ABILENE – Last weekend, the ACU baseball program gathered together at Wildcat Stadium for a celebration of America's Pastime. The team recognized Wildcats of the past and the present as it embarks on the 2020 campaign. Close to 250 people showed up for a wonderful gathering at the First Pitch Dinner to meet the current team, retire a great, and kick off another wonderful year of baseball.
The No. 13 will forever be enshrined at ACU. The great Bill Gilbreth had hit lucky number retired and will have it on the outfield wall at Crutcher Scott Field. Over 40 of his former teammates and players were in attendance to see him honored. Head coach Rick McCarty addressed the fans prior to the reveal of the jersey retirement.
"What a night to kick off the 2020 season for our program here at ACU," said McCarty. "It was great to see so many alumni back on campus to show unity and support for Bill Gilbreth. He exemplifies what we want a Wildcat Baseball player to be and we are so excited to see his number on the wall in left-center field. It will serve as a great reminder to our guys each day what the standard is both on and off the field here at Abilene Christian University."
Baseball alumni from the 1960s, 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s were all in attendance, and the night consisted of dinner, meeting the current team, the jersey retirement, and a question and answer segment with Dr. Gary McCaleb and the great Bill Gilbreth. They discussed the history of the program and the decision to bring baseball back to ACU in the 90's.
"One of the biggest takeaways I wanted from the evening was to connect the past to the present, which we did," McCarty said. "I love the story of ACU baseball, and I can't wait to make everyone in this community proud in 2020 and beyond."
