1982 Wichita State Shockers

The 1982 Shockers started the season losing three of their first four games.  After ten games, they were 4-6.

They would finish 73-14 and became the first Wichita State team to go to the College World Series.

At one point, WSU won 20 straight games.  During one seven-game stretch, they averaged 20.3 runs per game.  They won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season, swept through the tournament then swept through the NCAA South Regional in New Orleans.

In Omaha, the Shockers opened the College World Series with a win over Cal St.-Fullerton before losing to Miami.  The Shockers came back to beat Oklahoma State and Texas before again losing to Miami, this time for the championship.

WSU had five players make the College World Series All-Tournament Team.  They had seven All-Americans, led by Missouri Valley Player of the Year and All American Baseball News Player of the Year Phil Stephenson.  Phil Stephenson was also a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, was one of 16 players drafted from that team and one of five who would play in the Major Leagues (along with Don Heinkel, Russ Mormon, Charlie O’Brien and Bryan Oelkers).  

Future Shocker coaches Loren Hibbs and Jim Thomas, both All-Missouri Valley selections, were also part of the 1982 team.