PHOTO GALLERY
The message on the shirt was simple - 4.18.09 - with the name Pattin and number 19 on the back. Eastern Illinois honored one of its former greats on Saturday afternoon at Coaches Stadium as former Panther and Major League pitcher Marty Pattin had his No. 19 retired.
Pattin's number retirement was part of an all-day event that started with people lining up for the baseball game as early as 10:30 a.m. for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Jacksonville State. Following the Panthers' win over the Gamecocks in the bottom of the ninth inning, EIU first honored two former great teams: the 1999 NCAA Division I Regional and 1964 NAIA World Series teams.
Pattin was the star pitcher on the 1964 squad that went 23-7 and placed second in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 8-4 league mark. He was 10-1 overall and had a perfect 5-0 record in conference.
Returning from that team to help honor Pattin were teammates Nick Balodimas, Bob Clifford, Ted Colbert, Tad Heminger, Robert Hoffek, Dave Orr, Gene Vidoni and Head Coach Bill McCabe.
Pattin's No. 19 is the first baseball jersey number to be retired and only the fourth former student-athlete to officially have his or her number retired in the history of Panther athletics. Following this season, no future EIU baseball player will wear the No. 19 ever again.
Pattin had an extremely successful 13-year Major League pitching career with five American League teams, winning 114 games which ranks in the top 10 percent all-time for most victories. His 1,179 career strikeouts are among the top 5 percent all-time.
Six times Pattin won more than 10 games in a single season. He pitched a one-hitter vs. the world champion Oakland A's in 1972, completed 14 major league shutouts, was a member of the 1971 American League All-Star team, participated in four American League Divisional playoffs with the Kansas City Royals and ended a spectacular career by pitching for the Royals in the 1980 World Series.
He's a charter member of the EIU Hall of Fame in 1982 and was selected to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1972.
A great ambassador for Eastern Illinois University, his native town of Charleston and collegiate and professional baseball, Pattin was joined by his family for the moving ceremony. On Saturday night a banquet was held on EIU's campus for friends and family of the former Major League All-Star to gather and celebrate the occasion.
