Back-to-back national baseball champion named to the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame
Casey Eckstein was an indispensable member of the 1997 and 1998 National Championship Cowley College baseball teams. He was the starting catcher for both years of his Cowley career and was named to the 1998 JUCO World Series All-Tournament Team. During Eckstein’s tenure, Cowley captured two conference championships, two regional championships, and two national championships. The invaluable member of the Tiger baseball teams will be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame on February 7.
Eckstein grew up in Enid, OK, and played catcher for Enid High School, helping to lead his teams to two state tournament appearances.
Two of Eckstein's high school teammates played for Cowley the year before him. Those players had a gathering back home in Enid with most of their Cowley teammates, where Eckstein met them and thought, "This is where I want to go".
During Eckstein's senior year, he got the call from then-Tiger head coach Dave Burroughs and committed immediately.
"It was a wonderful and, at times, brutally challenging experience that made us all better ballplayers and people. I wouldn't change it for the world,' Eckstein said.
Eckstein's abilities behind the plate not only benefited him personally but also aided in the development and success of a multitude of future professional and Division I pitchers during his time at Cowley.
His immeasurable defensive contributions to the team were unlike those of any recent era. Eckstein played in an era when catchers handled every aspect of the game, including managing the pitching staff and calling every pitch, which he did at a professional level.
"Casey was the ultimate team player, who was a leader and always put the team before himself," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "He was willing to help the team in any capacity that he could.
Winning back-to-back JUCO World Series titles and catching the final out in a regional and national championship were highlights for Eckstein.
"Obviously, those were one of the best nights of my life," Eckstein said. "Getting to be on the field as the last outs of the World Series were made and then dogpiling with my teammates was an incredible feeling. What made us special was that we had only a handful of standout players. The rest of us were average to above-average ballplayers who came together with those standouts and just played consistent baseball and won a lot of ballgames."
Eckstein went on to walk on as a redshirt junior at Oklahoma State University, where the Cowboys advanced to the College World Series.
"Individually, I got to play with some great ballplayers, and the team was very good," Eckstein said. "It was a long season, and I caught a lot of bullpens. Team-wise, we didn't have that tight brotherhood bond that I had at Cowley. I played another semester and decided it was time to be done with baseball."
Eckstein went on to earn a degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State. He then got into umpiring, which he did for about 13 years, and is now returning to it after a 14-year hiatus. He also worked for nine years at Pepsi, followed by 10 years at Sysco Foods, and spent the last few years in construction consulting.
He is currently working independently in Enid, OK, and traveling as much as possible with his wife, Angie, and their children, Mia, Blaze, and Emma.
Eckstein is looking forward to catching up with his former teammates and coaches at the Hall of Fame induction.
"We have a special bond. It could be years without seeing any of the coaches or teammates, and we pick up right where we left off," Eckstein said. "Being selected for the Tiger Hall of Fame means everything to me," Eckstein said. "I am extremely proud to have played at Cowley and humbled to be in the Hall of Fame. This will be a very special day for me, individually."