"Alex Box Stadium" Last Game at the Old Alex Box LSU Baseball by Steve Franz

Description: "Alex Box Stadium" By: Steve FranzLSU Baseball Size: 10 x 20Last Game at the Old Alex Box Stadium! LSU Tigers baseball The LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The program participates in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. It is considered one of the elite programs in the nation, having made 16 College World Series appearances and won 6 national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2009). The Tigers play home games on LSU's campus at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field, and they are currently coached by Paul Mainieri.Championships[edit]National championships[edit]YearCoachRecordResult1991Skip Bertman55–18Beat Wichita State, 6–31993Skip Bertman53–17–1Beat Wichita State, 8–01996Skip Bertman52–15Beat Miami, 9–81997Skip Bertman57–13Beat Alabama, 13–62000Skip Bertman52–17Beat Stanford, 6–52009Paul Mainieri56–17Beat Texas, 7–6, 1–5, & 11–4Total National Championships6College World Series appearances[edit]YearCoachRecord1986Skip Bertman55–141987Skip Bertman49–191989Skip Bertman55–171990Skip Bertman54–191991Skip Bertman55–181993Skip Bertman53–17–11994Skip Bertman46–201996Skip Bertman52–151997Skip Bertman57–131998Skip Bertman48–192000Skip Bertman52–172003Smoke Laval45–22–12004Smoke Laval46–192008Paul Mainieri49–19–12009Paul Mainieri56–172013Paul Mainieri57–11Total College World Series appearances:16History[edit] LSU Baseball teaplaying near the Pentagon Barracks on the old downtown campus in Baton Rouge, 1900.The early years (1893-1926)[edit]During the program's first thirty seasons, LSU had a total of 15 head coaches. No coach's tenure lasted longer than two seasons, with the exception of C.C. Stroud, who was head coach for eight seasons. Stroud coached LSU from 1914–1921 and had an overall record of 73–58–5 (.595). The program won at least ten games during four of his eight seasons as head coach.Harry Rabenhorst era (1927-1956)[edit]In 1927, Harry Rabenhorst became head baseball coach and would become the longest tenured head baseball coach in LSU history. Rabenhorst began his career at LSU in 1925 as the head coach of the men's basketball team and two years later, in 1927, he also added head baseball coach to his duties. As baseball coach, he won two SEC baseball titles and was named SEC Coach of the year in 1939 and 1946.[1][2] Rabenhorst coached the baseball team from 1927 until 1942 when he left to serve in World War II. When he returned, he again coached the baseball team from 1946 until 1956. He finished his baseball coaching career with a record of 220–226–3. Later, as an athletic department administrator, he became the school'sathletic director in 1967.In 1938, LSU's new baseball stadium referred to as either LSU Diamond or LSU Varsity Baseball Field opened. The stadium was later renamed Alex Box Stadium for Simeon Alex Box, an LSU letterman (1942) who was killed in North Africa during World War II.A.L. Swanson (1943-1945) During Rabenhorst's absence serving in World War II, A.L. Swanson served as head coach from 1943-1945. The Tigers won the 1943 SEC Championship under Swanson.Ray Didier era (1957-1963)[edit]Raymond "Ray" Didier was head coach at LSU for 7 seasons from 1957-1963. He had an overall record of 104-79 (.568). He coached the 1961 team to the SEC championship. He left LSU to become Athletic director and head baseball coach at Nicholls State University.Waldrop-Smith-Lamabe era (1964-1983)[edit]From 1964-1983, LSU was led by three head coaches. From 1964-1965, Jim Waldrop coached LSU for two seasons and had a 17-24 (.415) record. Jim Smith was head coach for thirteen seasons from 1966-1978. He finished with an overall record of 238-251 (.487). When he left LSU after the 1978 season, he had the most wins of any head coach in program history. His 1975 team won an SEC championship and was LSU's first NCAA Tournament team. From 1979-1983, Jack Lamabe was head coach at LSU for five seasons and had a record of 134-115 (.538).Skip Bertman era (1984-2001)[edit]After playing college baseball at Miami (FL), coaching high school baseball, and serving as an assistant at Miami, Skip Bertman became LSU's head coach for the start of the 1984 season.In Bertman's second season, 1985, the Tigers qualified for postseason play for the first time in ten years. In his third season, LSU made its first appearance in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, the first of 11 appearances during Bertman's eighteen-year career. LSU returned to Omaha during the 1987 season, then failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 1988, despite having a 39–21 record.Bertman's 1989 team returned to the postseason, an