1982 National Championship Baseball Team to be Honored This Weekend
April 9, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – The University of Miami will honor the 1982 national championship baseball team this weekend during the Miami-NC State baseball series at Mark Light Field. The team will be recognized during a pre-game ceremony on Friday, April 13. This spring marks the 25th anniversary of the national championship.
The 1982 team was the first Miami team to win a national championship in a major sport and the first baseball national title for any school in the southeastern United States.
After four straight trips by Miami to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., the 1982 team was not expected to make the trip to the College World Series. The team won the opportunity to host the Atlantic Regional and swept all three games to return to the series in Omaha. Miami then swept through all five games on its way to the national championship, which included wins over No. 1 ranked Wichita State and No. 2 Texas. UM defeated Maine twice, Texas once and Wichita State twice to claim the title.
Miami also made national news in 1982 when they pulled off a phantom pickoff play that changed the momentum of the game but also the entire series. The “grand illusion” play has been ranked by ESPN as one of the top 10 best trick plays of all time. The Hurricanes captured the school’s first title on June 12 when they defeated Wichita State, 9-3.
The reunion kicks off Thurs. April 12 and runs through Sunday, April 15. The team will gather for a “Welcome Home” reception at 2100 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Suite 600. The reception will be sponsored by LINQ Financial Group, Frankie’s Hide-A-Away, Guardian Insurance and Annuity Company/RS Investments and The Big Cheese.
On Friday morning, the team will join the Miami graduate student organization and SPORT in its annual golf tournament at Palmetto Country Club. The tournament benefits the Randy McMichael Foundation and is open to all golfers. For information, call 786-208-1425.
A reception will be held Friday evening beginning at 5 p.m. in the UM Sports Hall of Fame to honor the team. The reception is open to coaches, players, staff, families, invited friends, reunion underwriters and media. After the reception, the team will return to Mark Light Field, where they will be recognized throughout the NC State-Miami game which begins at 7 p.m. Legendary head coach Ron Fraser will throw out the first pitch Friday. The team will be available to sign autographs.
1982 National Championship team members that will be in attendance are:
Ron Fraser, Head Coach
Skip Bertman, Associate Head Coach
Dave Scott, Assistant Coach
Dan Canevari, Graduate Assistant Coach
Kevin Bryant, Dave Carr, Eddie Escribano, Calvin James, Mike Kasprzak, Eddy Kruijs, Phil Lane, Steve Lusby, Camilo Pascual, Greg Pompos, Tom Sacco, Nelson Santovenia, Tim Schaffer, Doug Shields, Dan Smith, Sam Sorce, Javier Velazquez, Bob Walker, Bob Williams, Mickey Williams and Bill Wrona
Schedule of Events
Thursday, April 12
Welcome Home Reception, 6-10 p.m.
2100 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Suite 600
Friday, April 13
Golf Tournament benefiting Randy McMichael Foundation
For Information, call 786-208-1425
Reception, UM Sports Hall of Fame, 5 p.m.
Miami vs. NC State, 7 p.m., Mark Light Field (1982 team to be recognized)
Saturday, April 14
Bertman Field Naming at Red Berry’s Baseball World, 11:30 a.m.
Former UM player and coach, Red Berry, of Red Berry’s Baseball World will name one of his Baseball World’s fields after current LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman
– Field naming is open to the public
Dinner Extravaganza at Top of the Grand, Grand Bay Hotel (coaches, players, staff, families, special reunion underwriters only), 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 15
Brunch, Grand Bay Hotel Restaurant,
