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East Carolina Pirates baseball

East Carolina Pirates baseball

FieldValue
current2026 East Carolina Pirates baseball team
nameEast Carolina Pirates baseball
founded1907
logoEast Carolina Pirates wordmark.svg
logo_size200
universityEast Carolina University
conferenceThe American
locationGreenville, North Carolina
coachCliff Godwin
tenure12th
stadiumClark–LeClair Stadium
capacity5,000
nicknamePirates
regional_champion2001, 2004, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022
ncaa_tourneys1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
conference_tournamentECAC: 1982, 1984
CAA: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000
C-USA: 2002
American: 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025
conference_championNorth State: 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961
SoCon: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977
ECAC: 1984, 1985
CAA: 1986, 1990, 2001
C-USA: 2004, 2009
American: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

CAA: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000 C-USA: 2002 American: 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025 SoCon: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977 ECAC: 1984, 1985 CAA: 1986, 1990, 2001 C-USA: 2004, 2009 American: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

The East Carolina Pirates baseball team is an intercollegiate baseball team representing East Carolina University in NCAA Division I college baseball and participates as a full member of the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates have made regular appearances in the NCAA tournament. As of 2025, they have the most NCAA tournament appearances without a College World Series appearance.

The Pirates are coached by Cliff Godwin and play their home games at Clark-LeClair Stadium, named after donor and alumnus Bill Clark and former coach Keith LeClair. Every year, the Pirates host a baseball tournament in Greenville in honor of Coach LeClair called the Keith LeClair Classic.

History

Conference

  • 1948–1962: North State
  • 1963–1965: Independent
  • 1966–1977: Southern Conference
  • 1978–1981: Independent
  • 1982–1985: Eastern College Athletic Conference
  • 1986–2001: Colonial Athletic Association
  • 2002–2014: Conference USA
  • 2015–present: American Athletic Conference

Head coaches

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1932R.C. Deal11-5-0.167
1933Kenneth Beatty13-3-0.500
1934A. D. Frank15-8-0.385
1935Doc Mathis17-7-1.500
1936–1938Bo Farley3 (4)32-11-3.728
1939Gordon Gilbert16-5-0.545
1940Bo Farley1 (4)5-4-1.550
1941-1942John Christenbury213-11-0.542
1946Earl Smith17-4-0.636
1947John Cameron111-7-0.611
1948James Johnson15-10-1.344
1949–1953Jack Boone549-39-1.556
1954–1962James Mallory9 (10)146-52-0.737
1963–1972Earl Smith10186-102-2.645
1973James Mallory1 (10)16-8-0.667
1974–1976George Williams356-32-0.636
1977–1979Monte Little382-49-0.626
1980–1984Hal Baird5145-66-1.686
1985–1997Gary Overton13427-237-1.643
1998–2002Keith LeClair5212-96-1.688
2003–2005Randy Mazey3120-66-1.644
2006–2014Billy Godwin9317-214-1.597
2015–presentCliff Godwin11432-214-1.668
Totals21 coaches91 seasons2283–1250–15.646

** 1943–1945 No Games Played*

Stadium

Main article: Clark-LeClair Stadium

Clark-LeClair Stadium

Clark-LeClair Stadium is the home of Pirate baseball at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. The stadium was named after Pirate alumnus and key contributor Bill Clark and former Pirate skipper Keith LeClair.

The stadium has 3,000 Stadium bleacher seats, plus space for several thousand more spectators in "The Jungle". There are concession and restroom facilities at the stadium plus a family picnic area. Amenities include the Pirate Club fundraising and hospitality suite and a private suite for the LeClair family.

The stadium is home to the ECU Invitational and the Keith LeClair Classic.

