Back in 1954, ASU’s hope of continuing its baseball team was about as likely as the 2011 team going to the postseason. After years of failure, disappointment and shame, the athletic department announced in September 1953 that the school would cut the team.
But for some Sun Devils, that was just not an option. Students of the school, then known as Arizona State College, started a petition in December to urge the return of the sport. The revival was headed by a former pitcher for Phoenix College and Luke Air Force Base named Gay King. He had 200 signatures by Dec. 10.
By late winter, people started to take notice. Bob Allison, reporter for the Phoenix Gazette at the time, called the team “a collegiate-variety corpse” that “continues to show stubborn signs of life” in a February article.
And as the press and signatures kept building, so did the team. By March 12, 1954, The Arizona Republic reported that a small group lead by King, Lloyd Hernandez and Phil Keyes had drawn in around 40 potential players. A dozen of them signed up for practice the next week.
The unsanctioned, unofficial and unorthodox team met for its first practice in early March. The Arizona Republic reported that 53 players turned out to practice, 30 of which stayed.
After four days of practice, the school got on board. ASC released equipment, the college bus and an insurance policy for injuries to all students who volunteered for the team. They also signed on for a 10-game season.
The team opened the season on March 28 with an 8-1 loss to Utah University. They went on losing until early April when they won the first game of the season 9-7 against Williams Air Force Base. After that they went on a hot steak, surpassing all expectations with three straight victories.
The Sun Devils finished their ragtag season with a 5-6 record. Their late wins lead them to clamor for a shot at the University of Arizona, which would eventually come in 1955.
The team continued to have stutters in the later seasons. ASU didn’t officially start counting their record against the Wildcats until 1959, which was the first time the team had a paid coach.
But for the boys of the 1954 team, it wasn’t about records or titles. It was about the love of the game. Something the 2011 season needs to remember.
Contact the reporter at sbauge@asu.edu
