A Look Back At The 1954 College World Series Spartan Baseball Season
6/18/2020 4:54:00 PM | Baseball
The Spartans' 1954 season was one for the ages.
The 1954 season was one for the ages as the Spartans won their first Big Ten Championship, ran through the NCAA tournament en route to a College World Series 3rd place finish, and completed the season with a then school-record 25-10-1 record behind the leadership of Spartan legend John Kobs. The '54 team featured three future Major League players in Ed Hobaugh, Bob Powell, and College World Series MVP Tom Yewcic, and future NFL quarterback and 1968 NFL MVP Earl Morrall.
After winning the Big Ten Championship, the Spartans defeated Ohio University to earn its first bid to the College World Series. Michigan State won its first two games of the CWS, beating Massachusetts, 16-5, then topping Arizona, 2-1, before dropping a close game to Rollins College 5-4. The Spartans rebounded to beat Rollins in extra innings 3-2 before dropping the season finale to eventual champion Missouri, 4-3, on a controversial call late in the game on a foul tip that wasn't called and led to the winning run crossing the plate. Michigan State finished 3rd in the CWS, click HERE for an excellent season recap.
The team has remained extremely close over the base 66 years, and has gathered every five years for their reunion. Bob Reising, a member of the '54 team, has summarized the memories that he, "Captain Jack" Zeitler, Ray Collard, Dick Idzkowski, Jim Sack, Dan Brown, Bud Erickson, and many others have shared over the course of time. Please click HERE to read the article that describes the close and unique bond the 1954 Spartans share.
On our Alumni Day in 2019, we honored the 65th Anniversary of the 1954 team, and had 11 members back and they threw out the first pitch prior to our game vs. Northwestern on April 27. (Video below / click HERE for recap of the day)
Was our extreme pleasure to welcome back 11 members of the 1954 College World Series Spartan team to celebrate their 65th @NCAACWS Anniversary and throw out the first pitch of game two! #MSUBaseballAlumniDay pic.twitter.com/Kxb2MzUSuI
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) April 27, 2019
We had a great time celebrating the 65th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series Spartan team as part of yesterday's #MSUBaseballAlumniDay! pic.twitter.com/ltjuBiNaUx
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) April 28, 2019
We've been honored to have several members back over the years prior to the 65th Anniversary in 2019, including in 2018:
MSU alums Dan Brown and Ray Collard from the 1954 World Series Spartans are here for Alumni Day and threw out today's ceremonial first pitches! ⚾️#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/COT18wWs0m
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) April 29, 2018
Our team enjoyed having MSU alums Dan Brown and Ray Collard from the 1954 World Series Spartans here for Alumni Day and throw out today's ceremonial first pitches! ⚾️#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/9ub8DI06zZ
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) April 29, 2018
Honored to have MSU alums Dan Brown and Ray Collard from the 1954 World Series Spartans here for Alumni Day! ⚾️#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/rxcLTMkEBK
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) April 29, 2018
And we're proud to always be sporting our 1954 tribute uniforms!
With backdrop of 1954 College World Series team in the original unis, the Spartans are warming up sporting their throwbacks today. #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/IlT43sgeIw
— Michigan St Baseball (@statebaseball) April 16, 2017
The 1954 @statebaseball team, qualifier for the College World Series, autographed this Spartan scorecard. https://t.co/zBFEGbMOcQ pic.twitter.com/Jn80Gzthqh
— Mike Pearson (@B1GLLL) June 4, 2019
