Baseball at Syracuse University is currently played as a club sport under the NCBA (National Club Baseball Association NCBA). The program was disbanded in 1972 due to budget constraints after the inception of Title IX rulings nationwide. This marked the end of a 99 year era of baseball at the University. However, baseball was brought back in 1979 as a club sport and the program has been building ever since.
Old Team Photo courtesy of S.U. Archives
The Orangemen appeared in the 1961 College World Series, and were eliminated by Oklahoma State. The 1961 team entered the College World Series in Omaha with a 16-3 record. In their first game they defeated Northern Colorado 12-5, but were defeated in their next game 12-9 by Oklahoma State. They then defeated Western Michigan 6-0, before being eliminated by eventual tournament runner-up Oklahoma State 8-0. The 1961 SU baseball team included two future major league pitchers, Dave Guisti and Billy Connors. The team also included four members of the 1959 NCAA championship football team: Dave Sarette, Billy Canon, Dick Easterly, and Bob Lelli. In the 1961 College World Series, Sarette was named to the all-tournament team as the third baseman.