Remembering a Titan of HBCU Baseball
Roger Cador, the longtime architect of Southern University’s baseball program, died at the age of 74 after complications from brain‑tumor surgery. The news sent shockwaves through the college baseball community, prompting tributes from former players, colleagues and national baseball institutions.
Over three decades, Cador compiled a 913‑597‑1 record while steering Southern to 14 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and 11 NCAA tournament appearances. His teams captured Black national titles in 2003 and 2005, cementing the program’s reputation as a powerhouse among historically Black colleges and universities.
Beyond wins, Cador’s influence rippled through the lives of his 62 draft picks, among them Rickie Weeks, the only HBCU player to earn both the Golden Spikes and Dick Howser trophies. He also pioneered community projects, raising funds for charitable causes and securing lights for Lee‑Hines Field, a milestone that transformed the campus venue.
In 2022 the university honored him with the Cador Baseball Operations Center, a testament to his enduring impact. Even after his 2017 retirement — when he declared that baseball at Southern belonged to the university and the state of Louisiana — his philosophy continued to guide the program.
Former players and peers remember Cador as a gentleman, a visionary and a mentor who built lifelong friendships, notably with MLB veteran Dusty Baker, whom he met while playing in the Atlanta Braves system. His legacy is enshrined in multiple halls of fame, including the SWAC, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, American Baseball Coaches Association and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.