Hall of Fame
A baseball All-American who went on to pitch in the major leagues and later returned to his alma mater as head coach, Cal Koonce was inducted into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 3, 1987.
A native of Hope Mills, N.C., Koonce graduated from Hope Mills High School in 1959 and began a standout baseball and basketball career at Campbell. During his Fighting Camel career, Koonce posted a 10-4 won-lost record in 17 appearances from 1960-61. He earned junior college All-America honors as a freshman in 1960.
During his freshman season, Koonce won four of seven decisions. On May 5, 1960 he struck out 19 Chowan batters in a 14-inning complete game victory. Amazingly, just two days later, he tossed a complete-game shutout of Louisburg and struck out 17. Eight times in his 17 collegiate pitching appearances, Koonce fanned 10 or more batters.
In the 1961 campaign, Koonce posted a 6-1 record and allowed just 10 earned runs in 58 innings (0.52 ERA). He concluded his collegiate career with a 3-hit, 15-strikeout shutout of Chowan on May 11, 1961.
After the 1961 season, Koonce signed a professional contract with the Chicago Cubs and spent less than a full year in the minor leagues at Wenatchee (Wash.) of the Northwest (Class B) League. He made his major league debut with the Cubs in 1962 and won 10 games in his rookie year as a starter in the team’s rotation.
Koonce played under Cubs manager Leo “The Lip” Durocher in 1966 and the first half of the next season before being traded to the New York Mets in August 1967.
Gil Hodges was named the Mets manager in 1968 and Koonce enjoyed his finest statistical season as a pro with a 6-4 record, a 2.42 ERA and 11 saves in 55 appearances. He was a key relief pitcher on a staff that included Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan, plus Jerry Koosman.
After pitching for the 1969 Amazin’ Mets World Series champions, Koonce’s contract was sold to the Boston Red Sox in June 1970. He retired from his playing career following the 1971 season with a 47-49 major league record.
Koonce returned to Buies Creek in 1980 and over the next seven years became the winningest coach in Campbell Baseball history. His teams amassed a 174-123-1 (.586) record and his 1985 and 1986 squads enjoyed the school’s first 30-plus win seasons while capturing Big South East Division titles. He was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year in 1986.
He also directed the Camels to North State Summer Baseball League regular season championships in 1981 and 1982 and led his team to the tournament title in ’82.
Koonce’s 1985 Camels set a school record with 32 wins and led the nation in home runs, averaging 2.21 per game (106 in 49 contests). He resigned as Campbell’s baseball coach on Nov. 19, 1986 in order to become the first general manager of the Fayetteville Generals of the South Atlantic (Class A) League. Fourteen of his Campbell players went on to play professional baseball.
He also served as Hope Mills town commissioner from 1987-92 before his ailing health forced him to resign. He passed away on October 28, 1993 at the age of 52 after a four-year battle with cancer.