appearance that started a streak of 17 consecutive postseason appearances. The 1989 team defeated Texas A&M in a regional final to qualify for the College World Series. The program also made the College World Series in 1990.1991 national championship[edit]See also: 1991 College World SeriesThe program won its first national championship in 1991, defeating Wichita State in the College World Series final.1993 national championship[edit]See also: 1993 College World SeriesThe program won its second national championship in 1993, again defeating Wichita State in the College World Series final.1996 national championship[edit]See also: 1996 LSU Tigers baseball team and 1996 College World SeriesIn 1996, the Tigers entered the NCAA Tournament on a two-game losing streak, after being eliminated from the SEC Tournament by consecutive losses to Florida and Kentucky. However, based on the team's regular season performance, LSU was selected as one of the eight regional host sites for the NCAA tournament. The Tigers defeated Austin Peay,UNLV, and New Orleans before defeating Georgia Tech, 29-13, in the regional final. In the game, LSU broke multiple NCAA records, two of which still stand today: 13 hits in an inning and 8 doubles in an inning.[citation needed]In the College World Series, the team defeated its first opponent, Wichita State, 9–8. LSU then faced Florida, which had beaten them three times in the regular season and once in the SEC Tournament, and won, 9-4. Florida came out of the losers' bracket to face LSU again, and LSU won, 2–1, to advance to the national championship game againstMiami (FL).In the game, LSU defeated Miami, 9–8, on a walk-off home run by Warren Morris. In the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs and the tying run on third base, Morris hit a home run to right field off of Miami freshman Robbie Morrison. The home run was Morris's first of the season, and it won the 1997 Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award.[3]1997 national championship[edit]See also: 1997 LSU Tigers baseball team and 1997 College World SeriesLSU entered the 1997 season attempting to become the first team to win consecutive national championships since Stanford won championships in 1987 and 1988. The Tigers began the season with 19 consecutive wins, giving them 27 straight wins starting with the 1996 regional.The team's lineup was led by shortstop Brandon Larson, a junior college transfer who set the LSU and SEC single-season record for home runs with 40, one less than the national leader, Rice's Lance Berkman. LSU finished the season with 188 home runs, breaking the old record of 161 set by Brigham Young in 1988.[citation needed]In its final regular season series, the team played Alabama for the SEC championship. The Tigers lost the second game 28–2 to Alabama, the worst loss in the program's history.[citation needed] The Tigers recovered the next day to win 6–4, winning the SEC title by one game over Alabama. In the SEC Tournament, LSU lost to Alabama in the championship game, 12–2.In the South I Regional, LSU lost the winner's bracket final to South Alabama, meaning the team had to win three games within 24 hours in order to advance to the College World Series. The Tigers won a five-hour game against Long Beach State, 14–7 in 11 innings, in which Bertman was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing a balk call. LSU then defeated South Alabama 14–4 and 15–4 to advance to the World Series.There, the Tigers narrowly defeated Rice, but Larson's home run in the bottom of the seventh gave LSU a 5–4 victory. The Tigers then defeated Stanford, 10–5 and 13–9, before defeating Alabama 13–6 in the championship game.1998 season[edit]In 1998, LSU hit 161 home runs. Eddy Furniss won the Dick Howser Trophy as the nation's most outstanding player and finished as the LSU and SEC all-time leader in home runs (80), RBI (308), hits (352), doubles (87) and total bases (689). Brad Cresse and Trey McClure also earned All-America honors by hitting 29 and 27 home runs, respectively.The Tigers went undefeated in the South II Regional to reach the College World Series, seeking to become the first team to win three consecutive championships since USC won five consecutive from 1970–1974. LSU hit eight home runs in its first game in Omaha, defeating USC, 12–10, then hit six more in a 10–8 victory over SEC team Mississippi State. However, in the final two games, and the Tigers lost 5–4 and 7–3 to USC, which went on to win the championship with a 21–14 victory over Arizona State.2000 national championship[edit]See also: 2000 LSU Tigers baseball team and 2000 College World SeriesIn 2000, LSU's regular season record was 39–17, and the team went undefeated in the SEC