LUBBOCK, Texas — Former LSU pitcher Ben McDonald, the 1989 Golden Spikes Award winner, was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame during Fourth of July weekend festivities. McDonald is one of 12 players and coaches in the 2008 induction class. McDonald, who pitched at LSU from 1987 to 1989, set an LSU career mark for strikeouts with 373 and set several Southeastern Conference records, including single-season strikeouts (202) and consecutive scoreless innings (44.2). He was a two-time All-American and a 1988 Olympic gold medalist. He also lettered as an LSU basketball player.



McDonald becomes the second LSU representative in the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Former LSU coach Skip Bertman was inducted in 2006.
The 2008 induction class also includes Steve Arlin, pitcher from Ohio State; Eddie Bane and Floyd Bannister, pitchers from Arizona State; Neal Heaton, a pitcher from the University of Miami; the late Dick Howser, shortstop and coach from Florida State; Burt Hooton and Greg Swindell, pitchers from the University of Texas; and Gary Ward, a coach from Oklahoma State University and New Mexico State University.

Each of the inductees took time to thank those people most special in their lives as well as those responsible for bringing them to Lubbock for the Hall of Fame induction. “Thanks to city of Lubbock for hosting this special occasion,” McDonald said. “It truly has been special for me and my family. It sincerely is an honor for me to be included with such a great group of athletes.”
Members of the Vintage-Era Class were honored with an induction ceremony as well. The 2008 Vintage-Era inductees were Owen Carroll of Holy Cross and Seton Hall, William “Billy” Disch of the University of Texas and Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson of UCLA. (BR Advocate)