Stuper’s been super

Yale coach reflects on relationships as he walks away

WEST HAVEN — John Stuper stood under the sun in foul territory behind third base Thursday afternoon as a white Ivy League flag at Yale Field was pulled toward the horizon by a stiff breeze.

He was asked about himself and about something ending, conversation triggers for him to spend nearly an hour speaking about others and something ongoing.

“People ask me what I’ll remember,” Stuper said, looking to the outfield. “It’s not wins and losses or championships. It’s relationships.” Those will continue, of course.

Stuper, 65, is headed to Florida soon, though, having sold his Connecticut home while his next one is under construction in St. Petersburg. His 30-year run as coach and caretaker for a program that was established when Abraham Lincoln was president is down to a final weekend that will celebrate where the Bulldogs have been and where they are headed.

Harvard is the opponent for Saturday’s doubleheader, games to sandwich ceremonies marking Stuper’s retirement and the dedications of the George H.W. Bush ’48 Field and the Jim Neil ’76 Clubhouse.

As Yale Field officially becomes Bush Field, the stands of the facility, opened in 1928 and renovated over the past couple of years, will be sprinkled with some 75 former play

Yale Athletics John Stuper, 65, is retiring after 30 years as Yale baseball coach. He is the Bulldogs’ all-time winningest coach with a career record of 551-626-4. Yale hosts Harvard for the final three games of the season this weekend. Stuper will be honored between games of Saturday’s doubleheader.