The Duke Blue Devils baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of Duke University, based in Durham, North Carolina, United States. The team has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since the conference's founding in the 1954 season. The program's home venue is the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened in 1995. Chris Pollard has been the head coach of the team since the 2013 season. As of the end of the 2019 season, the Blue Devils have appeared in three College World Series and 10 NCAA tournaments. They have won three ACC Championships. As of the start of the 2021 Major League Baseball season, 36 former Blue Devils players have played in Major League Baseball.

Duke Blue Devils baseball
2024 Duke Blue Devils baseball team
Founded1903
UniversityDuke University
Head coachChris Pollard (12th season)
ConferenceACC
Coastal Division
LocationDurham, North Carolina
Home stadiumDurham Bulls Athletic Park
(Capacity: 10,000)
NicknameBlue Devils
ColorsDuke blue and white[1]
   
College World Series appearances
1952, 1953, 1961
NCAA regional champions
2018, 2019, 2023
NCAA Tournament appearances
1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1961, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
Southern Conference: 1951
Atlantic Coast Conference: 2021, 2024
Regular season conference champions
SIAA: 1904
Southern Conference: 1929, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1951, 1952, 1953
Atlantic Coast Conference: 1956, 1957, 1961

History

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The baseball program began varsity play in 1889.[2] Led by Arthur Bradsher's 13–1 record they won the S.I.A.A. championship in 1904. The Trinity hurler struck out 169 batters during that championship season and walked only four batters the entire season.

 
The Blue Devils baseball team in the 1955 edition of The Chanticleer

The vast majority of the program's successes came under head coaches Jack Coombs and Ace Parker from 1929–1966. Coombs led the Blue Devils to five Southern Conference championships and to a fifth-place finish in the 1952 College World Series.[2] Taking over upon Coombs' retirement after the 1952 season, Parker led Duke to the 1953 and 1961 College World Series, one Southern Conference championship, and three Atlantic Coast Conference championships.[2] In 2016, Duke earned their first bid to the NCAA tournament since their 1961 College World Series run, ending a 55-year drought.[3] Head coach Chris Pollard continued this success, leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, the Blue Devils defeated NC State at the 2021 ACC tournament, winning their first ever ACC Championship.[4]

Steroid controversy

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In 2005, the program was the target of a controversy involving the use of anabolic steroids.[5] Five former players told the Duke Chronicle that head coach Bill Hillier had pressured players to use steroids, with two of those players admitting to having injected steroids in 2002.[5] In an open letter published in the Chronicle, another former player, Evan Anderson, confirmed that Hillier had pressured players to use steroids.[6] While Hillier denied the accusations, he was replaced as head coach after the 2005 season.[5]

Conference affiliations

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Head coaches

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Year(s) Coach Seasons W–L–T Pct
1901 Mr. Schock 1 6–5 .545
1902–1907 Otis Stocksdale 6 76–37–4 .650
1908–1914 M.T. Adkins 7 104–67–4 .863
1915–1916 Claude West 2 14–26–3 .326
1917 Frank Manush 1 4–6–1 .364
1919 Lee Gooch 1 19–4–2 .760
1920 Chick Doak 1 10–9 ..526
1921 Pat Egan 1 10–8–1 .526
1922 Herman G. Steiner 1 12–6 .667
1923–1924 Howard Jones 2 31–8 .795
1925 Bill Towe 1 9–9 .500
1926–1928 G.B. Whitted 3 28–29–1 .483
1929–1952 Jack Coombs 24 381–171–3 .686
1953–1966 Ace Parker 14 166–162–4 .500
1966–1967 James Bly 2 15–34 .306
1968–1970 Tom Butters 3 43–53–1 .443
1971–1977 Enos Slaughter 7 68–120 .362
1978–1984 Tom D'Armi 7 125–98–2 .556
1985–1987 Larry Smith 3 61–58–4 .496
1988–1999 Steve Traylor 12 356–286–1 .554
2000–2005 Bill Hillier 6 121–214 .361
2006–2012 Sean McNally 7 192–198–1 .492
2013–present Chris Pollard 12 357-261 .578
Totals 1,928–1,644–34 .539

