A Legacy on the Diamond: Exploring Auburn University Baseball History
Auburn University's baseball program boasts a rich history, filled with legendary players, memorable moments, and a passionate fan base. From its humble beginnings in the late 19th century to its current status as a competitive force in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Auburn baseball has consistently produced talented athletes who have made their mark on the sport. This article delves into the program's history, highlighting key figures, significant achievements, and the evolution of baseball on the Plains.
Early Years and Notable Figures
Auburn University's baseball journey began in 1895, laying the foundation for a program that would eventually garner national recognition. One of the early stars to emerge from the program was Red Smith, who excelled both on the baseball diamond and the football field for the Tigers in 1908 and 1909. During Smith's tenure, the team compiled an impressive 28-11-2 record. Smith's talent extended beyond the university, as he also played for the Georgia Railway and Electric Company's semi-pro team during the summers. In 1910, he embarked on a professional baseball career, joining the South Carolina-based Anderson Electricians.
Smith's journey eventually led him to the major leagues, where he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1911. He later became a valuable asset to the "Miracle" Boston Braves team that clinched the 1914 World Series title. Traded to the Braves midseason, Smith quickly established himself, leading the team in hitting during his 60-game stint. Unfortunately, a late-season injury prevented him from participating in the World Series.
Between 1913 and 1918, Smith consistently ranked among the top 10 position players in Major League Baseball. Renowned for his batting prowess, he was a consistent offensive threat, although his fielding skills were considered average. Despite leading all third basemen in errors from 1915 to 1918, he also topped the league in assists and putouts during much of the same period. His most remarkable season was arguably in 1913, when he recorded a .296 batting average, six home runs, and 22 stolen bases.
Coaching Changes and Program Evolution
The Auburn baseball program has seen its share of coaching changes throughout its history. Following the 2000 season, Hal Baird, who had served as head coach for many years, retired. Steve Renfroe was named as his successor. However, Renfroe's tenure was short-lived, as he was relieved of his duties in 2004. Tom Slater, an Auburn assistant coach during the 1990s, was then appointed as Renfroe's replacement. After only having 2 coaches in 38 years, Auburn was now on the second coach within a five-year period. Slater resigned after the 2008 season, and John Pawlowski took over as head coach. Pawlowski was fired in 2013, after failing to reach the NCAA tournament for three straight years. After Pawlowski's dismissal, Sunny Golloway was hired to lead the program, but he was later dismissed as well. In 2016, Auburn hired Butch Thompson as its baseball coach.
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Plainsman Park: Home of the Tigers
Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park has been the home of Auburn Tigers baseball. The field was named in 1997 to honor two former Auburn players, Billy and Jimmy Hitchcock. The Hitchcock brothers were athletes in the 1930s. Jimmy was Auburn's first All-American in football and baseball, and later coached the Tigers during the 1940s. Billy helped Auburn make its first bowl appearance in football, as well as, helping the Tigers claim their first SEC baseball title in 1937. In 2003, the stadium was renamed Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park after W. James "Jimmy" Samford passed.
Auburn Tigers in the Major Leagues: A Top 10 Ranking
Over the years, numerous Auburn baseball players have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. According to Baseball Reference, 52 Auburn men have played in the Majors. Here's a look at ten of the most successful, ranked by their career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) value:
Frank Thomas: Known as "The Big Hurt," Thomas is Auburn's only Baseball Hall of Fame member and the only SEC baseball player in Cooperstown. Drafted seventh overall in 1989, Thomas spent most of his career with the Chicago White Sox, where he won MVP awards in 1993 and 1994 and a batting title in 1997. He maintained a .301 average and hit over 500 home runs during his career, winning a World Series with the 2005 White Sox. Thomas was named All SEC every season at Auburn and All American in 1989.
Tim Hudson: A sixth-round draft choice, Hudson exceeded expectations to become one of the best starters of his generation. Playing alongside David Ross at Auburn, Hudson had a standout season in 1997, earning All-SEC honors as both a pitcher and outfielder, as well as All-American recognition. He batted .396 with 18 home runs and posted a 15-2 record with a 2.97 ERA on the mound. Hudson was a four-time All-Star. He burst on to the scene in Oakland in 1999, going 11-2 with a 3.23 ERA. He finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting. In 2000, he racked up 20 wins and finished second in the Cy Young race. In 2010, he won NL Comeback player of the year honors. Like Ross, Hudson ended his career on top, winning the 2015 World Series with the San Francisco Giants.
