1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball team

The 1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball team represented the University of Arizona in the 1976 NCAA Division I baseball season. The team was coached by Jerry Kindall in his 4th season at Arizona. The Wildcats finished with a record of 56-17 overall and placed 2nd in the Western Athletic Conference's Southern Division with a 12-4 in conference play, finishing 2nd in the WAC Southern. Arizona advanced to the postseason for the 3rd straight season and was placed in the Midwest Regional hosted by the University of Texas-Pan American at Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium in Edinburg, Texas. The Wildcats defeated Texas-Pan American, Missouri and Texas A&M to advance to the College World Series for the 1st time since 1970 (and 10th overall). After losing their 1st game in Omaha, Nebraska to rival Arizona State, Arizona won the next 4 against Oklahoma, Clemson, Eastern Michigan and Arizona State to advance to the final game: a rematch against Eastern Michigan. The Wildcats defeated Eastern Michigan 7–1 to win their 1st National Championship in program history.

1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
CBNo. 1
Record56–17 (12–6 WAC)
Head coach
Assistant coachJim Wing (4th season)
Home stadiumWildcat Field
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Western Athletic Conference baseball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Northern
BYU  x‍‍‍153 .8332621 .553
Wyoming  ‍‍‍107 .5882229 .431
Utah  ‍‍‍89 .4711526 .366
Colorado State  ‍‍‍216 .1111826 .409
Southern
No. 3 Arizona State  x‍‍‍y171 .9446510 .867
No. 1 Arizona  ‍‍‍y126 .6675617 .767
New Mexico  ‍‍‍414 .2222824 .538
UTEP  ‍‍‍315 .167925 .265
x – Division champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 30, 1976[1]
Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

Previous Season

The Wildcats finished the 1975 season with a record of 41-13-1 and 14-4 in conference play, finishing 2nd in the WAC Southern. Arizona made the postseason for the 2nd straight season and were placed in the West Regional hosted by the University of Southern California at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats lost back-to-back games to Pepperdine and USC to end their season.

Personnel

Roster

1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball roster[2][3]
 Pitchers

