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
College World Series Champions vs. Eastern Michigan
Midwest Regional Champions Western Athletic Conference Playoff Champions
Conference	Western Athletic Conference
CB	No. 1
Record	56–17 (12–6 WAC)
Head coach	Jerry Kindall (4th season)
Assistant coach	Jim Wing (4th season)
Home stadium	Wildcat Field
Seasons ← 1975 1977 →

1976 Western Athletic Conference baseball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Northern
BYU  x‍‍‍	15	–	3		.833			26	–	21		.553
Wyoming  ‍‍‍	10	–	7		.588			22	–	29		.431
Utah  ‍‍‍	8	–	9		.471			15	–	26		.366
Colorado State  ‍‍‍	2	–	16		.111			18	–	26		.409
Southern
No. 3 Arizona State  x‍‍‍y	17	–	1		.944			65	–	10		.867
No. 1 Arizona  ‍‍‍y	12	–	6		.667			56	–	17		.767
New Mexico  ‍‍‍	4	–	14		.222			28	–	24		.538
UTEP  ‍‍‍	3	–	15		.167			9	–	25		.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 Richard Stagg	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]
Jerry Kindall - Head Coach Jim Wing - Assistant Coach

1976 Schedule and results

1976 Arizona Wildcats Baseball Game Log[5]
Regular Season
Date	Opponent	Site/Stadium	Score	Overall Record	WAC Record
Feb 13	Pepperdine	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 13-2	1-0
Feb 14	Pepperdine	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-0	2-0
Feb 14	Pepperdine	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 15-3	3-0
Feb 16	Cal State Dominguez Hills	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 17-10	4-0
Feb 17	Cal State Dominguez Hills	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 11-6	5-0
Feb 20	Azusa Pacific	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	L 3-5	5-1
Feb 21	Azusa Pacific	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 9-0	6-1
Feb 21	Azusa Pacific	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 10-0	7-1
Feb 23	Cal Poly Pomona	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 4-3	8-1
Feb 24	Cal Poly Pomona	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 12-7	9-1
Feb 25	Cal Poly Pomona	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 11-7	10-1
Feb 26	San Diego State	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	L 6-7	10-2
Feb 27	San Diego State	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 11-5	11-2
Feb 28	San Diego State	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 5-3	12-2
Feb 28	San Diego State	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 14-13	13-2
Mar 1	at Grand Canyon	Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZ	L 6-7	13-3
Mar 2	Grand Canyon	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 15-0	14-3
Mar 5	La Verne	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-5	15-3
Mar 6	La Verne	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 9-6	16-3
Mar 8	Oklahoma	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 7-1	17-3
Mar 8	Oklahoma	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 6-3	18-3
Mar 9	Oklahoma	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 14-1	19-3
Mar 9	Oklahoma	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 9-8	20-3
Mar 11	at San Diego State	Smith Field • San Diego, CA	W 7-1	21-3
Mar 12	at San Diego State	Smith Field • San Diego, CA	L 1-5	21-4
Mar 13	at San Diego State	Smith Field • San Diego, CA	L 4-6	21-5
Mar 13	at San Diego State	Smith Field • San Diego, CA	W 6-4	22-5
Mar 15	at Pepperdine	Waves Park • Malibu, CA	L 3-4	22-6
Mar 15	at UCLA	Sawtelle Field • Los Angeles, CA	L 0-5	22-7
Mar 16	at Pepperdine	Waves Park • Malibu, CA	W 1-0	23-7
Mar 17	at USC	Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CA	L 3-4	23-8
Mar 18	at USC	Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CA	L 4-6	23-9
Mar 19	at La Verne	Galvin Park • Ontario, CA	W 10-5	24-9
Mar 20	at La Verne	La Verne Field • La Verne, CA	L 6-10	24-10
Mar 20	at La Verne	La Verne Field • La Verne, CA	W 4-3	25-10
Mar 23	Colorado	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 17-2	26-10
Mar 25	USC	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-0	27-10
Mar 26	USC	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-5	28-10
Mar 27	USC	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-4	29-10
Apr 1	Northern Arizona	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 14-6	30-10
Apr 2	Northern Arizona	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 9-3	31-10
Apr 3	Northern Arizona	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 6-0	32-10
Apr 8	at Arizona State	Packard Stadium • Tempe, AZ	L 2-7	32-11	0-1
Apr 9	at Arizona State	Packard Stadium • Tempe, AZ	L 9-11	32-12	0-2
Apr 10	at Arizona State	Packard Stadium • Tempe, AZ	L 5-6	32-13	0-3
Apr 17	UTEP	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 15-3	33-13	1-3
Apr 17	UTEP	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-1	34-13	2-3
Apr 18	UTEP	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 12-1	35-13	3-3
Apr 23	New Mexico	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 5-3	36-13	4-3
Apr 24	New Mexico	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-6	37-13	5-3
Apr 24	New Mexico	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 8-3	38-13	6-3
Apr 30	at UTEP	Dudley Field • El Paso, TX	W 16-0	39-13	7-3
May 1	at UTEP	Dudley Field • El Paso, TX	W 3-1	40-13	8-3
May 1	at UTEP	Dudley Field • El Paso, TX	W 10-3	41-13	9-3
May 7	at New Mexico	Lobo Field • Albuquerque, NM	W 6-3	42-13	10-3
May 8	at New Mexico	Lobo Field • Albuquerque, NM	W 6-3	43-13	11-3
May 9	at New Mexico	Lobo Field • Albuquerque, NM	W 10-4	44-13	12-3
May 13	Arizona State	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	L 1-2	44-14	12-4
May 14	Arizona State	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	L 4-9	44-15	12-5
May 15	Arizona State	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	L 9-14	44-16	12-6
WAC Playoffs
May 21	Wyoming	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 19-0	45-16
May 22	Wyoming	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 6-2	46-16
May 24	BYU	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 7-6	47-16
May 25	BYU	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 4-0	48-16
NCAA Midwest Regional
May 28	at Texas-Pan American	Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TX	W 5-0	49-16
May 29	vs Missouri	Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TX	W 10-1	50-16
May 30	vs Texas A&M	Jody Ramsey Memorial Stadium • Edinburg, TX	W 8-2	51-16
College World Series
Jun 12	vs Arizona State	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	L 6-7	51-17
Jun 13	vs Oklahoma	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	W 10-2	52-17
Jun 14	vs Clemson	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	W 10-6	53-17
Jun 16	vs Eastern Michigan	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	W 11-6	54-17
Jun 17	vs Arizona State	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	W 5-1	55-17
Jun 18	vs Eastern Michigan	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	W 7-1	56-17

Midwest Regional

Main article: 1976 NCAA Division I baseball tournament § Midwest Regional

Midwest Regional Teams
Texas-Pan American Broncs	Arizona Wildcats	Missouri Tigers	Texas A&M Aggies

College World Series

See also: 1976 College World Series

1976 College World Series Teams
Arizona Wildcats	Arizona State Sun Devils	Auburn Tigers	Clemson Tigers	Eastern Michigan Hurons	Maine Black Bears	Oklahoma Sooners	Washington State Cougars

	Upper round 1					Upper round 2					Upper final					Semifinals					Preliminary final					Final
	Clemson		9
	Auburn		4
						Clemson		2
						Eastern Michigan		310
	Eastern Michigan		3
	Maine		2
											Eastern Michigan		2
											Arizona State		1
	Arizona State		710
																Eastern Michigan		6
	Arizona		6
						Arizona State		9								Arizona		11
						Washington State		3
	Washington State		6
	Oklahoma		1																							Eastern Michigan		1
																					Arizona		5			Arizona		7
						Lower round 1					Lower round 2										Arizona State		1
											Washington State		3
						Auburn		8			Maine		6
																Arizona State		7
						Maine		9
																Maine		0
											Clemson		6
						Arizona		10			Arizona		10
						Oklahoma		2

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

• College World Series Most Outstanding Player^[6]

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

Player	Position	Round	Overall	MLB Team
Ron Hassey	C	18	422	Cleveland Indians
William Simpson	INF	20	471	St. Louis Cardinals
Ken Bolek	OF	24	550	Detroit Tigers
Bruce Ferguson	RHP	31	660	California Angels

^[8][9]