Year by year record

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Season Coach Record Notes
Overall Conference
1889 Unknown 0–0–1
1890 0–1
1891 No Team
1892 No Team
1893 No Team
1894 No Team
1895 No Team
1896 Unknown 7–1
1897 7–3
1898 4–4–1
1899 11–6
1900 8–4
1901 Mr. Schock 6–5
1902 Otis Stocksdale 12–8
1903 9–5–1
1904 14–3–2 SIAA champions
1905 14–6–1
1906 8–7
1907 19–8
1908 M. T. Adkins 17–3–1
1909 18–7
1910 16–10–3
1911 16–9
1912 11–13
1913 15–13
1914 10–11
1915 Claude West 8–9–1
1916 6–17–1
1917 Frank Manush 4–6–1
1918 No Team Due To World War I
1919 Lee Gooch 19–4–2
1920 Chick Doak 10–9
1921 Pat Egan 10–8–1
1922 Herman G. Steiner 12–6
1923 Howard Jones 17–4
1924 14–4
1925 Bill Towe 9–9
1926 G.B. Whitted 7–12
1927 8–10
1928 13–7–1
Southern Conference
1929 Jack Coombs 13–5
1930 17–5 State Champions
1931 11–4 State Champions
1932 15–7
1933 12–7
1934 20–4
1935 24–3
1936 18–7
1937 22–2 Southern Conference Champions, State Champions
1938 18–3 Southern Conference Champions, State Champions
1939 22–2 Southern Conference Champions, State Champions
1940 16–7
1941 14–11
1942 15–7
1943 8–4
1944 9–7
1945 9–7
1946 15–8 Big Four Champions
1947 18–10 13-6 Big Four Champions, State Champions
1948 15–12
1949 12–17–1 9-13
1950 11–18
1951 17–8 Southern Conference Champions, Southern Conference Tournament champions, Co-Big Four Champions
1952 31–7 18-3 Southern Conference Champions, College World Series (5th place)
1953 Ace Parker 22–10 Southern Conference Champions, College World Series (5th place)
Atlantic Coast Conference
1954 Ace Parker 10–13 5–9
1955 10–11 6–6
1956 16–12–2 12–3–1 ACC Champions
1957 19–8 10–4 ACC Champions
1958 9–11 7–5
1959 9–16 5–10
1960 13–8–1 9–4–1
1961 16–11 11–3 ACC Champions, College World Series (5th place)
1962 13–12–1 6–8
1963 15–10 8–6
1964 4–21 0–12
1965 8–17 5–9
1966 Ace Parker/James Bly 13–12 9–9
1967 James Bly 9–20 2–12
1968 Tom Butters 12–19 7–13
1969 12–18–1 7–13
1970 17–16 10–11
1971 Enos Slaughter 15–14 4–10
1972 12–16 3–7
1973 7–17 2–10
1974 9–16 3–8
1975 9–18 2–10
1976 7–23 1–11
1977 9–16 1–7
1978 Tom D'Armi 12–21 1–10
1979 12–18 1–11
1980 17–11 2–9
1981 29–10 6–6
1982 16–13–1 3–7
1983 14–12–1 1–8–1
1984 25–13 3–8
1985 Larry Smith 18–15–3 5–8–1
1986 25–17 2–12
1987 18–26–1 3–14
1988 Steve Traylor 10–35 3–16
1989 20–23 2–14
1990 28–25 4–15
1991 24–27 6–15
1992 38–16 12–12
1993 39–19–1 11–13
1994 33–20 16–8
1995 30–27 4–20
1996 39–19 11–13
1997 33–25 9–14
1998 38–20 8–15
1999 24–31 4–18
2000 Bil Hillier 17–41 5–19
2001 23–33 10–13
2002 24–34 4–20
2003 18–36 2–21
2004 25–31 8–16
2005 14–39 5–25
2006 Sean McNally 15–40 6–24
2007 29–25 8–22
2008 37–18–1 10–18–1
2009 35–24 15–15
2010 29–27 8–22
2011 26–30 7–23
2012 21–34 9–21
2013 Chris Pollard 26–29 9–21
2014 33–25 16–14
2015 31–22 10–19
2016 33–24 14–15 NCAA Regional
2017 30–28 12–18
2018 40–15 18–11 NCAA Super Regional
2019 35–27 15–15 NCAA Super Regional
2020 12-4 2-1
2021 33-22 16-17 ACC Tournament champions, NCAA Regional
2022 22-32 10-20
2023 39-24 16-13 NCAA Super Regional
2024 40-20 16-14 ACC Tournament champions, NCAA Regional

