Purdue Baseball: A Comprehensive Overview
Purdue University is home to one of the oldest and most successful NCAA Division I baseball programs in the country. Since the program’s inception in 1891, the Boilermakers have achieved numerous accolades including two NCAA College World Series appearances in 1974 and 2019. Purdue baseball has also been ranked in the top 25 of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll for six consecutive years from 2014-2019.
History of Purdue Baseball
Purdue’s baseball program dates back to 1891 when it was founded by head football coach William Henry. The Boilermakers have had a fairly successful history leading up to the present day. In the early 1900s, Purdue’s program was a member of the Big Ten and the Boilermakers won the conference championship in 1914. Purdue consistently finished in the top four in the conference standings throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
In 1974, Purdue had its most successful season in school history as the Boilermakers made it to the College World Series. Purdue advanced to the winner’s bracket final but eventually lost to USC. After the 1974 season, Purdue did not make it back to the College World Series until 2019.
Recent Achievements
In recent years, Purdue baseball has been one of the top programs in the country. The Boilermakers have been ranked in the top 25 of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll for six consecutive years from 2014-2019. During the 2019 season, Purdue achieved its highest ranking ever as the Boilermakers were ranked No. 8 in the final poll of the season.
Purdue also had its most successful season in school history in 2019 as the Boilermakers advanced to the College World Series for the second time in program history. Purdue was the No. 8 national seed and advanced to the Super Regional round before losing to Louisville. The Boilermakers finished the season with a 44-19 record and were Big Ten regular season and tournament champions.
Purdue Baseball Facilities
Purdue’s baseball program has taken great strides to improve its facilities in recent years. The Boilermakers play their home games at Alexander Field, which was built in 2012 and is one of the premier college baseball stadiums in the country. The stadium has a capacity of 3,200 and features a state-of-the-art video board, sound system, and lighting system.
In 2017, Purdue opened the John and Lori Schutt Baseball Performance Center. The facility features a full-size indoor baseball field, a batting cage, a weight room, and a training room. The Schutt Center is one of the top baseball facilities in the country and has allowed the Boilermakers to train year-round and improve their performance on the field.
Purdue Baseball Coaching Staff
The Boilermakers are led by head coach Mark Wasikowski who is entering his third season at the helm. Wasikowski has quickly turned the program around and has the Boilermakers poised for more success in the future. He is joined by assistant coaches Jake Boss Jr., Jake Fox, and Michael Letney.
Purdue’s Current Ranking
As of the 2021 season, Purdue is ranked No. 10 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll. The Boilermakers are coming off a 2020 season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but are looking to make a deep postseason run this year.
Purdue’s Conference Affiliation
Purdue is a member of the Big Ten Conference and competes in the Big Ten West Division. The Boilermakers have had a great deal of success in conference play, winning the Big Ten regular season title in 2019 and the Big Ten Tournament title in 2017.
Notable Former Players
Purdue has produced a number of successful professional baseball players over the years. The most notable former Boilermaker is Jeff Samardzija who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2006 and is currently a member of the San Francisco Giants. Other notable former Boilermakers include Rick Reuschel, Brad Miller, and Eric Christian.
Recruiting Outlook
Purdue has been successful in recent years in both the regular season and postseason, and the Boilermakers have also been successful in recruiting. The Boilermakers are consistently ranked in the top 25 of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Recruiting Rankings and have landed several highly-touted recruits in recent years.
Final Thoughts
Purdue is one of the oldest and most successful NCAA Division I baseball programs in the country. The Boilermakers have achieved numerous accolades in recent years, including being ranked in the top 25 of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll for six consecutive years from 2014-2019. Purdue also made its second appearance in the College World Series in 2019 and is currently ranked No. 10 in the 2021 preseason poll. With a strong coaching staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and a successful recruiting program, Purdue baseball is poised for more success in the future.