The Syracuse baseball team may not have been a national powerhouse for most of its history, but everything came together in 1961. Led by the pitching of Seneca Falls, N.Y., native Dave Giusti – the most successful baseball player in Syracuse history – the Orangemen advanced all the way to the semifinals of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Oklahoma State eventually defeated Syracuse twice in the double-elimination tournament, ending SU’s best chance at winning a national championship. Nevertheless, Syracuse’s third-place finish capped the best season in program history. Before 1961 Syracuse had never qualified for the College World Series.

‘We had a lot of local guys who just played baseball all summer long,’ Giusti said. ‘Baseball was so popular in the Syracuse area and there were so many opportunities to play.’

Giusti went 8-0 that season, his senior year, with a 1.50 ERA. After college, the right-hander went on to pitch 15 seasons in the Major Leagues for the Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs.

First a starter, then a solid reliever, Giusti made his only MLB All-Star appearance in 1973. He also won a World Series ring, earning a career-high 30 saves for the world-champion Pirates in 1971.

Not many scouts saw Giusti in high school, so he chose Syracuse on the advice of his uncle, John Pannucci, a former football and baseball player at SU. It didn’t hurt that Giusti earned the only baseball scholarship available that season.

Giusti always wanted to play in the Majors, but, like in high school, was not seen by many scouts during his college career. But when Syracuse advanced so far in the College World Series, Giusti was thrust into the national spotlight.

A scout for the Houston Colt .45s, an expansion team, noticed the palmball specialist and signed him. Elbow problems early in his career hurt Giusti’s chances at stardom, but he lasted in the Major Leagues longer than anyone in Syracuse history.

‘The College World Series was so important because I finally got discovered,’ Giusti said. ‘We had a great team that year, and getting to Omaha was such a thrill for all of us.’

Published on April 4, 2007 at 12:00 pm