# Kansas Jayhawks baseball

The Kansas Jayhawks baseball team represents the University of Kansas and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. It is the oldest college baseball program in the state of Kansas, and one of the oldest college baseball programs in the United States, being founded in 1866. The Jayhawks are coached by Dan Fitzgerald. Kansas tied the NCAA record for most consecutive home runs in a single game as of March 13, 2025, with 5 straight home runs, in a win against the University of Minnesota. Kansas ultimately won the game 29-1.

## History

Kansas baseball was founded in 1866, just a year after the university officially began classes, making it one of the first college baseball programs in the United States, and one of the first intercollegiate athletic programs in the country. The University of Kansas's charter was approved by the state of Kansas in 1864, just three years after the state itself was admitted into the Union. From the University's foundation, the founders of the university expressed the importance of athletics in the educational process. Six baseball letters were awarded as early as 1874. Notably, in 1867, a team representing the University of Kansas played games against local clubs such as the Topeka Shawnees and the Lawrence Kaw Valleys at the Kansas State Fair.
In 1993, the Jayhawks went to the 1993 College World Series in Omaha, NE. This was their first, and so far, only CWS appearance. The Jayhawks were led by All-Americans Jeff Berblinger, Jeff Neimeier and Jimmy Walker into the Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. After losing their first game to Fresno State, 7–4, the Jayhawks rebounded against host Tennessee for a 3–2 win. Jayhawk Freshman Jamie Splittorff, son of former Kansas City Royal Paul Splittorff, got the win for KU going 81⁄3 innings. KU then trounced Rutgers, 8–2, and Clemson, 9–1, to set up the all important re-match with Fresno State. Jayhawk coach Dave Bingham turned to Walker, who had been a reliever all season for KU, to start the Regional Final. Walker didn't disappoint as he pitched a complete game and the Jayhawks won in 10 innings, with some late game magic. Down 2–1 in the bottom of the ninth with one out, Berblinger tripled. One out later, Berblinger scored on Josh Igou's infield hit to force extra innings. In the tenth, Brent Wilhelm scored on Darryl Monroe's hot shot to short stop. Once in Omaha the joy was short-lived, as the Jayhawks lost to Texas A&M, and then Long Beach State for an early exit.
The Jayhawks returned to the Regionals in 1994, earning a bid to the Atlantic II Regional in Tallahassee, Fla.
The Jayhawks would once again find themselves in a regional in the 2006 NCAA Division I baseball tournament after winning the 2006 Big 12 Conference baseball tournament. That year KU traveled to Corvallis, Oregon for the Corvallis Regional. KU went 1–2 and did not advance.
The Jayhawks made the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball tournament as a 3 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional and went 2–2. They went 1–1 against 2-seed Coastal Carolina, defeated 4-seed Dartmouth, and were finally knocked out by 1-seed and regional winner North Carolina in the last game of the regional.
In 2014, the Jayhawks made their 5th NCAA tournament appearance, but were eliminated after losing 8-6 against Kentucky and finishing 1–2 in the Louisville Regional.

## Kansas in the NCAA tournament

| Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
| 1993 | 4–3 | .571 | College World Series 7th place, Mideast Regional |
| 1994 | 1–2 | .333 | Atlantic II Regional |
| 2006 | 1–2 | .333 | Corvallis Regional |
| 2009 | 2–2 | .500 | Chapel Hill Regional |
| 2014 | 1–2 | .333 | Louisville Regional |
| TOTALS | 9–11 | .450 | |

## First team All-Americans

* 1954 – John Trombold, OF (ABCA)
* 1980 – Matt Gundelfinger, DH (ABCA)
* 1993 – Jeff Berblinger, 2B (NCBWA)
* 1996 – Josh Kliner, 2B (ABCA, Baseball America)
* 2006 – Don Czyz, P (NCBWA)

## MLB players
### Current

Kansas has no active players in MLB, but Rob Thomson, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, played for Kansas from 1983 to 1985.

### Former

| Player | Year(s) | Team(s) | Awards |
| Bob Allison | 1958–70 | Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins | 1959 AL Rookie of the Year, 3-time All-Star |
| Ferrell Anderson | 1946,1953 | Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Jeff Berblinger | 1997 | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Herb Bradley | 1927–1929 | Boston Red Sox | |
| Clay Christiansen | 1984 | New York Yankees | |
| Chuck Dobson | 1966–71, 73–75 | Kansas City / Oakland A's, California Angels | |
| Bob Edmundson | 1906,08 | Washington Senators | |
| Dale Gear | 1896–97, 1901 | Cleveland Spiders, Washington Senators | |
| Tom Gorzelanny | 2005-2016 | Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians | |
| Harry Huston | 1906 | Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Skip James | 1977–78 | San Francisco Giants | |
| Steve Jeltz | 1983–90 | Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals | |
| Larry Miller | 1964–66 | Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets | |
| John Nelson | 2006 | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Ray Pierce | 1924–26 | Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Steve Renko | 1969–83 | Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Oakland A's, Boston Red Sox, California Angels, Kansas City Royals | |
| Curt Schmidt | 1995 | Montreal Expos | |
| Roger Slagle | 1979 | New York Yankees | |
| Scott Taylor | 1995 | Texas Rangers | |
| Les Walrond | 2003, 2006, 2008 | Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies | |