Sam Fuld - Baseball Career - College

College

"I had pretty much made up my mind, both from my perspective and my parents' perspective, that college would be the best option for me. I really value education and I know if you sign out of high school there is always the opportunity to go back and get your degree, but it's tough to go back for four years when you're done playing ball. And I wanted to get my degree."

A total of 94 colleges approached Fuld after high school, and he chose to attend Stanford University. He was an economics major there, ultimately graduating in 2004 with a 3.15 GPA. He was a star two-time All-American, record-setting 4-year starter in center field for the Cardinal, playing alongside future major leaguers Carlos Quentin and Jed Lowrie.

In 2001, as a freshman, he batted .357 as he established himself as the team's leadoff hitter. Fuld was fifth in the Pacific-10 (Pac-10) conference in runs scored (56), sixth in walks (32), and ninth in hits (81). In the post-season he hit .396. He earned NCBWA Third Team All-American honors, and was named a Baseball America Second Team Freshman All-American, All-College World Series, All-NCAA Regional, All-Pac-10, and a Collegiate Baseball Honorable Mention Freshman All-American.

As a sophomore in 2002, he led the Pac-10 in hits (110), breaking Stanford's single-season record, while batting .375, third-best in the conference. Fuld also led the conference in total bases (162), was third in runs scored (67) and doubles (20), and fifth in triples (4). He was named a First-Team (ABCA, Baseball America, Baseball Weekly) and Third-Team (Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA) All-American. He was also named a Jewish Sports Review College Baseball First Team All-American, along with future major leaguers Craig Breslow and Adam Greenberg. In addition, Fuld earned the Stanford Jack Shepard Memorial Award and Come Through Award. He batted .421 with two homers in four CWS games, earning a spot on the All-College World Series Team for the second straight year. Fuld also played with Team USA in the summers of 2001 and 2002.

In 2003, Fuld was named a First-Team (NCBWA) and Third-Team (Baseball America) Pre-Season All-American. In the regular season, as a junior he tied the school season record for runs with 83 (# 1 in the Pac-10). He also hit .321 with 35 RBIs and 10 steals in 10 attempts, leading the conference in triples (9) while coming in fifth in hits (97), eighth in doubles (18) and total bases (145), and ninth in walks (34). In the post-season his 24 career hits broke the College World Series record of 23 set by Keith Moreland in 1973–75. And commenting on his defense, Stanford coach Mark Marquess said: "If it's in the ballpark, he's going to catch it. He's the premier center fielder in college baseball." He earned All-Pac-10 honors for the third straight season. Reflecting on his college career, Fuld said: "I think one of the things you take away from playing under Coach Marquess is whatever you do, be it baseball or anything else, you do it well and you do it with passion. You do it with excitement because, really, that's the way to go about things. Not only in sports, but beyond sports."

Fuld was drafted in the 24th round (703rd overall) of the 2003 Draft by the Chicago Cubs, but did not sign. Marquess thought that Fuld might have been drafted relatively low because, as a 5' 10" leadoff hitter, he did not fit the stereotype of a tall, power-hitting major league outfielder. But Fuld said of the Cub's bid: "It was a generous offer. It was a tough choice." He then batted .361 with 14 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in the summer of 2003 for the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod League, and was voted a Cape Cod League All Star.

Before the 2004 season, Fuld was named a First-Team (NCBWA), Second-Team (Louisville Slugger), and Third Team (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball) Pre-season All-American, and an Honorable Mention Pac-10 All-Academic. Diving for a ball in the outfield in his second-to-last game in college, he broke his shoulder, tore his labrum, and partially tore his rotator cuff. For the season, he received Honorable Mention to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team and All-Conference Team

When he became Stanford's and the Pac-10's all-time leader in runs scored (268), Fuld modestly said: "It means a lot to break the record. Obviously, a record like that is more of a tribute to the teammates I've had over the last four years." When he graduated Stanford, in addition he ranked among the school's all-time top 10 in hits (353; # 2), triples (16; # 3T), and doubles (58; # 6T).

Fuld said: "I want to try my hand. It's been a lifelong dream, really, to play professional baseball. I just love it too much not to give it a shot." The Cubs drafted him for a second time, in the 10th round (306th overall) of the 2004 Draft, and this time Fuld signed. When he made it to the major leagues, he became the 78th former Stanford Cardinal to do so. During the baseball off-season, Fuld returns to Stanford to pursue a master's degree in statistics.