My team:

C Lehmann (but could have taken J. Ruchti for his gun)
1B Savery
2B Buchanan
SS Thames
3B Rendon
OF Berkman, Cruz Jr., Crosby
SP Niemann, Townsend, Baugh
Closer Matt Anderson

Favorite player of all time...the 2003 team was full of them. I always loved Wade Townsend's attitude on the mound so I'll go with him.

Fond memories...

The after party in 2003 in downtown Omaha was special.

When we eliminated Texas in 2003, everybody went back to the team hotel and the bar was closing. Vinny Sinisi (I believe) talked them into opening it back up. Frankie B. Mandola got a beer, climbed up on the bar, and the place went dead silent as he toasted simply: "Rice 5, ******** 4" ...and the place erupted.

First time I saw Berkman hit in person and he launched one that easily went over the houses on University. That's when I knew he was special. Only he and Rendon hit HR that looked like THAT.

The UH game at Cougar Field in 2010 when we took a 7-0 lead in the first inning, I don't think there were any outs, and then Rendon hit a grand slam. Nail in the coffin for R. Noble.

The 2002 Super Regional against LSU. Herce and Crowder. Amazing.

I didn't have a ticket for game 3 against Stanford...walked up to the ticket window the morning of the game (Monday) and got 3 seats in the second row behind the Rice on deck circle. I was so close to the dogpile that I felt like I was in it.

All great posts. I won't come up with a team but I'll add one moment that basically wasn't mentioned. The 1995 regional remains one of my favorite moments. For one thing, I was instrumental in us getting a bid to begin with (back then, the postseason featured only 48 teams and I spent a ton of man-hours faxing the various members of the NCAA committee the reasons why Rice deserved a bid. I did it so much Kelly Robinson (the baseball SID at Texas Tech) finally called me up and said enough - Rice is in (he had gotten the word from his baseball coach we finally got our first regional bid).

But then Rice went there and begin its 23-season streak of not just getting to the postseason, but generally out-playing our seed. We were the 4 seed in Baton Rouge and started off with a win over #3 James Madison before posting back-to-back upsets over LSU to knock them out of their own regional. We couldn't get it done against #1 Fullerton but the memory of Jose Cruz Jr., Mark Quinn, Jacques Landry, Jeff Venghaus and Patrick Hallmark hitting homer after homer after homer out there was a ton of fun (Lance Berkman didn't join in the fun I don't believe but he hit great there too).

Here are some of my favorite WG-era Rice baseball moments that are not likely to be mentioned by the many others who've seen many more Rice games than me:

> Watching Rice win the 1999 WAC title @Fresno State by whupping TCU, 18-3 (and I won the spectators' "bingo" WAC swag prize package, with some help by those sitting near me).

> Seeing Rice load the bases at San Jose State by placing three consecutive perfect bunts into the lush Municipal Stadium infield grass along the 3rd base line.

> Getting OG's and many team members' signatures on a foul ball that my son and I got at a San Jose State game. (Wish I knew where I put that ball.)

> Michael Ratterree beginning his Rice career with a no-doubt HR over the Sunken Diamond left field fence @Stanford.

And surely seen by many, but maybe it occurred too often to stand out ... but since I only saw it 2-3 times: Anthony Rendon charging at light speed to a bunt or slow roller/bouncer hit in front of him and with a breathtaking in-one-motion pickup and throw, nailing the runner at first.

Hearing Machinehead being played at Reckling and just knowing that Austin Davis would deliver another key hit. He, the Gritman and CSC have always been our favorite players...

How about the time the Baker 13 came to Cameron Field moments after a discouraging Rice loss on a Friday night (to Baylor, I think). As Coach Graham had the team gathered on the outfield grass for a post-game teaching moment, the shaving cream runners ran in through a gate behind third base, circled the bases, and then ran out through the same gate.

Graham was later quoted with a priceless summary comparing the Baker 13's performance to that of the Rice team -- and not favorably toward the latter.

