VMI Keydets baseball

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VMI Keydets
Baseball current event.svg 2024 VMI Keydets baseball team
VMI Keydets logo.svg
Founded1866
University Virginia Military Institute
Head coach Sam Roberts (2nd season)
Conference Southern
Location Lexington, Virginia
Home stadium Gray–Minor Stadium
(Capacity: 1,400)
Nickname Keydets
ColorsRed, white, and yellow [1]
     

The VMI Keydets baseball team represents the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. [2] The team is a member of the Southern Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. VMI's first baseball team was fielded in 1866. The team plays its home games at Gray–Minor Stadium in Lexington, Virginia. The Keydets are coached by Sam Roberts.

Contents

History

In fall 1866, just two years after the Virginia Military Institute had been burned down by David Hunter and the Union Army, a group of cadets got together and created the Institute's first organized baseball team. It was the first organized team from any sport. In the inaugural season, the Keydets had an astounding mark of 20–1–2, playing among in-state rivals such as Washington and Lee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Randolph-Macon and Hampden-Sydney, and continuously so for the next several decades.

In 1921, the team started playing at recently built Alumni Memorial Field along with the football team. Both squads had, up to that point, been playing on the Parade Ground. It was not until the 1960s that the baseball team shifted to Patchin Field, and most recently in 2007, began playing in Gray-Minor Stadium.

Despite having many winning seasons throughout the 20th century and into the last decade, the Keydets have never been able to make the NCAA tournament. The 1993 team came closest to breaking the barrier with a run to the Southern Conference finals, and despite being an 8th seed, VMI upended three higher-seeded teams before bowing down to eventual champion Western Carolina.

Year-by-year results

YearRecord (Conference)Coach
19504–14 (2–7)Frank Summers
19511–20 (0–12)Frank Summers
19521–13 (1–8)Vince Ragunas
19537–7 (4–4)Chuck Noe
195412–6 (6–4)Chuck Noe
195512–8 (6–7)Chuck Noe
195612–10 (7–7)Jack Null
19578–13 (4–6)Jack Null
19584–12 (2–8)Jack Null
19595–11 (5–10)Weenie Miller
19606–8 (5–8)Weenie Miller
19617–7 (6–6)Weenie Miller
19628–7 (7–7)Charlie McGinnis
196314–11 (7–7)Charlie McGinnis
196411–12–1 (5–9)Charlie McGinnis
196515–9 (8–6)Charlie McGinnis
196610–13 (6–10)Fred Kelly
19679–11 (7–9)Fred Kelly
19687–8 (3–5)Chuck Roys
196910–12 (8–7)Chuck Roys
19706–13 (4–9)Tom Sawyer
19715–24 (1–15)Tom Sawyer
19726–19 (3–13)Phil Tucker
19733–14 (0–11)Phil Tucker
19746–14 (5–9) Donny White
19752–18 (1–13)Jerry Roane
19766–23 (2–12)Jerry Roane
19775–19 (2–12)Vern Beitzel
19782–27 (0–14)Vern Beitzel
19796–25 (0–15)Vern Beitzel
19804–22 (0–12)Vern Beiztel
19813–37 (0–16)Jim Rowsey
198211–29 (6–10)Donny White
198311–25 (5–9)Donny White
198416–18 (6–7)Donny White
198516–24 (8–10)Donny White
198615–25 (7–11)Donny White
198716–16–1 (8–4)Donny White
198820–20 (11–7)Paul Maini
198916–23 (8–7)Paul Maini
199012–26 (6–8)Paul Maini
19912–35–1 (1–15)Paul Maini
199211–39 (4–15) Chris Finwood
199320–29 (5–15)Chris Finwood
199421–29 (10–13)Chris Finwood
199519–28 (10–14)Scott Gines
199617–29 (7–16)Scott Gines
199713–35 (6–13)Scott Gines
199814–35 (7–17)Scott Gines
199922–27 (13–16)Scott Gines
200019–30 (11–19)Scott Gines
200115–32 (8–19) Tom Slater
200210–41 (1–27)Tom Slater
200325–27 (16–14)Tom Slater
200423–32 (4–20) Marlin Ikenberry
200527–28 (11–13)Marlin Ikenberry
200630–25 (9–15)Marlin Ikenberry
200734–21 (10–11)Marlin Ikenberry
200829–26 (14–7)Marlin Ikenberry
200918–35 (10–15)Marlin Ikenberry
201033–22 (13–14)Marlin Ikenberry
201127–24–1 (14–13)Marlin Ikenberry
201216–36 (7–17)Marlin Ikenberry
201320–35 (6–18)Marlin Ikenberry
201425–23 (11–16)Marlin Ikenberry

VMI and MLB

VMI has had 31 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965. [3]

The 1938 film, Brother Rat is set at the Virginia Military Institute. The film features Eddie Albert as the VMI baseball team's star pitcher, and Ronald Reagan as his catcher. The film's plot centers on Albert and Reagan as they attempt to win the big baseball game against rival Virginia. Portions of the film were shot on location at the VMI campus in Lexington. In 1940, the film was followed by a sequel, Brother Rat and a Baby , featuring the same lead cast members. The sequel film's plot centered on the since-graduated Albert's attempt to get a job as a baseball coach at his alma mater. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Military Institute</span> Public college in Lexington, Virginia, US

The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is a public senior military college in Lexington, Virginia. It was founded in 1839 as America's first state military college and is the oldest public senior military college in the United States. In keeping with its founding principles and unlike any other senior military college in the United States, VMI enrolls cadets only and awards bachelor's degrees exclusively. The institute grants degrees in 14 disciplines in engineering, science, and the liberal arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alumni Memorial Field</span>

Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Lexington, Virginia, United States. It opened in 1962. It is home to the Virginia Military Institute Keydets football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Hall (arena)</span>

Cameron Hall is a 5,029–seat multi-purpose arena in Lexington, Virginia. It was built in 1981 and is home to the Virginia Military Institute Keydets basketball team. Although mainly used for basketball, the arena also holds VMI's commencement every May, as well as other large-scale events. It was named after brothers Bruce and Daniel Cameron, VMI Class of 1938 and 1942, respectively.

