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  Athletics Cougar Wall of Fame |
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Mount Vernon Nazarene University |
Tim Belcher
Inducted during the 1994-1995 school year
Tim Belcher helped to put the Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball program on the map when he became the first Cougar to be drafted by a professional baseball team. In the June 1983
amateur draft, Belcher was selected as the very first pick in the first round by the Minnesota Twins. He also had the distinction of being the first MVNU athlete to have his number retired when his #21 was retired in a
private ceremony on June 16, 1983.Belcher spent three years as a member of the MVNU baseball team from 1981-1983 and received numerous accolades. Following his junior season, he was named to the Sporting News All-American team and selected as an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American. He was also a two-time All-Mid-Ohio Conference and NAIA All-District 22 choice. He threw a no-hitter against cross-county rival Kenyon College during the 1983 season and was overpowering as he fanned a school-record 18 batters without giving up a walk.
Following his junior year at MVNU, Belcher also had the opportunity to play internationally as he pitched in the 12th annual United States-Japan Collegiate Series, the Inter-Continental Cup Games in Antwerp, Belgium, and the IX Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela.
Belcher pitched for seven different major league teams during his 14-year major league career and was a member of the 1988 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In fact, he won three post-season games in 1988 and was the opening game starter for the Dodgers in the World Series - the game that Kirk Gibson won with the dramatic walk-off home run. He also led the National League in complete games and shutouts in 1989.
In 2004, Belcher became the first former MVNU player to be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in a ceremony held in conjunction with the NAIA World Series.
Tim Belcher's MVNU Career Statistics
Tim Belcher's Major League Baseball Career Highlights
Tim Belcher's Major League Baseball Career Statistics
(Tim's uniform was publicly retired on November 12, 2004 along with a sign that will hang on the outfield fence at the baseball field.)