PEPPERDINE: ONE OF BASEBALL’S TRUE PARADISES grams, but we’ve been able to develop a reputation based on who we are and what we do. All the hard work that has been put into this program has put us where we are now.” by Bill Ballew Given the setting of the ballpark, it’s not surprising that Eddy D. Field Stadium has been used extensively for the filming of several ne of the more memorable scenes in “Field of Dreams” commercials and movies and has served as the site for the uni- occurs when Shoeless Joe Jackson asks, “Hey, is this versity’s commencement exercises. Construction for the original Oheaven?” Ray Kinsella chuckles while responding, “No, it’s field was completed prior to the 1973 season, with bleacher and Iowa.” stadium seating added in 1980. The playing surface was refur- The same question comes to mind when baseball fans see Eddy bished in 2003, along with the addition of batting cages, new lock- D. Field Baseball Stadium, home of the West Coast Conference’s ers in the home clubhouse, an upgraded weight room and new Pepperdine Waves. Located a relay throw from the Pacific Ocean, blue chair-back seats. In 2007, a state-of-the-art scoreboard with the picturesque ballpark features palm trees beyond the outfield wall a video screen was added, while a new backstop screen was swaying in the cool and salty sea breeze. The ever-present warm installed prior to the 2008 campaign. sun shines over the popping mitts and pinging bats, all of which has The result is a 1,800-seat ballpark that is as functional as it is no one doubting that this location in Malibu, California, is indeed beautiful. The Waves have won more than 72 percent of their paradise while hosting one of the nation’s premier programs at the home games since the facility opened, and have registered a win- Division I level. ning record every year since 1974. Eddy D. Field Stadium also “It’s an amazing place,” said senior first baseman Ryan Heroy. served as the host site for an NCAA Regional in 2006, marking “Obviously it’s a great academic school and a great athletic school. the first time in program history Pepperdine has received the When you add in the students and the baseball atmosphere, you honor. couldn’t ask for anything else. It’s awesome, and I love it.” “The weather’s always nice,” Diedrich said. “You get that little The Waves’ accomplishments have been as impressive as the ocean breeze that tends to pull the ball back a little bit when you setting. Pepperdine owns 17 West Coast Conference titles, 32 con- think you’ve hit one square, but other than that the setting for our secutive 30-win seasons, and 25 NCAA Tournament berths. The home games is perfect.” Waves won the College World Series in 1992 after advancing to According to several members of the Waves, the people at Omaha 13 years earlier. The school has also been a solid prepara- Pepperdine are as inviting as the surroundings. The school was tory institution, with 29 players advancing to the major leagues after founded in 1937 by George Pepperdine, a Christian businessman toiling in Malibu. who started the Western Auto Supply Company. The original cam- “I think not having football is in many ways a blessing for us,” said pus was located in South-Central Los Angeles, with the school Pepperdine head coach Steve Rodriguez, who earned All-America fielding a baseball team beginning in 1939. Pepperdine rose to honors with the Waves in 1991 and 1992 prior to playing in the big national prominence on the diamond in the 1950s under head leagues with Boston and Detroit in 1995. “We’re not overshadowed coach John Scolinos while advancing to the District 8 playoffs in by another sport. Most schools are known for their football pro- Page 64 • Baseball The Magazine • Issue 4 2009 1955, 1957 and 1960. “He’ll do anything for you,” added Heroy. “You can go into his The college attained university status in 1970, two years before office and just talk to him. He’s very personable. He could walk into Pepperdine relocated to its current campus on 830 acres in a room of a thousand people and give an awesome speech, but Malibu. The school is religiously affiliated with the Churches of he’s even better talking with people individually. He’s also an awe- Christ, yet students and staff of all races and faith are welcomed. some athlete. He works out with us in the weight room, and he Pepperdine has close to 8,300 total students, with approximately could beat at least half of the players in the 60-yard dash.” an equal number of undergraduates and graduates. The school is The 38-year-old Rodriguez remembers well when he was in his committed to the highest academic standards, with the average players’ shoes. Hailing from Las Vegas’ Valley High School, class size in the low teens. According to Heroy, he’s had classes Rodriguez had offers from throughout the country but decided to with as few as four students. The result is a superior education, attend Pepperdine because he knew and respected many of the achieved in part with personal instruction from the university’s pro- other players in his recruiting class who had already committed to fessors. the Waves. He proceeded to post the second-highest career bat- “The best part is the relationships I’ve built while playing college ting average in school history with a .367 norm and still ranks in baseball,” Diedrich said. “Also, faith and religious aspects have the top 10 in five different single-season offensive categories. In played a big role for me, especially at a school with a Christian addition to being named West Coast Conference Player of the Year background. I wouldn’t trade the relationships I’ve made here for in 1992, Rodriguez earned All-CWS honors for the national cham- anything in the world.” pions. His grand slam helped defeat Texas in the semi-final round That same type of relationship is obvious on the baseball team. and a late-inning defensive gem in the Waves’ 3-2 win over Cal Rodriguez has a reputation for being one of the most positive State Fullerton in the championship game helped seal the biggest coaches in the country with his upbeat approach and optimistic moment in Pepperdine annals. outlook. He also makes it clear to his players that he is account- “I don’t think we ever really knew how good we were until we able for their actions. That’s why his door is always open should started playing some of the other teams in Omaha,” Rodriguez one of his student-athletes need help, advice or anything else, said. “Back then, we really didn’t travel a whole lot; we mainly regardless of whether it involves baseball. stayed in our area of California. When we started facing Wichita “The thing about Coach Rod is, he’s a great coach on the field, State and Texas and Fullerton, we realized we were pretty good, and he’s very approachable off the field,” Diedrich said. “I’ve been especially with our pitching. With the pitching staff we had, all the through some things, just like several other guys on the team, and offense had to do was score a couple of runs and we were going he’s been the first one there every time. He’s really a father figure to be fine.” to every guy on the team. It’s very important to everyone on the After seven seasons in the professional ranks, Rodriguez team to know that he is our coach, but he’s also someone we have returned to Malibu and spent four seasons as an assistant coach to go to when we need help. He’s just a great guy. And to have with the Waves. He was promoted to the top job prior to the 2004 someone like that who is also your coach is just an incredible situ- campaign, becoming only the third former Pepperdine player to ation.” assume the head coaching duties for the Waves in the program’s www.baseballthemag.com•www.batwars.com • Page 65 PEPPERDINE: ONE OF BASEBALL’S TRUE PARADISES Trent Diedrich history. Since that time, Rodriguez has led the team to five NCAA years and that’s created a lot of continuity for our program.” Regional appearances and an overall mark of 217-142. Diedrich, a native of Fresno, California, became interested in As one of the premier programs in the college ranks, Pepperdine is Pepperdine at the age of 12 when a family friend, G.J. not a hard sell for Rodriguez. The difficult part is finding the right play- Raymundo, played as an infielder for the Waves in 1998-99. ers who will combine their goals on the diamond and in the classroom Raymundo sold Diedrich on what the school had to offer from and emerge successful in both endeavors. all aspects, and the younger player wound up doing everything “I don’t know if there’s a specific type of person we look for, but that was necessary to play baseball and attend college at the they all have to have academics in mind,” Rodriguez said. “Athletically, university. we’re looking at the best players in the country and trying to get them “The aroma the school puts off, to be by the beach on a here. Usually for us, the kids who come to Pepperdine really want to beautiful campus, it’s someplace I always wanted to be,” come here because they like the baseball program and they’re seri- Diedrich said.