50 Former Gators to Attend Baseball Alumni Game
Thursday, January 25, 2001 | Baseball
Fifty former Gator baseball players are expected to attend the annual Florida Baseball Alumni Game Saturday at McKethan Stadium.
Highlighting the list of former Gators expected to play include former Gator Greats Eric Castaldo, David Eckstein, Mark Ellis, Josh Fogg, Kurt Keene, Dave Majeski, Matt McClendon, Tim Olson, John Pricher, David Ross and Chris Wiggs.
Festivities begin at 10 a.m. at McKethan Stadium with an autograph session for fans. Gator baseball posters will be available. Admission is free for the entire day.
Following the autograph session, alumni members will play a three inning Legends game at 11 a.m. After the Legends game, Florida's varsity will play the Alumni team in a seven inning contest beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Florida opens its 2001 season next weekend with a two-game series vs. Miami at McKethan Stadium on Feb. 3-4. Season ticket information is available by calling the Gator ticket office at 1-800-34-GoUF.
The Gators return 22 letterwinners from a squad that finished 44-23-1 (18-11-1 SEC), appeared in the school's 18th NCAA Regional and advanced to both the NCAA Regional and SEC Tournament championship games. In addition, head coach Andy Lopez welcomes 16 newcomers to the squad. Florida opened spring practice on January 9th.
2001 FLORIDA BASEBALL ALUMNI GAME
When: Saturday, January 27, 2001
Times: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: McKethan Stadium
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Time Event
9 a.m. Batting Practice at McKethan Stadium
10 a.m. Autograph Tables set up for current Florida players
11 a.m. Florida Legends Baseball Game (3 innings)
12:30 p.m. Florida Gator Varsity vs. Alumni Team (7+ innings)
3 p.m. Florida Men's Basketball Game vs. South Carolina in the O'Connell Center
2001 FLORIDA BASEBALL ALUMNI GAME PARTICIPANTS
Johnny Arnette, C, 1954-56
Recorded a hit and drove in a run in his only at bat during 1955 season.
Jason Beaird, INF, 1990-91
Hit .286 during the 1991 season and member of Florida's 1991 College World Series campaign… Hit .267 in 1990 season. Academic All-SEC in 1991.
John Blanton, 2B, 1972-73
Hit .333 during 1972 season… Batted .265 in 34 AB's in 1973 campaign… Also ranks fifth on the team with three stolen bases.
Tommy Bond, P, 1995-98
Four-year letterman started 13 games for the Gators in 1998 season… Finished with a 5-1 record and 4.19 ERA, third best on the team… Drafted in 25th round of 1998 draft by Anaheim Angels… Finished his Gator career with a 14-5 record and holds Gator post-season record with five career starts… Member of 1996 and 1998 College World Series teams.
Eric Castaldo, C, 1993-96
A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection… Batted .317 with eight home runs and 39 RBI's in helping Florida to 1996 College World Series… Named the SEC and NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team's catcher in 1996.
Chris Chism, OF, 1995-96
Hit .337 during 1996 campaign, starting in 49 games… Also had seven doubles, four home runs and 32 RBI.
Tony Dobies, OF 1968-71
Led 1970 team with .336 average, nine doubles, and 21 RBI… Started 41 of 44 games… Started all 45 games in 1971, batting .297… Led team with six home runs, ten doubles, 46 hits, and 27 RBI.
Matt Duncan, 3B, 1995-96
Drafted in 1993 Amateur draft by Chicago Cubs in 17th round… Played two years at UF… Hitting .299 in 1996 with five home runs and 29 RBI.
David Eckstein, 2B, 1994-97
Among Florida's career top-10 in 11 categories, including hits doubles, and runs… Two-time GTE Academic All-American (1996, 97)… Two-Time All-SEC (1995, 1996) and three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection (1995-97)… Batted .338 with nine home runs, 60 RBI and a team high 34 stolen bases in 1996 season… Currently plays in Boston Red Sox organization.
