AUBURN, Ala. - For once, the coach with the expansive vocabulary was at a loss for words.
Hal Baird, Auburn's winningest coach, had just absorbed touching, sometimes tearful, tributes while learning that the home dugout at Plainsman Park would forever bear his name.
"Players will tell you I liked words, but I don't know where to go," said the scholarly Baird in his opening remarks. "I'm a little flummoxed."
Dozens of former players gathered Saturday at Hitchcock Field to honor Baird, who earned 634 wins from 1985-2000, leading the Tigers to the College World Series in 1994 and 1997.
"This is sacred ground for me and everyone who played here," Baird said. "That makes it mean that much more."
Baird recounted how, his professional baseball career having ended, he intended to teach U.S. military history after earning his masters at his alma mater, East Carolina.
The school's football coach in the late '70s, Pat Dye, had other plans. While Baird was an assistant baseball coach, he observed what he referred to as Dye's genius in coaching people: his players and his assistant coaches.
"I wanted that," Baird said. "What he created and what he demanded. It was tough love. Players would do anything for his good opinion and were desperate not to disappoint him. If you have that, you may lose a battle, but you've won the war."
Auburn baseball coach Hal Baird dugout dedication on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
After the 1979 season, Baird became ECU's head coach and Dye left for a season at Wyoming. Five years later, Dye, then Auburn's head football coach and athletic director, brought Baird to the Plains.
Influenced by the system John Schuerholz, later the architect of the Atlanta Braves' 1990s divisional dynasty, had employed while Baird pitched in the Royals organization, Auburn's program was developed on principles of class, professionalism and consistency.
Baird shared how most of Auburn's players were not highly recruited, but overcame any talent deficit with effort.
"The sum became greater than the parts. But we had star power," he said, mentioning legends like Frank Thomas, Bo Jackson, Gregg Olson, Tim Hudson and Gabe Gross.
"The mix was great," Baird said. "And it worked."
Before Baird spoke, Hudson, the two-way star of the '97 team, told a story that illustrated Baird's selfless concern for his players.
Janie Baird, Hal Baird and Tim Jackson. Auburn baseball coach Hal Baird dugout dedication on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
David Ross, who slugged the most famous home run in Auburn history before becoming a two-time World Series winner, was in the lineup in the 1997 Tallahassee regional because of an injury to Auburn's star catcher, Casey Dunn.
Knowing Dunn's return in 1998 would hinder Ross' professional potential, Baird arranged for Ross to transfer to Florida, granting his release.
"Who does that?" Hudson asked, saying it would be like Tommy Tuberville arranging a transfer of Cadillac Williams because Auburn had Ronnie Brown at running back. "Coaches don't do that."
Always a step, a decision, an inning, ahead, Baird later pointed out that he steered Ross to Florida because the Gators were not on Auburn's schedule in upcoming seasons.
Hudson thanked Baird's wife, Janie, for sharing her husband with Auburn's baseball program.
"Behind every great man," Hudson said, "is an even better woman."
Baird concluded his speech by remembering the five players he coached at Auburn who have passed away.
"I didn't know what to expect, exactly," Baird said after the dedication. "But it exceeded all expectations, as Auburn normally does."Auburn baseball coach Hal Baird dugout dedication on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
WHAY THEY SAID
Steve Renfroe, former Auburn assistant coach (1981-2000), former Auburn head coach (2001-04)
"His integrity was beyond anybody I'd ever worked for, been around or watched in the game of baseball. He was the standard. People might have won a few more games, but he did it the right way, and I got to witness that.
I got to witness personally those decisions like they talked about, David Ross, what's best for him. He called Andy Lopez at Florida and set that up. That was just one of the many things. I had a personal seat. This, for him, is such a great honor. For me, it's probably the highest honor I've been able to be associated with, because it's for him. That's what he means to me, and Auburn baseball."
Gregg Olson, former Auburn baseball player (1987-89), two-time All-American
"I knew Hal was a great coach, but I wish I would have known how good. I left, got drafted and I played 14 years in the major leagues and probably had nine or 10 pitching coaches, and Hal is still my best pitching coach. I would have gone to class less and probably sat in his office and just listened to him talk because baseball-wise, the man is brilliant. What he gave all of these players moving forward was the ability to be class in the dugout, the composure, the professionalism, the baseball knowledge was unbelievable."
Gabe Gross, former Auburn baseball player (1998-2000), current assistant
"His zeal for Auburn baseball, and to only put the best out there, I have a tremendous amount of respect for. You can't have one without the other and be successful. You'd better have a hard edge. That guy leading our program right now [Auburn head coach Butch Thompson] has a hard edge. If you don't, you're not successful."
"It exceeded all expectations, as Auburn normally does."
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) September 8, 2018
🗣 Former @AuburnBaseball coach Hal Baird, on having the home dugout at Plainsman Park named in his honor. pic.twitter.com/zRyEYXy8MV
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer