Southwestern University Baseball: A Legacy of Excellence
Southwestern University, the first institution of higher learning in Texas, established in 1840, boasts a rich athletic history, with its baseball program playing a significant role. This article delves into the captivating story of Southwestern University baseball, tracing its triumphs, challenges, and the remarkable individuals who have shaped its legacy.
Early Success and Conference Championships
The Southwestern University Pirates experienced relative success in the early years. The university won two conference championships, one of which was in baseball in 1918. In 1926-27 Southwestern left the TIAA to join the Texas Conference, starting that first year off on a high note with a 1927 conference championship in football and track & field. The Pirates' athletic prowess extended beyond baseball, with notable achievements in football, including being the first football team to win back-to-back Sun Bowl Championships, defeating the University of New Mexico 7-0 in 1944 and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) from Mexico City 35-0 in 1945.
Transition and NCAA Division III
Following the completion of World War II, Southwestern transitioned to a small liberal arts institution by dropping post-graduate degrees. A significant shift occurred when the Pirates became a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III school for the 1992-1993 academic year. This transition led to an expansion of the athletic program, growing from six sports to 12 with the addition of men’s and women’s soccer, women’s golf and track & field and reviving the women’s tennis and men’s track & field teams. SU joined the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1993 and competed within the conference beginning in the fall of 1994. Southwestern’s athletic department continued to grow by adding men’s and women’s swimming & diving in 1998 and softball in 2008 with their first year of competition being in the spring of 2009.
Legendary Coaches and Standout Players
The Southwestern baseball program has been shaped by exceptional coaches and talented players who have left an indelible mark on the university's athletic history.
Jim Mallon: A Coaching Icon
Jim Mallon stands out as one of the most successful coaches in Southwestern’s history. After a five-year stint with the San Francisco Giants organization, Mallon began his collegiate coaching career in 1971 at Southwestern. When he retired in 2004, he had amassed a record of 1,197 wins against only 601 losses for a winning percentage of .666. Mallon ended his coaching career ranked third all-time in wins for both the NCAA and the NAIA. His teams won multiple championships. One of the high points of his career was when the Pirates finished third at the NAIA World Series in 1984. After Southwestern’s transition to NCAA Division III, Mallon’s teams won five SCAC championships and advanced to seven NCAA regional championships. He was named NAIA District Coach of the Year on five occasions and SCAC Coach of the Year four times. In recognition of his accomplishments, Mallon was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1992. From 1994 to 1999, several of his players earned NCAA Division III national statistical champion honors. Eighteen of Mallon’s players advanced to compete in professional baseball, with four reaching the major league level. Twenty-four players earned All-American or Academic All-American honors.
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Notable Players: A Pantheon of Pirate Greats
- Carl Nettles Reynolds: A star and captain of every major sport during his undergraduate years at Southwestern. As an outfielder in the major leagues from 1927 to 1940, Reynolds had a career batting average of .302.
- Bobby Moegle: An outstanding athlete in basketball and baseball at Taylor High School, Blinn Junior College, and Southwestern. Moegle later had a spectacular career as a teacher and baseball coach at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas, with four state baseball championships (1972, 1974, 1981, 1996) and 33 district championships. He was named Texas High School Coach of the Year four times and National Coach of the Year in 1972. He has been inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor.
- J. J. Russell Martin: Came to Southwestern as a star pitcher out of French High School in Beaumont, Texas. He amassed outstanding statistics during his career with the Pirates, setting the national record for wins in the NAIA (46). He helped lead the Pirate baseball team to two consecutive trips to the NAIA World Series and was chosen for the All-Tournament team in 1984, when the Pirates finished third. He also earned NAIA first-team AllAmerican honors twice, as a sophomore in 1983 and again as a senior in 1985.