NCAA tournament record

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Year Record Pct Notes
1952 1–2 .333 College World Series (6th place)
1953 1–2 .333 College World Series (6th place)
1956 3–3 .500 District 3
1957 3–2 .600 District 3
1961 3–2 .600 College World Series (6th place)
2016 0–2 .000 Columbia Regional
2018 5–3 .625 Lubbock Super Regional
2019 4–2 .667 Nashville Super Regional
2021 1–2 .333 Knoxville Regional
2023 4–3 .571 Charlottesville Super Regional
2024 1–2 .333 Norman Regional

Individual awards

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ACC Baseball Player of the Year

ACC Baseball Coach of the Year

Current and former major league players

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Nate Freiman
 
Dick Groat
 
Scott Schoeneweis

[7][8]

Major league Baseball Draft

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Player Name Year Round Overall Team Position B/T Signed
Jay Beshears 2023 6 191 San Diego Padres UT R/R Yes
Alex Mooney 2023 7 218 Cleveland Guardians SS R/R Yes
Adam Boucher 2023 10 303 Tampa Bay Rays RHP R/R Yes
Luke Fox 2023 17 520 Los Angeles Dodgers LHP L/L Yes
Henry Williams 2022 3 91 San Diego Padres RHP R/R Yes
Marcus Johnson 2022 4 112 Miami Marlins RHP R/R Yes
Graham Pauley 2022 13 390 San Diego Padres 2B/3B L/R Yes
Billy Seidl 2022 15 461 Chicago White Sox RHP R/R Yes
Jimmy Loper 2022 16 479 New York Mets RHP R/R Yes
Ethan Murray 2021 5 147 Milwaukee Brewers SS/2B R/R Yes
Joey Loperfido 2021 7 208 Houston Astros UT R/R Yes
Peter Matt 2021 10 304 Chicago Cubs LF/RF R/R Yes
Jack Carey 2021 11 313 Pittsburgh Pirates RHP R/R Yes
Mike Rothenberg 2021 12 345 Detroit Tigers C S/R Yes
Bryce Jarvis 2020 1 18 Arizona Diamondbacks RHP L/R Yes
Matt Mervis 2020 -- UDFA Chicago Cubs 1B L/R Yes
Graeme Stinson 2019 4 128 Tampa Bay Rays LHP L/L Yes
Ben Gross 2019 10 299 Minnesota Twins RHP R/R Yes
Kennie Taylor 2019 14 418 New York Mets RF/LF R/R Yes
Adam Laskey 2019 19 582 Chicago Cubs LHP R/L Yes
Bryce Jarvis 2019 37 1125 New York Yankees RHP L/R No
Griffin Conine 2018 2 52 Toronto Blue Jays RF/LF L/R Yes
Jimmy Herron 2018 3 98 Chicago Cubs LF/CF R/L Yes
Christopher Proctor 2018 13 375 Detroit Tigers C L/R Yes
Zack Kone 2018 13 384 Pittsburgh Pirates 3B/1B R/R Yes
Ethan DeCaster 2018 18 525 Detroit Tigers RHP L/L Yes
Mitch Stallings 2018 30 892 Atlanta Braves LHP L/L Yes
Justin Bellinger 2017 22 647 Cincinnati Reds 1B L/L Yes
James Ziemba 2017 22 655 Los Angeles Angels LHP R/L Yes
Jimmy Herron 2017 31 932 New York Yankees LF/CF R/L No
Bailey Clark 2016 5 164 Chicago Cubs RHP R/R Yes
Mike Kaelin 2016 15 456 Los Angeles Angels RHP R/R Yes
James Ziemba 2016 37 1097 Philadelphia Phillies LHP R/L No
