There's no doubt that the late Jim Brock loved ASU.
Now, the University has finally shown him some love in return.
ASU announced plans Tuesday to honor the Hall of Fame baseball coach by renaming Packard Stadium in his honor. It will now be known as Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. An official ceremony will be held over Alumni Weekend in January 2006.
Brock recorded a school-record 1,100 wins in 23 years at ASU and guided the Sun Devils to a pair of national titles in 1977 and '81. In 1998, he was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association College Baseball Hall of Fame.
"You hear the cliche of bleeding maroon and gold, and he really did," said Patsey Brock, Jim's widow. "He loved this school."
Brock died from complications of cancer just days after ASU was eliminated by Oklahoma in the 1994 College World Series.
On the day of the national championship game, Patsey said Jim sat up in bed and asked which team had won. Patsey told him Oklahoma had won, led by a player Brock recruited. Brock then laid back down. He died the next day.
ASU baseball coach Pat Murphy, Athletic Director Gene Smith and women's basketball play-by-play broadcaster Jeff Munn were on hand for Tuesday's ceremony. Former Sun Devil Barry Bonds, who played for Brock from 1983-85, also was there.
"Coach Brock was one of the best coaches I have ever had," Bonds said. "I could go on forever about the qualities of Coach Brock."
Bonds said he was proud to take part in the event.
"This is the right thing to do for a man who really deserves it," Bonds said.
Adding Brock's name to Packard Stadium took lots of lobbying by Murphy. Patsey Brock credited Murphy for the name change.
"This truly would have never happened without him fighting for it," she said.
Murphy deflected praise, claiming a group effort got it done. He was just happy Brock received recognition for his accomplishments.
"It's great when you're recognizing someone so special and has done so much for college baseball," Murphy said. "I owe him and everyone in this program so much."
Brock took ASU to the College World Series 13 times and coached more than 40 All-Americans, establishing the rich tradition that has carried over to today.
Smith insists that Brock has left a mark for ASU's players to follow.
"This is what it's all about," Smith said. "Jim Brock is the exemplar for all our athletic people."
Reach the reporter at kyle.odegard@asu.edu.
