Phil Kaiser was a Longshots Baseball player who embodied who we are & who we hope to be.

He grew up as a shortstop, as he was a great youth athlete.  His dad, a former pitcher, developed him as a fierce competitor who studied and learned the game.  He played third base, outfield, and pitched for our class of 2008 team for a few years.  Over his career here, he earned respect as a player and a friend.  He was the kind of player you wanted "there" when the game was on the line.  He was the kind of teammate that you wanted when things weren't going your way.   He was the kind of friend you wanted when things were tough in your life. His serious, yet carefree spirit was a special blend. He was special - simple, humble, fiercely loyal, a leader who didn't need a 'C' on his jersey.  And he was a winner in sports and life.

Phil committed to Eastern Kentucky University because he wanted to play for Coach Corbin and Coach Dominguez.  When the coaches took the Bradley job, Phil followed them... always the loyal guy.  People and relationships meant more to Phil than all the trophies he won as a star multi-sport athlete.

Phil went on to play two years for Bradley before tragically passing away from a previously unknown heart ailment in October 2010.  That Fall, his Junior year, he was rated by many pro scouts as the top collegiate pitching potential draft pick in Illinois.

At his funeral, along with hundreds of friends and family, the church was also filled with former Longshots teammates, former Nazareth HS football players, former travel hockey teammates... and buses and buses of Bradley students who traveled to the Chicago area, along with the University President.  It spoke volumes about Phil's impact on people... and it also told you what Bradley University is about.

Every year at our Alumni game, his former teammates hang his jersey in the Alumni dugout during the game. Our younger alumni in that dugout get a sense of his legacy from his former teammates and coaches as they feel his presence amongst his former teammates.

So, instead of retiring his number, as he would have hated that - and the fact that no one would be wearing Babe Ruth's #3... so appropriate - we have decided to award it to the the one player in our entire Senior Division who most represents his values, character and play.  Sam Bumpers (Lamar University and Colorado Rockies 2014 draft pick) was the first player we had wear #3 in his honor.  And he wore it well for two years.

Here are some of our considerations...

Does #3 go to the best player?

Phil was one of the best high school players in the Midwest and he was one of the top collegiate pitching prospects from Illinois. He was an amazingly talented player who could not only throw the ball in the 90’s, but could hit it 450 feet, and play any position well. That’s part of it, but that’s not what really made Phil special.

Does #3 go to the hardest working player?

Phil worked very hard to develop the skills that helped make him a great player. If you played catch with Phil, he would almost always throw it a little harder than you were comfortable catching. He pushed his teammates and challenged them to push back. Part of that was work ethic and part of that was competitiveness, but that’s not what really made Phil special.

Does #3 go to the most athletic player? A multi-sport player?

Phil wasn’t just a great baseball player; he was also a state-playoff quarterback and top-level travel hockey player. Phil was the kind of athlete who excelled at any sport he took up. He was truly terrific athlete competing at the highest levels in his sports. Phil just wanted to compete and be the best at everything he did. But athleticism wasn’t what really made Phil special.

Does #3 go to the best leader?

Phil had lots of leadership qualities. When he played, he never shied away from crunch time. He wanted to pitch against the best opponent's in the most critical games when the pressure was greatest. He wanted to come to the plate when the team really needed a hit. He wanted to face the opponents best pitcher. The way he played was admired by his teammates and opponents, but his leadership wasn’t what really made Phil special.

What made him special was a unique blend of all these things, combined with an extraordinary level of humility and care of 'his buddies/teammates".

Phil will always be an important part of Longshots Baseball - part of our history, part of our inspiration for the future.  He taught us all how to keep things in perspective, yet focus on what matters. He truly was what we want our players to be...  really good players, really good leaders, really good teammates, really good friend and REALLY good people.

The player who is chosen to wear #3 shares the following traits with Phil Kaiser...

• Loves baseball and wishes he could play every day
• Works very hard but balances it with always having fun
• Competes fiercely but fairly…he must always maintain sportsmanship
• Always takes responsibility for his actions, in and out of baseball. Always.
• Makes his teammates better Longshots, people and friends