The
Kansas State UniversityKansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
WildcatsKansas State University's athletic teams are called the Wildcats. The official color of the teams is Royal Purple, making Kansas State one of very few schools that have only one official color; white and silver are generally used as complementary colors.Kansas State participates in...
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team is a member of the
NCAAThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
and the
Big 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
, and is currently coached by Brad Hill. The program began in 1897. The Wildcats have made the
NCAA baseball tournamentThe 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from May 29 through June 24, 2009 and is part of the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams were selected out of an eligible 286 teams on May 25, 2009...
each year the past three seasons.
Kansas State's all-time record is 1,572-1,568-11, a winning percentage of (.499).
Venue
Kansas State plays their home games at
Frank Myers Field at Tointon Family StadiumFrank Myers Field at Tointon Family Stadium is a baseball stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. It is the home field of the Kansas State University Wildcats college baseball team. The stadium holds 2,000 people and opened for baseball in 1961...
. It was built in 1961, and re-dedicated in 2002 with some major improvements including a digital scoreboard, upgraded lockerroom facilities, coaches offices and more.
Recent history
In the 2008 season, the Wildcats finished in a tie with
BaylorBaylor Bears refers to the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and some women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference...
for sixth place in the
Big 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
. The Bears took two out of three games from the Wildcats in the regular season, thus the Wildcats earned the #7 seed (the top 8 teams earn a trip to the conference tournament). The Wildcats also earned births in the
Big 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
tournament in
the 2002 seasonThe 2002 Big 12 Baseball Tournament was for the first time held at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, TX from May 22nd through May 26th. Texas won their first tournament and earned the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament...
and
the 2007 seasonThe 2007 Big 12 Baseball Tournament was held at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, OK from May 23 through May 27. Texas A&M won the tournament and earned the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. This was the second year the conference used the...
.
2008 would be the first appearance in the
Big 12 Baseball TournamentThe Big 12 Baseball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Big 12 Conference . It is a two-group round robin tournament with the winners of each group facing each other in a one-game match for the championship...
championship game for K-State after beating
Oklahoma StateOklahoma State Cowboys are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. Their mascot is a cowboy named Pistol Pete. Oklahoma State participates in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big 12 Conference's South Division. The university's current athletic director is Mike Holder...
and
BaylorBaylor Bears refers to the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and some women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference...
. The Wildcats fell to
NebraskaThe Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team is a member of the Big Ten Conference in the NCAA, and is currently coached by Darin Erstad. The program started in 1889....
in round-robin play, but still earned a birth in the championship game when Nebraska lost 2 of their 3 games. The Wildcats were outmatched by the
Texas LonghornsThe Texas Longhorns baseball team represents The University of Texas at Austin and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.The Texas Longhorns are the winningest program in college baseball history in terms of win percentage with .740 and ranks second all-time in total wins to the...
in the finals, 15-7, falling just short of the
2008 NCAA Division I Baseball TournamentThe 2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from May 30 through June 25, 2008 and was part of the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams were selected out of an eligible 286 teams on May 26, 2008...
.
2009 was a record setting year for the Wildcats. They set a new school record for wins with 43, which broke the mark set in 1976 of 35. They also made their first appearance in the
NCAA TournamentThe NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
, traveling to Rice University to participate in the Houston Regional. Continuing a record season, the Wildcats made an appearance in the championship game of the regional, beating Xavier and Rice University the first two games to come within one game of advancing to the Super Regional round. Kansas State has won 30 games five of the last six seasons.
Also in 2009, Brad Hill was named Big 12 Coach of the Year and A.J. Morris was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, as well as First Team All-American.
As of the
2009 Major League Baseball DraftThe 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.The drafting order is as follows:-First-round selections:Key-Supplemental first-round selections:From Baseball America...
, 18 Wildcats have been drafted under the tuteladge of Brad Hill.
Rivalry
Kansas State's main rival is the
Kansas JayhawksThe Kansas Jayhawks baseball team represents the University of Kansas and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.-History:Baseball has been played at the University of Kansas since 1880 and for a total of 118 seasons. The Jayhawks had a 1621-1550-16 all-time record entering the 2009...
. They play every year in the
Sunflower ShowdownThe Sunflower Showdown is the series of athletic contests between Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, most notably football and men's basketball. The name is derived from the official nickname for the state of Kansas: the Sunflower State....
