**Kansas State Baseball: A History of Success and Tradition**

Introduction

Kansas State University's baseball program has a rich history and tradition, dating back to the late 1800s. The Wildcats have won numerous conference championships and made several appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In recent years, the team has experienced a resurgence under the leadership of head coach Pete Hughes.

History

The Kansas State baseball program was founded in 1893. The team's early years were marked by success, as the Wildcats won several conference championships in the early 1900s. The team also made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1959.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Wildcats continued to be a competitive team, winning several more conference championships and making several appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The 1976 team reached the College World Series, where they finished as the national runner-up.

The 1980s and 1990s were a down period for the Wildcats. The team struggled to win consistently and made only one appearance in the NCAA Tournament during that time.

However, the program began to turn around in the early 2000s. The Wildcats won the Big 12 Conference championship in 2003 and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The team continued to improve in the following years, and made it to the College World Series in 2013.

Current Status

The Kansas State baseball team is currently one of the top programs in the country. The Wildcats are ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation and are a contender for the Big 12 Conference championship every year.

The team is led by head coach Pete Hughes, who has been at the helm since 2013. Hughes has led the Wildcats to several NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the College World Series in 2013.

The Wildcats have a strong roster of players, led by All-American infielder Alex Gordon. The team also has a strong pitching staff, led by All-American pitcher Jake Matthys.

The Wildcats play their home games at Tointon Family Stadium, which is one of the best college baseball stadiums in the country. The stadium is located on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

Key Figures

• Wins: 1,870
• Losses: 1,611
• Win-Loss Percentage: .537
• Conference Championships: 11
• NCAA Tournament Appearances: 21
• College World Series Appearances: 3

Notable Alumni

• Alex Gordon: All-American infielder who played for the Kansas City Royals
• Jake Matthys: All-American pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Mike Pelfrey: All-American pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins
• Shane Conlon: All-American outfielder who played for the Chicago White Sox
• Jason Bergmann: All-American pitcher who played for the New York Mets

Stories

• Story 1: The 1976 Kansas State Wildcats reached the College World Series, where they finished as the national runner-up. The team was led by All-American pitcher Bret Saberhagen, who went on to have a successful career in the Major Leagues.
• Story 2: The 2003 Kansas State Wildcats won the Big 12 Conference championship and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The team was led by All-American infielder Justin Morneau, who went on to have a successful career in the Major Leagues.
• Story 3: The 2013 Kansas State Wildcats made it to the College World Series. The team was led by All-American infielder Alex Gordon and All-American pitcher Jake Matthys.

What We Learn:

These stories demonstrate the success and tradition of the Kansas State baseball program. The Wildcats have a long history of winning and have produced several successful Major League Baseball players. The team is currently one of the top programs in the country and is a contender for the Big 12 Conference championship every year.

How To:

Step-by-Step:

1. Attend games at Tointon Family Stadium.
2. Support the team on social media.
3. Donate to the program.
4. Help recruit future players.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The team is competitive.
• The team has a strong tradition.
• The team has a bright future.

Cons:

• The team is not always consistent.
• The team sometimes struggles against top competition.
• The team does not always have the best facilities.

FAQs

1. When was the Kansas State baseball program founded?
   * 1893

2. How many conference championships has the Kansas State baseball team won?
   *11

3. How many NCAA Tournament appearances has the Kansas State baseball team made?
   *21

4. How many College World Series appearances has the Kansas State baseball team made?
   *3

5. Who is the current head coach of the Kansas State baseball team?
   *Pete Hughes

6. Where do the Kansas State Wildcats play their home games?
   *Tointon Family Stadium

7. What is the Kansas State baseball team's win-loss record?
   *1,870-1,611

8. What is the Kansas State baseball team's winning percentage?
   *.537

Tables

Table 1: Kansas State Baseball Conference Championships

Table 2: Kansas State Baseball NCAA Tournament Appearances

Table 3: Kansas State Baseball All-Americans

Conclusion

The Kansas State baseball program is one of the most successful in the country. The Wildcats have a long history of winning and have produced several successful Major League Baseball players. The team is currently one of the top programs in the country and is a contender for the Big 12 Conference championship every year.