1981 College Baseball All-America Team
An All-American team is an honorary sports team composed of the best amateur players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not compete together as a unit, the term is used in U.S. team sports to refer to players who are selected by members of the national media. Walter Camp selected the first All-America team in the early days of American football in 1889.[1]
The NCAA recognizes two different All-America selectors for the 1981 college baseball season: the American Baseball Coaches Association (since 1947) and Baseball America (since 1981).[2]
Key
All-Americans
Position |
Name |
School |
ABCA |
BA |
Notes |
Pitcher | Tony Arnold | Texas | Y | Y | 21 consecutive wins (8th in Division I)[4] |
Pitcher | Neal Heaton (2) ♦ | Miami | Y | Y | BA Pitcher of the Year,[2] 1990 NL All-Star,[5] 23 strikeouts vs. Indiana State Sycamores (March 10, 1981)(T-3rd in Division I)[4] |
Pitcher | Kendall Carter | Arizona State | — | Y | 47 career wins (T-5th in Division I),[4] 19 wins in a single season (1981) (T-2nd in Division I)[4] |
Pitcher | Frank Viola | St. John's | — | Y | 1988 Cy Young Award,[6] 3x MLB All-Star[6] |
Catcher | Tom Nieto | Oral Roberts | Y | Y | |
First baseman | Phil Stephenson ♦ | Wichita State | Y | Y | 420 career runs (Division I record),[4] 418 career hits (Division I record),[4] 730 total bases (Division I record),[4] 206 career SB (Division I record),[4] 300 career BB (Division I record),[4] 91 career doubles (3rd in Division I),[4] 322 career RBI (3rd in Division I)[4] |
Second baseman | Byron Horn | Eastern Michigan | Y | — | |
Second baseman | Jeff Ronk | Cal | — | Y | |
Third baseman | Mike Sodders | Arizona State | Y | Y | BA POY[2] |
Shortstop | Dan Davidsmeier | USC | Y | — | |
Shortstop | Bobby Meacham | San Diego State | Y | — | |
Outfielder | Mike Fuentes (2) | Florida State State | Y | Y | |
Outfielder | Joe Carter ♦ | Wichita State | — | Y | 5x MLB All-Star,[7] 2x Silver Slugger Award winner,[7] 1992 & 1993 World Series Champion,[7] 312 RBI (4th in Division I),[4] 640 career total bases (8th in Division I).[4] 430 career batting average (15th in Division I)[4] |
Outfielder | John Christensen | Cal State Fullerton | — | Y | |
Outfielder | Mark Gillaspie | Mississippi State | Y | — | |
Outfielder | Kevin Romine | Arizona State | Y | — | |
Designated hitter | Phil Strom | Utah | Y | — | |
Designated hitter | Franklin Stubbs | Virginia Tech | — | Y | |
See also
References