The Old Dominion University baseball program started in 1931 and Denny Riddleberger was their first player to make it to the Major League level. Names that appear on the chart above in bold print are in the Old Dominion University Hall of Fame.

Did you know that some players return to their college and complete their college education after their time in the major leagues? Here is the entry for Kevin Bearse:

Kevin Bearse Profile

One of the most dominating pitchers in Old Dominion University baseball history. Kevin Bearse, a 6-2 lefthander still owns the sun Belt Conference and Old Dominion all-time strikeout record of 325 in 316 innings.

Bearse compiled a 28-11 career record and topped it off as a sophomore when he was 14-3 with a 2.67 earned run average. That year in 1985, the Monarchs rolled to a 50-11 record and captured the Sun Belt Conference Championship. Bearse was named to BASEBALL AMERICA magazine's third team All-American squad. That season he also fanned a school record 138 batters in 135 plus innings, for a 9.2 strikeout per game average.

Even more impressive is that Bearse walked only 32 batters. He completed 13 of 17 games he started which was a school record when he completed his career.

Bearse also holds the school's mark for strikeouts in a nine inning game with 15 against crosstown rival Norfolk State and Jacksonville in 1987. Bearse earned All-Sun Belt conference honors in 1985 and 1987. After compiling a 9-4 record, he was drafted in 1987 in the 22nd round by Cleveland.

In the summer of 1990, Bearse became the sixth Monarch baseball player to play in the major leagues, playing for Cleveland. He earned his degree in August of 1993 in marketing education.

Source: Old Dominion University website (link).

Did you know that there are ten former Old Dominion players who made it to "the show"? Send corrections or updates to Baseball Almanac.