1959 FRESNO STATE BASEBALL

Coached by the legendary Pete Beiden, the Bulldogs became the first team in Fresno State history to reach the College World Series in 1959, a season in which they finished with a 41-13 record.

Upon reaching the CWS at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, the Bulldogs won three of five games, including elimination games against Western Michigan and Arizona, to finish third among eight teams.

The Bulldogs split a pair of games with CWS runner-up Arizona and were finally eliminated by eventual champion Oklahoma State.

Fresno State’s postseason path to the CWS started at home, where the Bulldogs swept Santa Clara 23-11 and 15-3. Next Beiden’s crew ventured north to Seattle where they won two of three against the University of Washington for the District 8 crown.

Dick Doepker was the winning pitcher in one of the games against the Huskies and he won twice more at the CWS.

The Bulldogs opened the CWS by edging Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado) 6-5 but fell to Arizona 5-1 in their second game.

They staved off elimination with a 7-2 victory over Western Michigan and then left-handed ace Leroy Gregory handcuffed Arizona on four hits as the Bulldogs won 2-0 to again avoid going home. Three teams, Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Fresno State each finished the First round with 3 wins and 1 loss a coin flip decided who received the bye) Add before loss to Oklahoma State.

The Bulldogs bats went cold in the semifinal as the team fell 4-0 to Oklahoma State behind a four-hitter by Cowboys senior pitcher Roy Peterson.

Gregory and outfielder Augie Garrido were named to the All-West Region team. Four Bulldogs from the 1959 team earned All California Collegiate Athletic Association honors: Gregory, third baseman Jim Lester, shortstop Mike Mathiesen, and second baseman Jerry White.

Players: Mountie Bedford, Dave Biggers, Stan Busch, Merv Carter, Harvey Casey, Dick Doepker, Tom Emery, Joe Fischer, Jim Garrett, Augie Garrido, LeRoy Gregory, Ted Hiltel, Wayne Hiranaka, Bobby Kelly, Jim Lester, Mike Lillard, Dorman Martin, Mike Mathiesen, Marty Mazzoni, L.H. McDaniel, Lee Murphy, Dave Peeler, Dennis Robertson, Richard Rose, Bob Schultz, Tommy Thompson, Ed Vegely, Jerry White, Babe Williams, O’Dell Youngblood

For Garrido, 1959 would provide a first taste of the College World Series. As a coach, he would win a total of five CWS titles with Fullerton State and Texas, and was the winningest coach in NCAA baseball history at the time of his 2016 retirement.

Players: Mountie Bedford, Dave Biggers, Stan Busch, Merv Carter, Harvey Casey, Dick Doepker, Tom Emery, Joe Fischer, Jim Garrett, Augie Garrido, LeRoy Gregory, Ted Hiltel, Wayne Hiranaka, Bobby Kelly, Jim Lester, Mike Lillard, Dorman Martin, Mike Mathiesen, Marty Mazzoni, L.H. McDaniel, Lee Murphy, Dave Peeler, Dennis Robertson, Richard Rose, Bob Schultz, Tommy Thompson, Ed Vegely, Jerry White, Babe Williams, O’Dell Youngblood

Coaches: Head Coach: Pete Beiden, Assistant Coach: Bill Harbour