Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball
Encyclopedia
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The 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...
Division I college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference
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...
and plays at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
Early years
Behind footballTexas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
and men's basketball
Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team represents Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition The team is currently coached by Billy Gillispie. Prior to Gillispie being named coach, the coach was Pat Knight who succeeded his father, Hall of Famer Bob...
, baseball is the third oldest sport at Texas Tech. The initial team organized in 1925 and the first game, an 18–9 victory over West Texas State Teachers College
West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University , part of the Texas A&M University System, is a public university located in Canyon, Texas, a small city south of Amarillo. West Texas A&M opened on September 20, 1910...
, was played in 1926. In the following game, the team suffered its first ever loss, 14–9 to the team it had previously defeated. The third game in the team's history—this one against Daniel Baker College
Daniel Baker College
Daniel Baker College was founded April 5, 1889 in Brownwood, Texas and was named in memory of the Rev. Dr. Daniel Baker, a Presbyterian circuit-riding minister, who helped organize the first presbytery in Texas in 1840 and Austin College in 1849....
—ended in a 3–3 tie after 11 innings.
E. Y. Freeland
E. Y. Freeland
-External links:* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
was the first coach of the Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
, though the team was known as the Matadors at the time. He remained in the position for three years before R. Grady Higginbotham
Grady Higginbotham
Roswell Grady Higginbotham was the first head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team. Leading it to a 14–18–0 record from 1925 to 1927....
took the role. Higginbotham coached for only two years. From 1930 to 1953, Tech did not field an intercollegiate baseball team. When the program returned in 1954, Beattie Feathers
Beattie Feathers
William Beattie "Big Chief" Feathers was an American football running back in the NFL. He played for the Chicago Bears, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Green Bay Packers during his seven year career. He was the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in one season...
became the head coach of the Red Raiders and remained until 1960. He was followed by Berl Huffman
Berl Huffman
-References:...
(1961–1967), Kal Segrist
Kal Segrist
Kal Hill Segrist is a former utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles . Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., Segrist batted and threw right-handed...
(1968–1983), and Gary Ashby
Gary Ashby
-References:...
(1984–1986). Upon Ashby's departure, Larry Hays
Larry Hays
Larry Hays was the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team from 1987 to 2008, and currently coaches women's softball at Lubbock Christian University.-Early life:...
became the head coach of the team.
Larry Hays era
Larry HaysLarry Hays
Larry Hays was the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team from 1987 to 2008, and currently coaches women's softball at Lubbock Christian University.-Early life:...
took over the Red Raiders baseball team in 1987. Under Hays, Texas Tech endured only two losing seasons, his first and last, and enjoyed their greatest success in baseball. Hays took Tech from having a losing tradition to being a national contender. When Hays started with the Red Raiders, the team's overall record stood at 550–576–5. By the time he left, he was the fourth-winningest coach is college baseball history and the team's record had improved to 1,365–1,054–8. The Red Raiders reached eight straight NCAA tournaments
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The 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....
from 1995–2002 and again in 2004, three of which were held at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. They also won two conference championships, in 1995 (while still in the Southwest Conference) and 1997, and two conference tournament championships, in 1996 and 1998.
Dan Spencer era
On June 2, 2008, Larry Hays announced his retirement, paving the way for assistant coach Dan SpencerDan Spencer
Dan Spencer is the head coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team. On April 29, 2008, Texas Tech Athletic Director Gerald Myers designated Spencer to become the head coach of the team once former head coach Larry Hays retired...
to take over. Spencer, a former Tech player, won back-to-back national championships as an assistant head coach for the Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers baseball
The Oregon State Beavers baseball team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Pacific-10 Conference. They are currently coached by Pat Casey and assistant coaches Marty Lees, David Wong, and Pat Bailey. They play home games in Goss...
.
Ballpark
Retired jerseys
| Retired baseball jerseys | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number | Player | Seasons |
| 22 | Brooks Wallace | 1977-1980 |
| 23 | Clint Bryant | 1977-1980 |
| 24 | Kal Segrist Kal Segrist Kal Hill Segrist is a former utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles . Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., Segrist batted and threw right-handed... |
1977-1980 |
| 27 | Larry Hays Larry Hays Larry Hays was the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team from 1987 to 2008, and currently coaches women's softball at Lubbock Christian University.-Early life:... (Coach) |
1987-2008 |
Red Raiders in the Major Leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Seven Red Raiders were taken in the 2008 MLB Draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
and three were drafted in 2009
2009 Major League Baseball Draft
The 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...
.
- Doug AultDoug AultDouglas Reagan Ault was a Major League Baseball first baseman/designated hitter who played for the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays . He batted right-handed and threw left-handed....
(1976–1980) - Josh BardJosh BardJoshua David Bard is an American professional baseball catcher and designated hitter who is a free agent. Bard is a switch-hitter who throws right-handed....
(2002–present) - Dallas BradenDallas BradenDallas Lee Braden is a left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He was drafted out of Texas Tech University in the twenty fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by the Athletics...
(2007–present) - Mark BrandenburgMark Brandenburg (baseball)Mark Clay Brandenburg is a former middle-relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox . Brandenburg batted and threw right-handed...
(1995–97) - Stubby Clapp (2001)
- Joe DillonJoe DillonJoseph William Dillon is a Major League Baseball player who is currently in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He is a utility fielder...
(2005, 2007–present) - Travis DriskillTravis DriskillTravis Corey Driskill is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 215 pounds. He bats and throws right-handed...
(2002–07) - Donald Harris
- Chuck Harrison
- Mike Humphreys
- Keith GinterKeith GinterMilwaukee Brewers 2011Keith Michael Ginter is a former American Major League Baseball infielder now playing for the Orange County Flyers in the independent Golden Baseball League. Ginter is a graduate of Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California...
(2000–05) - Jeff Karstens (2006–present)
- Brandon KolbBrandon KolbBrandon Charles Kolb is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in and . He attended Monte Vista High School in Danville, California...
(2000–01) - Trey LunsfordTrey LunsfordJames Lewis "Trey" Lunsford is a former baseball catcher who last played in the San Francisco Giants farm system with the Double-A Norwich Navigators. Lunsford attended Central High School in San Angelo, Texas...
(2002–03) - Matt Miller
- Ryan Nye
- Chris SampsonChris SampsonChristopher Keith Sampson is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Sampson is 6'0". Sampson attended Texas Tech University, where he played for the Red Raiders....
(2006–09) - Travis SmithTravis Smith (baseball)Travis William Smith is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched five seasons in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Florida Marlins. He also pitched one season for the SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization.Smith played...
(1998–2006) - Zach Stewart (2011-present)
- Steve Watkins