1955 College World Series
Encyclopedia
The NCAA Men's Division I College World Series
(CWS) involved 8 schools playing in double-elimination
play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA
Division I college baseball
. It began on June 10, and ended with the championship game on June 16. A total of 15 games were played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
in Omaha, Nebraska
.
The tournament field consisted of 25 teams, 12 automatic berths and 13 at-large selections. The 25 teams competed in eight districts, each sending their winner to the CWS.
Wake Forest University
won the national championship with a 7–6 victory over Western Michigan University
in front of 2,042 fans.
Senior pitcher Tom Borland
of Oklahoma A&M
was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player.
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,...
(CWS) involved 8 schools playing in double-elimination
Double-elimination tournament
A double-elimination tournament is a type of elimination tournament competition in which a participant ceases to be eligible to win the tournament's championship upon having lost two games or matches...
play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
. It began on June 10, and ended with the championship game on June 16. A total of 15 games were played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium is a baseball stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, the former home to the annual NCAA Division I College World Series and the minor league Omaha Royals, now known as the Omaha Storm Chasers...
in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
.
The tournament field consisted of 25 teams, 12 automatic berths and 13 at-large selections. The 25 teams competed in eight districts, each sending their winner to the CWS.
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
won the national championship with a 7–6 victory over Western Michigan University
Western Michigan Broncos
The Western Michigan Broncos are a NCAA Division I FBS team representing Western Michigan University. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's baseball, basketball, football, soccer and tennis; and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field,...
in front of 2,042 fans.
Senior pitcher Tom Borland
Tom Borland
Thomas Bruce "Spike" Borland is an American former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1960 through 1961 for the Boston Red Sox...
of Oklahoma A&M
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. Their mascot is a cowboy named Pistol Pete. Oklahoma State participates in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big 12 Conference's South Division. The university's current athletic director is Mike Holder...
was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player.
Participants
School | Conference | Record (conference) | Head coach | CWS appearances | CWS best finish | CWS record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona Arizona Wildcats -Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah... |
– | 41–6 | Frank Sancet | 1 (last: 1954 1954 College World Series The 1954 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 10 to June 16. The eighth tournament's champion was Missouri, coached by John "Hi" Simmons... ) |
6th (1954 1954 College World Series The 1954 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 10 to June 16. The eighth tournament's champion was Missouri, coached by John "Hi" Simmons... ) |
1–2 |
Colgate Colgate University Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52... |
– | 16–6–1 | Red O'Hora | 0 (last: none) |
none | 0–0 |
Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado -Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado... |
– | 24–2 | Pete Butler | 2 (last: 1953 1953 College World Series The 1953 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 11 to June 16. The seventh tournament's champion was Michigan, coached by Ray Fisher. The Most Outstanding Player was J.L. Smith of Texas.... ) |
7th (1953 1953 College World Series The 1953 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 11 to June 16. The seventh tournament's champion was Michigan, coached by Ray Fisher. The Most Outstanding Player was J.L. Smith of Texas.... ) |
0–4 |
Oklahoma A&M Oklahoma State University–Stillwater Oklahoma State University–Stillwater is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act... |
MVIAA Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
24–1 (8–0, 0 GB) | Toby Greene | 1 (last: 1954 1954 College World Series The 1954 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 10 to June 16. The eighth tournament's champion was Missouri, coached by John "Hi" Simmons... ) |
4th (1954 1954 College World Series The 1954 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 10 to June 16. The eighth tournament's champion was Missouri, coached by John "Hi" Simmons... ) |
2–2 |
Springfield Springfield College Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented... |
– | 14–5 | Archie Allen | 1 (last: 1951 1951 College World Series The 1951 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 13 to June 17. The fifth tournament's champion was the Oklahoma, coached by Jack Baer. The Most Outstanding Player was Sidney Hatfield of Tennessee.... ) |
5th (1951 1951 College World Series The 1951 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 13 to June 17. The fifth tournament's champion was the Oklahoma, coached by Jack Baer. The Most Outstanding Player was Sidney Hatfield of Tennessee.... ) |
1–2 |
Southern California USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy... |
CIBA California Intercollegiate Baseball Association The California Intercollegiate Baseball Association was a college baseball association that competed under the Pacific Coast Conference, much like a 'division' in modern day college athletic conferences. The association was formed in 1927 by USC, Cal, Saint Mary's College of California, Santa... |
30–8 (14–2, 0 GB) | Rod Dedeaux Rod Dedeaux Raoul Martial "Rod" Dedeaux was an American college baseball coach who compiled what is arguably the greatest record of any coach in the sport's amateur history.... |
3 (last: 1951 1951 College World Series The 1951 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 13 to June 17. The fifth tournament's champion was the Oklahoma, coached by Jack Baer. The Most Outstanding Player was Sidney Hatfield of Tennessee.... ) |
1st (1948 1948 College World Series The College World Series, the second annual NCAA championship of college baseball, was played at Hyames Field in Kalamazoo, Michigan from June 25 to June 26... ) |
5–5 |
Wake Forest Wake Forest Demon Deacons Originally, Wake Forest's athletic teams were known as the Fighting Baptists, due to its association with the Baptist Convention... |
ACC Atlantic Coast Conference The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities... |
