Steve Balboni (2020) - Eckerd College Athletics Hall of Fame

Eckerd College Athletics Hall of Fame

Balboni was the starting first baseman of the 1977 baseball team that was the Division II World Series Runner-up. In 1977, he was an ABCA First Team All-American, where he set the Triton program records for single-season homeruns (26) and RBIs (77).
Balboni played from 1976-78 and ranks in the top-10 in seven offensive categories in program history. He holds the homerun record at 47 and ranks second in extra-base hits, slugging percentage, and RBIs. He also earned All-American accolades in 1978 (third team) from the ABCA as well as Sporting News All-American honors.
Balboni was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the 1978 free agent draft. He made his MLB debut in 1981 with the Yankees and also played for the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers over his 11-year career where he hit 181 homeruns and drove in 495 runs.
During his time with the Royals, he helped lead the team to the World Series title in 1985. He set the Royals single-season homerun record with 36 in that same season. He is the first baseball player from the Sunshine State Conference to win a World Series Title.
He is a Hall of Fame member in the Sunshine State Conference, Cape Cod League, and AAA International.
He spent 10 years as a Major League Advance Scout for the San Francisco Giants organization.