Arizona State University Baseball: A Legacy of Excellence
The Arizona State Sun Devils baseball program stands as a monument to collegiate baseball success. Representing Arizona State University (ASU), the team is now part of the Big 12 Conference, though its legacy was largely built as a Pac-12 powerhouse. The Sun Devils boast the highest winning percentage (.681) among all schools that participated in Division I baseball within the Pac-12. Their streak of 54 consecutive 30-win seasons is an NCAA record, showcasing the program's consistent dominance.
A History of Winning
Since adopting baseball as a varsity sport in 1959, ASU has compiled an enviable record. The program has experienced only four losing seasons (1963, 2017, 2018, and 2022), a testament to its enduring strength. Until 2017, the Sun Devils held a remarkable distinction of being nationally ranked at some point during every season of their 58-year history. Furthermore, they have secured a spot in the Top 10 on 27 occasions, the Top 5 on 22 occasions, and have been ranked No. 1 five times.
National Championships and Alumni Success
ASU's place among the elite is cemented by its five national championships, ranking them fourth among all schools. The program also leads in the total number of alumni who have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, a reflection of its ability to develop top-tier talent.
Notable Sun Devil baseball alumni include:
- Barry Bonds
- Reggie Jackson
- Sal Bando
- Dustin Pedroia
- Andre Ethier
- Bob Horner
- Paul Lo Duca
- Rick Monday
The Bobby Winkles Era (1959-1971)
Arizona State's baseball journey began in 1959 under the leadership of coach Bobby Winkles. In their inaugural season, the Sun Devils achieved a 28-18-1 record, laying the foundation for future success.
Early Conference Titles and College World Series Appearances
In 1964, Winkles guided the team to a 44-7 record, capturing the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title. Victories over Utah in the WAC playoffs and Air Force in the District 7 playoffs propelled them to their first College World Series appearance. Although their College World Series debut resulted in a 7-0 shutout by the Missouri Tigers, they bounced back with a 5-0 win against Mississippi before falling to Maine.
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The following year, ASU continued its reign in the WAC, winning back-to-back conference championships with a 9-3 record. Their journey through the 1965 College World Series included decisive wins against Lafayette and St. Louis. After defeating Ohio State, they faced St. Louis again, securing a 6-2 victory. A subsequent split series against Ohio State culminated in a 2-1 win, earning Arizona State its first national championship.
Continued Success and Another Championship
In 1967, the Sun Devils returned to the College World Series after a 53-12 season. After avenging a loss to BYU in the WAC championship, they won the District 7 playoff series, advancing to the 1967 College World Series. Wins against Oklahoma State and Boston College led to a close victory against Stanford.
However, after their national championship season, the Sun Devils finished second in the conference and missed a postseason berth.
The 1969 Championship
The Sun Devils returned to the World Series in 1969, winning the WAC championship against BYU and sweeping Idaho in the District 7 playoff. Despite losing their opening game of the 1969 College World Series to Texas, they won their next five games, securing their third national championship in five years with a 10-1 victory against Tulsa in the championship game.
Legacy of Bobby Winkles
After the 1971 season, Bobby Winkles accepted a position with the California Angels, concluding his 13-year tenure as ASU's first varsity baseball coach. He left behind a remarkable 524-173 record, solidifying his place as a foundational figure in Sun Devil baseball history.
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Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark
From 1974 to 2014, Arizona State baseball called Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark home. The dimensions of Packard were 338 feet (103 m) down the lines, 368 feet (112 m) in the power alleys, and 395 to straightaway center. The fence stood 10 feet (3.0 m) high. A notable feature was the "Green Monster," a 30-foot-high batting eye located five feet beyond the center-field wall.
Packard Stadium witnessed two national championship teams and hosted 17 NCAA regional tournaments. Arizona State's all-time record at Packard was an impressive 1,035-272-1, with a winning percentage of .792. In 2010, ASU went 36-3 at home and hosted a Super Regional for the fourth consecutive season, earning a College World Series berth on their home field for the third time in four seasons. The final game at Packard Stadium took place on May 20, 2014, with ASU defeating Abilene Christian 4-2.
Notable Players and Their Achievements
Arizona State University has produced a remarkable number of outstanding baseball players who have achieved significant success at both the collegiate and professional levels. These athletes have left an indelible mark on the program and the sport as a whole.
Eddie Bane
Bane was an All-American pitcher and Sporting News Player of the Year in 1973. He led the nation in strikeouts in 1973 and pitched the only perfect game in Arizona State history vs. Cal State-Northridge in 1973.
Chris Bando
Bando was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1965 College World Series and was third baseman for the 1965 NCAA championship team. He held a College World Series record for the most hits in a series (12) and shares the record for most runs scored (10).
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Alan Bannister
Bannister was an All-American shortstop in both 1971 and 1972. He established a college baseball single-season record for triples with 13 in 1971 and set NCAA records for RBIs (90) and total bases (177) in 1972. He was the Lefty Gomez Plate Award winner in 1976.
Mike Benjamin
Benjamin earned All-America and All-Pac-10 honors in 1987.
Willie Bloomquist
A three-time All-American, Bloomquist finished his collegiate career with the third-best batting average in school history at .394. The 1999 Pac-10 Player of the Year, he led the conference in hits, walks, triples, and runs.
Barry Bonds
Named Sporting News Player of the Decade for the 1990s, Bonds holds multiple MVP trophies and is among major league leaders in almost every offensive category in the 1990s.
Hubie Brooks
Brooks played the outfield for the 1977 NCAA National Championship Sun Devils. The next year, he moved to shortstop and gained All-America first team honors after setting an NCAA record for the most hits in one year (126).
Kendall Carter
Carter set an NCAA freshman record with 19 wins in 1981 and ASU records for most victories (47) and most appearances (102).
Alvin Davis
Davis batted .362 with 27 homeruns, 200 runs batted in, and 51 doubles. He was All-College World Series in 1981 and a second-team All-American in 1982.
Gary Gentry
Gentry was an All-American pitcher in 1967 as a member of the NCAA championship team. He pitched all 15 innings in the 3-2 playoff win over Arizona in the WAC Southern Division title playoff game in 1967.
Lerrin LaGrow
LaGrow was a powerful right-handed pitcher who compiled an impressive 19-1 record at ASU in two seasons. He led his team to a 56-11 record and the 1969 national championship while winning 14 games.
Mike Leake
Leake put together one of the most impressive careers by a Sun Devil pitcher. He appeared in 63 games (47 starts), posting a 40-6 record and a 2.91 ERA over 390.1 innings pitched. In his career, Leake threw 11 complete games and struck out 360 batters.
Paul Lo Duca
A catcher and designated hitter on Jim Brock's 1993 team, Lo Duca played only one season at ASU but was named the National Player of the Year by The Sporting News and was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year.
Oddibe McDowell
McDowell was one of the six Arizona State players to ever earn first-team All-American accolades twice (1983, 1984). He was the winner of the 1984 Golden Spikes award.
Casey Myers
Myers was a three-time All-American and won back-to-back Pac-12 Player of the Year honors in 2000 & 2001.
Coaching Changes and Program Evolution
Pat Murphy
Pat Murphy resigned as ASU's head baseball coach in November 2009.
Tim Esmay
Tim Esmay resigned as ASU baseball coach.
tags: #arizona #state #university #baseball #history
