The Duke Blue Devils baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

program of

Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James ...

, based in

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The team has been a member of the

Atlantic Coast Conference The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...

since the conference's founding in the 1954 season. The program's home venue is the

Durham Bulls Athletic Park Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP, pronounced "d-bap") is a 10,000-seat ballpark in Durham, North Carolina that is home to the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. It is also home to the Duke Blue ...

, which opened in 1995.

Chris Pollard Chris Pollard is an American baseball coach and former pitcher, who is the current head baseball coach of the Duke Blue Devils. He played college baseball at Davidson for head coach Dick Cooke from 1993 to 1996 before playing professionally in 1 ...

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 The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is an annual baseball tournament held in June in Omaha, Nebraska. The MCWS is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisi ...

in nine NCAA Tournaments. They have won three

ACC ACC most often refers to: * Atlantic Coast Conference, an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic conference located in the US *American College of Cardiology, A US-based nonprofit medical association that bestows credentials upon cardiovascular spec ...

Championships. As of the start of the

2021 Major League Baseball season The 2021 Major League Baseball season began on April 1, while the regular season ended on October 3. The postseason began on October 5. The World Series then began on October 26 and ended on November 2 with the Atlanta Braves defeating the Houston ...

, 36 former Blue Devils players have played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

History

The baseball program began varsity play in 1889. 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. Chanticleerseria1955duke 0175 (cropped)

The vast majority of the program's successes came under head coaches

Jack Coombs John Wesley Coombs (November 18, 1882 – April 15, 1957), nicknamed "Colby Jack" after his alma mater, was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics (1906–14), Broo ...

and

Ace Parker Clarence McKay "Ace" Parker (May 17, 1912 – November 6, 2013) was an American football and baseball player and coach. He played professional football as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1937–1941 ...

from 1929–1966. Coombs led the Blue Devils to five

Southern Conference The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly ...

championships and to a fifth-place finish in the 1952 College World Series. Taking over upon Coombs' retirement after the 1952 season, Parker led Duke to the

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito i ...

and 1961 College World Series, one Southern Conference championship, and three

championships. In 2016, Duke earned their first bid to the NCAA Tournament since their 1961 College World Series run, ending a 55-year drought. Head coach

continued this success, leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Super Regionals in

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

and

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

. In 2021, the Blue Devils defeated

NC State North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university ...

at the 2021 ACC Tournament, winning their first ever ACC Championship.

Steroid controversy

In 2005, the program was the target of a controversy involving the use of

anabolic steroids Anabolic steroids, also known more properly as anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS), are steroidal androgens that include natural androgens like testosterone as well as synthetic androgens that are structurally related and have similar effects t ...

. Five former players told the

Duke Chronicle ''The Chronicle'' is a daily student newspaper at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. It was first published as ''The Trinity Chronicle'' on December 19, 1905. Its name was changed to ''The Chronicle'' when Trinity College was renamed Duk ...

that head coach Bill Hillier had pressured players to use steroids, with two of those players admitting to having injected steroids in 2002. In an open letter published in the Chronicle, another former player, Evan Anderson, confirmed that Hillier had pressured players to use steroids. While Hillier denied the accusations, he was replaced as head coach after the 2005 season.

Conference affiliations

− 1929–1953 *

− 1954–present

Head coaches

Year by year record

NCAA Tournament record

Individual awards

ACC Baseball Player of the Year * Ryan Jackson (1994) ACC Baseball Coach of the Year *Tom D'Armi (1981) *

Steve Traylor Steve Traylor (born February 15, 1951) is an American former college baseball and basketball coach. In basketball, he was the head coach of Greensboro College. In baseball, he was the head coach at Florida Atlantic, Duke, and Wofford. Traylor ...

(1992)

Current and former major league players

Wayne Ambler Wayne Harper Ambler (November 8, 1915 – January 3, 1998) was an American professional baseball player whose career spanned six seasons, including three in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics (1937–1939). Over his career in t ...

Bob Brower Robert Richard Brower (born January 10, 1960) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Jamaica, New York. Bob attended college at Duke University on a football scholarship. and was signed by the Texas Rangers in 1982. Brower p ...

* Greg Burke *

Chris Capuano Christopher Frank Capuano (born August 19, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher whose professional playing career spanned from 2000 through 2016. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwau ...

* Bobby Coombs *

Claude Corbitt Claude Elliott Corbitt (July 21, 1915 – May 1, 1978) was an American professional baseball player, an infielder who appeared in 215 Major League games over four seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1945) and the Cincinnati Reds (1946; 1948– ...

John Courtright John Charles Courtright (born May 30, 1970) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds. Courtright graduated from Marion Harding High School in Marion, Ohio, played college baseball at Duke and was selected in t ...

* Brandy Davis *

Crash Davis Lawrence Columbus "Crash" Davis (July 14, 1919 – August 31, 2001) was an American professional baseball player whose name inspired that of the main character of the 1988 in film, 1988 movie ''Bull Durham''. Biography Born in Canon, Georgia, ...

* Ron Davis * Mort Flohr *

Nate Freiman Nathan Samuel Freiman (born December 31, 1986) is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, baseball writer Tim Brown wrote, "Near as anyone c ...

