Arizona Wildcats Baseball

The Arizona Wildcats baseball team is the intercollegiate men's baseball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. They compete in the Big 12 Conference (Big 12) of NCAA Division I.

Arizona has won four college baseball national championships (1976, 1980, 1986 and 2012), the first three under Jerry Kindall and the most recent under Andy Lopez. The team has appeared in the College World Series Championship Game or Series on four other occasions (1956, 1959, 1963, and 2016). The Wildcats have appeared in 44 NCAA baseball tournaments in their rich history. Arizona ranks ninth in all-time wins and eight in all-time win percentage, with an all-time record of 3,024–1,653–22 () as of the 2024 season. Arizona fielded its first team in 1905.

Venues

Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium

The former home of Arizona baseball is Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium. The park is located on the campus of the University of Arizona, adjacent to the McKale Center, home of the UA athletics department. Arizona played its games at the Kindall Field from prior to the 1967 season through the end of the 2011 season. Modernization of the facility was completed for the 1975 season. Originally called Wildcat Field, the park was officially dedicated Frank Sancet Field on April 19, 1986, in honor of Arizona's longtime head coach. Sancet, who coached from 1950 to 1972, posted an 831–283–8 (.744) mark at the helm of the Cats.

Relocation to Hi Corbett Field (2011-present)

In an effort to have the Wildcat baseball program compete in the best possible facilities, in August 2011, the UA signed an agreement with the city of Tucson for Arizona baseball to play its home games at city-owned Hi Corbett Field, located about three miles southeast of campus, for the 2012 season (beginning with a five-year lease with an option to renew for an additional five years). The UA spent about $350,000 to make several upgrades to the former spring training facility (used as such by the Cleveland Indians and the Colorado Rockies), where the Wildcats previously played selected games in the 1960s and '70s. Through the first three-game series of the 2012 season against North Dakota State, the attendance at the stadium was a total of 8,870, which was nearly 1/4th of the total home attendance for the Wildcats' previous season at Sancet Stadium.

In 2012, the Wildcats posted a 38–17 regular season record (20–10 in Pac-12 conference play), capturing a share of the Pac-12 baseball championship, the school's first league title since 1992. As a result, Hi Corbett Field hosted both an NCAA Regional and Super Regional tournament, and Arizona won both of those to advance to the 2012 College World Series (the program's first postseason appearance in Omaha since 2004) where the team won its fourth national championship. In the 2012 season, the team brought in almost $350,000 in ticket revenue (not including revenue for tickets sold during the NCAA Regional or Super Regional); this is compared to the 2011 season, when Arizona baseball brought in $69,000 worth of ticket revenue in its final season at Sancet Stadium. The relocation of the Wildcat baseball program to Hi Corbett Field has been noted as a major factor in the team's successful 2012 season.

In March 2017, the university signed a 25-year lease on Hi Corbett Field, taking over the day-to-day management of the baseball stadium from the City of Tucson.

Head coaches

*''Modern Era (1950-current). Records are through the 2025 season''

Current coaching staff

*Head coach: Chip Hale
*Assistant coach: Trip Couch
*Assistant coach: Kevin Vance
*Assistant coach: Toby DeMello
*Director of Pitching Performance & Strategy: John DeRouin

Records and results

Year-by-year results

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, C = Conference

Polls

Arizona been ranked in the Baseball America Division I Final Poll 32 times.

''Top-10 finishes are colored ██''

All-time record vs. Big 12 teams

^†Colorado & Iowa State no longer have baseball programs

Rivalries

Arizona State

Arizona's main rival is Arizona State. The Wildcats lead the Sun Devils in all time baseball series 266–230–1 as of April 2025 and both teams have had several players drafted into MLB. In recent years, Arizona has had an edge over Arizona State in college baseball success. In 2010 ASU won the Pac-10 and also advanced to the College World Series, capping the end of a dominating run of 4 straight Pac-10 conference championships and 3 CWS appearances in 4 years (missed CWS in 2008). Later, the NCAA would vacate the 2007 Pac-10 Championship and 2007 CWS appearance from ASU's record.

Since then Arizona has won the CWS (2012), was the CWS runner-up (2016) and won two Pac-12 Championships (2021 & 2024). In contrast to Arizona's recent success, ASU has not won the Pac-10/12 Conference since 2010, has not been the CWS runner up since 1988 and has not won an NCAA Championship since 1981. Arizona has won 2 NCAA championships since 1981. While ASU still has a more robust historical record (5x NCAA Champs, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981 and 21x CWS appearances), Arizona has narrowed that gap in the last 20 years.

Arizona in the NCAA Tournament

Arizona has appeared in the NCAA tournament a total 44 times (as of 2025), 6th most in NCAA history. The Wildcats have hosted regionals 13 times(as of 2025).

*The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947.
*The format of the tournament has changed through the years.

College World Series

Arizona has made eighteen appearances in the College World Series, compiling a 43–32 record, advancing to the title game on eight occasions and winning the College World Series four times, which is tied for 5th most all-time.

Championships

National Championship appearances

Arizona has appeared in the College World Series National Championship game eight times in 1956, 1959, 1963, 1976, 1980, 1986, 2012 and 2016.

