When you think of the LSU Tigers, you probably think of football. Many people may not know this, but LSU baseball has more national championships than the football program (7 to 4). The Tigers are actually second overall in terms of baseball national championships.
Major League Baseball is littered with Tiger greats, across the National and American leagues. So when we decided to honor the 10 best Tigers, there was plenty to choose from.
Most of the players on this list are record-breakers, national champions, and even a few Hall of Famers. Here are the 10 best LSU Tigers baseball players of all time.
10. Joey/Albert Belle, LF
Unfortunately, Albert Belle might be remembered more for his temper but he was an excellent baseball player. During his time with the Tigers, he set several records in home runs, total bases, and runs batted in. He was also part of the 1986 team that won the school’s first College World Series title. Belle became an even bigger success when he played for the Cleveland Indians, winning Major League Baseball’s Player of the Year award in 1995.
9. Louis Coleman, P
Born in Greenwood, Mississippi, Louis Coleman managed somehow to get out of the state without Mississippi State or Ole Miss noticing. Coleman was an All-American and awarded SEC Pitcher of the Year, then made the NCAA regional all-tournament team. Coleman is one of the few men on this list not to lead the Tigers to the College World Series, but not from lack of trying.
8. DJ LeMahieu, INF
DJ LeMahieu was a monster during the 2009 College World Series, batting an amazing .444 after hitting. 350 throughout the regular season. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Tournament Team. The Tigers won the College World Series that season.
7. Aaron Hill, INF
Aaron Hill’s career took off as a junior at LSU. That season, Hill won 2003 SEC Player of the Year and led the Tigers with a .358 batting average and 67 RBIs. He was an All-American and posted a career .335 batting average with 23 home runs and 150 RBIs. He had a stellar MLB career, including winning American League Comeback Player of the Year in 2009.
6. Brandon Larson, 3B
Brandon Larson played a huge part in the Tigers winning the 1997 College World Series. Larson would be named MVP of the College World Series. He only played one year of college baseball but during his time in Baton Rouge, he batted .381 with 40 home runs and 118 RBIs.
5. Aaron Nola, P
With a last name that doubles as the nickname for one of the most celebrated cities in the world, you just knew that Aaron Nola was born to be an LSU Tiger. In 2014, Nola won SEC and National Pitcher of the Year awards thanks to an 11-1 record with a 1.47 ERA. The 6-foot-1 righty was also an All-American that season. Later, Nola would be drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies where he made the 2018 All-Star team for the National League.
4. Alex Bregman, 3B/SS
Alex Bregman is one of the most decorated players in LSU baseball history. In 2013, he was National Freshman of the Year and an All-American. That year, he batted .369 with 52 RBIs, with six home runs and had a 23-game-hitting streak. He was also named an All-American in his junior year batting .312 with nine home runs, and 49 RBIs, leading the SEC with 38 stolen bases. For his career at LSU, Bregman batted .338. Drafted by the Houston Astros, he is now a two-time All-Star and World Series champion.
3. Eddy Furniss, 1B
Eddy Furniss is probably the greatest first baseman to ever play for the Tigers. He batted .326 as a freshman in 1995 and was named to the All-Tournament Team in the SEC baseball tournament. As a sophomore, Furniss was named the SEC Player of the Year, batting .374 and hitting 26 home runs with 103 RBIs, the most in the nation. He was also named a first-team All-American as a designated hitter, as he led the Tigers to the 1996 College World Series. As a junior, Furniss batted nearly .400 (.378) for the season in leading Tigers to back-to-back College World Series titles. He also once again garnered All-SEC and All-American honors. Furniss finished his career at LSU with a .371 batting average and set SEC career records for hits (352), doubles (87), home runs (80), runs batted in (309), and total bases (689).
2. Ben McDonald, P
The most decorated pitcher in LSU history is Ben McDonald. He’s one of the few pitchers to win National Player of the Year. McDonald also was an All-American who led the Tigers to the College World Series. His best year came in 1989 when he finished with a 14–4 record, a 3.49 ERA, and a then-SEC record 202 strikeouts. That year, he also won the Golden Spikes Award. McDonald is also a Gold Medal winner and became part of the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.
1. Todd Walker, 2B
Todd Walker was a two-time All-American and, in 1993, guided LSU to a national title and received CWS Most Outstanding Player honors. Walker was named first-team All-SEC three times and was voted the SEC Player of the Year in 1993. In three seasons with the Tigers, Walker batted an astonishing .396 batting average and he completed his collegiate career as the SEC all-time leader in hits (310), runs (234), RBI (246), and total bases (557). He was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 and, in 2017, became the 11th LSU athlete or coach in any sport to have his jersey retired. Walker went on to have a nice 11-year career in the big leagues, ending his pro career hitting .289 with 107 home runs and 585 RBIs.