Former Cowley College great Travis Hafner to be inducted into the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame
The Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame recently announced an outstanding class of 2026. Among those selected for induction was former Cowley College baseball All-American and 12-year Major Leaguer, Travis Hafner. The induction ceremony will be held at LaVela in Wichita, KS, on Saturday, January 31.
Other individuals in the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are Beals Becker, Wellington (KS) High School standout and former Major Leaguer Nate Cornejo, Bob Fornelli, Don Karnes, Bob Veale, and the 1927 Leavenworth Booker T's.
Hafner played baseball at Cowley College during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. As a freshman, Hafner helped lead the Tiger baseball team to the program's first trip to the NJCAA College World Series and a record of 51-13.
He followed up the success of his freshman season by leading the Tiger baseball team to the first of back-to-back national championships in 1997. Hafner, who was named a Third-Team All-American, drove in what was then a school-record 82 runs and helped Cowley to a record of 53-11.
Cowley College head baseball coach Darren Burroughs is proud of Hafner earning this induction.
"Travis worked hard and believed in himself and his talent," Darren Burroughs said. "He remained focused on becoming a special Junior College and a Major League ball player, and we are proud of all he accomplished at Cowley and afterwards in his big league career."
Hafner still holds the school record for runs batted in in a career (161) and doubles in a career (36).
After Cowley, Hafner went on to play 12 years in Major League Baseball, the majority of the time spent with the Cleveland Indians, now Guardians, from 2003 to 2012. He hit 200 of his 213 career home runs as a member of the Guardians and remains a beloved figure in Cleveland.
For details and tickets, see http://ksbaseballhof.com.