MSU baseball All-American Jim Sack dies
EAST LANSING, Michigan — Former Michigan State baseball player and member of the Spartans’ 1954 College World Series team Jim Sack died at the age of 88 in his hometown of Grand Ledge, Michigan, on December 7.
Sack was a three-year letterwinner from 1954 to 1956, playing both the infield and outfield for the Spartans. In 1956, Sack earned second-team ABCA All-American honors after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. He led MSU with a .393 average with 42 hits and 25 runs in 1956. Sack finished his Spartan career with a .354 average with 103 hits, 61 runs and 60 RBI. He was selected by Los Angeles in the 1956 Major League Baseball Draft.
The 1954 season was one for the ages as the Spartans won their first Big Ten Championship, made a run through the NCAA tournament en route to a third place finish in the College World Series and completed the season with a school record of 25-10-1. record behind Spartan legend John Kobs’ lead. The ’54 team featured three future major leaguers in Ed Hobaugh, Bob Powell and College World Series MVP Tom Yewcic, as well as future NFL quarterback and 1968 NFL MVP Earl Morrall.
After winning the Big Ten Championship, the Spartans defeated Ohio University to earn their first bid to the College World Series. Michigan State won its first two CWS games, beating Massachusetts, 16-5, then beating Arizona, 2-1, before falling a close game to Rollins College, 5-4. The Spartans rallied to beat Rollins in extra innings 3-2 before dropping the season finale to eventual champion Missouri, 4-3. Michigan State finished third in the CWS.
There will be a memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Savior Lutheran School or a charity of the donor’s choice.
It was a great pleasure to welcome back 11 members of the 1954 College World Series Spartan team to celebrate their 65th @NCAACWS birthday and throw out the first pitch of Game 2! #MSUBBaseballAlumniDay pic.twitter.com/Kxb2MzUSuI
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 27, 2019
We had a great time celebrating the 65th anniversary of the 1954 College World Series Spartan team as part of yesterday’s game. #MSUBBaseballAlumniDay! pic.twitter.com/ltjuBiNaUx
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) April 28, 2019
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