Arizona Wildcats baseball

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File:Kindall Field.jpg
Kindall Field where the Wildcats played baseball until 2012, when they relocated to nearby Hi Corbett Field

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 3,068–1,674–22 (Expression error: Unexpected < operator) as of the 2025 season. Arizona fielded its first team in 1905.

Venues

Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium

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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.[1][2] 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)[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

Head coaches

  • Modern Era (1950-current). Records are through the 2025 season[6]
Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1950–1972 Frank Sancet 23 831–275–8 Expression error: Unexpected < operator
1973–1996 Jerry Kindall 24 860–579–7 Expression error: Unexpected < operator
1997–2001 Jerry Stitt 5 157–125 Expression error: Unexpected < operator
2002–2015 Andy Lopez 14 490–324–1 Expression error: Unexpected < operator
2016–2021 Jay Johnson 6 208–114 Expression error: Unexpected < operator
2022–present Chip Hale 4 152–95 Expression error: Unexpected < operator
Totals 6 coaches 76 seasons 2,696–1,512–16 Expression error: Unexpected < operator

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

National champions Conference Regular Season Champions Conference Division Champions Conference Tournament Champions

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

Polls

Arizona been ranked in the Baseball America Division I Final Poll 33 times.

Top-10 finishes are colored ██

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All-time record vs. Big 12 teams

Opponent Won Lost Tie Percentage Streak First Meeting
Arizona State 266 230 1 Template:Winpct Lost 1 1907
Baylor 10 5 0 Template:Winpct Won 2 1998
BYU 25 10 0 Template:Winpct Won 3 1963
Cincinnati 3 0 0 Template:Winpct Won 1 2025
Colorado† 15 1 0 Template:Winpct Won 1 1950
Houston 7 6 0 Template:Winpct Won 2 1960
Iowa State† 0 1 0 Template:Winpct Lost 1 1970
Kansas 1 0 0 Template:Winpct Won 1 2025
Kansas State 2 0 0 Template:Winpct Won 1 1993
Oklahoma State 9 15 0 Template:Winpct Won 2 1954
TCU 10 5 0 Template:Winpct Won 1 1956
Texas Tech 11 7 0 Template:Winpct Lost 1 1972
Utah 69 23 0 Template:Winpct Won 1 1952
UCF 0 0 0 Template:Winpct Won 4 2026
West Virginia 4 3 0 Template:Winpct Won 2 2023
Totals 432 306 1 Expression error: Unexpected < operator

†Colorado & Iowa State no longer have baseball programs

Rivalries

Arizona State

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". 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.

Opponent Won Lost Tie Percentage Streak First Meeting
Arizona State 266 230 1 Template:Winpct Lost 1 1907
Grand Canyon 71 32 0 Template:Winpct Lost 1 1967
Northern Arizona 48 6 0 Template:Winpct Won 40 1948
Totals 485 268 1 Template:Winpct

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).

National champions Runner-up College World Series Super Regionals

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.

Season Coach Opponent Result Overall record
1956 Frank Sancet Minnesota Minnesota 12, Arizona 1 49–8
1959 Frank Sancet Oklahoma State Oklahoma State 5, Arizona 3 39–10–2
1963 Frank Sancet USC USC 5, Arizona 2 39–17
1976 Jerry Kindall Eastern Michigan Arizona 7, Eastern Michigan 1 56–7
1980 Jerry Kindall Hawaii Arizona 5, Hawaii 3 45–21–1
1986 Jerry Kindall Florida State Arizona 10, Florida State 2 49–19
2012 Andy Lopez South Carolina Arizona 4, South Carolina 1 48–17
2016 Jay Johnson Coastal Carolina Coastal Carolina 4, Arizona 3 49–23
Total National Championship Game Appearances 8

Divisional Championships

Season Conference Division Coach Conference
1963 WAC South Frank Sancet 8–4
1966 WAC South Frank Sancet 8–4
1968 WAC South Frank Sancet 6–6
1970 WAC South Frank Sancet 11–7
1974 WAC South Frank Sancet 16–2
1980 Pac−10 South Jerry Kindall 17–3
1989 Pac−10 South Jerry Kindall 23–7
Total division titles 7

Conference Regular Season Championships

Season Conference Coach Overall Conference
1966 WAC Frank Sancet 40–15 8–4
1974 WAC Frank Sancet 58–6 16–2
1980 Pac−10 Jerry Kindall 45–21–1 17–12
1989 Pac−10 Jerry Kindall 45–18–1 23–7
1992 Pac−10 Jerry Kindall 34–23 18–12
2012 Pac−12 Andy Lopez 48–17 20–10
2021 Pac−12 Jay Johnson 45–18 21–9
2024 Pac−12 Chip Hale 36–23 20–10
Total Conference titles 8

Conference Tournament championship

Season Conference Coach Winning Team Losing Team
2023 Pac−12 Chip Hale Oregon 6 Arizona 4
2024 Pac−12 Chip Hale Arizona 4 USC 3
2025 Big 12 Chip Hale Arizona 4 TCU 3
Championship Results 2−1

Awards

Golden Spikes Award

Golden Spikes Award
style="Template:CollegeSecondaryStyle;"|Year style="Template:CollegeSecondaryStyle;"|Player style="Template:CollegeSecondaryStyle;"|Position
1980 Terry Francona OF

Conference awards

All-Americans

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Individual honors

Notable alumni

Current MLB Players

Template:CollegePrimaryHeader
Bobby Dalbec 2016 Milwaukee Brewers
Kevin Ginkel 2016 Arizona Diamondbacks
Tylor Megill 2018 New York Mets
Andrew Nardi 2019 Miami Marlins
Kevin Newman 2015 Los Angeles Angels
Rob Refsnyder 2012 Boston Red Sox
César Salazar 2018 Houston Astros
Chase Silseth 2021 Los Angeles Angels
Cal Stevenson 2018 Philadelphia Phillies
Austin Wells 2020 New York Yankees

Hall of Fame inductees

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

College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
style="Template:CollegeSecondaryStyle;"|Year Inducted style="Template:CollegeSecondaryStyle;"|Name style="Template:CollegeSecondaryStyle;"|Position style="Template:CollegeSecondaryStyle;"|Career
2007 Jerry Kindall Head Coach 1973–1996
2011 Terry Francona OF 1977–1980
2012 Frank Sancet Head Coach 1950–1972

Retired jerseys

Student-Athlete jerseys are retired but not individual player numbers.[9]

Template:CollegeSecondaryHeader
1 John Salmon
2 Lee Franklin
15 Trevor Hoffman
32 Terry Francona
41 Kelsey Osburn

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

References

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External links

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