California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Steve Flanigan was a three-year starting catcher for the baseball team in 1991, 1994 and 1995.

He was a two-time, first-team all-conference selection and the 1995 PSAC West Athlete of the Year. The versatile Flanigan also played third base when needed. 

The Vulcans compiled a 78-54 cumulative record (.591) during his three seasons on the diamond, and those teams helped the program achieve 10-consecutive winning seasons from 1988-97. 

He played for retired Cal U baseball coach and emeritus professor Chuck Gismondi ´64, a 2003 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee. The graduate assistant coach during Flanigan's final two seasons was Mike Conte ´95, who is in his 21st season as Cal U's baseball coach.

Flanigan is the 26th baseball player to receive the university's highest athletic honor and received word of his honor through a phone call from Gismondi.

"I was in shock and actually got some chills when he told me because that was half my life ago," Flanigan said. "It's really overwhelming when you actually hear it and I am very grateful."

Flanigan batted .347 as a freshman while playing third base and catcher, and occasionally stepping up as the designated hitter. He led the team with 18 extra-base hits. 

After time away from the University, he returned to Cal U in 1994 and batted .352, with 23 extra-base hits.

During that season, Flanigan helped the Vulcans set a school record with 32 wins and make its first PSAC Final Four appearance in four years. That squad also earned the program's first-ever NCAA Division II national ranking at No. 25.  

As a senior, Flanigan posted career highs with a .432 average, 64 hits, eight home runs and 16 doubles, a school record at the time. He was named first-team all-conference and earned all-region honors.

Flanigan finished his career tied for fourth with a .376 batting average and 172 hits — totals that now rank sixth and 11th in school history. Other career totals are still in the school record book's top 10 more than two decades later: 15 triples, 36 doubles, 18 home runs and 121 RBI.  He also had 19 career stolen bases in 22 attempts.

"I took great pride in my offense, but also worked just as hard on my defense," said Flanigan. "I thought throwing out a runner trying to steal second meant as much to me as hitting a home run."

Gismondi's enthusiasm was evident when asked about Flanigan more than 20 years later.

"I could go on an on about Steve Flanigan and he was one of the best to ever play for me," said Gismondi, who guided the baseball team from 1980 through 1996 after serving seven seasons as the assistant coach.  "Steve was intense and could get pretty fired up but he accepted my coaching.

"He was a great hitter with power who you could put anywhere in the field and he'd do very well because he was such an all-around athlete."

Flanigan appreciated Gismondi's no-nonsense, professional approach.

"Chuck was old school, no facial hair, earrings or things like that," recalled Flanigan. "I did not have any of that anyways so I had no problems with that or him. He was good coach and man to play for."

Flanigan also credited Conte, who had played five years of professional baseball with the Oakland A's organization.

"When Mike came in you had a lot of respect because of his professional career which was something we all dreamt abut and he had done it," Flanigan said. "He's been at Cal U doing a great job ever since then."

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Flanigan in the 21st round of the 1995 Major League Draft, making him just the seventh Vulcan baseball player selected by Major League Baseball. Since then only two Cal U players, first baseman Kyle Petty in 2013 and outfielder Mick Fennell in 2016, have been selected in the Major League Draft.

Flanigan began his pro career with the Erie Sea Wolves of the Class A New York-Pennsylvania League. In 25 games, he batted .271.

"Pro ball was tough and in Erie there was another catcher that I would split time with," Flanigan said.  "Often guys would come down from the higher level that were rehabbing and they would play before you did because of the time and money invested in them.

"It was challenging."

One of Flanigan's teammates that season at Erie was former Vulcan teammate shortstop Rick Venezia, who the Pirates took in the 34th round of the 1994 MLB Draft.

"Rich is a good friend and we lived together and he knew all the guys which really helped," said Flanigan. "Plus Kittanning was just an hour and a half drive from Erie so family, relatives and friends would always drive up and that was something."

In 1996, he played 49 games with the Augusta GreenJackets of the Class A South Atlantic League; he produced six doubles, 17 RBI and two stolen bases.

His final year in the professional ranks was with Adirondack (NY) Lumberjacks in the independent Northeast League. Flanigan appeared in 50 games and batted .273 with 10 extra-base hits and seven stolen bases.

Conte, who worked extensively with the hitters as the graduate assistant coach, told Flanigan after a season-ending loss at Slippery Rock in 1995 that he was not done playing.

"It is incredibly hard to just make it to the professional level and Steve accomplished that," said Conte. "I am honored to have worked with Steve for two seasons. He was an exceptional player with a great passion for the game and I am proud and happy about him making the Hall of Fame."

Originally from Kittanning, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Kittanning High School, Flanigan was a four-year standout for the Wildcats. After playing two years at third base, he began catching at the suggestion of his scholastic coach, Brad Hobaugh. The Wildcats reached the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals in Flanigan's senior season.

For the past 19 years, Flanigan has worked for Ro-Suco, Inc.; a manufacturing company in Worthington, Pennsylvania, where he oversees the day-to-day operations.

Flanigan and his wife, Kelly, and stepson, Richard, reside in Ford City, Pennsylvania

"Our son went to Cal for two years and we love coming back because this is hardly the same campus it used to be," said Flanigan. "I could have went to any of the PSAC schools but chose Cal and it was definitely the right decision."

updated 04/12/17