Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 24/4
Iowa State University

Department of Athletics

Baseball
Records, 1903-2011


Descriptive summary

creator: Iowa State University. Department of Athletics. Baseball
title: Records
dates: 1903-2011
extent: 0.84 linear feet (2 document boxes)
collection number: RS 24/4
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.
language: English

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Iowa State University, Department of Athletics, Baseball Records, RS 24/4, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Abstract

In 1892, Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University) created a baseball program, its first varsity sport, and became a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Baseball Association. Leroy "Cap" Timm was the program's most successful coach, with a 340-373-5 record over thirty-seven seasons. Iowa State's appreciation of "Cap" Timm's years of service led to the naming of the baseball venue Cap Timm Field upon his retirement. After one hundred and nine years, baseball at ISU came to an end in the spring of 2001. Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde announced that baseball and men's swimming and diving had been cut due to budget cuts and Title IX. This collection contains media guides, news clippings, student essays on the history of the baseball team, and programs.

 

Historical note

In 1892, Iowa State Agricultural College (Iowa State University) became involved in the Iowa Intercollegiate Baseball Association. This early league consisted of the Iowa State Agricultural College (ISU), Grinnell College, State University (University of Iowa), Drake University, and Iowa State Teacher's College (University of Northern Iowa). Cornell College of Mt. Vernon joined the league the following year (1893).

The most notable Iowa State Baseball coach was Leroy C. "Cap" Timm. For over thirty-seven years, "Cap" Timm led Iowa State to a record of 340-373-5. His long tenure at Iowa State made his name synonymous with Iowa State Baseball. Iowa State's appreciation of "Cap" Timm's years of service led to the naming of Cap Timm Field upon his retirement (1974). Timm coached Iowa State to three of its four conference crowns: a Big 7 title (1957) and two Big 8 titles (1970, 1971). Iowa State's first baseball championship was in the Big 6 (1936) under coach Joe Truskowski. Other successful coaches at Iowa State have included former ISU pitcher Larry Corrigan and Bobby Randall. Randall (1985-1995) coached Iowa State to the team's record for most wins in a season with 36 (1989).

Iowa State had appeared in the College World Series twice, both times under the leadership of "Cap" Timm (1957, 1970). The Cyclones played four games in 1957, losing twice to California-Berkeley in the double-elimination tournament. They played three games in 1970, losing to Dartmouth, and were eliminated by Ohio University.

The baseball program was Iowa State University's oldest varsity sport. After one hundred and nine years, the rich tradition of baseball at ISU came to an end in the spring of 2001. Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde announced that baseball and men's swimming and diving had been cut due to a budget shortfall within the department.

Iowa State's last home game at Cap Timm Field was a 5-1 win over top ranked Nebraska. By winning two of three games against the Huskers, Iowa State earned a spot in the Big 12 tournament. There, ISU lost the first game to Nebraska, but won the second against Baylor. The Cyclones were eliminated when they lost to Oklahoma State, 17-4, on May 18, 2001, bringing the program to a close. The final player to ever swing a bat for Iowa State was Beau Hampton.

The ISU Baseball Club was created in the fall of 2001 to fill the void left by the departure of the varsity baseball program. The ISU club team plays home games at Cap Timm Field and competes in the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) with club teams from other colleges and universities. For more information on the ISU Baseball Club, please see RS 22/7/0/1, Box 1.

Baseball Coaches (1892-2001):

  • unknown (1892)
  • W. E. Harriman (1893)
  • W. S. Dawson (1894)
  • J. R. Davidson (1895)
  • unknown (1896)
  • C. O. Poole (1897)
  • I. C. Brownlee (1898)
  • unknown (1899)
  • Nicholl (1900)
  • C. E. Woodruff (1901)
  • E. H. Hall (1902)
  • Ernest Cotton (1903)
  • C. B. Wilson (1904)
  • A. V. Greene (1905)
  • Clyde Williams (1906-1909)
  • unknown (1910-1912)
  • H. C. Hubbard (1913-1915)
  • Clyde Williams (1916-1920)
  • Charles W. Mayser (1919-1920)
  • Maury Kent (1921-1922)
  • Bill Chandler (1923-1927)
  • Noel Workman (1928-1929)
  • Louis Menze (1930-1934)
  • Joe Truskowski (1935-1937)
  • Leroy C. "Cap" Timm (1938-1942)
  • Clay Sutherland (1943-1947)
  • Leroy C. "Cap" Timm (1947-1974)
  • Clair Rierson (1975-1980)
  • Larry Corrigan (1981-1984)
  • Bobby Randall (1985-1995)
  • Lyle Smith (1996-2001)

 

Collection description

The collection (1903-2011, undated) contains media guides, news clippings, a 1954 team reunion booklet, and histories written by students.

 

Organization

The collection is arranged in alphabetical order.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Baseball camps

1939-1972

1

2

Baseball program ends - Diamond Reflections article

2001

1

24

Bibliography of baseball books

1940s-1970s circa

1

3

Big 8 Conference - press release, stats, scheduling

1957-1974

1

4

Budget information for program

1963-1969

1

5

Cyclone Sports News - article on Cap Timm's induction into Coaches Hall of Fame

1973

1

6

Diamond Darlings (2 b/w photographs)

1972, undated

1

7

History - "Baseball 1972, the 1972 Cyclone Season: A Cruel Twist"

1993

1

8

History - "Baseball 1981, Cyclone Glory Days"

1994

1

9

History - "Baseball 1984, Young and Inexperienced but Hardworking"

1993

1

10

History - "Baseball 1988, A Season of Firsts"

1993

1

11

History - "Baseball 1988-89, The Record Setting Years"

1993

1

12

History - "Failure to Combine Good Pitching with Good Hitting Brings Cyclones Last Place Finish in Big 8 Conference"

1993

1

13

History - "Iowa State Baseball 1979; Rain, Rain, Go Away"

1993

1

14

History - "Iowa State Baseball 1980, Cyclones from the Past"

1993

1

15

History - "Iowa State Baseball, the Struggle for Change"

1992

1

16

History - "ISU Baseball 1964 and 1965 Seasons, the Years to Surrender to the Weather"

1992

1

17

History - "Young Team with Pain and Rain, 1993 ISU Baseball"

1994

1

18

Letterwinners Club members (no dates)

2007

1

19

Major League Cyclones - Diamond Reflections article on Iowa State players who played in Major League Baseball

2001

1

20

Media guides

1958-1980

1

21

Media guides

1981-1987

1

22

Media guides

1992-1994

1

23

Media guides

1995-1996

2

1

Media guides

1997-2001

2

2

News clippings

1903-1969, undated

2

3

News clippings

1970-1979

2

4

News clippings

1980-1989

2

5

News clippings

1992-1998

2

6

News clippings

2000-2011

2

7

Programs

1974-1997

2

8

Reinstate baseball? - Athletic Director Jamie Pollard's comments

2006

2

9

Reunion - 1954 Iowa State Baseball alumni reunion book

1994

2

10

Rosters, prospective players

1935-1968

2

11

Schedules for ISU

1948-1974

2

12

Statistics

1952-1972, undated

2

13

Stretching and flexibility program

1977

2

14

25 year reunion

1966 circa

2

15

Recruiting information to prospective student-athletes

1960s-1970s circa