William Jewell College, the Cardinal athletic department, and the baseball program will honor the 50th anniversary of the 1968 NAIA Baseball National Championship team on Saturday, April 21 at Jack Talley Stadium. 

The 1968 championship is the first team title in Jewell history and team members will return to campus together for the first time since their induction into the William Jewell Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. The team will enjoy a tailgate during the Cardinal's double header with Drury University, sponsored by Mudhole Barbeque, while fans will also be able to purchase food provided by Mudhole at a discounted rate. Between games the national championship team members in attendance will be recognized on Flook Field. 

The 1968 Cardinals defeated Buena Vista College, Eastern Michigan and Central Washington to advance to the championship game against Georgia Southern University. On June 8, in the title game, Larry Libeer took the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the 13th inning over the 360-foot mark on the left center field wall at Phil Welch Stadium in St. Joseph, Missouri to send the Cardinals into the record books. 

Under the direction of head coach Fred Flook, the namesake of the William Jewell baseball field, Jewell finished the season with a record of 30-15 and also won the MCA, NAIA District 16 and NAIA Area 3 championships. In 2002, the team was enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mo.

Team members include Bob Buschmann, Mike Colegrove, Pat Crilly, Terry Doolittle, Steve Gerke, Dave Gershon, Rick Hancox, Bob Jones, Cam Jury, John Lampton, Larry Libeer, Pat Mann, Bill Meierhoefer, Dave Michael, Dick Michael, Rich Stonum, Mark Wymore, Ken Clauder, Don Derryberry, John Dunkman, Mickey Kerr, Jess Neely, Craig Shepherd, and manager Charlie Kumer.

Any media members planning to attend are asked to contact Director of Sports Information JaeLynn Ellison in advance.