FSU baseball program is a community treasure

By Jim Joanos

Florida State University athletics provides a variety of sports to entertain us throughout the year.

On center stage during this time of the year is the baseball program.

Florida State baseball has, since its inception, occupied a warm and fuzzy spot in the hearts of Tallahasseans.

The team has never had a losing season. When this season ends there will have been 63 consecutive winning seasons.

Over its history, the FSU baseball team has won more than seven of every 10 games. It has competed in post season NCAA championship play 47 times and has advanced to the College World Series, every college team's dream, 19 times.

However, despite having played in the national championship game on three separate occasions (1970, 1986, 1999), the team has not yet captured the coveted trophy that would come with winning that game.

Surprisingly, rather than that being a negative, the never-ending quest to win that elusive goal seems to provide some of the spark and intrigue that permeates the program.

At the beginning of each season, fans and players alike ask themselves, "Will this be the year?"

They then dig in and become more spirited than before.

While games are being enjoyed on cold afternoons in February and March, pleasant breezy evenings in April, and sticky hot afternoons in May, in the back of the minds of the coaches, players and fans is the thought that this just might be the year. A lot of fun is had in the process.

Being in Howser Stadium during a game is great. Most of all, there is very good baseball to watch.

Throughout its history, FSU has had excellent coaches and players. Mike Martin, after serving as an assistant to both Woody Woodward and Dick Howser, who did outstanding jobs during their tenures, became the head coach in 1980 and continues in that capacity.

Numerous FSU players have gone on to play professional baseball. Through the years well over 200 FSU players have been drafted by the professional teams.

Current major league rosters include a number of former FSU players and lots more of them are in Triple-A and Double-A, waiting for their chance to play in the "bigs."

During their stays at FSU, four different FSU players have received the Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur baseball player of the year in the nation for their play as Seminoles during their last seasons of college ball.

In addition, another thirty-two Seminoles have been designated first-team All-Americans during the history of the program.

The current team has its share of stars. Included among them is Tyler Holt, the center fielder, who last summer - while playing for Team USA - helped lead the United States to victory at the World Baseball Championships.

The shortstop, Stephen Cardullo, was tabbed a first-team All-American by Baseball America last season as a junior.

In addition to Holt and Cardullo, left fielder and relief pitcher Mike McGee as well as pitcher Sean Gilmartin were also designated as All-Americans in 2009.

The fans themselves contribute to the entertaining atmosphere. There are old folks and young folks. Some like to correct the umpires when they make mistakes. Some like to eat peanuts and hot dogs when they have the dollar specials. Some like to keep their own scorecards in intricate detail. Some wear earphones and listen to what radio broadcasters Tom Block and Eric Luallen have to say about the game before them. There are visitors supporting the opposing team and alums and friends from out of town. The folks out in the bleachers seem to have an especially good time catching T-shirts shot from hand-held cannons. There are always lots of college students including a number of well-tanned young ladies. They remind us as how much fun college was when we were there.

The Section-B Animals, a group of fun-loving fans, sit together, and "perform" at every game. They lead cheers and make up songs and the like. The Canadian National Anthem is a favorite of theirs, which they always sing (for some unknown reason) in the fifth inning. They also do their thing to Neil Diamond's, "Sweet Caroline" in the eighth. They love to wear ape masks and Viking horns, and do the "Noles Cheer."

It is especially fun to see the little kids at the games. There are kids chasing foul balls and others out back of the stadium playing catch while the Noles are playing on the main field. Toddlers play in the aisles next to their mothers, who split time keeping eyes on the infants and watching the game. On some days, kids stand next to ball players while the National Anthem is played before the game and run the bases afterwards.

By the way, as I write this, the team is doing quite well. Is this the year?