Saint Louis -- In 2006-07, the Missouri Valley Conference celebrates a century of excellence as the nation’s second-oldest NCAA Division I conference begins its second centennial as a leader in college athletics. As a part of the Centennial Celebration, The Valley is naming all-centennial teams for each of the Valley’s sponsored sports, including baseball.

The list of the top players and all-time greatest coach was determined through online fan voting (www.mvc100.org), with input from a centennial committee. More than 500 votes were cast for baseball while all nine of the current league institutions have at least two representatives on the team.  Fans voted for players from 1975-present, while a centennial committee recognized players who were in the league prior to 1975 (see page three of release for The Early Years).

Joe Carter of Wichita State was the top vote-getter .  The league’s Player of the Year award is named after the former Shocker.  Gene Stephenson of Wichita State was voted the all-time greatest coach in MVC Baseball history, which includes an historic run to an NCAA National Championship in 1989.

Included in the list are former and current Major League Baseball greats, members of institutional as well as the Valley Hall of Fame and national collegeiate players of the year in baseball.

In the league’s first 99 seasons, inclusive of all MVC-sponsored sports, 32 members combined for 27 national championships, while 55 Valley student-athletes captured NCAA individual titles. In addition, Valley student-athletes and coaches earned 48 National Player or Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports. And the league had a myriad of student-athletes who collected All-America honors and earned national academic distinction in The Valley’s first century.

BASEBALL: Sponsored 1947 to present.  While Drake played baseball in the MVC from 1947-1974, the institution currently does not sponsor baseball.  Current schools in the league that do sponsor baseball include Bradley, Creighton, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Wichita State.  Past members include Cincinnati (1957-1970); Detroit (1949-1957); Houston (1951-1960);  Louisville (1963-1975); Memphis State (1967-1973); New Mexico State (1971-1983);Oklahoma A&M (1947-1957); Saint Louis (1947-1974); Tulsa (1948-1980); Washington (1947);  West Texas State (1971-72).

MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE BASEBALL ALL-CENTENNIAL TEAM
As Selected by Valley Fans
COACH  
Gene Stephenson, Wichita State 
 - 11-time MVC Coach of the Year (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 & 1998); 1,552-511-3 record prior to 2007; 3-time NCAA Coach of the Year (1982, 1989, 1993); career winning percentage highest among active DI coaches; College World Series Champion (1989); seven CWS appearances (1982, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993 & 1996); career wins rank second-best among active DI coaches. 

PLAYERS
FIRST BASE    
Ryan Howard, Missouri State 
1999 Freshman of the Year; MLB NL Rookie of the Year; MLB NL MVP
Phil Stephenson, Wichita State
 - 3-time first team all-MVC (1980, 1981, 1982); 1982 Player of the Year; National Player of the Year
Erik Lis, Evansville
 - first team all-MVC (2005)
Steve Hacker, Missouri State
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (1994 & 1995); Led the nation in home runs and slugging percentage in 1995.
Jason Hart, Missouri State
 - first team all-MVC (1998); All-American (1998) Freshman All-American (1996); two-time all-tourney pick

SECOND BASE
Blake Blasi, Wichita State
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (2000 & 2001); all-tournament selections same years; 2000 Player of the Year
Mitch Hannahs, Indiana State
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (1987 & 1989); all-tournament selection (1987 & 1989)
Kevin Hooper, Wichita State 
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (1998 & 1999); second team all-MVC (1997); second team All-American by the NCBWA in 1998; first team All-American selection by College Baseball Insider in 1999.
Wallace, Johnson, Indiana State
 - first team all-MVC (1979); led the league in batting average and stolen bases same year
Tony Roth, Creighton
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (2004 & 2005); all-tournament selection (2005); Freshman of the Year (2002)

