Michigan Wolverines baseball


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.
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.
The team is currently coached by Tracy Smith, who replaced Erik Bakich who left Michigan to coach at Clemson.

Championships

NCAA College World Series National Championships

Conference Championships

Conference Tournament championships

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 Conway1891–1892222–9–1
Frank Sexton1896, 1901–1908338–22
Charles F. Watkins1897–1898, 1900316–17
Henry T. Clarke1898–1899214–5
R.C. "Skel" Roach1903112–5
Jerome Utley1904110–5
Lew "Sport" McAllister1905–1906, 1908–1909458–17–1
Bobby Lowe1907111–4–1
Branch Rickey1910–1913468–32–4
Carl Lundgren1914–1920793–43–6
Ray Fisher1921–195838636–295–8
Don Lund1959–1962480–53–3
Moby Benedict1963–197918367–252–5
Bud Middaugh1980–198910465–146–1
Bill Freehan1990–19956166–167–1
Geoff Zahn1996–20016163–169–2
Chris Harrison2002121–32
Rich Maloney2003–201210341–244
Erik Bakich2013–202210328–216
Tracy Smith2023–present260–56

Year-by-year results

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Wolverines.
YearCoachRecordNotes
2021Erik Bakich27–19NCAA Regional
2022Erik Bakich34–28NCAA Regional
2023Tracy Smith28–28
2024Tracy Smith32–28
2024Tracy Smith33–23

Michigan in the NCAA tournament

YearRecordPctNotes
19534–1.800College World Series
19612–2.500NCAA District 4 Regional
19628–2.800College World Series
19753–2.600NCAA Mideast Regional
19763–1.750NCAA Mideast Regional
19772–2.500NCAA Midwest Regional
19784–2.667College World Series
19804–2.667College World Series
19814–3.571College World Series
19835–2.714College World Series
19843–2.600College World Series
19853–2.600NCAA South I Regional
19860–2.000NCAA Mideast Regional
19871–2.333NCAA Northeast Regional
19882–2.500NCAA Central Regional
19893–2.600NCAA West II Regional
19992–2.500NCAA South Bend Regional
20051–2.333NCAA Atlanta Regional
20061–2.333NCAA Atlanta Regional
20073–3.500NCAA Corvallis Super Regional
20081–2.333NCAA Ann Arbor Regional
20152–2.500NCAA Louisville Regional
20170–2.000NCAA Chapel Hill Regional
20199–4.692College World Series
20210–2.000NCAA South Bend Regional
20222–2.500NCAA Louisville Regional
TOTALS72–54.5742 National Championships, 8 CWS Appearances

First Team All-Americans

Individual honors

Retired numbers

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

Big Ten Player of the Year

  • Jim Paciorek
  • Rick Stoll
  • Barry Larkin
  • Casey Close
  • Jim Abbott
  • Scott Weaver
  • Nate Recknagel
  • Jordan Brewer

    Big Ten Pitcher of the Year

  • Larry Carroll
  • Jim Brauer
  • Zach Putnam
  • Connor O'Halloran

    Big Ten Freshman of the Year

  • Scott Weaver
  • Jason Alcaraz
  • Jake Bivens

    Big Ten Coach of the Year

  • Geoff Zahn
  • Rich Maloney

    Big Ten Batting Title

  • Bill Freehan
  • Carl Cmejrek
  • Elliott Maddox
  • Rick Leach
  • George Foussianes
  • Tony Evans
  • Jim Paciorek, Ken Hayward
  • Fred Erdmann
  • Randy Wolfe
  • Casey Close
  • Scott Timmerman
  • Scott Weaver
  • Dominic Clementi

    University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

The following 35 Michigan Wolverines baseball players and coaches have been inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor:
  • Bill Freehan – baseball
  • Bennie Oosterbaan – football, basketball, baseball, basketball coach, football coach
  • Ray Fisher – baseball coach
  • George Sisler – baseball
  • Buck Giles – baseball
  • Harry Kipke – football, basketball, and baseball
  • Whitey Wistert – football and baseball
  • Bud Chamberlain – baseball
  • Jack Tompkins – hockey and baseball
  • Elmer Gedeon – track and baseball
  • Dick Wakefield – baseball
  • Elroy Hirsch – football, basketball, baseball, and track
  • Bob Chappuis – football and baseball
  • Don Lund – football, baseball, basketball, and coaching
  • Doug Roby – football and baseball
  • Branch Rickey – baseball coach
  • David M. Nelson – football and baseball
  • Ernie McCoy basketball, football, basketball coach, and assistant athletic director
  • Jack Blott – football and baseball
  • Bruce Haynam – baseball
  • Frank Nunley – football and baseball
  • Forest Evashevski – football and baseball
  • Jack Weisenburger – football and baseball
  • Moby Benedict – baseball and coaching
  • Dominic Tomasi – football and baseball
  • Steve Boros – baseball
  • Herman Fishman – basketball and baseball
  • Bill Mogk – baseball
  • Jim Abbott – baseball
  • J. Daniel Cline – football and baseball
  • Barry Larkin – baseball
  • Larry Carroll - baseball
  • David Campbell – baseball
  • Rick Leach – football and baseball
  • Casey Close – baseball
  • Jim Paciorek – baseball

