Graduate Inspires Students with Major League Baseball Debut

September 12, 2007

Today's team members carrying on major-leaguer Fuld's success

It's a long way from the fields of PEA to a major league pennant race. But that's where Sam Fuld '00 finds himself. Last Thursday, Sam made his on-field debut at Wrigley Field for the Cubs, who currently trail the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by a single game. Sam pinch-ran for Cliff Floyd and scored his first run on Alfonso Soriano's three-run homer. After taking his position in right field, Sam caught a fly ball for his first playmaking out. Heady stuff for the former three-season athlete at PEA and two-time All American from Stanford.

Sam Fuld '00 inspires with his recent score-making
entry into the major leagues

Chris, a senior and member of the Exeter varsity baseball team, finds special inspiration in Fuld (shown at right), who was his hitting instructor on the local American Legion team on which both athletes played. "Sam is great and very humble," he explains. "I play for Dover Post 8 just like Sam did. The older kids point out where Sam hit home runs that we could only dream of hitting. When I heard that Sam made it all the way to the Cubs, I was happy… I'm glad he finally got the chance to get to the majors." Dana Barbin, still an assistant coach here, recalls the excitement Fuld brought to the other players: "The other kids really enjoyed the excitement of Sam's years here. He was a team leader and three-year team captain, who remained modest despite all the attention." Athletic Director Rob Morris echoes these sentiments: "People are excited and proud of Fuld's accomplishments."

Fuld is like many other student athletes at PEA: he found a formula that allowed him to perform well both on the field and in the classroom. According to Fuld, "The most important thing you need to do at Exeter to be successful both academically and athletically is learn how to budget your time."

Fuld provided this perspective on his success, while still a student at PEA: "I know that to be successful with sports and academics you need to make some sacrifices, and I'm sure it is even more true in college. At Exeter, I've learned how to focus on the task at hand, and not to be distracted by something else. If I have a big game on a Wednesday or Saturday afternoon, I still have to be very focused during the classes I have that day." Helpful advice back in 2000, and still valuable for today's athletes.

To see a video clip of a great catch made by Fuld for the Cubs on 9/22/07, click on this link from the Cubs website: Catch Clip.

Interested in learning more?

Check out athletics at Exeter...

Read Sam Fuld's profile in The Exeter Bulletin, Summer 2000...