The Gamecocks are officially in the Hall. Two of the most iconic figures in South Carolina baseball history, Kip Bouknight and Ray Tanner, have officially been selected for induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The honor is a testament to their impact not just on the diamond, but on the culture of South Carolina baseball. The pair are part of the 2025 induction class announced Monday by the College Baseball Foundation, marking the first time that the Gamecocks have ever been enshrined in the Hall.
They are part of a group of 21 inductees who will be honored at the 2026 Night of Champions presented by Prariefire in Overland Park, Kansas, on February 12, 2026, the ceremonial kickoff to the 2026 college baseball season.
Kip Bouknight: South Carolina's All-Time Ace
Bouknight is the most decorated pitcher in South Carolina history, and his stats speak for themselves.
- Career record: 45-12, the winningest pitcher to ever wear garnet and black
- School record 482 innings pitched and 66 career starts
- 457 career strikeouts, the most in program history
- 2000 SEC Pitcher of the Year and SEC Champion
During his best season in the year 2000, Bouknight went 17-1, leading South Carolina to a 55-10 record, an SEC title, and back-to-back Super Regionals in 2000 and 2001. He was also named a consensus All-American and the Golden Spikes Award. Bouknight is only one of five Golden Spikes winners in this year's Hall of Fame class.
Ray Tanner: A Baseball Empire
Tanner's coaching resume is second to none in college baseball, and now his accolades will include a Hall of Fame nod. In his 16 years as head coach of the Gamecocks, he turned South Carolina into a national powerhouse.
- 738 wins at South Carolina, 1,133 career wins overall
- Back-to-back national titles in 2010 and 2011
- Runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2012
- Six College World Series appearances
- Three SEC Championships, six SEC East titles, and 10 NCAA Super Regional appearances
From 2010 to 2012, Tanner's team posted an NCAA record of 22 straight postseason wins and 12 straight wins in Omaha. South Carolina set the standard for college baseball during that time. Tanner coached a star-studded lineup of Gamecock greats as well, including two National Players of the Year (Bouknight and Michael Roth), two SEC Players of the Year, and two SEC Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Last season, the field at Founders Park was officially renamed Ray Tanner Field in his honor.
Following his coaching tenure, Tanner serced as South Carolina's Athletic Director from 2012-2024. In that time, he oversaw four national championships (2015 equestrian, 2017, 2022, 2024 women's basketball), 21 SEC titles, and several of South Carolina's best season.
History and Legacy
Bouknight and Tanner, whose numbers are both retired at South Carolina, will now forever be etched in college baseball history. It's a statement for South Carolina baseball.