Rick Eckstein, INF/OF, 1996
Played one season at UF, notching six RBI in 20 starts on Florida's 1996 College World Series squad… Served as a volunteer assistant coach for 1997 and 1998 seasons… All three Gator teams he either played or coached on went to the post-season.
James Eidam, OF, 1994-95
Batted .264 in 52 games for Florida during 1995 season… Led team with 10 home runs… Also produced 34 RBI… Six doubles 35 runs.
Mark Ellis, SS, 1996-99
Ninth round draft pick of Kansas City Royals in the 1999 Major League Baseball First-year Player Draft… Part of two Gator College World Series teams (1996, 1998) and two SEC titles… Holds Gator career records in hits, at bats, runs, doubles, and total bases… Also third in Gator history with 164 career RBIs.
Josh Fogg, RHP, 1996-98
Earned six All America honors… Member of two Florida College World Series teams… Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 1998 Major League Baseball First-year Player Draft in the third round with 89th overall pick...First Team All-America selection in 1998 (Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America) as one of the top closers in the nation...One of two pitchers in school history to make 100 or more appearances...Ranks second all-time with 103 appearances...Tied for second all-time with 22 career saves.
Michael Gray, P, 1997-98
Pitched to an 8-2 record and 4.58 ERA in 24 appearances for 1998 Gator baseball squad… Eight wins were third best on the team… Had a 3-3 record with a 5.58 ERA in 27 appearances in 1997… Ranked fifth on the team with 56 strikeouts.
Brian Haught, OF, 1996-00
Batted .308 with two home runs and 11 RBI's in 2000… Recorded 44 RBI with nine home runs during 1997 campaign and hit .294 for his Gator career.
Bob Hawkins, 1965-66
Gathered 7 RBI in 36 career at bats during 1965 and 1966 seasons.
Todd Johannes, C, 1996-99
Started 34 games at catcher for Gators in 1999 season… Hitting .228 with one home run and nine RBI… Drafted in 35th round of 1999 Major League Baseball Draft by Montreal Expos… Member of 1992 AAU national championship team.
Jim Joiner, C, 1975-78
Power leader for Gators in 1975 and 1976 seasons… Led the teams with eight and seven home runs respectively… Also second on team in RBI in both seasons.
Chet Justice, P, 1992-93
Transfer from Sante Fe Community College… Posted a 3.18 ERA in seven games during 1992 season… Was 1-0 with a 6.48 ERA in 1993.
Dean Kent, OF, 1993-95
Hit .274 with three home runs and 12 RBI over 31 games in 1995.
Kurt Keene, INF, 1999-2000
Broke a single season Gator record with 103 hits in 2000 season… Finished 2000 second on team with .365 average… Also hit six homeruns with 61 RBI… Batted .300 with seven homeruns and 37 RBI in 1999 campaign… Transfer from Tennessee where he was a Freshman All-American, batting .368 with 13 homeruns.
Palmer Knight, C, 1991-93
Started five games and hit .222 in 1993 season… Third on team with .314 average in 23 games during 1992 season.
Chris Knollen, P, 1996-97
Third on 1997 Gator squad with 5.37 ERA… Finished 5-0 with two saves over 65.1 innings… Posted 2-2 record in 11 appearances during 1996, helping Florida to a 1996 College World Series appearance.
Wes Larson, P, 1954-56
Led 1956 team with 1.45 ERA and 3-1 record… Third on team with 19 strikeouts.
Jack Ledoux, OF, 1947-49
Tops on 1948 team with two homeruns and .316 average… Second on squad in hits, RBI, and at bats.
Bob Lightner, 1969-70
Member of 1969 and 1970 Gator teams.
Jack Luzzo, 1964,66
Member of 1964 and 1966 Gator teams.
Dave Majeski, OF, 1989-92
Among the top ten in eight Gator career statistical categories… Led 1992 team with .342 average… All SEC selection in 1992.