24–6 (11–3, 0 GB) | Taylor Sanford | 1 (last: 1949 1949 College World Series The College World Series was played in Wichita, Kansas from June 22 to June 25. The third tournament's champion was the Texas Longhorns, coached by Bibb Falk. The Most Outstanding Player was Tom Hamilton of the Texas.-Participants:-Bracket:... ) |
2nd (1949 1949 College World Series The College World Series was played in Wichita, Kansas from June 22 to June 25. The third tournament's champion was the Texas Longhorns, coached by Bibb Falk. The Most Outstanding Player was Tom Hamilton of the Texas.-Participants:-Bracket:... ) |
2–2 |
Western Michigan Western Michigan Broncos The Western Michigan Broncos are a NCAA Division I FBS team representing Western Michigan University. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's baseball, basketball, football, soccer and tennis; and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field,... |
MAC Mid-American Conference The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members... |
22–5 (9–0, 0 GB) | Charlie Maher | 1 (last: 1952 1952 College World Series The 1952 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 13 to June 17. The sixth tournament's champion was Holy Cross, coached by Jack Barry. The Most Outstanding Player was Jim O'Neill of Holy Cross.... ) |
3rd (1952 1952 College World Series The 1952 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 13 to June 17. The sixth tournament's champion was Holy Cross, coached by Jack Barry. The Most Outstanding Player was Jim O'Neill of Holy Cross.... ) |
2–2 |
Game results
Date | Game | Winner | Score | Loser | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 10 | Game 1 | Oklahoma A&M | 5–1 | Springfield Springfield College Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented... |
|
Game 2 | Western Michigan Western Michigan University Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045.... |
4–1 | Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885... |
||
Game 3 | Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado -Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado... |
2–1 | Southern California University of Southern California The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university... |
||
Game 4 | Wake Forest Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is... |
1–0 | Colgate Colgate University Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52... |
||
June 12 | Game 5 | Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885... |
6–0 | Springfield Springfield College Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented... |
Springfield eliminated |
Game 6 | Colgate Colgate University Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52... |
6–4 | Southern California University of Southern California The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university... |
Southern California eliminated | |
Game 7 | Western Michigan Western Michigan University Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045.... |
5–4 | Oklahoma A&M | ||
Game 8 | Wake Forest Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is... |
10–0 | Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado -Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado... |
||
June 13 | Game 9 | Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885... |
20–0 | Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado -Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado... |
Northern Colorado eliminated |
Game 10 | Oklahoma A&M | 4–2 | Colgate Colgate University Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52... |
Colgate eliminated | |
Game 11 | Western Michigan Western Michigan University Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045.... |
9–0 | Wake Forest Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is... |
||
June 14 | Game 12 | Oklahoma A&M | 5–4 (12 innings) | Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885... |
Arizona eliminated |
Game 13 | Wake Forest Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is... |
10–7 | Western Michigan Western Michigan University Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045.... |
||
June 15 | Game 14 | Wake Forest Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is... |
2–0 | Oklahoma A&M | Oklahoma A&M eliminated |
June 16 | Final | Wake Forest Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is... |
7–6 | Western Michigan Western Michigan University Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045.... |
Wake Forest wins CWS |
Quick facts
- In 1996, coach Rod DedeauxRod DedeauxRaoul Martial "Rod" Dedeaux was an American college baseball coach who compiled what is arguably the greatest record of any coach in the sport's amateur history....
of USC was named to the College World Series All-Time Team (1947–95) by the Oklahoma World-Herald as part of the 50th CWS celebration. - In 1996, Tom BorlandTom BorlandThomas Bruce "Spike" Borland is an American former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1960 through 1961 for the Boston Red Sox...
of Oklahoma A&M, now known as Oklahoma State, was named to the 1940s-50s All-Decade Team by a panel of 60 voters representing CWS head coaches, media, and chairs of the Division I Baseball Committee. - Freed Messner of Western Michigan hit the only pinch-hit grand slamGrand slam (baseball)In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
home run in CWS history in the top of the 8th of Game 13 in a 10-7 loss to Wake Forest. It was also Messner's only hit of the CWS (1-12). - Two-hitters were pitched by: Lawrence Bossidy of Colgate in a 1-0 loss to Wake Forest; Carl Thomas of Arizona in a 6-0 defeat of Springfield; Ken Kinnamon and Don Anderson of Oklahoma A&M in a 5-4 loss to Western Michigan; and Sam Frankel and Lawrence Bossidy of Colgate in a 4-2 loss to Oklahoma A&M.
- Through the 2010 tournament, Wake Forest's championship remains the most recent occurrence that a member of the Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic Coast ConferenceThe Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
won the CWS. The University of MiamiUniversity of MiamiThe 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...
, a current ACC member, has won four CWS titles, but all before joining the conference. - 21,843 fans watched the CWS (10 sessions).
- The championship game was umpired by Walter Doyle, Walter Harbour, George Hametz, and John Hergert.
- The following records were set or tied:
- Most Stolen Bases, Team, CWS - 17, Oklahoma A&M, 5 games
- Most Shutouts, All Teams, CWS - 6, Arizona (2), Wake Forest (3), Western Michigan, tied
- Most Doubles, Individual, Single Game - 3, Jack Bryant, 2B, Wake Forest, tied (6 others)
- Most Sacrifice Bunts, Individual, Single Game - 3, Leland Davis, SS, Western Michigan, tied
- Most Stolen Bases, Team, Single Game - 7, Wake Forest, tied (4 others)
- Fewest Assists, Team, Single Game - 3, Oklahoma A&M, tied (6 others)
- Most Errors, Team, Single Game - 9, Northern Colorado, tied
- Most Shutouts, Team, CWS - 3, Wake Forest, 6 games