LSU Tigers baseball

LSU Tigers baseball
2016 LSU Tigers baseball team
Founded	1893
University	Louisiana State University
Conference	SEC West Division
Location	Baton Rouge, LA
Head coach	Paul Mainieri (9th year)
Home stadium	Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field (Capacity: 10,326)
Nickname	Tigers
Colors	Purple and Gold[1]
National Championships
1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009
College World Series appearances
1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015
NCAA Tournament appearances
1975, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Conference tournament champions
1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014
Conference champions
1939, 1943, 1946, 1961, 1975, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2009, 2012, 2015

The LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. It is one of the elite college baseball programs in the nation, ranking seventh all-time with 17 College World Series appearances and second all-time with 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

National championships

Year	Coach	Record	Result
1991	Skip Bertman	55–18	Beat Wichita State, 6–3
1993	Skip Bertman	53–17–1	Beat Wichita State, 8–0
1996	Skip Bertman	52–15	Beat Miami, 9–8
1997	Skip Bertman	57–13	Beat Alabama, 13–6
2000	Skip Bertman	52–17	Beat Stanford, 6–5
2009	Paul Mainieri	56–17	Beat Texas, 7–6, 1–5, & 11–4
Total National Championships			6

College World Series appearances

Year	Coach	Record
1986	Skip Bertman	55–14
1987	Skip Bertman	49–19
1989	Skip Bertman	55–17
1990	Skip Bertman	54–19
1991	Skip Bertman	55–18
1993	Skip Bertman	53–17–1
1994	Skip Bertman	46–20
1996	Skip Bertman	52–15
1997	Skip Bertman	57–13
1998	Skip Bertman	48–19
2000	Skip Bertman	52–17
2003	Smoke Laval	45–22–1
2004	Smoke Laval	46–19
2008	Paul Mainieri	49–19–1
2009	Paul Mainieri	56–17
2013	Paul Mainieri	57–11
2015	Paul Mainieri	54–12
Total College World Series appearances:		17

History

The early years (1893–1926)

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)

In 1927, Harry Rabenhorst became head baseball coach and became 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.^[2][3] 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's athletic 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 to 1945. The Tigers won the 1943 SEC Championship under Swanson.

Ray Didier era (1957–1963)

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)

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)

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

The program won its first national championship in 1991, defeating Wichita State in the College World Series final.

1993 national championship

The program won its second national championship in 1993, again defeating Wichita State in the College World Series final.

1996 national championship

In 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.{{http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball_RB/2012/D1.pdf}}

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 against Miami (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.^[4]

1997 national championship

LSU 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.

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. 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

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

In 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.^[5]

Retirement

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)

The 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)

On June 28, 2006, Paul Mainieri was named the twenty-fifth head coach of LSU Baseball. Mainieri returned to 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,^[6] as well as making some changes to his current staff.^[7] Mainieri was able to put together a tremendous recruiting class following the 2007 season, which was later ranked No. 1 by Baseball News.^[8]

In his second year, LSU was predicted to finish fifth in the SEC Western division by the SEC baseball coaches before the year started.^[9] Following an amazing turnaround, Coach Mainieri led LSU to the SEC Western Division championship^[10] with a conference record of 18–11–1, and the No. 2 seed in the 2008 SEC Baseball Tournament.^[11] The Tigers finished the regular season record at 39–16–1.^[12] The team 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.^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15][16] 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.^[17] 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.^[18][19]

In the 2008 College World Series, No. 7 LSU faced the No. 2 North Carolina Tarheels in the first round, losing 8–4.^[20] 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.^[21] 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.^[21][22]

2009 National championship

LSU 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 the Texas 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.