Tournament to earn the #2 National seed in the NCAA Tournament. LSU won the Baton Rouge Regional in three games, outscoring opponents 45–4. LSU then swept a best-of-three Super Regional against UCLA, winning 8–2 and 14–8.LSU began play at the College World Series with a 13-5 win over Texas. In game two, LSU defeated USC, 10-4. In a close third game, LSU defeated Florida State, 6–3, and advanced to the championship game to face Stanford.In game one on June 17, Stanford held an early 5–2 lead, LSU scored three runs in the eighth inning with two home runs. LSU reliever Trey Hodges did not allow a run in the top of the ninth, his fourth scoreless inning of the game. In the bottom of the ninth, LSU lead the inning off with a single and a walk to bring Brad Cresse to the plate with two runners on base. Cresse, who was 1–12 in the CWS prior to the at bat, hit a line drive single into left field to score Ryan Theriot from second, giving LSU its fifth national championship in 10 years. LSU had 5 players named to the All-Tournament team– Blair Barbier, Mike Fontenot, Brad Hawpe, Hodges, and Theriot. Hodges was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after finishing the CWS with a 2–0 record and one save.LSU finished the 2000 postseason with a 13–0 record and moved to 5–0 all time in national championship games.[4]Retirement[edit]Skip Bertman led the Tigers to a 44–22–1 mark during his final season as head coach in 2001. The Tigers won the West Division, reached the SEC Tournament championship game, and won the Baton Rouge Regional, but lost in three games in a Super Regional against Tulane at Zephyr Field.Bertman won 870 games, seven SEC titles, and 11 CWS appearances. His teams averaged 48 wins per year and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 18 seasons.His jersey number, 15, is one of four numbers retired by LSU. LSU also renamed a part of South Stadium Drive, between Nicholson and River Road, Skip Bertman Drive in his honor. The renamed portion runs past the old Alex Box Stadium, which has now been demolished following the opening of LSU's new stadium in 2009, the field of which is named for Bertman.In a Baseball America poll published in 1999, Bertman was voted the second greatest college baseball coach of the 20th century, behind Rod Dedeaux of Southern California.In June 2002, Bertman was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2003. In 2006, Skip Bertman was inducted into the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, TX.After the end of the 2001 season, Bertman became LSU's athletic director. During his tenure, LSU won six total national championships and two BCS National Titles. Bertman served in the position until June 2008, and as Athletic Director Emeritus until June 2010.In anticipation of Bertman's retirement, Louisiana-Monroe coach Smoke Laval was brought on as an administrative assistant for the LSU baseball team in 2001 and succeeded Bertman as coach in 2002. Laval was returning to LSU where he served as an assistant coach under Bertman from 1984–1993. In 1993, Laval left LSU for ULM (then known as Northeast Louisiana). While at NLU/ULM, Laval posted a record of 241–159, a winning percentage of .603, and led the Indians (Now Warhawks) to 3 NCAA regional appearances.The Smoke Laval era (2002-2006)[edit]Main article: Smoke LavalThe expectations were lofty for Laval when he accepted the job as head coach at LSU. In his first year, Laval led the Tigers to a 44–22 record overall. The Tigers hosted a regional in Baton Rouge, which they won, and moved on to the Houston Super-Regional to face Rice, where their season ended. His first year at the helm raised expectations even more after he experienced great success.In 2003 and 2004, Laval would lead the Tigers to 45–22–1 and 46–19 overall record respectively. LSU would earn the No. 2 national seed in the 2003 tournament, and would host a super regional both years, meaning the road to Omaha went through Baton Rouge. LSU made the College World Series both years, but disappointed both years, posting an 0–2 record each year. Tiger fans were not used to leaving Omaha without a win, so questions about Laval's leadership and ability to continue the success of the program began to arise.In 2005, LSU struggled during the regular season despite a 40–22 record overall. The Tigers lost 12 games in SEC play and lost to Southern for only the second time in 41 tries. Rice would go on to defeat the Tigers in the Baton Rouge Regional Finals.It was obvious that 2006 would be a critical year for Laval. However, that year would see LSU post a 35–24 mark overall, their worst since 1983. They also posted their first losing SEC record in 23 years and would miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years. Under