Michigan Wolverines baseball

Last updated
Michigan Wolverines
Baseball current event.svg 2025 Michigan Wolverines baseball team
Michigan Wolverines logo.svg
Founded1866;159 years ago (1866)
University University of Michigan
Athletic director Warde Manuel
Head coach Tracy Smith (3rd season)
Conference Big Ten Conference
Location Ann Arbor, Michigan
Home stadium Ray Fisher Stadium
(Capacity: 4,000)
Nickname Wolverines
ColorsMaize and blue [1]
   
College World Series champions
1953, 1962
College World Series runner-up
2019
College World Series appearances
1953, 1962, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2019
NCAA regional champions
1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2007, 2019
NCAA tournament appearances
1953, 1961, 1962, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
Conference tournament champions
1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2022
Conference regular season champions
1899, 1901, 1905, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1936, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008

The Michigan Wolverines baseball team represents the University of Michigan in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Michigan athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Ray Fisher Stadium.

Contents

The Wolverines have made the College World Series eight times, winning two national championships in 1953 and 1962. Michigan is the third winningest program in NCAA Division I baseball history, trailing only Fordham and Texas. [2] The team is currently coached by Tracy Smith, who replaced Erik Bakich who left Michigan to coach at Clemson.

1875 Michigan baseball team 1875 University of Michigan baseball team.jpg
1875 Michigan baseball team
1882 Michigan baseball team with Moses Fleetwood Walker. 1882 University of Michigan baseball team.jpg
1882 Michigan baseball team with Moses Fleetwood Walker.
1886 Michigan baseball team 1886 University of Michigan baseball team.jpg
1886 Michigan baseball team
1899 team - Michigan's first conference champions 1899 University of Michigan baseball team.jpg
1899 team – Michigan's first conference champions
1912 team - coached by Branch Rickey. 1912 University of Michigan baseball team.jpg
1912 team – coached by Branch Rickey.
1914 team - starring George Sisler. 1914 University of Michigan baseball team.jpg
1914 team – starring George Sisler.
Michigan's 1953 NCAA national championship team. 1953 University of Michigan baseball team (national champions).jpg
Michigan's 1953 NCAA national championship team.

Championships

NCAA College World Series National Championships

SeasonRecordHead coach
1953 21–9 Ray Fisher
1962 31–13 Don Lund

Conference Championships

SeasonConferenceRecordHead coach
1899 Big Ten 5–2H.T. Clarke
1901Big Ten8–2 Frank Sexton
1905Big Ten9–3 L.W. McAllister
1918Big Ten9–1 Carl Lundgren
1919Big Ten9–0Carl Lundgren
1920Big Ten9–1Carl Lundgren
1923Big Ten10–0 Ray Fisher
1924Big Ten8–2Ray Fisher
1926Big Ten9–2Ray Fisher
1928Big Ten11–1Ray Fisher
1929Big Ten7–2Ray Fisher
1936Big Ten9–1Ray Fisher
1941Big Ten10–2Ray Fisher
1942Big Ten10–2Ray Fisher
1944Big Ten8–0Ray Fisher
1945Big Ten8–0Ray Fisher
1948Big Ten10–2Ray Fisher
1949Big Ten8–4Ray Fisher
1950Big Ten9–3Ray Fisher
1952Big Ten8–4Ray Fisher
1953Big Ten10–3Ray Fisher
1961Big Ten10–2 Don Lund
1975Big Ten13–3 Moby Benedict
1976Big Ten9–4Moby Benedict
1978Big Ten13–3Moby Benedict
1980Big Ten14–2 Bud Middaugh
1981Big Ten10–4Bud Middaugh
1983Big Ten13–2Bud Middaugh
1984Big Ten11–5Bud Middaugh
1986Big Ten13–3Bud Middaugh
1987Big Ten13–3Bud Middaugh
1997Big Ten17–9 Geoff Zahn
2006Big Ten23–9 Rich Maloney
2007Big Ten21–7Rich Maloney
2008Big Ten26–5Rich Maloney

Conference Tournament championships

YearConferenceTournament LocationHead coach
1981 Big Ten Ray Fisher Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Bud Middaugh
1983Big TenRay Fisher Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIBud Middaugh
1984Big Ten Siebert Field, Minneapolis, MN Bud Middaugh
1986Big TenSiebert Field, Minneapolis, MNBud Middaugh
1987Big TenRay Fisher Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIBud Middaugh
1999Big Ten Bill Davis Stadium, Columbus, OH Geoff Zahn
2006Big TenRay Fisher Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Rich Maloney
2008Big TenRay Fisher Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIRich Maloney
2015Big Ten Target Field, Minneapolis, MN Erik Bakich
2022Big Ten Charles Schwab Field Omaha, Omaha, NE Erik Bakich

Stadium

The Wolverines play their home games in Ray Fisher Stadium. The stadium is named after Ray Fisher, who is the winningest coach in Michigan baseball history, with 636 victories and also the 1953 College World Series championship.

In 2008, alum and owner of the New York Mets MLB franchise, Fred Wilpon donated $9 million for the renovation of Fisher Stadium and Alumni Field. It is now known as the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex, but more commonly known as the Wilpon Baseball Complex.

