The History of Scot Baseball

Wooster players congratulate Travis Snyder after he hit a home run in the first inning of Wooster's national championship game against Southern Maine in 1997. The home run was Wooster's 104th of that season, which still stands as a Division III record for home runs in one season.

With an all-time record of 1,625-798-11, The College of Wooster baseball team has been synonymous with success throughout its long and storied history. In addition to their 11 North Coast Athletic Conference championships, five Ohio Athletic Conference Northern Division titles, and numerous appearances in the NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament, the Scots have finished in the top-25 national rankings 25 times and have reached the NCAA Div. III National Championship Series four times since 1989.

Now in its 117th season, Wooster baseball is the oldest athletic program at the College and one of the oldest programs in the country, as the first varsity game was played way back in 1880. After struggling a bit the first few years of its existence, the program got on track in 1891 by going 6-2 and winning the state championship.

Unfortunately the year after that, athletics were banned at the College for nine years. But, when the program was reinstated it took off right where it left off, as head coach L.W. St. John led the Scots to a record of 50-37 between 1903-1909.

After a few mediocre years, legendary football mentor L.C. Boles took over in 1916 and guided the baseball team to a record of 50-28-1 until 1923 when Art Murray was named head coach. Murray, who never experienced a losing season as head coach, directed Wooster for 14 seasons and compiled a record of 137-48.

John M. Swigart took over the reins in 1937 and quickly earned legendary status himself. Swigart’s tenure lasted a quarter of a century, and he coached the Scots to a mark of 170-162-2 before retiring in the mid-1960s.

Ten years later, a dynamic young coach named Bob Morgan took over after Wooster had suffered through a few lean years. Morgan took the program to unprecedented heights in his brief six-year tenure with the Scots before moving on to the head coaching positions at Kent State University and later on Indiana University. Wooster teams went 209-48-2 under his direction for an incredible winning percentage of .811. Included in Morgan’s time were two 40-win seasons, five final top-10 national rankings, and six players who were drafted or signed by major league organizations.

Current head coach Tim Pettorini had the unenviable task of following in Morgan’s footsteps, but quickly forged his place in Wooster baseball history as well. Compiling a record of 841-310-6 over the past 26 seasons for a winning percentage of .729, Pettorini is the all-time leader in coaching victories at the College.

With Pettorini at the helm, the Scots have won 11 NCAC titles, made regular appearances at the NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament, and advanced to four NCAA Div. III National  Championship Series, including the title game in 1997. In addition, he has directed 20 players to All-American status and coached five players that have gone on to play professional baseball.