How A Spartan Revolutionized Baseball

Summary

With more than 3,300 inventions on record, Spartans are known for being forward-thinking problem solvers who innovate to make the world better.Some of those inventions come from an unlikely place. Former Michigan State University Baseball Coach Danny Litwhiler, who led the Spartans for nearly two decades, is credited with developing more than 100 inventions and innovations that improved the game — including the pitch speed radar gun.Litwhiler’s story is a reminder that Spartan innovation doesn’t only happen in labs. Sometimes, it starts on the field.From MLB to MSUBefore his streak of innovations, Litwhiler (1916–2011) spent 11 years as a player in Major League Baseball, MLB, from 1940–51. He played with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. Litwhiler was a member of the Cardinals’ 1944 World Championship team, as well as with St. Louis when it lost the 1943 World Series to the New York Yankees.“My dad loved everything about baseball,” says Mark Litwhiler, Danny Litwhiler’s son. “He used to say he never had to work because he was always doing something he loved.”MSU Baseball Coach Danny Litwhiler in 1963. Photo courtesy of MSU Archives and Historical CollectionsAfter a successful playing career, Litwhiler spent 28 years coaching baseball at Florida State University and MSU. During his 19 seasons at MSU, Litwhiler had a record of 489-362-8 (wins-loses-ties) including Big Ten Championships in 1971 and 1979, as well as NCAA Tournament appearances in 1971, 1978 and 1979. Thirteen of Litwhiler’s players went on to play in the MLB, including Steve Garvey, Kirk Gibson and Rick Miller.At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Litwhiler won a gold medal in an exhibition tournament as coach of Team USA. Baseball was a demonstration sport during the Olympics from 1912–88 before becoming an official medal sport in 1992. After retiring from coaching, Litwhiler became the international president of the U.S. Baseball Federation, today USA Base...