October 2013Volume 1, Issue 2

Baseball FoundationGolden Bear News & Notes

The Cal Baseball Foundation has taken several steps this year toward achieving its single purpose: to ensure the permanent existence

of a top-tier intercollegiate baseball program at the University of California, Berkeley. Here are a few of our most important accomplishments:

September 2012 The Foundation Board of Directors approves a financial agreement with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the University to install lights and a video scoreboard at Evans Diamond with the goal of completing the project in time for the 2013 baseball season.

February 2013 Second annual First Pitch Scholarship Dinner attracts over 350 attendees with special guest San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer. The Foundation presents its leadership award to UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor John Wilton who is a key supporter of the Foundation’s efforts to improve the facilities at Evans Diamond. The dinner and auction raise $70,000 for baseball athletic scholarships and provides the opportunity for program supporters, player alumni, and current player families and friends to launch the 2013 season in grand style.

The Foundation and Athletics Department host the second annual Fan Fest at Evans Diamond. Fans of all ages are welcomed by the 2013 Bears

players and coaching staff and enjoy on-field activities to test their baseball skills.

March 2013 Cal Baseball introduces the Evans Diamond Beer Garden and Flex Ticket Package. The Foundation’s Business Revenue Generation Committee and Cal Athletics Department team up to launch the new era of Cal Baseball, with fun-filled game-day experiences, new concessions offerings, and affordable ticket options for all fans. Kudos to Cal Athletics staff Katie Lee (Assistant Director of Marketing/Game-day Experience) and Josh Blackford (Events Manager) for bringing to life the Foundation’s ideas for an improved fan experience! The 2013 season game-day events at Evans Diamond include Public Safety Day, Dog Day at the Diamond, Lair of the Bear Day, Mother’s Day, Spring Egg Hunt, and Staff Appreciation Day. Look forward to even more fun for the whole family in 2014!

MilestonesThe Foundation Reflects on Success and Looks to the Future

Baseball enthusiasts of all ages enjoy Fan Fest.

March 28, 2013 Fiat Lux! Let there be light! Cal Baseball celebrates the first ever night game at Evans Diamond under the newly installed lights and video scoreboard with more than 2,500 fans in attendance. This milestone is completed in record time owing to the generous financial backing of Dave Amoroso, Tom Hornaday, and Stu Gordon, and the dedicated efforts of Nick Brereton (Brereton Architects), Overaa Construction Company, and Bob Milano Jr. (Cal Athletics Capital Planning and Management).

June 2013 The results are in! Cal Baseball sets a new attendance record, more than doubling the 2012 ticket revenue. Very special thanks to Ashwin Puri and the Cal Athletics Sales and Marketing Team, who delivered on the Foundation’s requests for new youth pricing, flexible ticket packages, and on-line ticket sales for the first time in the program’s history! Find 2014 ticketing information on page 4 of this newsletter.

A packed house celebrates Cal Baseball’s first night game at Evans Diamond under newly installed lights and a video scoreboard.

Baseball Foundation 2

At the end of the 2014 season we will bid farewell to the last of those players who, along with their elder teammates, confronted the elimination of their program with poise, tenacity, confidence, and

commitment. The 2011 Golden Bears players and coaches turned adversity into inspiration, battling all the way to a berth in the College World Series. The 2011 Bears have achieved the academic and athletic excellence that is the hallmark of the program’s 122-year existence on the Berkeley campus. Of the 26 players who moved on from that team, 20 completed their degrees,

five left for professional baseball after their junior year, 11 continue to play ball professionally, and 15 are pursuing careers outside of baseball. Returning seniors, who were members of the 2011 squad, including Vince Bruno, Derek Campbell, Matt Evanoff, Trevor Hildenberger, Kyle Porter, Devon Rodriguez, Michael Theofanopoulis, and Jacob Wark, will close the door on this era of amazing young men who inspired Cal baseball fans to never say die!

2011 GOlden BeArSSuccess beyond the College World Series

The 2011 Golden Bears celebrate their Super-Regional victory.

