Inducted on January 30, 2016

Baseball 1969-1971

Recruited out of Racine, Wis., by legendary coach and IHCC Hall of Famer Pat Daugherty, Eric pitched on state and region championship teams in both of his campaigns with the Centerville Junior College Falcons.  He compiled records of 8-1 as a freshman and 8-3 the next season.  He was a first-team All-American at the University of New Orleans and became the first player ever drafted out of UNO, taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.  Eric had an auspicious beginning with the Cards, pitching a shutout in his first National League start, and he also threw a shutout in his initial American League start with the Royals, the only MLB pitcher to ever accomplish that feat.  Since retiring as a player Eric has spent a number of years coaching in pro baseball, the majority of those seasons with the Minnesota Twins.