2006, 2010, 2018, 2024
}}
The Clemson Tigers baseball team represents Clemson University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are currently coached by head coach Erik Bakich and play their home games in Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The program has reached the NCAA tournament in all but three seasons dating back to 1987. Clemson has made 12 appearances in the College World Series with an all-time record of 12–24 in Omaha.{{cite web |title=Won-Lost Records in Tournaments |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball_champs_records/2010/D1/champs.pdf |work=2010 NCAA Baseball Tournament Statistics and Records |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=August 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406195630/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball_champs_records/2010/D1/champs.pdf |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |page=5 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}
The team has a heated in-state rivalry with the University of South Carolina. Mark Etheridge of SEBaseball.com has called it "college baseball's most heated rivalry,"{{cite web|url=http://sebaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1369883|title=Nine Innings: Finishing Second or Next to Last|last=Etheridge|first=Mark|date=May 28, 2012|work=SEBaseball.com|access-date=May 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009213253/https://sebaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1369883|archive-date=October 9, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy}} and Aaron Fitt of Baseball America has called it "far and away the most compelling rivalry college baseball has to offer."{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/weekend-preview/2012/2613047.html|title=Weekend Preview: South Carolina, Clemson Get Together Again|last=Fitt|first=Aaron|date=March 1, 2012|work=BaseballAmerica.com|access-date=May 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304162029/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/weekend-preview/2012/2613047.html|archive-date=March 4, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy}} As of March 2, 2025, The Clemson Tigers lead the all-time series 191-145-2.
Coaching history
{{main article|List of Clemson Tigers head baseball coaches}}
Year-by-year results
{{For|the entire season-by-season results|List of Clemson Tigers baseball seasons}}
File:Doug Kingsmore Stadium.jpg
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |
| Season
! Coach ! Overall ! Conference ! Standing ! Postseason |
|---|
| 2015
| Jack Leggett | 32–29 | 16–13 | T-3rd, Atlantic |
| style="background-color:#ffff99;"
| 2016 | 44–20 | 16–14 |
| 2017
| Monte Lee | 42–21 | 17–13 | 3rd, Atlantic |
| style="background-color:#bbffff;"
| 2018 | Monte Lee | 47–16 | 22–8 | 1st, Atlantic |
| 2019
| Monte Lee | 35–26 | 15–15 | 4th, Atlantic |
| 2020
| Monte Lee | 14–3 | 3–0 | T–1st, Atlantic |
| 2021
| Monte Lee | 25–27 | 16–20 | 5th, Atlantic | — |
| 2022
| Monte Lee | 35–23 | 13–16 | 6th, Atlantic | — |
| style="background-color:#ffff99;"
| 2023 | 44–19 | 20–10 | 2nd, Atlantic |
| style="background-color:#bbffff;"
| 2024 | Erik Bakich | 44–16 | 20–10 | 1st, Atlantic | NCAA Clemson Regional Champions |
| 2025
| Erik Bakich | 45–18 | 18–12 | 5th |
| colspan=9 style="font-size:88%"|
{{color box|#ffbf2f}} National Champion {{color box|#ffdd99}} Conference Regular Season Champion {{color box|#ffff99}} Conference Tournament Champion {{color box|#d9a53d}} Conference Regular Season & Conference Tournament Champion {{color box|#bbffff}} Conference Division Champion |
Award winners
=Dick Howser Trophy=
| class="wikitable"
