Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Hall of Fame

James "Jay" Wingate

  • Class
  • Induction
    1997
  • Sport(s)

Class of 1976
Sport: Baseball
Positions: Second Base/Shortstop/Pitcher 

Athletic Accomplishments:

As a first-year, Jay had a friendly rivalry with then seniorDale Adams ’73 (1995 Hall of Famer) for thetop baseball batting average. Jay clinched the record in the lastgame of the season. His batting placed him in the top five in theNational Association of Intercol­legiate Athletics (NAIA). Healso received the team award for batting. As a sophomore, he had astellar baseball season and led his team in individual batting with19 hits for a .396 average. Jay was top pitcher with a 4-1 recordand he received team awards for bat­ting and pitching. He wasnamed MVP of the Potomac Intercollegiate Conference (PIC) andselected as an Outstanding Collegiate Athlete in America. In hisjunior year, as team captain, he had one of his “worst”offensive seasons, batting “only” .308. The team wonthe PIC championship only to lose to George Mason University at theDistrict level. Jay was selected for the PIC All-Conference teamand the NAIA District 19 All-Star team. During his senior year, heserved again as team captain and led the team to win the PICchampionship for the second consecutive year. He went to theDistrict playoffs where they again lost to George Mason.

Most Memorable Sports Experience at St.Mary’s:

“One of my most memorable experiences wassweeping University of Maryland, Balti­more County (UMBC) in adoubleheader and going six for six batting and pitching a two hitshutout in one of the games. Also, I was named MVP of theConference during my sophomore year (again when the big boys werethere). During my junior and senior years, I was named captain andwe won the conference both years. We went to the Districts (postseason) where we eventually lost to George Mason.”

Biggest Rivals While at St.Mary’s:

“We certainly got up the most for GM and UMBC,however, my personal rival was Bowie State - probably because Iwent to Bowie High School. We did not lose to them in fouryears.”

Mentor at St. Mary’s:

“Looking back, I think my head coach Tom Harmon was mybiggest influence. He was so supportive and really cared about hisplayers. Also, my freshman year, Dale Adams ’73 was a seniorand led by example. We had a friendly rivalry for top battingaverage, which I claimed in the last game (my batting average wasin the top five in NAIA that year)."

Explore HOF Explore Hall of Fame Members