University of Richmond Athletics
Former Spider Casey Inducted To Reds Hall Of Fame
06/24/2012 | Baseball
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Former University of Richmond baseball great Sean Casey was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame this weekend. Casey, along with the rest of the Hall of Fame class was honored before the Reds-Twins game on Saturday. The 2012 Reds Hall of Fame class includes Casey, Dan Driessen and the late John Reilly.
"I know that I speak for everyone at the University of Richmond, when I say how proud we are of Sean and his induction to the Reds Hall of Fame," remarked Spider head coach Mark McQueen. "There's not a person associated with baseball, in the college or professional ranks, that doesn't have a good word or a funny story involving Sean Casey. There's not a better or more deserving person in the world than Sean. He has been a great ambassador of baseball and also for the University of Richmond, and we are all very proud of one of our most famous Spider alums."
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. For his efforts, Casey was inducted to the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002-03.
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. 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 is the second longest in Spider history.
After capturing the 1995 NCAA batting title with a .461 average, Casey was selected in the second round of the major league draft by the Cleveland Indians. After reaching the Major Leagues during the 1997 season, Casey played one year with the Indians before moving on to the Reds, where he established himself as an All-Star first baseman.
A three-time All-Star (1999, 2001, 2004) for the Reds, Casey played eight seasons in Cincinnati. The former Spider played 1,075 games in a Reds uniform from 1998-2005. During those eight seasons, Casey racked up a .305 batting average with 118 home runs, 256 doubles and 604 RBI.
Casey's best professional season came in his first full season with the Reds in 1999. During that year, Casey led Cincinnati with a .332 batting average, ranking him fourth in the National League. Along with his career-high batting average, Casey also set career marks in home runs (25), RBI (99) and walks (61).
In total, Casey played 12 seasons in the MLB with the Indians, Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. Over his career, Casey posted an impressive batting average of .302 with 130 home runs, 322 doubles and 735 RBI.
Known throughout the baseball community as "The Mayor", Casey earned the nickname for his infectious positive personality both on and off the field. 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.
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.