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Lexington, Kentucky Having accepted the challenge, I feel like the loser in a "dizzy-bat" contest. So many choices. So few slots. Such a different game today when compared to the wood-bat days, as well as the days before air travel. Surely a Hall of Famer such Lou Gehrig (Columbia), George Sisler (Michigan), Ted Lyons (Baylor), Frankie Frisch (Fordham) or Christy Mathewson (Bucknell) might qualify. But sketchy details of the early days make that a guessing game. Statistical records improved by the time the first College World Series was played in 1947. So that's where we'll begin. 10. Jackie Jensen (Cal, 1947-49) Having served in the Navy during World War II, Jensen was a do-everything football star for Cal's Rose Bowl team. He finished fourth in the 1947 Heisman Trophy race, and in 1984 was elected to the College Football HOF. But baseball was his game. He helped the Golden Bears capture the inaugural College World Series as a pitcher and outfielder. In the regional final, he outpitched Bobby Layne of Texas. He also was on the mound for the CWS title game, besting a Yale team that included future President George Bush. He turned pro after his junior year, going on to play outfield for three big-league teams. He was American League MVP in 1958 for the Red Sox. 9. Phil Stephenson (Wichita State, 1979-82) The team may be a shocker, but Stephenson's place at No. 9 is not. Set to join the College Baseball HOF in July, he set NCAA career records of 420 runs, 418 hits, 730 total bases, 300 walks and 206 stolen bases. In 1981, he led the nation with 112 runs, 119 hits and 1.6 runs per game. The next season, he was Player of the Year, leading the country with 30 doubles, 87 steals and 97 walks. A two-time All-American, he also gets the nod for valedictorian of this group as an Academic All-American. 8. Will Clark (Mississippi State, 1983-85) "The Natural" had some noteworthy teammates at Starkville, including Rafael Palmeiro and Jeff Brantley. A two-time All-America first baseman, Clark's biggest year was 1985. He earned the Golden Spikes Award, leading the Bulldogs to 50-15 record and a third-place finish in the CWS. All he did was bat .420, with 25 homers and 77 RBI. An inaugural member of the College Baseball HOF, he finished his collegiate career with a .391 average, 61 homers and 199 RBI in just 85 games. He also hit .429 for Team USA in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. A first-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants, he became a six-time all-star and batted .303 over a 15-year career. 7. Mark Kotsay (Cal State Fullerton, 1994-96) Sorry, Tim Wallach. You led the Titans to the 1979 CWS championship. But we'll go with Kotsay, an outfielder/reliever who in 1995 swept the Howser, Smith and Golden Spikes awards, and was named Most Outstanding Player as Fullerton again won the CWS. Kotsay was phenomenal that season, hitting .422, with 21 homers, 90 RBI and 85 runs. An outfielder for the A's now, he finished his Fullerton career batting a school-record .404, with 45 homers, 216 RBI and 201 runs. A two-time All-American, he also played for Team USA's bronze-medal squad at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
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