The Ball State Cardinals represent Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, as a varsity intercollegiate athletic team. The program competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a member of NCAA Division I. Since fielding its first team in 1920, Ball State has established a rich baseball tradition, currently led by head coach Rich Maloney. The Cardinals play their home games at Shebek Stadium (formerly known as Ball Diamond) in Muncie.
Ball State holds the record for the most first-round MLB draft picks in Mid-American Conference (MAC) history with eight selections. The program's most historic milestone came in 2002 when Bryan Bullington was selected No. 1 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates—marking the first time in MAC history that an athlete in any sport was taken with the top overall pick.
Ball State: A Legacy of Excellence
Ball State has established itself as the premier program for individual player development in the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals hold the conference record for the most MAC Player of the Year selections (8).
Here is the list of all the MAC Player of the Year awards won by Ball State:
Ball State has employed 17 head coaches since the program began in 1920. Rich Maloney is the program's all-time leader in both wins and tenure, having served two separate stints (1996–2002 and 2013–present). During his 2025 campaign, Maloney reached the milestone of 1,000 career NCAA victories. Other notable long-term coaches include Ray Louthen and Bob Briner, who each led the program for 12 seasons.