Chandler Tullis, a longtime athletic supporter, made the grueling trip to Omaha to celebrate with the team with a champagne shower in the locker room after the final victory. (Omaha World Herald)

At the end of the 2015 regular season, Alex Bregman was selected by the Houston Astros with the second pick of the 2015 MLB Draft. He was the fifth LSU Tiger to be drafted in the first round in seven years, the highest-drafted position player in LSU's history, and the second-highest overall behind pitcher Ben McDonald (1989).^[23][24]

Traditions

Attendance

Total Attendance: As of the 2015 baseball season, LSU has finished No. 1 in the final college baseball total attendance rankings in 20 straight seasons. LSU posted a total attendance figure of 421,171 in 39 games, which was 147,576 greater than second-place team South Carolina which had 273,595 in 33 games.^[25]

In 2013, LSU posted an NCAA-record total attendance figure of 473,298 in 43 games, which was 191,458 greater than second-place team Mississippi State (281,840). LSU is also the only school in NCAA history to exceed 400,000 in total baseball attendance in a season.^[26]

Average Attendance: As of the 2015 baseball season, LSU finished No. 1 in the final average attendance rankings for the 19th time in 20 years (Arkansas finished No. 1 in average attendance in 2007). In 2015, LSU averaged 10,799 tickets sold per game, which was 2,509 greater than second-place team Arkansas which averaged 8,290.^[25]

LSU's paid attendance figure of 12,727 for the LSU-South Carolina game on April 27, 2013 established a school record.

LSU Bat Girls

The LSU Bat Girls are a support squad that contributes to the LSU Baseball program. The Bat Girls consist of 30 individuals who work in team's of 10 at all home games, post-season games and various charity events. The squad serves as hostesses at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field and their responsibilities include selling game day programs, recovering foul balls, retrieving bats and helmets, answering fans questions, assisting with game day promotions and giveaways and checking on umpires. They also assist the athletic department with many different aspects of the game such as attending coaches committee meetings.

Tailgating

Tailgating is found across campus with many fans tailgating in the same spot year after year. Some tailgaters form affiliations or organizations and name their "tailgating krewes".^[27]

LSU has continually been ranked as the top tailgating location in the country. ESPN.com ranked LSU as the top tailgating destination in America. LSU's tailgating was named No. 1 in a Associated Press poll on top tailgating spots and by a CNN network survey on top tailgating locations.^[28]

Visiting team supporters can be heckled and chants of "Tiger Bait! Tiger Bait!" are sometimes directed at opposing teams fans. The opposing fans who take the jeers and jaunts with a sporting disposition will be invited to join in on the party, the drink, the regional Cajun cuisine, the spirit of Baton Rouge, and the vibrant tradition of LSU sports.^[27] During baseball season some fans will tailgate for the entire three days of a weekend series.

Gold Jerseys

LSU introduced gold jerseys for the 1996 post-season. The Tigers went on to win their 3rd National Championship that year while wearing the gold jerseys in the championship game. The jerseys became part of LSU Baseball lore when with 2 outs and a runner on third base with LSU losing 8–7 in the bottom of the 9th inning, LSU's Warren Morris swung at the first pitch and lined the ball just inches over the right field fence for a game winning walk-off home run. This was his first home run of the season as he had missed 39 games with a broken bone in his hand. The jerseys became more ingrained in LSU lore when the Tigers also wore them during the 1997 post-season which resulted in another national championship, the program's 4th. After the 1996 and 1997 National Championships, the baseball program reserved the gold jerseys for select games.

Under head coach Paul Mainieri, the team wears the gold jerseys regularly on the third game of a three-game series, as well as during important tournament games. One such game was game 3 of the 2009 College World Series Finals versus the Texas Longhorns. The Tigers defeated the Longhorns 11–4 to win the programs 6th National Championship wearing the gold jerseys.

Stadiums

Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field

Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field is a baseball stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.^[29] It is the home stadium of the Louisiana State University Tigers college baseball team. The stadium section (and LSU's previous baseball stadium 400 yards (370 m) to the north) were named for Simeon Alex Box, an LSU letterman (1942), purple heart and distinguished service cross recipient, who was killed in North Africa during World War II. In 2013, the field was named in honor of former LSU head baseball coach and athletic director, Skip Bertman.

