Ward Thigpen (2015) - Hall of Fame - Troy University Athletics

Ward Thigpen

Induction:
2015

An All-American and All-Gulf South Conference selection, Ward Thigpen put together one of the most memorable seasons in Troy baseball history. Thigpen and the Trojans dominated the Gulf South Conference in 1990 en route to a 50-10 record and came within one game of a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series.

Thigpen finished the season with an 11-1 record and a 2.12 ERA. The Greenville, Alabama, native was named Gulf South Pitcher of the Year and first team All-American. Thigpen struck out 107 batters during the 1990 season, including a school record seven consecutive strikeouts against Montevallo. In the contest, he fanned 15 batters in just seven innings of work.

“Ward was a very good teammate. We became quick friends and still talk today. He was kind of a quiet guy, he just went out and pitched,” said Ross Jinright, a teammate of Thigpen’s in 1989 and 1990.

“Ward had one of the best curveballs I’ve ever seen. He was basically unhittable his senior season, it was really fun to watch. He just dominated folks.”

Utilizing his dominant curveball, Thigpen defeated Jacksonville State, the eventual national champions, three times during his senior campaign including once in the Division II South Regional.

His consistency and governance in 1990 helped lead the Trojans to 50 wins; the most team victories in program history. Thigpen was the backbone of a pitching staff that ranks in the top 10 of several Troy team record categories.

“We all knew he was having a great year, but one of the most important things he did was beat Jacksonville State three times. They had a good team that year, rivalry game and he was able to beat them three times,” Jinright said. “That entire season was special; we had a lot of special players, special moments and Ward was the leader of that.”

Thigpen, a member of the Troy Baseball Hall of Fame, currently stands sixth all-time in Troy history with three shutouts, while his .917 winning percentage in 1990 ranks fifth in a single-season.

His magical senior season started with a bang as Thigpen struck out 13 batters in seven innings in Troy’s opening day victory over Faulkner. He would strikeout 10 or more batters four times that season and finished with five complete games including a shutout over Jacksonville State. Thigpen also recorded his only save of the year in the team’s regular season finale – a 10-9 victory over Birmingham Southern.

Thigpen was dominant in the postseason as well. In the NCAA South Central Regional, held in Troy, Thigpen again faced rival Jacksonville State. The right-hander fanned seven batters in a complete-game effort, leading the Trojans to a 6-2 win. Troy would eventually fall twice to the Gamecocks, ending their season, but it would go down as one of the greatest seasons in Troy history.

Only fellow Troy University Hall of Fame member Danny Cox, Mike Perez (13), Tyler Ray and Dean Cordova (12) won more games in a season than Thigpen. His record of seven consecutive strikeouts against Montevallo still stands and his .917 winning percentage is fifth best in Troy single-season history.

“It was a special season and a special team. There is no doubt that Ward played a big part in that,” Jinright said. “He gave us a chance to win every game he pitched and more often than not, we did.”