Cal Baseball Foundation

Baseball Foundation 2 O n April 23, the Cal Baseball Foundation hosted Bob Milano Night at Evans Diamond. More than 200 of Bob's former players, coaches, family, and friends gathered to pay tribute to his coaching legacy, his love for Cal Baseball, and his undying commitment to the student-athletes he coached during his 22 seasons at Cal. The Foundation has established the Bob Milano Scholarship Fund to honor Bob's legacy of commitment to the academic and athletic excellence of Cal's baseball athletes. The Foundation is accepting donations to reach the goal of $100,000. This amount will support the naming of an annual scholarship in Bob's name in perpetuity, to be awarded to a player who demonstrates commitment to academic achievement and team leadership, values that define Bob's contribution to Cal Baseball. Donations to the Bob Milano Scholarship Fund can be made online here or by sending a check payable to the Bob Milano Scholarship Fund to: Cal Baseball Foundation, Inc., c/o Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver, LLP, 3470 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite A-110, Lafayette, CA 94549. BoB MILAno – "7" Bob Milano's connection with Cal Baseball began more than a half-century ago, and he is one of the most successful and beloved individuals in the 125-year history of the Cal Baseball program. As is fitting to the impact he has had on hundreds of his players, Bob is known simply by his game jersey number, "7." In 2003, Bob became only the fourth person in Cal Baseball history to have his game jersey retired. Bob spent three decades directly involved with Cal Baseball, as a player, assistant coach, and as head coach for 22 seasons beginning in 1978. In those 22 years, the Bears reached postseason play six times and appeared in the College World Series in 1980, '88, and '92. Bob twice was named Pac-10 Southern Division Coach of the Year, including in 1980, when the Bears set a school record with 44 wins. Bob also served as an assistant athletic director at Cal from 1974-78 and as a member of the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee from 1990-96. Bob was the assistant coach for Team USA in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup, the assistant coach of the 1988 U.S. Olympic gold medal team, and the head coach of the 1997 U.S. National Team. One of college baseball's most esteemed coaches, Milano retired in 1999 as the school's most successful baseball coach with 688 career victories. Bob has been inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame and the American Baseball Coaches' Association Hall of Fame. Bob mentored 15 All-Americans and 49 all- conference selections during his head coaching career at Cal. Several of Bob's players reached the major leagues, including Rod Booker, Chuck Cary, Bob Melvin, Lance Blankenship, Jerry Goff, Kevin Maas, Jeff Kent, Darren Lewis, Matt Luke, Geoff Blum, Tyler Walker, and Xavier Nady. Bob has the distinction of having two of his former players working as major league managers: Bob Melvin with the Oakland A's and Bryan Price with the Cincinnati Reds. Bob Milano was honored in a pre-game ceremony and video tribute. Hundreds Gather to Honor Cal Baseball legend CAl BASeBAll FrIenDS AnD FAmIlIeS enjOy PreGAme GAtHerInGS I f you looked down the left field line during any Saturday home game at Evans Diamond this last season, you might have noticed a new addition to our ballpark—The Bullpen. This space offered premium Mexican food from Compadres and a new draft beer every week from local breweries like Half Moon Bay, Altamont, and Drakes. The Bullpen became a pregame rallying spot for our player's parents and family, a reunion spot for our alumni, and an overall exciting field level view for our fans. Look for The Bullpen to become a cornerstone at Evans Diamond in the coming seasons and a place all of our friends and family of Cal Baseball to call their own. The Bullpen is a great place for Cal Baseball friends and family to enjoy. For more photos from the event, click here.

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