. The two schools split home-field advantage every year, with one team hosting one game, and the other team hosting two games. The two schools alternate the games every year.
Recent history
| TEAM |
YEAR |
Overall |
Conference |
Postseason |
| Kansas State |
2003 |
15-37 |
5-22 |
|
| Kansas State |
2004 |
26-30 |
4-23 |
|
| Kansas State |
2005 |
30-25 |
8-19 |
|
| Kansas State |
2006 |
31-20-2 |
8-17-2 |
|
| Kansas State |
2007 |
34-24 |
11-16 |
Big 12 Tournament Participant The 2007 Big 12 Baseball Tournament was held at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, OK from May 23 through May 27. Texas A&M won the tournament and earned the Big 12 Conference's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. This was the second year the conference used the...
|
| Kansas State |
2008 |
29-29 |
11-16 |
Big 12 Tournament Runner Up The 2008 Big 12 Baseball Tournament was held at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, OK from May 21st to May 25th, 2008. This was the third year the conference uses the round robin tournament setup...
|
| Kansas State |
2009 |
43-17-1 |
14-10-1 |
Big 12 Tournament Participant The 2009 Big 12 Baseball Tournament was held at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, OK from May 20th to May 24th, 2009. This was the fourth year the conference uses the round robin tournament setup. The winners of each group at the end of the round robin face each other in a one-game match...
- NCAA Regionals ParticipantThe 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from May 29 through June 24, 2009 and is part of the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams were selected out of an eligible 286 teams on May 25, 2009...
|
| Kansas State |
2010 |
37-22 |
14-12 |
Big 12 Tournament Participant The 2010 Big 12 Baseball Tournament is held at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, OK from May 26th to May 30th, 2010. This is the fifth year the conference uses the round robin tournament setup. The winners of each group at the end of the round robin face each other in a one-game match for...
- NCAA Regionals ParticipantThe 2010 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament began on Friday, June 4, 2010 as part of the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 team double elimination tournament concluded with the 2010 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.-National seeds:...
|
| Kansas State |
2011 |
36-23 |
12-14 |
Big 12 Tournament Participant The 2011 Big 12 Baseball Tournament was held at RedHawks Ballpark in Oklahoma City, OK from May 25th to May 29th, 2011. After five years using the round robin tournament setup, the 2011 Big XII Tournament switched back to the format used from 1999 to 2005, which consisted of two separate four-team...
- NCAA Regionals ParticipantThe 2011 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament began on Friday, June 3, 2011 as part of the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 team double elimination tournament will conclude with the 2011 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska on June 29, 2011....
|
Former Wildcats in Major League Baseball
- Nine former Wildcats have played at least one game in the Majors.
| Name |
Years at KSU |
Years in MLB |
Team(s) |
| Josh Billings |
1910 |
1913-23 |
Cleveland Naps, St. Louis Browns The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
|
Elden AukerElden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
|
1929-32 |
1933-42 |
Detroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, St. Louis Browns |
| Butch Nieman Elmer Le Roy "Butch" Nieman was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Boston Braves from 1943 to 1945. He played collegiately at Kansas State University from 1938-39. He was a native of Herkimer, Kansas....
|
1938-39 |
1943-45 |
Boston BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
|
Ted PowerTheodore Henry Power is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1981-1993 for eight different teams.Power was born on January 31, 1955 in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The right-handed pitcher and right-handed batter went to college at Kansas State University...
|
1974-76 |
1981-93 |
Los Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Cincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Kansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Pittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Cleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Seattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
|
| Bob Randall Robert Lee Randall ais a former professional baseball second baseman. He played five seasons in Major League Baseball from 1976 until 1980, all for the Minnesota Twins....
|
1967-69 |
1976-80 |
Minnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
|
| Andy Replogle |
1973-75 |
1978-79 |
Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
|
| Kite Thomas |
1947 |
1952-53 |
Philadelphia A's The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Washington Senators |
| Craig Wilson |
1989-92 |
1998–2000 |
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
|
| Carlos Torres Carlos Torres is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-College:Torres first began his collegiate career at San Jose State University, pitching in 20 games, in...
|
2004 |
2009-10 |
Chicago White Sox |
Conference Membership History
- 1905–1912: Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. It is commonly called "The Kansas Conference", and as the name implies, all members are located in Kansas...
- 1913–1927: Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
- 1928–1995: Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
(known as Big Six 1928-47 and Big Seven 1948-57)
- 1996–Present: Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Sources