Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Five Saluki greats make MVC All-Centennial Baseball Team
05/21/2007 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
May 21, 2007
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Former Southern Illinois University baseball stars Toby Barnett, Jerry Hairston, P.J. Finigan, Steve Finley and Doug Shields made the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team, the league announced this week.
Barnett (2002, 2003) was a two-time first-team all-MVC catcher and named the Valley's Newcomer-of-the-Year in 2002.
Hairston (1996, 1997), currently with the Texas Rangers, was Freshman-of-the-Year at third base in 1996.
Finigan (2002-05) was a first-team all-MVC shortstop and starting pitcher, and the league's Player-of-the-Year in 2005. He was a seventh-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers and is presently with the Erie Seawolves.
Finley (1984-87) was a two-time first-team all-MVC outfielder in 1986 and 1987. He has the most decorated professional career of any former Saluki in the majors to date, having played in the Baltimore, Houston, San Diego, Arizona, Los Angeles (National League), Los Angeles (American League), San Francisco and Colorado (current) organizations.
Shields (1987-90) garnered first-team all-MVC honors in 1989 and 1990. He was also the Player-of-the-Year in 1990, the last year SIU won a conference title and made the NCAA Tournament.
In 2006-07, the MVC celebrates a century of excellence as the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference begins its second centennial as a leader in college athletics. As a part of the Centennial Celebration, The Valley is naming all-centennial teams for each of the league's sponsored sports, including baseball.
The list of the top players and all-time greatest coach was determined through online fan voting (www.mvc100.org), with input from a centennial committee. More than 500 votes were cast for baseball while all nine of the current league institutions have at least two representatives on the team. Fans voted for players from 1975-present, while a centennial committee recognized players who were in the league prior to 1975 (see page three of release for The Early Years).
Joe Carter of Wichita State was the top vote-getter. The league's Player of the Year award is named after the former Shocker. Gene Stephenson of Wichita State was voted the all-time greatest coach in MVC Baseball history, which includes an historic run to an NCAA National Championship in 1989.
Included in the list are former and current Major League Baseball greats, members of institutional as well as the Valley Hall of Fame and national collegeiate players of the year in baseball.
In the league's first 99 seasons, inclusive of all MVC-sponsored sports, 32 members combined for 27 national championships, while 55 Valley student-athletes captured NCAA individual titles. In addition, Valley student-athletes and coaches earned 48 National Player or Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports. And the league had a myriad of student-athletes who collected All-America honors and earned national academic distinction in The Valley's first century.
BASEBALL: Sponsored 1947 to present. While Drake played baseball in the MVC from 1947-1974, the institution currently does not sponsor baseball. Current schools in the league that do sponsor baseball include Bradley, Creighton, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Wichita State. Past members include Cincinnati (1957-1970); Detroit (1949-1957); Houston (1951-1960); Louisville (1963-1975); Memphis State (1967-1973); New Mexico State (1971-1983);Oklahoma A&M (1947-1957); Saint Louis (1947-1974); Tulsa (1948-1980); Washington (1947); West Texas State (1971-72).
