Hall of Fame
Steve Eckinger
Mules Baseball and Football 1967-70
Eckinger is the only Central Missouri State athlete to earn All-America honors in both football and baseball. A three-year starter in football, he was an honorable mention All-America selection in 1970, when he helped lead the Mules to a share of the MIAA title and a berth in the Pecan Bowl. He also was the MIAA MVP that season. In 1968, he helped lead the Mules to a berth in the Mineral Water Bowl. He currently ranks fifth in career passing yards for the Mules with 4,680 and he also threw 37 touchdown passes. The Mules were 21-8-1 during his football career. A four-year starter at third base for the Mules in baseball, Eckinger had a .337 career batting average with 21 home runs and 78 runs batted in. He was an honorable mention All-America selection in 1970 and a first-team All-America selection in 1971. The Mules won the 1971 MIAA championship and received their first NCAA berth that season. Eckinger graduated from Van Horn High School in Independence.