- Calvin Daniel “Dan” Cohen: Before coming to Southwestern, Cohen was an accomplished hockey and baseball player at Houston Waltrip High School. He joined the Pirate baseball program in 1983 and distinguished himself on and off the field over the following four years. In both 1986 and 1987, he was named NAIA second-team All-American. He is the Southwestern career leader in home runs with 63 and had a .383 batting average. He also is the leader for single-season runs batted in with 96 and is second in career runs batted in with 248. The Pirate baseball team honored him by retiring his jersey, and the Atlanta Braves signed him as a free agent in 1987.
- Scott Neal: Came to Southwestern from Houston Lee High School. By the end of his sophomore year, Neal began to show some of the excellence that would place him high on the list of outstanding Pirate pitchers. He was the ace pitcher on the 1984 team that compiled a 56-16 record and finished third at the NAIA World Series. Neal posted a 16-3 mark in his senior year and earned NAIA first-team All-American honors. He also was named to the NAIA All-Region team in 1984 and was selected to the All-Big State Conference teams in both 1983 and 1984. His career record (30-7, ERA of 2.62) attracted professional scouts, and he signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1984.
- Walter Peterson: Began his intercollegiate career in 1950 as a two-sport athlete in football and baseball, but his prowess in baseball soon became evident. Peterson hit .408 during his first year as a Pirate outfielder and improved that batting average to .460 the following year. One of his most memorable contributions came on a 10th-inning game-winning home run that led Southwestern to a victory over Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). Army. His performance on the Army team earned him contract offers from 13 of the then-16 Major League clubs. He signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1953, but his career was cut short by an injury incurred during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The great Hank Aaron filled Peterson’s position on the Braves’ roster. Peterson returned to Southwestern and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1957.
- Bryan Neal: A four-year letter winner for the Pirate baseball program, Bryan Neal was one of the best players ever coached by legendary Southwestern coach Jim Mallon. Out of a possible 206 games during his career, Neal played in 201 and did not miss a game after his freshman year. Three years in a row he was named to the NAIA Big State All-Conference team, the NAIA All-District team, and the NAIA All-Region team. The highlight of his senior year was hitting a three-run homer against St. Edward’s University to lead the Pirates to a tie with St. Mary’s University for the Big State Conference championship. Already a powerful hitter by his junior year, Neal helped the baseball team pull off a historic 5-4 win over the University of Texas, along with victories over Texas Tech University and Baylor University. With a collegiate career batting average of .365, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1982. His jersey was the first ever retired by the Southwestern baseball program.
- Dwight Haley Jr.: Dwight L. Haley Jr. was an outstanding football and baseball player at Tyler High School. Haley turned down football scholarship offers to enroll at Southwestern in the fall of 1959. He was an outstanding catcher until injury forced him to move to center field, where he promptly earned three All-Conference honors. As one of the leaders of the 1963 conference championship team, Haley batted .333. He maintained a batting average of above .300 for four straight years and was the conference leader in stolen bases. As a member of the track team, Haley led the Pirates to the conference championship in 1960, winning the 100-yard dash, the 220-yard dash, and the long jump, and anchoring the winning 440-yard relay team. The next two years he was undefeated in the same four events.
