University of Minnesota Athletics
What They're Saying About John Anderson and Gopher Baseball
2/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
National Baseball Hall of Fame member Paul Molitor (1975-77)
“I am indebted to the University of Minnesota baseball program. Coming out of high school in St. Paul it was great for me to go to a program that stressed the fundamentals as much as the University of Minnesota. The instruction and experience that I got during my time with the program was a large part of what helped in the Minor Leagues as I was climbing the ladder and preparing to play at the Major League level.”
“Being a contemporary of John’s it is fun to see how he has climbed the ladder from student manager, to assistant coach all the way to head coach for the last 26 years. He has done a remarkable job with the program, and I always enjoy supporting the program and watching the job he does helping out the young players as they progress in their careers.”
National Baseball Hall of Fame member David Winfield (1971-73)
“We had a great team in 1973 in my final year when we reached the College World Series. Dick Siebert did a good job of teaching the game of baseball and stressing the fundamentals. I think John (Anderson) and the current staff have done a good job of continuing that part of the program succesfully.”
Kansas City Royals Broadcaster Ryan Lefevbre (1990-93)
On his time as a Gopher:
“I still consider coming to Minnesota the best decision I’ve ever made. Growing up in southern California can be a trap for some people if you never get out of there and experience life, find out what your niche is and where you belong in the world, I took what was then kind of a crazy risk to move 2,000 miles to the University of Minnesota to play baseball. Some of my buddies were joking that we needed to get the map out to remind ourselves where Minnesota was. It truly was the best decision that I ever made to come back to the Midwest my mom’s side of the family is from around here. I haven’t lived in Sourthern California now since the mid-80s. Now living in Kansas City it all began with me coming to the Midwest. The values change, the people you spend time with change. When the Royals play the Twins in Minnesota, I always try to hook up with John [Anderson] and Rob [Fornasiere] I mean they become part of your family.”
Minnesota Twins Pitcher Glen Perkins (2003-04)
On his career at Minnesota:
“Where I was when I came in and where I was when I left is a testament to their coaching ability. [Todd Oakes] took me from where I was when I got here to being a first-round pick three years later. It just shows the hard work they put in and the knowledge that they have.”
LA/Anaheim Angels First Baseman Robb Quinlan (1996-99)
On his career at Minnesota:
“John Anderson and Rob Fornasiere were a great help to me. Being here for four years, and coming from a little high school player to turn out to be a Big Ten Player of the Year was pretty neat and my hats are off to [the coaches] and the day-in, day-out work that they put in for you. You really appreciate how hard they work for you, and it’s a great thing for the university that they’re here.”
Former Seattle Mariner Catcher Dan Wilson (1988-90)
On his career at Minnesota:
“John [Anderson] and Rob [Fornasiere] did a great job of teaching us a lot about baseball and the fundamentals and what pro baseball would be like. Of course we had a lot of of guys that have gone on to play professionally, come back and tell stories about what to expect in the minor leagues. I think the thing that sets John and Rob apart more than anything is the preparation they give you if baseball doesn’t work out what they teach your about life and hard work and all those things that make you successful, whether its baseball or some other area of your life.
That was to me what was most impressive to be prepared for whatever happens luckily for me it was baseball. Guys that come out of here that don’t get the chance to play at the next level are prepared for whatever else they might do in their life.”
