With the likes of Jacob deGrom & Corey Kluber making it big in MLB, Stetson Univ. has built its own field of dreams

Photos for Headline Surfer / Retired Stetson University Baeball Manager Pete Dunn is shown, above far left in the inset, along with Cleveland Indians pitcher and NY Mets pitcher Korey Kluber, both of whom played for Dunn, (left to right, respectively).

HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

DELAND, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom won the National League Cy Young Award in 2018.

Not to be undone, Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber won the American League Cy Young award in 2014 and 2017.

The two pitching aces of their respective Major League Baseball teams played for the Stetson Hatters.

These two Major League pitching aces played for since-retired Stetson Baseball Manager Pete Dunn, whose home squads became a veritable Field of Dreams. And the playing field itself was provided by a Hall of Famer from Pierson in Chipper Jones.

During four decades at Stetson, Dunn led the Hatters to 1,312 victories, ranking eighth on the list of active coaches. His teams advanced to 17 NCAA Regional Tournament appearances and won nine Atlantic Sun Conference titles.

Dunn was named league coach of the year six times, and in 2014, was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

In that time, Dunn was named league coach of the year six times, and in 2014, was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Before stepping down as the Hatters' managr at the end of the 2017 season, Dunn has seen 62 of his players go on to play professional baseball leagues; nine of them reaching the Major Leagues, with DeGrom and Kluber, who reached the pinnacle of success for their respective Big League teams. 

Before stepping down as the Hatters' managr at the end of the 2017 season, Dunn has seen 62 of his players go on to play professional baseball leagues; nine of them reaching the Major Leagues, with DeGrom and Kluber, who reached the pinnacle of success for their respective Big League teams. 

At the end of the 2017 campaign, Dunn remained a part of the program, serving in the role of head coach emeritus; his efforts focused on fundraising and other areas where he's had a significant impact on the future of Hatters baseball.

Stetson Athletics Director Jeff Altier, himself a former player under Dunn, said he's left a very solid foundation in place for championship level play moving forward.

“As someone who played for Coach Dunn, coached with him and, for the last 20 years served as director of Athletics, I can tell you that no one is more passionate about seeing Stetson Baseball succeed than Pete is,” Altier said.