1985: LINFIELD COLLEGE’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAMS PLAYED EACH OTHER

1966 TEAM PHOTO:

Back: Asst. Coach, Del Coursey; Frank Bake, Denny Schweitzer, Art Larrance, Bob Daggett, John Lee, Punk Wells, John Hart, Larry Barnett, ?, Coach Roy Helser.

Front Row:  Jay Gustafson, ?, ?, Frank Molek, Jay Bandonis, Gary Cox, Tom Rohlffs, Steve Collette.

1985: LINFIELD COLLEGE’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAMS PLAYED EACH OTHER

It was Sat., Oct. 12, 1985, Linfield Homecoming on campus in McMinnville.

The keynote event for that afternoon was the Willamette at Linfield Columbia Football League football game on Maxwell Field. Linfield trailed 33-7, but won 36-33.

 In the morning (first pitch at 9:30) it was a game between Linfield’s NAIA National Championship baseball teams from 1966 and 1971. Thanks to 1966 team pitcher Tom Rohlffs at photo of the ’66 team is posted here. There’s no photo of the ’71 team. But, Mike Maley, an outfielder, said, "... for the record we were better looking."

On this page you will see the game’s printed program thanks to 1971 team outfielder Greg Walsh.

The 1966 team won, 3-1.

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National title teams: ROY HELSER’S 1966 vs. AD RUTSCHMAN’s 1977

Roy Helser coached the 1966 Linfield College National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Championship baseball team as it played the 1971 Wildcats’ team that also won the national title in a homecoming alumni game Saturday morning at Helser Field. Ad Rutschman coached the 1971 squad, but because he was preparing Linfield’s football team for a Columbia Football League game againist Willamette Saturday afternoon at Maxwell Field, he left the manging duties to Linfield professors Dave Hansen and Bruce Baldwin. The 1966 team won. Additional pictures and information will be published in Wednesday’s edition.  -- McMinnville N-R/News-Register, Mon Oct 14, 1985

 

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THESE GRADUATES DISCOVERED IT’S STILL A KIDS’ GAME

McMinnville N-R/News-Register, Wed Oct 16, 1985

 

PHOTO: Roy Helser, who managed 1966 Linfield College NAIA championship baseball team again the 1971 national title club Saturday morning in a Homecoming alumni game, encourages starting pitcher Frank Bake.

 

PHOTO: Down, but not down for the count.

 

PHOTO: Greg Walsh, a member of the 1971 team, catches the action on film.

 

LINFIELD HONORS

ITS

NATIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP

BASEBALL

TEAMS

1966 ⚾1971

 

9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, 1985

Roy Helser Field

 

1966 LINFIELD WILDCATS 
(See team photo.) 

• ·        Frank Bake, P
• ·        Jan Bandonis, 3B
• ·        Lary Barnett, P
• ·        Steve Collette, IF
• ·        Gary Cox, C
• ·        Bob Daggett, IF
• ·        Terry Durham, 1B
• ·        Jay Gustafson, CF
• ·        John Hart, P
• ·        Art Larrance, C
• ·        John Lee, SS
• ·        Frank Molek, 2B
• ·        Rocco Read, C-OF
• ·        Tom Rohlffs, P
• ·        Barry Stenlund, 1B
• ·        Bob Webber, IF
• ·        Al Wells, OF

 

Coach: Roy Helser

Assistant Coach: Del Coursey

 

1971 LINFIELD WILDCATS

(Sorry, no team photo.)

• ·        Mike Avery, IF
• ·        Tom Briggs, OF
• ·        John Buck, P
• ·        Mike Cahill, OF
• ·        Cary Clancy, OF
• ·        Vince Doherty, P
• ·        Mike Maley, OF
• ·        Jim Owens, IF
• ·        Kip Patterson, C-3B
• ·        Glen Plagmann, OF
• ·        Dave Robertson, IF
• ·        Mike Smithey, P
• ·        Mike Springer, 1B
• ·        Dennis Stevens, P
• ·        Spencer Wales, P
• ·        Bob Walker, IF
• ·        Greg Walsh, OF
• ·        Dan Waritz, IF
• ·        Ron Webb, C

·         

Head Coach: Ad Rutschman

Assistant Coach: Jim Corley

Honorary Coaches: Bruce Baldwin, Dave Hansen