Arizona Wildcats baseball
The Arizona Wildcats baseball team is the intercollegiate men's baseball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. They compete in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.
Arizona has won four college baseball national championships, the first three under Jerry Kindall and the most recent under Andy Lopez. The team has appeared in the College World Series Championship Game or Series on four other occasions. The Wildcats have appeared in 44 NCAA baseball tournaments in their rich history. Arizona ranks ninth in all-time wins and eight in all-time win percentage, with an all-time record of 3,068–1,674–22 as of the 2025 season. Arizona fielded its first team in 1905.
Venues
The former home of Arizona baseball is Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium. The park is located on the campus of the University of Arizona, adjacent to the McKale Center, home of the UA athletics department. Arizona played its games at the Kindall Field from prior to the 1967 season through the end of the 2011 season. Modernization of the facility was completed for the 1975 season. Originally called Wildcat Field, the park was officially dedicated Frank Sancet Field on April 19, 1986, in honor of Arizona's longtime head coach. Sancet, who coached from 1950 to 1972, posted an 831–283–8 mark at the helm of the Cats.
In an effort to have the Wildcat baseball program compete in the best possible facilities, in August 2011, the UA signed an agreement with the city of Tucson for Arizona baseball to play its home games at city-owned Hi Corbett Field, located about three miles southeast of campus, for the 2012 season. The UA spent about $350,000 to make several upgrades to the former spring training facility, where the Wildcats previously played selected games in the 1960s and '70s. Through the first three-game series of the 2012 season against North Dakota State, the attendance at the stadium was a total of 8,870, which was nearly 1/4th of the total home attendance for the Wildcats' previous season at Sancet Stadium.
In 2012, the Wildcats posted a 38–17 regular season record, capturing a share of the Pac-12 baseball championship, the school's first league title since 1992. As a result, Hi Corbett Field hosted both an NCAA Regional and Super Regional tournament, and Arizona won both of those to advance to the 2012 College World Series where the team won its fourth national championship. In the 2012 season, the team brought in almost $350,000 in ticket revenue ; this is compared to the 2011 season, when Arizona baseball brought in $69,000 worth of ticket revenue in its final season at Sancet Stadium. The relocation of the Wildcat baseball program to Hi Corbett Field has been noted as a major factor in the team's successful 2012 season.
In March 2017, the university signed a 25-year lease on Hi Corbett Field, taking over the day-to-day management of the baseball stadium from the City of Tucson.
Head coaches
- Modern Era. Records are through the 2025 season
- Head coach: Chip Hale
- Assistant coach: Trip Couch
- Assistant coach: Kevin Vance
- Assistant coach: Toby DeMello
- Director of Pitching Performance & Strategy: John DeRouin
Records and results
Year-by-year results
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, C = Conference
Polls
Arizona been ranked in the Baseball America Division I Final Poll 33 times.
Top-10 finishes are colored ██
| Year | Record | Final Ranking |
| 1959 | 39–10–2 | 2 |
| 1960 | 43–9 | 3 |
| 1961 | 41–9 | 10 |
| 1962 | 40–8 | 19 |
| 1963 | 39–17 | 2 |
| 1964 | 31–13–1 | 20 |
| 1965 | 37–13 | 25 |
| 1966 | 40–15 | 5 |
| 1967 | 35–15 | 12 |
| 1968 | 34–17 | 16 |
| Year | Record | Final Ranking |
| 1969 | 37–10 | 19 |
| 1970 | 44–18 | 7 |
| 1973 | 37–16 | 28 |
| 1974 | 58–6 | 9 |
| 1975 | 43–13–1 | 13 |
| 1976 | 56–17 | 1 |
| 1978 | 42–18 | 10 |
| 1979 | 43–25 | 2 |
| 1980 | 45–21 | 1 |
| 1985 | 47–22 | 11 |
| Year | Record | Final Ranking |
| 1986 | 49–19 | 1 |
| 1989 | 45–18 | 9 |
| 1992 | 34–23–1 | 13 |
| 1993 | 35–26 | 9 |
| 2004 | 36–27–1 | 12 |
| 2007 | 42–17 | 22 |
| 2008 | 42–19 | 14 |
| 2011 | 39–21 | 25 |
| 2012 | 48–17 | 1 |
| 2016 | 49–24 | 2 |
| Year | Record | Final Ranking |
| 2021 | 45–18 | 9 |
| 2024 | 36–23 | 21 |
| 2025 | 44–21 | 7 |
All-time record vs. Big 12 teams
†Colorado & Iowa State no longer have baseball programs
Arizona's main rival is Arizona State [Sun Devils baseball|Arizona State]. The Wildcats lead the Sun Devils in all time baseball series 266–230–1 as of April 2025 and both teams have had several players drafted into MLB. In recent years, Arizona has had an edge over Arizona State in college baseball success. In 2010 ASU won the Pac-10 and also advanced to the College World Series, capping the end of a dominating run of 4 straight Pac-10 conference championships and 3 CWS appearances in 4 years. Later, the NCAA would vacate the 2007 Pac-10 Championship and 2007 CWS appearance from ASU's record.
