Duke Blue Devils baseball
The Duke Blue Devils baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of Duke University, based in Durham, North Carolina, United States. The team has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since the conference's founding in the 1954 season. The program's home venue is the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened in 1995. Chris Pollard has been the head coach of the team since the 2013 season. As of the end of the 2019 season, the Blue Devils have appeared in three College World Series and 10 NCAA tournaments. They have won three ACC Championships. As of the start of the 2021 Major League Baseball season, 36 former Blue Devils players have played in Major League Baseball.
Duke Blue Devils baseball | |
---|---|
2023 Duke Blue Devils baseball team | |
Founded | 1903 |
University | Duke University |
Head coach | Chris Pollard (11th season) |
Conference | ACC Coastal Division |
Location | Durham, North Carolina |
Home stadium | Durham Bulls Athletic Park (Capacity: 10,000) |
Nickname | Blue Devils |
Colors | Duke blue and white[1] |
College World Series appearances | |
1952, 1953, 1961 | |
NCAA regional champions | |
2018, 2019, 2023 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1961, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
Southern Conference: 1951 Atlantic Coast Conference: 2021 | |
Regular season conference champions | |
SIAA: 1904 Southern Conference: 1929, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1951, 1952, 1953 Atlantic Coast Conference: 1956, 1957, 1961 |
History
The baseball program began varsity play in 1889.[2] Led by Arthur Bradsher's 13–1 record they won the S.I.A.A. championship in 1904. The Trinity hurler struck out 169 batters during that championship season and walked only four batters the entire season.
The vast majority of the program's successes came under head coaches Jack Coombs and Ace Parker from 1929–1966. Coombs led the Blue Devils to five Southern Conference championships and to a fifth-place finish in the 1952 College World Series.[2] Taking over upon Coombs' retirement after the 1952 season, Parker led Duke to the 1953 and 1961 College World Series, one Southern Conference championship, and three Atlantic Coast Conference championships.[2] In 2016, Duke earned their first bid to the NCAA tournament since their 1961 College World Series run, ending a 55-year drought.[3] Head coach Chris Pollard continued this success, leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, the Blue Devils defeated NC State at the 2021 ACC tournament, winning their first ever ACC Championship.[4]
Steroid controversy
In 2005, the program was the target of a controversy involving the use of anabolic steroids.[5] Five former players told the Duke Chronicle that head coach Bill Hillier had pressured players to use steroids, with two of those players admitting to having injected steroids in 2002.[5] In an open letter published in the Chronicle, another former player, Evan Anderson, confirmed that Hillier had pressured players to use steroids.[6] While Hillier denied the accusations, he was replaced as head coach after the 2005 season.[5]
Conference affiliations
- Southern Conference − 1929–1953
- Atlantic Coast Conference − 1954–present
Head coaches
Year(s) | Coach | Seasons | W–L–T | Pct |
---|---|---|---|---|
1901 | Mr. Schock | 1 | 6–5 | .545 |
1902–1907 | Otis Stocksdale | 6 | 76–37–4 | .650 |
1908–1914 | M.T. Adkins | 7 | 104–67–4 | .594 |
1915–1916 | Claude West | 2 | 14–26–3 | .326 |
1917 | Frank Manush | 1 | 4–6–1 | .364 |
1919 | Lee Gooch | 1 | 19–4–2 | .760 |
1920 | Chick Doak | 1 | 10–9 | ..526 |
1921 | Pat Egan | 1 | 10–8–1 | .526 |
1922 | Herman G. Steiner | 1 | 12–6 | .667 |
1923–1924 | Howard Jones | 2 | 31–8 | .795 |
1925 | Bill Towe | 1 | 9–9 | .500 |
1926–1928 | G.B. Whitted | 3 | 28–29–1 | .483 |
1929–1952 | Jack Coombs | 24 | 381–171–3 | .686 |
1953–1966 | Ace Parker | 14 | 166–162–4 | .500 |
1966–1967 | James Bly | 2 | 15–34 | .306 |
1968–1970 | Tom Butters | 3 | 43–53–1 | .443 |
1971–1977 | Enos Slaughter | 7 | 68–120 | .362 |
1978–1984 | Tom D'Armi | 7 | 125–98–2 | .556 |
