To date, in Cal State Fullerton's celebrated baseball history, an incredible total of 72 former Titans have appeared in Major League games.  The most recent being pitcher, Tanner Bibee, with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023.  What you may not know was that catcher, Dan Whitmer, was the first Titan to play in the big leagues. 

Even before legendary head coach, Augie Garrido, found his way to the Fullerton campus in 1975, third baseman Matt Moschetti was taken in the 1968 MLB Draft, perhaps signaling the start of the Titans college baseball legacy.   

Whitmer, a 1974 graduate of Redlands High School, played two seasons at San Bernardino Valley College where he was noticed by CSUF coaches Garrido and Dave Snow following a winter ball contest with the Titans.  Before arriving at Fullerton, Whitmer played in the Alaska summer league for Garrido. 

Whitmer played for the Titans during the 1977 and 1978 seasons, hitting a solid .325, with three home runs in his brief Cal State Fullerton career.  He remembers, "Playing at Fullerton was some of the best times I had on the baseball field.  We were physically smaller than anyone that we played, but we were good at small ball.  The best memory was making it to the 1978 NCAA Regional at USC.  Unfortunately, we lost out on going to the College World Series, but it showed us that we were as good as anyone in the nation.  Fullerton would go on to win the (CWS) the next year, in 1979."

Following the 1978 season, Whitmer was drafted in the 14^th round by the then-California Angels.  "I was a good receiver and had a good arm.  My hitting was just average.  My defense is what got me drafted by the Angels." Whitmer said, somewhat self-deprecatingly. 

Whitmer's journey to the big club was comparatively swift, debuting for the Halos on July 20, 1980, and beating former Titan Golden Spikes winner and future MLB All Star, Tim Wallach, to the big leagues by two months.

"Being called up was a dream come true.  I remember walking into the (Angels) locker room for the first time, and Rod Carew and Don Baylor met me at the door.  I didn't know what to do except to say, 'Hi.  Do you know where my locker is located?'  As it turned out, my locker was between both of theirs, and they had fun playing jokes on me." 

When asked if he realized that he was the first Titan to play in the Major Leagues?  Whitmer replied, modestly:  "I was very fortunate, because the catchers ahead of me got hurt.  Otherwise, I might not have ever gotten there."

Whitmer would play parts of the 1980 and 1981 seasons with the Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.  Dan saw the field in a total of 55 Major League games.  In his career 96 at-bats, Dan hit .229 with 7 RBI. 

Whitmer would eventually join the Detroit Tigers organization, serving as a bullpen catcher for several years, including for the 1984 World Series Champions.  Dan would later be promoted to the position of Tigers bullpen coach from 1992 through 1994.   

After leaving baseball, Whitmer returned to college to receive his teaching credential.  Dan spent the next 20 years as a teacher in Hesperia, Calif. 

Whitmer is now retired and lives in Victorville, Calif. with his wife of 45 years, Lori, whom he began dating while as a student-athlete at Cal State Fullerton.  They have three adult sons, Matt, Taylor, and Chad, and the couple have four grandchildren, with one on the way.    

CSUF NOTES & HONORS

• B.S., Physical Education – Cal State Fullerton - 1983
• SCBA Champions – 1977, 1978
• NCAA Tournament Appearances – 1977, 1978
• CSUF Won / Loss Record (1977-1978) – 88 / 27 (.765)
• .325 BA / 3 HR / 19 RBI

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