Cal Baseball Foundation

Baseball Foundation 2 THe Case for Cal BaseBall I n August, Chancellor Dirks created a Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics to recommend an appropriate scale and scope for Cal Athletics in light of significant budget deficits and concerns over compliance with Title IX. In anticipation of the myriad questions to be addressed in this process, the Cal Baseball Foundation submitted a report making the "Case for Cal Baseball." Following are excerpts from the report. Academic Excellence Academically, Cal Baseball consistently ranks at the top of our Pac-12 peer public institutions. Our athletes have earned top Conference honors even under Cal's more rigorous academic requirements. Since the program's reinstatement in 2011, Cal Baseball has graduated 32 seniors, which represents 90% of players within their four-year eligibility, and more than 15 of our players have earned Pac-12 Academic Honors. In 2016, senior Nick Halamandaris was named the Pac-12 Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Athletic Excellence Playing in one of college baseball's elite conferences, winning two national championships, regularly qualifying for post-season play, and having its alumni achieve prominence and fame in a myriad of professional endeavors places the tradition of Cal Baseball among the best in the nation. Men's baseball holds 20 conference championships, the most of any men's sport at Cal, and ranks sixth in national championships among all Division I men's baseball programs. Cal Baseball has produced numerous Major League Baseball players, and a considerable number of players are drafted into professional baseball every year. Cal is the only institution that has two of its former players currently managing in the major leagues. Cal BaseBall – a leGaCy of exCellenCe Baseball has been an honored tradition at the University of California for over 140 years. Before finding a permanent home at Evans Diamond in 1933, intercollegiate baseball was played at several campus sites. Photos of these contests eloquently testify to the rich history of Cal baseball and the central place it has occupied in the life of the University. The Cal-Stanford rivalry for the "Axe" now a hallmark of Cal's football program, debuted on April 15, 1899, at the Cal v. Stanford baseball game. Cal BaseBall – fInanCIal Plan In fall 2010, the campus administration eliminated men's baseball and four other sports to reduce the athletics program's draw on campus funds. In the span of three short months, the Save Cal Baseball Campaign raised $9.2 million, securing the program's reinstatement for a 7-10 year term. Over 1,200 separate donors contributed to the fund, which is clear evidence of the widespread support for the continuation of men's baseball on the Cal campus. The Cal Baseball Foundation secured the reinstatement of men's baseball with a commitment to implement a financial strategy that is largely independent of campus funds and has limited impact on the Athletics Department budget. In March 2011, the Foundation adopted a Strategic Plan, agreed to by the University, to implement revenue-generating strategies that would extend the life of the endowment. As shown here, this plan has yielded an increase of $426,000 in annual revenue since the program's reinstatement. Game day revenues have nearly tripled, contributions to the baseball annual fund are up 87%, and our Gala has been sold out each year since it began in 2012—an extraordinary demonstration of commitment to sustaining Cal Baseball. THe full rePorT Can Be VIewed By ClICkInG Here.

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