The Kansas Jayhawks baseball team represents the University of Kansas and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The Kansas Jayhawks are coached by Dan Fitzgerald.
History While the University of Kansas officially recognized baseball as a varsity sport in 1880, club baseball activities occurred on campus prior to this date and six baseball letters were awarded as early as 1874. Notably, in 1867, a team representing the University of Kansas played games against local clubs such as the Topeka Shawnees and the Lawrence Kaw Valleys at the Kansas State Fair. Baseball clubs representing the university would continue to play games against local area teams until becoming a varsity sport in 1880. With its status as a varsity athletic program in 1880, it is recognized as one of the oldest college baseball programs in the United States.
In 1993, the Jayhawks went to the 1993 College World Series in Omaha, NE. This was their first, and so far, only CWS appearance. The Jayhawks were led by All-Americans Jeff Berblinger, Jeff Neimeier and Jimmy Walker into the Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. After losing their first game to Fresno State, 7–4, the Jayhawks rebounded against host Tennessee for a 3–2 win. Jayhawk Freshman Jamie Splittorff, son of former Kansas City Royal Paul Splittorff, got the win for KU going 8 innings. KU then trounced Rutgers, 8–2, and Clemson, 9–1, to set up the all-important re-match with Fresno State. Jayhawk coach Dave Bingham turned to Walker, who had been a reliever all season for KU, to start the Regional Final. Walker didn't disappoint as he pitched a complete game and the Jayhawks won in 10 innings, with some late game magic. Down 2–1 in the bottom of the ninth with one out, Berblinger tripled. One out later, Berblinger scored on Josh Igou's infield hit to force extra innings. In the tenth, Brent Wilhelm scored on Darryl Monroe's hot shot to short stop. Once in Omaha the joy was short-lived, as the Jayhawks lost to Texas A&M, and then Long Beach State for an early exit.
The Jayhawks returned to the Regionals in 1994, earning a bid to the Atlantic II Regional in Tallahassee, Fla.
The Jayhawks would once again find themselves in a regional in the 2006 NCAA Division I baseball tournament after winning the 2006 Big 12 Conference baseball tournament. That year KU traveled to Corvallis, Oregon for the Corvallis Regional. KU went 1–2 and did not advance.
The Jayhawks made the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball tournament as a 3 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional and went 2–2. They went 1–1 against 2-seed Coastal Carolina, defeated 4-seed Dartmouth, and were finally knocked out by 1-seed and regional winner North Carolina in the last game of the regional.
In 2014, the Jayhawks made their 5th NCAA tournament appearance, but were eliminated after losing 8-6 against Kentucky and finishing 1–2 in the Louisville Regional.
Kansas in the NCAA tournament 1993 4–3 College World Series 7th place, Mideast Regional Champions 1994 1–2 Atlantic II Regional 2006 1–2 Corvallis Regional 2009 2–2 Chapel Hill Regional 2014 1–2 Louisville Regional 2025 0–2 Fayetteville Regional 2026 3–0 Lawrence Super Regional, Lawrence Regional Champions 12–13
First team All-Americans 1954 – John Trombold, OF (ABCA) 1980 – Matt Gundelfinger, DH (ABCA) 1993 – Jeff Berblinger, 2B (NCBWA) 1996 – Josh Kliner, 2B (ABCA, Baseball America) 2006 – Don Czyz, P (NCBWA)
MLB players
Current Kansas has 1 active player in the MLB, Ryan Zeferjahn, who currently pitches for the Los Angeles Angels. Rob Thomson, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, played for Kansas from 1983 to 1985.Kansas Jayhawks in Pro Ball
Former Player Year(s) Team(s) AwardsBob Allison1958–70Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins1959 AL Rookie of the Year, 3-time All-StarFerrell Anderson1946,1953Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals Jeff Berblinger1997St. Louis Cardinals Herb Bradley1927–1929Boston Red Sox 1984New York Yankees Chuck Dobson1966–71, 73–75Kansas City / Oakland A's, California Angels Bob Edmundson1906,08Washington Senators Dale Gear1896–97, 1901Cleveland Spiders, Washington Senators Tom Gorzelanny2005-2016Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians Harry Huston1906Philadelphia Phillies Skip James1977–78San Francisco Giants Steve Jeltz1983–90Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals Larry Miller1964–66Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets John Nelson2006St. Louis Cardinals Ray Pierce1924–26Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies Steve Renko1969–83Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Oakland A's, Boston Red Sox, California Angels, Kansas City Royals Curt Schmidt1995Montreal Expos Roger Slagle1979New York Yankees Scott Taylor1995Texas Rangers Les Walrond2003, 2006, 2008Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies
See also List of NCAA Division I baseball programs
References
2009 Kansas Baseball Quick Facts Kansas Baseball History
External links