Indiana State Sycamores baseball


The Indiana State Sycamores baseball team is the NCAA Division I baseball program of Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2019. Their first season was 1896. The Sycamores have had 12 All-Americans, 24 Major Leaguers, and more than 1,920 victories. The team's most successful season was in 1986, when the team appeared in the College World Series and finished with a record of 48–21. The Sycamores have appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2012, 2014 and 2019.
They appeared in the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1958 and won an NAIA District Championship in 1964. In 2013, the 1958 team was honored on the 55th Anniversary of their appearance at the NAIA Baseball World Series.
Past coaches include John Wooden, Bob Warn, Paul L. Wolf, and Wally Marks. The Sycamores play their home games at Sycamore Stadium at Bob Warn Field and are coached by Mitch Hannahs; Hannahs was named as the 29th head coach on July 25, 2013 and returns to his alma mater following a 9-year stint as the head coach at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. Hannahs was an assistant at Indiana State from 1995–1999 and the 2001 season. An All-American 2B for the Sycamores, Hannahs spent three seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers system, spending two seasons in AA-ball with the El Paso Diablos of the Texas League.

Division I NCAA Tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in 10 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships. Their combined record is 10–20; they won the 1986 Mideast Regional and reached Regional Finals in 1989 and 2019.
YearResultGames
1979Midwest Regional0–2
1983Mideast Regional0–2
1984Mideast Regional1–2
1986Mideast Regional3–0
1986College World Series0–2
1987Central Regional1–2
1989South Regional2–2
1995Midwest II Regional1–2
2012Eugene Regional0–2
2014Bloomington Regional0–2
2019Nashville Regional2–2

National awards (1)

All-Americans (14)

Most Valuable Player

Conference (reg. season)

Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State baseball media guide at www.gosycamores.com

All-Indiana Collegiate Conference (35)

All-Missouri Valley Conference (78)

Conference Speciality

Defensive Player of the Year (2)

Batting average

Hits

Wins

ERA

Strikeouts

Sycamores in MLB

While long-time baseball great Tommy John is an alumnus of Indiana State; he did not play baseball for the Sycamores as he attended classes around his professional baseball schedule. Future New York Yankees-great, Don Mattingly, declined his baseball scholarship from Coach Bob Warn after he was drafted by the New York Yankees.
Bill Hayes had 2 "cups-of-coffee" in the majors but would go on to a long career as a Minor League manager before beginning a 15-year coaching career with the San Francisco Giants, winning 3x World Series Championships ; in Dec 2014, he was named 1st-base coach for the Giants. Long-time college basketball coach Ron Felling was a 2-year letterman for the Sycamores.
In addition, basketball legend Larry Bird appeared in two games for the Sycamores, in the spring of 1979, following the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Over 75 former Sycamores have appeared in the Minors, while 24 former Sycamore baseball players have played in the Major Leagues or Negro Major Leagues. They are by order of appearance:
#PlayerPrimary TeamCareer
1Junius BibbsKansas City Monarchs1933–1944
2Jeff JamesPhiladelphia Phillies1968–1969
3Danny LazarChicago White Sox1968–1968
4Bill HayesChicago Cubs1980–1981
5Wallace JohnsonMontreal Expos1981–1990
6Rick GrapenthinMontreal Expos1983–1985
7Zane SmithAtlanta Braves1984–1996
8Brian DorsettCincinnati Reds1984–1996
9Tim BarrettMontreal Expos1988
10Mike GardinerBoston Red Sox1990–1995
11Tom GillesToronto Blue Jays1990–1990
12Blaise IlsleyChicago Cubs1994–1994
13David DosterPhiladelphia Phillies1996, 1999
14Chuck SmithFlorida Marlins2000–2001
15Clint BarmesColorado Rockies2003–2015
16Alex GramanNew York Yankees2003–2004
17Mitch StetterMilwaukee Brewers2007–2011
18Joe ThatcherSan Diego Padres2007–2015
19Brian OmogrossoChicago White Sox2012–2013
20Jake PetrickaChicago White Sox2013–present
21Colin ReaSan Diego Padres2015–present
22Ryan StrausborgerTexas Rangers2015
23Nevin AshleyMilwaukee Brewers2015
24Sean ManaeaOakland Athletics2016–present

Coaching leaders

Coaching honors

Conference Coach of the Year (9)

Hall(s) of Fame