Baseball 10/27/2020 12:00:00 PM

Sanchez from OCU pulled off feat in 2010 World Series

Former Star etched his name in Major League Baseball history 10 years ago

SAN FRANCISCO – Ten years have passed since former Oklahoma City University baseball player Freddy Sanchez accomplished what no one in 106 years of holding the World Series had.
Sanchez became the first individual to crush doubles in his first three World Series at-bats in Game 1 of the World Series on Oct. 27, 2010 at AT&T Park. Sanchez sparked the San Francisco Giants to an 11-7 triumph over the Texas Rangers.
Sanchez made three All-Star teams and earned the 2006 National League batting championship with a .344 batting average during his 10-year Major League Baseball career. Sanchez picked up the 2006 Tony Conigliaro Award, given annually to a MLB player who best overcomes obstacles and adversity through spirit, determination and courage.
Sanchez reeled in all-American honors while hitting .434 with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs for the Stars in 2000. Sanchez snagged the Shining Star Award and entered the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2012.
"I think it's crazy to have my name up there with all the guys that have played in the World Series that have done that before," Sanchez said after performing the feat. "Obviously for no one to have done that yet, I think it's something special. For just a little guy like me to go out there and be able to do it. But getting the win was the most important thing, but that's something special and something I can enjoy along with the win."
Denney Crabaugh has guided Oklahoma City to the most wins in college baseball since 1991 with 1,450.
"We were so excited for Freddy not just because he was playing in the World Series, but we knew how hard he worked to get there," said Crabaugh. "It was so satisfying to see his passion and love of the game get rewarded on baseball's biggest stage. His performance that night was icing on the cake."
Sanchez pounded a double to right field in the first inning. In the third inning, Sanchez ripped a double to right field to drive in the Giants' first run of the game on his second two-bagger of the night. Sanchez doubled to center in the fifth to knock in another run and tie the game 2-2.
In the eighth, Sanchez grounded a single to right to bring in his third RBI of the game and put San Francisco on top 9-4. Sanchez turned in a 4-for-5 night with two runs scored, matching the team record for hits in a World Series game.
"I regret not going for two on the fourth one, too," Sanchez told the San Francisco Chronicle recently. "I hit it to Vladimir Guerrero. I'd seen Vladdy his whole career. He had one of the best arms in the game, and I didn't want to be one of his victims. I wish now I could have tested him right there. It could have been four. It's something I look at as a nice piece of history right there."
His performance in the World Series came during perhaps the finest stretch of his big-league career. In 2010, Sanchez hit .362 with 12 doubles, five homers and a .935 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) from Aug. 12 on and .371 over his final 31 games. Sanchez heard to begin his swing late during an at-bat.
"I'd been hitting okay, and then I remember struggling for a little bit," Sanchez said. "I remember talking to Pat Burrell. He gave me a little bit of hitting advice I never heard before. People always tell you to start a little earlier. He told me to start a little later. It always stuck with me. We had a series at home against Cincinnati. In the first game, I went 4-for-5. After that, I felt great. I don't know if it's because I'd never been to the postseason before or wanted to do it so bad."
The Giants captured the 2010 World Series 4-1 to take their first championship since 1954 while in New York and first World Series title for San Francisco.
"Usually after we won, I found my shortstop and we would shake hands after," Sanchez said of his normal postgame celebration. "I remember, okay, I've got to find Edgar (Renteria). Then it was time to go crazy."
Among the seven former Oklahoma City student-athletes who have reached the majors, Sanchez and Ashur Tolliver have been a part of World Series-winning teams. Tolliver picked up a ring with the Houston Astros in 2017. OCU boasts of 163 former players who have turned professional and 77 taken in the MLB Draft.
In 2020, OCU handed Crabaugh career win No. 1,500. He moved into fourth on the NAIA's all-time baseball coaching win list. His career record stands at 1,516-468-2 in 32 years as OCU coach.

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