Alex Box Stadium

Alex Box Stadium was a baseball stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was the home field of the Louisiana State University Tigers college baseball team. It was most notable for The Intimidator, a large billboard behind the right-field fence featuring the six years in which LSU had won the College World Series while playing in the stadium. The field was also notable for giving up many home runs due to the high humidity of Louisiana, the prevailing winds out of the south which push balls hit to left field out of the park, and the short fences (the dimensions are believed to be anywhere from 7–10 feet shorter than what was posted on the fences).^[30]

State Field

State Field was the home field for the LSU baseball team from 1893 to 1924. The field was located on the old downtown campus of LSU. It was located south of the Pentagon Barracks and slightly southwest of the site of the current Louisiana State Capitol Building adjacent to the Hill Memorial Library and George Peabody Hall.^[31] The field was later moved to a site with bleachers that was north of the campuses experimental garden, and next to the old armory building.^[32] The field was known on the campus simply as the "athletic field" and was also used for LSU's basketball and football teams.

Practice and training facilities

Worley Family Batting Cage Pavilion

The Worley Family Batting Cage Pavilion holds the LSU indoor batting cages behind the right field wall at Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field. The facility allows the Tigers baseball team to practice year-round without interference from inclement weather.

LSU Baseball Strength and Conditioning facility

The LSU Tigers baseball team weight room is over 10,000 square feet^[33] and includes multi-purpose flat surface platform, bench, incline, squat and Olympic lifting stations along with dumbbell bench stations.^[34] It is also equipped with medicine balls, hurdles, plyometric boxes, assorted speed and agility equipment, treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical cross trainers. The weight room features multiple high-definition TV's for multimedia presentations. It is located in the LSU Football Operations Center.

Head coaches

• Records are through the end of the 2015 Season

Tenure	Coach	Years	Record	Pct.
1893	E.B. Young	1	1–0	(1.000)
1894	No games in 1894
1895	No coach in 1895	1	0–3–1	(.000)
1896	No games in 1896
1897	E.A. Scott	1	3–3	(.500)
1898	Allen Jeardeau	1	2–3	(.400)
1899	C.V. Cusachs	1	5–5–1	(.500)
1900–1901	L.P. Piper	2	8–6–1	(.567)
1902–1903	W.S. Borland	2	10–11–1	(.477)
1905–1906	Dan A. Killian	2	14–9	(.609)
1907	J. Phillips	1	11–7	(.611)
1908–1909	Edgar Wingard	2	16–22–1	(.068)
1910–1911	John W. Mayhew	2	15–16	(.484)
1912–1913	Bob Pender	2	15–17	(.469)
1914–1921	C. C. Stroud	8	73–58–5	(.555)
1922–1923	Branch Bocock	2	15–15–2	(.500)
1924	"Moon" Ducote	1	4–9	(.308)
1925–1926	Mike Donahue	2	15–15–3	(.500)
1927–1942	Harry Rabenhorst	See Below
1943–1945	A.L. Swanson	3	27–21	(.563)
1946–1956	Harry Rabenhorst	27	220–226–3	(.493)
1957–1963	Ray Didier	7	104–79	(.568)
1964–1965	Jim Waldrop	2	17–24	(.415)
1966–1978	Jim Smith	13	238–251	(.487)
1979–1983	Jack Lamabe	5	134–115	(.538)
1984–2001	Skip Bertman	18	870–330–3	(.724)
2002–2006	Smoke Laval	5	210–109–1	(.658)
2007–Present	Paul Mainieri	9	414–161–3	(.719)
Total	25 coaches	120 seasons	2441-1514-24	(.616)

Year-by-year results

*Through the end of the 2015 season.
*Final Rankings are from Collegiate Baseball Division I Final Polls (1959–2015)^[35]

