 |
Jack Mehl, Matt
Byrd and Mark Avery |
When Matt Byrd left Oakland University, he not only
took baseball prominence, but a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory sciences
(nuclear medicine).
Byrd competed for Oakland from 1990-1993 and was one of
only two players in the history of Oakland baseball to serve as a captain for two
consecutive years (1992 and 1993).
The South Lyon native earned all-Region and all-GLIAC
honors twice during his career with OU. He established himself as one of the winningest
pitchers at Oakland with 21 career victories. The 21 wins is a current Oakland record.
In 1993, he was 6-3 with a 1.91 ERA, which ranked 13th
best in NCAA Division II. At the end of his OU career, he also held the school record for
career strikeouts (188).
Following his 1993 season, Byrd was drafted by the Atlanta
Braves and played five years inn the Braves system and one year in the Colorado Rockies
organization.
In 1995, as a member of the Durham Bulls, he set the record
for saves with 27. That season he was voted Most Valuable Player of the team and Pitcher
of the Year. He was honored before one of the Atlanta Braves games for the MVP award. Byrd
was also voted the "Rolaids Relief Man" for the Carolina League in 1995.
Byrd is currently involved in the internship program at
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak and will be board certified in radiation therapy in October
1999.
Byrd married his wife Tami Roland (Oakland `95,
master's physical therapy) in 1996 and the couple resides in St. Clair Shores. |
