A History of Baseball at the University of Colorado
The University of Colorado Boulder, represented by the Colorado Buffaloes, boasts a rich athletic history. While the university sponsors 16 varsity sports teams and participates in the Big 12 Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, baseball is notably absent from its current athletic offerings. This article explores the history of baseball at the University of Colorado, highlighting its brief existence as a varsity sport and the accomplishments of CU alumni who made it to the Major League level.
The Early Years of Colorado Baseball
The University of Colorado baseball program had a relatively short run, starting in 1923. Despite its limited tenure, the program produced a handful of players who went on to achieve success at the highest level of professional baseball.
CU's Major League Alumni
Baseball Almanac presents a comprehensive chart of every University of Colorado (CU) alumni who played baseball at the University of Colorado AND made it to the Major League level. In total, only four University of Colorado ballplayers made it to the majors.
A Discontinued Program
Colorado is one of two Big 12 schools and one of only five Power Four schools that do not sponsor baseball, along with fellow Big 12 member Iowa State, SMU, Syracuse, and Wisconsin. The decision to discontinue the baseball program reflects various factors, including budgetary considerations, Title IX compliance, and prioritization of other sports.
Other Athletic Achievements at the University of Colorado
While baseball may not be a current varsity sport, the University of Colorado has achieved significant success in other athletic programs. Colorado has won 30 national championships in its history, with 21 in skiing, the most recent coming in 2024. The CU ski team competes as a member of the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association, as CU is one of two members of the Big-12 along with Utah that competes in skiing. Colorado is one of the dominant programs in the NCAA in skiing, winning 21 total national championships, including 20 NCAA Championships, most recently in 2024. The Buffaloes have won 29 RMISA championships, most recently in 2024.
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Competitive football began on the Boulder campus in 1890. The Colorado football program is 16th on the all-time NCAA Division I win list and 22nd in all-time winning percentage (.614). Since Folsom Field was built in 1924, the Buffaloes have been 280-132-10 (.675) at home. Beginning competitive play in 1890, Colorado has enjoyed much success through its history. The team has won numerous bowl games (27 appearances in bowl games (12-15), 23rd (tied) all-time prior to 2004 season), 8 Colorado Football Association Championships (1894-97, 1901-08), 1 Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference (1909), 7 RFMAC Championships (1911, 1913, 1923, 1924, 1934, 1935, 1937), 4 Mountain States Conference Championships (1939, 1942-44), 5 Big Eight (Six) conference championships (1961, 1976, 1989, 1990, 1991), 1 Big 12 conference championship (2001), 4 Big 12 North Championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005), and an Associated Press national championship in 1990.
Conf. Women's Basketball started at Colorado in 1975.
Colorado has won five NCAA Men's Cross Country Championships (2001, 2004, 2006, 2013, and 2014) and three NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships (2000, 2004, 2018). The men won the first twelve Big 12 Conference titles in the conference's history and the women won 11 of the first 12 (all but 1998-99), with the two teams combining for 23 of the 32 championships awarded before the Buffs left the Big 12 in 2011 to join the Pac-12. The men's golf team won three Big Eight Conference championships: 1954, 1955 (co-champions), 1968.
Colorado has a very active and developed club sports system with over 30 sports. Colorado's rugby program was founded in 1967. Colorado won the 2011 Pac-12 rugby sevens tournament, defeating Utah 14-12 in the final, to qualify for the 2011 USA Rugby collegiate rugby sevens national championship. Colorado finished the 2011-12 season ranked 14th in the nation. In the 2012-13 season, Colorado defeated Wisconsin 54-24 to advance to the national D1-A quarterfinals, before losing to St. Mary's. The Buffs also won the plate final in the 2015-2016 season at the Las Vegas Invitational 7s tournament in the college bracket.
Founded in 1983 by Jim Castagneri, the cycling team was taken to the national championships in 1987 by 1992 Olympian John Stenner. The CU cycling team frequently ranks in the top five USA Cycling Collegiate teams in both road cycling and mountain biking disciplines. A founding club member of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference, the team is open to any student who pays annual dues and meets a minimum amount of credits during the semester.
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Traditions and Symbols
The official school colors are silver and gold, adopted in 1888 as a symbol of the mineral wealth of the state. In 1934, the university's intercollegiate teams were officially nicknamed the "Buffaloes." The two mascots present at all football games are Ralphie, a live buffalo, and Chip, a costumed mascot who was selected to the 2003 Capital One All-America Mascot Team and won the 2009, 2010 and 2020 UCA Mascot National Championships. A buffalo leading the team onto the field dates as far back as 1934 and the Ralphie tradition began in 1966.
The University has had several fight songs that have lost and gained popularity over the years. The oldest, "Glory Colorado", is sung to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and has been around nearly as long as the school.
Notable CU Athletes
Forrest B. Hale Irwin, who was a two-time All-Big Eight defensive back and an NCAA individual golf champion at Colorado, went on to spectacular success in professional golf. Chauncey Billups played for the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors in a 17-year NBA career (1997-2014). Jeremy Bloom played football and skied internationally finishing 6th in the 2006 Winter Olympics in the moguls and briefly played in the NFL. Emma Coburn is a former world champion and American record holder in the 3000 meters steeplechase. She won the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, becoming the inaugural American to win any medal in the event, with an American record of 9:07.63. Jennifer Simpson represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics. She is a former American record holder for the 3000 meters steeplechase.
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