A former university baseball player has become the third Saluki in four years, and the first SIU baseball player ever, to be inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.

The MVC chose Steve Finley, a 1987 SIU graduate, Aug. 13 to be inducted into the 2014 Hall of Fame class in March. Other inductees include Chris Bucknam of Northern Iowa, Bradley’s Gavin Glinton, Dr. Linda Herman of Illinois State and Indiana State’s Bob King.

SIU head baseball coach Ken Henderson said Finley’s induction could help the athletic program gain notoriety.

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“(Finley) is one of the most decorated SIU athletes we have had,” he said. “It is a well deserved honor for our baseball program and our athletic department.”

Finley was a two-time first-team All-MVC selection in 1986 and 1987. In 1986, Finley was also selected to be a third team All-American to finish his impressive SIU career. While enrolled at the university, Finley set the school record for most runs scored by any SIU player with 175 runs in four years. Finley still remains in the record book for fourth in number of games played, third in amount of doubles hit and second in bases stolen.

Henderson said the hall of fame induction will help with player recruitment.

“Tradition is very important to me,” he said. “We have a great history and this will help us get back to the successes of those great days and teams. “(SIU) should certainly embrace our history, and Steve is a great part of that.”

Finley grew up in Paducah, Ky., and attended Paducah Tilghman High School where he played baseball. Tilghman athletic director Dwayne Wall said Finley exemplifies success at his high school.

“We look for role models for our kids,” Wall said. “He is just the one to have the go ahead and show kids you can reach your dreams if you work hard at it. He sets a legacy of what is expected and has helped enhance programs.”

After Finley’s college career, the Baltimore Orioles selected Finley in the 13th round of the 1987 MLB draft. Finley’s first Major League Baseball game was April 3, 1989 against the Boston Red Sox. In his lengthy 19-year professional career, Finley won five Gold Glove Awards in 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2004, and was selected to the All-Star team twice in 1997 and 2000. In 2001, he helped the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees to win his first and only World Series championship.

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Senior baseball player Donny Duschinsky said he has memories of watching Finley in the 2001 World Series.

“I remember watching the games in my basement cheering against the Yankees because my family are Red Sox fans,” Duschinsky said. “It was one of the greatest series you could ever watch and to have it come down to the last hit was unbelievable.”

In his 19-year career, Finley played for eight teams including the Orioles, Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He concluded his career with the Colorado Rockies in 2007.

The 2014 MVC Hall of Fame ceremony is set to commence on March 7 as a part of the MVC basketball tournament. In an MVC statement, commissioner Doug Elgin said the conference is proud to honor the new inductees.

“The Class of 2014 is comprised of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators who brought significant recognition and honor to their institutions and to themselves,” Elgin said. “We are humbled at this opportunity to salute them for their legendary contributions to athletics in the MVC.”