Eastern Connecticut State University

Right-handed pitcher Brian J. Cassidy used impeccable control and a devastating slider to become only the fourth athlete to date to gain E-Club Hall of Fame induction in as few as two traditional seasons. In only 35 career appearances at Eastern after transferring from the NAIA level, the 6-foot-3 inch, 175-pounder won 20 of 25 decisions with three saves and a miniscule 2.24 ERA.  He completed nearly half (12) of his 25 starts, four of which resulted in shutouts. The Scituate, Mass. resident was named ABCA All-America team, first-team All-New England,  and competed in the New England College All-Star Game at Fenway Park each season at Eastern. In his first year, he was 9-3 with a save and 1.98 ERA in 95 2/3 innings, and as a senior, was 11-2 with two saves and a 2.50 ERA in 97 1/3 innings and led the Warriors to the Northeast Regional championship and a spot in the NCAA Division III national tournament. Backed by its undisputed ace, Eastern qualified for consecutive NCAA Division III regional tournaments, advancing to the ‘87 national tournament after Cassidy fired a complete-game six-hitter in the regional championship game. Cassidy became the sixth member of the prestigious 20-win club in his final collegiate start when he tossed a complete-game eight-hitter in the second round of the ‘87 nationals. In two New England College All-Star Game appearances (one start), Cassidy fanned eight University Division all-stars over four innings, among them eventual major league all-star shortstops Mike Bordick and Gary DiSarcina. Among the 11 other pitchers in program history to have won as many as 20 career games, all but one pitched more than Cassidy’s career total of 193.0 innings. Among 20-game winners, Cassidy’s career winning percentage of .800 also ranks in a tie for fourth. In his career, Cassidy accumulated a 3.3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At the time of graduation, he ranked second all-time by averaging only 2.05 walks per nine innings in his career.