In the absence of sports for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, Gustavus sports information will provide a series of stories to take a look back at great moments in Golden Gustie athletics history, celebrating its proud tradition of excellence.
May 1927
Myrum’s men win first title in baseball
From the 1929 Gustavian Yearbook
After losing the baseball championship for two consecutive years in two closely contested games, Gustavus won its first title in this sport last spring. Too much credit cannot be given to the excellent pitching of Lindbloom and Nordstrom. Coupled with this was the splendid support given by the rest of the team. Their fielding and batting were good. Six men came through with a batting average well over .300.
A diamond nine that possessed powerful batting strength, a lineup of fielding fools, and pitching that was extraordinary at times brought Gustavus to its first baseball title last spring after Coach Myrum’s entry had lost out by single games in the previous two campaigns for the championship.
This season’s feature was the remarkable record chalked up by Gus Lindbloom on the mound. He entered baseball’s hall of fame on May 24 when he hurled a no hit, no run game against St. Olaf. In his next start on May 30 he went along for eight and two-thirds innings before Kolesar of Augsburg connected for a single. This phenomenal pitching was backed up by flawless support in the field. The infield consisting of Captain Hjortaas, Hollander, Klatt, and Lundell brought the hurdler out of trouble on numerous occasions by coming up with miraculous stops and spectacular gardens, several times robbed the opposing batsmen of hits labeled for extra bases by snatching sizzling line drives. Gustavus boasted of six men with averages over .300, anyone of whom could break up a ball game with a distant clout. Hjortaas led the league in batting with a percentage of .500. John Hollander was next in order with the high rating of .484.
Gustavus opened the schedule with a 4-1 victory over St. Olaf. Lindbloom used his fast ball effectively, striking out fifteen of the Ole batters. Hjortaas was the batting star with three hits that accounted for two of the Gustie runs.
The only conference defeated suffered by Myrum’s men was administered by St. John’s at Collegeville. Poor support and wildness lost the game for Lindbloom. Later, on the Gustie diamond, the Johnnies were defeated 15-0 with Nordstrom hurling a one hit game.
Twelve innings were required to conquer Augsburg, 16-14, at Minneapolis. Gustavus held a 12-0 lead in the fifth frame when Lindbloom left the slab with a sore arm. Miserable fielding behind Nordstrom accounted for the tie which sent the game into extra innings. Pettijohn, who had taken up the pitching burden in the sixth frame, pitched beautiful ball. The winning run was brought in by hits from Klatt, Lundell, and Hollander. Hansen caught a line drive in the ninth inning which saved the day for the Gusties.
Pettijohn successfully essayed the role of iron man the following week by pitching his mates to a double win over St. Mary’s, 20-2 and 11-5. Hjortaas made eight hits in nine trips to the rubber, one of the blows being a home run. Hollander connected for two round trip clouts. Every other man in the Gustie line-up got at least one safe hit.
The climax of the season was reached when Lindbloom hurled a no hit, no run game against the St. Olaf team, shutting them out 9-0. Several neat fielding plays and Lundell’s home run with two men on bases featured the contest.
In the Augsburg fray, Lindbloom had a no hit game until Kolesar ruined the day with a clean smack after two men were down in the ninth. Besides striking out twelve men, Lindbloom hit a circuit clout. Gustavus won the tilt 6-2.
Three well played games with Carleton resulted in two victories for the Northfield school. Addington edged out Lindbloom 1-0, in a pitching duel in the first contest. By allowing only four scattered hits, Nordstrom earned a 3-1 win over the Carls at Northfield. In the final fracas of the schedule, Zakariason held Coach Myrum’s proteges to two safeties, defeating them 3-1. With Lindbloom on the knoll, Gustavus gave the Maize and Blue but three hits which were bunched along with passes to gain the victory.
Gustavus defeated the University of Minnesota 5-1, in a practice game with “Doc” Torwick allowing only two hits.
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Previous “Tradition of Excellence” stories:
1987 Men’s Basketball Wins MIAC Playoffs
1985 Gymnastics Wins Division III National Championship
2009 Men’s Hockey Advances to NCAA Title Game
2015 Volleyball Wins 27 Straight