CATCHER
Toby Barnett, Southern Illinois
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (2002 & 2003); 2002 Newcomer of the Year
Doug Mirabelli, Wichita State
 - 2-time first-team all-MVC (1991 & 1992); all-tournament selection same years
Scott Servais, Creighton
 - first team all-MVC (1988)
Eric Wedge, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1989); all-tournament selection (1987 & 1988); 1989 Player of the Year

THIRD BASE
Casey Blake, Wichita State
 - 3-time first team all-MVC (1994, 1995, 1996); 1996 Player of the Year
Zach Daeges, Creighton
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (2005 & 2006)
Koyie Hill, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (2000); all-tournament team selection same year
Jerry Hairston, Southern Illinois
 - 1996 Freshman of the Year

SHORTSTOP
Jamey Carroll, Evansville
 - first team all-MVC (1996)
Wes Carroll, Evansville
 - first team all-MVC (2001); two-time honorable mention all-MVC selection (1999 and 2000), and a freshman All-America pick in 1998
Mike Lansing, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC 1989; all-tournament team selection (1988)
Bill Mueller, Missouri State
 - first team all-MVC (1993); 1993 Player of the Year
Zach Sorensen, Wichita State
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (1997 & 1998); all-tournament selection (1998)

UTILITY
Jeremy Accardo, Illinois State
 - first team all-MVC (2003/shortstop)
Ryan Brunner, Northern Iowa
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (2000/first base - 2001/outfield); 2001 Player of the Year; 1998 Freshman of the Year
PJ Finigan, Southern Illinois
 - first team all-MVC (2005/shortstop - 2005/starting pitcher); 2005 Player of the Year
Mitch Hannahs, Indiana State
 - 3-time first team all-MVC (1987 & 1989/second base - 1988/UT)
Scott Stahoviak, Creighton
 - 3-time first team all-MVC (1989 & 1990/first base - 1991/third base); 1991 MVC/National Player of the Year
Damon Sublett, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (2006/second base); 2006 Player of the Year
Travis Wyckoff, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1995/pitcher - 1996/outfield); all-tournament team selection (1996)

DESIGNATED HITTER
Tony Collins, Indiana State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1984 & 1985)
Darren Dreifort, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1992 & 1993); 1993 Pitcher of the Year; National Player of the Year
Oneri Fleita, Creighton
 - first team all-MVC (1988); 1988 Player of the Year
Drew Moffitt, Wichita State
 - 2-time first team all-MVC (2002/DH - 2004/outfield)

OUTFIELD
Adam Boeve, Northern Iowa
 - first team all-MVC (2003); Player of the Year (2003)
Dant’e Brinkley, Missouri State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (2002 & 2003)
Matt Cepicky, Missouri State
 - first team all-MVC (1999); 1999 Player of the Year; Led the nation in home runs, RBI, runs scored in 1999
Joe Carter, Wichita State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1980 & 1981); 1980 and 1981 Player of the Year
Steve Finley, Southern Illinois 
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1986 & 1987)
Carl Hall, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1994); 1994 Player of the Year
Kirby Puckett, Bradley
 - first team all-MVC (1981)
Jeff Ryan, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1998); 1998 Player of the Year
Dave Schrage, Creighton
 - first team all-MVC (1982) after leading the conference with a .400 batting average; only person to gain all-MVC accolades as a player and later earn the league’s Coach of the Year honor.
Doug Shields, Southern Illinois
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1989 & 1990); 1990 Player of the Year

