The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Moreland to be inducted into Omaha College Baseball Hall of Fame
06.29.2016 | Baseball
The Longhorns legend will join Barry Bonds, Ron Fraser and Todd Walker at the July 3 induction.
CHICAGO – Texas Baseball great Keith Moreland will be inducted into the Omaha College Baseball Hall of Fame on July 3 in Omaha, Neb., the Hall announced today. Moreland, along with Barry Bonds (Arizona State), Ron Fraser (Miami coach) and Todd Walker (Louisiana State) will be recognized in front of fans at the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby and on ESPN2 during the event's live broadcast.
"I'm humbled to be recognized by the Omaha College Baseball Hall of Fame this year along with the other inductees," Moreland said. "It's quite on honor to join not only this group, but those coaches and players who have been inducted in years past."
Established in 2013 to celebrate college baseball's rich history, the Omaha College Baseball Hall of Fame honors the game's legends that have made their mark in Omaha. Inductees were selected because of their outstanding contributions to college baseball, specifically through extraordinary performance on the game's grandest stage: in Omaha. Finalists and winners were selected by a committee of former college baseball players and coaches as well as members of the media.
"This could not have happened without my great teammates at Texas," Moreland continued. "To get to the College World Series three different times is not easy, so a big part of this honor goes to them."
Although still in its infancy, The Omaha College Baseball Hall of Fame already has a prestigious history of inductees. The inaugural class included Rod Dedeaux (USC coach), Augie Garrido (Texas coach), Bob Horner (Arizona State), Brooks Kieschnick (Texas), Robin Ventura (Oklahoma State) and Dave Winfield (Minnesota). The last two classes have included Will Clark (Mississippi State), Dustin Ackley (North Carolina), Steve Arlin (Ohio State), Mark Kotsay (Cal State Fullerton), Burt Hooton (Texas), Cliff Gustafson (Texas coach) and Sal Bando (Arizona State).
Moreland was a three-time first-team All-Southwest Conference performer as a third baseman while at the University of Texas, and was twice named first-team All-American (1973, 1975). His bat helped lead the Longhorns to the College World Series in three consecutive years, including 1973, when he batted .471 (8-17) and was named to the CWS All-Tournament team, and 1975, when he hit .410 and Texas won the national title. In 13 CWS games, Moreland hit .404 with two home runs and18 RBIs. He has the fourth-most hits in CWS history with 23 in three years, which earned him a spot on the College World Series All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
During his three years with Texas, Moreland compiled 274 hits, 183 RBIs, 53 doubles and a combined .388 batting average. His teams went a combined 160-21 in his three seasons. In 2010, his Longhorn No. 3 jersey was retired. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round of the 1975 MLB Draft and went on to enjoy a successful 12-year MLB career from 1978-89, playing for five different teams as an outfielder, catcher and infielder.
