TEMPE, Ariz. – Bobby Winkles, the baseball coach who built Arizona State into a national power from scratch and went on to manage and coach in the majors, has died.
He was 90. Arizona State said Winkles died Friday with family and friends by his side. Winkles fielded the Sun Devils' first varsity squad in 1959 and won national titles in 1965, 1967 and 1969.
He went 524-173 in 13 years in Tempe. Winkles was a charter member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame and coached such stars as Reggie Jackson, Rick Monday, Sal Bando, Larry Gura and Gary Gentry.
Arizona State retired his No. 1 jersey in 1972 and the field at Packard Stadium was dedicated in his honor in 2001. Winkles went on to manage four years in the majors, going 170-213 in stints