Former K-State baseball player and longtime Washburn University coach Steve Anson passed away tragically on Sunday afternoon in a tree trimming accident, according to Washburn and Jefferson County authorities.
The sheriff’s office says emergency responders were called to his home in Grantville at about 3:00pm, and Anson was pronounced dead at the scene. Further details of the accident were not immediately available.
Anson was a four-year starter for K-State from 1973 until 1976, and won the Big Eight batting title in 1974 with a .439 average en route to first team all-conference honors. He is one of 21 members of the Wildcats’ all-century team, and still owns the program record for career triples with 19.
Anson quickly moved on from his playing career, and became head coach at Washburn in 1980, guiding the Ichabods to five NAIA tournaments and was named MIAA coach of the year in 1994. He compiled a record of 844-798-3 in 35 seasons at Washburn.
The Indiana native has also served as a men’s basketball assistant coach and assistant athletic director.
Anson passed away at the age of 60 years old.
