Syracuse, N.Y. – The man most responsible for the Le Moyne baseball program's decades-long successes and one of the top players in school history will both be honored as part of the program's 75th anniversary season celebration this spring.

Dick Rockwell, inducted into numerous baseball halls of fame and the all-time winningest coach in any sport in Le Moyne history, will see his uniform number 24 officially retired by the athletic department at an event on April 16.

"We're so excited to be able to honor Coach Rockwell and all that he has meant to the Le Moyne baseball program in a most fitting way," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Bob Beretta. "I can't think of a more appropriate time to celebrate his legacy and the contributions made to the program by Eric Holstein as we honor and recognize the 75th anniversary of Le Moyne College Baseball."

After playing professional baseball in the 1960s with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, Rockwell was named head coach at Le Moyne in 1968. Over the next three decades, Rockwell led the Dolphins to national prominence as Le Moyne qualified for the NCAA tournament 12 of their last 13 years at the Division II level.

Le Moyne's success under Rockwell did not stop with its move to NCAA Division I in 1988. One of the program's most memorable wins came in the NCAA Northeast Regional in Waterbury, Conn., in 1989. Le Moyne defeated national powers Arkansas and Arizona State and the Dolphins overcame a 14-0 deficit to defeat Pennsylvania 18–16 in 12 innings. Although they eventually lost in the finals to Arkansas, the Dolphins earned a place on the national baseball map.

Rockwell was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference North Coach of the Year in 1990, 1992 and 1993.

He compiled a 757-309 career record before retiring from coaching in 1996. He was named the athletic director in 1990, a position he held until he retired in 2007. Le Moyne named its baseball facility "Dick Rockwell Field" in honor of the winningest baseball coach in school history. He also served a stint as Chairman of the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee.

Rockwell ranked fifth on the all-time NCAA Division I winningest active coaches list before retiring. He is a member of both the Le Moyne College and Ithaca College Halls of Fame and was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000.

Holstein, meanwhile, was a four-year starter on the Dolphin teams that won 105 of 134 games and never failed to qualify for postseason play during his tenure in the Green and Gold. He was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team three times. Holstein never hit below .350 and capped his career with a .408 average during his senior season.

Holstein registered 121 career runs batted in, twice leading the Dolphins in that category. He also closed his career with 19 home runs. Holstein's uniform number 13 will also be officially retired at the spring event at the "Heights," joining Rockwell in that honor. It will mark the first two uniform numbers officially retired in program history.

The Le Moyne Baseball 75th Anniversary Celebration event will be held in James Commons on the campus of Le Moyne College and is open to the public. Former players, coaches and staff are scheduled to attend. Following the brunch, a brief pregame ceremony will be held at the field named in Rockwell's honor, preceding Le Moyne's Northeast 10 Conference doubleheader versus Saint Rose.

Tickets for the 75^th Anniversary Celebration brunch cost $40 and can be purchased by accessing the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/le-moyne-dolphins-baseball-75th-anniversary-tickets-517907684827