USC Baseball Great Bill Thom Named to College Baseball Hall of Fame
September 07, 2024 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – The College Baseball Hall of Fame announced its 2024 class this week and USC baseball great Bill Thom was among those to be inducted.
Thom, who played at USC from 1957-59 and led the Trojans to a College World Series title in 1958, is one of 11 players named to this year's class.
Thom finished his three years at USC with a 23-5 record and 165 strikeouts. He earned First Team All-America honors in 1959 when he won 10 games with a 1.44 ERA and 58 strikeouts. Thom was USC's first-ever College World Series Most Outstanding Player when he led Troy to the 1958 national championship. In the semifinal game vs Missouri, he tossed a three-hit shutout to force the decisive game. The next night, he returned to the mound in the 8th inning of a 7-7 tie and threw another 4.1 scoreless innings. Thom earned a career-high 76 strikeouts in 1958. He received first team All-CIBA honors in 1958 and 1959 and made All-District VIII in 1958. Thom was inducted into the USC Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Thom is the ninth player in Trojan history named to the Hall since its inception in 2006. He joins Rod Dedeaux (2006), Fred Lynn (2007), Roy Smalley (2013), Bill Bordley (2014), Wally Hood (2019), Rich Dauer (2021), Art Mazmanian (2022) and Steve Kemp (2023).
The 17th induction class will be honored at the Night of Champions presented by Prairiefire on Feb. 13, 2025 in Overland Park, Kan., the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The event will serve as the ceremonial start to the 2025 college baseball season, which begins Feb. 14, 2025.
Thom, who played at USC from 1957-59 and led the Trojans to a College World Series title in 1958, is one of 11 players named to this year's class.
Thom finished his three years at USC with a 23-5 record and 165 strikeouts. He earned First Team All-America honors in 1959 when he won 10 games with a 1.44 ERA and 58 strikeouts. Thom was USC's first-ever College World Series Most Outstanding Player when he led Troy to the 1958 national championship. In the semifinal game vs Missouri, he tossed a three-hit shutout to force the decisive game. The next night, he returned to the mound in the 8th inning of a 7-7 tie and threw another 4.1 scoreless innings. Thom earned a career-high 76 strikeouts in 1958. He received first team All-CIBA honors in 1958 and 1959 and made All-District VIII in 1958. Thom was inducted into the USC Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Thom is the ninth player in Trojan history named to the Hall since its inception in 2006. He joins Rod Dedeaux (2006), Fred Lynn (2007), Roy Smalley (2013), Bill Bordley (2014), Wally Hood (2019), Rich Dauer (2021), Art Mazmanian (2022) and Steve Kemp (2023).
The 17th induction class will be honored at the Night of Champions presented by Prairiefire on Feb. 13, 2025 in Overland Park, Kan., the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The event will serve as the ceremonial start to the 2025 college baseball season, which begins Feb. 14, 2025.
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs OSU, NCAA Regional Round)
Monday, June 02
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs SMC, NCAA Regional Round)
Saturday, May 31
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs TCU, NCAA Regional Opener)
Friday, May 30
Baseball - USC 10, Washington 4: Highlights (05/17/25)
Saturday, May 17
