Danny Litwhiler Elected To College Baseball Hall Of Fame
5/13/2021 11:01:00 AM | Baseball
Legendary Spartan head coach is MSU’s first representative.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Legendary Michigan State baseball head coach Danny Litwhiler has been elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame, as the Class of 2021 was announced Thursday by the College Baseball Foundation and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Litwhiler and the rest of the Class of 2021 will be inducted as part of the virtual College Baseball Night of Champions ceremony scheduled for June 26 and hosted by Dani Wexelman, currently a host for MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM and the host of the 2020 event.
"This is another outstanding class," said Mike Gustafson, president and CEO of the College Baseball Foundation and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. "With players from coast to coast and across so many levels of college baseball, this group has a little bit of everything."
Litwhiler is the first Michigan State representative in the College Baseball Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 95.
"We're extremely thrilled for not only Danny Litwhiler, but the entire Litwhiler family, for this honor. Skip was a pioneer in all facets of college baseball," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "The impact that Skip left on Michigan State is certainly far reaching, and he was an even better human being than he was a coach, and we're proud to have our program forever associated with Danny Litwhiler. We're very happy for this most deserving honor for him and his family."
The legendary Spartan skipper is considered to be one of the greatest innovators in the history of the sport. Few men in baseball have compiled the list of honors that Litwhiler did during his distinguished career in the game. He led the Spartans to three NCAA tournament appearances and two Big Ten championships. An innovative mind, Litwhiler is credited with the idea of Diamond Dry and the radar gun.
In 28 years of coaching Division I collegiate baseball at both Florida State and Michigan State, Litwhiler had a combined record of 679-445-9 (.603) and guided his teams to 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Litwhiler was inducted into the American Association of College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1980 and was a recipient of the "Lefty Gomez Award" for outstanding contributions and distinguished service to college baseball.
During his 19 seasons at MSU, Litwhiler, who was known to his players as "Skip," amassed a record of 489-362-8 (.574), captured Big Ten Championships in 1971 and 1979, and led the Spartans to NCAA Tournament berths in 1971, 1978 and 1979.
Litwhiler compiled a nine-year record of 190-83-1 (.695) from 1955-63 at Florida State and led the Seminoles to seven NCAA Tournament and three College World Series appearances (1957, 1962, 1963) before coming to MSU.
Not only were his players successful at Michigan State, but 13 of Litwhiler's players progressed to the major leagues, including Kirk Gibson, Rick Miller, Steve Garvey and Mel Behney.
A great player and coach, Litwhiler also served as an ambassador and innovator. He was the International President for the U.S. Baseball Federation from 1978-83, a member of the technical committee of the International Association of Amateur Baseball, a member of the board of directors of the American Baseball Coaches Association, and conducted clinics in over 10 countries. Perhaps his greatest innovation and the most widely-known was the development of the radar speed gun, with the first prototype used at Michigan State now residing in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Other innovations included an unbreakable mirror for pitchers to check their deliveries and employment of a bat sawed in half to teach bunting. While at Florida State, Litwhiler developed "diamond dust," which could be used to dry baseballs, and also "diamond grit," which could be spread over wet spots in the infield, causing them to dry faster. All told, Litwhiler produced more than 100 inventions for the game.
In Litwhiler's own 11-year major league career from 1940-51, he spent time with the Phillies, Cardinals, Braves and Reds. He was named an all-star in 1942 while playing for the Phillies. A member of the Cardinals' 1944 World Championship team, Litwhiler was also with St. Louis when it lost in the 1943 World Series to New York.
His memorable achievements include a 21-game hitting streak in his rookie season; hitting at least one home run in every National League park in 1941; becoming the first major leaguer to play an entire season without committing an error (handling 317 chances in 151 games in 1942); and setting a record for playing 187 consecutive errorless games over a period of two seasons (putting his glove in the Baseball Hall of Fame). Litwhiler, a two-time Gold Glove winner (1942-43), posted a career-best .305 batting average in 1941 and compiled a lifetime average of .282. He career totals include: 982 hits, 107 home runs, 162 doubles, 451 RBIs and 428 runs scored in 1,057 games played.
