2010 AZTEC BASEBALL Inside The Early Years...............................64 Aztec Tradition.................................66 NCAA Attendance Record...............71 NAIA Champions .............................72 NCAA Tournament Results .............73 Aztec Pros .......................................74 Golden Spikes Winners ...................76 All-Americans ..................................78 All-Conference.................................79 Aztec MVPs .....................................81 Aztec Records .................................82 Year-By-Year Team Stats ...............84 Batting & ERA Leaders....................86 Batting and ERA Top 10s ................87 annual Offensive Leaders................88 Annual Pitching Leaders..................90 Season Leaders ..............................92 Career Leaders................................94 Past Head Coaches.........................96 Through the Years...........................97 Series Records ................................98 All-Time Scores ...............................99 Lettermen ......................................111 u u u u u u u 2010 SAN DIEGO STATE AZTEC BASEBALL u u u u u u u 631 THE EARLY YEARS Although modern Aztec baseball history is traced back to the year 1936 when it became a major varsity sport, its tradition at San Diego State can be traced back to the year 1903. Below is a brief chronology of early SDSU base- ball history. Normal School Years 1898 San Diego Normal School opens for instruction 1903 Men’s club baseball team entered in local rec league (first baseball club to represent State) 1904-5 No Team 1906 Normal School competes in the local interscholastic league 1907-21 (History of team during these years not available) State College Years 1922: Frosh-Soph “non-varsity” team played against local high schools and clubs. Al Morri- son is team manager. 1923: Non-varsity Frosh-Soph team. John Han- cock is team captain. 1924: For the first time in the history of the col- lege, baseball was organized as a regular sport on the varsity level. The team did not enter into The 1906 San Diego State baseball team conference play, but played games against local bank, military, high school and junior college forced to cancel the 1925 season due to lack of team got off to a slow start and was unable to teams. John Hancock, former football and track sufficient funds to provide equipment and main- recover. SDSC finished last in the SCIAC with star at the college, is the player-coach. Morris tain a team. A group of players, led by John a record of 0-4 while Occidental claimed the Gross is the team captain. In addition to Gross, Hancock, put a team together and played a few league title with a 7-0 mark. The season results the team was comprised of the following play- games against local teams only. On January 14, included losses to UCLA (9-8) and Occidental ers: Henry Parrish, Harold Fitzpatrick, Harold 1925, the school nickname becomes “Aztecs.” (25-0) along with a win over Chapman (21-11). Clearbrook, Gerald Brewington, Ed Chambers, 1926: The 1926 squad was the first team to play Lee Waymire, the athletic director of the San John Squires, Lloyd Brown, Don Lyons, Ed an intercollegiate schedule. Athletic Director Diego Gas and Electric Company and a long- Geddings and Ellis Price. The program was fi- C.E. Peterson felt the college needed to face time local coach, served as head coach. Ken nanced by monies from student body fees. stronger competition in all sports, so San Diego Johnson was again the captain. There were no scholarships or jobs, and no re- State College joined the Southern California In- 1928: P.E. professor Harold G. Brucker, the cruiting was done. The team did win its first tercollegiate Athletic Association (SCIAC). brother of future major leaguer Hal Brucker, was game of the season against Sweetwater High Other league members included Occidental, appointed head coach by the executive commit- School by a score of 6-3. Pomona, Whittier, University of California at Los tee of the college. The Aztecs played a full con- 1925: A committee made up of University Pres- Angeles (Southern Branch), California Institute ference schedule in the SCIAC. They managed ident Edward L. Hardy, Director of Athletics C.E. of Technology (Cal Tech), Redands and La to compile a record of two wins and four losses, Peterson, manager Ed Ruffa, and others was Verne. The first season of league competition good for a fifth-place finish in the seven-team was a difficult one. SDSC finished with a record league. John Montgomery was the leading hit- is 2-5 vs. college teams, including a 7-5 loss to ter with a .354 average. Lawrence Carr was the UCLA in the Aztecs’ first baseball game against team captain and led the Aztecs in hits with 19. a four-year college. This game was played on Letters were awarded to 12 varsity players. This Friday, March 19, 1926, at the old Normal was the first Aztec baseball team to play under School grounds. The team was coached by scarlet and black colors. Morris Gross coached John Hancock (SDSU ‘25), the most outstand- the frosh team. ing athlete to graduate from SDSC in the mid- 1929: Hal Brucker was again the head coach. 