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David Bernsen, Jim Gilligan and Kevin Millar (Photo by Chad Cooper) -
Lamar baseball (photo by Chad Cooper) -
Bernsen Gilligan and Millar (Photo by Chad Cooper)
The Lamar University baseball program officially celebrated the retirement of three jerseys - No. 29, No. 25 and No. 15 - of those of Jim Gilligan, David Bernsen and Kevin Millage on May 7 at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
During his tenure, Gilligan guided the team to more than 1,355 wins, a mark that ranks 13th all-time in NCAA history. In addition to the wins Gilligan also led the Cardinals to 12 conference titles, 12 NCAA Regional appearances, 30 30-win seasons, eight 40-win seasons and a program-best 54 win-campaign in 1981.
A member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and the Southland Conference Hall of Honor, Gilligan is so loved by the Beaumont community that, in 2010, a stretch of Florida Avenue running adjacent to Vincent-Beck Stadium was charged to Jim Gilligan Way. When Gilligan retired, he did so as the program’s and Southland Conference’s all-time winningest coach.
Bernsen had a superb four-year career in baseball from 1969-72, but was especially magnificent in 1971 when he hurled LU to its first-ever Southland Conference baseball championship. That season, he won six games in nine starts, posted a 4-0 league record, led the SLC with a 1.89 ERA and tossed four shutouts, including a one-hit game against Baylor. He was picked to the All-Southland Conference Team and won the Johnny Sain Award as the league’s outstanding pitcher.
At the end of his collegiate career, he held Lamar records for wins, strikeouts, ERA, games started, complete games and shutouts for single season and career. After over 50 years, Bernsen still holds records at Lamar for career shutouts with six. His career ERA of 2.01 still stands today and is No. 1 for pitchers with three or more years and tied for first with four shutouts during a single season.
Bernsen was also elected as the Student Body President while at Lamar and, in. 1994, became the first baseball player inducted into LU’s Hall of Honor, which recognizes athletes in all sports, and was later inducted into Lamar’s Baseball Hall of Fame. For his collegiate efforts, he was named to the Southland Conference 1970s All Decade Team. He remained an active Lamar University supporter, including two terms as President of the Hall of Honor.
After his time at Lamar, Bernsen was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Neches River Festival and as a Distinguished Alumni of Lamar University. He served the State of Texas by being appointed to the Texas Department of Transportation by Governor Ann Richards in 1991 and later became Chairman of TxDOT under both Governors Ann Richards and George Bush. In 1998, he was the first Lamar alumnus to be elected to the Texas State Senate and was honored with the naming of the David E. Bernsen Highway in Southeast Texas.
Millar was a two-year letterwinner for the Cardinals in 1992-93 and helped LU win the 1993 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships, advancing to the NCAA Central Regional Championships.
In 1992, Millar led LU in runs scored (41), hits (56), home runs (13) and RBIs (50) to earn All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He also earned the Al Vincent Award, which is given annually to LU’s top hitter. As a senior in 1993, Millar hit .324 with 70 hits, 53 runs scored, a team-best 18 doubles, five home runs and 53 RBIs.
After spending a few years in the minor leagues, Millar made his big-league debut with the Florida Marlins in 1997. After being acquired by the Boston Red Sox in 2003, he enjoyed his best season as a major leaguer as he posted career bests in home runs (25) and RBIs (96). In 2004, Millar helped the Red Sox win their first World Series title since 1918.
He went on to play 12 years in Major League Baseball and hit .274 for his career with 170 home runs and 699 RBIs. After retiring, Millar went into broadcasting as an analyst for the MLB Network and New England Sports Network.