• Robert Chaulk

• David Crutcher

• Bruce Ferguson

• Craig Giola

Steve Powers

• Chuck Zopfi

Infielders

• Al Lopez

• Les Pearsey

• Bill Simpson

• Pete Van Horne

• Glenn Wendt

Outfielders

Ken Bolek

• Robin Carlsen

Dave Stegman

• Don Zimmerman

Catchers

Ron Hassey

• Bob Woodside

Coaches

1976 Arizona Wildcats baseball coaching staff[4]

1976 Schedule and results

1976 Arizona Wildcats Baseball Game Log[5]
Regular Season
DateOpponentSite/StadiumScoreOverall

Record

WAC

Record

Feb 13PepperdineWildcat FieldTucson, AZW 13-21-0
Feb 14PepperdineWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-02-0
Feb 14PepperdineWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 15-33-0
Feb 16Cal State Dominguez HillsWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 17-104-0
Feb 17Cal State Dominguez HillsWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 11-65-0
Feb 20Azusa PacificWildcat Field • Tucson, AZL 3-55-1
Feb 21Azusa PacificWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 9-06-1
Feb 21Azusa PacificWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 10-07-1
Feb 23Cal Poly PomonaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 4-38-1
Feb 24Cal Poly PomonaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 12-79-1
Feb 25Cal Poly PomonaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 11-710-1
Feb 26San Diego StateWildcat Field • Tucson, AZL 6-710-2
Feb 27San Diego StateWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 11-511-2
Feb 28San Diego StateWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 5-312-2
Feb 28San Diego StateWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 14-1313-2
Mar 1at Grand CanyonBrazell FieldPhoenix, AZL 6-713-3
Mar 2Grand CanyonWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 15-014-3
Mar 5La VerneWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-515-3
Mar 6La VerneWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 9-616-3
Mar 8OklahomaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 7-117-3
Mar 8OklahomaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 6-318-3
Mar 9OklahomaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 14-119-3
Mar 9OklahomaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 9-820-3
Mar 11at San Diego StateSmith FieldSan Diego, CAW 7-121-3
Mar 12at San Diego StateSmith Field • San Diego, CAL 1-521-4
Mar 13at San Diego StateSmith Field • San Diego, CAL 4-621-5
Mar 13at San Diego StateSmith Field • San Diego, CAW 6-422-5
Mar 15at PepperdineWaves ParkMalibu, CAL 3-422-6
Mar 15at UCLASawtelle FieldLos Angeles, CAL 0-522-7
Mar 16at PepperdineWaves Park • Malibu, CAW 1-023-7
Mar 17at USCDedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CAL 3-423-8
Mar 18at USCDedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CAL 4-623-9
Mar 19at La VerneGalvin Park • Ontario, CAW 10-524-9
Mar 20at La VerneLa Verne Field • La Verne, CAL 6-1024-10
Mar 20at La VerneLa Verne Field • La Verne, CAW 4-325-10
Mar 23ColoradoWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 17-226-10
Mar 25USCWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-027-10
Mar 26USCWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-528-10
Mar 27USCWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-429-10
Apr 1Northern ArizonaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 14-630-10
Apr 2Northern ArizonaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 9-331-10
Apr 3Northern ArizonaWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 6-032-10
Apr 8at Arizona StatePackard StadiumTempe, AZL 2-732-110-1
Apr 9at Arizona StatePackard Stadium • Tempe, AZL 9-1132-120-2
Apr 10at Arizona StatePackard Stadium • Tempe, AZL 5-632-130-3
Apr 17UTEPWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 15-333-131-3
Apr 17UTEPWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-134-132-3
Apr 18UTEPWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 12-135-133-3
Apr 23New MexicoWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 5-336-134-3
Apr 24New MexicoWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-637-135-3
Apr 24New MexicoWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 8-338-136-3
Apr 30at UTEPDudley FieldEl Paso, TXW 16-039-137-3
May 1at UTEPDudley Field • El Paso, TXW 3-140-138-3
May 1at UTEPDudley Field • El Paso, TXW 10-341-139-3
May 7at New MexicoLobo FieldAlbuquerque, NMW 6-342-1310-3
May 8at New MexicoLobo Field • Albuquerque, NMW 6-343-1311-3
May 9at New MexicoLobo Field • Albuquerque, NMW 10-444-1312-3
May 13Arizona StateWildcat Field • Tucson, AZL 1-244-1412-4
May 14Arizona StateWildcat Field • Tucson, AZL 4-944-1512-5
May 15Arizona StateWildcat Field • Tucson, AZL 9-1444-1612-6
WAC Playoffs
May 21WyomingWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 19-045-16
May 22WyomingWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 6-246-16
May 24BYUWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 7-647-16
May 25BYUWildcat Field • Tucson, AZW 4-048-16
NCAA Midwest Regional
May 28at Texas-Pan AmericanJody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TXW 5-049-16
May 29vs MissouriJody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TXW 10-150-16
May 30vs Texas A&MJody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TXW 8-251-16
College World Series
Jun 12vs Arizona StateJohnny Rosenblatt StadiumOmaha, NEL 6-751-17
Jun 13vs OklahomaJohnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NEW 10-252-17
Jun 14vs ClemsonJohnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NEW 10-653-17
Jun 16vs Eastern MichiganJohnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NEW 11-654-17
Jun 17vs Arizona StateJohnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NEW 5-155-17
Jun 18vs Eastern MichiganJohnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NEW 7-156-17

Midwest Regional

Midwest Regional Teams
Texas-Pan American BroncsArizona WildcatsMissouri TigersTexas A&M Aggies

College World Series

1976 College World Series Teams
Arizona WildcatsArizona State Sun DevilsAuburn TigersClemson TigersEastern Michigan HuronsMaine Black BearsOklahoma SoonersWashington State Cougars
Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalSemifinalsPreliminary finalFinal
Clemson9
Auburn4
Clemson2
Eastern Michigan310
Eastern Michigan3
Maine2
Eastern Michigan2
Arizona State1
Arizona State710
Eastern Michigan6
Arizona6
Arizona State9Arizona7
Washington State3
Washington State6
Oklahoma1Eastern Michigan1
Arizona5Arizona7
Lower round 1Lower round 2Arizona State1
Washington State3
Auburn8Maine6
Arizona State7
Maine9
Maine0
Clemson6
Arizona10Arizona10
Oklahoma2

Awards and honors

Bob Chaulk
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
Craig Giola
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]
Ron Hassey
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]
Steve Powers
Dave Stegman
  • First Team All-American[7]
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]
Pete Van Horne
  • College World Series All-Tournament Team[6]
Glenn Wendt
  • First Team All-WAC South[7]

1976 MLB Draft

PlayerPositionRoundOverallMLB Team
Ron HasseyC18422Cleveland Indians
William SimpsonINF20471St. Louis Cardinals
Ken BolekOF24550Detroit Tigers
Bruce FergusonRHP31660California Angels

[8][9]

References