. :nesday July 30, 1997 - The:Mieigan Daily --
history of a Michigan tradition
Daily Sports Editor
T he transition from Fisher to the Detroit area, mostly," Lund said.Fngipoint of the
coach that followed was smooth In 1961, Detroit native Bill Freehan regional
-largely due to incoming coach batted .585 as a freshman, setting a Big W e s t e r n
Don Lund, one of Fisher's former play- Ten record that still stands. He left after Michigan, the
ers, who understood Michigan's tradi- that season to enter the major leagues, regional host, fell in
tion. but it may have been one year too soon. 10 innings to Kerr's
"Baseball was so much fun," Lund The following season, Michigan cap- pitching, 3-2. Kerr
said. "It was just naturally fun, fun to be tured its second national title. pitched a grand total
there. So I hoped to carry that on a lit- "We were a team that never conceded of 17 innings in a
tle bit.' a loss," said Dick Honig, a member of single day. And after
Lund, who played under Fisher the '62 champions. "No matter where defeating the
from 1942-1945, had major we were, we found a way to win" Broncos in the fol-
league experience with the Following Freehan's departure, lowing game,
4 Dodgers and was famil- Michigan wasn't composed of future pro Michigan was on its
iar with the Detroit stars. But Lund's strong coaching made way to the College
baseball scene. up for any shortcomings. World Series.
His players Swept by Wisconsin in the final dou- "We played
"were kids I bleheader of the '62 season, Michigan Western in the final
41recruited dropped to second place in the Big Ten game in front of
Michigan basebafl ' out of and settled for an at-large bid at the their home," Lund
-the Kalamazoo regional. said. "We lucked out
After defeating Big Ten champion and (eventually) won a national title."
Illinois, 5-1, in the first game, Michigan After winning three straight games in
pitcher John Kerr - who went the the CWS and dropping one, the
entire seven innings - figured that Wolverines found themselves in the title
pitching one victory wasn't game against Santa Clara.
enough. Deadlocked in the 15th inning,
"John Kerr pitched both Michigan pitcher Jim Bobel tripled in
games (that day), and hit Harvey Chapman to break the tie and
M the sacrifice fly to capture the national championship, 5-4.
- A win the second "We didn't have many who were
game," Lund major leaguers," Honig said. "But we
said. "That always seemed to find a way to win."
was the After the '62 national championship
turn - season, Lund stepped down as coach,
high- an All-America selection.
est fin- He continued on to future glory as an
Fisher Stadium. ish in the Olympian for the 1988 United States
That very field behind Yost Ie Arena and next to CWS was in team in Seoul, South Korea. He also
Ferry Field, with it's symmetrical dimensions and 1983 - third- enjoyed a seven-year career as a solid
howling winds, contains more than just bleachers and place behind pitcher in the major leagues.
athletic equipment. It houses memories of seasons champion Texas and But Middaugh's success was a dou-
and players past and the dreams of players present. runner-up Alabam. ble-edged sword. Opposing coaches in
Students, administrators, playrs and coaches During the glorious the Big Ten and the Mid-America con-
will come and go, but the game will continue. And decade, Abbott arguably had ference, as well as major league scouts,
as long as there's a university in Ann Arbo, there the most success at Michigan. The began to cry foul - and the NCAA
vil leo aseall alongsiderit. hurler captured the attention of the stepped in to investigate the program.
nation not only because he was a top- "Middaugh, unfortunately, was dis-
noc stp eidofrgoa iaiityhe, btasbucusleovr oet timerfollowed.Forachign
came a physical handicap. Lund said.
Abbott was born Middaugh resigned as the second-
without the lower winningest head coach in Michigan his-
part of his right tory with 465 victories. But his viola-
h e arm. But his pitch- tions caused difficulties in the future.
8 0,tau iing ability wonwad Michigan was placed under proba-
ew e r e out over his tion for the next two seasons and tur-
ancesCand owna period of regional disability, bulent times followed. Former Michigan
larsesonredomination by the and he catcher Bill Freehan had the daunting
r-'"a, Wolverines. In nine seasons w a s task of coaching the troubled program.
dstaa under Middaugh, Michigan awalr desd "Bill did a great job, although his
nfmaoNan asa Ha fwon seven Big Ten titles, made the 1987 record won't show it, to bring back the
four College World Series appear- Golden Spikes stature of Michigan baseball," former
ances and owned the nation's best regu- Award as the Michigan player Dick Honig said.
tar season record in 1989 (49-16). top amateur. But in 1995, the former Michigan
Middaugh's teams were filled with b as eb a ll standout found himself amidst allega-
some of the most talented players in col- player in ions of his own rule infractions.
lege. Eventual major leaguers including ' the country Although the violations
Chris Sabo, Scott Kamienicki, Barry / - the only were considered minor
Larkin, Hal Morris and Jim Abbott Michigan player to and no penalties were
highlighted the star-studded rosters. receive that distinction. meted out to the pro-
From 1980 to 1984, the Wolverines In his sophomore season, gram, Freehan resigned in July, 1995.
made regular appearances at the CWS, he notched 13 victories His departure brought in current
only missing out in 1982. Michigan's " against three defeats and was coach Geoff Zahn, another former
and Michigan continued to dominate
and contend throughout the decade.
Moby Benedict stepped in after Lund
to guide Michigan through the 1970s.
During Benedict's tenure, Michigan
finished below third place only three
times. In 1978, his club managed to
retum to the CWS under the leadership
of Rick Leach - another future major
leaguer - but was soon sent home by
Southern California and North Carolina.
Benedict retired after the 1979 season,
giving way to Bud Middaugh, who took
Michigan to unprecedented heights.
Wolverine. Zahn, for whom the team
pitching award is named, was able to
concentrate on baseball.
"Geoff has seemed to get the program
on the right track," Lund said.
Zahn has appeared to bring Michigan
back to its winning ways. Michigan fin-
ished in first place in the Big Ten this
past season after upsetting Ohio State on
the final weekend of the season.
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