A Grand History of Cornell University Baseball

The Cornell Big Red baseball team boasts a long and storied history, dating back to the late 19th century. As a varsity intercollegiate athletic team representing Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, the Big Red is a member of the Ivy League and competes in NCAA Division I. From its humble beginnings on a cow pasture turned baseball diamond to its current home at Booth Field, Cornell baseball has a rich tradition filled with notable players, dedicated coaches, and passionate fans.

Early Days and Founding Figures

The Cornell University baseball program officially began in 1868, marking the start of a tradition that would span over a century. In the university's early years, as noted by the Cornell Era in May of its first year, the campus was filled with the sight of "balls innumerable flying across the campus" as students eagerly embraced the sport.

The very first baseball diamond was located in what was then a cow pasture, now the Arts Quad. Since early sports were independent from the University (with no funding), the first players approached Ezra Cornell himself for a donation to buy equipment. “When I was a boy and wanted to play ball, my mother took an old stocking and unraveled it, and wound the yarn into the ball,” he told them. “And I found an old boot top and cut out the leather and covered my ball. But before we had a baseball field, we had the Bacon Batting Cage.

The Big Red played its first intercollegiate game at Hobart in 1874, losing 43 to 16.

The Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League (EIBL)

Cornell was a long-standing member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League (EIBL), participating in the league until 1992. This era saw the Big Red compete against other prestigious universities in the Northeast, fostering rivalries and building a strong baseball tradition.

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Hoy Field: A Century of Memories

Hoy Field officially opened in 1922 with the first pitch by Davy Hoy-the University Archives still has the ball-who served as team advisor for more than 30 years. Named after David "Davy" F. Hoy, the long-time registrar and a passionate supporter of Cornell athletics, Hoy Field became the home of Cornell baseball for nearly a century. In 1923, Columbia came to town and beat Cornell 8-3. In 1946, a Yale first baseman named George H.W. Bush played at Hoy Field. Hoy Field stood for a century. Toward the end of its century-long existence, Hoy was believed to be the oldest continuously named Division I baseball field in the country. A few years later, the field almost housed Teagle Hall.

Notable Players and Alumni

Over the years, several Cornell baseball players have gone on to achieve success at the professional level. John Humphries holds the distinction of being the first former Big Red player to make it to Major League Baseball. There were ten former Cornell University ballplayers who made it to the majors.

Beyond the baseball diamond, Cornell University boasts a remarkable list of alumni who have excelled in various fields, including:

Robert Atkins: Creator of the Atkins Diet.
Ken Dryden: Former NHL goalie and Hockey Hall of Famer.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Late Supreme Court Justice.
Henry Heimlich: Inventor of the Heimlich Maneuver.
C. Everett Koop: Former Surgeon General.
Rob Manfred: Current MLB Commissioner.
Bill Nye: "The Science Guy" and science educator.
Christopher Reeve: Actor best known for playing Superman.
Jon Rubinstein: Key figure in the development of the iPod.
Matt Urban: Medal of Honor recipient.
Pop Warner: Football pioneer and coach.
E.B. White: Author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little.

A New Era: Booth Field

In April 2023, Big Red varsity baseball played its first two games on the new Booth Field. Spring 2024 marked the team’s first full season there-and it was one for the record books.

Traditions and Spirit

Cornell baseball is steeped in tradition, with passionate fans who support the Big Red through thick and thin. The university's spirit is encapsulated in the traditional cheer:

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Cheer! Cheer! Here we are again to cheer with all our might!

Cheer! Cheer! Here we are again to cheer for the Red and White!

Fight! Fight! C-O-R-N-E-double-L,

Win the game and then ring a bell.

What's the big intrigue?

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We're the best in the Ivy League. Rah! Rah!

tags: #Cornell #University #baseball #history