L to R: President Tom McDaniel, Hall of Fame Inductee Dwight Erhard, Athletic Director Jim Abbott, and Baseball Coach Denney Crabaugh at the 2005 Hall of Fame Induction.

Oklahoma City University inducted former baseball player Dwight Erhard into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005.

The ceremony was held on homecoming weekend at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club before a gathering of 350.

Erhard started all four years at OCU as a pitcher and an outfielder from 1975-79. He won 22 games and struck out 165 in 270 career innings. Erhard played for former coach Don Brown. Erhard chose OCU over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Brigham Young, Phillips and Southwest Missouri State.

Some of Erhard's best memories of OCU are beating the University of Oklahoma twice his senior year and making the all-conference tournament team. He made lifelong friendships while at OCU.

"I had opportunities to go to other schools, but I'm glad that I came to OCU and had the opportunity to help restart the baseball program," Erhard said. "Most of the schools that we played were better funded, but we managed to enjoy some success against them."

The Stars won the 2005 NAIA championship.

"We enjoy a lot of baseball success today," OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. "We owe what we are today to our alums like Dwight Erhard that set the foundation for our success."

OCU was a member of the NCAA Division I during Erhard's time.

"It's been long overdue for the baseball players who played during the NCAA days to be recognized for their accomplishments," OCU coach Denney Crabaugh said. "Those guys set the foundation for where we're at."

When Erhard left OCU, he was the record holder for career wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. He held the single-season record for innings and was second in wins and strikeouts. He had the fourth-best single-season earned run average.

"He set the standard for all the other pitchers that followed him," Crabaugh said. "I wanted to honor that time period. He was natural because of the records he set when he left here."

Erhard attended Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., from 1973-1975. He made the baseball all-state team as a senior and all-city his junior and senior years. Erhard lettered three times in baseball and twice in football. He was coached by Bill Tipton.

In 1974, Erhard played on an American Legion state championship team. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award for outstanding athlete in baseball in 1974. He was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Key Club.

Erhard moved to Salt Lake City in 1980 and became involved in several businesses. He currently works for SkyWest Airlines.

He is married to the former Diane Clifford, his high school sweetheart from Norman. They have been married for 25 years. The couple have five children - Michelle, 23; Nicole, 22; Lauren, 21; Rachel, 18; and Tyler 12.

Erhard recognizes the link between the present and when he was at OCU.

"I'm so proud of what Denny Crabaugh and the current team has accomplished by winning the national championship," Erhard said. "We started it and they finished it."