Year-by-Year Results

Year Coach Record Notes 1893 E.B. Young 1–0 1894 No Games in 1894 1895 No Coach 0–3–1 1896 No Games in 1896 1897 E.A. Scott 3–3 1898 Allen Jeardeau 2–3 1899 C.V. Cusachs 5–5–1 1900 L.P. Piper 2–3–1 1901 L.P. Piper 6–3 1902 W.S. Boreland 6–6–1 1903 W.S. Boreland 4–5 1904 No Games in 1904 1905 Dan A. Killian 4–6 1906 Dan A. Killian 10–3 1907 J. Phillips 11–7 1908 Edgar Wingard 9–12–1 1909 Edgar Wingard 7–10 1910 J.W. Mayhew 7–9 1911 J.W. Mayhew 8–7 1912 Bob Pender 8–6 1913 Bob Pender 7–11 1914 C.C. Stroud 4–8 1915 C.C. Stroud 10–9–1 1916 C.C. Stroud 15–8 1917 C.C. Stroud 7–4–2 1918 C.C. Stroud 8–4 1919 C.C. Stroud 12–4 1920 C.C. Stroud 10–8–1 1921 C.C. Stroud 9–11–1 1922 Branch Bocock 7–6 1923 Branch Bocock 8–9–2 1924 "Moon" Ducote 4–9 1925 Mike Donahue 5–9–2 1926 Mike Donahue 10–6–1 1927 Harry Rabenhorst 8–6 1928 Harry Rabenhorst 7–11 1929 Harry Rabenhorst 3–6 1930 Harry Rabenhorst 6–8 1931 Harry Rabenhorst 3–6–1 1932 Harry Rabenhorst 4–7–1 1933 Harry Rabenhorst 3–7 1934 Harry Rabenhorst 6–8–1 1935 Harry Rabenhorst 8–7 1936 Harry Rabenhorst 15–4 1937 Harry Rabenhorst 12–14 1938 Harry Rabenhorst 7–8–1 1939 Harry Rabenhorst 22–6 SEC Champions 1940 Harry Rabenhorst 16–5 1941 Harry Rabenhorst 10–13 1942 Harry Rabenhorst 9–9 1943 A.L. Swanson 13–8 SEC Champions 1944 A.L. Swanson 4–8 1945 A.L. Swanson 11–7 1946 Harry Rabenhorst 10–5 SEC Champions 1947 Harry Rabenhorst 10–9–1 1948 Harry Rabenhorst 7–14–1 1949 Harry Rabenhorst 6–11 1950 Harry Rabenhorst 5–9–1 1951 Harry Rabenhorst 10–6 1952 Harry Rabenhorst 9–11 1953 Harry Rabenhorst 8–10 1954 Harry Rabenhorst 8–11 1955 Harry Rabenhorst 6–17 1956 Harry Rabenhorst 9–11 1957 Ray Didier 8–11 1958 Ray Didier 14–11 1959 Ray Didier 16–17 1960 Ray Didier 15–14 1961 Ray Didier 20–5 SEC Champions; Final ranking No. 22 1962 Ray Didier 15–11–1 1963 Ray Didier 16–10 1964 Jim Waldrop 11–11–1 1965 Jim Waldrop 6–13 1966 Jim Smith 9–14 1967 Jim Smith 17–13 1968 Jim Smith 20–14 1969 Jim Smith 11–24 1970 Jim Smith 16–19 1971 Jim Smith 20–16 1972 Jim Smith 21–21 1973 Jim Smith 18–13 1974 Jim Smith 18–17 1975 Jim Smith 40–16 SEC Champions; Final ranking No. 19 1976 Jim Smith 29–23 1977 Jim Smith 17–27 1978 Jim Smith 12–34 1979 Jack Lamabe 34–20 1980 Jack Lamabe 23–19 1981 Jack Lamabe 23–30 1982 Jack Lamabe 26–25 1983 Jack Lamabe 28–21 1984 Skip Bertman 32–23 1985 Skip Bertman 41–18 SEC West Champions; Final ranking No. 24 1986 Skip Bertman 55–14 SEC Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 5 1987 Skip Bertman 49–19 Final ranking No. 4 1988 Skip Bertman 39–21 1989 Skip Bertman 55–17 Final ranking No. 4 1990 Skip Bertman 54–19 SEC Champions; SEC Tournament Co-Champions; Final ranking No. 4 1991 Skip Bertman 55–18 SEC Champions; Final ranking No. 1 1992 Skip Bertman 50–16 SEC Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 9 1993 Skip Bertman 53–17–1 SEC Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 1 1994 Skip Bertman 46–20 SEC West Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 7 1995 Skip Bertman 47–18 Final ranking No. 18 1996 Skip Bertman 52–15 SEC Champions; Final ranking No. 1 1997 Skip Bertman 57–13 SEC Champions; Final ranking No. 1 1998 Skip Bertman 48–19 SEC West Champions; Final ranking No. 3 1999 Skip Bertman 41–24–1 Final ranking No. 14 2000 Skip Bertman 52–17 SEC West Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 1 2001 Skip Bertman 44–22–1 SEC West Champions; Final ranking No. 10 2002 Smoke Laval 44–22 Final ranking No. 11 2003 Smoke Laval 45–22–1 SEC Champions; Final ranking No. 7 2004 Smoke Laval 46–19 Final ranking No. 8 2005 Smoke Laval 40–22 Final ranking No. 19 2006 Smoke Laval 35–24 2007 Paul Mainieri 29–26–1 2008 Paul Mainieri 49–19–1 SEC West Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 6 2009 Paul Mainieri 56–17 SEC Champions; SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 1 2010 Paul Mainieri 40–20 SEC Tournament Champions 2011 Paul Mainieri 36–20 2012 Paul Mainieri 47–18 SEC Champions; NCAA Super Regional 2013 Paul Mainieri 57–11 College World Series; Final ranking No. 4 2014 Paul Mainieri 46–16–1 SEC Tournament Champions; Final ranking No. 22 2015 Paul Mainieri 54–12 SEC Champions; College World Series; Final ranking No.  5