Year-by-year results

National ChampionsCollege World Series berthNCAA Tournament berthConference Tournament ChampionsConference/Division Regular Season Champions
SeasonHead coachConferenceSeason resultsTournament resultsFinal pollOverallConferenceConferencePostseasonBACBCoachesWinsLossesTies%WinsLossesTies%Finish
East Carolina Piratescolor=white}}"East Carolina Pirates
1932R. C. DealIndependent150
1933Kenneth Beatty330
1934A. D. Frank580
1935Doc Mathis771
1936Bo Farley641
1937942
19381730
1939Gordon Gilbert650
1940Bo Farley541
1941John Christenbury640
1942770
1943No games played
1944
1945
1946Earl SmithIndependent740
1947John Cameron1170
1948James JohnsonNorth State5101371
1949Jack Boone680460
1950771
195111100
1952990
19531650
1954James Mallory1570
195520501st
195618501st
19571670
19581060
195916301st
196017501st
196123401st NAIA National Championship
196211100
1963Earl SmithIndependent2561 NAIA World Series
19641870 District 3 Playoffs23
19651670
1966Southern Conference1710012301st District 3 Playoffs28
196723601330T-1st23
19682111110101st District 3 Playoffs19
1969151407703rd
19702013013601st District 3 Playoffs25
1971121807504th
19721910011502nd
1973James Mallory16801040T-2nd
1974George Williams1713012201st District 3 Playoffs25
1975171209503rd
197622707604th
1977Monte Little3012015101st Atlantic Regional
1978Independent27180
197925190
1980Hal Baird2870 Northeast Regional
198128150
1982ECAC South341406303rd1st East Regional
198321171231
1984341307201st1st South I Regional20
1985Gary Overton3214012401st
1986CAA401001350T-1st
1987261708704th1st Atlantic Regional
198833140860T-2nd
19893711012302nd1st East Regional
1990479011201st1st Atlantic Regional
1991302419803rd1st Midwest Regional
19922524071005th
19934119011703rd1st Atlantic Regional
1994361808905th
19952926051306th
199622240101105th
19972927010110T-4th
1998Keith LeClair3029010110T-4th
19994616014602nd1st Baton Rouge Regional181923
2000461801470T-1st1st Columbia Regional29
20014713019201st Kinston Super Regional111111
2002C-USA43201161316th1st Clemson Super Regional24
2003Randy Mazey34271171305th Atlanta Regional
20045113025501st Columbia Super Regional8139
200535260181204th Tempe Regional
2006Billy Godwin33260101406th
20074023014902nd2nd Chapel Hill Regional
200842210131105th Conway Regional
20094620017701st Chapel Hill Super Regional171615
201015270111306th
201141210141003rd Charlottesville Regional25
201236241131016th Chapel Hill Regional
201331260141003rd
201433260161406th
2015Cliff GodwinAAC4022015902nd1st Coral Gables Regional
20163823115812nd Lubbock Super Regional151516
20173228071708th
20184418014100T-3rd1st Greenville Regional232923
20194718020401st Louisville Super Regional121512
20201340000 CancelledCancelled24
20214417020801st Nashville Super Regional131213
20224621020401st1st Greenville Super Regional171312
20234719018601st2nd Charlottesville Regional242623
20244617019801st Greenville Regional1616
20253527013140T-5th1st Conway Regional
Total2,2831,25015

Notes

NAIA tournament

In 1961, the ECU Pirates won the NAIA World Series championship to claim East Carolina's first national championship in baseball. The East Carolina Pirates won 13–7 over the Sacramento State Hornets. Since then, the Pirates have yet to make it to a national championship.

NCAA tournament

  • The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947.
  • The format of the tournament has changed through the years.
YearRecordPctNotes
19641–2.333Lost to North Carolina in the District 3 Regional.
19660–2.000Lost to North Carolina in the District 3 Regional.
19681–2.333Lost to Florida State in the District 3 Regional.
19700–2.000Lost to Mississippi State in the District 3 Regional.
19740–2.000Lost to South Carolina in the District 3 Regional.
19770–2.000Lost to South Carolina in the Atlantic Regional.
19800–2.000Lost to Maine in the Northeast Regional.
19821–2.333Lost to West Virginia in the East Regional.
19842–2.500Lost to South Alabama in the South Regional.
19870–2.000Lost to Central Michigan in the Atlantic Regional.
19890–2.000Lost to Villanova in the East Regional.
19901–2.333Lost to N.C. State in the East Regional.
19911–2.333Lost to Ohio State in the Midwest Regional.
19931–2.333Lost to Ohio State in the Atlantic Regional.
19992–2.500Lost to LSU in the Baton Rouge Regional.
20002–2.500Lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in the Lafayette Regional.
20013–2.600Won Wilson Regional; Lost to Tennessee in the Kinston Super Regional.
20022–2.500Lost to Clemson in the Clemson Regional.
20031–2.333Lost to Stetson in the Atlanta Regional.
20043–2.600Won Kinston Regional; Lost to South Carolina in the Columbia Super Regional.
20050–2.000Lost to UNLV in the Tempe Regional.
20071–2.333Lost to Western Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional.
20082–2.500Lost to Coastal Carolina in the Conway Regional.
20094–3.571Won Greenville Regional; Lost to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.
20112–2.500Lost to UVA in the Charlottesville Regional Final.
20121–2.333Lost to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional.
20150–2.000Lost to FIU in the Coral Gables Regional.
20164–2.667Won Charlottesville Regional; Lost to Texas Tech in the Lubbock Super Regional.
20181–2.333Lost to UNCW in the Greenville Regional.
20194–3.571Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Louisville in the Louisville Super Regional.
20213–2.600Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Vanderbilt in the Nashville Super Regional.
20224–3.571Won Greenville Regional; Lost to Texas in the Greenville Super Regional.
20232–2.500Lost to Virginia in Charlottesville Regional.
20243–2.600Lost to Evansville in Greenville Regional.
20252-2.500Lost to Coastal Carolina in Conway Regional.
Total54–73.425

