Indiana State Sycamores baseball


The Indiana State Sycamores baseball team is the NCAA Division I baseball program of Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2024. Their first season was 1896. The Sycamores have had 12 All-Americans, 26 Major Leaguers, and more than 2,200 victories. The team's most successful season was in 1986, when the team appeared in the College World Series and finished with a record of 48–21. The Sycamores have appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024.
They appeared in the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1958 and won the NAIA "Midwest" District Championship in 1964. In 2013, the 1958 team was honored on the 55th Anniversary of their appearance at the NAIA Baseball World Series.
Past coaches include John Wooden, Bob Warn, former ISU and MiLB'er Paul L. Wolf, Wally Marks and Mitch Hannahs. The Sycamores play their home games at Sycamore Stadium at Bob Warn Field.

Division I NCAA tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in 13 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships. Their combined record is 16–26; they won the 1986 Mideast Regional and the 2023 Terre Haute Regional; they reached Regional Finals in 1989, 2019 and 2024.
YearResultGames
1979Midwest Regional0–2
1983Mideast Regional0–2
1984Mideast Regional1–2
1986Mideast Regional3–0
1986College World Series0–2
1987Central Regional1–2
1989South Regional2–2
1995Midwest II Regional1–2
2012Eugene Regional0–2
2014Bloomington Regional0–2
2019Nashville Regional2–2
2021Nashville Regional1–2
2023Terre Haute Regional3–0
2023Fort Worth Super Regional0–2
2024Lexington Regional2–2

National awards (2)

All-Americans (17)

Most Valuable Player

Conference (reg. season)

  • 2012 Jeremy Lucas, C Missouri Valley Conference
  • 2023 Connor Fenlong, RHP Missouri Valley Conference
  • 2023 Grant Magill, C Missouri Valley Conference

    Conference Tournament (6)

  • 1979 Wallace Johnson, 2B Missouri Valley Conference
  • 1986 Dave Travis, DH Missouri Valley Conference
  • 1989 Larry Russell, OF Missouri Valley Conference
  • 1995 Jeff Leaman, 3B/P Missouri Valley Conference
  • 2019 Chris Ayers, OF/DH Missouri Valley Conference
  • 2023 Randal Diaz, IF Missouri Valley Conference

    All-Conference (113)

Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State baseball media guide at www.gosycamores.com

All-Indiana Collegiate Conference (35)

All-Missouri Valley Conference (87)

Conference specialty (12)

Pitcher of the Year (2)

  • Geremy Guerrero – 2021
  • Connor Fenlong – 2023

    Defensive Player of the Year (3)

  • Tyler Wampler – 2014
  • Jake Means – 2019
  • Grant Magill – 2023

    MVC Newcomer of the Year (5)

  • Rich Angell – 1998
  • Clint Barmes – 2000
  • Tim Brewer – 2005
  • Collin Liberatore – 2019
  • Aaron Beck – 2021

    MVC Freshman of the Year (2)

  • Mitch Stetter – 2000
  • Ryan Keaffaber – 2014

    Career leaders

Batting average

  • Bird appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI.

    Hits

  • Bob Zeihen holds the National NCAA career record for triples

    HRs

Wins

ERA

Strikeouts

Sycamores in MLB

While long-time baseball great Tommy John is an alumnus of Indiana State; he did not play baseball for the Sycamores as he attended classes around his professional baseball schedule. Future New York Yankees-great, Don Mattingly, declined his baseball scholarship from Coach Bob Warn after he was drafted by the New York Yankees.
Bill Hayes had 2 "cups-of-coffee" in the majors but would go on to a long career as a minor league manager before beginning a 15-year coaching career with the San Francisco Giants, winning 3 World Series Championships ; in December 2014, he was named first base coach for the Giants. Long-time college basketball coach Ron Felling was a 2-year letterman for the Sycamores.
In addition, basketball legend Larry Bird appeared in two games for the Sycamores, in the spring of 1979, following the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Indiana State has placed over 75 Sycamores in the minors, of which 27 have reached the major leagues or Negro major leagues. They are by order of appearance:
#PlayerPrimary TeamCareer
1Junius BibbsKansas City Monarchs1933–1944
2Jeff JamesPhiladelphia Phillies1968–1969
3Danny LazarChicago White Sox1968–1968
4Bill HayesChicago Cubs1980–1981
5Wallace JohnsonMontreal Expos1981–1990
6Rick GrapenthinMontreal Expos1983–1985
7Zane SmithAtlanta Braves1984–1996
8Brian DorsettCincinnati Reds1984–1996
9Tim BarrettMontreal Expos1988
10Mike GardinerBoston Red Sox1990–1995
11Tom GillesToronto Blue Jays1990–1990
12Blaise IlsleyChicago Cubs1994–1994
13David DosterPhiladelphia Phillies1996, 1999
14Chuck SmithFlorida Marlins2000–2001
15Clint BarmesColorado Rockies2003–2015
16Alex GramanNew York Yankees2003–2004
17Mitch StetterMilwaukee Brewers2007–2011
18Joe ThatcherSan Diego Padres2007–2015
19Brian OmogrossoChicago White Sox2012–2013
20Jake PetrickaChicago White Sox2013–2021
21Colin ReaMilwaukee Brewers2015–present
22Ryan StrausborgerTexas Rangers2015
23Nevin AshleyMilwaukee Brewers2015
24Sean ManaeaOakland A's2016–present
25Andy YoungArizona Diamondbacks2020–2021
26Dakota BacusWashington Nationals2020
27Hunter OwenPittsburgh Pirates2021

Major League Baseball All-Stars

Coaching leaders

  • - John Wooden was a graduate student while he coached the baseball team

    Coaching honors

Conference Coach of the Year (10)

Hall(s) of Fame

  • 1985 - Wallace Johnson - Indiana State University Hall of Fame
  • 1987 – Paul Wolf – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 1988 – Don Jennings – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 1989 – Howard Sharpe – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 1990 – Bob Warn – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 2000 – Bob Warn – Iowa Western Hall of Fame
  • 2002 - Junius "Rainey" Bibbs - Indiana State University Hall of Fame
  • 2002 – 1986 Baseball Team – Indiana State University Hall of Fame
  • 2002 – Bob Warn – Indiana State University Hall of Fame
  • 2002 – Paul Gries – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 2003 – Bob Warn – American Baseball Coach's Association
  • 2007 – Brian Dorsett – Indiana State University Hall of Fame
  • 2008 – Brian Dorsett – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 2011 – Junius "Rainey" Bibbs – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 2014 - Lou Giovanini – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 2020 - Clint Barmes – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
  • 2021 - Sean Manaea – Indiana State University Hall of Fame
  • 2022 - Steve Ruckman - Frontier League Hall of Fame