BGSU Hall of Famer Orel Hershiser to Return to Campus for the Toledo Football Game
October 18, 2023 | Baseball, General
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Hall of Famer and Major League Baseball legend Orel Hershiser is returning to campus in November for the Toledo football game and to participate in alumni and campus activities.
During the Toledo football game Hershiser will take part in various in-game events that includes a halftime recognition and stopping by and joining the television broadcast.
While on campus, Hershiser will meet with students, faculty and staff from the Schmidthorst College of Business earlier in the day. This will include lunch with faculty and staff, followed by an open forum discussion with students from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
"We are very excited to welcome back to campus one of our most impactful and influential alumni, Orel Hershiser," said Bowling Green Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe. "Orel is the perfect example of the impact the collegiate student-athlete experience can have on all our athletes."
Prior to the "Battle of I-75" football game against Toledo, Herisher will attend a private reception hosted by the BGSU Baseball Alumni Advisory Group. The private pre-game event will be to discuss the vision for the future of BGSU baseball and to build a legacy foundation for the program.
"Orel is part of an impressive BGSU Baseball Alumni Advisory Group that is dedicated to being transformative in strengthening the foundation of our baseball program, which will set BGSU up for sustained success," said van der Merwe.
As a Falcon, Hershiser was named to the first-team All-MAC in 1979 and received the team's outstanding pitcher award for the season. The 1979 campaign included a no-hitter for Hershiser, striking out two and walking two in a seven-inning 2-0 victory over Kent State on May 4, 1979. The no-hitter was the last complete-game no-hitter by a Falcon. Hershiser was drafted at the conclusion of the 1979 season, going in the 17th round to the Dodgers.
Hershiser debuted for the Dodgers on Sept. 1, 1983, starting an 18-year career in Major League Baseball. He played 13 seasons for the Dodgers, winning the 1988 Cy Young Award, a Gold Glove and the 1988 World Series, including being named MVP of the World Series. Hershiser was also named MVP of the NLCS the same season. His impressive 1988 season included leading the National League in wins with 23 and leading the majors in both complete games (15) and shutouts (8).
After playing his first 12 seasons with the Dodgers, Hershiser spent 1995-97 in Cleveland, the 1998 season in San Francisco and the 1999 season with the Mets before concluding his career in 2000 with the Dodgers. He was named MVP of the ALCS in 1995 with Cleveland as well as being a three-time All-Star, coming in consecutive seasons from 1987-89. He also won a Silver Slugger award in 1993.
Hershiser was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1985. This past July Hershiser was inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball, a recognition of Dodger greats and their impact on the franchise, both on and off the field.
In addition to Hershiser's upcoming visit to campus, he recently returned to Cleveland with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he is a color analyst for their television broadcasts. His visit for the series with the Guardians included time spent with BGSU athletics administration and BGSU baseball alumni, as well as throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. You can watch a recap of the visit by clicking here.
Hershiser will also return to campus on Jan. 27 for BGSU baseball's "First Pitch" dinner to kick off the 2024 season. Hershiser will be the keynote speaker. For information on BGSU baseball events, or ways to support the program please contact Senior Associate AD for Development Nathan Anderson at nander@bgsu.edu.
BGSU Baseball Alumni Advisory Group:
During the Toledo football game Hershiser will take part in various in-game events that includes a halftime recognition and stopping by and joining the television broadcast.
While on campus, Hershiser will meet with students, faculty and staff from the Schmidthorst College of Business earlier in the day. This will include lunch with faculty and staff, followed by an open forum discussion with students from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
"We are very excited to welcome back to campus one of our most impactful and influential alumni, Orel Hershiser," said Bowling Green Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe. "Orel is the perfect example of the impact the collegiate student-athlete experience can have on all our athletes."
Prior to the "Battle of I-75" football game against Toledo, Herisher will attend a private reception hosted by the BGSU Baseball Alumni Advisory Group. The private pre-game event will be to discuss the vision for the future of BGSU baseball and to build a legacy foundation for the program.
"Orel is part of an impressive BGSU Baseball Alumni Advisory Group that is dedicated to being transformative in strengthening the foundation of our baseball program, which will set BGSU up for sustained success," said van der Merwe.
As a Falcon, Hershiser was named to the first-team All-MAC in 1979 and received the team's outstanding pitcher award for the season. The 1979 campaign included a no-hitter for Hershiser, striking out two and walking two in a seven-inning 2-0 victory over Kent State on May 4, 1979. The no-hitter was the last complete-game no-hitter by a Falcon. Hershiser was drafted at the conclusion of the 1979 season, going in the 17th round to the Dodgers.
Hershiser debuted for the Dodgers on Sept. 1, 1983, starting an 18-year career in Major League Baseball. He played 13 seasons for the Dodgers, winning the 1988 Cy Young Award, a Gold Glove and the 1988 World Series, including being named MVP of the World Series. Hershiser was also named MVP of the NLCS the same season. His impressive 1988 season included leading the National League in wins with 23 and leading the majors in both complete games (15) and shutouts (8).
After playing his first 12 seasons with the Dodgers, Hershiser spent 1995-97 in Cleveland, the 1998 season in San Francisco and the 1999 season with the Mets before concluding his career in 2000 with the Dodgers. He was named MVP of the ALCS in 1995 with Cleveland as well as being a three-time All-Star, coming in consecutive seasons from 1987-89. He also won a Silver Slugger award in 1993.
Hershiser was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1985. This past July Hershiser was inducted into the Legends of Dodger Baseball, a recognition of Dodger greats and their impact on the franchise, both on and off the field.
In addition to Hershiser's upcoming visit to campus, he recently returned to Cleveland with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he is a color analyst for their television broadcasts. His visit for the series with the Guardians included time spent with BGSU athletics administration and BGSU baseball alumni, as well as throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. You can watch a recap of the visit by clicking here.
Hershiser will also return to campus on Jan. 27 for BGSU baseball's "First Pitch" dinner to kick off the 2024 season. Hershiser will be the keynote speaker. For information on BGSU baseball events, or ways to support the program please contact Senior Associate AD for Development Nathan Anderson at nander@bgsu.edu.
BGSU Baseball Alumni Advisory Group:
- Jon Berti, Miami, Florida
- Dana Dowers, Irvine, California
- Jim Fisher, Aurora, Ohio
- Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles, California
- Jason Kelley, Brecksville, Ohio
- David Litzenberg, Waterville, Ohio
- Roger McDowell, Marietta, Georgia
- John Mitchell, Palm Coast, Florida
- Andy Tracy, Lewis Center, Ohio
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