LSU in the NCAA tournament

• The NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament started in 1947.
• The format of the tournament has changed through the years.

Year	Record	Pct	Notes
			LSU did not make the tournament from 1947 to 1974. NOTE: LSU was invited to play in the 1961 NCAA tournament as SEC champion, but declined.
1975	1–2	.333	Eliminated by Miami in the South Regional Semifinals
			LSU did not make the tournament from 1976 to 1984.
1985	0–2	.000	Eliminated by Lamar in NCAA Central Regional
1986	5–2	.714	Won NCAA South I Regional College World Series (5th place)
1987	6–2	.750	Won NCAA South II Regional College World Series (4th place)
			LSU did not make the tournament in 1988.
1989	7–3	.700	Won the NCAA Central Regional College World Series (3rd place)
1990	7–3	.700	Won the NCAA South I Regional College World Series (3rd place)
1991	8–0	1.000	Won the NCAA South Regional College World Series Champions
1992	2–2	.500	Eliminated by Cal St. Fullerton in the NCAA South II Regional Semifinals
1993	8–2	.800	Won the NCAA South Regional College World Series Champions
1994	4–2	.667	Won the NCAA South Regional College World Series (7th place)
1995	2–2	.500	Eliminated by Rice in NCAA South Regional Semifinals
1996	8–0	1.000	Won the NCAA South II Regional College World Series Champions
1997	9–1	.900	Won the NCAA South I Regional College World Series Champions
1998	6–2	.750	Won the NCAA South II Regional College World Series (3rd place)
1999	4–3	.571	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Eliminated by Alabama in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional
2000	9–0	1.000	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. UCLA College World Series Champions
2001	4–3	.571	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Eliminated by Tulane in the Metairie Super Regional
2002	4–3	.571	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Eliminated by Rice in the Houston Super Regional
2003	5–3	.625	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Baylor College World Series (7th place)
2004	5–2	.714	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Texas A&M College World Series (7th place)
2005	2–2	.500	Eliminated by Rice in Baton Rouge Regional Finals
			LSU did not make the tournament in 2006 or 2007.
2008	6–3	.667	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. UC Irvine College World Series (5th place)
2009	10–1	.909	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Rice College World Series Champions
2010	1–2	.333	Eliminated by UCI in the Los Angeles Regional
			LSU did not make the tournament in 2011.
2012	4–2	.667	Won the Baton Rouge regional Eliminated by Stony Brook University in the Baton Rouge Super Regional
2013	5–2	.714	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Oklahoma College World Series (7th place)
2014	2–2	.500	Lost to Houston in the Baton Rouge Regional Final
2015	6–2	.750	Won the Baton Rouge Regional Won the Baton Rouge Super Regional vs. Louisiana-Lafayette College World Series (5th place)
Total	140–55	.718

