At the Helm of Titan Baseball History

Matt Helm was playing baseball for Cal State Fullerton before Cal State Fullerton even had an official baseball team.

Helm, who I chatted with at the Titan House, was one of the founding members of Titan baseball way back in the 1960s. Helm said he was sitting in the library one day during his junior year in 1963 when he decided the school needed a baseball team.

So Helm said he and a few of his buddies put together an 11-man club team and Warren Beck, a physical education instructor, agreed to coach the squad.

Helm said the team played primarily area junior colleges and wasn’t very good, but he’s proud to have helped initiate what has become one of college baseball’s elite programs.

“I knew what this program could become,” he said. “I thought if we could get the right kids here, we could win a national championship, and we have.”

Helm never had that opportunity while he was playing. In fact, he never had the chance to play as a member of a varsity team, as he was no longer with the squad when the team assumed intercollegiate status in 1965.

But that hasn’t kept Helm from experiencing national titles as a fan.

Helm, who said he had fallen out of touch with the team for the better part three decades, reconnected once he retired in 1996. Now the Missouri resident said he tries to catch at least one home series a year and has been to the College World Series four times, including the 2004 championship run.

He’s now become one of the Titans' biggest supporters and plans on being in Omaha whenever the Titans are here playing.

“I always said I’d like to be here when we won one and we did that,” Helm said. “Now I’m greedy and want to win another one.”

“As long as I’ve got my health, I’ll be here. I do what I do because I love the program.”