Chad Cooley is remembered as a significant figure in LSU baseball history, particularly for his contributions to the team's success in the 1990s. This article delves into his career at LSU, highlighting his role in the team's achievements and his subsequent professional baseball journey.
The ’96 Tigers were a veteran club with several players who had been in coach Skip Bertman‘s program for three, four, even five, years. “The 1996 team had many four and five-year guys that were educated by Coach Bertman,” said designated hitter Brad Wilson, who was on third base when Morris launched the iconic home run.
“We were tough and resilient, especially mentally tough,” said shortstop Jason Williams. “We refused to lose, and we knew what it took to win a national championship. We had the will and heart of a champion.
“The ’96 team was special because it was a veteran team, but most importantly, that team had great chemistry,” said leftfielder Chad Cooley. “For example, the University of Miami was much more talented 1 through 9 than we were,” Lanier said when recounting the ’96 title game. “Yet, we as a team always seemed to find a way to win. When someone was having an off game, then another person was there to pick that person up. We were the ‘Best 9’ in talent and mentality.
“The team was made up of some of the most enjoyable, dedicated, successful, and yet crazy men,” said pitcher Kevin Shipp, the starter in the CWS championship game. “It was a very diverse group, but at the same time we shared so many things in common that allowed for camaraderie then and still today.
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“Having an opportunity to have Skip as a coach and mentor, for baseball and for life, was a priceless education and it’s never lost on me how fortunate I was,” Koerner said.
The irony of it all, as most LSU fans know, is that Morris spent most of the 1996 season away from the playing field, missing 39 games with a broken hamate bone in his right hand. “Even though I missed much of that season, I wouldn’t change a thing,” Morris said.
The following is a list, provided by Barbe, of former Bucs baseball players who made it to the pro level:
- Chad Cooley, drafted in eighth round by Minnesota Twins in 1992.
- Joe Lawrence, drafted in first round by Toronto Blue Jays in 1996.
- Drew Topham, drafted in 20th round by Detroit Tigers in 1996.
- David Blank, drafted in 24th round by Minnesota Twins in 1996.
- Johnnie Thibodeaux, drafted in 40th round by Chicago White Sox in 1996.
- Jeff Robinson, drafted in seventh round by Milwaukee Brewers in 1999.
- Austin Nagle, drafted in sixth round by Oakland Athletics in 2001.
- Neil Simmoneaux, drafted in 18th round by St.
LSU didn't get credit for a triple play Friday, but a double play and subsequent appeal panned out just as well. Barrett Loseke relieved starter Dominic Taccolini, but walked both batters he faced, Cole Freeman and Antoine Duplantis, to quickly surrender a 4-2 lead. James Teague took the mound and finally recorded an out, but then walked Robertson to extend the Tigers' lead to 5-2 before finally escaping the inning.
"We gave it to them," Van Horn said. "In that inning, they scored three runs on a couple of hits, we hit a guy, walked a couple, walked two in. We had three or four wild pitches. They stole three or four bases on us. They scored a run that one inning and didn't get a hit. They didn't even make contact.
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"I felt good," he said. "I felt like fastball command was a little sketchy at times, but I felt like when we fell behind, we executed good pitches and made good pitches ... Breaking ball for strikes was good. I've gotta work at the changeup more. I hung it in the eighth, and the guy hit it out.
"It feels good to win the first one," Robertson said. "Alex went out there, and he battled for us, and we played good defense behind him. We didn't hit the ball great, but we did what we needed to do and had big at-bats and drew big walks. We battled. It wasn't our best game, but they all count the same, and we'll escape here with a one-run win. Sunday for the subsequent games."
"Jared (Poche) is one of the best pitchers in the SEC," Lange said. "He's been doing this for three years.
LSU is on the short list of college baseball's most accomplished programs and you could make the argument that no school has performed better on the diamond in the last 30 years than the Tigers.