Brian Mcafee 2016 38 1140 Tampa Bay Rays RHP R/R Yes
Michael Matuella 2015 3 78 Texas Rangers RHP R/R Yes
Sarkis Ohanian 2015 9 265 Cincinnati Reds RHP R/R Yes
Kenny Koplove 2015 17 504 Philadelphia Phillies RHP R/R Yes
Andrew Istler 2015 23 702 Los Angeles Dodgers RHP/OF R/R Yes
James Marvel 2015 36 1087 Pittsburgh Pirates RHP R/R Yes
Andy Perez 2015 -- UDFA Boston Red Sox IF R/R Yes
Drew Van Orden 2014 5 154 Washington Nationals RHP R/R Yes
Jordan Betts 2014 18 554 Boston Red Sox IF R/R Yes
Rob Huber 2014 26 792 Oakland Athletics RHP R/R Yes
Marcus Stroman 2012 1 22 Toronto Blue Jays RHP R/R Yes
William Piwnica-Worms 2012 -- UDFA Washington Nationals OF R/R Yes
David Putman 2012 -- UDFA Chicago White Sox RHP R/R Yes
Eric Pfisterer 2012 -- UDFA Atlanta Braves LHP L/L Yes
Dennis O'Grady 2011 34 1043 San Diego Pades RHP R/R Yes
Ben Grisz 2011 -- UDFA Washington Nationals RHP R/R Yes
Jake Lemmerman 2010 5 172 Los Angeles Dodgers SS R/R Yes
Chris Manno 2010 26 776 Washington Nationals LHP L/L Yes
Jeremy Gould 2010 28 842 New York Mets LHP R/L Yes
Michael Ness 2010 33 993 Houston Astros RHP R/R Yes
Ryan McCurdy 2010 -- UDFA Houston Astros C R/R Yes
Nate Freiman 2009 8 234 San Diego Padres 1B R/R Yes
Andrew Wolcott 2009 17 516 Arizona Diamondbacks RHP R/R Yes
Matt Williams 2009 18 560 Chicago Cubs C R/R Yes
Alex Hassan 2009 20 618 Boston Red Sox OF R/R Yes
Chris Manno 2009 38 1132 Washington Nationals LHP L/L No
Tim Sherlock 2009 40 1206 Arizona Diamondbacks OF L/L Yes
Michael Ness 2009 47 1407 San Francisco Giants RHP R/R No
Nate Freiman 2008 28 843 Texas Rangers 1B R/R No
Jimmy Gallagher 2007 7 239 Chicago White Sox OF L/L Yes
Brett Bartles 2007 30 919 Cincinnati Reds IF/OF R/R Yes
Tony Bajoczky 2007 34 1041 Boston Red Sox RHP R/R Yes
Tim Layden 2004 6 186 Chicago Cubs LHP L/L Yes
Zach Schreiber 2004 16 491 Atlanta Braves RHP R/R Yes
Brian Patrick 2003 25 740 Toronto Blue Jays 2B B/R Yes
Larry Broadway 2002 3 77 Montreal Expos IF L/L Yes
Kevin Kelly 2002 5 157 San Francisco Giants SS R/R Yes
JD Alleva 2001 24 715 Kansas City Royals C L/R Yes
Vaughn Schill 1999 4 125 Seattle Mariners SS R/R Yes
Chris Capuano 1999 8 238 Arizona Diamondbacks LHP L/L Yes
Stephen Cowie 1999 9 287 Cleveland Indians RHP R/R Yes
Teddy Sullivan 1999 37 1127 Cleveland Indians RHP R/R Yes
Jeff Becker 1999 46 1377 Cleveland Indians IF R/R Yes
Jeff Becker 1998 20 596 Milwaukee Brewers IF R/R No
Gregg Maluchnik 1998 20 611 Atlanta Braves C R/R Yes
Richard Dishman 1997 23 712 Atlanta Braves RHP R/R Yes
Scott Schoeneweis 1996 3 85 California Angels LHP L/L Yes
Dave Darwin 1996 26 761 Detroit Tigers LHP L/L Yes
Richard Dishman 1996 46 1346 San Francisco Giants RHP R/R No
Mike King 1996 62 1614 Tampa Bay Rays OF R/R Yes
