This is the second of a three-part series focusing on the history of the Hopkins baseball program.
In baseball there are always slumps. From 1949 to 1979 Hopkins had a losing record in all except six of those seasons. The three longest losing streaks in the programs history took place in this 30-year period, The '60s was the most unsuccessful decade in the history of Hopkins baseball, with a 1-11-1 season in 1965.
During the slump Hopkins was no-hit on two occasions and let up 20+ runs five times, including a 32-3 blowout from Western Maryland. Obviously, this team had little to brag about.
Ed Czeaj opened this era in 1949, and his stint as manager ended after three seasons with a career record of 5-33. Mack Irwin (14-10) and Bob Bilgrave (8-19) each coached for two seasons, followed by an eight-year-long career for Ross Sachs.
Sachs weathered a brutal storm, including the worst season in Hopkins history in 1957, going 0-12. The most games he ever won in a season was five, in his first season coaching.
However, Sachs may be credited with beginning a long-standing tradition of recruiting talented quality ball players. One of these was Dave Leonhard, who in 1962 pitched a record 19-inning game with a record 19 strikeouts.
In 1963 Leonhard signed with the Baltimore Orioles. It took him four years to reach the Major Leagues, where Leonhard pitched in two World Series. Leonhard was not the first Hopkins ball player to play professionally nor would he be the last.
This first pro out of Hopkins was Otis Stockdale, a dead ball era player who pitched and hit for the Washington Senators, Boston Beaneaters and the Baltimore Orioles from 1893 to 1896. He ended his pro career with a .315 average and a 15-31 pitching record.
Since Leonhard, 12 Jays have signed professional contracts, but none have made it to the big show.
After Sachs retired in '63 three different coaches compiled an overall record of 33-81, until 1971. A slump is never easy to shake. Hopkins was finding it more and more difficult to compete against presently Division I or II teams, and each season scheduled more games against Mid-Atlantic competition such as Catholic, Swarthmore and Ursinus.
In 1972 Coach Dennis Cox took the reins of the Hopkins program. He had the passion and the knowledge to bring the program out of the slump and created a team respected by the Athletic department. Although Cox didn't have a winning season until 1976, his eight seasons as coach have proven to be the turning point for the program.
Cox made some initial policy changes that improved the quality of baseball played by the Jays, scheduling many more games. The 1979 the squad played 29 games, and clubs began playing in each other in two game series, on back-to-back days. The squad began participating in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and the radius of traveling had shrunk even further and only included Southern Pennsylvania, Maryland and the occasional game against Catholic. In '76 and '77 the team had back-to-back seasons with a 16-8 record.
The year 1976 may be the most important year in team history. After an opening day 10-9 loss to Morgan State, the team won the final eight games of the season to qualify for the NCAA South Regional Tournament in Montclair, N.J. This would be the first organized post-season tournament for the squad. The '76 season was full of memorable moments, including Charlie Lachenbruch's no hitter against Widener. The pitching staff had a 2.76 ERA and the starting nine hitters batted .303. The team also set an aggressive precedent on base paths stealing 56 of 60 bases led by Bobb Babb's 18 steals in just as many attempts. Sophomore Dave Emala was even drafted by the Orioles.
Preparing for the season Cox had the first indoor batting tunnel constructed in all of Baltimore. The cage was set up in what is now the varsity weight room, and when the Baltimore Orioles heard of the year round training facility, players such as Brooks Robinson and Rick Demsey came and practiced with their fellow avian ball players. Cox even convinced the pitching coaches and some position players for the Orioles to come help coach the young and ambitious Hopkins players.
Even the 1976 NCAA tournament committee expressed surprise at the Hopkins turnaround, noting Hopkins was better known for academics than athletics. The team won the first game against Lynchburg, but then lost two games against Upsala and Glassboro State (Rowan University).
After the season, Cox admits that not only the players, but himself and the athletic program had the pride and confidence needed to begin a winning era. Cox still works with the baseball team today and was a crucial contact and source for the history of baseball series.
After 1979, Cox decided to leave the Hopkins baseball program highly recommending the team be left in the hands of veteran player Bob Babb, who still coaches the team today.
Cox had turned around the slump and began ushering in a new era in Hopkins baseball. But just as importantly, the Hopkins baseball team was about to embark on a series of international trips to not only play competitive baseball but also to reach out to the world in a form of soft diplomacy.
