G.F. Laird

Greene Flake Laird
(Red)

• School Davidson College

• Born December 16, 1902, Decatur, GA USA
• Died April 10, 1992, Blacksburg, VA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

G.F. Laird had an illustrious career as an athlete in several sports at Davidson College and became an outstanding coach in several sports at Catawba College, Davidson and Virginia Tech. At Davidson, Laird was a baseball pitcher, a tackle in football and a forward in basketball. He captained the 1926 basketball team and won 12 varsity letters in his career. After graduating, Laird signed in 1928 with the Carrollton Frogs of the Georgia-Alabama League making 15 appearances as a relief pitcher in his only professional baseball season.

He coached Davidson basketball teams from 1931-1937, including 13-10 records in 1935 and 1937. Laird also coached Davidson’s baseball teams during that period. In 30 seasons as a college baseball coach, Laird won 343 games. At Virginia Tech, where he coached baseball and basketball, Laird was known as "Mr. Baseball." He coached the Virginia Tech baseball team from 1940-1973, except for five years (1943-1948). Laird enlisted into the U.S. Navy on February 4, 1943 receiving his commission as a naval officer on April 16th. He served as a coach of the U.S. Naval Pre-Flight School (at University of North Carolina) Cloudbusters baseball team in 1944-1945. He was discharged from the Navy on November 26, 1945.

He is a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (inducted January 10, 1971) and the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame (inducted in 1983) and was named to the American Association of College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1971. Laird was a native of Decatur, GA.

He passed away April 10, 1992.