Ray Farmer 1995 61 1534 Seattle Mariners OF R/R No
Ryan Jackson 1994 7 180 Florida Marlins 1B/RF L/L Yes
Sean McNally 1994 16 443 Kansas City Royals 3B R/R Yes
Scott Pinoni 1994 20 555 Kansas City Royals 1B R/R Yes
Matt Harrell 1993 24 678 Montreal Expos OF R/R Yes
Tony Runion 1993 58 1533 Cleveland Indians RHP R/R Yes
Robert Baldwin 1993 79 1687 Chicago Cubs OF R/R No
Mike Kotarski 1992 20 571 Colorado Rockies LHP L/L Yes
Quinton McCraken 1992 25 711 Colorado Rockies CF/LF B/R Yes
John Courtright 1991 8 223 Cincinnati Reds LHP L/L Yes
Tim Rumer 1990 8 219 New York Yankees LHP L/L Yes
Tim Roberts 1990 75 1464 Seattle Mariners LHP R/L Yes
Mike Trombley 1989 14 373 Minnesota Twins RHP R/R Yes
John Furch 1988 23 587 Chicago White Sox 1B R/R Yes
Ron Bianco 1984 14 366 Chicago White Sox SS B/R No
Dave Amaro 1984 24 599 Chicago Cubs 1B R/R Yes
Tommy Decker 1984 41 812 Cleveland Indians C R/R Yes
Todd Lamb 1983 10 256 Atlanta Braves RHP R/R Yes
Tom Brassil 1982 6 135 SS SS R/R Yes
Bob Brower 1982 -- UDFA Texas Rangers CF/LF R/R Yes
Tom Brassil 1981 15 380 Detroit Tigers SS R/R No
Kevin Rigby 1980 14 341 Atlanta Braves 2B L/R Yes
Larry Doby 1979 34 811 Chicago White Sox OF B/R Yes
Larry Doby 1978 17 434 Chicago White Sox OF B/R No
Steve Kesses 1976 1 16 New York Mets OF R/R Yes
John Poff 1974 -- UDFA Philadelphia Phillies OF/1B L/L Yes
Brian Bochow 1972 32 699 Pittsburgh Pirates SS R/R No
Alan Schartz 1971 3 52 Cincinnati Reds P -- Yes
Ron Davis 1961 -- UDFA Houston Colt 45s OF R/R Yes
Al Spangler 1954 -- UDFA Milwaukee Brewers OF L/L Yes
Gary Coleman 1953 -- UDFA Cleveland Baseball Team 1B L/R Yes

World Series Champions

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Duke Athletics Quick Facts". GoDuke.com. September 5, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "2013 Media Guide" (PDF). GoDuke.com. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  3. ^ Information Sports, Duke (June 27, 2016). "Duke Baseball: 2016 Season in Review". Duke Athletics. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  4. ^ lyttle, Steve (May 30, 2021). "Duke shuts out NC State to win ACC baseball championship its first in 60 years". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "STEROID CHARGES ROCK DUKE BASEBALL". Duke Chronicle. 14 April 2005. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  6. ^ Anderson, Evan (18 April 2005). "Steroid allegations are accurate". Duke Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Duke University (Durham, NC) Baseball Players".
  8. ^ "MLB Alumni". GoDuke.com. Duke Blue Devils. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
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