Blair Barbier
Encyclopedia
Blair Matthew Barbier is a former professional
baseball
player for the Chicago Cubs
organization, former baseball standout for Louisiana State University
and former volunteer assistant baseball coach with LSU for the 2007 season. Prior to that position he held a similar position at McNeese State University
.
Barbier attended Brother Martin High School
in New Orleans, Louisiana
where he was quarterback
on the football team as well as a member of the baseball team. In 1996 he led the baseball team to a state championship, the school's first since 1984.
Barbier played for LSU from 1997 to 2000 and was a member of two national championship
teams (1997 and 2000).
Barbier's heroics in the 2000 College World Series
championship game have become a part of LSU baseball
legend and endeared him with LSU fans. With his team behind 5-2 going into the 8th inning
, Barbier, as team captain, huddled the team together in the dugout
and asked them, "Can you believe? Do you believe?" Barbier then led by example as he stepped to the plate in the 8th inning and hit a home run
to bring the Tigers to within 2 runs. This sparked the rest of the team as they completed the comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the game and the national championship, LSU's fifth in 10 seasons.
After college, Barbier played professional baseball for four years in the Chicago Cubs organization.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
organization, former baseball standout for Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and former volunteer assistant baseball coach with LSU for the 2007 season. Prior to that position he held a similar position at McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
.
Barbier attended Brother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School is an all-male, Catholic, university preparatory school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It was established in 1869 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, establishing the school as St. Aloysius College...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
where he was quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
on the football team as well as a member of the baseball team. In 1996 he led the baseball team to a state championship, the school's first since 1984.
Barbier played for LSU from 1997 to 2000 and was a member of two national championship
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
teams (1997 and 2000).
Barbier's heroics in the 2000 College World Series
2000 College World Series
The 2000 College World Series was held June 9 through June 17, 2000 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 Rosenblatt Stadium. LSU beat Stanford in the single-game final.It was the 54th College...
championship game have become a part of LSU baseball
LSU Tigers baseball
The LSU baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball.Along with the other LSU athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the West division of the Southeastern Conference...
legend and endeared him with LSU fans. With his team behind 5-2 going into the 8th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
, Barbier, as team captain, huddled the team together in the dugout
Dugout (baseball)
In baseball, the dugout is a team's bench area and is located in foul territory between home plate and either first or third base. There are two dugouts, one for the home team and one for the visiting team. In general, the dugout is occupied by all players not prescribed to be on the field at that...
and asked them, "Can you believe? Do you believe?" Barbier then led by example as he stepped to the plate in the 8th inning and hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
to bring the Tigers to within 2 runs. This sparked the rest of the team as they completed the comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the game and the national championship, LSU's fifth in 10 seasons.
After college, Barbier played professional baseball for four years in the Chicago Cubs organization.
Honors
- 1997 Freshman All-American
- 1997 All-SEC
- 2000 College World Series All-Tournament Team