Table of Contents - Central Michigan University Athletics

CMU In the Pros
including Scott Pickens, who served as the bullpen catcher for the 2006
American League champion Detroit Tigers. In all, 107 different players have
represented CMU in the professional ranks.
John “Lefty” Dobb was the fi rst CMU player to make the major leagues.
He played with the Chicago White Sox in 1924. Nine Chippewas have been
selected in the top fi ve rounds of the draft, most recently pitcher Chad
Pleiness in the fi fth round in 2002. Chris Knapp was a fi rst-round selection of
the Chicago White Sox in 1975.
Each fall, CMU hosts a pro day that allows players to showcase their skills
in front of professional scouts. One day is set aside during fall practice to
allow members of the upcoming spring’s team to gain exposure in front of the
group of scouts that annually descends on CMU for the event.
All-Time List of CMU’s Pro Baseball Players
1921 Russ LeCronier
1924 John Dobb
1926 Larry Hutchinson
1933 Don French
1949 Cecil Morgan
1951 Leo Rozyla
1954 Chuck Pruitt
1955 Louis Dulac
1957 Tom Tresh
1958 Tom Brown, Marv Schultz, Spencer Scott
1963 Carmen Fanzone
1965 Harold Roberson, Gary Taylor
1967 Kim Hillstrom, Pat O’Keefe, Tom Krawczyk
1968 Jim Bourdeau
1970 Dale Dunham, Dick Lange
1971 Andy Kanoza, Alex Kanoza
1972 Jim Cooper, Dave Machemer
1973 Jeff Sovern
1974 Cap Pohlman
1975 Chris Knapp, Terry F. Lynch
1976 John Northrup, Bob Stadnika
1977 Doug Harrison, Dave Mayes, Dan Rohn
1978 Ben Bonk, Chris Czarka, Bob Grandas,
Mike Schervish
1979 Mick Cochran, Kevin Flannery,
Ray Soff, Larry Williams
1980 Mark Fellows, Dave Pagel, Doug Wabeke
1981 Mike Brecht, Randy Meier, Curt Young
1982 Randy Morse
1983 Carey Ross, Mike Ward
1984 Dave Minnema, Jay Phillion
1985 Dan Cronkright, Greg Lotzar, Eric Wilson
1986 Bob Cavanaugh, Doug Fisher, Mike
Hansen, Dave Nash, Kevin Tapani
1987 Doug Noch, Andy Rohn, Kip Southland,
Joe Wojda
1988 Shawn Hare, Larry Lamphere
1989 Clark Huntey, Dan Rambo, Rick Sellers
1990 Denny McNamara, Bob Riker
1991 Matt Bauer, Pat Bojcun, Tom Paskievitch
1992 Steve Nowak
1993 Aaron Knieper
1994 Scott Cook, Andy Kruger, Mark Scheurer,
Jeff Siler, Kevin Young
1995 Toby Kominek, Troy Novak, Rick Smith
1996 Dave Malenfant
1997 Brett Haring, Brent Miller
1998 Lee Gardner
1999 Phil Roberts
2000 Mike Fawcett, Shaun Gragg, Pete Nemeth,
Mike Steele
2001 Jason Helps, J. D. Wheeler
2002 Danny Gibbons, Scott Pickens, Chad
Pleiness, Lee Naplin
2004 Ryan Cremeans, Jeff Garner, David LeMieux,
T.J. Johnson
2005 Jason Cairns, Jayson Ruhlman, Kurtis Wells
2007 Josh Collmenter, Chris Kupillas, Ben
Humphrey, Jeff Richard
MAJOR LEAGUERS
John “Lefty” Dobb — Chicago White Sox
Carmen Fanzone — Chicago Cubs
Lee Gardner — Tampa Bay, Florida
Shawn Hare — Detroit, NY Yankees, Texas
Chris Knapp — Chicago White Sox, California
Dick Lange — California
Dave Machemer — Detroit
Dan Rohn — Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Texas
Ray Soff — St. Louis, Minnesota
Kevin Tapani — Oakland, NY Mets, Minnesota, Los Angeles,
Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs
Gary Taylor — Detroit Tigers
Tom Tresh — NY Yankees, Detroit
Curt Young — Oakland, Kansas City, NY Yankees
TOP DRAFT CHOICES
1st Round — Chris Knapp, Chicago White Sox (1975)
2nd Round — Kevin Tapani, Oakland A’s (1986)
3rd Round — Bob Grandas, Oakland A’s (1976)
3rd Round — Doug Harrison, Los Angeles (1977)
3rd Round — Dave Pagel, Chicago Cubs (1977)
4th Round — Dave Machemer, California Angels (1972)
4th Round — Dan Rohn, Chicago Cubs (1977)
4th Round — Curt Young, Oakland A’s (1981)
5th Round — Chad Pleiness, Toronto (2002)
CHIPPEWAS ACTIVE IN PRO BASEBALL
Jason Cairns, rhp, St. Louis Cardinals
Josh Collmenter, rhp, Arizona Diamondbacks
Lee Gardner, rhp, Florida Marlins
Ben Humphrey, 1b, Tampa Bay Rays
T.J. Johnson, lhp, Cincinnati Reds
Scott Pickens, bullpen catcher, Detroit Tigers
Jayson Ruhlman, lhp, Chicago Cubs
Central Michigan University Baseball
7
11-time Mid-American Conference Champions