Long Beach State 49ers Baseball - The Dirtbag Spirit

The Dirtbag Spirit

Although like all other LBSU sports teams the baseball team is officially known as the 49ers, players and fans alike generally prefer the more colloquial name the "Dirtbags." This ironic handle is a great source of pride and shared identity for the program, in no small part because it's frequently misinterpreted by outsiders as being a disparagement. In fact, various media outlets have highlighted the program's moniker as particularly undesirable. But despite the misunderstandings, the term "Dirtbag" is in fact distinct from truly pejorative demonyms that have been adopted later as symbols of pride (such as Limey and Hoosier). The term was instead coined as a badge of honor, referring to the team's scrappy playing style and success against higher profile programs.

The term first appeared in 1989, the first year under head coach Dave Snow. Snow took a program that finished 14-45 the year before and turned it into a national title contender, posting a 50-15 record and reaching the College World Series for the first time in school history. Remarkably, Snow accomplished all this without the benefit of a generous athletics budget, an experienced roster or even a home field, thus embodying the Dirtbag spirit. More than 20 years later, the Dirtbag name continues to be worn with distinction, by players both old and new.