Pirates in the Major Leagues

  • Over the 5-year tenure of current head coach Cliff Godwin, 14 Pirates have been drafted.
  • Since the MLB draft began in 1965, 3 Pirates have been selected in the first round: Pat Watkins was selected 32nd in 1993, Jeff Hoffman was selected 9th in 2014, and Trey Yesavage was selected 20th in 2024.
  • A total of 22 Pirates have gone on to play in the MLB, 4 of which are active players.
AthleteYears in MLBMLB teams
Bill Holland1937Washington Senators
Bunky Stewart1952–1956Washington Senators
Tim Talton1966–1967Kansas City Athletics
Floyd Wicker1968–1971St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants
Vince Colbert1970–1972Cleveland Indians
Tommy Toms1975–1977San Francisco Giants
Butch Davis1983–1984, 1987–1989, 1991, 1993–1994Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers
Bob Patterson1985–1987, 1989–1998San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, California Angels, Chicago Cubs
Bob Davidson1989New York Yankees
Mike Christopher1991–1993, 1995–1996Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers
Pat Watkins1997–1999Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies
Chad Tracy2004–2010, 2012–2013Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals
Sam Narron2004Texas Rangers
Seth Maness2013–2017St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals
Chris Heston2014–2017San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins
Mike Wright2015–2021Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox
Shawn Armstrong2015–presentCleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers
Jeff Hoffman2016–presentColorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays
Jharel Cotton2016–2017, 2021–2022Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants
Jack Reinheimer2017–2018Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets
Alec Burleson2022–presentSt. Louis Cardinals
Gavin Williams2023–presentCleveland Guardians
Connor Norby2024–presentBaltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins
Trey Yesavage2025-presentToronto Blue Jays

References

References

  1. "CONFERENCE CAROLINAS HISTORY (THROUGH 2021-22)".
  2. "East Carolina 2025 Baseball Record Book". ECU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
  3. "Conference Carolinas History & Roots".
  4. (April 30, 1932). "WHO'S WHO IN BASEBALL". The Teco Echo.
  5. (May 14, 1932). "Nothing But Co-eds—REVIEW OF YEAR'S ACTIVITIES". The Teco Echo.
  6. (May 3, 1933). "BASEBALL SEASON REVIEWED". The Teco Echo.
  7. Whitfield, Lloyd. (May 11, 1951). "Baseball Has Come Long Way At College". East Carolina Teachers College.
  8. Willard, George S. Jr.. (May 19, 1934). "Action Photo of Successful Pirates - East Carolina College 1934 Baseball Squad". East Carolina Teachers College.
  9. Willard, George S. Jr.. (May 30, 1934). "Sports Comments". East Carolina Teachers College.
  10. (May 12, 1936). "College Secures Bo Farley As Baseball Coach For Season". East Carolina Teachers College.
  11. Whitfield, Lloyd. (May 11, 1951). "Baseball Has Come Long Way At College". East Carolina Teachers College.
  12. (March 12, 1936). "College Secures Bo Farley As Baseball Coach For Season". East Carolina Teachers College.
  13. . (1940). ["The Tecoan 1940"](https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15345). *The Lassiter Press, Inc.*.
  14. (March 8, 1940). "Coach Farley Launches First Practice Paces". The Teco Echo.
  15. . (May 22, 1942). ["Bucs End Athletic Season"](https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/37907). *The Teco Echo*.
  16. Lloyd Whitfield. (May 11, 1951). "Baseball Has Come Long Way At College—Intercollegiate Sports Begin Decline". The Teco Echo.
  17. (August 21, 1946). "Photo 1946 Pirate Baseball Team". The Teco Echo.
  18. (May 3, 1946). "Sports Of All Kinds Come Back To E.C.T.C.". The Teco Echo.
  19. (May 2, 1947). "Coach John Cameron Boasts Varied Career In Athletics". The Teco Echo.
  20. (April 18, 1947). "Buccaneers To Battle NATTC In Contest At Norfolk Today". The Teco Echo.
  21. (March 5, 1948). "Baseball Practice Now Underway At East Carolina". The Teco Echo.
  22. (April 2, 1948). "Last Year's Baseballers Back For Rugged 23 Game Schedule". The Teco Echo.
  23. (March 25, 1949). "Diamond Season Opens With Two Games Here". The Teco Echo.
  24. Davis, Jack. (June 23, 1949). "Sports Review". The Teco Echo.
  25. "LEWIS FIELD AT CLARK-LeCLAIR STADIUM". ECU Athletics.
  26. "2007 ECU Invitational". ECU Athletics.
  27. "6th Annual Keith LeClair Classic". ECU Athletics.
  28. "2024 East Carolina Baseball Record Book".
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