California Golden Bears baseball
Encyclopedia
The California Golden Bears
baseball
team represents the University of California
in NCAA Division I college baseball
. Along with most other California athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Pacific-12 Conference. The Bears play their home games at Evans Diamond
, and they are currently coached by David Esquer
.
12 times, and in the College World Series
6 times. They have won two National Championships: at the first College World Series in 1947
and again in 1957
.
In 2010, the university announced that baseball would be one of five sports cut as a cost-cutting measure. However, in April 2011, after receiving more than $9 million in pledges from supporters of the program, the program was reinstated. Even Stanford University
, California's biggest rival, pitched in to help save the Golden Bears baseball team.
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
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...
team represents the University of California
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
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...
. Along with most other California athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Pacific-12 Conference. The Bears play their home games at Evans Diamond
Evans Diamond
Evans Diamond is a college baseball stadium in Berkeley, California, on the campus of the University of California. Opened in 1933, it is the home field of the Cal Golden Bears of the Pac-10, with a seating capacity of 2,500. Evans Diamond is located in the UC sports complex in the southwest corner...
, and they are currently coached by David Esquer
David Esquer
David Charles Esquer is the head coach of the California Golden Bears baseball team.-Early life:Esquer attended Palma High School in Salinas, California where he played basketball, football, and baseball. Esquer was team captain and MVP of the baseball team and was named his high school's athlete...
.
History
The Bears have appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball TournamentNCAA 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....
12 times, and in the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
6 times. They have won two National Championships: at the first College World Series in 1947
1947 College World Series
The College World Series was played at Hyames Field in Kalamazoo, Michigan from June 27 to June 28. The first tournament's champion was California, coached by Clint Evans.-Participants:-Bracket:-Game results:-Notable players:...
and again in 1957
1957 College World Series
The 1957 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 8 to June 12. The eleventh tournament's champion was the University of California, coached by George Wolfman...
.
In 2010, the university announced that baseball would be one of five sports cut as a cost-cutting measure. However, in April 2011, after receiving more than $9 million in pledges from supporters of the program, the program was reinstated. Even Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, California's biggest rival, pitched in to help save the Golden Bears baseball team.
Former Bears in Major League Baseball
Some notable Bears who have played in the Major Leagues include:- Lance BlankenshipLance BlankenshipLance Robert Blankenship in Portland Oregon, is a retired Major League Baseball utility player.Blankenship played his entire career with the Oakland Athletics after the A's drafted him in the 10th round of the 1986 MLB amateur draft. He made his Major League Baseball debut on September 4, 1988,...
- Geoff BlumGeoff BlumGeoffrey Edward Blum is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. During his major-league career, he has also played for the Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox...
- Sam ChapmanSam ChapmanSamuel Blake Chapman was an American two-sport athletic star who played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball, spending nearly his entire career with the Philadelphia Athletics . He batted and threw right-handed, leading the American League in putouts four times...
- Allen CraigAllen CraigAllen Thomas Craig is a Major League Baseball utility player for the St. Louis Cardinals.-Amateur career:...
- Mike EpsteinMike EpsteinMichael Peter Epstein , nicknamed SuperJew, is a former Major League Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and California Angels from –....
- Jackie JensenJackie JensenJack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...
- Jeff KentJeff KentJeffrey Franklin Kent is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen...
- Darren LewisDarren LewisDarren Joel Lewis is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago White Sox , Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox ; he played his final season in 2002 with the Chicago Cubs...
- Bob MelvinBob MelvinRobert Paul Melvin is the manager of the Oakland Athletics, and a former Major League Baseball catcher.During a 10-year playing career, he played from 1985–94 for seven different teams...
- Andy MessersmithAndy MessersmithJohn Alexander "Andy" Messersmith is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the 12th overall pick of the 1966 amateur draft by the California Angels...
- Earl RobinsonEarl Robinson (baseball)Earl John Robinson is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1958-1964 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles....
- Xavier NadyXavier NadyXavier Clifford Nady VI is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is a free agent.-Amateur career:The St. Louis Cardinals originally drafted Nady in the 4th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft after he was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior...
- Conor JacksonConor JacksonConor Sims Jackson is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. His father is actor John M...
- Josh SatinJosh SatinJoshua Satin is an American second baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball, who also plays first base and third base.He was a First Team College All American at the University of California, Berkeley...