Help Make the Cut

The Case for Cal Baseball

In August 2016, Chancellor Dirks created a Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics to recommend changes to the scale and scope of Cal Athletics.  As described in recent news reports, the Task Force is expected to make its recommendations as early as January 2017, including how to address the department’s budget deficit and comply with the requirements of Title IX .  These recommendations may well include reducing the number of sports and threaten the future of Cal Baseball.

The Cal Baseball Foundation is committed to seeing men’s baseball survive this latest challenge to its 140-year legacy on the Cal campus.  We have submitted a report to the Task Force,  The Case for Cal Baseball  that describes the program’s legacy of academic and athletic excellence, and the successful financial model that has sustained the program since its threatened elimination in 2011.   

Cal Baseball exists today largely independent of campus funds and with limited contribution from the Athletics Department budget.  However, we cannot assume a positive Task Force recommendation.  Much as we did in 2011, we need your help to demonstrate to the University that support for Cal Baseball is strong and continues to grow. Your pledge of financial support will help ensure that Cal Baseball makes the cut once again. 

We ask that you submit your pledge of support by April 30, 2017 either online here or by mail/fax using the pledge form here. As an assurance to you, all pledge payments will be managed by the Cal Baseball Foundation and used only for the annual baseball budget.

At this time, we do not know when the Task Force and University will make a decision affecting the baseball program. Therefore, your pledge and payment authorization will not be processed until September 2017, by which time we will know the status of the program. We will keep you apprised of the decision process in the coming months.

Our goal is to show strength in numbers and achieve broad participation from Cal Baseball alums, family and friends.  Let’s secure the future of Cal Baseball on the Berkeley campus. Your pledge of support will make the difference!