From national champions and College World Series dynasties to Hall of Famers and Major League superstars, the Western Athletic Conference has played a major role in shaping the history of college baseball.
Since the league’s founding in 1962, WAC baseball programs have combined for national championships, unforgettable postseason runs and generations of elite talent that reached the highest levels of the sport.

Arizona and Arizona State Set the Standard
Baseball quickly became one of the premier sports in the WAC during the conference’s earliest years. Arizona reached the College World Series during the league’s inaugural season in 1962-63, advancing all the way to the championship series before falling to USC. Arizona State followed with a College World Series appearance in 1964, then broke through in 1965 behind stars Rick Monday and Sal Bando to capture the program’s first national championship. Monday later became the first overall pick in the inaugural MLB Draft and went on to play 19 seasons in the majors, earning All-Star honors and winning a World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.
Just one year later, another legendary Sun Devil emerged in Tempe.

Reggie Jackson arrived at Arizona State on a football scholarship before joining legendary head coach Bobby Winkles on the baseball diamond. Jackson earned All-WAC honors before becoming the second overall pick in the 1966 MLB Draft. “Mr. October” later built one of the greatest careers in baseball history as a 14-time All-Star, five-time World Series champion and Hall of Famer.

Arizona State continued its dominance in 1967 with another national championship behind pitcher Gary Gentry, who posted a remarkable 17-1 record with 229 strikeouts. Gentry later became a key member of the “Miracle Mets” during New York’s 1969 World Series championship season.

The Sun Devils claimed another national title in 1969, their third NCAA championship in a five-year span. Pitcher Larry Gura starred on that team before going on to a 15-year Major League career and eventual induction into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.

Arizona State also reached the national championship series in both 1972 and 1973. Pitcher Eddie Bane was named National Player of the Year in 1973 and threw the only perfect game in WAC history that same season.

Arizona, BYU and San Diego State Contiue WAC Legacy
Arizona returned to the top of college baseball in 1976, winning the national championship behind catcher Ron Hassey, a two-time All-American who later played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball and won a World Series title with Oakland.

Arizona State captured another national championship in 1977 with future MLB stars Bob Horner and Hubie Brooks leading the way. Horner became the first overall pick in the MLB Draft and later earned National League Rookie of the Year honors, while Brooks enjoyed a 14-year MLB career and two All-Star selections.

Brigham Young also established itself as a national contender during the era, reaching the College World Series in both 1968 and 1971. The Cougars later produced Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris, who starred at BYU before building a legendary Major League career that included 254 wins and three World Series championships. BYU slugger Cory Snyder became the WAC’s all-time home run leader with 73 career homers, while Wally Joyner developed into another standout Cougar before recording more than 2,000 hits during a 16-year MLB career.

San Diego State also became home to one of baseball’s all-time great hitters.Tony Gwynn starred as both a baseball and basketball player for the Aztecs before launching a Hall of Fame MLB career that included 15 All-Star selections, eight National League batting titles and seven Silver Slugger awards. Fellow Aztec Mark Grace later became a Gold Glove first baseman and World Series champion with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rice and Fresno State Continue Championship Tradition
As conference membership evolved, Rice emerged as one of the nation’s elite programs during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Lance Berkman led the Owls during that rise, earning 1997 WAC Player of the Year honors after setting a conference record with 41 home runs - still the third-most in NCAA history. Rice reached the College World Series four times and captured the 2003 national championship after opening the season with a 30-game winning streak. Pitcher Wade Townsend became one of the stars of that era, going eighth overall in the MLB Draft in consecutive years after returning to Rice for his senior season.

In 2008, Fresno State delivered one of the greatest Cinderella stories in college baseball history by becoming the first No. 4 regional seed to win the College World Series. The Bulldogs also developed several future Major Leaguers, including Jeff Weaver, Matt Garza and Aaron Judge. Judge earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2011 before becoming one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball as a multi-time American League MVP and perennial All-Star.

Hawaii’s Kolten Wong also emerged during that era, becoming a Gold Glove infielder and longtime Major League standout.

Modern Stars Continue the WAC Tradition
The WAC’s legacy of producing elite talent continues today.

Seattle U pitcher Tarik Skubal rose from an All-WAC selection to one of the top pitchers in baseball and a Cy Young Award winner after receiving just one Division I scholarship offer coming out of high school.
Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson followed a rapid path from WAC Defensive Player of the Year to Major League All-Star after being selected sixth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft.

WAC Baseball by the Numbers

• Seven National Championships won by WAC programs 
• Arizona State won four national championships as a WAC member
• Arizona was the 1976 CWS champion
• Rice captured the 2003 College World Series title
• Fresno State became the first No. 4 seed to win the College World Series in 2008
• The WAC has produced Hall of Famers including Reggie Jackson, Tony Gwynn and Jack Morris
• Numerous WAC players became MLB All-Stars, MVPs and World Series champions

From Arizona State’s dynasty years to championship runs by Arizona, Rice and Fresno State, WAC baseball has built a legacy defined by excellence, tradition and generations of stars who helped shape the game.