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ASU Best Teams: No. 1 1965 Baseball vs. No. 2 1969 Baseball

Two title teams face off

Photo from Sun Devil Athletics

We continue our best teams from ASU ever this summer with our next matchup. No. 1 1996-97 Football beat No. 1 1981 Baseball in our last matchup. Now it’s No. 1 1965 Baseball vs. No. 2 1969 Baseball.

Here’s the current bracket:

No. 1 1965 Baseball

Record: 54-8 (9-3 Western Athletic Conference) College World Series champion

Head coach: Bobby Winkles

Notable players: Rick Monday, Sal Bando

The rundown: First-Team All-American and the 1965 MLB No. 1 overall pick, outfielder Rick Monday homered twice in Omaha as he led Arizona State baseball to its first national championship. The Sun Devils had a dominant 11-1 record in the postseason, which concluded when ASU dealt Ohio State a 2-1 defeat to clinch ASU’s first of five eventual College World Series titles.

No. 2 1969 Baseball

Record: 56-11, (15-3 WAC), Won College World Series

Head coach: Bobby Winkles

Notable players: Larry Gura, Paul Powell, Billy Cotton

The rundown: In ASU’s last of the trio of championships in the 1960’s, Winkles club was led by senior pitcher Larry Gura. With a 19-2 record, he recorded a 1.01 ERA. Between the MLB Draft and the secondary phase, the team had four first round picks. The Sun Devils lost their opening College World Series game to Texas before winning five straight to secure their third title.

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