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The University of Alabama has a long, rich history in baseball, with 65 former or current players having played in the Major Leagues. The team that we can put together will match up with almost any other school, with USC(w) being the overall favorite. Arizona State, Texas, Miami, FSU, LSU and Oklahoma State would all be formidable foes. NCAA baseball has 27 man rosters (not 25 like MLB) and there will be several choices of versatile players that can, and did, play multiple positions. I want to come up with a roster, line-up, pitching staff and coaching staff. I am going to list my team, and put some guys for y'all to choose from, but feel free to write in someone if you think I missed a deserving candidate.
My team is as follows:
1) Taylor Dugas- CF, all time leader in hits, singles, doubles and triples. On base-line drive machine.
2) Joe Sewell- SS- What can you say? Baseball Hall of Fame, fewest strikeouts in MLB season with three in a season (twice). Played with Babe Ruth and Yankees, coached Bama, stadium named after him.
3) Dave Magadan-1B- Only Bama player ever named National Player of the Year. Hit an astounding .525 his junior year, and .439 for his three year career. Long MLB Career, currently the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers.
4) Roberto Vaz- DH Vaz only played one season but hit .400 with nine triples and 22 home runs, and was also the team's closer, and played OF. He will be a three way player DH-OF-P.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Vaz was an outstanding player but his career was cut short by an unfortunately timed injury. Bama still made the CWS in 1997 but lost to LSU in the final game -CB969]
5) Jeremy Brown-C Brown is the guy Money Ball was written about. A great defensive first baseman for two years before being moved to catcher, which help make him a first round draft pick. He was the main player in "Money Ball" because of his keen batting eye.
6) Kent Matthes-RF NCAA home run champ in 2009 with 28, good speed, great arm, excellent fielder.
7) Josh Rutledge-2B played SS at 'Bama, but with Sewell on my team, I moved him to second. Current member of Colorado Rockies were he plays second, mostly. Freshman All-American. Seventh all time at Bama in hits with 279 - in three years.
8) Andy Phillips-3B- Current Alabama batting coach, all time Tide leader in home runs (61) total bases (590) Second in hits, and RBIs.
9) Riggs Stephenson-LF played SS and QB while at Alabama. Highest lifetime batting average of any MLB player not in the Hall of Fame (he belongs) at .336. Great player for Cubs. Father of former first lady of the University (Marla Sayers).
Bench Players: Emeel Salem-OF all time stolen base leader at Bama; Two time All American. Doug Duke-C 27 home runs in his junior year. Alex Avila-C-DH-1B-3B, played all four at Alabama; Good power, left handed bat. G.W. Keller- OF- second in career home runs, and career batting average; Good outfielder, that could run also. Adam Pavkovich-INF can, and did play SS and 3B, could fill in at 2B also; Reached AAA for several years; Good solid bat. Craig Shipley SS, Australian that played several years in the Major Leagues; Solid fielder, decent hitter.
Pitching Staff:
- Wade LeBlanc LHP
- Frank Lary RHP
- Tommy Hunter RHP
- Jimmy Nelson RHP
- Mike Innes LHP
- Nathan Kilcrease RHP
- David Robertson RHP (Closer)
- Lance Cormier RHP
- Taylor Tankersley LHP
- Greg Hibbard RHP
- Bobby Sprowl LHP
- Brent Carter LHP
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Jim Wells
Hitting Coach: Todd Butler
Pitching Coach: Kyle Bunn
Recruiter: Jim Gatewood
I would put this team up against most, and feel good about their chances. You would have a good mixture of speed and power at the plate, and a pitching staff that is deep with both right-handers and left-handers, as well as several guys that can start or relieve.
Below I will list several players for each position to choose from, or use your own favorites. Rather than do a poll, I think letting everyone come up with their own team would be more fun. Please join in and list your favorites!
RTR Bama Baseball Fever Catch it!
Outfielders:
- Taylor Dugas
- Riggs Stephenson
- Kent Matthes
- Emeel Salem
- GW Keller
- Dustin Mohr
- Del Pratt
- Scott McClanhan
- Beau Herrod
First Base:
- Dave Magadan
- Chris Moeller
- Joe Vitello
- Robby Tucker
- Clay Jones
Second Base- Shortstop
- Josh Rutledge
- Joe Sewell
- Craig Shipley
- Adam Pavkovich
- Frank Menchino
- Sam Bozanvich
- Peter Stonard
- Frank Vellegia
Third Base:
- Andy Phillips
- Philip Doyle
- Brent Boyd
- Jake Smith
- Matt Downs
- Brett Eblin
Catcher:
- Jeremy Brown
- Dax Norris
- Kelly Gulledge
- Doug Duke
- Brett Booth
- Kody Valverde
- Brock Bennett
- Paul Phillips
- Matt Frick
DH-Utlity:
- Roberto Vaz (OF-P-DH)
- Alex Avila (C-1B-3B-DH)
- Jon Kelton (1B-2B-DH-OF)
- Ben Moore (OF-C-DH)
Pitcher:
- Frank Lary
- Wade LeBlanc
- Tommy Hunter
- David Robertson
- Jimmy Nelson
- Nathan "Peanut" Kilcrease
- Taylor Tankersly
- Lance Cormier
- Greg Hibbard
- Mike Innes
- Brent Carter
- Bobby Sprowl
- Jared Kingery
- Ben Short
- Alan Dunn
- Brian Reed
- Al Drumeller
- Mike Sodders
- Tim Young
- Austin Hyatt
- Adam Morgan
- Joel Colgrove
Coaches:
- Jim Wells
- Barry Shollenberger
- Mitch Gaspard
- Joe Sewell
- Tilden "Happy" Campbell
- Assistant Coaches
- Todd Butler
- Jim Gatewood
- Mitch Gaspard
- Dax Norris
- Kyle Bunn
- Bobby Pierce
- Andy Phillips
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