Spring Break
Column: Marty Pattin honor highlights weekend
Collin Whitchurch / Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Sports
4/21 Correction added
After being honored as one of the greatest teams in Eastern baseball history, members of the 1964 NAIA College World Series Panther squad walked through the home dugout with words of encouragement for the current squad, congratulating players on their thrilling, 8-7 walk-off victory in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Senior shortstop Jordan Kreke, who had just driven home the winning run against the Gamecocks moments earlier, was humbled by the support.
"They told us to keep it up," he said. "It's awesome that they come out here and support us."
While the walk-off victory highlighted a long day of baseball that saw the Panthers split a twin bill with Jacksonville State, the day belonged to Marty Pattin.
The former Panther great and Major League Baseball All-Star became the fourth Panther - the first in baseball - to have his number retired as he was presented with a plaque with the No. 19 on it. The department also displayed a sign with his name, jersey and date on it on the left-center field fence at Coaches Stadium.
While his resume includes 13 major league seasons, 114 wins and a 1971 All-Star appearance, Pattin was humbled by the honor.
"This is something I will never forget in my life," said Pattin, now 66 and living in Kansas City, Mo. "I've had a lot of nice things happen to me in baseball, but this is one that is tops on my list."
Bill McCabe was Pattin's coach during his time at Eastern. The Champaign resident said he had not spoken with Pattin in 10 years or so.
"I really enjoyed my day down here in Charleston, seeing all the guys from the ball club and trading stories," said McCabe, who coached the Panthers from 1963-74. "I know that (Pattin) deserves all the honors he could get because he was an outstanding young man and a really fine pitcher."
For Pattin, the honor was exciting because he got to reunite with so many old friends. He credits much of the success in his career to what he learned at Eastern.
"I think this is what jump-started my career, and when I really started feeling like maybe I had a career in professional baseball," Pattin said. "But to see these guys and to remember all that we went through that year, it's just a tremendous feeling."
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
After being honored as one of the greatest teams in Eastern baseball history, members of the 1964 NAIA College World Series Panther squad walked through the home dugout with words of encouragement for the current squad, congratulating players on their thrilling, 8-7 walk-off victory in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Senior shortstop Jordan Kreke, who had just driven home the winning run against the Gamecocks moments earlier, was humbled by the support.
"They told us to keep it up," he said. "It's awesome that they come out here and support us."
While the walk-off victory highlighted a long day of baseball that saw the Panthers split a twin bill with Jacksonville State, the day belonged to Marty Pattin.
The former Panther great and Major League Baseball All-Star became the fourth Panther - the first in baseball - to have his number retired as he was presented with a plaque with the No. 19 on it. The department also displayed a sign with his name, jersey and date on it on the left-center field fence at Coaches Stadium.
While his resume includes 13 major league seasons, 114 wins and a 1971 All-Star appearance, Pattin was humbled by the honor.
"This is something I will never forget in my life," said Pattin, now 66 and living in Kansas City, Mo. "I've had a lot of nice things happen to me in baseball, but this is one that is tops on my list."
Bill McCabe was Pattin's coach during his time at Eastern. The Champaign resident said he had not spoken with Pattin in 10 years or so.
"I really enjoyed my day down here in Charleston, seeing all the guys from the ball club and trading stories," said McCabe, who coached the Panthers from 1963-74. "I know that (Pattin) deserves all the honors he could get because he was an outstanding young man and a really fine pitcher."
For Pattin, the honor was exciting because he got to reunite with so many old friends. He credits much of the success in his career to what he learned at Eastern.
"I think this is what jump-started my career, and when I really started feeling like maybe I had a career in professional baseball," Pattin said. "But to see these guys and to remember all that we went through that year, it's just a tremendous feeling."
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
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