More than a decade after he played his last game in a Butler uniform, Karl Carswell’s name still dominates the Grizzly offensive record book.

He has the most hits (163), runs scored (135), highest batting average (.437), triples (10), doubles (39) and stolen bases (105) in Butler baseball history. 

Carswell played at Butler during the 1991 and 1992 seasons, leading the Grizzlies to the Jayhawk West and Region VI championships each season. The 1992 team set a Butler record with 48 wins, which is still the standard.

Karl was recognized on the All-Jayhawk League and All-Region teams in both his Freshman and Sophomore years. As a sophomore, Karl was named to the NJCAA Division I All-American team, hitting .484, third highest batting average in the nation that season. This batting average made him the winner of the Rawlings Big Stick Award

A native of Overland Park, Carswell was a part of Shawnee Mission West’s consecutive state baseball championships in 1987 and 1988. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 1990, but decided to attend Butler instead. After graduating from Butler in 1992, Carswell transferred to North Carolina State, where he was a two-year starter for the Wolfpack.

After his playing career, Karl and his brother, Ken, created Barnstormers Baseball, an organization that has helped more than 200 high school baseball players earn scholarships to play collegiate baseball. Several of those baseball players have followed in Karl’s footsteps by playing at Butler, including current shortstop Mike Garza.

Carswell has also been a baseball scout since graduating from college. He currently is affiliated with the Anaheim Angels.