Baylor baseball coach Gene Etter poses with his family. From left are son Todd Etter, wife Eddie Etter, Gene Etter, daughter Honey Etter Hopkins. In front are grandchildren Marshall and Cal.
photo by M.A. Locke
For Baylor baseball, Friday was a Red Letter Day as Red Etter’s oldest son – Gene Etter - was honored for 41 years as head baseball coach.
Having compiled an impressive 860-395 win-loss record through a doubleheader win against Tyner Friday and two D-II state championships (2003, 2006), Etter’s career has been recognized by his induction into four halls of fame; Baylor School, Greater Chattanooga, Central HS and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Assoc.
But more than the awards, records and halls of fame plaques are the kids he has touched for four decades and those student-athletes - now dads - who have watched Etter coach their sons.
Friday night was a grand gathering of baseball alums from several eras within the “Etter Era” as the conversions would turn to “do you remember” those game-winning home runs of long ago, victories over arch-rival McCallie and recalling the district, region and state championship teams but more importantly the leadership and life values of coach Etter to all who played for him between the lines.
“What coach Etter has meant to this school and the baseball program is difficult to put into words “said Lee Dyer (’77) whose two sons also played for coach Etter.
“In all the years he has coached he has never lost his cool, never raised his voice and never been thrown out of a game. He and his wife, Eddie are special people.”
State Champions: Etter has had several great teams over the years and finally won his first state title in 2003 quickly followed by a second in 2006.
Two member of the 2003 team were in attendance to honor their coach.
“Coach Etter put the right people in the lineup in the right situation, did a good job of managing our pitching staff and was a great tactician as we made our run to the state championship in 2003,” said Chris Wright who was a starting catcher.
“We were a pretty laid back group in 2003 as Coach Etter made that season fun, yet he wanted to win and was meticulous in his game management and preparation,” said Stuart Vinson.
Coach Etter Comments: “This celebration is a complete surprise to me and it is overwhelming as you can tell,” said Etter with tears in his eyes.
Etter Notes
Jersey Retired: At the end of the season, coach Gene Etter’s number (No.1) will be retired said headmaster Scott Wilson during the ceremonies between games
Famous No.1s: Oscar "The Big O" Robertson (NBA) with Cincinnati Royal and Milwaukee Bucks
Bobby Richardson- 2B and Gold Glove winner with N.Y Yanks in late 1950s-1964.
Richie Ashburn - CF with Philadelphia Phillies in 40s-50s
Billy Martin - Infielder in 1950s with Yankees, Tigers, Indians
Pee Wee Reese - SS with Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers, 1940s-50s
Etter Baseball Complex: Baylor also announced the entire baseball area is now the Etter Baseball Complex while the field will remain the Wyatt McMahan Field.
My Four Sons: Allen and Emily Brown saw four sons play for coach Etter – Campbell (’95), Garth (’98), Winston (’01) and Robby (’10).
Three, Final Fours: Pitcher Rick Simpson recalled the Baylor teams who went to the state semis in 1979, 1981-1982, losing to Knox South, Science Hill and Farragut, respectively.
“To go to three final fours in four years was really good for us, but we always ran into a team with one great pitcher …. Everything was single elimination and only one division in those days so we won a lot of big games along the way, but always ran into a big time pitcher in the state semis.”
The Baseball Canoe: With lots of rain during the 1977 season, the players and coaches, on occasion, would travel via canoe across the bridge to the parking lot adjacent to the baseball field for practice.
One day Greg Simmons and Tinky Williams were chauffeuring coach Etter to the ball field.
“All of a sudden, Tinky starts rocking the canoe, it tips over and we all get wet, including coach Etter,” said Simmons with a laugh.
Coach Etter’s Baseball Quiz: Lee Dyer and others recalled the written pop quizzes coach Etter would hand out on occasion before practice in the mid to late 70s.
“Coach Etter would give us 2-3 questions on a piece of paper about baseball situations and game strategy and what we would do. He was always teaching us the game of baseball and the importance of knowing the little things.”
Gene Etter Era – All-Time Team
(here are a few of the top players discussed yesterday who would be high on the list of an official all-time team if ever compiled …. These names are submitted by this reporter with input from several Baylor alums)
Catcher: Allen Carmichael (’82) (6 seasons in the Mets organization)
Catcher Ron Cates
1B Tyler Massey (P/1B/OF) currently with Colorado Rockies organization . playing in New Britain Conn and batting .294 in 15 games.
SS –Wes Hodges 2003 team … (Ga. Tech/6 seasons in Cleveland organization)
SS/P - Kurt Keene
Outfield Kane Simmons (Belmont/ minor leagues)
Pitching Staff
Archie Smith (’82) (Vandy, 2 yrs in Kansas City organization)
Greg Smith (’82) (Vandy led SEC in hitting/ Padres organization … at present, is ass’t general manager with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Doug Stein (’75) … No.1 pitcher on coach Etter’s first team in 1975 which won the district and lost in region finals.
Rick Simpson (’81) – (U of Florida)
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net