OMAHA, Neb.—Bobby Winkles’ return to the College World Series was special on two levels. He got to watch Arizona State, a team he coached to three titles, and he was part of the 40th reunion of the 1969 championship team.
“It was nice that these guys thought about including the coach when they came back,” Winkles said before Sunday’s pregame ceremony honoring the ’69 Sun Devils.
Joining Winkles for the weekend reunion were assistant coach Jack Smitheran, left fielder John Dolinsek, first baseman Jeff Osborn, right fielder Ralph Dickenson, shortstop Roger Detter, pitchers Ken Hansen and Joe Miller, third baseman Terry Brenner and infielders Gene Kobar and Tom Welton.
Winkles, 79, coached the Sun Devils from 1959-71 and stayed in contact with many of his players after leaving for a major-league managerial career.
Winkles said Dolinsek provided his greatest CWS memory. The 1969 Most Outstanding Player didn’t start the Omaha opener against Texas. Dolinsek said he was benched for disciplinary reasons.
“Coach had his way of doing things, and I didn’t always agree and follow rules like I was supposed to,” Dolinsek said. “I got benched in the regionals the last game and I didn’t start against Texas. So I pinch hit in the seventh inning. Coming from pinch hitting, not starting the first game, to winning the MVP award was really a memorable experience for me.”
Dolinsek also recalled ASU beating Tulsa twice—11-3 and 10-1—en route to the title. The Sun Devils dropped their opener and charged through the losers’ bracket.
Dolinsek said there’s an easy explanation for the easy wins over Tulsa. The catcher positioned himself behind the plate in a way that made it easy for ASU’s first-base coach to see what pitch was called.
“We stole all their pitches,” he said, “so we hit four home runs against them in two games, and they didn’t know what was going on.”
Osborn recalled a game in which Hansen fielded a one-hopper hit so hard that it stuck in his glove’s webbing. He ended up tossing the glove to Osborn in time but the umpire ruled Osborn didn’t have control of it.
“All of the people in the stands were laughing,” Osborn said. “Kenny came over and said, That’s all I could do.'”
Osborn was looking forward to reuniting with his former teammates and head coach.
“We were fortunate to play for a great coach and great person in Bobby Winkles,” Osborn said. “He taught us and prepared us so much for life. A lot of the things coach Winkles taught me still apply today—focus, discipline, doing the right fundamental things every day in business the same you do as a ballplayer.”
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GORE’S RECORD: North Carolina right fielder Garrett Gore will leave Omaha having at least tied the record for most games played in the CWS.
The senior from Wilmington, N.C., appeared in his 19th on Sunday. The Tar Heels would have to win on Tuesday for Gore to play in a record 21 games.
Daryl Arenstein of Southern California set the record from 1970-73.
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EARLY RETIREMENT: Southern Mississippi coach Corky Palmer, 55, is looking forward to taking early retirement after the CWS.
“I like fishing,” he cracked.
Palmer has been in coaching for 32 years, which is enough for him.
“Everybody has a different approach,” he said. “I never was a guy who wanted to coach into my 60s. I love the game, and people say I’m as competitive now as I’ve ever been. I’ve coached only 32 years, but sometimes it feels like 42. I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do, and the program is in good shape.”
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SHORT HOPS: The hustle award so far goes to ASU first baseman Riccio Torrez, who dove into the photographers’ booth near his team’s dugout on the first-base side Sunday. The foul ball off Ryan Graepel’s bat was just out of Torrez’s reach. … If history is an indicator, the teams that played Sunday—the second day of the CWS—have the better chance of becoming the national champion. The last time the eventual champion played on opening day came in 1999, when Miami (Fla.) went all the way. … Saturday’s first two games drew 48,453, well ahead of 2008’s total of 43,078. Sunday’s first session drew another record—24,273—topping the 2002 mark of 24,067.
