The Custodial Bucket

MAD about the 60s

WHALERS 1 - AEROS 6

Fellow Texan (Kenedy) Cliff Gustafson was born on February 12, 1931 (age 91).

To the many who love, respect and admire him, he is simply known as Coach Gus. And there are few if any in collegiate baseball that can stand as tall as this Texas baseball coaching legend.

A former high school baseball coach Gustafson coached The University of Texas Longhorns for twenty-nine seasons (1968-1996) and many of his former players went on to play in the Major Leagues. He was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor (1983), American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1992) and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1994). He was named National Coach of the Year in baseball in 1983 and awarded the 1998 James Keller Sportsmanship Award. He was also named an inaugural member of National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

His accomplishments include:

Two National Championships

Twenty-two SWC Championships

Collegiate Career Record: (1968–1996): 1466-377-2 (.795)

NCAA Tournament Record: 122-55 (.689)

National Coach of the Year: 1982, 1983

Seventeen College World Series Appearances

Coached 56 All Americans

Gustafson's Longhorns had a 39-0 record against minor league & semi-pro teams in exhibitions.

Happy birthday Coach and thank you for all you do.