Gamecock great Landon Powell reflects on SC Athletic Hall of Fame selection
This past week, former South Carolina catcher Landon Powell was elected into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame for the class of 2025. An honor that the North Carolina native doesn’t take lightly.
“I’m humbled, to say the least. As someone who didn’t grow up in the state of South Carolina, to make a big enough impact to be named into this prestigious group of South Carolina greats, I could have never imagined it,” Powell told GamecockCentral, ahead of coaching his North Greenville baseball team in Hawaii.
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A standout for the Gamecocks from 2001-04, Powell earned All-American honors in 2004 and was voted to the All-SEC team twice. A switch-hitter who smacked 44 home runs, 61 doubles, with 193 RBIs, he compiled 265 career hits and scored 176 runs. Regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in program history as well, Powell played a key role in helping South Carolina reach the College World Series in 2002
“Thank you to all the players and coaches who were in the trenches with me during my career. This would never happen without y’all. Thank you to Gamecock Nation for giving me an incredible college experience. You truly are the best fans in the country. Lastly, thank you to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame for the honor. It’s an honor I will always cherish.”
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In 2004, Powell was selected with the 24th overall pick in the first round by the Oakland Athletics. Getting called up to The Show in 2009, he hit ten home runs with 45 RBIs, while batting .207 in his three MLB seasons. One of his most well-known MLB moments came in 2010 when he caught Dallas Braden’s perfect game.
Since retiring as a player, Powell has become one of the top D-II baseball coaches in the country. Leading North Greenville to a D-II national championship in 2022, as of this story, he’s compiled 397 career wins as he begins his 11th season with the program (8-0). Through his first ten years, which included a shortened 2020 COVID-19 season, Powell has led the Trailblazers, formally known as the Crusaders, to six D-II NCAA postseason appearances, five Conference Carolinas tournament titles, and four regular season league championships.
Powell is one of two former Gamecocks who were selected for this year’s class. He joins former South Carolina women’s basketball star Shannon Johnson. Powell and Johnson will be enshrined with Lower Richland football’s Richard Seymour, Furman soccer’s Clint Dempsey, USA-Aiken and Coastal Carolina baseball’s Gary Gilmore, Clemson football’s Harold Olson, Clemson tennis’ Susan Hill-Whitson, Erskine basketball’s Don Whitehead, Claflin women’s basketball’s Nelson Brownlee, and Erskine and College of Charleston soccer’s Ralph Lundy on May 19 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
