University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Remembers Gopher Baseball Great John Erickson
12/7/2020 10:30:00 AM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics mourn the passing of 1960 College World Series Most Outstanding Player and team captain John Erickson, who passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 81.
"The Gopher Baseball family is saddened to learn of the passing of John Erickson. He was a special player, leader and teammate that helped the 1960 team win the NCAA Championship," said head coach John Anderson. "The success of this team is deeply woven into the fabric of our proud history and tradition, and these accomplishments will continue to impact future Gopher Baseball successes. Our sincere condolences go out to the Erickson family."
Lauded by his Gopher teammates for his leadership, Erickson batted .286 (8-for-28) at the 1960 CWS with one double, two RBI, one run and two stolen bases. The former Gopher captain also provided excellent infield defense as the CWS All-Tournament Team recipient at second base.
As a result of his contributions, Erickson was named the 1960 CWS Most Outstanding Player and accepted the National Championship trophy alongside head coach Dick Siebert. The 1960 CWS team represented the second of three National Champions coached by the legendary Siebert at Minnesota (1956, 1960, 1964).
In the years following the signature 1960 campaign, Erickson remained heavily involved in the program. Having attended the unveiling of the new Siebert statue at the 2019 Pro-Alumni Game, Erickson was scheduled to be honored alongside the rest of the 1960 team during the spring 2020 season, but the celebratory event was ultimately cancelled when the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the remainder of the campaign in early March.
The entire Gopher Baseball family will forever remember and cherish John's legacy for all he did for the Maroon & Gold, both during his tenure as a player and after. The program holds his family and friends in their thoughts during this difficult time.
"The Gopher Baseball family is saddened to learn of the passing of John Erickson. He was a special player, leader and teammate that helped the 1960 team win the NCAA Championship," said head coach John Anderson. "The success of this team is deeply woven into the fabric of our proud history and tradition, and these accomplishments will continue to impact future Gopher Baseball successes. Our sincere condolences go out to the Erickson family."
Lauded by his Gopher teammates for his leadership, Erickson batted .286 (8-for-28) at the 1960 CWS with one double, two RBI, one run and two stolen bases. The former Gopher captain also provided excellent infield defense as the CWS All-Tournament Team recipient at second base.
As a result of his contributions, Erickson was named the 1960 CWS Most Outstanding Player and accepted the National Championship trophy alongside head coach Dick Siebert. The 1960 CWS team represented the second of three National Champions coached by the legendary Siebert at Minnesota (1956, 1960, 1964).
In the years following the signature 1960 campaign, Erickson remained heavily involved in the program. Having attended the unveiling of the new Siebert statue at the 2019 Pro-Alumni Game, Erickson was scheduled to be honored alongside the rest of the 1960 team during the spring 2020 season, but the celebratory event was ultimately cancelled when the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the remainder of the campaign in early March.
The entire Gopher Baseball family will forever remember and cherish John's legacy for all he did for the Maroon & Gold, both during his tenure as a player and after. The program holds his family and friends in their thoughts during this difficult time.
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