A Legacy of Champions: HSU Baseball

40 years ago, the 1982 Cowboy Baseball Team left their mark in athletic history when they secured the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) title. While this feat is remarkable, the team’s underdog story made the victory all the sweeter. Coached by Larry Martindale, this was the first (and last) HSU team to secure this particular conference title. 

The 1982 Range Rider described this memorable season by saying, “It was an up and down season for Hardin-Simmons, to say the least.” The team opened the season with five victories only to win five of the next 22 games.  

The team was lucky to have the opportunity to play in the conference tournament, needing to win the last two games of conference play and get lucky on a coin toss to play in the TAAC tournament. After waiting out the rain in Shreveport, LA for two days, the Cowboys swept the Centenary Gents in both games. The team discovered that they were headed to Macon, GA via a payphone alongside Interstate 20.  

Coach Larry Martindale

Coach Larry Martindale was confident in the team’s success saying at the time, “As far as being confident in this team, it is the attitude of the players that encourages me the most. Their attitude is much better than we had a year ago which should give us the edge to play much better baseball.” 

With their edge in attitude, the team came into the conference tournament with a laser focus that would transform their season and mark their names in history. With adjustments in errors, key hits, and capitalizing on opponent’s errors, the team earned the school’s first TAAC Baseball Championship and an opportunity to play in the NCAA playoffs.  

The Cinderella season earned Larry Martindale the title of TAAC Baseball Coach of the year. Mike Richard ’82 and Bobby Doe ’82 were named to the All-Conference First Team. The team ended the season 23-28.  

The 1982 team will be recognized on campus this Saturday, April 30, with a ring ceremony at 12:40 pm. Members of the D-1 team will be back on Hunter Field to receive their TAAC Championship Rings at 12:40, prior to the baseball game versus Sul Ros State. 

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April 30 will be an exciting day surrounding baseball! Please join us. 

11:30…groundbreaking for the indoor baseball facility, named in honor of the Hunter and Powell families.  

12:40… HSU will celebrate the 1982 D-1 team with a ring ceremony. Members of the team will be back on Hunter Field to receive their TAAC Championship Rings at 12:40, prior to the baseball game versus Sul Ross State. 

1:00 & 4:00… HSU season closer and senior day vs. Sul Ross State