| colspan="3" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=#FFFFFF}}; text-align:center;"|Dick Howser Trophy winners "Dick Howser Trophy on Baseball Almanac." Dick Howser Trophy on Baseball Almanac. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/dick_howser_trophy.shtml | ||
| style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=white}};"|Year
! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=white}};"|Player ! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=white}};"|Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
| 1996 | Kris Benson | P |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2002 | Khalil Greene | SS |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2016 | Seth Beer | OF |
=Golden Spikes Award=
| class="wikitable"
| colspan="3" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=#FFFFFF}}; text-align:center;"|Golden Spikes Award winners "Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball on Baseball Almanac." Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball on Baseball Almanac. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 July 2016. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_goldenspikes.shtml | ||
| style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=white}};"|Year
! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=white}};"|Player ! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Clemson Tigers|border=0|color=white}};"|Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2002 | Khalil Greene | SS |
=Conference awards=
- ACC Player of the Year – Craig White (1973), Steve Cline (1974), Denny Walling (1975), Chuck Porter (1976), Jim McCollom (1985), Chuck Baldwin (1986), Brian Barnes (1989), Brian Kowitz (1990), Shane Monahan (1995), Kris Benson (1996), Khalil Greene (2002), Brad Miller (2011), Seth Beer (2016), Max Wagner (2022)
Current MLB players
- Carson Spiers - Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
- Spencer Strider - Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
- Eli White - Outfielder, Atlanta Braves
- Weston Wilson - Infielder, Philadelphia Phillies
Prominent players
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Player
! Position ! Years at Clemson ! Major League Teams |
|---|
| Jeff Baker
| 3B/SS | 2000–02 | Colorado Rockies (2005–2009), Chicago Cubs (2009–2012), Detroit Tigers (August 5, 2012 – August 31, 2012), Atlanta Braves (August 2012 – January 2013), Texas Rangers (2013), Miami Marlins (2014–15) |
| Brian Barnes
| LHP | 1986–89 | Montreal Expos (1990–93), Cleveland Indians (1994), Los Angeles Dodgers (1994) |
| Seth Beer
| DH/1B | 2016–2018 | Arizona Diamondbacks (2021–22) |
| Kris Benson
| RHP | 1995–96 | Pittsburgh Pirates (1999–2004), New York Mets (2004–05), Baltimore Orioles (2006), Texas Rangers (2009), Arizona Diamondbacks (2010) |
| Jerry Brooks
| 3B | 1986–88 | Los Angeles Dodgers (1993), Florida Marlins (1996) |
| Mike Brown
| RHP | 1978–80 | Boston Red Sox (1982–86), Seattle Mariners (1986–87) |
| Ty Cline
| OF | 1959–60 | Cleveland Indians (1960–62), Milwaukee Braves (1963–67), Chicago Cubs (1966), San Francisco Giants (1967–68), Montreal Expos (1969–70), Cincinnati Reds (1970–71) |
| Tyler Colvin
| OF | 2004–06 | Chicago Cubs (2009–2011), Colorado Rockies (2012–2013), San Francisco Giants (2014) |
| John Curtis
| LHP | 1968 | Boston Red Sox (1970–73), St. Louis Cardinals (1974–76), San Francisco Giants (1977–79), San Diego Padres (1980–82), California Angels (1982–84) |
| Mark Davidson
| OF | 1982 | Minnesota Twins (1986–88), Houston Astros (1989–91) |
| Steven Duggar
| OF | 2013–15 | San Francisco Giants (2018–22), Texas Rangers (2022), Los Angeles Angels (2022) |
| Rusty Gerhardt
| LHP | 1969–72 | San Diego Padres (1974) |
