The University of Oregon baseball team is set to sport a brand new throwback uniform, a nostalgic nod to their historic past. Fans attending the final game of the opening home series against Lafayette at PK Park this Sunday at noon will witness the debut of these special uniforms. These new jerseys are meticulously designed reproductions of the uniforms worn by the 1954 Oregon Ducks baseball team, a team that holds a unique place in program history as the only Ducks squad to ever reach the College World Series. This season marks the 70th anniversary of that remarkable achievement, making the throwback uniforms a fitting tribute.
“We aimed to truly honor that legendary 1954 team with these jerseys,” explained UO head coach Mark Wasikowski. “We strived to create the most authentic replica possible, and I believe Nike has done an exceptional job capturing the essence of that era.” Wasikowski further emphasized his enthusiasm for the uniforms, stating, “I’m incredibly excited for our student-athletes to wear these and to have this special way to recognize and celebrate the 1954 team.”
The Ducks, currently holding a 2-1 record, will commence their 2024 home season this Friday against Lafayette at 4 p.m. This will be followed by a Saturday doubleheader against the Leopards starting at noon. The highly anticipated throwback uniforms will make their on-field debut for the series finale on Sunday.
Oregon athletics has a rich history of memorable throwback uniforms, particularly in sports like football, basketball, and track and field. Now, baseball joins this tradition with its own alternate uniform, which is planned to be featured in several home games throughout the current season, offering fans a glimpse into the program’s storied heritage.
“Representing the ‘O’ is always a profound honor for me; I’ve been a lifelong Oregon Ducks supporter,” shared Ryan Cooney, a freshman from Portland who has started at second base in all three games during the Ducks’ season opener in Texas. “So, wearing any Ducks uniform is special, but to wear these uniforms that connect us to the team from the past, those players who reached the World Series, that elevates it to another level. It’s a fantastic way to pay homage to their legacy and to connect our team to that history.”
The celebrated 1954 baseball team was coached by Don Kirsch, the winningest coach in the University of Oregon baseball program’s history. Spearheaded by George Shaw, a standout two-sport athlete who excelled as an outfielder in baseball and was also the first overall pick in the 1955 NFL Draft as a quarterback, the 1954 Ducks achieved an impressive 18-8 season record. They clinched their second of three consecutive Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division Championships and hosted the NCAA District 8 Championships at Howe Field.
Oregon demonstrated their dominance by going undefeated (3-0) in the District 8 Championships, securing the title with a shutout victory pitched by Norm Forbes against Fresno State in the final game. Forbes was the PCC Northern Division batting champion that season with an impressive .476 average and also led in wins with six. This victory propelled the Ducks to Omaha for the College World Series. Now, seventy years later, the current Oregon Ducks baseball team aspires to emulate that historic journey and return to Omaha.
“It definitely serves as a source of inspiration for us,” commented shortstop Carter Garate, who led the Ducks with a .545 batting average and a 1.342 OPS at the recent Shriners Children’s Showdown in Texas. “We are driven to bring back the same level of success and achievement that the 1954 team brought to this university and to this baseball program.”
