Jeff Baker Earns Spot On USA Baseball National Team

June 19, 2001

Tuscon, AZ – Clemson third baseman Jeff Baker is one of 22 collegiate players that has been selected for the 2001 USA Baseball National Team following four days of trials in Tucson, AZ. The USA National Team was selected from a pool of 29 players.

Baker had one of the most productive seasons in school history from the plate as he belted 23 home runs in becoming a first-team Louisville Slugger All-American as selected by Collegiate Baseball. The sophomore set school marks for the most home runs after two seasons (34) and most multi-homer games in a season (five) and career (seven) while driving in an ACC-best 75 RBIs. He was a first-team All-ACC honoree, a first-team ABCA All-Atlantic Region selection, a second team All-American by Baseball Weekly, The Sporting News and the ABCA.

The sophomore from Woodbridge, VA was a member of the 1997 USA Youth National Team that finished fifth at the IBA World Youth Championships in Taipei, Taiwan. He was also a member of the 1999 USA Junior National Team that won the gold medal at the IBA World Junior Championships in Kaohsiung China and in 2000 helped led the USA National Team to the gold medal at the Honkbal Classic in Holland.

Team USA will play 29 more games on the Red, White and Blue Summer Tour, beginning on Friday with the 30th annual USA vs Japan Collegiate All-Star Series, which this year will be played in Japan. The team began its summer tour Monday night with a 5-1 vcitory over the Chicago Cubs rookie level affiliate in Mesa, AZ. The full roster is below:

Florida’s Pat McMahon will serve as the head coach for Team USA. He will be assisted by Dusty Rhodes of North Florida, Paul Stevens of Northwestern, and Bob Todd of Ohio State. For a complete Team USA summer schedule, log on to www.usabaseball.com.