TEMPE, Ariz. - Legendary Sun Devil Baseball head coach Pat Murphy will be recognized Feb. 15 at Packard Stadium during Arizona State’s game against Baylor at 1 p.m.
Coach Murphy (1995-2009) headlines a series-long celebration of a 10-year period in the program’s storied history, 2000-09, in which former players, longtime season-ticket holders and great moments will be honored and remembered.
"We are honoring the great ASU baseball tradition during our final season at Packard Stadium, and our former coaches and players play a big role in this." Rocky Harris, Senior Associate AD for External Relations, said. "Pat Murphy is the cornerstone of the one of the most decorated eras in Sun Devil Athletics and we are going to have him kick off our season-long celebration of Packard Stadium. It has been part of our overall plan to continue to reach out to everyone who has contributed to ASU's success over the years and this is an important step in accomplishing that objective."
As part of the recognition, coach Murphy will honored on the field 15 minutes prior to first pitch and again on top of the home dugout during the third inning. His son, Kai, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and Sun Devil Athletics will host a celebration on the Armando & Debra Flores Terrace for coach Murphy and his former players, staffers and family members.
The three-game series against Baylor is the first of seven themed weekends this season at Packard Stadium as we Tip Our Cap to the historic ballpark.
Tip Your Cap To Packard
Feb. 14-16: 2000s at Packard Stadium
March 7-9: 1990s at Packard Stadium
March 14-16: 1980s at Packard Stadium
April 4-6: 1970s and opening of Packard Stadium
April 11-13: Foundation of Sun Devil Baseball (Pre-1974)
May 16-18: 40 years of Packard Stadium
Coach Murphy’s 629 wins in 15 seasons at ASU are the second most by a head coach in the school’s history as he authored eight 40-win seasons with the Devils. He was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year four times and amassed 1,0002 career collegiate wins in 22 years.
He led the Sun Devils to four College World Series appearances, including one championship game appearance in 1998. He twice led his team to top-three national finishes in 2005 and 2009, and his five top-10 finishes in his final seven seasons with the Devils is a feat matched by only one other school.
He won four Pac-10 titles from 2000-09, including three consecutive from 2007-09 to become the only coach at ASU, and one of two coaches in conference history, to win three straight conference championships
Coach Murphy mentored 47 All-Americans, 33 Freshmen All-Americans, 13 Academic All-Americans and 12 Team USA selections at ASU. Twenty-seven of his players at ASU went on to play in the Major Leagues and a total of 143 MLB Draft picks played for him in 22 seasons as a Div. I head coach, including a school-record 15 selections in the 2008 draft.
Also known as “The Streak,” the Sun Devils went an NCAA-record 506 consecutive games without being shut out from April 8, 1995 to Feb. 15, 2004 to shatter the previous record of 349 held by Coastal Carolina.
Coach Murphy’s Accomplishments and Accolades
1,002 career wins
629 wins at ASU
Four College World Series Appearances, including one championship game appearance in 1998
Four Pac-10 titles, including three consecutive from 2007-08
Four top-five finishes at ASU, including three top-three
Five NCAA Regional titles
16 NCAA Regional appearances, including 12 at ASU
Four-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year
1998 National Coach of the Year
Eight 40-win seasons at ASU
Two 50-win seasons at ASU, including 54-14 (.794) in 2003
47-26 (.644) against Arizona and won 12 of 15 season series from the Wildcats
Floyd Bannister, a College Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the first First-Team All-Americans in Packard Stadium history, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the season opener on Feb. 14 at 2:30 pm MT.
Bannister (1974-76) was the 1976 The Sporting News and Lefty Gomez Plate National Player of the Year, and a two-time First-Team All-American, and his 1.88 career ERA ranks as the lowest mark in school history in the aluminum bat era. He ranks second in school history with 478 career strikeouts, fourth in victories with 38 and fourth in innings pitched at 396.2, and is the only player in school history to tally more than 200 strikeouts in consecutive seasons (217 in 1975, 213 in 1976).
Willie Bloomquist, the 1999 Pac-10 Player of the Year and one of 27 Sun Devils to play under coach Murphy who made the Major Leagues, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the series finale on Feb. 16 at 12:30 pm MT.
Bloomquist (1997-99) was a two-time All-American, including first-team honoree in 1999, a Freshman All-American and an Academic All-American. His .394 career batting average is the fourth-highest mark in school history and he scored 216 career runs, the fifth most at ASU.
More than 20 former Sun Devil letterwinners and baseball staffers will partake in Saturday’s recognition, including five Major Leaguers and six former All-Americans.
Former Players Coming To Saturday’s Recognition
Andrew Aplin – OF – 2010-12
Daryl Arreola – RHP - 2006
Brian Berger – INF – 1999-00
Willie Bloomquist – INF – 1997-99
Brett Bordes – LHP - 2003-06
Travis Buck – OF - 2003-05
Kole Calhoun – OF – 2009-10
Cesar Castillo – C – 2001-02
Brooks Conrad – 2B – 1999-01
Eric Doble – RHP - 1999-01
Chris Duffy – OF – 2001
Jake Elmore – INF - 2008
Mark Ernster – INF – 1997-99
Mike Esposito – RHP - 2000-02
Rob Gorrell – RHP - 1991
Chip Gosewisch – UTL - 1996-99
Tuffy Gosewisch – C - 2002-05
Joe Hatasaki – LHP - 2007
Joey Hooft – INF - 2005
Danny Ikeda – OF - 1960-62
Ty Johnson – RHP - 1997, 99-01
Bryce Kartler – LHP/OF - 2000-03
Aaron Klusman – RHP - 2001-03
Rocky Laguna – OF/1B - 2005-08
Richy Leon – INF - 1995-98
Jered Liebeck – RHP – 2000-03
Doug Schutt – OF - 2002
Eric Sogard – 2B - 2005-07
Dennis Starkins – OF - 1962-63
Raoul Torrez – INF – 2007-10
Riccio Torrez – INF – 2009-11
Jason Urquidez – RHP - 2004-05
Tim Vasquez – RHP- 1996-97
Beau Vaughan – RHP – 2003
Other Notable Guests
Craig Counsell (played for coach Murphy at Notre Dame, 15-year MLB veteran, 2x World Series Champion – ’97 Marlins, ’01 Diamondbacks – 2001 NLCS MVP)
Roland Hemond (received the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award; three-time winner of MLB’s Executive of the Year Award in ’72, ’83, ’89; credited with the original idea for the Arizona Fall League)
A select line of merchandise bearing the official “Tip Your Cap To Packard” logo is available now at Sparky’s Stadium Shop, located in the Carson Student-Athlete Center, and will also be sold on gamedays at the team shop at Packard Stadium.
Click here for a full list of “Farewell To Packard” promotions, which includes themed weekends, the return of legendary players and coaches, an All-Packard Team voted on by the fans, and more.
Single-game tickets and Mini Packs are on sale now, as well as season tickets starting at $99. Admission for ASU students is free with a valid Sun Card.
Purchasing season tickets will also give fans first opportunity and priority at selecting seats at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2015. Other benefits include reserved lot parking and vouchers for the annual Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Ariz.
Fans can purchase tickets online at sundeviltickets.com, by phone at 480-727-000 or by visiting the Sun Devil Stadium Ticket Office, located at the south end of Sun Devil Stadium.
Join the conversation all season using the hashtag #OccupyPackard.
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