Seven New Members Inducted Into Virginia Baseball Hall Of Fame
Posted on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, 5:00 pm by Scott Ratcliffe
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Novelist Wendell Berry once said, “The past is our definition.” Virginia baseball coach Brian O’Connor is making sure that the successes of former players will continue to help define his program for years to come.
Current members of the UVa baseball team took to Twitter Wednesday to reveal the seven newest members of the program’s Hall of Fame.
Cavalier baseball legends Tim Burcham (1983-85), Phil Gosselin (2008-10), Brandon Guyer (2005-07), John Hicks (2009-11), Casey Lambert (2004-07), Steven Proscia (2009-11) and Mel Roach (1952-53) will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in January at the team’s annual Step Up to the Plate event at John Paul Jones Arena.
The seven-member class will join last year’s inaugural 15-member class (listed below) in the Hall, which will be on permanent display in right field at Disharoon Park.
“I believe we’ve put together a great group of individuals that have embodied what it means to play baseball at the University of Virginia,” said head coach Brian O’Connor, who is entering the 15th season of his remarkable tenure at UVa. “These men are great representatives of our university and I’m excited that they will be recognized for their accomplishments.”
It was very important to O’Connor to have the accolades of former players and coaches forever connected to the future of the program.
Current ‘Hoos Riley Wilson, Noah Murdock, Nate Eikhoff, Andrew Abbott, Jack Weiller, Cameron Simmons and Evan Sperling announced the career accomplishments of each inductee Wednesday, every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We started our hall of fame last year to not only recognize great players who have worn our Cavalier uniform, but to provide a link between them and our current players,” O’Connor explained. “Having these former players introduced to our current team at Step Up to the Plate and having their names permanently recognized in our ballpark strengthens that connection.”
To qualify, a player must be five years removed from his playing days as a Wahoo.
Roach, a second baseman who led the state in hitting for two years, was a three-sport athlete (he also played basketball and football) at UVa in the early 1950s before enjoying an eight-year professional career with the Brewers, Cubs and Pirates.
Burcham was the program’s first All-American after earning second-team honors in 1985 as a dominant right-hand pitcher who led the ‘Hoos to the ACC title with a 1.77 ERA and 11-2 record. Burcham, who went on to play nine years in the minors, struck out 272 batters in his Virginia career, good for third on the Cavaliers’ all-time list.
Lambert, who still holds the ACC record for saves with 43 (sixth-best in NCAA), made more pitching appearances than any other player in Virginia baseball history with 110. He was a second-team all-conference choice in his senior season of 2007.
Guyer, a member of the Cleveland Indians who played in the memorable World Series two years ago against the Cubs, holds the school record for career doubles with 53. The 2007 All-ACC first-teamer once registered nine RBI in a game against Niagara.
Gosselin, a two-time All-ACC first-team selection, holds the school’s single-season hits mark with 100, set in 2010. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round later that year.
Proscia and Hicks were both members of the 2009 and 2011 College World Series teams, and each rank high on several of the all-time school lists.
Proscia set a program record with his 182 career runs batted in, and is also among the top 10 in the career hits and homers lists. He was named MVP of the 2011 ACC Tournament and also still ranks second in all-time doubles and total bases as a Wahoo.
Hicks, who currently plays for the Detroit Tigers, ranks in the UVa career top 10 in at-bats, hits, runs scored, doubles and total bases.
The class will be recognized at JPJ on Jan. 26, joining the following members from last year: Brian Buchanan (1992-94), Mike Cubbage (1969-71), Sean Doolittle (2005-07), Seth Greisinger (1994-96), Danny Hultzen (2009-11), Joe Koshansky (2001-04), Javier Lopez (1996-98), Bill Narleski (1984-87), Mark Reynolds (2002-04), Eppa Rixey (1912-14), Jacob Thompson (2006-08), Coach Jim West (1962-80), Tyler Wilson (2008-11), Coach Dennis Womack (1981-2003) and Ryan Zimmerman (2003-05).
Tickets for the January event went on sale today, and further details will be announced in the near future.
