Larry Colburn amassed Hall of Fame credentials as hepitched Albion to a share of the 1963 MIAA baseball championship,and his athletic career would have been only more legendary had itnot been interrupted by an injury.
The Britons won eight of their last ninegames—including the last five in a row—to charge into atie with Hope for the 1963 title. According to MorleyFraser’s notes, “Albion got route pitching in the lastfive games, namely: . . . Colburn 6-1 over Calvin and 5-1over Alma.” He completed the season with a 5-1 record and a1.35 earned run average.
Colburn posted a 4-2 record with a 1.67 ERA in league playin 1964, but his pitching career was suspended when he was hit inthe arm by a pitch. He missed the 1965 season after having surgeryto repair the elbow that was hurt (“Tommy John surgery beforethere ever was a Tommy John,” Colburn recalls), but he cameback to earn a third letter in baseball in 1966.
He was a first-team All-MIAA and team MVP selection in1963 and 1964 as well as a two-year letterman inbasketball.
Colburn, who retired as a vice president of the NorthlandInsurance Co. in 2002, now focuses his energy on part-timeinsurance consulting, thoroughbred horseracing, fishing, andspectator sports.
He resides in Eagan, Minn., with his wife, Carol. Thecouple has a son, Christopher.
