Baylor Bears baseball
Encyclopedia
The Baylor Bears baseball team represents Baylor University
in NCAA Division I college baseball
. The team belongs to the Big 12 Conference
and plays home games at Baylor Ballpark
. The Bears are currently led by head coach Steve Smith. The 2010 season marked Steve Smith's 16th year at the rule of the program.
. A replacement for outdated Ferrell Field, the ballpark was one of the finest collegiate stadiums in the country at the time of its construction in 1998. With a listed capacity of 5,000 people, the retro-styled ballpark was modeled after Auburn's Plainsman Park, which had a very similar design, but was smaller.
The first season for the ballpark was 1999, although construction was ongoing throughout the season. Despite the construction, Baylor Ballpark
hosted its first NCAA Regional that season. It hosted additional NCAA Regionals in 2000 and 2005 along with two NCAA Super Regionals (2000, 2005).
Baylor Ballpark
has been well recognized as a top-tier facility for collegiate baseball. In 2003, Baseball America dubbed it the third best ballpark in the country.
in Omaha, Nebraska
.
At the College World Series, the Bears were defeated by the University of Texas Longhorns in the opening game. However, in back-to-back games, the Bears defeated Oregon State and #1 Tulane to set a rematch with the Longhorns. Despite leading 3-2 through the 8th inning, the Bears fell 4-3 which ended the season. Despite the loss in Omaha, the Bears were highly rated to end the season. Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, and USA Today, along with several other publications, ranked the Bears #4 in the country to end the year.
(^)- Baseball America
(*)- Collegiate Baseball
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in NCAA Division I college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
. The team belongs to the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
and plays home games at Baylor Ballpark
Baylor Ballpark
Baylor Ballpark is the baseball stadium at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The stadium was built on the site of Ferrell Field, Baylor's home from 1977-98, by mid-February in 1999...
. The Bears are currently led by head coach Steve Smith. The 2010 season marked Steve Smith's 16th year at the rule of the program.
History
Baylor's first baseball teams date back to the late 1800s. Pitcher Ted Lyons was a player on Baylor's 1923 SWC Championship team. He would go on to be enshrined in Cooperstown after an outstanding career with the Chicago White Sox. At this time Lyons is the only player from a Big 12 or former SWC University to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1947 Baylor appeared in its first NCAA Tournament game. In 1977 Baylor returned to the NCAA tournament and advanced to the College World Series. In 1978 the Bears returned bud didn't win a game in Omaha. Baylor's 2005 squad would become the first to win a game in Omaha (the first over Oregon State and the second a dramatic come from behind win over #1 seed Tulane 7-6).Stadium
The Baylor Baseball team plays their home games at Baylor BallparkBaylor Ballpark
Baylor Ballpark is the baseball stadium at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The stadium was built on the site of Ferrell Field, Baylor's home from 1977-98, by mid-February in 1999...
. A replacement for outdated Ferrell Field, the ballpark was one of the finest collegiate stadiums in the country at the time of its construction in 1998. With a listed capacity of 5,000 people, the retro-styled ballpark was modeled after Auburn's Plainsman Park, which had a very similar design, but was smaller.
The first season for the ballpark was 1999, although construction was ongoing throughout the season. Despite the construction, Baylor Ballpark
Baylor Ballpark
Baylor Ballpark is the baseball stadium at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The stadium was built on the site of Ferrell Field, Baylor's home from 1977-98, by mid-February in 1999...
hosted its first NCAA Regional that season. It hosted additional NCAA Regionals in 2000 and 2005 along with two NCAA Super Regionals (2000, 2005).
Baylor Ballpark
Baylor Ballpark
Baylor Ballpark is the baseball stadium at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The stadium was built on the site of Ferrell Field, Baylor's home from 1977-98, by mid-February in 1999...
has been well recognized as a top-tier facility for collegiate baseball. In 2003, Baseball America dubbed it the third best ballpark in the country.
2005 Baylor Bears
The 2005 Baylor Bears squad was one of the most heralded teams in Baylor history. With a strong pitching staff, the squad won the Big 12 Conference and hosted both a NCAA Regional and NCAA Super Regional before advancing to the 2005 College World Series2005 College World Series
The 2005 College World Series was held June 17 through 27, 2005 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium. It was won by Texas, which defeated Florida in the championship...
in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
.
At the College World Series, the Bears were defeated by the University of Texas Longhorns in the opening game. However, in back-to-back games, the Bears defeated Oregon State and #1 Tulane to set a rematch with the Longhorns. Despite leading 3-2 through the 8th inning, the Bears fell 4-3 which ended the season. Despite the loss in Omaha, the Bears were highly rated to end the season. Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, and USA Today, along with several other publications, ranked the Bears #4 in the country to end the year.
Year-by-Year Results
| Season | Overall Record | ConferenceRecord | ConferenceStanding | Conference | Postseason | Final Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 25-28 | 7-17 | 6th | SWC | None | |
| 1996 | 32-27 | 11-13 | T-4th | SWC | None | |
| 1997 | 32-23 | 18-12 | 5th | Big 12 | None | |
| 1998 | 41-20-1 | 18-10 | 2nd | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Gainesville, FL | #22^ |
| 1999 | 50-15 | 20-7 | 2nd | Big 12 | NCAA Super Regional - Waco, TX | #8^ |
| 2000 | 45-17 | 23-7 | 1st | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Waco, TX | #14^ |
| 2001 | 37-24 | 17-10 | 4th | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Houston, TX | #20* |
| 2002 | 36-26 | 13-13 | T-5th | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Austin, TX | #28 |
| 2003 | 45-23 | 15-12 | 5th | Big 12 | NCAA Super Regional - Baton Rouge, LA | #11^ |
| 2004 | 29-31 | 13-12 | 6th | Big 12 | None | |
| 2005 | 46-24 | 19-8 | T-1st | Big 12 | NCAA College World Series (3rd Place) | #4^ |
| 2006 | 37-26 | 13-14 | 5th | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Houston, TX | #26* |
| 2007 | 35-27 | 12-15 | 6th | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Houston, TX | |
| 2008 | 32-26 | 11-16 | 6th | Big 12 | None | |
| 2009 | 30-26 | 10-16 | 8th | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Baton Rouge, LA | |
| 2010 | 36-24 | 12-13 | 5th | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Fort Worth, TX | |
| 2011 | 31-28 | 13-14 | 5th | Big 12 | NCAA Regional - Houston, TX | |
(^)- Baseball America
(*)- Collegiate Baseball