Seminole Scrapbook: Avitable avoids 'one more walk' to set school, NCAA records 67 years ago

Tony Avitable couldn't find the strike zone with consistency.

Florida State's left-handed pitcher walked the lead-off hitter in the top of the first inning in the Seminoles' season-opener against visiting Furman on March 16, 1956. Avitable struck out the next batter but walked the next two to load the bases. As an FSU reliever began to throw in the bullpen, Avitable wiggled out of the jam with two strikeouts.

The second inning didn't start any better.

Avitable again walked the lead-off hitter. After he mixed in a pair of strikeouts, Avitable walked another batter. FSU coach Danny Litwhiler called time out and made his way to the mound.

His message was clear.

"You walk one more and you are out," Avitable, 88, recalled with a laugh.

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Tony Avitable takes message to heart, settles in to set records

Avitable settled in.

He struck out the next hitter to close the second inning.

From that point, the redshirt junior and New York native was nearly unhittable. He walked only one and struck out the side in the third, fifth, seventh and ninth innings.

When the game ended, Avitable had allowed one hit and struck out a school and NCAA record 24 in the 6-1 victory.

To help put Avitable's accomplishment 67 years ago in perspective:

Howie Calhoun set the Seminoles' previous mark of 18 strikeouts in a nine-inning game in 1948.

Mike Loynd, who holds FSU's school record for most strikeouts in a season with 223 in 1986, fanned a career-high 16 in a nine-inning win over South Carolina that season. Richie Lewis, the program's all-time strikeout leader with 520 from 1985-87, struck out 20 batters in complete-game wins over Jacksonville (1986) and UNC-Charlotte (1987).

In 1974, college baseball switched from wood bats to metal to cut costs and boost offense.

While Avitable's FSU record still stands, lefty Buddy Schultz of Miami (Ohio) fanned an NCAA record 26 in a 6-0 win against Wright State in 1971. Ironically, Schultz also received a visit from his coach after he loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth on a single and two walks.

Bud Middaugh had a stern message, too.

“He said, ‘I don’t care how many strike outs you have, we have to win this game. If another guy gets on, I’m taking you out!’ " Schultz told the Journal-News in 2021. Schultz said he thought to himself: “I’ve already struck out 24. We’re winning 6-0. Exactly what is the problem?’ I think he motivated me by really ticking me off.”

Schutlz struck out the next two hitters to end the game.

Tony Avitable credits Litwhiler for changing his life

Avitable's FSU teammates included Lee Corso (ESPN football analyst), Ron Frazier (former Miami coach) and Dick Howser (Kansas City manager). "I remember we couldn't get Dick out (in scrimmage). Everything he hit was a line drive," Avitable said. "He's one of the closest friends I ever had, one of the true gentleman."

After Avitable's playing days at FSU and in three years in professional baseball ended, Avitable remained in Tallahassee and sold insurance. He moved to Naples in 2000, where he lives with wife Ellen, and is in good health. He also continues to follow the Seminoles, who opened the Link Jarrett coaching era with a season-opening sweep of visiting James Madison last weekend.

FSU (3-0) is at Jacksonville Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Avitable and former FSU coach Mike Martin, who retired four years ago as the NCAA's all-time winningest coach in any sport, have remained good friends. Martin said the pair often played golf together and were Gin rummy partners until "Tony A. threw down his cards and, when I looked at them, he had Gin rummy," Martin said and laughed.

Avitable landed at FSU in the 1950s from Lindenhurst, New York, because he "wanted to attend a warm weather school. And FSU was much less expensive than all the others."

To this day, Avitable credits Litwhiler for his success.

"I will love Danny to my grave - he changed my whole life," Avitabe said. "He instilled confidence in everyone that played for him."

As Jim Joanos reported for Garnet & Old, FSU was preparing to play a team during the 1955 season that had an excellent left handed pitcher. Litwhiler asked Avitable, the Seminoles' first baseman, to throw batting practice to the team. Avitable made such a good impression with a hard fastball and sweeping curve that Litwhiler kept him at pitcher.

"I was throwing pretty damn good," Avitable said and laughed. "Danny told me, 'From now on, you are no longer a first baseman.' I had a Stan Musial baseball glove I really liked. Danny and I went to a sporting goods store together and purchased a pitcher's mitt."

Despite control issues, Avitable posted a 10-1 career mark at FSU with two one hitters and 135 strikeouts in 95.2 innings. He was inducted into FSU's Hall of Fame in 1991.

When asked if he thought his strikeout record would stand forever in FSU folklore, Avitable admitted:

"I hope so."

FSU strikeouts recorded

Most in Game: 24, Tony Avitable vs. Furman, March 16, 1956

Most in Season: 223, Mike Loynd, 1986

Most in Career: 520, Richie Lewis, 1985-87

FSU strikeouts per 9 innings (Min. 50 IP)

14.15 Mac Scarce, 1970-71

13.64 Ross Dunn, 2021-22

12.98 Parker Messick, 2020-22

12.90 Mike DiBlasi, 1997-00

12.47 Tony Avitable, 1955-56

12.33 Davis Hare, 2020-22

12.23 Richie Lewis 1985-87

12.10 Shane Drohan, 2018-20

11.76 Wyatt Crowell, 2021-22

11.76 Bryce Hubbart, 2020-22

Tony Avitable bio

Hall of Fame Class: 1991 (Baseball)

Florida State pitcher Tony Avitable’s feat of striking out 24 Furman batters in 1956 is one of the school records that may never be broken, but that was not his only notable feat. Avitable was an outstanding pitcher for FSU in 1955 and ’56 with a fastball timed in the 90s and a great curve ball. His career record was a sparkling 10-1 at FSU with two one-hitters and 135 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings pitched. Avitable’s 24 strikeouts in a single game stood as the NCAA record for 17 years until broken in 1973. Additionally, Avitable was the pitcher in FSU’s first NCAA regional appearance. He threw one of his two-hitters in that game vs. Duke, coming out on top 2-1. He signed with Kansas City after his junior year and played three years of professional ball. - Info provided by Seminoles.com

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU lefty Tony Avitable struck out a record 24 hitters vs. Furman in 1956