FROM: Big 12 Media Relations

SUBJECT: 2005 Big 12 Alumni on Major League Opening Day Rosters

DATE: Apr. 4, 2005 – First listing for ‘05

Alumni from Big 12 Conference schools are in prominent places on 2005 opening day baseball rosters after 32 players (23 on 19 teams on opening day), four coaches and one manager were featured throughout the season on ’04 MLB teams. The 2005 initial day/night rosters include 21 Big 12 standouts. In the final days of 2003 there were 35 standouts, including six rookies, were in the “bigs.” Seven more rookies from conference teams also made it to the big time in baseball in 2004. Roger Clemens (Texas) of the Houston Astros leads in total years of service with 21 seasons and 328 all-time wins (tied for 10th all-time prior to 2005).

Final 2002 numbers had 39 Big 12 playing alumni in the majors (second in history) at one juncture or another. In 2001 Big 12 schools had 27 alumni on 2001 Major League Baseball 25-man opening day rosters and 43 (an all-time best) with six coaches on a total of 23 teams’ rosters before that season ended. The grand total of alumni from Big 12 schools in the Major Leagues since 1897 now is 333 over a 108-year period. Since 2001 the composite numbers of Big 12 alumni averaged over 200 seasons of MLB service and an average of six-plus years per player.

Arizona Diamondbacks—Russ Ortiz, Oklahoma; Brad Halsey, Texas

Boston Red Sox—Mike Myers, Iowa State

Chicago Cubs—Jeromy Burnitz, Oklahoma State; Scott Williamson, Oklahoma State

Chicago White Sox—Jon Adkins, Oklahoma State

Cleveland Indians—Josh Bard, Texas Tech

Cincinnati Reds—Adam Dunn, Texas

Colorado Rockies—Jason Jennings, Baylor

Florida Marlins—Logan Kensing, Texas A&M

Houston Astros—Roger Clemens, Texas

Los Angeles Angels—Darin Erstad, Nebraska; Kelly Wunsch, Texas A&M

Minnesota Twins—Manager Ron Gardenhire, Texas

Oakland A’s—Keith Ginter, Texas Tech; Dan Johnson, Nebraska; Huston Street, Texas

Philadelphia Phillies—Geoff Geary, Oklahoma

Pittsburgh Pirates—Kip Wells, Baylor; Mark Redman, Oklahoma

Tampa Bay D-Rays—Casey Fossum, Texas A&M

Texas Rangers—Chad Allen, Texas A&M; Coach Rudy Jaramillo, Texas