- Mike Timlin: Came out of Midland, Texas, as a solid outfielder when coach Jim Mallon recruited him to pitch for Southwestern during the summer of 1984. Timlin went on to pitch for the Pirates for three seasons before being drafted to play professionally. As the ace pitcher for the Pirates, he appeared in 51 games and threw a no-hitter in his final season. In 1987 he set a school record of 11 completed games. His most productive years on the mound, however, were to come in Major League Baseball, where he had an 18-year career from 1991 to 2008. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987, Timlin earned four World Series championship rings-two with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993 and two with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. His first championship in 1992 was truly memorable as he was called on to get the final out for the Blue Jays in Game 6 against the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series. He concluded his career having pitched in 1,058 games and was ranked first in relief appearances by a right-handed pitcher following his 1,054th appearance. The Boston Red Sox declared April 19, 2009, Mike Timlin Day at Fenway Park in recognition of his stellar six-year career with their organization and had him throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
- Matt Gelotti: Transferred to Southwestern from Creighton University in the fall of 1996 and became one of the most decorated baseball players in the University’s history. Gelotti was a three-time All-America pick and was named the American Baseball Coaches Association Division III Player of the Year in 2000. He was also a four-time All-SCAC selection and was named to the SCAC All-Tournament team three times, helping the Pirates win three SCAC conference championships. He was the SCAC Player of the Year twice, earning the honor in 1999 and 2000. A pitcher’s nightmare at the plate, Gelotti still holds the SCAC season records for most hits (93), triples (12), home runs (18), runs scored per game (1.73), and runs scored (88). He also holds career records in hits (327), hits per game (1.71), home runs (47), RBIs (285), doubles (73), triples (38), triples per game (.20), runs scored (263), and runs scored per game (1.37). During his four years at Southwestern, Gelotti led the league in triples all four seasons, hits and RBIs three times, home runs and stolen bases twice, and doubles and runs scored once. He also holds the NCAA Division III career records for hits and triples and led the nation in an offensive category six times during his career. Upon graduation, Gelotti signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he hit .271 with an on-base percentage of .368.
- Danny Mickan: Mickan’s name continues to ring throughout the halls at Southwestern even though nearly 30 years have passed since he stepped onto Rockwell Field. Through four seasons, Mickan was an integral part of the Pirate baseball teams that made four postseason appearances and two NAIA World Series appearances. In 1984, SU finished third in the nation, and Mickan was named the NAIA World Series Golden Glove Award winner. Mickan was an honorable mention All-Big State Conference pick and All-Academic team selection in 1982, an NAIA All-District selection in 1983, and heavily decorated in 1984, being named to the NAIA AllArea, All-District and All-Tournament Area II teams and earning District IV Player of the Year honors. He is still tied for most hits in a season with 98 in 1984.
- Billy Joe Losak: Came to Southwestern following a stout prep career at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. Losak was a three-sport athlete at Southwestern, competing in baseball, basketball, and track. He was a four-year letter winner in both baseball and basketball. Losak helped lead the Pirate baseball team to the 1964 Big State Conference co-championship. Two years later, he earned All-Big State Conference honors. Losak was a versatile athlete on the diamond, playing every position. He was a member of the Letterman’s Association and Pi Gamma Mu. Losak graduated from Southwestern in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree and signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. His stint in professional baseball came to an end a year later due to his commitment to the Marine Corps. Losak went on to a rewarding career as an elementary physical education teacher in the Dallas Independent School District.
- Amiel Gross: Following a prep career at Westwood High School in Round Rock, Texas, Amiel Gross enrolled at Southwestern in the fall of 1992. The following spring, Gross became an impact player for the Pirate baseball team under legend…
Statistical Achievements
The Southwestern University baseball program has a rich history of statistical achievements, with numerous players excelling in various offensive and pitching categories. Here's a glimpse into some of the standout statistical leaders:
Batting
- Batting Average: Several players have achieved impressive batting averages throughout their careers.
- Slugging Percentage: This statistic measures a player's power-hitting ability.
- On-Base Percentage: This reflects a player's ability to get on base, whether through hits, walks, or being hit by a pitch.
- Hits: The career and single-season hits leaders showcase consistent offensive production.
- Runs Batted In (RBI): This statistic highlights a player's ability to drive in runs and contribute to scoring.
- Home Runs: The home run leaders demonstrate exceptional power and the ability to change the game with one swing.
Pitching
- Earned Run Average (ERA): This statistic measures a pitcher's effectiveness in preventing runs.
- Wins: The career wins leaders showcase pitchers who consistently delivered victories for the Pirates.
- Strikeouts: This statistic reflects a pitcher's ability to overpower hitters and dominate on the mound.
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