Hall of Fame
Charley Blakley, who was reared in St. Joseph, Mo., enrolled at the university in 1967 and made an immediate impact on the Bulldog football and baseball scene. Mr. Blakley was voted the outstanding freshman back on the football team as a two-way player his first season, and he made the All-MIAA team twice and the All-Conference honorable mention list once during his football career. In the four years he lettered in football, he was consistently at the top or close to the top of the list for team scoring, receiving and rushing. As a senior, he was team captain. Mr. Blakley was captain of the baseball team three of the four years he lettered in that spring sport. In 1971 he was the team and MIAA MVP after batting .449 to lead the NCAA College Division hitters in his region. He was selected to the All-Regional first team. At one time, Mr. Blakley held six school baseball records. He was the recipient of the 1971 Stickler Cup. He was drafted by the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals in the second round and played two seasons in their farm system. He started coaching in 1971 at Central High School in St. Joseph, assisting with football, baseball, and wrestling. Mr. Blakley became head baseball coach in 1979 and major league clubs has drafted nine of his players. He has 154 victories as a head baseball coach. Mr. Blakley has also participated in fast-pitch softball and has played in eight national tournaments, making the All-World team once and All-American team twice. He was chosen as an Outstanding Young American in 1981.