(04-26-2018 06:13 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  How about the time the Baker 13 came to Cameron Field moments after a discouraging Rice loss on a Friday night (to Baylor, I think). As Coach Graham had the team gathered on the outfield grass for a post-game teaching moment, the shaving cream runners ran in through a gate behind third base, circled the bases, and then ran out through the same gate.

Graham was later quoted with a priceless summary comparing the Baker 13's performance to that of the Rice team -- and not favorably toward the latter.

1996 vs Baylor. Coach Graham:

Quote:"Hey, they ran the bases better than we did, they provided more entertainment for the fans than we did, and they showed more balls."

https://www.si.com/vault/1999/04/19/2596...ncaa-title

NCAA playing 2003 CWS finals on their Twitter feed tonight

(04-26-2018 04:37 PM)Baconator Wrote:  The UH game at Cougar Field in 2010 when we took a 7-0 lead in the first inning, I don't think there were any outs, and then Rendon hit a grand slam. Nail in the coffin for R. Noble

That was a dangeous day to be in the McD’s parking lot across the street from the left field fence.

(04-26-2018 09:57 PM)grol Wrote:  NCAA playing 2003 CWS finals on their Twitter feed tonight

I became a student at Rice after that run, and this was the first time I was able to watch that whole game. It at the same time gives me a feeling of immense pride and a feeling of longing, wishing I knew what it was like to have a team like that. Man, how it must have felt to see Rice do that. And that Kolkhorst catch...

(04-26-2018 10:06 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 04:37 PM)Baconator Wrote:  The UH game at Cougar Field in 2010 when we took a 7-0 lead in the first inning, I don't think there were any outs, and then Rendon hit a grand slam. Nail in the coffin for R. Noble

That was a dangeous day to be in the McD’s parking lot across the street from the left field fence.

One the few times I went to UH to watch a Rice sporting event, that ball easily cleared the street into the McDs lot. Rendon has the best hands of anyone I’ve ever watched. If I remember correctly we never lost to UH in baseball when I was in school, the middle of a 25 game streak or so.

(04-26-2018 10:06 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 04:37 PM)Baconator Wrote:  The UH game at Cougar Field in 2010 when we took a 7-0 lead in the first inning, I don't think there were any outs, and then Rendon hit a grand slam. Nail in the coffin for R. Noble

That was a dangeous day to be in the McD’s parking lot across the street from the left field fence.

(04-26-2018 03:39 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 01:57 PM)davidw Wrote:  how about the full speed leaping catch at the top of the wall, to deny Stanford a run scoring triple (at least) in the CWS - Kolkhorst ?

AKA The Catch

got it; and it was a helluva catch. he bounced off the wall after he caught it, iirc.

(04-27-2018 08:46 AM)davidw Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 03:39 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 01:57 PM)davidw Wrote:  how about the full speed leaping catch at the top of the wall, to deny Stanford a run scoring triple (at least) in the CWS - Kolkhorst ?

AKA The Catch

got it; and

it was a helluva catch. he bounced off the wall after he caught it, iirc.

i think he injured himself, but with true grit, stayed and played.

One thing I remember vividly has not been mentioned. We were hosting LSU in the 2002 Super Regional. It was not common to find college baseball on tv at that time, even with cable. For some reason this one was on. It was obvious that this was an LSU production with their announcers, but somehow it was picked up on cable in Houston. I was watching the first game and the announcers were talking about how nice the Rice facility was. As the camera panned around the outfield showing the buildings in the medical center, one of the announcers, in a pure Gomer Pyle voice, said "Goooooolly, look how huge downtown Houston is."

(04-27-2018 12:33 AM)ricedtea Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 09:57 PM)grol Wrote:  NCAA playing 2003 CWS finals on their Twitter feed tonight

I became a student at Rice after that run, and this was the first time I was able to watch that whole game. It at the same time gives me a feeling of immense pride and a feeling of longing, wishing I knew what it was like to have a team like that. Man, how it must have felt to see Rice do that. And that Kolkhorst catch...

