Researchers point to 1982 as the first Major League Baseball dogpile when the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series. Jubilant players huddled and fell to the ground. Before, players sometimes just threw equipment in the air or ran off the field. But since, the baseball dogpile has spread through all levels of the sport as the staple of high-stakes victories.
At Virginia, dogpiles have become somewhat of the norm since Brian O’Connor took over as head baseball coach in 2004. There’s been cause for such a celebration in at least the 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2021 and 2023 seasons. Those are the six times the Wahoos have clinched an NCAA Super Regional series and have advanced to the College World Series. And there was even a second dogpile in 2015 when UVA won the national championship.