Terry Kieffer - Corbett Award, 1974

University of New Orleans Baseball

Terry Kieffer, a native of Lake City, Minn., who played his college baseball on the lakefront with the University of New Orleans, was the winner of the eighth annual James J. Corbett Memorial Award.

James J. Corbett Awards

Chosen as the winner of the 1974 award by a committee of sports writers and sportscasters, Kieffer was honored with the presentation of a handsome plaque in ceremonies held at a reception on Sunday, April 20, in the Grand Ballroom of the Royal Sonesta.

It was the first time a baseball player was honored. Previous winners were LSU quarterback Nelson Stokley in 1967, basketball scoring ace Pete Maravich of LSU in 1968 and 1969, Tulane linebacker Rick Kingrea in 1970, Rodney Milburn of Southern University in track in 1971 and 1973, and Bert Jones, LSU quarterback, in 1972.

The UNO lefthander, 6-3 and 190 pounds, posted an overall 15-0 season record during 1974 in hurling the Privateers to the South Regional Division II playoffs. He had 89 strikeouts, appeared in 17 games, started 16 and completed 12.

He had an earned run average of 2.32 for 124 innings and was named to the first team All-America berth by coaches in Division II.

Performing as a junior last year for UNO, Kieffer was a transfer student from Indian Hills Community College of Centerville, Iowa. Last spring he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League.

Others receiving votes were running back Brad Davis of LSU, defensive tackle Gary Johnson of Grambling College, shortstop Bobby Taylor of Nicholls State, Fred Dean, defensive tackle at Louisiana Tech, defensive back Mike Williams of LSU, basketballer Wilbur Holland of UNO and basketballers Phil Hicks of Tulane.

Buddy Diliberto, sports director of WVUE-TV, Channel 8, served as chairman of the 1974 Corbett Memorial Award Selection Committee.

Bernie J. Grenrood, a past president of the New Orleans Mid-Winer Sports Association, serves as chairman of the James J. Corbett Memorial Awards Committee, and Captain Joe T. Katz, USN (Ret.), and executive director of the Sugar Bowl, is secretary of this committee.

[Reprinted from the 1975 Sugar Bowl History Book]