The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns legends: Baseball Hall of Honor inductee Jim Ehrler
11.08.2007 | Baseball
Former Texas pitcher, Jim Ehrler was a part of a lot of 'firsts' during his tenure. In 1950, Texas became the first school to win back-to-back baseball championships. The 1950 championship was the first played in Omaha, and most importantly for Ehrler, he became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in a College World Series game.
For being a part of these firsts and others, Ehrler will be one of seven athletes inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor on Friday.
Despite losing several key players after the 1949 championship, the Longhorns were still heavy favorites to win, and they would show their superiority when they matched up against Tufts College in the third round of the College World Series on June 19.
Ehrler's fastball was in top form that night, and the Longhorn offense was in gear. The game was in hand after the fifth when Texas was winning 5-0, but there was still a story to be told. The game was into the sixth inning before he finally realized what was at stake, and a hush fell over the Longhorn dugout.
Amazingly the right-hander seemed to be getting stronger as the game went on as Ehrler fanned five out of six batters in the seventh and eighth innings, striking out 14 Jumbos by the game's end.
"I felt like I was on the moon after I pitched that game," Ehrler said. "I tried not to act like it of course, but it was a really good thing for me. I was very proud, especially because there has only been one other fellow to accomplish that in the past 50 years."
Ehrler actually came close to pitching a complete game shutout in the championship game against Washington State, as well, but Coach Bibb Falk decided to pinch run for him after he singled in the seventh. The Horns went on to a 3-0 win over the Cougars.
Despite being disappointed that he could not finish the game, Ehrler earned the distinction of being the only pitcher in the College World Series to earn the win in the championship game on two separate occasions.
Ehrler also played on UT's 1949 National Championship squad. He earned a 10-3 victory over Wake Forest in the championship game as the Longhorns' claimed their first ever College World Series title. The win was championship victory was ironic as he entered College World Series play with just one win on the season.
Although fellow pitchers from the 1949 and '50 squads, Charlie Gorin and Murray Wall would go on to play in the major leagues, it was Ehrler who was counted on when the national championship was on the line.
Ehrler finished the 1950 season with a 5-2 record and a 2.19 ERA and he was 3-0 with a miniscule 0.73 ERA in Southwest Conference games as UT won the league by a 4.5-game margin with a 14-1 ledger. He returned to lead the pitching staff in 1951, posting a perfect 3-0 mark in SWC play as the Horns earned a share of the league title.
Ehrler is now excited to make his way back to the Forty Acres after the many years that have passed since his playing days that earned him a spot in the Hall of Honor.
"I've been to several other inductions, so I know what it is all about," Ehrler said. "But I'm really looking forward to this one. I'm excited to see my picture up on the wall and just getting that honor. It has been a long time, and I never thought I'd get it, so I'm really happy. It was a great surprise."
