BGSU Athletics To Induct Five Baseball Players Into Cast Of Honor

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University athletic department and BGSU Baseball program have announced the induction of five former baseball student-athletes into the Cast of Honor, which celebrates the most distinguished players in program history at event sites. The BGSU Cast of Honor is an evolution of the practice of retiring numbers. It is a formal recognition in competitive venues of the best-of-the-best in a particular sport. The Falcons will be adding Jon Berti, Orel Hershiser, Roger McDowell, Andy Tracy and Kip Young to the Cast of Honor. Each of the five individuals will have their name and number added to the outfield wall. A ceremony to unveil the names and numbers added to the outfield wall will take place on BGSU Baseball Alumni Day, held on Saturday, April 25.

"Great programs are defined by how they honor and recognize their past," said Vice President for Athletics Derek van der Merwe. "The resurgence of BGSU baseball is because of the efforts of so many great alumni and supporters who have invested in the success and growth of this program. This baseball stadium should tell their story! It should always be a reminder of how the past and stories will always build our future."

The criteria for selecting the five student-athletes who would be included in the Cast of Honor is extensive. The nominee must have received his or her undergraduate degree from BGSU or, in the event of early pursuit of a professional career, must have been a student in good academic standing and made significant progress towards a degree. The candidate must have been at least 10 years removed from graduation and be a member of the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and must have exceptional athletic qualifications such as national award recognition, All-American status, conference player of the year status, and/or professional success within their respective sport as a representative of Bowling Green. Finally, personal conduct, character, integrity, and community and University standing were considered.

"A well-deserved congratulations goes out to Jon, Orel, Roger, Andy and Kip on their induction to the Cast of Honor at Bowling Green State University," said head coach Kyle Hallock. "Each of these legends were high achievers in their era of Falcon baseball. Their achievements and contributions match the best to wear the orange and brown in any sport. All five members have been an asset to pushing this next wave of BGSU baseball forward in their own ways by staying connected to the program.

"For our baseball program to be recognized as a sport worthy of the Cast of Honor recognition within the athletic department, says a lot about the history of success these five have produced, along with the others that will follow in years to come. We are proud to permanently display Jon, Orel, Roger, Andy and Kip's names on the wall for everyone that visits Steller Field to appreciate because tradition never graduates."

These five will join the retired number of Gary Haas (6) on the outfield wall at Steller Field.

Jon Berti, INF
Berti was a two-time All-MAC First-Team selection for Danny Schmitz and the baseball Falcons. He helped the Falcons to a MAC regular-season title in 2009, his first season, and BGSU tied for first in the league's East Division in 2010. Berti batted .368 in his initial year, the highest average for a BGSU freshman since 1976, and he hit a school-record .423 the following spring, setting the BGSU single-season mark for hits (93) as well. He hit .356 as a junior, including a .412 average in MAC play, before being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

Orel Hershiser, RHP
Hershiser, a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, saw his best outing as a Falcon come on May 4, 1979, when he threw a no-hitter at Kent State. Hershiser posted a record of 0-1 as a sophomore and compiled a 6-2 record as a junior. He was drafted in the 17th round of the 1979 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a few seasons with the Dodgers farm system, Hershiser was called up on September 1, 1983, and pitched against Montreal that night. He earned the save and the Dodgers clinched the 1983 National League West title. Orel "The Bulldog" Hershiser would make the 1984 Dodgers as a reliever, but was soon converted to a starting pitcher. He finished the season with a record of 11-8, and had the longest consecutive inning scoreless streak of any pitcher, 33.2 innings in 1984. In 1985, Hershiser went 19-3 with an ERA of 2.06. In 1988, following the Dodgers win in the World Series, Hershiser was named the World Series MVP, won the Cy Young Award, and a Golden Glove. He was also a three time all star during his time. Hershiser retired following the 2000 season, finishing his career with a 204-150 record, with a 3.48 ERA.

Roger McDowell, RHP
McDowell, a former All-MAC pitcher at BGSU, was the Mets' third draft pick in 1982. McDowell was the second highest player drafted out of Bowling Green. After three seasons in the minors, he was one of three rookies to make the Mets' roster in 1985. The right-handed sinkerballer appeared in more than 700 Major League games, none more important than the seventh game of the 1986 World Series. McDowell won that game, making the Mets World Champions. Following the 1987 season, McDowell won the Joan Payson Award from the NY Baseball Writers Association for hosting children stricken with cancer at Mets games. As a collegian, the Cincinnati Colerain High School product pitched three seasons for Coach Don Purvis' Falcons. His last season was his best, leading the Falcons in victories with a 5-4 record earning All-MAC honors. He hurled three shutouts, two against MAC opponents, blanking Miami on two hits and scattering five hits against Toledo.

Andy Tracy, INF
Tracy, a native of Bowling Green, Ohio, is the top home-run hitter in BGSU baseball history, with 45 in his career. An All-MAC and All-Mideast Region First-Team selection as a senior in 1996, he led the MAC and finished ninth in the nation in slugging percentage that spring (.777), while ranking among the conference leaders in virtually every offensive category. A four-year starter on the diamond, Tracy started his career with a bang, being named the MAC's Freshman of the Year in 1993. He was an all-league honorable-mention choice as both a freshman and a sophomore. As a junior in '95, he tied the school seasonal record with 15 homers, including four in a seven-inning contest against Wright State. Primarily a third baseman, Tracy also pitched in each of his four years at BG. Additionally, Tracy was a four-year letterwinner in football, earning all-league honorable mention as a senior punter in 1995. That fall, he averaged 41.7 yards per kick to rank third in the MAC. Tracy finished his gridiron career with an average of 40.4 yards per boot. Tracy is currently the manager for the Columbus Clippers, a role he has held since 2021.

Kip Young, LHP
A native of Georgetown, Ohio, Kip Young held virtually every season and career pitching record at Bowling Green for many years. A 1972 graduate of Whiteoak High School, he was a regular in the Bowling Green pitching rotation for four years. For his BGSU career, he had a 37-6 record with a 2.11 ERA and 232 strikeouts in 295 innings. The wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched are all Falcon records. After compiling a 5-2 record as a freshman, Young was 10-1 with a 1.02 ERA, the fifth best in the country, as a sophomore. Yet he was overlooked by the league's coaches who regulated him to a second team All-MAC as they chose three players with records of 8-3, 6-4, and 6-3 ahead of him. Young corrected the oversight as a junior and senior as he earned first team All-MAC after compiling records of 11-1 in 1975 and 11-2 in 1976. When he was not pitching for the Falcons, Young played in the outfield part of the time. After his senior season, Young was drafted by the Detroit Tigers. He played for their farm teams in Lakeland, Montgomery, and Evansville before being called up by the Tigers in 1978. He won his first four major league starts.

Cast of Honor
These five student-athletes join 29 others across BGSU Athletics who have been recognized as members of the Cast of Honor. They include:

Football (15)
Paul Miles, Erik White, Cris Shale, Dave Preston, Brian Leaver, Bernie Casey, Fred Durig, Josh Harris, Jack Hecker, Kory Lichtensteiger, Mark Miller, Vince Palko, Phil Villapiano, Mike Weger and Bob Zimpfer
Hockey (6)
George McPhee, Nelson Emerson, Brian Holzinger, Ken Morrow, Rob Blake and Garry Galley
Men's Basketball (6)
Nate Thurmond, Wyndol Gray, Howard Komives, Antonio Daniels, James Darrow and Anthony Stacey
Women's Basketball (1)
Jackie Motycka
Volleyball (1)
Linda Popovich

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