Josh Donaldson: The best, current major leaguer. Donaldson was a three-year starter for Auburn from 2005-07 where he played in almost every game. In 2007, he batted .349 with 11 homers. Despite being a first round draft choice, it took Donaldson three seasons to break into the Bigs. He made his debut with the Oakland A’s in 2010 and has made up for lost time ever since. He finished in the top-10 of MVP voting from 2013-16. In 2015, his first year with the Toronto Blue Jays, Donaldson won the AL MVP and was named Major League Player of the Year.
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Red Smith: Red Smith was a solid contributor for the “Miracle” Boston Braves team that won the 1914 World Series. Smith was traded to the Braves midseason and led the team in hitting for the sixty games he played with them. Smith missed the series due to a late-season injury. Smith was a top 10 position player in major league baseball three times between 1913-18. He was a great batter and a mediocre fielder. Smith led all third basemen in errors each year from 1915-18. He also led the league in assists and putouts for most of the same time span. His best season was probably 1913, where he batted .296 with six homers and 22 stolen bases.
Gregg Olson: Olson was dominant at Auburn. Olson struggled as a starter his freshman year on the Plains and was converted to the bullpen. Using a tremendous fastball and curveball, Olson was an All American closer his sophomore and junior years. Olson went 11-1 with 10 saves in 42 relief appearances as a sophomore. He had a 1.36 ERA that season. As a result of Olson’s meteoric rise, the college baseball breakout star of the year award was named in his honor. Olson was drafted fourth overall in 1988 by the Orioles. No Auburn player has ever been drafted higher. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1989, the first closer to ever win the honor. He was named to the All Star Team in 1990. In 1993, he tore a ligament and his career was never the same. Olson is still the Orioles all-time saves leader. He continued pitching until 2001 and even racked up 30 saves for the Diamondbacks in 1998. After his injury, Olson bounced around the league.
Terry Leach: Leach helped Auburn reach the 1976 College World Series. Leach’s 1974 1.31 ERA and career 2.53 ERA are both still top-10 in Auburn history. In 1974, Leach was a perfect 9-0. Leach appeared in 11 major league seasons, winning the World Series with the 1986 Mets and the 1991 Twins. During his 11 year career, Leach played for the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago White Sox.
David Ross: Ross played briefly at Auburn before transferring to Florida. Ross had a great 15-year, journeyman career in the majors. Ross won two World Series. He won his first in Boston in 2013. He then signed with the Cubs where he helped break the 108 year drought on the North Side.
Willard Nixon: Nixon played nine years for the Boston Red Sox from 1950-58. Nixon was a solid hitter and fielder and starter but was never a star. Nixon came up through the textile mill leagues. Auburn spotted him playing for Pepperell Mills. As a sophomore, Nixon struck out 145 batters, an SEC record that stood for nearly 40 years. He left that off season and signed with the Red Sox.
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Bo Jackson: Bo batted .401 with 17 home runs in 1985. It is reported to be the longest homer ever hit at the University of Georgia. Some will be surprised to see Jackson so low on the list. Bo’s highlight reel matches up with anybody’s but his career was shortened by injuries. Bo is best known for his time with the Royals. After his injury, Bo made a comeback with the Chicago White Sox. He played his last season with the California Angels, now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Mark Bellhorn: Bellhorn had a successful 10-year major league career from 1999-2009. He played for seven teams in that span. Before that, Bellhorn played for Auburn from 1993-95 where he led the Tigers to the 1994 World Series. Bellhorn is best known for his stint in Boston where he helped the Red Sox win their first World Series since 1918.
Current State and Future Prospects
Currently, the Tigers have three players in the majors, Donaldson, Grant Dayton, and Garrett Cooper. There are countless more coming up through the minors and pro prospects ready to take the field at Plainsman Park this spring. So this list, while impressive, is not set in stone.
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