by CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University Department of Athletics is proud to announce its newest entry into the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame; the 2005 baseball team that advanced the Beavers to Omaha for the first time in 50 years. This announcement is made on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the team’s historic run and a majority of members attending the annual Diamond Dinner on Friday which is now sold out.
The team will be formally inducted this fall during a football home game weekend with additional members of the 2015 Hall of Fame Class.
The 2005 team was the catalyst for the strongest 10-year stretch in OSU baseball history, winning 46 games to just 12 losses to help set the stage for the 2006 and 2007 national titles. Jacoby Ellsbury (Navajo/CRIT), Dallas Buck and Jonah Nickerson were selected as All-Americans that season.
The Beavers also had six players named Pac-10 first team, including Ellsbury, who was the conference’s player of the year.
Ellsbury, now the starting center fielder for the New York Yankees, was selected in the first round of the 2005 MLB Draft. In eight seasons at the Major League level, he’s played in more than 800 games, has swiped nearly 300 bases and has won World Series titles in 2007 and 2013 while with the Boston Red Sox.
“The 2005 club is very deserving of this honor,” Oregon State head coach Pat Casey said. “The team started a run of 10 years that have been the most successful in our history. Each and every member of that team should be proud of what they accomplished that season and what they mean to this program. I cherish that season and it is one of many highlights of my coaching career and I will never forget the commitment they made to making it all possible.”
The 2005 team began a current 10-year stretch for Oregon State that has seen the Beavers win 420 games, the second-most in the Pac-12, while the club, under Casey, has advanced to nine postseason tournaments, including a program-record six straight. Nine players who have competed for the Beavers from 2005 on have since made their Major League Baseball debuts, with Ellsbury and Andrew Susac winning World Series championships.
“This special group made the University, state of Oregon and all of Beaver Nation proud. Congratulations to Pat, the student-athletes and staff of the 2005 team on this well-deserved honor and I look forward to inducting them in the Fall.” said Athletic Director Bob De Carolis.
OSU Athletics is currently reviewing future candidates to join the 2005 baseball team for the 2015 Hall of Fame class. Nominations can be sent to deputy athletics director Mark Massari mark.massari@oregonstate.edu. Visit the full list of current OSU Athletics Hall of Fame members by clicking this link.
Fans can now purchase season tickets for the 2015 season by visiting BeaverTickets.com or calling 800-GO-BEAVS (over the phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday). Or stop by the ticket office at Gill Coliseum to get great seats for the upcoming season.
