Luis Gonzalez appointed to South Alabama Board of Trustees

South Alabama baseball legend Luis Gonzalez has been appointed to the school’s board of trustees beginning in October, it was announced Wednesday.

Gonzalez, 55, was a Freshman All-American for the Jaguars in 1986 and a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference pick as a junior in 1988. He played 19 seasons in the major leagues and has for the last several years worked in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ front office.

“I wish to extend my appreciation to Governor (Kay) Ivey for appointing me to the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees,” Gonzalez said. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow Board members to serve the University and its faculty, staff and students.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the South Alabama and Mobile community that had such a significant impact on my life and equipped me with invaluable educational and life skills to pursue my passions both on and off the baseball field. I am honored to be able to continue the legacy of the University and the Board in delivering an impactful and meaningful higher education experience to the community it serves.”

Gonzalez will fill the “United States At-large” seat currently held by Margie Tuckson, whose term expires at the end of September. Gonzalez will officially begin his tenure on the board Oct. 1.

Gonzalez, a Tampa, Fla., native, played for the Jaguars from 1986-88. He was a fourth-round pick of the Houston Astros in 1988 and played in the big leagues with the Astros, Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Florida Marlins.

A five-time All-Star, Gonzalez played a major role in the Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Series championship. He hit 57 home runs that season, and also drove in the series-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, one of the iconic moments in World Series history.

Gonzalez joined the Diamondbacks’ front office upon retiring as a player, and currently serves as Senior Advisor to the President, CEO and Managing Partner. He was inducted into the South Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.