NameYears
Ferry Field1923–1966
Ray Fisher Stadium1967–2007
Ray Fisher Stadium at Wilpon Baseball Complex2008–present

Head coaches

CoachYearsSeasonsRecordPct
Peter Conway 1891–1892222–9–1.703
Frank Sexton 1896, 1901–1908338–22.633
Charles F. Watkins 1897–1898, 1900316–17.485
Henry T. Clarke 1898–1899214–5.737
R.C. "Skel" Roach 1903112–5.706
Jerome Utley 1904110–5.667
Lew "Sport" McAllister 1905–1906, 1908–1909458–17–1.770
Bobby Lowe 1907111–4–1.719
Branch Rickey 1910–1913468–32–4.673
Carl Lundgren 1914–1920793–43–6.676
Ray Fisher 1921–195838636–295–8.682
Don Lund 1959–1962480–53–3.599
Moby Benedict 1963–197918367–252–5.592
Bud Middaugh 1980–198910465–146–1.761
Bill Freehan 1990–19956166–167–1.499
Geoff Zahn 1996–20016163–169–2.491
Chris Harrison 2002121–32.396
Rich Maloney 2003–201210341–244.583
Erik Bakich 2013–202210328–216.603
Tracy Smith 2023–present260–56.517

Year-by-year results

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Wolverines.

YearCoachRecordNotes
2021Erik Bakich27–19 NCAA Regional
2022Erik Bakich34–28 NCAA Regional
2023Tracy Smith28–28
2024Tracy Smith32–28
2024Tracy Smith33–23

Michigan in the NCAA tournament

YearRecordPctNotes
19534–1.800 College World Series (Champions)
19612–2.500 NCAA District 4 Regional
19628–2.800 College World Series (Champions)
19753–2.600 NCAA Mideast Regional
19763–1.750 NCAA Mideast Regional
19772–2.500 NCAA Midwest Regional
19784–2.667 College World Series (5th Place)
19804–2.667 College World Series (5th Place)
19814–3.571 College World Series (7th Place)
19835–2.714 College World Series (3rd Place)
19843–2.600 College World Series (7th Place)
19853–2.600 NCAA South I Regional
19860–2.000 NCAA Mideast Regional
19871–2.333 NCAA Northeast Regional
19882–2.500 NCAA Central Regional
19893–2.600 NCAA West II Regional
19992–2.500 NCAA South Bend Regional
20051–2.333 NCAA Atlanta Regional
20061–2.333 NCAA Atlanta Regional
20073–3.500 NCAA Corvallis Super Regional
20081–2.333 NCAA Ann Arbor Regional
20152–2.500 NCAA Louisville Regional
20170–2.000 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional
20199–4.692 College World Series (Runner-up)
20210–2.000 NCAA South Bend Regional
20222–2.500 NCAA Louisville Regional
TOTALS
72–54.5742 National Championships, 8 CWS Appearances

First Team All-Americans

PlayerPositionYear(s)Selectors
Bruce Haynam Shortstop 1953ABCA
Don Eaddy Third Base 1955ABCA
Ken Tippery Second Base 1957ABCA
Bill Freehan Catcher 1961ABCA
Jim Burton Pitcher 1971SN
Steve Howe Pitcher 1979SN
Rick Leach Outfield 1979SN
Jim Paciorek Outfield 1982ABCA, BA
Chris Sabo Third Base 1983BA, SN
Barry Larkin Shortstop 1984, 1985ABCA, BA, SN
Mike Watters Outfield 1985BA
Casey Close Outfield 1986ABCA, BA
Jim Abbott Pitcher 1988SN
Carmen Benedetti Designated Hitter 2015NCBWA
Jake Cronenworth Utility 2015ABCA
Source: "Baseball Record Book" (PDF). mgoblue.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.

ABCA: American Baseball Coaches Association BA: Baseball America CB: Collegiate Baseball NCBWA: National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association SN: Sporting News Denotes consensus All-American

Individual honors

Retired numbers

Michigan has retired six uniform numbers to date. Below is the detailed list: [3]

Retired numbers
No.PlayerPositionCareerNo. retired
1 Moby Benedict SS 1953–561979
11 Bill Freehan C 1959–611977
16 Barry Larkin SS 1983–852010
31 Jim Abbott P 1986–882009
33 Don Lund OF 1943–451999
44 Ray Fisher Coach 11921–582000

1 Never played for the Wolverines. He coached Michigan with a record 636 wins and led the team to 15 Big Ten championships apart from winning the 1953 College World Series.

National Awards

Golden Spikes Award Winner

Baseball America College Player of the Year

NCBWA National Coach of the Year

Conference Awards

Big Ten Player of the Year

Big Ten Pitcher of the Year

Big Ten Freshman of the Year

  • Scott Weaver (1993)
  • Jason Alcaraz (1996)
  • Jake Bivens (2015)

Big Ten Coach of the Year

Big Ten Batting Title

University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

The following 35 Michigan Wolverines baseball players and coaches (listed in order of induction) have been inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor:

Wolverines in the MLB

[6]

Barry Larkin Baseball barry larkin 2004.jpg
Barry Larkin
= Selected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame
= Major League Baseball All-Star Game participant

Note: Charlie Gehringer, Derek Jeter, and Ted Simmons are Baseball Hall of Fame inductees who were enrolled at Michigan, but never played for the baseball team.

Source: Baseball Reference

First-Round MLB Draft Picks

PickPlayerTeamPositionYear
13 Rick Leach Detroit Tigers OF 1979
16 Steve Howe Los Angeles Dodgers LHP 1979
25 Steve Perry Los Angeles Dodgers RHP 1979
14Rich Stoll Montreal Expos RHP 1983
4 Barry Larkin Cincinnati Reds SS 1985
8 Jim Abbott California Angels LHP 1988
28David Parrish New York Yankees C 2000

See also

References

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Michigan Wolverines baseball at Wikimedia Commons