Divisional Championships

Conference Regular Season Championships

Conference Tournament championship

Awards

Golden Spikes Award

Conference awards

*Pac−10/12 Player of the Year – Terry Francona (1980), Chip Hale (1987), Scott Erickson (1989), Alan Zinter (1989), Trevor Crowe (2005), Alex Mejia (2012), Scott Kingery (2015)
*Pac−10/12 Pitcher of the Year – Preston Guilmet (2007)
*Pac−10/12 Defensive Player of the Year – Alex Mejia (2012), Nik McClaughry (2023)
*Pac−10/12 Freshman of the Year – Austin Wells (2019), Daniel Susac (2021)
*Pac−10/12 Coach of the Year – Jerry Kindall (1980, 1989, 1992), Andy Lopez (2012), Jay Johnson (2021), Chip Hale (2024)

All-Americans

* Brian Anderson
* George Arias
* Smith Bailey
* Dillon Baird
* Nathan Bannister
* Bill Barraclough
* Jacob Berry
* Seth Mejias-Brean
* Dave Breuker
* Jordan Brown
* Cameron Cannon
* Tom Clarkson
* Wes Clements
* Trevor Crowe
* Bobby Dalbec
* Chase Davis
* Keoni DeRenne
* Ben Diggins
* Brandon Dixon
* Shelley Duncan
* Matt Encinas
* Scott Erickson
* Terry Francona
* Zach Gibbons
* John Glenn
* Russ Gragg
* Dick Griesser
* Preston Guilmet
* Dennis Haines
* Alan Hall
* Ron Hassey
* Gil Heredia
* Kurt Heyer
* Nick Hundley
* Lloyd Jenney
* Roger Johnson
* Scott Kingery
* Don Lee
* Eddie Leon
* Kevin Long
* Joe Magrane
* Damon Mashore
* J. J. Matijevic
* Erik Mattern
* Alex Mejia
* Harry Messick
* Steve Mikulic
* Brad Mills
* Robbie Moen
* Tony Morales
* Willie Morales
* Robert Murray
* Kevin Newman
* Pat O’Brien
* Jared Oliva
* Tim Plodinec
* Tony Pluta
* Nick Quintana
* Steve Powers
* Bob Ralston
* Cody Ramer
* Alfonso Rivas
* J. Ray Rokey
* Kiko Romero
* Daniel Schlereth
* Dan Schneider
* Charles Shoemaker
* Joe Skaisgir
* Craig Sorensen
* Dave Stegman
* Jerry Stitt
* Daniel Susac
* Ron Theobald
* Carl Thomas
* Jason Thompson
* Vince Vannelle
* Ed Vosberg
* Cam Walty
* Austin Wells
* Mason White
* Donta’ Williams
* Alan Zinter

Individual honors

Notable alumni

* Brian Anderson – World Series Champion (2005)
* Steven Ballard – former Chancellor at East Carolina University
*Jett Bandy – catcher, Milwaukee Brewers
*Shelley Duncan – manager of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees)
*Scott Erickson – All-Star selection (1991), World Series champion (1991).
*Terry Francona – current manager of the Cincinnati Reds, former Manager of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians – 2x World Series champion (2004, 2007)
*Dick Griesser – member of the United States national baseball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
*Chip Hale – former manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks; named Wildcats head coach in July 2021
*Ron Hassey – World Series Champion (1989), only catcher to catch two perfect games.
* Rich Hinton
*Trevor Hoffman – 2nd all-time Major League saves holder with 601 total saves, 7x All-Star (1998–2000, 2002, 2006–2007, 2009), Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, 2017.
* Jack Howell
*Nick Hundley – catcher of the San Francisco Giants
*Jerry Kindall – member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
* Scott Kingery – Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies
* Don Lee – spent 9 years in the majors with 6 different teams.
*Craig Lefferts – ranked 76th on the MLB All-Time Games Pitched List (696).
*Hank Leiber – 1x All-Star (1938) spent 10 years in the majors for the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.
* Eddie Leon
*Kenny Lofton – 6x All-Star (1994–99), 4-time Gold Glove Award (1993–96).
* Kevin Long – current hitting coach of the Philadelphia Phillies
*Joe Magrane – led the NL in ERA in 1988 with 2.18.
*Mark Melancon
* Dan Meyer
* Brad Mills – 2x World Series Champion (2004, 2007)
*Mike Paul
*Ryan Perry
* Tim Plodinec – Pan American Games gold medalist
* Rob Refsnyder – utility player for the Boston Red Sox. 2012 College World Series champion and Most Outstanding Player.
*Dan Schneider
*J. T. Snow – 6x Gold Glove Award winner (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
* Dave Stegman
*Cal Stevenson – baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants
* Ed Vosberg – World Series Champion (1997)

Current MLB Players

Hall of Fame inductees

One Arizona player and two coaches have been inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Retired jerseys

Student-Athlete jerseys are retired but not individual player numbers.

Rivalries

Arizona State

Arizona's main rival is Arizona State. Although they are famously known for their rivalry in football and basketball as well as softball, both schools have had a rich baseball tradition in their history. The Wildcats lead the Sun Devils in all time baseball series 266–230–1 as of April 2025 and both teams have had several players drafted into MLB.

In recent years, Arizona has had an edge over Arizona State in college baseball success. In 2010 ASU won the Pac-10 and also advanced to the College World Series, capping the end of a dominating run of 4 straight Pac-10 conference championships and 3 CWS appearances in 4 years (missed CWS in 2008). Later, the NCAA would vacate the 2007 Pac-10 Championship and 2007 CWS appearance from ASU's record.

Since then Arizona has won the CWS (2012), was the CWS runner-up (2016) and won two Pac-12 Championships (2021 & 2024). In contrast to Arizona's recent success, ASU has not won the Pac-10/12 Conference since 2010, has not been the CWS runner up since 1988 and has not won an NCAA Championship since 1981. Arizona has won 2 NCAA championships since 1981. While ASU still has a more robust historical record (5x NCAA Champs, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981 and 21x CWS appearances), Arizona has narrowed that gap in the last 20 years.

See also

*List of NCAA Division I baseball programs
*1976 College World Series
*1980 College World Series
* 1986 College World Series
*2004 College World Series
*2012 College World Series
*2016 College World Series

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arizona Wildcats Baseball

College baseball teams in Arizona