Christian Brothers University Athletics

Earl Gillespie was one of the most important figures in the early days of the CBC athletics department. He made his first impact as a basketball player, playing from 1962 to 1965. During his senior year, he led the Bucs to an 80-76 win over Southern Mississippi. He was named team MVP of the 1964-65 team, averaging 18.3 points per game. For his career, he scored 776 points in 65 games. After graduation, he spent two years as an assistant coach before taking over a fledgling baseball program. He led the Bucs to three straight winning seasons, including a 38-12 record in 1970 that still ranks as the best in school history. After the program had played at Tobey Park for its first three years, he built Buc Field, which has served as the home of Buccaneer baseball for more than 40 years.