University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2003
- Class:
- 1995
Known throughout the baseball community as "The Mayor" - for his infectious positive personality and success on the diamond -- Sean Casey quickly established himself as one of the major league's premier hitters. But it began at the college level in a Richmond Spider uniform.
During his Richmond career, Casey carried an astounding .405 batting average and drove in 158 runs in 158 games. In 1995, he led the Spiders to the NCAA East Regional and the program's first win in the NCAA Tournament, 8-2, against Jacksonville. During his final season in a Spider uniform, Casey was a Second Team All-American, earned CAA and ECAC Player of the Year honors and became the first player to win the CAA Triple Crown. He won the NCAA Division I batting title in his final game in the NCAA Tournament, finishing with a .461 average.
Casey left Richmond as the all-time leader for single-season slugging percentage (.824) and doubles in a career (67). His 31-game hit streak in 1995 ranked as the second longest in the nation that season, and was the second longest in Spider history.
Casey was selected in the second round of the major league draft by the Cleveland Indians. The first baseman worked his way through the Indians farm system, first earning his affable nickname with the Double-A Akron Aeros. Always seen with a contagious smile, Casey won over the community and his teammates with unmatched dedication to the game and the people surrounding it. He was traded to the Cincinnatti Reds, and later played for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates.
Casey compiled a .302 career batting average and was a three-time All-Star (1999, 2001, 2004). He led the Reds and ranked fourth in the National League with a .332 average in 1999, his first full season in the majors.Â
His efforts were recognized in 1999 when he won major league baseball's Hutch Award for unswerving determination and uncompromising devotion to baseball, dedication to team, community and family, as well as competitive spirit and ability to battle through adversity.
Since his retirement from major league baseball, Casey has been inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and he has been a longtime television analyst and host for MLB Network.
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