As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moment, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1971 Baseball Wins NAIA District Championship

The Claremont-Mudd Baseball program had been successful from the outset, winning 20 games in each of its first three seasons. A SCIAC title, though, had been elusive until the 1970 team broke the ice with an impressive 13-2 league record to finish in first place, while finishing 28-13-2 overall. The league title came down to the final weekend, and three low-scoring pitching duels with Occidental, with the Stags coming away with 3-2, 1-0 and 4-2 wins to finish just ahead of Redlands in the final standings.

The Stags went on the NAIA District Championships, coming back through the loser's bracket to reach the regional finals before finishing as runner-up to La Verne (not yet a SCIAC member). But Claremont-Mudd would earn its revenge in 1971, winning another SCIAC title and then defeating the Leopards 5-1 in the district championship game to move on to the regionals in Oregon, finishing 29-13. Claremont-Mudd defeated Azusa Pacific 7-2 in the opener, then held on to defeat Occidental 12-10 in the second game, as freshman Bran McAllister came out of the bullpen to escape a bases loaded jam in the ninth.

La Verne defeated the Stags in the first game of the final round in the double-elimination district tournament to force a second and deciding game. Due to the shortening of the staff following an injury to All-District pitcher Steve Fahsbender, Roger Brandon was called on to pitch on only one day's rest. Brandon came through for his second win of the weekend, and knuckle-balling reliever Bob Stewart closed out the 5-1 win to complete a tournament in which he allowed no earned runs in 9 1/3 innings.

In 1970, Brandon was First-Team All-District, and was joined on the All-SCIAC First-Team by Bill Mills and Greg Hayes, while the second-team All-SCIAC selections included Tom Lundy, Mark Hathaway, Glenn Grossman, Bob Stewart and Mick Robinson. In 1971, Steve Fahsbender, Craig Goldsberry, and Don Lewis joined Mills, Brandon and Grossman on the first-team All-SCIAC team, whle Lewis was on the All-District team.

Bob Hayes, a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball, was inducted into the CMS Hall of Fame in 2018, joining Mills, who earned first-team All-America honors as a senior in 1973 and was inducted into the CMS Hall of Fame in 1998. 

Bob Hayes:

I was a backup outfielder my junior and senior years after starting my sophomore year.  I wasn't thrilled about it, but it turned out to be a blessing as it prepared me to be a better coach later on as I had a perspective of being a star on the football team and a bench player on the baseball team. A great player, Don Lewis, arrived my junior year and he was a prolific hitter and had a great outfield arm. I remember trying so hard to hit home runs, I was striking out and Don just keep hitting, so he became the starter. Trying hard works in most sports, but doesn't work so well trying to hit curve balls and fast balls, such a mental game compared to football and basketball.  On the other hand, my brother Greg was probably one of the best catchers ever to play at Claremont (I am a little biased here), so I have some stories about him.

In the first district playoff game against a power hitting Azusa Pacific team, Greg was catching for Roger Brandon. Roger had all the pitches but not a great fast ball.  My brother heard the coach from Azusa taking to some players during warmup, telling them to wait for the fast ball. They were the leader in home runs for California small colleges that year.  Greg gave Roger nothing but curve ball and slider signs the whole game. Roger keep trying to shake off the signs early in the game, but my brother wouldn't budge and finally called time out and went to the mound and told Roger "No Fast Balls" in his own "do as I say or I'll kick your butt after the game" type of way! Anyway, Azusa batters were breaking their backs and were off balance the whole night and didn't hit one home run and the Stags won the game in an upset!

The finals was against La Verne who had a really good team. They had a player, Freddie Long, who led all California colleges in steals. Basically he would slap a single or bunt to get to first and then steal second. Greg had thrown him out twice during the regular season, the only two times he was thrown out all year, so he automatically did not try to steal that game. In the later innings with the Stags up 2-1, Greg was up with runners on 2nd and 3rd and two outs. He got badly fooled by a wicked slider the La Verne pitcher threw and Greg just threw the bat at the ball and hit a bloop single into center field scoring both runners. He was just laughing at first base and Coach Arce was just shaking his head with a smile on his face. We won that game 5-1 for the championship.

In the West Coast finals in Oregon later that year, Greg was knocked out by a collision at the plate. He had to have his physics final rescheduled because he couldn't find the physics building the next week during finals - I walked him to the physics building so he didn't miss the retake of the final!

The most thrilling competition that year were the car races to the games between myself and Billy Mills. In those days, we car pooled to the away games. I had a 1967 Blue Ford Fairlane and Bill had a 1958 Pink Chevy Impala.  I called my car "OLD BLUE" and Bill called his "THE PINK PANTHER"!  No GPS, no cell phones, Bill being from Southern California and me from Colorado, Bill had the advantage, except I had a detailed map that I studied before each trip. I can't tell you how many side streets I took in Whittier and Eagle Rock to win some of those races. Lots of "California stops" and right turn on red lights to win those races! Giving twenty-year-olds the keys to the car and telling them not to be late had some fun unintended consequences.  Coach Arce found out about the races and gave Billy and I a serious talk in his office - glad I am alive to talk about it!

Great times and great memories with some outstanding guys and coaches!!

Dan Cooper:

That 1970 year was a lot of fun for me even though I sat on the bench most of the time but the friendships have lasted a long time. My best memory of baseball came in the 1971 season.  La Verne was crazy good and had beaten us three straight times before the district championship game, and Roger Brandon pitched on one day's rest. Plus, personally, the 1971 season was great for me. I won the Most Improved Player award which really meant a lot.

John Volk, Roy Okamoto, John Wiley, Roger Brandon, and Craig Goldsberry all remain friends to this day, so it is nice to think of those 1970-71 teams.

1970 Baseball Roster
Head Coach: Bill Arce
Assistant Coach: Jack Brady
Craig Beller (OF, CMC)
Roger Brandon (P, CMC)
Dan Cooper (P, CMC)
Pat Curtis (OF, CMC)
John Elliott (P, CMC)
Craig Goldsberry (2B, CMC)
Glen Grossman (P, CMC)
Mark Hathaway (SS, CMC)
Bob Hayes (OF, CMC)
Greg Hayes (C, CMC)
Bob Kerrigan (OF, CMC)
Don Lewis (OF, CMC)
Tom Lundy (3B, CMC)
Bill Mills (OF, CMC)
Joe Moore (1B, CMC)
Brad Nichols (C, CMC)
Roy Okamota (P, CMC)
Mickey Robinson (OF, CMC)
Bob Stewart (P, CMC)
John Volk (2B, CMC)
Dave Wells (OF, CMC)
John Wiley (P, CMC)
Wil Wilkins (C, CMC)

1971 Baseball Roster
Head Coach: Bill Arce
Assistant Coach: Jack Brady, Ron Shotts
Doug Aderhold (P, CMC)
Craig Beller (OF, CMC)
Roger Brandon (P, CMC)
Dan Cooper (P, CMC)
Pat Curtis (OF, CMC)
Steve Fahsbender (P, CMC)
Craig Goldsberry (2B, CMC)
Glen Grossman (P, CMC)
Mark Hathaway (SS, CMC)
Bob Hayes (OF, CMC)
Greg Hayes (C, CMC)
Bob Kerrigan (OF, CMC)
Don Lewis (OF, CMC)
Bran McAllister (P, CMC)
Bill Mills (OF, CMC)
Brad Nichols (C, CMC)
Mickey Robinson (INF, CMC)
Bob Stewart (P, CMC)
Jim Webster (INF, CMC)
Dave Wells (OF, CMC)
John Wiley (P, CMC)
Wil Wilkins (OF, CMC)