UCLA Baseball and Softball Encyclopedia

Baseball is one of the original sports at the University, debuting in the spring of 1920 before UCLA was even an acronym. The new school in Los Angeles was the University of California Southern Branch, and the athletic teams were known as the Cubs. Like football in the fall and basketball in the winter, the baseball program was led by Fred Cozens. The early years saw sporadic success and a seemingly nonstop flow of coaches. While Ohio State football later became known as the “Graveyard of Coaches,” the nickname just as well could have been applied to UCLA baseball. When Art Reichle took over, however, first in 1941 for one season, and then beginning again in 1946 for 29 more, things changed. Stability became UCLA baseball’s calling card. They hit well, pitched poorly, and saw two head coaches lead them for six decades. Reichle and Gary Adams built the foundation, and then John Savage, beginning in 2005, helped the Bruins ascend to the top, eventually winning the first and only National Championship in program history in 2013. While baseball at UCLA has a long, roller coaster history, UCLA softball has been a powerhouse program from year one. The NCAA introduced women’s sports to their athletic sponsorship slate in the fall of 1981, and by the following spring, the Bruin softball team was otherworldly. They were the team of ‘80s under Sharron Backus, and they kept winning in the ‘90s when Sue Enquist took control. They’ve won four more national championships since the turn of the century, and they remain the greatest softball program in history to this day. Each season, each coach, and all the greatest players in UCLA baseball and softball history are featured in this unique anthology. UCLA Baseball and Softball Encyclopedia was meticulously researched, and Stueve left no stone unturned in writing the story of UCLA’s famed bat and ball sports.
ASIN: B0CX54YVSP
VSKU: BVV.B0CX54YVSP.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Stueve, Spencer|Nuveman-Deniz, Stacey
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.