Sacramento State's baseball program has enjoyed a 56-year history that includes 17 conference championships and four NCAA postseason appearances.

After competing independently from 2003-05, the Hornets have been added as an affiliate member of the Western Athletic Conference, once again giving the team the opportunity to compete for a postseason berth and conference crown.

Head coach John Smith has been at the helm of the program since 1979, and he now has 773 career victories, placing him 32nd among active NCAA Div. I coaches.

Prior to moving to Division I in 1990, Sacramento State made four appearances from 1985-89 in the NCAA Division II West Regionals, advancing to the World Series and adding Regional Championships in 1986 and 1988. The Hornets fell just one victory shy of a Div. II championship in 1988 with a 5-4 loss to Florida Southern in the title game after sweeping Cal Poly Ponoma in the West Regional.

In its 56-year history, the baseball program has produced 39 winning seasons, with 16 coming during Smith's tenure.

Since 1981, 65 former players have been drafted or signed with major league ball clubs. Since 2000, 14 players have been drafted or signed free agent contracts. In 2003, pitcher Chris Kinsey was drafted in the fourth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, matching the highest round a Hornet player has ever been drafted. In 1989, Erik Bennett was also drafted in the fourth round by the then-California Angels.

While eight players out of the Sacramento State baseball program are still currently playing professional baseball, pitchers Ethan Katz and Warren Rosebrock, who were drafted in 2005, both had successful summers in their pro debuts.

The baseball program has produced 17 All-Americans, with Harvey Hargrove being the last Hornet to receive the honor in 1997 after he led the team with 79 hits, 62 RBIs, 49 runs, 26 home runs and a .361 batting average.

A 12-year standout in the major leagues, Jim Barr has been Sacramento State's pitching coach for 11 seasons. Barr's accomplishments in the majors include a record 41 retired batters in a row over two games in 1972 and two seasons ranked in the top 10 in earned run average among National League pitchers.

Assistant coach Don Barbara begins his first season with Sacramento State after spending seven years as an assistant coach at Long Beach State (1997-99, 2001-04). Prior to his coaching career, Barbara spent six seasons (1990-1996) in professional baseball after being drafted in the 24th round by the then-California Angels.