growing pressure from fans and the administration, Laval officially resigned on June 4, 2006.The Paul Mainieri era (2007-Present)[edit]Main article: Paul MainieriSee also: Southeastern Conference Baseball TournamentSee also: 2008 LSU Tigers baseball teamOn June 28, 2006, Paul Mainieri was named the twenty-fifth head coach of LSU Baseball. Mainieri returned Baton Rouge, where he began his career in college baseball 30 years earlier as a freshman at LSU in 1976. Mainieri finished his collegiate playing career at the University of New Orleans. Prior to his arrival at LSU, Mainieri coached St. Thomas University in Florida, Air Force, and Notre Dame.In his first season at LSU, the Tigers posted a mark of 29–26–1. The season was full of ups and downs, with the Tigers winning four SEC series against Top 25 opponents, but struggling in non-conference play. After the season, Mainieri realized changes had to be made and informed certain players that they should consider other options,[5] as well as making some changes to his current staff.[6] Mainieri was able to put together a tremendous recruiting class following the 2007 season, which was later ranked No. 1 by Baseball News.[7] In his second year, LSU was predicted to finish fifth in the SEC Western division by the SEC baseball coaches before the year started.[8]Following an amazing turnaround, Coach Mainieri led LSU to the SEC Western Division championship[9] with a conference record of 18–11–1, and the No. 2 seed in the 2008 SEC Baseball Tournament.[10] The Tigers finished the regular season record at 39–16–1.[11] Theteam won the 2008 SEC Tournament (held May 20–25 in Hoover, Alabama). With the win, LSU won 20 consecutive games, breaking the previous school record of 19 consecutive wins during the 1997 season and tying the SEC's second-longest streak of wins.[12] Fourteen of those wins were come-from-behind wins, while the last fifteen were made wearing the distinctive gold jerseys.By winning the SEC Tournament, LSU earned a 7th national seed in the NCAA tournament and extended the life of the old Alex Box Stadium as Baton Rouge hosted a regional bracket of the NCAA tournament. LSU swept the series, defeating Texas Southern (12–1) and Southern Miss (twice, 13–4 and 11–4) to win the regional bracket. With the sweep of the Regional series, LSU extended their winning streak to a SEC-record 23 straight games.[13]As a result of the Regional, LSU and Baton Rouge earned a spot in the Super-Regional series, hosting UC-Irvine in the last three games to be played in the old Alex Box Stadium. LSU lost the first game, 11–5, ending their streak of wins at 23.[14][15] LSU recovered in the second game of the series, scoring six runs in the top of the ninth inning to force a third game with a dramatic come-from-behind win, 9–7.[16] On Monday, June 9, 2008, in the final game to be played at the Alex Box Stadium, with a record-setting crowd of 8,173 watching, LSU dominated UC-Irvine with a 21–7 win to move to the 2008 College World Series.[17][18]In the 2008 College World Series, No. 7 LSU faced the No. 2 North Carolina Tarheels in the first round, losing 8–4.[19] The Tigers, facing elimination in a game against the Rice Owls, won in dramatic fashion, 6–5, continuing their string of come-from-behind victories.[20] On June 20, 2008 after a rain delay of nearly 24 hours, UNC and LSU resumed their elimination game matchup, resulting in a 7–3 loss for LSU. The team was defeated after giving up the only grand slam in the 2008 CWS in the top of the ninth inning. During the 2008 regular and post-regulation baseball season, LSU's games have continuously featured both dramatic victories and controversial calls.[20][21]2009 National championship[edit]See also: 2009 LSU Tigers baseball teamLSU traveled to Omaha after sweeping Southern University, Baylor University and the University of Minnesota in the regionals and Rice University in the super regionals. They started play at the College World Series and faced the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round, winning 9–5. In the winner's bracket game, LSU played the Arkansas Razorbacks and won by a score of 9–1. In a rematch, the Tigers beat the Razorbacks again by a score of 14–5, advancing to the CWS finals for the first time since 2000. They played against theTexas Longhorns in a best-of-three series for the title, and won Game 1, 7–6 in a dramatic comeback win in 11 innings. The Longhorns beat the Tigers in Game 2, 5–1, to force a third and final game. The Tigers out-slugged the Longhorns 11–4 in Game 3 to win their 6th National Championship and first since 2000. The series MVP was outfielder Jared Mitchell.

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