Litwhiler, who entered the Army's Special Services during World War II, did not play during the 1945 season but returned to the major leagues in 1946 with the Cardinals following his discharge. During his time in the service, Litwhiler helped organize recreation activities for thousands of troops and credited that time for preparing him for coaching.
Beyond the collegiate level, Litwhiler also managed professional teams in Fargo, N.D. (1952), Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (1953), Jamestown, N.Y., and Duluth, Minn. (1954).
In 1968, Litwhiler led the United States to a gold medal at a post-Olympic international tournament in Mexico City by defeating Cuba. Two of his Spartans, catcher Harry Kendrick and pitcher Marvin Knight, were members of his team.
Litwhiler was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and is also a member of the hall of fame at Bloomsburg (Pa.) University, Florida State University, the Helm Foundation, the Royal Dutch Baseball Association, the Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation, and the state of Pennsylvania. He is one of only three Spartans to have his number (1) retired and was named MSU's Distinguished Baseball Alumnus of the Year in 2003.
A 1939 graduate of Bloomsburg University, the baseball facility at his alma mater is named in his honor (Danny Litwhiler Field).
Litwhiler authored six books on baseball, including his memoir: "Danny Litwhiler: Living the Baseball Dream."
2021 NATIONAL COLLEGE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
• Rusty Adkins, Clemson, 1965-67 (Outfield, Second base)
• Tom Brennan, Lewis University, 1971-74 (Pitcher)
• Tim Burzette, La Verne University, 1976-78, (Catcher)
• Rich Dauer, California State College-San Bernardino, 1971-72; Southern California, 1973-74 (Third Base)
• Todd Helton, Tennessee, 1993-95 (First base, Pitcher)
• Dave Keilitz, Executive Director, American Baseball Coaches Association, 1994-2014
• Terry Kennedy, Florida State, 1975-77 (Catcher)
• Robert 'Bob' Lee, Southern University 1949-1961 (Coach)
• Danny Litwhiler, Florida State/Michigan State, 1955-82 (Coach)
• Mark Marquess, Stanford, 1977-2017 (Coach)
• Gregg Olson, Auburn, 1986-88 (Pitcher)
• Frank Quinn, Yale, 1945-48 (Pitcher)
• Frank "Porky" Vieira, University of New Haven, 1963-2006 (Coach)
• Dave Yeast, Umpire 1982-2015
More information about the virtual Night of Champions will be released soon at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
Litwhiler and the rest of the Class of 2021 will be inducted as part of the virtual College Baseball Night of Champions ceremony scheduled for June 26 and hosted by Dani Wexelman, currently a host for MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM and the host of the 2020 event.
"This is another outstanding class," said Mike Gustafson, president and CEO of the College Baseball Foundation and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. "With players from coast to coast and across so many levels of college baseball, this group has a little bit of everything."
Litwhiler is the first Michigan State representative in the College Baseball Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 95.
"We're extremely thrilled for not only Danny Litwhiler, but the entire Litwhiler family, for this honor. Skip was a pioneer in all facets of college baseball," MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "The impact that Skip left on Michigan State is certainly far reaching, and he was an even better human being than he was a coach, and we're proud to have our program forever associated with Danny Litwhiler. We're very happy for this most deserving honor for him and his family."
The legendary Spartan skipper is considered to be one of the greatest innovators in the history of the sport. Few men in baseball have compiled the list of honors that Litwhiler did during his distinguished career in the game. He led the Spartans to three NCAA tournament appearances and two Big Ten championships. An innovative mind, Litwhiler is credited with the idea of Diamond Dry and the radar gun.
In 28 years of coaching Division I collegiate baseball at both Florida State and Michigan State, Litwhiler had a combined record of 679-445-9 (.603) and guided his teams to 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Litwhiler was inducted into the American Association of College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1980 and was a recipient of the "Lefty Gomez Award" for outstanding contributions and distinguished service to college baseball.
During his 19 seasons at MSU, Litwhiler, who was known to his players as "Skip," amassed a record of 489-362-8 (.574), captured Big Ten Championships in 1971 and 1979, and led the Spartans to NCAA Tournament berths in 1971, 1978 and 1979.
Litwhiler compiled a nine-year record of 190-83-1 (.695) from 1955-63 at Florida State and led the Seminoles to seven NCAA Tournament and three College World Series appearances (1957, 1962, 1963) before coming to MSU.