Matt McClendon, RHP, 1997-99
Ranks third on Gator career charts in starts and seventh in strikeouts… Finished his Gator career with a 17-14 record, making 42 career starts… Earned Honorable Mention Freshman All-American Honors in 1997 after starting 29 games and posting a 7-6 record with 68 strikeouts… Fifth round draft pick by Atlanta Braves in 1999 Major League Baseball Draft.
Todd McCray, P, 1989-90
Tops on 1990 Gator squad with 6-2 record… Struck out 46 batters in 59 innings… Started ten games in 1989, posted a 4-2 record and 4.32 ERA… Third on team with 75 innings.
Don McCreary, P, 1958-60
Record three hits and two RBI in seven games of action in 1958 season.
Shane McGinnis, 3b, 1992-93
Started 51 games for Gators in 1993… Hitting .253 with ten home runs and 30 RBI.
Tim Olson, OF, 2000
First Team All-SEC selection in 2000, led Gators with .394 average and 75 RBI… Second on team with 15 homeruns… 2000 honors include: Baseball Weekly All-American Second Team, ABCA/Rawlings All-American Second Team, Baseball America All-American Third Team, Collegiate Baseball All-American Third Team, and All-SEC Tournament Team… Drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks in 7th round of 2000 Major League Draft.
Matt Parker, RHP, 1992-94, 96
Pitched three years at Florida (1992-94, 96)… Two-time SEC Academic honor roll selection… Finished career with 11 appearances and 21.2 innings pitched.
Dayne Piercefield, OF, 1960-61
Third on 1961 team with 12 runs scored… Batted .213 with 16 hits and one triple.
John Pricher, P, 1989-92
Appeared in a team high 37 games for 1992 Gators… Posted a 7-4 record with 3.00 ERA in 60 innings… Also led team with 11 saves… Led Gators with a 6-3 record and 2.71 ERA during 1990 season.
Ted Rich, 2B, 1988-90, 92
Batted .264 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI in 1992 season… Homeruns and RBI totals were second best on team… Started all 64 games.
Sergio Rodriguez, P, 1996-99
Third on 1999 Gator squad with 4.58 ERA… Posting a 2-0 record in 23 appearances… Ranks seventh all-time in UF appearances with 72… Ranks third in pickoffs with 14.
David Ross, C, 1998
Transfer from Auburn batted .332 with 19 homeruns and 69 RBI in his only season with the Gators… Homeruns and RBI were both second on the team in helping the 1998 Gator squad to the College World Series… Drafted in 7th round by Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.
Shane Seroyer, OF, 1996-99
Former walk on… Gathered seven RBI in 23 career games… Made seven starts with a .250 average in 1997.
Steve Schnell, 1954
Member of Gators' 1954 squad.
Mike Smalley, P, 2000
Transfer from Florida State, developed into team ace… Compiling a 6-9 record with a 5.55 ERA… Led the team in starts with 17, 99 innings pitched, and 76 strikeouts… A 2000 All-SEC Tournament Team member.
Tony Socarras, C, 1999-2000
Emerged in senior season to lead 2000 Gators in homeruns with 19… The mark tied a UF season record for a catcher… Finished with a .300 average and 64 RBI… .Started 64 games, all at catcher… Hit .300 with two home runs in 18 games during junior year in 1999… Drafted in 18th round of 2000 draft by Anaheim Angels.
Chris Wiggs, 3B, 1994-95
Earned All-SEC honors in 1995 after hitting .374 with four home runs and 42 RBI… His .374 average, 82 hits, 16 doubles and two triples led the team.
Edmund "Ned" Woolfolk, P, 1965-67
Finished 196 season 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA… Hit .300 in 1966 while compiling a 1-1 record.
John Worley, C, 1979-80
Batted .284 with 21 hits, two doubles, and 23 runs scored in 1980… Hit .245 during 1979 campaign.
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