Baseball is the sport commonly known as the national pastime, and that’s for a good reason! Baseball is one of the most loved sports in America. The Trojans baseball team of the University of Southern California (USC) is the most decorated college baseball team in existence, with a record of twelve college championships under their belt. The group belongs to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and calls Dedeaux Field their home. The field is named in honor of Rod Dedeaux. In the history of college baseball, no team has come close to winning this many championships- the closest are Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of Texas (UT) with six championships each: the number won by USC altogether. The odds of the season favor them again, of course! While we know that the Trojans are simply the best when it comes to winning championships, what do we really know about their long history and that of USC? Let’s get to know a little bit more about this special baseball program and the university it belongs to.
The Beginning
In 1889, the Trojans officially recognized baseball as a sport. With baseball being such a new sport, the Trojans and many other programs lacked consistent leadership throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1908, they caught their first official head coach, Harvey Holmes, who stayed with the team for one year. Holmes was a multitalented coach and also led other sports at the university, including football and track. In 1911, Curtiss Bernard took the reins for a year, followed by Len Burnell for another year. Initially, the Trojans were mainly law students, but from the 1916 and 1917 seasons, they also opened up to other students. When the war ended, they found themselves new coaches: Gloomy Gus Henderson and Willis Hunter in 1921 but were coach-less for 1922. In 1923, George Wheeler took over. Wheeler’s tenure was the last to be so short: he was followed by Sam Crawford from 1924 to 1941 before leaving for the war. Rod Dedeaux took over until 1946 when Sam Barry returned, and they co-coached the team until Barry passed away in 1950. Dedeaux continued to coach on his own until 1986- a 45-year long legacy. He was followed by Mike Gillespie, Chad Kreuter, and finally, currently, Jason Gill.
Home Ground
From their formation until 1974, the Trojans called Bovard Field home. The then-home plate was located in what is now EF Hutton Park, and Left Field was hemmed in by Watt Way. Dedeaux Field took over in 1974 and remains their home to this day. The field, as you may have guessed, is named after the Trojan’s longest-running coach Rod Dedeaux. The year of their move into the new park was a lucky one, as it marked their fifth consecutive national championship. The capacity of the field is currently 2,500 people.
USC
WIthout the University of Southern California, the Trojans wouldn’t exist! USC comprises Arts, Sciences, and the College of Letters, as well as a graduate school and 19 professional schools. Undergrad degrees are offered in 75 fields and professional degrees across 125 disciplines. It is best known for its law school, film programs, music, business, and engineering. USC is one of the largest research schools in America and one of the best-funded to boot. Approximately 100 sets of researchers in 100 institutes operate there during the year, including the Southern California Earthquake Center and the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems. It is a bookworm’s paradise, with 20 libraries. If you love film, you’re in for a treat at USC as well, as the campus boasts an incredible collection of cinema and television materials. In 1880, USC opened its doors backed by the Methodist Episcopal church. When philosopher Ralph Tyler Flewelling arrived on campus in 1917, he established the university as a haven for personalism. In the 20s, the first schools of internal relations were put together at USC, as well as public relations and cinematography. The very first fully qualified doctor left USC in 1923, and in 1926, the university broke away from any religious affiliations completely. In 1963, Konrad Wachsann brought a doctoral program in building science to the campus.
Athletics has always been a top priority for the staff and students at USC; indeed, the university has sent more Olympians to the games than any other American school. USC athletics boasts a long list of impressive student-athletes: football player OJ Simpson, sprinter Charlie Paddock, and shot-putter Parry O’Brien. There’s a long list of famous students as well: George Lucas, John Wayne, architect Frank Gehry, and director Jose Quintero, to name but a few.
Final Word
USC and the Trojans have an illustrious past and a bright future ahead of them. Who knows, maybe you’ll be their next star!
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