Long Beach State alumni in the World Series: Past and present
Baseball is so important to Cal State Long Beach’s identity that players and fans consider being called a “Dirtbag” — a nod to the no-frills practice diamond of yesteryear — to be a a genuine distinction.
The Beach also has a proud history of Dirtbags going on to play and coach in the major leagues. Hardball fans watching the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, which begins tonight at Dodger Stadium, may catch a glimpse of former Dirtbag Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima '05 in the Los Angeles dugout.
Nakajima formerly the Dirtbags’ equipment manager, is an assistant athletic trainer for the Dodgers, having served on the organization’s staff for more than two decades as the Long Beach State team’s equipment manager, according to the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.
"Long Beach State taught me about winning," Nakajima said. "How to win a baseball game every single day.”
Beach alumni have appeared in several World Series over the decades, part of the rich tradition of campus athletes who have performed at high levels in international and professional competitions. Here’s a look at some alumni who have appeared as players in the World Series – a few of whom earned rings.
George 'Red' Witt
George "Red" Witt ‘61, ‘70 was already playing professional baseball while enrolled. A Jan. 8, 1958, article in “The Forty-Niner" reported that Witt, 24 years old at the time, was one of two on-campus pros who had signed up to assist Long Beach State’s baseball coach. Witt won a World Series ring with the 1960 Pirates, participating as a relief pitcher according to a Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) bio. He later served as a high school coach before finding greater fulfillment as a biology teacher, saying in a quote recounted by SABR, that “I haven’t had a morning yet when I’ve gotten up and haven’t loved the thought of going to work.”
Rod Gaspar
Outfielder Rod Gaspar ‘68 and the “Miracle Mets” won the 1989 World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. Gaspar even scored the winning run in Game Four when he dashed to home plate all the way from second base when a teammate bunted for a single during the 10th inning, according to his Long Beach State Hall of Fame Bio.
“There were over 55,000 people there and the noise was incredible. Only after I turned and saw the ball rolling toward second base that I took off for home and scored. The first person to greet me was the winning pitcher, Tom Seaver. It was his only World Series victory in his career,” Gaspar told author Maury Allen in a quote recounted by SABR.
Chris Gomez
Chris Gomez is among several Dirtbags whose play on the diamond contributed to Long Beach State’s ability to claim the title of “Shortstop U.” Among the alumni who had long tenures in the big leagues, Gomez appeared with the San Diego Padres during the 1998 trip to the World Series, won by the Yankees.
Jason Giambi
Jason Giambi was a member of the Yankees when he played during the 2003 World Series, won by the Florida Marlins. A five-time All Star, per Baseball Reference.com, Giambi won the American League MVP in 2000 while playing for the Oakland Athletics. He was inducted into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in 1999 and in addition to his collegiate and professional career, Giambi also played for U.S. Olympic baseball team in 1992.
Mike Gallo
Mike Gallo took the mound for the Houston Astros during the 2005 World Series. That was the only time the Astros represented the National League in the Fall Classic and, ultimately, a victory for the Chicago White Sox. Gallo is also among several alumni who have explained why it’s an honor to be known as a Dirtbag.
“A Dirtbag is a style of playing the game of baseball,” he once said. “It is the type of player every team needs... Loves to play the game everyday... He maybe does not have all the skills of the greatest player, but his attitude and the way he commits himself to the game is what makes this Dirtbag great. Dealing with adversity is what completes being a Dirtbag. A team player at all times (hardnosed).”
Troy Tulowitzki
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki played in the Colorado Rockies only World Series appearance, the 2007 Fall Classic that concluded with a Boston Red Sox championship. Beforehand, Colorado’s string of wins on the way to the National League pennant led to the origination of the term “Rocktober.” Tulowitzki was a five-time All Star and was inducted in the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in 1993. He pledged $1 million to improvements at Blair Field, the Dirtbag’s home site, while accepting the honor.
“There was not a day or a game that did not go by when I didn’t appreciate and remember all the great players who had played on that same field,” Tulowitzki said in the summer 2014 edition of Beach Magazine.
Evan Longoria
Third baseman Evan Longoria appeared in two World Series, playing with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023. In the former series, he even competed against another former Dirtbag. Philadelphia Phillies utility player Greg Dobbs played for Long Beach State before transferring to Oklahoma.
Although the Phillies won the 2008 Series, and the Texas Rangers claimed the 2023 crown, Longoria nevertheless had an exemplary career. The 2008 American League Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star, he earned induction into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in 2015. He gave $100,000 to Blair Field’s renovation in 2017, saying he was “excited to help restore Blair Field as one of the premier amateur ballparks on the West Coast.”
Matt Duffy
Infielder Matt Duffy and the San Francisco Giants triumphed in the 2014 World Series, a contest that featured one more Dirtbag – Kansas City Royals pitcher Jason Vargas – on the playing field. The two alumni even went head-to-head, and Duffy hit a single against Vargas during the series. He also won the Giants’ Willie Mac Award the following season, being selected by his teammates and coaches.
In addition to his accomplishments as a baseball player, Duffy also gained a level of internet fame as the owner of a large orange cat.
Jason Vargas
Jason Vargas pitched for the Royals during the 2014 World Series. He missed out on the Royals’ victorious return to the Fall Classic the following year due to injury but nevertheless received a ring, according to an April 22, 2017, article in the Topeka Capital-Journal. That article reported on Vargas’ promising return from Tommy John surgery, and he went on to lead the American League with 18 wins and earn an All-Star Selection.
Vargas was inducted to the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in 2018 and previously gave $100,000 to Blair Field.
“I'm very grateful to Long Beach State for helping me improve as a player," he said in 2017. “I learned a lot during my time as a Dirtbag, and those lessons have been extremely valuable throughout my career. I'm fortunate to be able to give back to Long Beach State and the renovations at Blair Field, and hopefully this will help future Dirtbags reach their potential.”
Bryan Shaw
Bryan Shaw, who became the 40th Long Beach State player to reach the majors in 2011, was part of baseball history in 2016 when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series after going more than a century since their last championship. As it happened, however, Shaw was on the other side as a member of the team now known as the Cleveland Guardians.
That acknowledged, Shaw helped his team to the pennant and was credited with two wins during that year’s American League Championship Series.