1985–1987 | Larry Smith | 3 | 61–58–4 | .496 |
1988–1999 | Steve Traylor | 12 | 356–286–1 | .554 |
2000–2005 | Bill Hillier | 6 | 121–214 | .361 |
2006–2012 | Sean McNally | 7 | 192–198–1 | .492 |
2013–present | Chris Pollard | 10 | 278–199 | .583 |
Totals | 1,928–1,644–34 | .539 |
Year by year record
Season | Coach | Record | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | Conference | |||
1889 | Unknown | 0–0–1 | — | |
1890 | 0–1 | — | ||
1891 | No Team | |||
1892 | No Team | |||
1893 | No Team | |||
1894 | No Team | |||
1895 | No Team | |||
1896 | Unknown | 7–1 | — | |
1897 | 7–3 | — | ||
1898 | 4–4–1 | — | ||
1899 | 11–6 | — | ||
1900 | 8–4 | — | ||
1901 | Mr. Schock | 6–5 | — | |
1902 | Otis Stocksdale | 12–8 | — | |
1903 | 9–5–1 | — | ||
1904 | 14–3–2 | — | SIAA champions | |
1905 | 14–6–1 | — | ||
1906 | 8–7 | — | ||
1907 | 19–8 | — | ||
1908 | M. T. Adkins | 17–3–1 | — | |
1909 | 18–7 | — | ||
1910 | 16–10–3 | — | ||
1911 | 16–9 | — | ||
1912 | 11–13 | — | ||
1913 | 15–13 | — | ||
1914 | 10–11 | — | ||
1915 | Claude West | 8–9–1 | — | |
1916 | 6–17–1 | — | ||
1917 | Frank Manush | 4–6–1 | — | |
1918 | No Team Due To World War I | |||
1919 | Lee Gooch | 19–4–2 | — | |
1920 | Chick Doak | 10–9 | — | |
1921 | Pat Egan | 10–8–1 | — | |
1922 | Herman G. Steiner | 12–6 | — | |
1923 | Howard Jones | 17–4 | — | |
1924 | 14–4 | — | ||
1925 | Bill Towe | 9–9 | — | |
1926 | G.B. Whitted | 7–12 | — | |
1927 | 8–10 | — | ||
1928 | 13–7–1 | — | ||
Southern Conference | ||||
1929 | Jack Coombs | 13–5 | — | |
1930 | 17–5 | — | State Champions | |
1931 | 11–4 | — | State Champions | |
1932 | 15–7 | — | ||
1933 | 12–7 | — | ||
1934 | 20–4 | — | ||
1935 | 24–3 | — | ||
1936 | 18–7 | — | ||
1937 | 22–2 | — | Southern Conference Champions, State Champions | |
1938 | 18–3 | — | Southern Conference Champions, State Champions | |
1939 | 22–2 | — | Southern Conference Champions, State Champions | |
1940 | 16–7 | — | ||
1941 | 14–11 | — | ||
1942 | 15–7 | — | ||
1943 | 8–4 | — | ||
1944 | 9–7 | — | ||
1945 | 9–7 | — | ||
1946 | 15–8 | — | Big Four Champions | |
1947 | 18–10 | 13-6 | Big Four Champions, State Champions | |
1948 | 15–12 | — | ||
1949 | 12–17–1 | 9-13 | ||
1950 | 11–18 | — | ||
1951 | 17–8 | — | Southern Conference Champions, Southern Conference Tournament champions, Co-Big Four Champions | |
1952 | 31–7 | 18-3 | Southern Conference Champions, College World Series (5th place) | |
1953 | Ace Parker | 22–10 | — | Southern Conference Champions, College World Series (5th place) |
Atlantic Coast Conference | ||||
1954 | Ace Parker | 10–13 | 5–9 | |
1955 | 10–11 | 6–6 | ||
1956 | 16–12–2 | 12–3–1 | ACC Champions | |
1957 | 19–8 | 10–4 | ACC Champions | |
1958 | 9–11 | 7–5 | ||
1959 | 9–16 | 5–10 | ||
1960 | 13–8–1 | 9–4–1 | ||
1961 | 16–11 | 11–3 | ACC Champions, College World Series (5th place) | |
1962 | 13–12–1 | 6–8 | ||
1963 | 15–10 | 8–6 | ||
1964 | 4–21 | 0–12 | ||
1965 | 8–17 | 5–9 | ||
1966 | Ace Parker/James Bly | 13–12 | 9–9 | |
1967 | James Bly | 9–20 | 2–12 | |
1968 | Tom Butters | 12–19 | 7–13 | |
1969 | 12–18–1 | 7–13 | ||
1970 | 17–16 | 10–11 | ||
1971 | Enos Slaughter | 15–14 | 4–10 | |
1972 | 12–16 | 3–7 | ||
1973 | 7–17 | 2–10 | ||
1974 | 9–16 | 3–8 | ||
1975 | 9–18 | 2–10 | ||
1976 | 7–23 | 1–11 | ||
1977 | 9–16 | 1–7 | ||
1978 | Tom D'Armi | 12–21 | 1–10 | |
1979 | 12–18 | 1–11 | ||
1980 | 17–11 | 2–9 | ||
1981 | 29–10 | 6–6 | ||
1982 | 16–13–1 | 3–7 | ||
1983 | 14–12–1 | 1–8–1 | ||
1984 | 25–13 | 3–8 | ||
1985 | Larry Smith | 18–15–3 | 5–8–1 | |
1986 | 25–17 | 2–12 | ||
1987 | 18–26–1 | 3–14 | ||
1988 | Steve Traylor | 10–35 | 3–16 | |
1989 | 20–23 | 2–14 | ||
1990 | 28–25 | 4–15 | ||
1991 | 24–27 | 6–15 | ||
1992 | 38–16 | 12–12 | ||
1993 | 39–19–1 | 11–13 | ||
1994 | 33–20 | 16–8 | ||
1995 | 30–27 | 4–20 | ||
1996 | 39–19 | 11–13 | ||
1997 | 33–25 | 9–14 | ||
1998 | 38–20 | 8–15 | ||
1999 | 24–31 | 4–18 | ||
2000 | Bil Hillier | 17–41 | 5–19 | |
2001 | 23–33 | 10–13 | ||
2002 | 24–34 | 4–20 | ||
2003 | 18–36 | 2–21 | ||
2004 | 25–31 | 8–16 | ||
2005 | 14–39 | 5–25 | ||
2006 | Sean McNally | 15–40 | 6–24 | |
2007 | 29–25 | 8–22 | ||
