Let’s start with the dinger, the tater, the four-bagger, the ever popular homerun.

Tom Haller was a steady and reliable (if not spectacular) catcher throughout the 60’s.  He did manage to consistently hit homeruns in the double digits for most of the career which puts his 134 mark at #1 on our list.

For hard-core Illini baseball fans, Darrin Fletcher (right) is remembered as one of the all-time best offensive players.  If there’s any doubt, check the record books… his name is mentioned all over the place.

Once he got to the majors, it took a few years to get going but once he had a nice stretch of seasons.  Playing for Montreal and Toronto, he hit in double figures in homers seven out of eight years between 1994-2001 with a career high of 20 in 2000.

Scott Spiezio is a recent one… his last season was with the St Louis Cardinals only three years ago.  Spiezio had a penchant for the playoffs with a total of 25 rbis in the postseason.  The versatile fielder did hit 119 homeruns in his career.  Trivia fact:  His dad Ed Spiezio who played in the majors in the 60s and 70s, also attended the University of Illinois.

Hoot Evers… now there’s a name not everyone knows.  Yet, the outfielder put together a string of decent seasons with the Detroit Tigers when he hit 73 homers between 1947-1952.  Altogether, Evers played for 12 seasons and his 98 dingers puts him 4th all time on the Illini list.

Lou Boudreau did just about every else right (which got him in the Hall of Fame) but wasn’t much of a power hitter.  He averaged under five homers a season.  He had a power surge in 1948 when he hit 18 and hit .355 and that was good enough to win the AL MVP.

All stats are courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Johnson shuts out the Boilermakers

There were more alumni festivities on Saturday at Illinois Field  (more on that below) and boy, did Illinois starting pitcher Kevin Johnson give the old ‘mates a show.  Not only did he pitch a complete game but he exacted revenge on the Purdue Boilermakers by shutting them out on a six hitter.  Illinois won tonight 7-0.

Yes, in case you’re wondering, that is the first complete game pitched by an Illini pitcher this season.  Here is the highlight reel from the Big Ten Network for tonight’s game:

Johnson was in command for most of the game, mowing down the Boilermakers, walking only two.  He had a bit of control trouble in the sixth with a walk then hitting a batter but managed to get out of it with no problem.  Other than that, it was all KJ.

McMurray reached base four times tonight

Well, not ALL KJ.  The Illini offense came to life tonight, too.  Willie Argo, Casey McMurray, Pete Cappetta, and Brandon Hohl all got two hits.  Argo made his count, too.  He got a rbi double in the fourth inning and a triple in the sixth when he eventually scored. 

For McMurray’s part, he was 2 for 2 with a double and 2 rbis and 2 runs.  Only two at-bats because he also walked twice. 

Willie Argo trots home to score

And for those keeping track, Willie Argo stole his 39th base tonight (a thirdbase jobber).  One more and he ties Kyle Hudson for the Illini team record.

Hmm… I wonder if Adam Davis got a haircut today to change the Illini’s luck?  I’ve heard of ballplayers doing stranger things. 

Davis before Friday’s game…

… and during Saturday’s game sans locks.

Well, If he did, it’s working.

That evens up the weekend series against Purdue and puts Illinois at 9-11 in the Big Ten.  The Big Ten web site has the latest standings up now.

Alumni Weekend

Illini alums and former MLB players Donn Pall and Darrin Fletcher were nice enough to pose for a photo

Speaking of alumni, there were lots and lots of former Illinois baseball players on hand to watch Kevin Johnson’s masterpiece tonight.  They lined the first base and thirdbase lines as former MLB pros and alums Donn Pall and Darrin Fletcher threw out the first balls. 

I got a chance to chat with former Illini closer Jake Toohey.  He was awesomely nice and even remembers when I covered the team when he played for the Illini and expressed his gratitude (that always makes me feel good).  He also said a few good words about the Illini’s current closer (hear that, Bryan?).

All my photos are in the photo gallery and here is the link to the slideshow.

One more game against Purdue.  Sunday’s game is at 1:05pm.  Starting for Illinois is ol’ reliable  Mr. TBA. 

Let’s get one more!

…and I missed it.

Here’s the question:  “Who’s is the one Illinois baseball player to have his uniform number retired by the University?”

Their were four choices:  Lou Boudreau, Darrin Fletcher, and quite honestly, I forgot the the other two choices. 

It was a tough choice but I went with Fletcher who was an absolute monster while he was here at the U of I.  A couple years ago, the News-Gazette’s Jeff Huth called Fletcher “the  greatest hitter in Illini history”.  An ‘87 graduate, Fletcher’s name still litters the Illinois Baseball record book more than 20 years later. 

He had the highest career batting average of any Illini baseball player.  He hit at an amazing .392 clip.  His senior season certainly contributed to that mark.  That is the season he hit .497 which is the highest single season batting average.  The list continues.  He is second in career rbis (199), fifth in career homeruns (38), and his 1987 season total of 147 total bases ranks sixth all-time.  All while playing a demanding position behind the plate. 

So I picked Fletcher.  Wrong choice.  The correct answer would have been Boudreau.  Mr Boudreau had his number retired in 1992.

I know a fair amount about Lou Boudreau as a major league ballplayer but quite honestly, I was a little ignorant about his time here at the University of Illinois.  So for  penance for my little transgression, I would make up for it by looking it up and learning a little about it.

 FightingIllini.com has Lou Boudreau’s obituary written back in 2001  from an Illini point of view.  There’s even a photo of Lou at his uniform retirement ceremony.

Facts about Lou Boudreau and his time at the University of Illinois:

• Competed at Illinois in 1937-38
• While he played baseball, of course, some say his better sport was basketball.
• He helped lead Illinois basketball team to the Big Ten title in 1937 and was named team captain in 1938.
• He hit .347 his sophomore year with 25 hits.
• During that sophomore year in 1937, he helped the Illini baseball team to the Big Ten championship
• According to SABR, Boudreau probably hit around .270-.285 for his career at the University of Illinois.
• While at Illinois, he worked out with the Cubs but turned down their offer when they offered him a contract. 

Statistics and facts are hard to come by when we’re talking about players in a time so long ago and a level not always covered adequately (i.e. college).  As a matter of fact, different websites (reputable ones) were making diametrically opposite statements.  Your mileage may vary. 

So Lou Boudreau, if you’re looking down at me, please forgive my mistake last weekend.  It won’t happen again.  But let’s face it, Darrin Fletcher was a hell of hitter.