1920s. The team began slowly, losing its first He had primarily the same personnel from the five contests. The Aztecs won their first intercol- previous year, but the Aztecs were only able to legiate game when they defeated USC Dental finish in fifth place again with a record of two College, 6-4, behind the pitching of L. Penry. wins and three losses. Milton “Red” Cameron The next day they finished their season with was the team captain. Eleven varsity letters their second consecutive win, defeating the Cal- were issued at the conclusion of the season. ifornia Christians, 12-1, behind the pitching of 1930: The depression caused the cancellation Charlie Levy. Ken Johnson, the team captain, of the 1930 season. Again a group of athletes led the Aztecs with a .600 batting average, get- formed a makeshift squad and played an inde- ting 18 hits in 30 at bats. Charlie Smith was also pendent schedule. a member of this squad. 1931: San Diego State moved to its new cam- 1927: The 1927 campaign was almost canceled pus, its present site in east San Diego. After Ken Johnson, who also played football at SDSU, due to a lack of players, but finally 13 athletes much discussion, athletic officials decided to lead the baseball team in hitting in 1926. turned out to make up the Aztec squad. The permit the financing of baseball. Morris Gross, 64 u u u u u u u 2010 SAN DIEGO STATE AZTEC BASEBALL u u u u u u u THE EARLY YEARS erndt led team in batting average. Along with Jo- Hideo Higashi was one erndt, players such as Athos Sada, Walt of the Aztecs’ top hit- Bostrum, Don Clarkson, George Mosolf, Bill ters in 1935 and 1936 Bailey, Dave Driscoll, Rod Luscomb and Clair Powell made up a solid nucleus for the emerg- ing State College program. 1933: Morris Gross continued as head baseball coach. Rod Luscomb led the team in batting av- erage at .571, going 12-for-21 during a limited season. The Aztecs played at a field located where the Education Building now stands on the campus. 1934: Charlie Smith was appointed head coach, a position he held for the next 30 years. In their only game against a team from the SCIAC, the Aztecs dropped a 5-2 decision to Redlands de- spite getting a complete-game five-hit perform- ance from pitcher Al Churchman. George Mosolf led team in hitting with a .461 average. a young graduate who had starred in baseball 1935: The 1935 season was cut short due to and basketball at State, was appointed head lack of adequate funds. Charlie Smith continued coach. The team was not a member of a con- as the team’s head coach. Al Churchman led ference during the 1931 season. In fact, there the team in hitting with a .444 average. A num- was no conference competition in the SCIAC ber of important events affecting the athletic de- from 1932 to 1935 due to insufficient funds. A partment took place this year. Walter Hepner, a lack of facilities at the new campus caused the strong supporter of athletics, became the col- team to hold practices at Central Playground lege’s president. Secondly, Leo Calland be- Harold G “Hal” Bricker, a physical education profes- and at Hoover High School. Although not a came head football coach after playing and sor at SDSU, was the head coach in 1928 and 1929. member of a conference, the Aztecs played five coaching at USC. He played a major role in the teams from the SCIAC. Their lone win in those beginnings of athlete recruitment at SDSC. His Although there was no varsity baseball during contests was a 5-2 victory over Cal Tech. recruiting helped baseball because most ath- the war years (1943-45), San Diego State did Twelve varsity letterwinners named. letes at the time played two or three sports. Dur- field a club team in 1943 that played against 1932: The 1932 season was the most success- ing this era, several players signed professional local military teams that frequently included ful in the short history of the Aztec baseball pro- contracts including Athos Sada, Ashley Joerndt, some professional ball players serving in the gram. Morris Gross continued as head coach Lefty Hunt, George Mosolf, Rod Luscomb, Lau- armed forces. In addition, there were occasional and led the team to a record of nine wins, two rie Robinson, Jim Fournier and Gilly Fowler. games against area high schools such as losses and a tie. SDSC opened the season with Several others went on to become prominent Hoover and San Diego High. At least two play- game against AAA level Hollywood Stars of the local baseball coaches.