The James Madison Dukes baseball team represents James Madison University in NCAA baseball. The "Diamond Dukes," as the team is known, have compiled a 1092-670-8 all-time record and have made the NCAA tournament eight times, most recently in 2024. The Dukes compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
Contents
History
Founded in 1970, the James Madison baseball program played at Long Field at Mauck Stadium through the end of the 2009 season. In 2010 they opened play at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park, the school's new baseball and softball complex. Billy Sample is JMU's most famous baseball alumnus, who played in 862 career major league games with the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. In the 2006 season, JMU had the top-two home run hitters in Division I. One of them, Kellen Kulbacki, placed in the top five in all three of the triple crown categories. Kulbacki received the 2006 National Player of the Year award as a sophomore. In 2008, the Dukes won their first CAA Championship defeating Towson University qualifying the team for the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball tournament hosted by North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. The Dukes also won the CAA Championship in 2011 defeating Old Dominion University qualifying the team for the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. After a 13 year drought, the Dukes returned to the NCAA Tournament again in 2024, falling to host NC State in the Raleigh Regional final.
James Madison in the NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947. The Dukes have played in 8 tournaments, advancing to the College World Series in 1983.
Notable alumni
Billy Sample (1974–1976) – former MLB outfielder for the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves; first MLB player from JMU
Lorenzo Bundy (1977–1981) – former Minor League Baseball first baseman and MLB coach; current manager of the Double-A Birmingham Barons
Dana Allison (1986–1989) – former MLB pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
Larry Mitchell (1990–1992) – former MLB pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
Mike Hubbard (1991–1992) – former MLB catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, and Texas Rangers
Rich Croushore (1992–1993) – former MLB relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, and Boston Red Sox
Scott Forster (1992–1994) – former MLB pitcher for the Montreal Expos
Mike Venafro (1992–1995) – former MLB relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Colorado Rockies
Brian McNichol (1993–1995) – former MLB pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
Travis Harper (1995–1997) – former MLB pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Rich Thompson (1998–2000) – former MLB outfielder for the Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays
Dan Meyer (2000–2002) – former MLB pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, and Florida Marlins; current pitching coach for the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians