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North Carolina Tar Heels
2024 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team
Founded1867; 157 years ago (1867)
UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Head coachScott Forbes (4th season)
ConferenceACC
Coastal Division
LocationChapel Hill, North Carolina
Home stadiumBryson Field at Boshamer Stadium
(Capacity: 5,000)
NicknameTar Heels
ColorsCarolina blue and white[1]
   
College World Series runner-up
2006, 2007
College World Series appearances
1960, 1966, 1978, 1989, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2024
NCAA regional champions
1978, 1989, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1948, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 2007, 2013, 2019, 2022
Regular season conference champions
1901, 1922, 1933, 1934, 1948, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 2013, 2024

The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, commonly referred to as Carolina, represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college baseball. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels play their home games on campus at Boshamer Stadium, and are currently coached by Scott Forbes.

History

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North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, 1885

The program's first recorded game took place in 1867, when the Tar Heels defeated a Raleigh all-star team, 34-17. Although baseball continued to be played at UNC, there exists a gap in record-keeping during Reconstruction, despite the noted existence of the UNC baseball team. The program's next recorded games were played in 1891. Thereafter, the University sponsored a varsity intercollegiate baseball program on a regular basis from that season onwards.

In 1921, the University of North Carolina became a founding member of the Southern Conference. Bunny Hearn became head coach of the Tar Heel baseball program in 1932, serving in that capacity for the next 15 years. The Tar Heels would win six Southern Conference baseball titles during the Hearn era, as well as two wartime Ration League titles in 1943 and 1945. In 1947, Hearn suffered a stroke and chose to relinquish his head coaching duties. Walter Rabb would thereafter take over as head coach of the Tar Heel baseball program, though Hearn remained as a coach at North Carolina for another ten years.

During the 1948 season, the program qualified for its first NCAA tournament, which had first been played in 1947. North Carolina's record in the tournament was 1-2.

North Carolina left the Southern Conference in 1953, opting to become a founding member of the newly formed Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels won their first ACC baseball title in 1960. The program's first College World Series appearance also came in 1960. In 1964, the Tar Heels won their second ACC baseball title, posting an undefeated record in conference play. No other team in ACC baseball history has ever been undefeated in conference play.[2]

The Tar Heels would appear in the College World Series three more times during the 20th century.

The Tar Heels reached the College World Series in four consecutive years between 2006 and 2009, and five times in six years between 2006 and 2011. They reached the national championship series in both 2006 and 2007, but lost on both occasions to the Oregon State Beavers. The Tar Heels made a third straight trip to Omaha in 2008.

While Boshamer Stadium was being renovated and rebuilt during the 2008 season, the Tar Heels played their home games at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in nearby Cary. The Tar Heels returned to Chapel Hill in February 2009, following the completion of the extensive renovations to Boshamer Stadium.[3] The Tar Heels reached the 2009 College World Series, the program's fourth consecutive College World Series appearance, following their first season playing in newly renovated Boshamer Stadium.

The Tar Heels once again reached the College World Series in 2011. The Tar Heels were the top overall seed in the 2013 NCAA baseball tournament, during which they reached the 2013 College World Series once again. In 2018, the Tar Heels reached the College World Series for the seventh time in thirteen seasons.

Head coaches

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Carolina Baseball dugout at Boshamer Stadium
The 2009 Tar Heels baseball team in Nebraska for the College World Series
Coach Years Record Win Pct.
Perrin Busbee 1891–1893 9–6 .600
William R. Robertson 1894 10–4 .714
Jesse M. Oldham 1895 6–4 .600
Benjamin E. Stanley 1896–1897 18–8–1 .630
William A. Reynolds 1898–1899 21–5–1 .796
Bob Lawson 1900, 1905–1906, 1910 47–23–2 .667
Ernest Graves 1901 11–4–2 .706
Edward M. Ashenbach 1902 7–6 .538
John Curran 1903 13–2–-2 .824
John Donnelly 1904 5–8 .385
Floyd Simmons 1907 10–9–2 .524
Otis Stocksdale 1908–1909 31–14 .689
Charles M. Clancey 1911–1912 26–14 .650
George Bowers 1913 7–11 .389
Earl T. Mack 1914 8–11 .425
Charles A. Doak 1915–1916 19–15 .559
Bunny Hearn 1917–1918, 1932–1946 214–132–2 .618
William Lourcey 1919–1920 19–16–4 .538
Bill Fetzer 1921–1925 70–37–4 .649
Vern Duncan 1926 9–16 .360
James N. Ashmore 1927–1931 72–39–3 .645
Walter Rabb 1947–1977 540–358–9 .600
Mike Roberts 1978–1998 780–428–3 .645
Mike Fox 1999–2020 840–355 .703
Scott Forbes 2021–present 148–73 .670

[4]

Boshamer Stadium

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Steinbrenner Terrace at Boshamer Stadium
Main article: Boshamer Stadium

Boshamer Stadium, the program's home venue, originally opened in 1972 and was renovated in the late 2000s. It has a capacity of 4,100 spectators, with additional standing room. It has hosted five ACC tournaments, most recently in 1983. It is centrally located on the University campus, adjacent to Ehringhaus Residence Hall and Karen Shelton Stadium.

Notable alumni

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Current MLB roster

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Former Tar Heels on MLB opening day roster 2023 (updated March 30, 2023).[5]

Player Position Number Team
Daniel Bard P 52 Colorado Rockies
Zac Gallen P 23 Arizona Diamondbacks
Trevor Kelley P 44 Tampa Bay Rays
Jacob Stallings C 58 Miami Marlins
Trent Thornton P 57 Toronto Blue Jays

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Primary Identity" (PDF). Carolina Athletics Brand Identity Guidelines. April 20, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  2. ^ UNC Baseball History Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine." CBS Sports Network Retrieved on June 28, 2013.
  3. ^ "Tar Heel Baseball Archived 2008-02-22 at the Wayback Machine." tarheelblue.com. Retrieved on February 23, 2008.
  4. ^ "Record Book". TarHeelBlue.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  5. ^ "UNC Baseball: Tar Heels on Opening Day MLB Rosters". fansided.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
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