USC's Thom Elected to College Baseball Hall of Fame

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The College Baseball Foundation announced the 2024 induction class for the College Baseball Hall of Fame at a press conference held Friday at Kauffman Stadium. Pitcher Bill Thom of the University of Southern California was among 11 players chosen for induction.

Thom starred for the USC Trojans on the mound from 1957 to 1959. He finished his three years of varsity play with a 23-5 record and 165 strikeouts. He earned First Team All-America honors in 1959 when he won 10 games with a 1.44 ERA and 58 strikeouts.

Thom was USC's first-ever College World Series Most Outstanding Player when he led Troy to the 1958 national championship. In the semifinal game versus Missouri, he tossed a three-hit shutout to force the decisive game. The next night, he returned to the mound in the 8th inning of a 7-7 tie and threw another 4.1 scoreless innings.

Thom earned a career-high 76 strikeouts in 1958. He received first team All-CIBA honors in 1958 and 1959 and made All-District VIII in 1958. Thom was inducted into the USC Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Class of 2024 will be formally inducted in a ceremony at the Night of Champions, on February 13, 2025, in Overland Park, Kansas, home of the College Baseball of Fame.