Here is LSU's all-time starting nine, based solely on players' statistics and achievements in college. McDonald earned the Golden Spikes Award and National Player of the Year honors in 1989 after leading the Tigers to the College World Series. McDonald, a two-time All-American and Olympic gold medalist, was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 and had his No.
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As a senior, the three-time All-American hit .388 and led the country in home runs (30) and RBI (106) in 2000, which earned him the Johnny Bench Catcher of the Year award and Golden Spikes Award finalist honors. Brad Cresse roped a single to left field to score Ryan Theriot and clinch LSU's fifth championship. Cresse hit .324 with 78 home runs and 257 RBI in his four-year career.
Furniss was named SEC Player of the Year in 1996 and National Player of the Year two years later. His impressive college career culminated in his induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame - one of just three former Tigers players to receive that honor. There it is! Eddy Furniss’ No. 36 is now officially retired. Furniss arrived in Baton Rouge shortly after Hall of Famer Todd Walker's college career ended and Furniss ultimately broke several of Walker's SEC records. The first baseman left LSU as the conference's leader in hits (352), doubles (87), home runs (80), RBI (308), and total bases (689).
Walker made an immediate impact as a freshman at LSU, earning 1992 National Freshman of the Year honors - the first time a Tigers player received the award. No. 15 Skip Bertman, No. 12 Todd Walker and No. 36 Eddy Furniss. All we are missing is No.
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Larson only played for LSU for one season, in 1997, but he sure made the most of it. Larson set the SEC record for both homers and RBI, and he became just the fourth player in NCAA history to hit at least 40 home runs in a season. He was named the shortstop for the 1997 College World Series All-Tournament Team and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Dunn is the only LSU third baseman to ever be named an All-American. Man, deciding the all-time left fielder for LSU baseball was no easy task. It's tough to leave out Raph Rhymes, who led the NCAA with a .431 batting average in 2012 that is 21 points higher than the second-best individual average ever by a Tigers play.
What about Wes Grisham, the two-time First Team All-SEC selection and 1990 All-American, who the SEC in hits, triples and RBI in 1989? We tried to thread the needle with this selection, considering everything from an outstanding individual season (Dean was a First Team All-American and the SEC Tournament Outstanding Player in 2008), contributions to a historically great LSU team (Dean was a member of the Tigers' 2009 national championship team), and overall career numbers (Dean ranks top-five in LSU history in hits, doubles, home runs, runs, and RBI).
Mahtook was a First Team All-American in 2011 after leading the SEC in batting average (.383) and steals (29) that season. As a freshman, the Lafayette, La., native was named the SEC Tournament MVP as a starter for a Tigers team that won the national championship. Mahtook.
Katz. Bregman. Fraley. Freeman. The legacy of the No. Mahtook's batting average jumped nearly 20 points from his freshman to his sophomore season, then almost 50 point from his sophomore to junior seasons. Like left field, this was a difficult decision.
Albert Belle was named First Team All-SEC in 1987 after leading the conference with 21 home runs. He finished his career with 49 homers and 172 RBI. Harry Berrios was a two-time national champion in the 1990s, led LSU in steals twice, and was named the 1993 SEC Tournament Outstanding Player.
However, Mouton was a central figure on LSU's first national championship team in 1991, as he hit three home runs that year in the College World Series to help the Tigers tie a CWS record for home runs. He was a two-time College World Series All-Tournament Team honoree.
LSU named its field after Bertman, the school's all-time winningest coach, and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame's coach of the year award is named after him as well. Bertman is one of three coaches to win five College World Series titles, which led to him being included in the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. LSU retired his No.
Chad Cooley's contributions to the LSU baseball program, particularly his role on the 1996 team, have left a lasting impact. His journey from LSU to professional baseball underscores his dedication and talent, making him a notable figure in the sport's history.
Table of LSU All-Time Starting Nine:
| Position | Player | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher | Brad Cresse | .324 BA, 78 HR, 257 RBI |
| First Baseman | Eddy Furniss | SEC Player of the Year (1996), National Player of the Year |
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field
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