Player alumni, family members, and special guests reunited at Evans Diamond on April

20 for the 25th anniversary reunion of the 1988 College World Series participants. This team, coached by Bob Milano and captained by Darryl Vice and John Correa, finished the season 40-25 and was one of only three Golden Bear teams to post more than 40 wins in a single season. The pre-game ceremony featured presentation of commemorative plaques to the 1988 team by members of the 2013 team.

Members of the 1988 team gathered for a reunion in April.

Alumni News Eleven of the 19 members of the Foundation Board hail from the ranks of

former Golden Bears players. We all have a great appreciation for their commitment to ensuring that their beloved program continues on the Cal campus for future generations.

Stu Gordon (1961-1962)Brad Brian (1972-1974)John Hughes (1973-1974)Dan McInerny (1978-1980)Dan Deaver (1981-1984)Kevin Maas (1984-1986)Gwyn-Mohr Tully (1989-1992)Chris Clapinski (1990-1992)Sam Petke (1997-2000)Jesse Ingram (2001-2004)James Holder (2002-2005)

Congratulations to Bob Melvin and his Oakland Athletics for capturing the AL

West title and returning to the post season for the second consecutive year!

Golden Bear News & Notes3

AluMni spotlightBlake Read: pitcher’s Mound

to pediatric surgeon

In September 2000, Blake Read, a San Diego native, came to Berkeley with two

overriding ambitions: the first, to pursue a pre-med degree, and the second, to make the Cal Baseball team as an academic walk-on. Both medicine and baseball were lifelong passions. Blake’s interest in medicine was inspired by his grandfather, who was one of the first interventional radiologists in the United States. But his passion for baseball was something he couldn’t escape. Following success on the field during fall try-outs, Blake put his pre-med program on hold. Pre-med courses were replaced by studies in the English department, and when the conference season started in February, Blake established himself as an integral member of a pitching staff that, combined with a potent offense, carried the Bears to post-season play in the Baton Rouge Regional. For four years, Blake excelled on the diamond and in the classroom, lettering twice (2001, 2004), completing his B. A. in English, and earning First Team Pac-10 All-Academic honors.

Having risen to the challenge of Pac-10 baseball, Blake knew there was no reason he could not successfully resume his medical studies. Gaining admission to Columbia’s post-baccalaureate pre-med program, Blake threw himself into his courses with the same determination that he had shown at Evans Diamond. After Columbia and a summer medical mission to Central America, Blake moved to Jefferson Medical College (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) for clinical training, where he established himself among the top students in his class. Blake’s hard work and talent earned him the opportunity to return to the Bay Area to begin his residency in the nationally respected general surgery program at Stanford Hospital. At Stanford, Blake met his future wife, Amelia Clark, an ENT—head and neck surgery resident.

Well on his way to completing his residency and finally realizing his long-time dream to be a pediatric surgeon, Blake looks back on his Cal Baseball experience as the foundation for his future success in the operating room.

Read was an integral member of the Bears pitching staff.

Coach’s Corner: Coach david esquer

Fall classes have begun and so have workouts for the 2013-14 Cal Baseball team. With senior leadership in the field and on the

mound, game-tested veterans among juniors and sophomores, and a great class of incoming freshmen, we are excited about our prospects for the 2014 season and are focused on returning to post-season play.

All those who made it out to Evans Diamond last year saw a new era of Cal Baseball inaugurated with night games and great game-day events for all ages. With non-conference opponents Texas, Arkansas, and Tulane, in addition to conference foes UCLA, Oregon State, Arizona, and Washington coming to Evans Diamond, fans can expect more great baseball this year!

In addition to school and workouts, Cal Baseball will again be out in the community assisting at Memorial Stadium on all football game days with hospitality and information services, and helping with meal service at the Oakland Food Bank prior to Thanksgiving.

As we look back over the 2013 season, we congratulate and extend our best wishes to graduating seniors Ryan Wertenberger, Ryan Sandler, Seth Spivack, Justin Jones, and Logan Scott. We also congratulate Andrew Knapp (junior) who leaves the program to start his professional career with the Phillies organization.

