BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University Athletics continues its Great Moments in Cardinals History series.
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Mike Pasqualicchio Sets Cardinal Draft Record
In the 57-year history of the baseball program, 87 Lamar University Cardinals have been drafted into Major League Baseball. Of those 87 former student-athletes, only 17 were picked in the first 10 rounds of the draft. Thanks to his stellar three-year career with Big Red, Mike Pasqualicchio became Lamar's earliest pick in the MLB Draft when he was selected 39th overall in the second round of the 1995 Amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. The then-junior from Flushing, N.Y., was a First Team All-Sun Belt player in 1995 and finished his Cardinal career with a 2.54 ERA, 234 career strikeouts, and a 23-11 record in 38 starts. 14 of his 38 career starts were complete games, and three of those complete games were shutouts. He also had four career saves. He currently ranks tied second single season victories (11 in 1995), tied second single season starts (17 in 1995), tied fifth in single season strikeouts (106 in 1995), tied third in single season ERA (1.60 in 1994), tied seventh in career victories (23), fifth in career strikeouts (234), and fifth in career ERA (2.54) in the LU record book. Notably, he also threw the second-to-last no-hitter in Lamar's history on February 17, 1993, in a five-inning game against Prairie View A&M.
Pasqualicchio went on to play five seasons in the minors and another season of independent league professional baseball, finishing his pro career with a 14-20 record, a 6.19 ERA, and 239 career strikeouts. After finishing his professional career, Pasqualicchio became a firefighter for the Stockton Fire Department in Lodi, California.
Pasqualicchio remains Lamar's highest draft pick after another 25 MLB drafts, and is one of just two Cardinals to be picked in the second round. The other, Brian Sanches, was picked in the second round by the Kansas City Royals in 1999. He went 54th overall.
Please continue to check back with LamarCardinals.com as we continue to update more Great Moments in Cardinals History.