| Khalil Greene
| SS/3B | 2000–02 | San Diego Padres (2003–2008), St. Louis Cardinals (2009) |
| Bert Heffernan
| C | 1985–88 | Seattle Mariners (1992) |
| Mike Holtz
| LHP | 1991–94 | Anaheim Angels (1996–01), Oakland Athletics (2002), San Diego Padres (2002) |
| Jimmy Key
| LHP | 1980–82 | Toronto Blue Jays (1984–92), New York Yankees (1993–96), Baltimore Orioles (1997–98) |
| Billy Koch
| RHP | 1994–96 | Toronto Blue Jays (1999–01), Oakland Athletics (2002), Chicago White Sox (2003–04), Florida Marlins (2004) |
| Brian Kowitz
| OF | 1988–90 | Atlanta Braves (1995) |
| Tyler Krieger{{Cite web |url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205875275 |title=Tyler Krieger Bio - Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site |access-date=January 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018011203/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205875275 |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
| IF | 2012-15 | |
| Joe Landrum
| RHP | 1946–47 | Brooklyn Dodgers (1950–52) |
| Matthew LeCroy
| DH | 1995–97 | Minnesota Twins (2000–05, 2007), Washington Nationals (2006) |
| John McMakin
| LHP | 1900–01 | Brooklyn Dodgers (1902) |
| Norm McMillan
| 3B | 1915–17 | New York Yankees (1922), Boston Red Sox (1923), St. Louis Browns (1924), Chicago Cubs (1928–29) |
| Billy McMillon
| OF | 1991–93 | Florida Marlins (1996–97), Philadelphia Phillies (1997), Detroit Tigers (2000–01), Oakland Athletics (2001, 2003–04) |
| Mike Milchin
| LHP | 1986–89 | Minnesota Twins (1996), Baltimore Orioles (1996) |
| Brad Miller
| SS | 2009–11 | Seattle Mariners (2013–2015), Tampa Bay Rays (2016–2018), Milwaukee Brewers (2018), Cleveland Indians (2019), Philadelphia Phillies (2019, 2021), St. Louis Cardinals (2020) |
| Shane Monahan
| OF | 1993–95 | Seattle Mariners (1998–99) |
| Ron Musselman
| RHP | 1976–77 | Seattle Mariners (1982), Toronto Blue Jays (1984–85) |
| Billy O'Dell
| LHP | 1952–54 | Baltimore Orioles (1954, 1956–59), San Francisco Giants (1960–64), Milwaukee Braves (1965–66), Pittsburgh Pirates (1966–67) |
| John Pawlowski
| RHP | 1983–85 | Chicago White Sox (1987–88) |
| Chuck Porter
| RHP | 1974–76 | Milwaukee Brewers (1981–85) |
| Flint Rhem
| RHP | 1923–24 | St. Louis Cardinals (1924–28, 1930–32, 1934, 1936), Philadelphia Phillies (1932–33), Boston Braves (1934–35) |
| Bill Schroeder
| C | 1977–79 | Milwaukee Brewers (1983–88), California Angels (1989–90) |
| Kurt Seibert
| SS | 1974–76 | Chicago Cubs (1979) |
| Danny Sheaffer
| C | 1980 | Boston Red Sox (1987), Cleveland Indians (1989), Colorado Rockies (1993–94), St. Louis Cardinals (1995–97) |
| Richie Shaffer
| 3B | 2009-12 | Tampa Bay Rays (2015–16) |
| Tony Sipp
| LHP | 2004 | Cleveland Indians (2009-2012), Arizona Diamondbacks (2013), Houston Astros (2014-2018), Washington Nationals (2019) |
| Vet Sitton
| RHP | 1901–03 | Cleveland Indians (1909) |
| Brian Snyder
| LHP | 1977–79 | Seattle Mariners (1985), Oakland Athletics (1989) |
| Bill Spiers
| SS | 1985–87 | Milwaukee Brewers (1989–94), New York Mets (1995), Houston Astros (1996–01) |
| Harold Stowe
| LHP | 1957–59 | New York Yankees (1960) |
| Tim Teufel
| 2B | 1979–80 | Minnesota Twins (1983–85), New York Mets (1985–91), San Diego Padres (1991–93) |
| Ken Vining
| LHP | 1994–96 | Chicago White Sox (2001) |
| Denny Walling
| 1B/3B | 1975 | Oakland Athletics (1975–76), Houston Astros (1977–88, 1992), St. Louis Cardinals (1988–90), Texas Rangers (1991) |
| Matt White
| LHP | 1996–98 | Boston Red Sox (2003), Seattle Mariners (2003), Washington Nationals (2005) |
| Keith Williams
| OF | 1991–93 | San Francisco Giants (1996) |
| Scott Winchester
| RHP | 1993–95 | Cincinnati Reds (1997–98, 2000–01) |
See also
References
{{reflist}}