Legendary Merced College baseball coach, championship teams to get local Hall of Fame honors
Merced College will honor Blue Devils baseball coaching legend Butch Hughes and his seven state championship teams during the Merced College Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony, which will be a two-day event on April 29-30.
Hughes died in July 2020 after battling cancer.
This will be Merced College’s first Hall of Fame event ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s Hall of Fame event will include a a dedication ceremony for the newly-renovated and renamed Butch Hughes Clubhouse.
“Coach Butch Hughes was an extraordinarily successful and integral part of Merced College baseball,” said Merced College Athletic Director Bob Casey.
“He not only had an exemplary record coaching, but built strong, lasting relationships with his players. He was a champion for baseball at the college and in the local community. His impact on Merced College baseball is immense and leaves a lasting legacy.”
Hughes compiled a 307-73 record from 1971 to 1981 as the Blue Devils coach.
Hughes led the Merced College baseball program to state championships in 1973-74 and 1976-80.
All seven of those state championship teams will also be inducted into the Merced College Athletics Hall of Fame. Hughes also went on to coach for several Major League Baseball organizations, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Oakland A’s and Milwaukee Brewers.
He taught in the health and physical education department at Merced College for 34 years.
Twenty Merced College baseball players signed professional contracts during Hughes’ tenure as the Blue Devils head coach.
The celebration will be a two-day event.
On Friday, April 29, the state championship teams will be recognized during Merced College’s baseball game against Porterville College. The game starts at 2 p.m. and admission is free to all.
The Hall of Fame Presentation and Butch Hughes Clubhouse Dedication Ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 30 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Merced College baseball field.
Tickets are $60 per person, or $500 to sponsor a table of eight.
The clubhouse renovations include a facelift to the outside of the facility, as well as additional storage, paint, seating, bathrooms and flooring.
“This will be a huge addition to the Blue Devil baseball program, and a great reminder of our program’s history,” said current Merced College baseball coach Nate Devine said. “Coach Hughes was instrumental in the early development of our baseball program and set the standard for future Blue Devil Baseball teams.”
Tickets will be on sale through April 18 and can be purchased online at www.mccd.edu/rd/hall-of-fame. For more information, call 209-384-6009.
This story was originally published April 14, 2022 at 12:54 PM.
