ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine baseball team has announced that 1964 College World Series Most Outstanding Player Joe Ferris '66, will become the latest honoree on the team's Wall of Legends. Ferris' name and number 29 will be unveiled on the outfield fence prior to Maine's final home game of the season on Saturday, May 18 against Binghamton. Saturday's festivities will begin at approximately 10:35 a.m. prior to the 11:00 a.m. scheduled first pitch.
 
Ferris, Maine's only College World Series Most Outstanding Player, still holds records for win percentage in a season (9-0, 1.000 in 1964) and career (16-3, .842). Ferris' 9-0 record included two wins in Maine's first College World Series appearance, as the Brewer, Maine native held Seton Hall to just a single run in a 5-1 win in the opening game.
 
He was called upon in relief in Maine's third game of that World Series against No. 2 Arizona State. With the Black Bears leading 4-2, the Sun Devils put two runners on base with two out. As Ferris entered the game, he would face future big leaguer Sal Bando, who would go on to knock 242 career home runs with the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers. After getting ahead 0-2 in the count, Ferris would throw three consecutive balls.
 
In one of Ferris' biggest moments of his Black Bear career, he got Bando to swing over a sinker below his knees for the third out of the inning, as he earned a save in two-plus innings of work.
 
Maine would go on to face defending champion USC in game four, in Ferris' second start of the CWS. Maine would end up winning 2-1, as Ferris would retire 17 consecutive batters after allowing the one run. USC threatened in the eighth inning, but Ferris would strand the bases loaded.
 
In the next game, Maine would fall 2-1 to No. 1 Missouri, as the Black Bears would finished third in College World Series that season. Ferris posted a 9-0 record with a 2.23 ERA in 1964, including an 0.87 ERA in the CWS to earn win most outstanding player.
 
"Joe has been part of the Black Bear family through it all," said head coach Nick Derba. "He was one of the greats in the program's first College World Series appearances and has been a major supporter of the program since then. Every player that has come through these doors since 1964 has seen Joe around. Not only is he a huge fan of baseball but he attends and supports all Maine athletic events. Joe is a legend and deserves a place on the Wall."
 
Ferris went 4-2 in 1965 and 3-1 in 1966 for an impressive career record of 16-3.
 
Ferris will become the sixth Black Bear to have his number honored on Maine's Wall of Legends, joining fellow Black Bear standouts Mike Bordick (3), Bill Swift (8) and Mark Sweeney (12). Ferris's coach, Jack Butterfield (21) and the Black Bear's all-time winningest manager, John Winkin (5) also hold a spot on the Wall of Legends.
 
After graduating in 1966, he attended law school at the University of Maine and earning his law degree in 1970. He began working for the city of Brewer and is still involved in the local community to date, serving two separate terms as the mayor of Brewer. He was previously inducted into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
 
Beginning in the 2020 season, Maine will enact a new 'revered' jersey policy. The jersey numbers that Mike Bordick (3), Bill Swift (8), Mark Sweeney (12) and Ferris (29) wore during their illustrious careers will be available for select players to wear, with permission from the former player. The player must also be at least be a sophomore in order to earn this honor. The policy will help to continually develop a relationship between the Black Bear greats and the current Maine squad.
 
"The players that are selected to wear these numbers will be connected with the retired numbered player as well as other players that have worn that number," said Derba of the new revered jersey policy. "It is my intention to bring more awareness to the tradition that Maine baseball has. Our past players built this great place, it is our duty to continue to honor them and all players that have worn the Maine jersey"
 
The numbers of former legendary head coaches Butterfield (21) and Winkin (5) will remain retired.
 
Prior to Saturday's game, Maine will honor its six seniors prior to Friday's doubleheader against Binghamton.  
 
-UMaine-