Hall of Fame
Bill Anderson was one of those serendipitous stories that should happen sometimes for every coach. About 1/3 of the way into the season of his sophomore year he came by the baseball field to talk to someone about participating. Coach Land was headed to Kansas City for an NAIA meeting and wasn’t around to talk, so he told Anderson that he could play in the junior varsity game against San Diego State. Anderson did and went 4-for-4 with two doubles. Upon Coach Land’s return, JV coach Bill Olin told him, “I think maybe you ought to take a look at this guy Coach.” After that, Anderson was a member of the varsity starting lineup for three years.
His career batting average was .386. In his senior year, 1982, Anderson batted .438. Perhaps the ultimate compliment was paid to Anderson by an opposing coach who told Land; “if the bases were loaded in the ninth inning and we had a two-run lead with two outs and Bill Anderson was at the plate, I would walk him intentionally and face the next batter with only a one run lead.”
That comment came after he had watched Anderson, a two-time All-American, plant two of Todd Worrell’s fast balls over the fence to lead the Crusaders to a win in a District Three Championship game. Worrell was pretty good pitcher too; in 1985 he set a record for saves as a Dodger and signed for a $4.2 million contract.
Anderson graduated magna cum laude in 1982 which led to his second Academic All-American honor. He turned down the Atlanta Braves to enroll in seminary. Since then he has started two churches, including the Oak Creek Presbyterian Church in Canyon Country where he settled.
The award for Outstanding Achievement by an Athlete was presented to Anderson by Jim Bond.
