Gamecocks baseball legend Kip Bouknight to have jersey retired
Kip Bouknight, a former Golden Spikes Award winner for Gamecocks baseball, will have his jersey retired on Friday in Columbia.
The ceremony will take place on Friday night prior to South Carolina’s April 28 home contest against Auburn. First pitch for the game is set for 7:00 p.m. EST.
“The retirement of Kip’s jersey is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest players in the history of Gamecock baseball,” Ray Tanner, current AD and former head coach for Bouknight, said in a release issued by USC. “Kip was one of the fiercest competitors I ever coached. He competed to be great and that he was, setting school and career records on his way to earning SEC and national honors.”
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Here is more from GamecocksOnline.com on Bouknight’s jersey being retired, per the official release:
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Bouknight is the winningest pitcher in South Carolina history, compiling a career record of 45-12 with a school record 482 innings and starting a Carolina best 66 games. He holds school records for strikeouts (457) and decisions. In 2000, Bouknight went 17-1 to help lead the Gamecocks to a 55-10 record and an SEC championship.
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After the 2000 season, Bouknight won the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, presented by USA Baseball as the top amateur baseball player in the United States as well as being named a consensus All-America selection by the ABCA, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. He helped Carolina to back-to-back Super Regional appearances in 2000 and 2001.
“I’m excited for Kip and his family to celebrate this exciting announcement,” said head baseball coach Mark Kingston. “He is one of the legends in our program and his impact is still felt to this day. His accomplishments on and off the field have elevated Gamecock baseball and he bleeds Garnet and Black. Congrats to Kip on a well deserved honor.”
Bouknight’s No. 14 jersey will adorn the outfield wall along with former head coach and current Athletics Director Ray Tanner’s No. 1 jersey and former Gamecock pitcher Earl Bass’ No. 13 jersey.
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By policy, there is a five-year waiting period after a former Gamecock student-athlete’s final season of participation before their jersey can be considered for retirement. As part of the policy, the University will retire jerseys, but will not retire numbers. Those numbers previously retired will continue to be in a retired state.
The first 800 fans at Friday’s game will receive a Kip Bouknight rally towel.
The Gamecocks will host Auburn in a three-game SEC series starting Friday night. Saturday’s game will start at 4 p.m. with Sunday’s contest slated for noon. Sunday’s game will be televised on SEC Network.
