One hundred years ago this week — April 5, 1916 — Illinois baseball stole a 4-2 win at Alabama, thanks to the seven-hit pitching of Woodward “Red” Gunkel. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior right-hander from Sheffield was backed by a sensational lineup that included right fielder George Halas, slugging left fielder Potsy Clark and the team captain, catcher John Bradley.
Gunkel was known for his wicked spitball and a slow changeup that kept opposing batters on their heels. Coach George Huff’s 1916 Illini won their third consecutive Big Ten title, finishing 8-1 in conference play. During Gunkel’s three seasons with the Illini —1914, ’15 and ’16 — the team compiled a 24-5-1 record in Western Conference play.