Since then Arizona has won the CWS, was the CWS runner-up and won two Pac-12 Championships. In contrast to Arizona's recent success, ASU has not won the Pac-10/12 Conference since 2010, has not been the CWS runner up since 1988 and has not won an NCAA Championship since 1981. Arizona has won 2 NCAA championships since 1981. While ASU still has a more robust historical record, Arizona has narrowed that gap in the last 20 years.
Arizona in the NCAA Tournament
Arizona has appeared in the NCAA tournament a total 44 times, 6th most in NCAA history. The Wildcats have hosted regionals 13 times.
College World Series
Arizona has made eighteen appearances in the College World Series, compiling a 43–32 record, advancing to the title game on eight occasions and winning the College World Series four times, which is tied for 5th most all-time.
Championships
National Championship appearances
Arizona has appeared in the College World Series National Championship game eight times in 1956, 1959, 1963, 1976, 1980, 1986, 2012 and 2016.
Awards
Conference awards
- Pac−10/12 Player of the Year – Terry Francona, Chip Hale, Scott Erickson, Alan Zinter, Trevor Crowe, Alex Mejia, Scott Kingery
- Pac−10/12 Pitcher of the Year – Preston Guilmet
- Pac−10/12 Defensive Player of the Year – Alex Mejia, Nik McClaughry
- Pac−10/12 Freshman of the Year – Austin Wells, Daniel Susac
- Pac−10/12 Coach of the Year – Jerry Kindall, Andy Lopez, Jay Johnson, Chip Hale
All-Americans
Individual honors
Notable alumni
Hall of Fame inductees
One Arizona player and two coaches have been inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Retired jerseys
Student-Athlete jerseys are retired but not individual player numbers.
| 1 | John Salmon |
| 2 | Lee Franklin |
| 15 | Trevor Hoffman |
| 32 | Terry Francona |
| 41 | Kelsey Osburn |
Rivalries
Arizona State
Arizona's main rival is Arizona State. Although they are famously known for their rivalry in football and basketball as well as softball, both schools have had a rich baseball tradition in their history. The Wildcats lead the Sun Devils in all time baseball series 266–230–1 as of April 2025 and both teams have had several players drafted into MLB.
In recent years, Arizona has had an edge over Arizona State in college baseball success. In 2010 ASU won the Pac-10 and also advanced to the College World Series, capping the end of a dominating run of 4 straight Pac-10 conference championships and 3 CWS appearances in 4 years. Later, the NCAA would vacate the 2007 Pac-10 Championship and 2007 CWS appearance from ASU's record.
Since then Arizona has won the CWS, was the CWS runner-up and won two Pac-12 Championships. In contrast to Arizona's recent success, ASU has not won the Pac-10/12 Conference since 2010, has not been the CWS runner up since 1988 and has not won an NCAA Championship since 1981. Arizona has won 2 NCAA championships since 1981. While ASU still has a more robust historical record, Arizona has narrowed that gap in the last 20 years.