    Wolverines in MLB

PlayerPositionTeamYearsWorld Series|
Jim AbbottPitcherCAL, NYY, CHW, MIL1989–19990
Pete AppletonPitcherCIN, CLE, BOS, NYY, WSH, CHW, SLB1927–19450
Fred BlandingPitcherCLE1910–19140
Frank BlissCatcher/Third BasemanMLG18780
Jack BlottCatcherCIN19240
Steve BorosThird BasemanDET, CHC, CIN1957–19650
Frank BowermanCatcherBLN, PIT, NYG, BSN1895–19090
James BourquePitcherWSN2019–present0
Jim BurtonPitcherBOS1975–19770
Dave CampbellSecond BasemanDET, SDP, STL, HOU1967–19740
Mike CervenakThird BasemanPHI20080
Jeff CriswellPitcherCOL2024–present0
Jake CronenworthSecond BasemanSDP2020–present0
Kelly DransfeldtShortstopTEX, CHW1999–20040
Don EaddyThird BasemanCHC19590
Hal ElliottPitcherPHI1929–19320
Jack EnzenrothCatcherSLB, KCP1914–19150
Danny FifePitcherMIN1973–19740
Fritz FisherPitcherDET19640
Jake FoxUtilityCHC, OAK, BAL2007–20110
Bill FreehanCatcher'1961–19761
Elmer GedeonCenterfielderWSH19390
Johnny GeePitcherPIT, NYG1939–19460
Chris GetzSecond BasemanCHW, KCR, TOR2008–20140
Bob GlennPitcherSTL19200
Tommy HenryPitcherARI2022–present0
John HerrnsteinFirst Baseman/LeftfielderPHI, CHC, ATL1962–19660
John HibbardPitcherCHC18840
Rich HillPitcherCHC, BAL, BOS, CLE, LAA, NYY, OAK, LAD, MIN, TBR, NYM, PIT, SDP2005–present0
Steve HowePitcher', MIN, TEX, '1980–19962
Mike IgnasiakPitcherMIL1991–19950
Mike JoycePitcherCHW1962–19630
Scott KamienieckiPitcher', BAL, CLE, ATL1991–20001
Karl KauffmannPitcherCOL2023–present0
Red KilleferOutfielder/Second BasemanDET, WSH, CIN, NYG1907–19160
Mike KnodeOutfielder/Second BasemanSTL19200
Ray KnodeFirst BasemanCLE1923–19260
Dennis KonuszewskiPitcherPIT19950
Bobby KoreckyPitcherMIN, ARI, TOR2008–20140
Ryan LaMarreOutfielderCIN, BOS, OAK, MIN, CHW, NYY2015–present0
Chick LathersThird Baseman/Second BasemanDET1910–19110
Doc LavanShortstopSLB, PHA, WSH, STL1913–19240

PlayerPositionTeamYearsWorld Series|
Barry LarkinShortstop'1986–20041
Rick LeachOutfielder/First BasemanDET, TOR, TEX, SFG1981–19900
Dick LeMayPitcherSFG, CHC1961–19630
Don LundOutfielderBRO, SLB, DET1945–19540
Tom LundstedtCatcherCHC, MIN1973–19750
Elliott MaddoxCenterfielder/Third BasemanDET, WSA/TEX, NYY, BAL, NYM1970–19800
Mike MathenyCatcherMIL, TOR, STL, SFG1994–20060
Bill McAfeePitcherCHC, BSN, WSH, SLB1930–19340
Hal MorrisFirst BasemanNYY, ', KCR, DET1988–20001
Bud MorseSecond BasemanPHA19290
Kirt OjalaPitcher'1997–19991
Steve OntiverosPitcherOAK, PHI, SEA, BOS1991–19950
Jim PaciorekFirst Baseman/Third BasemanMIL19870
Slicker ParksPitcherDET19210
Jack PerrinRightfielderBOS19210
Ted PetoskeyCenterfielderCIN1934–19350
Ross PowellPitcherCIN, HOU, PIT1993–19950
Zach PutnamPitcherCLE, COL, CHC, CHW2011–20170
J. J. PutzPitcherSEA, NYM, CHW, ARI2003–20140
Glenn RedmonSecond BasemanSFG19740
Bob ReedPitcherDET1969–19700
Clayton RichardPitcherCHW, SDP, CHC, TOR2008–20190
Branch RickeyCatcherSLB, NYY1905–19140
Leon RobertsOutfielderDET, HOU, SEA, TEX, TOR, KCR1974–19840
Bill RomanFirst BasemanDET1964–19650
Chris SaboThird Baseman', BAL, CHW, STL1988–19961
Bobby ScalesLeftfielder/Third BasemanCHC2009–20100
Frank SextonPitcherBSN18950
Brian SimmonsOutfielderCHW, TOR1998–20010
Bert SincockPitcherCIN19080
George SislerFirst BasemanSLB, WSH, BSN1915–19300
Ted SizemoreSecond BasemanLAD, STL, PHI, CHC, BOS1969–19800
Lary SorensenPitcherMIL, STL, CLE, OAK, CHC, MON, SFG1977–19880
Ernie VickCatcher1922–19261
Dick WakefieldLeftfielderDET, NYY, NYG1941–19520
Fleet WalkerCatcherTOL18840
Welday WalkerLeftfielderTOL18840
Gary WaynePitcherMIN, COL, LAD1989–19940
Whitey WistertPitcherCIN19340
Geoff ZahnPitcherLAD, CHC, MIN, CAL1973–19850
Bill ZeppPitcherMIN, DET1969–19710

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.