Was WSU a surprise finalist in 1982? AP thinks so.

[ABC]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvPMUC-LPIYAcQJlmzsEvJ4r62FAD91FGM180

"Fresno is the first No. 4 regional seed to make the CWS and joins clubs such as Eastern Michigan in 1976, Wichita State in 1982 and Pepperdine in 1992 as surprise finalists."

I am not sure how a team with four All-Americans, a 73-14 record and a #1 ranking would be a surpise.

I count five players from that team that made the big leagues:

Heinkel
O'Brien
Oelkers
Stephenson
Morman

[Born2Shock]

It was a surprise because the AP didnt think of it first....

[SubGod22]

How could a 70 win team ever be a surprise?

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

because we were mid tier

[kcshocker11]

because we were mid tier

[SpanglerFan316]

ABC: I'm not going to quote your post but, according to the AP, you owe them $12.50 (or more) http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/ap-...ord-quotations.

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20080622144323977

[rrshock]

$1 Millon for snitching? I think I just found a new career :).

(I wouldn't do that btw.)

[RoyalShock]

I smell a "fair use" lawsuit.

[Cdizzle]

Is this the same team that is often heralded as one of, if not THE best college baseball team?

[ABC]

ABC: I'm not going to quote your post but, according to the AP, you owe them $12.50 (or more) http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/ap-...ord-quotations.

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?s...80622144323977

I have five words for the AP

They can eat my shorts

[SpanglerFan316]

ABC: I'm not going to quote your post but, according to the AP, you owe them $12.50 (or more) http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/ap-...ord-quotations.

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?s...80622144323977

I have five words for the AP

They can eat my shorts

:good: :good: :good: :good: :good:
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

[Shocker85]

Of course WSU was a surprise.

6 teams (Maine, Miami, Okla St, So. Carolina, and Texas) had been to the CWS in '81 and Fullerton in '79. Mark Marquess had taken over Stanford in '77 and was bringing their program back from 15 years of mediocrity.

The coaches in the '82 CWS are a who's who of college coaches: Garrido (CSFU); Winken (Maine) took them to the CWS 6 times (1976, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986); Fraser (Miami) won 1271 games; Ward (OSU) 10 CWS appearances; Raines (So. Car.) 4 CWS; Marquess; Gustafson (Texas) something like 17 CWS and 2 national championships; and Gene The Younger - a first timer bringing the WSU program back from oblivion.

Back in those days, the pool of teams considered legitimate contenders to go to Omaha was very small. It was tough to crash the party. The Shocks did it versus a field with 43 cumulative CWS appearances. Furthermore, the Shox eliminated a Texas team with Roger Clemens and Calvin Schiraldi. Schiraldi had one of the best CWS ever for a pitcher in '83 but the "surprise" '82 Shox were on a mission.

--'85.

[shockandawe08]

This is a quote ( not verbatim) from a past sitcom:

Child to mom - "------- (older sibling) said I was an accident."

Mom - "No, you weren't an accident, you were a surprise."

Child - "What's the difference?"

Mom - "Well, an accident is something you get that you might not want. A surprise is something you get that you never knew you always wanted."

The Shockers win the CWS with that kind of record.....An affirmation? Yes. A delight? By all means. A surprise? Not so much.

[ShockerFever]

The media can be awfully stupid sometimes..


Well.. most of the time.