Jack Cust Jr. Inducted into NJSIAA Hall of Fame — Class of 2026
SOMERVILLE, NJ — Immaculata High School is proud to celebrate one of its greatest athletes, Jack Cust Jr., as he is officially inducted into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Hall of Fame — Class of 2026. The induction ceremony will be held Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Westin at Forrestal Village in Princeton, New Jersey, honoring Cust and other legendary New Jersey athletes.
A Spartan Legend Begins
Jack Cust’s journey to the Hall of Fame began in the halls and on the fields of Immaculata High School, where he became one of the most feared hitters in state history. During his senior year in 1997, Cust batted an astounding .592, amassing 45 hits while drawing 48 walks — 20 of them intentional — to earn the N.J. Gatorade Player of the Year Award. He slugged 15 home runs, seven triples, and nine doubles, finishing the season with a staggering 1.487 slugging percentage.
Cust’s dominance was not a one-year phenomenon. He finished his Immaculata career with a .580 batting average, 31 home runs, and 128 RBIs, highlighted by unforgettable moments like hitting a grand slam in his first varsity at-bat and delivering a two-home-run performance to lead the Spartans to the Parochial A championship over Bishop Eustace in 1997.
His excellence earned him First Team All-Century honors in 2000, recognition on the First Team All-Team of the 1990s, and he was a two-time First Team All-State selection by The Star-Ledger. Jack Cust’s high school legacy remains a benchmark of athletic greatness at Immaculata.
From Spartan Diamond to Major Leagues
After dominating New Jersey high school baseball, Cust was a first-round MLB Draft pick, selected 30th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997 — a rare honor for a New Jersey high school player. He went on to enjoy a 10-year Major League Baseball career (2001–2011) as an outfielder and designated hitter, playing for multiple teams including Arizona, Colorado, Baltimore, San Diego, Oakland, and Seattle.
Over his career, Cust posted a .242 batting average, .374 on-base percentage, and .439 slugging percentage, with 105 home runs, 323 RBIs, and 444 walks. Notably, he led the American League in walks in 2008 with 111 while with Oakland, demonstrating the same plate discipline he showed at Immaculata. Some of his best seasons came with the Oakland Athletics, where he tallied 33 home runs and 77 RBIs in 2008, solidifying his reputation as one of the most feared sluggers of his era.
Celebrating a Spartan Icon
Jack Cust Jr.’s induction into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame is more than a personal achievement — it is a celebration of Immaculata High School’s rich tradition of athletic excellence. The ceremony on March 29, 2026, at the Westin at Forrestal Village in Princeton will honor Cust alongside other outstanding athletes who have left a lasting impact on New Jersey high school sports.
Cust’s story remains an inspiration to the next generation of Spartans: a reminder of how dedication, skill, and a love for the game can propel a student-athlete from the diamond at Immaculata to the bright lights of professional baseball.
"Immaculata taught me what it means to compete with heart and integrity," Cust reflected. "Every time I stepped onto that field, I carried my teammates and my school with me."