My parents retired to Houston in 1996. In the spring of '97, I told my dad, also a Rice alum, that he needed to go to a game with me and watch this Berkman guy. I remember sitting in the old bleacher seats with him and talking up switch-hitting Berkman when he banged one out. My dad said "bet he can't do that on the other side, though." Next trip to the plate, he did just that. "Well, I'll be dipped...!" He bought season tickets and remained a season ticket holder the rest of his life.

One of my fondest memories was watching a weeknight game early in the season in 2003. It was a gorgeous evening in a gorgeous new park, and the team was on quite a streak. After a particularly sterling defensive play, I turned to my dad and said "something very special is happening. There is something special about this team." He agreed.

I lost my dad 2 years ago. Walking into that stadium that first game without him was a little emotional for me. To me, Wayne Graham Baseball will always be many hours of quality time spent with him, enjoying some outstanding baseball.

(04-26-2018 04:37 PM)Baconator Wrote:  The UH game at Cougar Field in 2010 when we took a 7-0 lead in the first inning, I don't think there were any outs, and then Rendon hit a grand slam. Nail in the coffin for R. Noble.

.

Remember we were are sitting right behind the Rice dugout,( great view of the McD's) and the look Rendon gave us after that G.S. a very Jordonesque smirk and shrug.

And in the Rendon theme another memory is his first game where we all said to one another he looked like Major League 3b already

(04-26-2018 07:12 PM)WestGrayStreetOwl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 06:13 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  How about the time the Baker 13 came to Cameron Field moments after a discouraging Rice loss on a Friday night (to Baylor, I think). As Coach Graham had the team gathered on the outfield grass for a post-game teaching moment, the shaving cream runners ran in through a gate behind third base, circled the bases, and then ran out through the same gate.

Graham was later quoted with a priceless summary comparing the Baker 13's performance to that of the Rice team -- and not favorably toward the latter.

1996 vs Baylor. Coach Graham:

Quote:"Hey, they ran the bases better than we did, they provided more entertainment for the fans than we did, and they showed more balls."

https://www.si.com/vault/1999/04/19/2596...ncaa-title

Great find -- thanks for digging it up and posting it.

(04-27-2018 08:52 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-27-2018 08:46 AM)davidw Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 03:39 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 01:57 PM)davidw Wrote:  how about the full speed leaping catch at the top of the wall, to deny Stanford a run scoring triple (at least) in the CWS - Kolkhorst ?

AKA The Catch

got it; and

it was a helluva catch. he bounced off the wall after he caught it, iirc.

i think he injured himself, but with true grit, stayed and played.

I thought he was already injured when he made the catch.

(04-27-2018 02:28 PM)Seventyniner Wrote:  

(04-27-2018 08:52 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-27-2018 08:46 AM)davidw Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 03:39 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 01:57 PM)davidw Wrote:  how about the full speed leaping catch at the top of the wall, to deny Stanford a run scoring triple (at least) in the CWS - Kolkhorst ?

AKA The Catch

got it; and

it was a helluva catch. he bounced off the wall after he caught it, iirc.

i think he injured himself, but with true grit, stayed and played.

I thought he was already injured when he made the catch.

That sounds right: on an attempt to catch a foul ball near the left-field pitcher's mound.

(04-27-2018 08:46 AM)davidw Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 03:39 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-26-2018 01:57 PM)davidw Wrote:  how about the full speed leaping catch at the top of the wall, to deny Stanford a run scoring triple (at least) in the CWS - Kolkhorst ?

AKA The Catch

got it; and it was a helluva catch. he bounced off the wall after he caught it, iirc.

Speaking of catches, does anyone remember the full-speed, leaping catch that Jason Gray made in center field at Reckling that put a big dent in the metal fence? The dent stayed there for years.