STARTING PITCHERS
Brandon Baird, Wichita State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1994 7 1995)
Alan Benes, Creighton
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1992 & 1993); 1992 Pitcher of the Year
Greg Brummett, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1989)
Neal Cotts, Illinois State
 - first team all-MVC (2001)
Shane Dennis, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1994); 1994 Pitcher of the Year
Mike Drumright, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1995); 1995 Pitcher of the Year
Mike Dunne, Bradley
 - first team all-MVC (1984); 1984 Player of the Year
David Haas, Wichita State
 - 3 time first team all-MVC (1986 & 1987 & 1988)
Don Heinkel, Wichita State
 - 3 time first team all-MVC (1980 & 1981 & 1982)
Bryan Oelkers, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1982)
Mike Pelfrey, Wichita State
- 3 time first team all-MVC (2003 & 2004 & 2005); 2004 & 2005 Pitcher of the Year
Bryan Rekar, Bradley 
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1992 & 1993); 1992 Pitcher of the Year
Dan Smith, Creighton
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1989 & 1990)
Kennie Streenstra, Wichita State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1990 & 1991); 1991 Pitcher of the Year
Nic Ungs, Northern Iowa
 - first team all-MVC (2001); 2001 Pitcher of the Year
Brad Ziegler, Missouri State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (2002 & 2003)

RELIEF PITCHERS
Jaime Bluma, Wichita State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1993 & 1994)
Marc Bluma, Wichita State
 - 3 time first team all-MVC (1997 & 1998 & 1999); 1998 Pitcher of the Year
Darren Dreifort, Wichita State
 - first team all-MVC (1992 & 1993); 1993 Pitcher of the Year
Willie Glen, Evansville
 - first team all-MVC (2000)
Steve Grasley, Creighton
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (2002 & 2004)
Craig Kozlowski, Indiana State
 - 30 pitching appearances ranks seventh in MVC history; 12 saves in a season, ranks sixth in MVC; 89 appearances in career; 25 career saves ranks fifth in MVC history.
Braden Looper, Wichita State
 - 2 time first team all-MVC (1995 & 1996)
Jim Newlin, Wichita State
 - Ranks first in conference history in saves in a season (18) and appearances (38); ranks third in career saves (28); ranks sixth in career appearances (96)

THE EARLY YEARS (PRE-1975)
Lynn Alford, Memphis, Second Base
Ronnie Bennett, Oklahoma State, Outfield
Tom Borland, Oklahoma State, Pitcher
Steve Bowling, Tulsa, Outfield
Ted Bruington, Bradley, Outfield
Joe Buck, Oklahoma State, Catcher
Cliff Butcher, Tulsa, Pitcher
Gary Carter, Bradley, Outfield
Wyman Carey, Bradley, Pitcher
Jim Dix, Saint Louis, Outfield
Tom Dix, Saint Louis, Shortstop
Mike Dlugach, Memphis State, Catcher
Dave Diesselhorst, Bradley, Third Base
Larry Elsasser, Cincinnati, Outfield
Bill Faul, Cincinnati, Pitcher
Gary Fischer, Bradley, Pitcher
Joe Gegg, Saint Louis, Catcher
Carl Gentile, Saint Louis, Outfield
Donald Green, Tulsa, Third Base
Carlton “Little Pineapple” Hanta, Houston, Shortstop
Joe Hennessey, Saint Louis, Pitcher
Mike Hershberger, Cincinnati, Outfield
John Jones, Saint Louis, First Base
Frank Kellert, Oklahoma State, First Base
Pat Maginn, Cincinnati, Shortstop
John Marcum, Saint Louis, Pitcher
Mike Marrs, Tulsa, Shortstop
Gene Melchiorre, Bradley, Second Base
John Meyer, Cincinnati, Catcher
Zack Monroe, Bradley, Pitcher
Joe Napoli, Bradley, Third Base
Lee Pelligreen, Saint Louis, Outfield
Danny Porter, Tulsa, Outfield
Steve Rogers, Tulsa, Pitcher
Les Rogers, Tulsa, Third Base
Mike Sember, Tulsa, Shortstop
Jim Stevens, Tulsa, Pitcher
Jerry Storm, Cincinnati, Second Base
Jerry Tabb, Tulsa, First Base
Greg Trammell, New Mexico State, Pitcher
Bill Tuttle, Bradley, Outfield
Lee Utt, Bradley, First Base
JD Williams, Bradley, Outfield
Billy Wolff, Cincinnati, Outfield