By Craig Degel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
In 1973, the United States was still at war in Vietnam, the Watergate conspirators went to trial, and on February 24 of that year, Jerry Kindall won his first game as head baseball coach at Arizona.
Twenty-three years and 1367 games later Kindall earned victory No. 832 Ä an 8-6 victory over Southern Cal Ä to surpass Frank Sancet as the winningest coach in school history.
"I knew it would happen sooner or later. I was more concerned for the players sake to get wins and end the losing streak," said Kindall, a member of the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Since 1915 just four men have been at the helm for Arizona baseball. Two of them Ä J.F. "Pop" McKale and Sancet Ä have athletic stadiums named in their honor.
"Those two men are the foundation for baseball here," Kindall said. "We owe them every bit of honor and distinction that we can give them."
McKale coached the baseball team from 1915 to 1919. W.A. Porter then coached the 1920, and '21 squads, before McKale took over again in 1922. He coached until 1949, amassing 320 victories.
Frank Sancet became head coach at Arizona in 1950. During his 23 year stint, he won 831 games, lost just 275, and helped turn the Wildcats into a national power. In those 23 seasons, the Wildcats never had a losing record. He took nine UA teams to the College World Series but never won it all.
In 1956, Kindall and his University of Minnesota teammates won the CWS crown. The team they defeated? Arizona.
"I remember how impressed I was and how tough they were to beat," Kindall said. "We played them three times in the World Series. They were a terrific team and Frank was a terrific coach."
Just a few months later, at age 21, Kindall arrived in Tucson to prepare for his first spring training with the Chicago Cubs.
"I was here for spring training," Kindall said. "I asked if I could work out with his Wildcats to get ready to play with the Cubs. And this was just a few months after my team defeated his.
"It was a dream come true for me to be appointed head coach at such a fine university with an outstanding baseball program after a coach I had long admired."
As always, Kindall is quick to acknowledge those who helped him get to where he is.
"Equal credit should go to my long-time associates Jim Wing (who retired in 1992) and Jerry
Stitt," Kindall said. "They were there for virtually all of the victories. The recent victories go to Gil Lopez, they're terrific coaches."
Stitt, the Wildcat hitting coach, was an All-American under Sancet in 1968. After retiring from the Cleveland Indians organization in 1970, Stitt coached at Salpoint Catholic here in Tucson, then joined the Wildcat coaching staff in 1978.
Stitt said that Sancet and Kindall are very similar on and off the field.
"He was a really good man who would do just about anything for you off the field," Stitt said of Sancet. "He was worried about teaching us about life rather than just about baseball, much like Coach Kindall."
Kindall's 1976 College World Series champion was the first for Arizona in any sport and made Kindall the only man to ever coach and play for a CWS champion. He also coached World Series champions in 1980 and 1986.
"Each of the three champs has a special place in my mind and in my heart," Kindall said. "I will never forget them or stop thanking them."
Sancet and Kindall amassed over 1600 wins for Arizona with very differing coaching styles.
"On the field, he (Sancet) had zero tolerance for mistakes," Stitt said. "That's why we knew we could win. Because we knew he would not accept our losing. Coach Kindall is the same way, he just goes about it a different way Ä with the teaching and fundamentals and all."
Kindall is very aloof when speaking of his personal laurels, always keeping what is important to team success at the forefront.
But even for Kindall it's tough to forget those who came before him. His office is located inside McKale Center and every game day he steps into the third base coaching box on Frank Sancet Field.
"I shouldn't even be numbered with these men," Kindall said, almost apologetically.