Jim Brock
Encyclopedia
Jim Brock was the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team for 23 years.
Arizona State's second varsity baseball coach was Jim Brock who coached at ASU for 23 years (1972–1994). During his first year as head coach, Brock managed his team to a 64-6 record. That record still holds the NCAA all-time winning percentage in a single season (.914). Jim Brock's all-time record at ASU is 1,100- 440. Brock also led ASU to 13 College World Series
appearances. In 1994, Brock battled liver and colon cancer that would take his life one day after the conclusion of the College World Series. Though his strength was waning, Brock did not miss a conference game through the '94 season. He led his team through the regional tournament at Knoxville, Tennessee
, and was in the dugout when the Sun Devils beat University of Miami
, 4-0, in the Series opener. Speaking in little more than a whisper, he gave his team an inspirational pep talk after a scoreless first inning when he sensed that the Sun Devils were flat. "You can make an assumption that you'll be up because it's the College World Series," Brock said, "But you spend so much emotion in the final game of the regional that you sometimes have to find a way to regain that emotion." On his way to Rosenblatt Stadium (home of the College World Series), for the second game of the Series, Brock's condition worsened. The Sun Devils went on to lose to the University of Oklahoma
, 4-3, in the home half of the eleventh inning. Brock was airlifted from Omaha to a Mesa hospital shortly before game number three. His Sun Devils went on to hit five home runs to eliminate top seeded Miami, 9-5, and present him with his 1,100th coaching victory. Later, Oklahoma eliminated ASU from the series and went on to capture the national title. On June 12, 1994, three days after his team's season ended, Brock died of colon cancer. He was 57. Brock was posthumously voted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame
in January 1995.
Brock coached two College World Series Championship teams, and was named National Coach of the Year four different times in his career at ASU (1977, 1981, 1984, 1988). Brock sent 175 players into professional baseball - an average of almost eight per year. Brock coached seven first round picks, all of ASU's three Golden Spike
winners. He was five-time winner of the Pacific Ten Conference
(PAC-10) Coach of the Year. Jim Brock's No. 33 was retired by ASU. In 2006, Bobby Winkles Field-Packard Stadium
at Brock Ballpark was dedicated to the late Dr. Brock.
Arizona State's second varsity baseball coach was Jim Brock who coached at ASU for 23 years (1972–1994). During his first year as head coach, Brock managed his team to a 64-6 record. That record still holds the NCAA all-time winning percentage in a single season (.914). Jim Brock's all-time record at ASU is 1,100- 440. Brock also led ASU to 13 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
appearances. In 1994, Brock battled liver and colon cancer that would take his life one day after the conclusion of the College World Series. Though his strength was waning, Brock did not miss a conference game through the '94 season. He led his team through the regional tournament at Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, and was in the dugout when the Sun Devils beat University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, 4-0, in the Series opener. Speaking in little more than a whisper, he gave his team an inspirational pep talk after a scoreless first inning when he sensed that the Sun Devils were flat. "You can make an assumption that you'll be up because it's the College World Series," Brock said, "But you spend so much emotion in the final game of the regional that you sometimes have to find a way to regain that emotion." On his way to Rosenblatt Stadium (home of the College World Series), for the second game of the Series, Brock's condition worsened. The Sun Devils went on to lose to the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, 4-3, in the home half of the eleventh inning. Brock was airlifted from Omaha to a Mesa hospital shortly before game number three. His Sun Devils went on to hit five home runs to eliminate top seeded Miami, 9-5, and present him with his 1,100th coaching victory. Later, Oklahoma eliminated ASU from the series and went on to capture the national title. On June 12, 1994, three days after his team's season ended, Brock died of colon cancer. He was 57. Brock was posthumously voted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame
College Baseball Hall of Fame
The National College Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Lubbock, Texas, is a museum operated by the College Baseball Foundation serving as the central point for the study of the history of college baseball in the United States...
in January 1995.
Brock coached two College World Series Championship teams, and was named National Coach of the Year four different times in his career at ASU (1977, 1981, 1984, 1988). Brock sent 175 players into professional baseball - an average of almost eight per year. Brock coached seven first round picks, all of ASU's three Golden Spike
Golden spike
The "Golden Spike" is the ceremonial final spike driven by Leland Stanford to join the rails of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory...
winners. He was five-time winner of the Pacific Ten Conference
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
(PAC-10) Coach of the Year. Jim Brock's No. 33 was retired by ASU. In 2006, Bobby Winkles Field-Packard Stadium
Packard Stadium
Packard Stadium is a college baseball stadium in Tempe, Arizona, the home field of the Arizona State Sun Devils of the Pacific 12 Conference. Opened in 1974, the stadium's seating capacity is 7,875....
at Brock Ballpark was dedicated to the late Dr. Brock.