Many of our alumni continue to excel in professional baseball: Allen Craig (All-Star, St. Louis Cardinals), Tyson Ross (San Diego Padres), Josh Satin (New York Mets), Bryan Price (Cincinnati Reds pitching coach), and Jim Eppard (Los Angeles Angels ML batting coach). Brandon Morrow (Toronto Blue Jays), John Baker (San Diego Padres), and Brennan Boesch (New York Yankees) also spent a portion of their seasons in the major leagues. Major League Baseball debuts in 2013 included Jeff Kobernus (Washington Nationals), Marcus Semien (Chicago White Sox), and Erik Johnson (Chicago White Sox). Alumni in the minor leagues include Dixon Anderson, Austin Booker, Michael Brady, Mark Canha, David Cooper, Charlie Cutler, Mitch Delfino, Joey Donofrio, Matt Flemer, Matt Gorgen, Brian Guinn, Brett Jackson, Chadd Krist, Danny Oh, Chris Petrini, Tony Renda, and Blake Smith.

In our next newsletter, I look forward to introducing the 2014 squad and sharing some of the highlights from our fall workouts. Go Bears!

Friday, January 24 First Pitch Scholarship Dinner, Berkeley

Sunday, February 9 Fan Fest, Evans Diamond

Friday, February 14 Season Opener vs. Texas

March 7-9 Cal Classic Tournament, Evans Diamond

March 14-16 Pac-12 Conference Opener vs. UCLA

Mark Your Calendars for 2014

Baseball FoundationGolden Bear News & Notes

Cal Baseball Foundationc/o Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver, LLP3470 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Ste. A-110Lafayette, CA 94549

Address Service Requested

First Annual Ralph Walker Cup

In December 2012, Cal Baseball lost a very dear friend in whose memory the Foundation has renamed the annual Golf Tournament.

Ralph Walker combined his unwavering commitment to Cal Baseball with his love of golf to re-launch the annual tournament in 2001 as the Program’s lead fundraising event. As a result of his leadership, vision, and personal drive, the tournament has since raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Cal Baseball.

Growing up in Sarasota, Florida, Ralph fell in love with baseball and was a spring training batboy for the Red Sox. He graduated from Vanderbilt University, served as an original crew member of the carrier USS Kitty Hawk, and was introduced to San Francisco in late 1961 when the ship spent several months undergoing repairs at Hunter’s Point.

Upon discharge from the Navy, Ralph enrolled at Boalt Hall School of Law, commencing a lifelong passion for all things Cal. He coached his boys through Ross Valley Little League in Marin County, serving as league commissioner and was a constant and supportive presence on the diamond. Ralph’s son, Tyler, played for the Golden Bears from 1995-97, and Ralph and his wife, Kathy, rarely missed a game at Evans Diamond.

The Cal Baseball Foundation held the inaugural Ralph Walker Cup on October 21, 2013, at Contra Costa Country Club. A full field of 140 golfers gathered to honor Ralph and to support Cal Baseball in one of the best tournaments ever.

Ticket Plans and PricingCheck www.calbears.com

in early 2014 to purchase tickets.

20 ticket Flex pack – Admission to any game except Cal Classic: Adult $99Senior (65 and over) $49 Family Flex ticket pack – 20 coupons for two adults and up to six youth: $299 single game tickets: Adult $10Youth (17 and under) $5Senior (65 and over) $5Children (2 and under) Free

2014 CAl BeArS HOMe SCHedule

Check www.calbears.com for game times.

February 14, 15, 16 vs. texasMarch 4 vs. stanfordMarch 7, 8, 9 Cal Classic Baseball tournament vs. Arkansas vs. tulane vs. san FranciscoMarch 10 vs. Arkansas (tentative)March 14, 15, 16 vs. uClAMarch 28, 29, 30 vs. utahApril 1 vs. stanfordApril 17, 18, 19 vs. WashingtonApril 29 vs. san FranciscoMay 2, 3, 4 vs. oregon stateMay 16, 17, 18 vs. Arizona

Please check www.calbaseballfoundation.org for more information about the Foundation’s

activities in support of the Cal Baseball program.

Ralph Walker with his son, Tyler, and wife, Kathy. Ralph was the driving force behind the

annual golf tournament fundraiser.