<i>Brother Rat</i> 1938 film by William Keighley

Brother Rat is a 1938 American comedy drama film about cadets at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, directed by William Keighley, and starring Ronald Reagan, Priscilla Lane, Eddie Albert, Jane Wyman, and Wayne Morris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMI Keydets football</span> Football program representing the Virginia Military Institute

The VMI Keydets football team represents the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. The Keydets compete in the Southern Conference of the NCAA Division I FCS, and are coached by Danny Rocco, named head coach on December 3, 2022. VMI plays their home contests at 10,000-seat Alumni Memorial Field, as they have since 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray–Minor Stadium</span>

Gray–Minor Stadium is a 1,400-seat facility home to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets baseball team in Lexington, Virginia. It is named after Elmon T. Gray and Gil Minor, graduates of VMI in 1946 and 1963, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patchin Field</span>

Patchin Field is a 1,000 seat facility that is home to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets men's and women's soccer teams, along with being the practice facility for the VMI lacrosse team. Patchin Field is built over top of Woods Creek, along with VMI's baseball facility, Gray–Minor Stadium. Paulette Hall contains locker rooms for VMI baseball, lacrosse, and men's and women's soccer. Patchin Field is named after Herb Patchin, an athletic trainer at VMI for thirty-four years.

The 2010 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute during the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 120th football season, which dates back to 1891. In his 3rd year at VMI, the Keydets were led by head coach Sparky Woods, who became the VMI's 30th all-time football coach in 2008. VMI plays its home games at Alumni Memorial Field, as they have since 1962.

The 2011 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute during the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Big South Conference. The 2011 season was the Keydets 121st season overall, and their 9th in the Big South. They finished with a 2–9 overall record and 2–4 in the Big South under 4th year head coach Sparky Woods. They played their games at Alumni Memorial Field, as they have since 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Classic of the South</span> American college football rivalry

The Military Classic of the South is an American college football rivalry game played between The Citadel and the Virginia Military Institute. The first game between the two military schools was in 1920. The game has been played nearly continuously since World War II; since then, only five seasons have seen the game not played.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMI–William & Mary football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The VMI–William & Mary football rivalry between the VMI Keydets and the William & Mary Tribe is a match-up between two historic public universities, the Virginia Military Institute and the College of William and Mary, in the state of Virginia. While the rivalry has lost intensity since William & Mary departed from the Southern Conference in 1977, the Tribe and Keydets maintain the series through frequent non-conference match-ups. The series is the second-longest for William & Mary, and the longest for VMI at 88 games. The football series began in 1905 and has been played a total of 89 times as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond–VMI football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Richmond–VMI football rivalry is a college football rivalry played between the VMI Keydets and the Richmond Spiders, representing the Virginia Military Institute and University of Richmond, respectively. The series began in 1893, two years after VMI fielded its first football team in 1891, and three years after Richmond's first football team was formed in 1890.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 VMI Keydets baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2014 VMI Keydets baseball team represented the Virginia Military Institute during the 2014 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Keydets played their final season as a member of the Big South Conference, as they returned to the Southern Conference in 2014–15. VMI was led by 11th-year head coach Marlin Ikenberry, and they play their home games out of Gray–Minor Stadium.

The VMI Keydets basketball teams represented the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. The program began in 1908, and played their games out of Cormack Field House until 1981, when the construction of Cameron Hall was completed. The Keydets were members of the Southern Conference. Their primary rival is The Citadel.

The 2015 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 125th football season and the Keydets were led by first year head coach Scott Wachenheim. They played their home games at 10,000–seat Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium, as they have since 1962. This was VMI's second season as a member of the Southern Conference, following 11 seasons in the Big South Conference, which followed 78 years in the Southern Conference. They finished the season 2–9, 1–6 in SoCon play to finish in last place.

The 2021 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The Keydets were led by seventh-year head coach Scott Wachenheim and played their home games at Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 VMI Keydets basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2021–22 VMI Keydets basketball team represents the Virginia Military Institute in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Keydets, led by seventh-year head coach Dan Earl, play their home games in Cameron Hall in Lexington, Virginia as members of the Southern Conference. They finished the regular season 16–15, 9–9 in SoCon play to finish in a tie for fifth place. As the No. 5 seed in the SoCon tournament, they lost to Wofford in the quarterfinals. They accepted an invitation to play in the College Basketball Invitational tournament marking their first postseason tournament appearance since 2014. As a No. 8 seed, they lost to No. 9-seeded UNC Wilmington in the first round.

The 2022 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Keydets were led by eighth-year head coach Scott Wachenheim and played their home games at Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington, Virginia.

The 2024 VMI Keydets football team will represent the Virginia Military Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Keydets will be coached by second-year head coach Danny Rocco and play at Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington, Virginia.

References

  1. ↑ VMI Visual Identity Standards Manual (PDF). Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Virginia Military Institute Keydets" . Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  3. ↑ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from "Virginia Military Institute (Lexington, VA)"". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Warner Archive Wednesday ~ Brother Rat (1938) and Brother Rat and a Baby (1940)". outofthepastblog.com. March 12, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
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