Product details:
| ISBN13: | 9781496220431 |
| ISBN10: | 1496220439 |
| Binding: | Hardback |
| No. of pages: | 232 pages |
| Size: | 229x152 mm |
| Weight: | 666 g |
| Language: | English |
| Illustrations: | 25 photographs, 1 appendix |
| 700 |
Category:
The Wizard of College Baseball
How Ron Fraser Elevated Miami and an Entire Sport to National Prominence
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Date of Publication: 26 November 2024
Number of Volumes: Cloth Over Boards
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Short description:
A biography of University of Miami baseball coach Ron Fraser, who coached the Hurricanes from 1963 to 1992 and was one of college baseball’s greatest promoters and most successful and influential coaches in history, helping to bring the game into national prominence.
A biography of University of Miami baseball coach Ron Fraser, who coached the Hurricanes from 1963 to 1992 and was one of college baseball’s greatest promoters and most successful and influential coaches in history, helping to bring the game into national prominence.
Long description:
Named a Top 20 Best College Baseball Book of All Time by Book Authority
No one changed the landscape of college baseball like Ron Fraser. The sport enjoyed little national interest until Fraser arrived at the University of Miami in 1963 and built his program into an entertainment empire and a national champion. Nationally televised college baseball games on ESPN can be traced back to Fraser’s lobbying work in the network’s early days. His efforts resulted in coverage growth and paved the way to making the College World Series one of ESPN’s marquee events. He created zany, one?of?a?kind promotions, such as an open-heart surgery for one “lucky” fan (redeemable in a five?year window) and the first mascot devoted to a college baseball team (the Miami Maniac). Aimed at gaining attention for his program and putting fans in the seats, his innovations achieved desired results on both fronts. Miami Hurricanes baseball became widely popular as the sport’s main draw in South Florida long before Major League Baseball expanded to the market full time.
Fraser’s biggest impact was on the field. Before the Miami Hurricanes football program became a household name, he put the school’s athletics program on the map by winning its first national championship. Fraser inherited a floundering baseball program that had no equipment or following and could pay him only as a part-time employee; he built that program into a perennial national power that made regular appearances at the College World Series. Along the way, he developed countless players into All?Americans, MLB Draft picks, and eventual Major Leaguers. While some coaches have matched his wins and championships, none compare to his trailblazing and impact on an entire sport. David Brauer traces the roots of modern-day college baseball’s success to Fraser’s work at Miami. The Wizard of College Baseball is an inspirational and entertaining reflection on how one man forever changed college baseball—accelerating the sport’s growth and setting a new standard for modern college baseball well ahead of his time.
No one changed the landscape of college baseball like Ron Fraser. The sport enjoyed little national interest until Fraser arrived at the University of Miami in 1963 and built his program into an entertainment empire and a national champion. Nationally televised college baseball games on ESPN can be traced back to Fraser’s lobbying work in the network’s early days. His efforts resulted in coverage growth and paved the way to making the College World Series one of ESPN’s marquee events. He created zany, one?of?a?kind promotions, such as an open-heart surgery for one “lucky” fan (redeemable in a five?year window) and the first mascot devoted to a college baseball team (the Miami Maniac). Aimed at gaining attention for his program and putting fans in the seats, his innovations achieved desired results on both fronts. Miami Hurricanes baseball became widely popular as the sport’s main draw in South Florida long before Major League Baseball expanded to the market full time.
Fraser’s biggest impact was on the field. Before the Miami Hurricanes football program became a household name, he put the school’s athletics program on the map by winning its first national championship. Fraser inherited a floundering baseball program that had no equipment or following and could pay him only as a part-time employee; he built that program into a perennial national power that made regular appearances at the College World Series. Along the way, he developed countless players into All?Americans, MLB Draft picks, and eventual Major Leaguers. While some coaches have matched his wins and championships, none compare to his trailblazing and impact on an entire sport. David Brauer traces the roots of modern-day college baseball’s success to Fraser’s work at Miami. The Wizard of College Baseball is an inspirational and entertaining reflection on how one man forever changed college baseball—accelerating the sport’s growth and setting a new standard for modern college baseball well ahead of his time.
"Brilliant and Fantastic. . . . This is one of the best books I have read in many years. It is informative and delightful for this Central Illinois baseball fan. I have new respect for Hurricanes baseball."—Tom Knuppel, tomknuppel.com
Table of Contents:
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Early Days at Miami
2. Progress
3. Omaha
4. Business Decision
5. Roaring Eighties
6. End of an Era
7. International Influence
8. Coaching Wisdom
9. College Baseball Trailblazer
10. Professional Baseball
11. Community and University Impact
12. Player Mentor
13. Personal Life
Appendix
Note on Sources
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
1. Early Days at Miami
2. Progress
3. Omaha
4. Business Decision
5. Roaring Eighties
6. End of an Era
7. International Influence
8. Coaching Wisdom
9. College Baseball Trailblazer
10. Professional Baseball
11. Community and University Impact
12. Player Mentor
13. Personal Life
Appendix
Note on Sources
Bibliography
