CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland College Athletic Department and the Parkland College Foundation and Alumni Association proudly welcomed five former Cobra baseball players into the Parkland College Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 4th, as members of the Class of 2022. The five former athletes include John Harshbarger, Spencer Patton, Kevin Crane, Dan Winkler, and TJ McManus. Harshbarger and Patton attended the induction ceremony at the Donald C. Dodds Jr. Athletic Complex, where over 200 fans, friends, and family members welcomed the former players into the prestigious group.
John Harshbarger (1976)
John played for Parkland College during the 1975 and 1976 seasons, before returning to serve as an assistant coach for the Cobras in 1980. While pitching at Parkland, Harshbarger was named to the NJCAA Region 24 All-Region Second Team. After Parkland, John attended the University of Illinois in 1977 and 1978, pitching 33 scoreless innings for the Illini in 1977 including a nine-inning no-hitter. Harshbarger’s 2.92 career ERA currently ranks 7th in Illinois baseball program history. In 1978, John was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. Harshbarger played professionally for Thomasboro in the Eastern Illinois League, winning four league championships and one league MVP.
Spencer Patton (2008)
Spencer played for Parkland College from 2006 to 2008, winning a conference championship title with the Cobras in 2007. After Parkland, Patton transferred to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where he played for three seasons, earning a Rawlings Collegiate Gold Glove in 2011. The Urbana-native was then drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2011 in the 24th round, making his major league debut in 2014 with the Texas Rangers and in 2016, Spencer Patton became a World Series Champion with the Chicago Cubs. Spencer continued his career in Japan pitching for the DeNA BayStars from 2017-2020, winning the Nippon Professional Baseball Championship in 2017. Patton then returned to the MLB, joining the Texas Rangers pitching staff in 2021.
Kevin Crane (2009)
Kevin played for Parkland College in 2008 and 2009, winning the 2009 NJCAA DII National Championship with the Cobras. In 2008, Crane was named an NJCAA Second Team All-American, recorded 58 RBI, 18th best in the nation, 12 home runs, and a batting average of .459, both of which ranked 22nd best in the country. Crane’s .403 career batting average ranks 6th in Parkland College program history. After Parkland, Kevin attended Butler University, starting 43 games with the Bulldogs, and earning a spot on the 2010 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.
Dan Winkler (2010)
Dan pitched for Parkland College in 2009 and 2010, winning the 2009 NJCAA DII National Championship with the Cobras. After his sophomore season, Winkler was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 43rd round of the 2010 MLB Draft, but he did not sign and instead chose to attend the University of Central Florida, where he appeared in 18 games in 2011. Winkler was then drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th round in the 2011 MLB Draft, and the Effingham native made his professional debut later that year. In 2015, after being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the Rule 5 Draft, Winkler made his Major League debut on September 21st against the New York Mets.
TJ Mcmanus (2010)
TJ played for Parkland College during the 2010 season, after transferring from Ohio State. McManus was named an NJCAA First Team All-American in his one season in Champaign, totaling 90 hits, 69 runs, 15 home runs, and a Parkland College Baseball record 88 RBI and 27 doubles. TJ also received the Gold Glove for his defensive play at First Base with the Cobras, as the team went 50-13, winning the M-WAC Conference and Regionals on their way to 5th place at the NJCAA National Championships. After Parkland, he finished his collegiate career at Eastern Illinois where he posted a .360 batting average and was voted team MVP. McManus competed professionally for two years for the Windy City Thunderbolts, Road Warriors, and the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League.
