Hall of Fame
Shippensburg University has produced many outstanding baseball teams and players though the years but only one player stands out among the rest in his achievements on the big league diamond. The late Clyde Barnhart played third base for Shippensburg prior to World War I and later joined the major leagues to become a hero to Pittsburg Pirate fans of the twenties.
Barnhart was also a star basketball player as well at the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, SU’s original name. He captained the baseball team in 1916. Usually a starter at third base, he also played outfield and pitched.
In 1915, the team finished the season with an 8-3 record and was undefeated in its games with Normal schools. The following season, Shippensburg was 9-3 and remained undefeated in Normal school competition. Barnhart was the squad’s best hitter.
Following graduation in 1916, Barnhart played minor league ball and was brought up to the major leagues in 1920 with the Pirates. He played with the Pirates for nine seasons. He retired after the 1928 campaign with a lifetime batting average of .295.
Barnhart’s best overall season was in 1925 when he helped the Pirates win the pennant and go on to take the World Series from the Washington Senators. Barnhart batted .325 and drove in 114 runs that year. He also played in the 1927 World Series against the New York Yankees. Barnhart is the only Major League player to get hits in three games in one day. He collected hits in each game of a rare triple-header played on October 2, 1920. He did this just 10 days after making his major league debut.