Lee Griffeth Leon Clifford Griffeth (May 20, 1925 – August 3, 2007) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. Listed at 5' 11", 180 lb., he was a switch-hitter and threw left-handed. Born in Carmel, New York, Griffeth pitched briefly for the Philade ...

Dick Groat Richard Morrow Groat (born November 4, 1930) is a former professional baseball and basketball player who was an eight-time All-Star shortstop and two-time World Series champion in Major League Baseball. He rates as one of the most accomplished t ...

Alex Hassan Alexander Edward Hassan (born April 1, 1988) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder who played for the Boston Red Sox in 2014. Amateur career A native of Quincy, Massachusetts, Hassan attended Boston College High School an ...

Bryce Jarvis Bryce Martin Jarvis (born December 26, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Jarvis was selected 18th overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. Amateur career Jarv ...

* Ryan Jackson *

Footer Johnson Richard Allan "Footer" Johnson (born February 15, 1932) is a former Major League Baseball player. He appeared in eight games for the Chicago Cubs in , five as a pinch hitter and three as a pinch runner. He did not have a hit in his five at-bats ...

* Wade Lefler *

Bill McCahan William Glenn McCahan (June 7, 1921 – July 3, 1986) was an American professional baseball baseball, player and right-handed pitcher in the Major League Baseball, Major Leagues with the History of the Philadelphia Athletics, Philadelphia Athleti ...

Quinton McCracken Quinton Antoine McCracken (born August 16, 1970) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or parts of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), and was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise's first center fielder and ba ...

Tim McKeithan Emmett James "Tim" McKeithan (November 2, 1906 – August 30, 1969) was an American Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League from 1932 until 1934. He was listed at , weig ...

Pete Naktenis Peter Ernest Naktenis (June 12, 1914 – August 1, 2007) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics (1936) and Cincinnati Reds (1939). Listed at , , Naktenis batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Aberd ...

Dan Otero Daniel Anthony Otero (born February 19, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians. Amateur career Otero went to Rans ...

John Poff John William Poff (born October 23, 1952) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played parts of two seasons in the Major League Baseball (MLB), for the Philadelphia Phillies and for the Milwaukee Brewers of the Major Leag ...

* Graeme Stinson *

Scott Schoeneweis Scott David Schoeneweis (; born October 2, 1973) is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who played for several teams between 1999 and 2010. In the five seasons from 2003 to 2007, Schoeneweis allowed only one home r ...

Frank Seward Frank Martin Seward (April 7, 1921 – April 12, 2004) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Giants (NL), New York Giants. References External links

1921 births 2004 deaths Major League Baseball pitchers New ...

Eddie Shokes Edward Christopher Shokes (January 27, 1920 – September 14, 2002) was a left-handed first baseman who played Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. T ...

* Dave Smith *

Al Spangler Albert Donald Spangler (born July 8, 1933) is a retired American Major League Baseball outfielder and coach. Spangler appeared in 912 games in the majors between and for the Milwaukee Braves, Houston Colt .45s / Astros, Los Angeles / Califo ...

Marcus Stroman Marcus Earl Stroman (born May 1, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets. Stroman is listed at , making him on ...

Eric Tipton Eric Gordon Tipton (April 20, 1915 – August 29, 2001) was an American professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics and Cincinnati Reds. Also known as a college football player, T ...

Mike Trombley Michael Scott Trombley (born April 14, 1967) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. During an 11-year major league career, Trombley pitched for the Minnesota Twins (– and ), Baltimore Orioles (–) and Los Angeles Dodgers ( ...

Hal Wagner Harold Edward Wagner (July 2, 1915 – August 4, 1979) was an American professional baseball player who was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1937 to 1949, playing a total of 672 games for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Detroit ...

Ken Weafer Kenneth Albert Weafer (February 6, 1913 – June 4, 2005) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played in one game in 1936 with the Boston Bees. He batted and threw right-handed. On May 29, 1936, he pitched 3 innings in relief surrendering 6 hi ...

Billy Werber William Murray Werber (June 20, 1908 – January 22, 2009) was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees (1930, 1933), Boston Red Sox (1933–1936), Philadelphia Athletics (1937–1938), Cincinnati Reds (1939– ...

Major league Baseball Draft

2019

In the

2019 MLB draft The 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft was held from June 3 to 5, 2019. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2018 MLB season standings. In additi ...

five Blue Devils were selected. Pitcher Graeme Stinson was selected 128th overall by the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...

, Pitcher Ben Gross was selected by the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

, Kennie Taylor was taken in the 14th round by

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

, Adam Laskey was chosen 582nd overall by the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

, and Bryce Jarvis was drafted in the 37th round by the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...

, but chose not to sign and returned to Duke.

2020

In the 2020 MLB draft three Blue Devils were selected. Junior Pitcher

was selected 18th overall by the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The f ...

, Jordan Walker was selected 21st overall by the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

Evan Carter was chosen 50th overall by the Texas Rangers

World Series Champions

(

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch ...

–

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

) *

(

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

–

Anaheim Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

)

References

{{Atlantic Coast Conference baseball navbox