Campus Connection: Michigan
An inside look at Michigan Baseball
Quick hits:
Founded: 1866
Students: 44,718
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Nickname: Wolverines
Conference: Big Ten Conference
Home Field: Ray Fisher Stadium at Wilpon Baseball Complex
Seating: 4,000
Head Coach: Erik Bakich (7th season; 85-57 at Michigan)
College World Series Appearances: 7 (1953, 1962, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 23 (1953, 1961, 1962, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2017)
Just the facts:
- Head Coach Erik Bakich began his coaching career as an assistant at Clemson before getting his first top job at Maryland for a few years before taking over the Wolverines squad.
- Legend has it, the Wolverines nickname originated over a land dispute from the 1830s as Ohioans described their neighbors as wolverines due to their stubborn and combative attitude.
- Michigan’s “The Victors” or “Hail to the Victors” is one of the most notable and recognizable fight songs in the country, originally composed by a UM student in 1898.
MLB Wolverines:
Barry Larkin: Cincinnati Reds
- The Hall of Famer was a two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year during his time at Michigan. As a first round pick, Larkin was a World Series Champ (1990), NL MVP (1995), three-time Gold Glove winner, nine-time Silver Slugger, and 12-time All-Star.
Branch Rickey: St. Louis Browns x 2, New York Highlanders
- The Ohio Wesleyan alum, former Michigan Head Coach, and MLB Hall of Famer made his mark as a GM for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1943-1950) when he signed Jackie Robinson in 1945. Rickey’s contributions to the game also included developing the farm system.
Jim Abbott: California Angels x 2, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox x 2, Milwaukee Brewers
Rich Hill: Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox x 2, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers
Charlie Gehringer: Detroit Tigers (Hall of Fame)
George Sisler: St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Boston Braves (Hall of Fame)
Mike Matheny: Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants
