# 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.

## 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.

## 1976 Schedule and results

1976 Arizona Wildcats Baseball Game Log :
| 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

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

## 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 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper final | Upper final | Upper final | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Final | Final | Final |
| Clemson | Clemson | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Auburn | Auburn | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Auburn | Auburn | 4 | Clemson | Clemson | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3$^{10}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3 | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 3$^{10}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Maine | Maine | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Maine | Maine | 2 | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 7$^{10}$ | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona State | Arizona State | 7$^{10}$ | | | | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 6 | | | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 6 | | | | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 6 | | | | | | |
| Arizona | Arizona | 6 | Arizona State | Arizona State | 9 | | | | Arizona | Arizona | 11 | | | | | | |
| | | | Washington State | Washington State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Washington State | Washington State | 6 | Washington State | Washington State | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eastern Michigan | Eastern Michigan | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Arizona | Arizona | 5 | Arizona | Arizona | 7 |
| | | | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | | Washington State | Washington State | | | | | | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | Auburn | Auburn | 8 | Maine | Maine | | | | | | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | Auburn | Auburn | 8 | Maine | Maine | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 7 | | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | Maine | Maine | 9 | | | | Arizona State | Arizona State | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Maine | Maine | 9 | | | | Maine | Maine | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Clemson | Clemson | | Maine | Maine | 0 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | Arizona | Arizona | 10 | Arizona | Arizona | | | | | 10 | | | | | | |
| | | | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Awards and honors
### Bob Chaulk

* College World Series All-Tournament Team

### Craig Giola

* First Team All-WAC South

### Ron Hassey

* College World Series All-Tournament Team
* First Team All-WAC South

### Steve Powers

* College World Series Most Outstanding Player

### Dave Stegman

* First Team All-American
* College World Series All-Tournament Team
* First Team All-WAC South

### Pete Van Horne

* College World Series All-Tournament Team

### Glenn Wendt

* First Team All-WAC South

## 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 |