NCAA records

Individual records

Year	Player	Record	Notes
1959	Butch Mixon	Strikeouts in a game (24)	April 28, 1959 against ULL; No. 2 all-time
1962	Fred Southerland	Fewest hits allowed per 9 innings (4.07)	Minimum of 50 innings pitched; No. 5 for 1962 season
1967	Bruce Baudier	Perfect Game (7 Innings)	May 5, 1967 against Alabama
2009	Matty Ott	Saves (16)	2009 Season.
1993	Todd Walker	Runs Batted In (102)	Led the nation in 1993
1993	Todd Walker	Total Bases (214)	Led the nation in 1993
1995–1998	Eddy Furniss	Home runs in a career (80)	No. 4 All-Time
1995–1998	Eddy Furniss	Total bases in a career (689)	No. 3 All-Time
1996	Eddy Furniss	Runs Batted In (103)	Led the nation in 1996
1996	Eddy Furniss	Home runs (26)	(t)1st in 1996
1997	Brandon Larson	Home runs in a season (40)	No. 4 All-Time; No. 2 in 1997
2000	Brad Cresse	Runs Batted In (106)	Led the nation in 2000
2000	Brad Cresse	Total Bases (217)	Led the nation in 2000
2000	Brad Cresse	Home runs (30)	Led the nation in 2000
2000	Brad Hawpe	Doubles in a season (36)	No. 1 All-Time; Led the nation in 2000
2008	Matt Clark	Home runs (28)	(t)1st in 2008 with Gordon Beckham
Source:"Official 2007 NCAA Baseball Records Book" (PDF). ncaa.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2008.

Team records

Year	Record	Notes
1996	Hits in the 7th Inning (13)	May 26, 1996 against Georgia Tech
1996	Doubles in an Inning (8)	May 26, 1996 against Georgia Tech
1996–1998	Consecutive Games with a Home run (77)	From June 8, 1996 to February 21, 1998
1997	Home runs in a Season (188)	LSU played 70 games that season
1997	Home runs per game (2.69)	LSU played 70 games that season
Source:"Official 2007 NCAA Baseball Records Book" (PDF). ncaa.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2008.

National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees

Players

Player	Position	Career	Induction
Ben McDonald	P	1987–89	2008
Todd Walker	2B	1992–94	2009
Eddy Furniss	1B	1996–98	2010

Coaches

Player	Position	Career	Induction
Skip Bertman	Head Coach	1984–2001	2006

Retired numbers

No.	Member	Position	Career	Year No. Retired
15	Skip Bertman	Head coach	1984–2001	2010
19	Ben McDonald	Pitcher	1987–1989	2010
36	Eddy Furniss	First baseman	1994–1997	2016

Player awards

National award winners

1st Team All-Americans

The following is a listing of the selections listed in the 2015 LSU Baseball Media Guide on LSUsports.net.^[36]

National Freshmen of the year

The following is a listing of LSU players selected as national freshmen of the year.^[37][38][39]

SEC award winners

All-College World Series

The following is a listing of LSU players that were selected to the all-tournament teams during the College World Series.^[40]

Legend

• ^ denotes player was named MOP of the College World Series^[41]
• * denotes selection to College World Series All-Decade team^[42]

National team members

Player	Position	Years at LSU	Country	Olympic year
Ben McDonald	P	1987–1989	USA	1988
Rick Greene	P	1990–1992	USA	1992
Warren Morris	2B	1993–1996	USA	1996
Jason Williams	SS	1993–1996	USA	1996
Kurt Ainsworth	P	1997–1999	USA	2000

Coaches awards

National Coach of the Year

Coach	Years
Skip Bertman	1986, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000
Paul Mainieri	2008, 2009, 2015

National team coaches

Coach	Position	Years at LSU	Country	Olympic year
Skip Bertman	Head coach	1984–2001	USA	1988 (Asst. coach), 1996 (Head coach)

LSU and MLB

The LSU Tigers baseball team has had 65 players reach Major League Baseball (MLB).^[43]

See also

• List of NCAA Division I baseball programs

References

External links

• Official website