Oddibe McDowell inducted into College Baseball Hall of Fame

Oddibe McDowell was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame over the Fourth of July Weekend, the College Baseball Foundation announced, July 6. McDowell brings the total number of Sun Devils in the Hall of Fame to seven, joining coaching legends Bobby Winkles and Dr. Jim Brock as well as former Golden Spikes Award winner Bob Horner, pitchers Eddie Bane, Floyd Bannister and shortstop Alan Bannister.

McDowell entered the Hall of Fame with fellow 2011 inductees Terry Francona (Arizona), Danny Goodwin (Southern University), Dick Groat (Duke), Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones (Grambling State), Tim Wallach (Cal State Fullerton) and Bill Wilhelm (Clemson).

The 2011 inductees were honored on July 3 in Lubbock, Texas as a part of the College Baseball Foundation's annual celebration of the greatest players in the past and present of college baseball.

McDowell was a standout in the outfield for the Sun Devils from 1983 to 1984 and played for 2007 College Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Brock. He was a career .380 hitter with 30 home runs and 31 doubles. In 1984, he hit .405 with 23 home runs, a performance that earned him the Golden Spikes Award. That same year McDowell was named Player of the Year by both Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. He also was a two-time All-American and was the first Sun Devil to have his number retired.

"I played the game, I enjoyed the game," said McDowell, "and all of the awards and whatnot that come along with playing the game is something I didn't think about. I was blessed with the talent. To have all of the awards, for me it recognizes all the people I've played with, played against, and all the coaches giving me the opportunity to play."