2008 | 37–18–1 | 10–18–1 | ||
2009 | 35–24 | 15–15 | ||
2010 | 29–27 | 8–22 | ||
2011 | 26–30 | 7–23 | ||
2012 | 21–34 | 9–21 | ||
2013 | Chris Pollard | 26–29 | 9–21 | |
2014 | 33–25 | 16–14 | ||
2015 | 31–22 | 10–19 | ||
2016 | 33–24 | 14–15 | NCAA Regional | |
2017 | 30–28 | 12–18 | ||
2018 | 40–15 | 18–11 | NCAA Super Regional | |
2019 | 35–27 | 15–15 | NCAA Super Regional | |
2020 | 12-4 | 2-1 | ||
2021 | 33-22 | 16-17 | ACC Tournament champions, NCAA Regional | |
2022 | 22-32 | 10-20 | ||
2023 | 39-24 | 16-13 | NCAA Super Regional |
NCAA tournament record
Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1952 | 1–2 | .333 | College World Series (6th place) |
1953 | 1–2 | .333 | College World Series (6th place) |
1956 | 3–3 | .500 | District 3 |
1957 | 3–2 | .600 | District 3 |
1961 | 3–2 | .600 | College World Series (6th place) |
2016 | 0–2 | .000 | Columbia Regional |
2018 | 5–3 | .625 | Lubbock Super Regional |
2019 | 4–2 | .667 | Nashville Super Regional |
2021 | 1–2 | .333 | Knoxville Regional |
Individual awards
ACC Baseball Player of the Year
- Ryan Jackson (1994)
ACC Baseball Coach of the Year
- Tom D'Armi (1981)
- Steve Traylor (1992)
Current and former major league players
- Wayne Ambler
- Bob Brower
- Greg Burke
- Chris Capuano
- Bobby Coombs
- Claude Corbitt
- John Courtright
- Brandy Davis
- Crash Davis
- Ron Davis
- Mort Flohr
- Nate Freiman
- Lee Griffeth
- Dick Groat
- Alex Hassan
- Bryce Jarvis
- Ryan Jackson
- Footer Johnson
- Wade Lefler
- Bill McCahan
- Quinton McCracken
- Tim McKeithan
- Pete Naktenis
- Dan Otero
- Ace Parker
- John Poff
- Graeme Stinson
- Scott Schoeneweis
- Frank Seward
- Eddie Shokes
- Dave Smith
- Al Spangler
- Marcus Stroman
- Eric Tipton
- Mike Trombley
- Hal Wagner
- Ken Weafer
- Billy Werber
2019
In the 2019 MLB draft five Blue Devils were selected. Pitcher Graeme Stinson was selected 128th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays, Pitcher Ben Gross was selected by the Minnesota Twins, Kennie Taylor was taken in the 14th round by New York Mets, Adam Laskey was chosen 582nd overall by the Chicago Cubs, and Bryce Jarvis was drafted in the 37th round by the New York Yankees, but chose not to sign and returned to Duke.[9]
2020
In the 2020 MLB draft three Blue Devils were selected. Junior Pitcher Bryce Jarvis was selected 18th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks,[10] Jordan Walker was selected 21st overall by the St. Louis Cardinals[11] Evan Carter was chosen 50th overall by the Texas Rangers[12]
World Series Champions
References
- "Duke Athletics Quick Facts". GoDuke.com. September 5, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- "2013 Media Guide" (PDF). GoDuke.com. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- Information Sports, Duke (June 27, 2016). "Duke Baseball: 2016 Season in Review". Duke Athletics. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- lyttle, Steve (May 30, 2021). "Duke shuts out NC State to win ACC baseball championship its first in 60 years". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- "STEROID CHARGES ROCK DUKE BASEBALL". Duke Chronicle. 14 April 2005. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- Anderson, Evan (18 April 2005). "Steroid allegations are accurate". Duke Chronicle. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- "Duke University (Durham, NC) Baseball Players".
- "Blue Devils in Major League Baseball". GoDuke.com. Duke Blue Devils. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- Smith, Shane (June 4, 2019). "Five Duke baseball players selected in the 2019 MLB Draft". Duke Chronicle. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- Information Sports, Duke (June 10, 2020). "Jarvis Selected 18th overall by Arizona Diamondbacks". Duke Athletics. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- Information Sports, Duke (June 10, 2020). "Walker Selected 21st overall in 2020 MLB Draft". Duke Athletics. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- Information Sports, Duke (June 11, 2020). "Carter Selected 50th overall in 2020 MLB Draft". Duke Athletics. Retrieved June 11, 2020.