Not only were his players successful at Michigan State, but 13 of Litwhiler's players progressed to the major leagues, including Kirk Gibson, Rick Miller, Steve Garvey and Mel Behney.
A great player and coach, Litwhiler also served as an ambassador and innovator. He was the International President for the U.S. Baseball Federation from 1978-83, a member of the technical committee of the International Association of Amateur Baseball, a member of the board of directors of the American Baseball Coaches Association, and conducted clinics in over 10 countries. Perhaps his greatest innovation and the most widely-known was the development of the radar speed gun, with the first prototype used at Michigan State now residing in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Other innovations included an unbreakable mirror for pitchers to check their deliveries and employment of a bat sawed in half to teach bunting. While at Florida State, Litwhiler developed "diamond dust," which could be used to dry baseballs, and also "diamond grit," which could be spread over wet spots in the infield, causing them to dry faster. All told, Litwhiler produced more than 100 inventions for the game.
In Litwhiler's own 11-year major league career from 1940-51, he spent time with the Phillies, Cardinals, Braves and Reds. He was named an all-star in 1942 while playing for the Phillies. A member of the Cardinals' 1944 World Championship team, Litwhiler was also with St. Louis when it lost in the 1943 World Series to New York.
His memorable achievements include a 21-game hitting streak in his rookie season; hitting at least one home run in every National League park in 1941; becoming the first major leaguer to play an entire season without committing an error (handling 317 chances in 151 games in 1942); and setting a record for playing 187 consecutive errorless games over a period of two seasons (putting his glove in the Baseball Hall of Fame). Litwhiler, a two-time Gold Glove winner (1942-43), posted a career-best .305 batting average in 1941 and compiled a lifetime average of .282. He career totals include: 982 hits, 107 home runs, 162 doubles, 451 RBIs and 428 runs scored in 1,057 games played.
Litwhiler, who entered the Army's Special Services during World War II, did not play during the 1945 season but returned to the major leagues in 1946 with the Cardinals following his discharge. During his time in the service, Litwhiler helped organize recreation activities for thousands of troops and credited that time for preparing him for coaching.
Beyond the collegiate level, Litwhiler also managed professional teams in Fargo, N.D. (1952), Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (1953), Jamestown, N.Y., and Duluth, Minn. (1954).
In 1968, Litwhiler led the United States to a gold medal at a post-Olympic international tournament in Mexico City by defeating Cuba. Two of his Spartans, catcher Harry Kendrick and pitcher Marvin Knight, were members of his team.
Litwhiler was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and is also a member of the hall of fame at Bloomsburg (Pa.) University, Florida State University, the Helm Foundation, the Royal Dutch Baseball Association, the Citizen Savings Athletic Foundation, and the state of Pennsylvania. He is one of only three Spartans to have his number (1) retired and was named MSU's Distinguished Baseball Alumnus of the Year in 2003.
A 1939 graduate of Bloomsburg University, the baseball facility at his alma mater is named in his honor (Danny Litwhiler Field).
Litwhiler authored six books on baseball, including his memoir: "Danny Litwhiler: Living the Baseball Dream."
2021 NATIONAL COLLEGE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
• Rusty Adkins, Clemson, 1965-67 (Outfield, Second base)
• Tom Brennan, Lewis University, 1971-74 (Pitcher)
• Tim Burzette, La Verne University, 1976-78, (Catcher)
• Rich Dauer, California State College-San Bernardino, 1971-72; Southern California, 1973-74 (Third Base)
• Todd Helton, Tennessee, 1993-95 (First base, Pitcher)
• Dave Keilitz, Executive Director, American Baseball Coaches Association, 1994-2014
• Terry Kennedy, Florida State, 1975-77 (Catcher)
• Robert 'Bob' Lee, Southern University 1949-1961 (Coach)
• Danny Litwhiler, Florida State/Michigan State, 1955-82 (Coach)
• Mark Marquess, Stanford, 1977-2017 (Coach)
• Gregg Olson, Auburn, 1986-88 (Pitcher)
• Frank Quinn, Yale, 1945-48 (Pitcher)
• Frank "Porky" Vieira, University of New Haven, 1963-2006 (Coach)
• Dave Yeast, Umpire 1982-2015
More information about the virtual Night of Champions will be released soon at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
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