TEMPE, Ariz. - Bobby Winkles and Bob Horner were part of the first-ever induction class into the new College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas. Winkles and Horner are part of the ten member inaugural class of 2006 that were inducted earlier this week. The class of 2006 includes five legendary coaches and five student-athletes.
Winkles joins Skip Bertman of LSU, Ron Fraser of Miami, Cliff Gustafson of Texas and Rod Dedeaux of USC as the first coaches inducted, while Horner joins Dave Winfield of Minnesota, Will Clark of Mississippi State, Brooks Kieschnick of Texas and Robin Ventura of Oklahoma State as the first class of student-athletes.
Over 300 candidates were originally submitted for consideration by universities and CBF members. Players are eligible for the College Baseball Hall of Fame ballot five years after the student-athlete's final collegiate season, not to include any active player or coach on a professional baseball team roster. Former players must have made an All American team or an All League team during at least one year at a four-year institution. Coaches are eligible after ending their collegiate career, not to include an active coach on a professional baseball team. They must have achieved 300 career wins, or have won at least 65% of their games.
Bobby Winkles was ASU's first varsity baseball coach from 1959-1971. In 13 years with the Sun Devils Winkles finished with a 524-173 record, three national championships, and was a three-time NCAA Coach of the Year. In just six years Winkles turned ASU into one of the premier powerhouses in baseball. In 1965, Winkles led the Sun Devils to Omaha and finished with a 41-11 record and the school's first national championship. ASU would return to the College World Series and again reign as NCAA Champions in 1967 and 1969 under Winkles. After leaving ASU, Winkles became one of the first college coaches to make the jump to the major leagues. Winkles managed four years in Major League Baseball with the California Angles and the Oakland Athletics. His #1 jersey is retired at ASU, and the playing field, Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark, is named in his honor.
Bob Horner is one of the most decorated players in ASU history. Horner was used throughout the infield playing shortstop, second base, and third base for the Devils. Horner hit 56 career homeruns and earned All-WAC honors three times in three seasons at ASU. Horner helped lead the Sun Devils to three consecutive College Word Series appearances, including the 1977 National Championship when he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the CWS. Horner was the very first Golden Spikes Award winner, as well as The Sporting News Player of the Year. The Atlanta Braves made him the Number One overall pick in the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft. In 1999, Baseball America ranked Horner the #2 College Player of the Century Team.
"Congratulations to both Bobby Winkles and Bob Horner from the entire Sun Devil baseball family. This is s great honor, not only for Coach Winkles and Bob Horner, but for Arizona State University as well," said Head Coach Pat Murphy. "It makes me very proud to be associated with Arizona State University."
The 2006 Hall of Fame class was officially inducted during a two-day celebration of college baseball, which will featured the theme `The Past Meets Present'.