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Home arrow Sports arrow Mission Impossible: Pick the 10 Best Collegiate Baseball Players of All Time

Mission Impossible: Pick the 10 Best Collegiate Baseball Players of All Time

by Mark Maloney
HOFN.com Exclusive

6. Jon Olerud (Washington State, 1987-89)

Jon Olerud

Most know him for his big-league career at first base. But Olerud also was a potent pitcher for Washington State. So good that this double threat also will join the College Baseball HOF in July. He was Player of the Year in 1988, hitting .464 with 23 homers and 81 RBI ... and going 15-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts. For his career, Olerud hit .434 with 33 homers and 131 RBI, while going 26-4 with a 3.17 ERA and 169 strikeouts.

 

 

5. Fred Lynn (Southern Cal, 1971-73)

Fred Lynn

Back-to-back-to-back CWS championships say it all for this All-American wood-bat legend. During 158 career games, Lynn hit .320 with 28 homers and 111 RBI. He'll join the College Baseball HOF in July.

Lynn's college success was no fluke. He became American League MVP and Rookie of the Year with the Red Sox in 1975. He became a nine-time all-star, earning game MVP honors in 1983, and a four-time Gold Glove outfielder.

4. Robin Ventura (Oklahoma State, 1985-88)

Robin Ventura

The longest hitting streak in NCAA history – 58 games – is only part of what makes Ventura's career awesome. He began his freshman season as a backup third baseman. He worked his way into the lineup, hitting .469 with 21 homers and 28 doubles. Oh, yes, he also led the NCAA with 96 RBI and 107 runs. As a sophomore, he composed "The Streak" and was Baseball America's Player of the Year. He hit .428 with 21 homers and 110 RBI, and went 11-for-12 in the Big Eight Tournament. A College Baseball HOFer, he finished his OSU days by hitting .391, 26 homers and 96 RBI, earning the 1988 Golden Spikes and Dick Howser awards. Oklahoma State made it to the CWS Ventura's last two years, and he also played for Team USA at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The White Sox drafted him in the first round, and he went on to play 16 big-league seasons.

3. Dave Winfield (Minnesota, 1971-73)

Dave Winfield

Our most decorated slugger – he belongs to the Major League and College Baseball HOFs -- Winfield also was a sensational pitcher for the Golden Gophers (as well as a basketball player). During three seasons, Winfield's pitching line read: 19-4, 2.24 ERA, 229 strikeouts, 15 complete games, 169 innings.

The highlight came in 1973, when he led Minnesota to the CWS championship game and was named Most Outstanding Player. Besides going 7-for-15 with two RBI, Winfield pitched 17 1/3 innings, with a 1-0 record and a 1.56 ERA. He gave up three earned runs on 10 hits, striking out 29 – 14 in a 1-0 complete-game win over Oklahoma State, 15 in an 8-7 no-decision loss to Lynn's Southern Cal team.

Overall that season, Winfield hit .385 with eight homers and 35 RBI in 130 at-bats. He also compiled a 9-1 record with a 2.74 ERA, striking out 109 over 82 innings. As a big leaguer, Winfield belted 465 homers.



 

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