University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 29 Days
January 21, 2016 | Baseball
TENNESSEE BASEBALL’S NO. 29
Players | Years
- Ed Agnew | 1980-81
- Ricky Burnett | 1973 (Home)
- Ryan Castellanos | 2006
- Tyler Coon | 2005
- Chris Courtright | 1986
- Jack Ervin | 1965-66
- Dan Eskew | 1987-88
- Sam Ewing | 1970 (Home)
- Rob Fordyce | 1989
- Doug Haws | 1971 (Away)
- Patrick Hicklen | 2001-04
- Charlie Hunter | 1998
- Greg Johnson | 1970-71 (Home)
- Bret Marks | 2014-15
- John Massey | 2000
- Mike McConkey | 1977 (Home)
- Stephen McCray | 2009-10
- Tom Stamps | 1982-85
- Carl Suter | 1972 (Home)
- Blake Thomas | 2012-13
- Daniel Vasquez | 2016-Present
- Nick Williams | 2011
Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 29 days away!
Throughout January and February, UTSports.com will count down the days leading up to the start of the Vols' 2016 campaign (Feb. 19) with a look back at the many players who donned each jersey No. 30 through No. 1.
For the second consecutive year, the Vols will open the season on the road, as Tennessee travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., to face Memphis for a three-game series (Feb. 19-20). The team will continue playing on the road in the Grand Canyon Classic (Feb. 26-28) before returning home to take on Cincinnati on Wednesday, March 2 in their home opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Big Orange takes to the road again for the Keith LeClair Classic in Greenville, N.C. (March 4-6), later returning to Knoxville for a home matchup against Western Kentucky on March 8. Before Tennessee baseball’s home weekend series vs. UC Irvine on March 11-13, the Vols will also travel to Johnson City, Tenn. for a rubber match against ETSU (March 9).
The Orange & White will host SEC rival Ole Miss the following weekend (March 18-20) for the program's first home conference series. Additionally, Kentucky (April 1-3), Vanderbilt (April 22-24), Florida (May 6-8) and LSU (May 13-15) will make trips to Rocky Top this year.
On the season, the Volunteers, led by Head Coach Dave Serrano and his staff, are scheduled to play 18 of their 56 regular season games against eight 2015 NCAA postseason participants, including College World Series squads Vanderbilt, LSU and Florida.
A total of 22 Vols have worn No. 29 in Tennessee history, including current right-handed pitcher Daniel Vasquez and one of the best to ever play on Rocky Top, Sam Ewing (1968-70).
Looking Back...
#29 Sam Ewing
1968-70 | OF | 6-3 | 205 lbs. | Nashville, Tenn.
After wearing No. 12 and No. 17 in 1968 and 1969, Sam Ewing settled on No. 29 for his final campaign in 1970. The rest is history. Ewing's 1970 season saw him post an incredible .464 batting average, which still ranks second all-time in the SEC single-season record books and is the top mark in the Tennessee annuals. The outfielder drove in 25 runs on 45 hits that season, while adding eight home runs and 33 runs scores. He was a first-team All-America selection by both The Sporting News and the ABCA.
In addition to the single-season record, Ewing still holds the Tennessee career batting average record of .411. On the single-season charts, the two-time All-SEC honoree ranks second in triples (7) in 1969 and second in slugging percentage (.824) in 1970. He also led the SEC in batting average in back to back seasons.
Following the 1970 season, three Vols wound up being selected in the first round of the 1971 January regular and secondary phases of the major league draft. Pitcher Steve Raines, outfielder Sam Ewing and infielder Phil Garner all signed professional contracts. Also, outfielder Sam Ewing earned a spot on the Coaches All-America squad after batting .464, a school record. Ewing was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the fifth overall pick. Ewing also played professionally for the Toronto Blue Jays. He played four total seasons in the pros, hitting .255 and racking up 92 hits, four home runs and 47 RBI over 167 games.
Ewing was inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 and was named to the Volunteers' 26-man All-Century Team in 2009.
THROWBACK NOTES FROM HIS BIO
- Played professionally in Japan for the Nippon Ham Fighters
- Former Player-Manager of the Iowa Oaks (Class Triple-A)
- Attended John Overton High School in Nashville
Looking Ahead...
#29 Daniel Vasquez
2016 | RHP/OF | 5-10 | 185 lbs. | El Cajon, Calif.
Freshman Daniel Vasquez will don No. 29 during his first season with the Orange and White.
Vasquez entered his senior season (2015) at Granite Hills High School ranked as the No. 25 player in the state of California. He hit .307 with 19 RBI and seven stolen bases, while maintaining an 8-0 record with a 2.25 ERA and 54 strikeouts on the mound in 2014, earning him a position on the 2014 Cal Hi Sports All-State UnderClass First Team as a multi-purpose player. The four-year varsity letterman and 2014 State Champion was also named to the All-League First Team and All-East County First Team during his junior campaign.
In 2013, Vasquez helped the Eagles to a Division Runner-Up finish. In the same year, he was selected to the 2013 Perfect Game 17U World Series All-Tournament Team. He was a member of the 2013 Perfect Game World Wood Bat National Championship Team and received All-Tournament honors.
NOTES FROM HIS BIO
- Son of Aida and Walt Vasquez
- Born on July 13, 1997
