1976 Washington State Cougars baseball team

American college baseball season March 2026 August 2023 1976 Washington State Cougars Baseball 250 Pacific-8 Conference Pac-12 Conference Northern ND 41–15 16–2 Chuck Brayton 14th Bob MacDonald 3rd Bailey Field Pac-8 Northern Division championPac-8 ChampionWest Regional champion College World Series T-5th The 1976 Washington State Cougars baseball team represented the Washington State University in the 1976 NCAA Division I baseball season. Led by legendary head coach Chuck Brayton, in his 14th season at Washington State, the Cougars finished the year with an impressive 43–15 overall record. Their 43 victories established a program record at the time and helped propel WSU to its fourth College World Series appearance—and its most recent trip to Omaha. Washington State captured the West Regional championship to earn its place in the 1976 College World Series. The Cougars' postseason run eventually came to an end with a loss to the Maine Black Bears in Omaha. The 1976 roster featured outstanding individual talent to go along with the team's success. Six Cougars earned first Team All-Pac-8 North honors. while four players from the team were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Two of those players, Eric Wilkins and Dave Edler, would go on to reach the big Leagues. The Cougars played their home games at Bailey Field in Pullman, continuing the tradition of excellence established under Brayton, who would become one of the most successful and influential figures in Washington State baseball history. Five decades after their historic season, the accomplishments of the 1976 Cougars continue to hold a special place in WSU baseball history. In October 2026, the team was enshrined in the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame, recognizing its remarkable season and lasting legacy within the Cougar baseball program. thumb|center|upright=5 Roster 1976 Washington State Cougars y Brian Anderson 10 inf R R 5 8 145 FR Ephrata, WA Chris Camp 1 LHP R L 5 10 155 Jr Spokane, WA Greg Chandler 20 C R R 6 2 185 jR Everett, WA Dave Edler Dave Elder 24 INF R R 6 0 185 SO Yakima,WA Tracy Harris 15 RHP R R 6 3 200 JR Mercer Island, WA Mike Henley 23 RHP R R 6 1 186 SO Spokane, WA Del Sandberg 3 INF R R 6 2 185 SR Spokane, WA Joe Tom INF SO Kaneohe, HI Bob Padovan 11 C S R 6 1 195 SO Sacramento, CA Larry Poffenroth 9 OF R R 5 11 170 JR Spokane, WA Bob Weis C R R 6 0 180 SO Wenatchee, WA Dan Johnson 16 RHP R R SO Greg Herrick 2 OF L R 5 11 175 SO Bothell, WA Mike Hultman 17 INF L L 6 5 225 SR Richland, WA Marty Maxwell 6 INF R R 6 1 185 JR Lethrbridge, AB John Seefried 5 INF R R 5 11 180 FR Spokane, WA Bob Sherwood 18 RHP R R 6 3 190 JR Pocatello, ID Bill Simpson 4 INF R R 6 0 175 SR Portland, OR Tom Jobb 8 OF R R 5 11 170 JR Spokane, WA Tim Tveit 12 OF R R 6 2 195 JR Centralia, WA Phil Westendorf 7 INF R R 6 7 197 Jr Tacoma,WA Jim Carrithers 22 OF R R 6 2 190 So Lynnwood, WA John Hoffman 13 RHP R R 6 5 200 SR Lake Stevens,WA Eric Wilkins 21 RHP R R 6 1 185 So Seattle, WA https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/chinook/id/34008/rec/10 September 10, 2021 Chuck Brayton Bob MacDonald Schedule Washington State Cougars 2 white 1976 Washington State Cougars baseball game log |- ! style="Washington State Cougars 2 white" | Regular season |- Washington State Cougars 2 white March (12–3) |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | # ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7%" | Date ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="14%" | Opponent ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Site/stadium ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Score ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Overall record ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Pac8 record |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 || March 13 || at 1976 Lewis–Clark State Warriors Lewis–Clark State || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 0–2 || 0–1 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 || March 13 || at Lewis–Clark State || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 0–4 || 0–2 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 || March 14 || vs 1976 Idaho Vandals Idaho || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 2–0 || 1–2 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 || March 14 || vs Idaho || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 4–0 || 2–2 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 || March 19 || vs 1976 Western Washington Vikings Western Washington || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 16–0 || 3–2 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 || March 19 || vs 1976 Puget Sound Loggers Puget Sound || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 4–9 || 3–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 || March 20 || vs 1976 Boise State Broncos Boise State || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 9–2 || 4–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 || March 20 || vs 1976 Gonzaga Bulldogs Gonzaga || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 4–2 || 5–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 || March 21 || vs 1976 Portland Pilots Portland || Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 0–0 || 6–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 || March 21 || vs 1976 Idaho Vandals Idaho ||Harris Field • Lewiston, Idaho || 6-4 || 7–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 || March 22 || 1976 Eastern Oregon Mountaineers Eastern Oregon || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 7–0 || 8–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 || March 22 || Eastern Oregon || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 10–3 || 9–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 || March 26 || at Boise State || Unknown • Boise, Idaho || 14–5 || 10–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 || March 27 || vs 1976 Northwest Nazarene Crusaders Northwest Nazarene || Unknown • Boise, Idaho || 9–1 || 11–3 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 || March 31 || vs Gonzaga || Unknown • Boise, Idaho || 12–6 || 12–3 || 0–0 |- Washington State Cougars 2 white April (15–8) |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | # ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7%" | Date ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="14%" | Opponent ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Site/stadium ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Score ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Overall record ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Pac8 record |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 || April 1 || at Arizona State || Packard Stadium • Tempe, Arizona || 3–13 || 12–4 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 || April 2 || vs 1976 Grand Canyon Antelopes Grand Canyon || Packard Stadium • Tempe, Arizona || 0–2 || 12–5 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 || April 2 || vs 1976 BYU Cougars BYU || Packard Stadium • Tempe, Arizona || 11-3 || 13–5 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 || April 4 || vs 1976 Nevada Wolf Pack Nevada || Packard Stadium • Tempe, Arizona || 5–2 || 14–5 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 || April 5 || vs 1976 Oregon State Beavers Oregon State || Packard Stadium • Tempe, Arizona || 2–11 || 14–6 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || April 6 || at 1976 BYU Cougars BYU || Unknown • Provo, Utah || 3–2 || 15–6 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 || April 7 || vs Boise State || Unknown • Provo, Utah || 8–4 || 16–6 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 || April 7 || vs Boise State || Unknown • Provo, Utah || 3–8 || 16–7 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 || April 8 || at Northwest Nazarene || Unknown • Nampa, Idaho || 7–6 || 17–7 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 || April 10 || at 1976 Eastern Washington Eagles Eastern Washington || Unknown • Cheney, Washington || 22–2 || 18–7 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 || April 10 || at Eastern Washington || Unknown • Cheney, Washington || 13–5 || 19–7 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 || April 14 || at Gonzaga || Unknown • Spokane, Washington || 4–5 || 19–8 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 || April 15 || at 1976 Idaho Vandals Idaho || Guy Wicks Field • Moscow, Idaho || 19–2 || 19–8 || 0–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 || April 16 || 1976 Oregon Ducks Oregon || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 4–1 || 21–8 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 || April 17 || Oregon || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 5–1 || 22–8 || 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 || April 17 || Oregon || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 8–4 || 23–8 || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 || April 18 || 1976 Whitworth Pirates Whitworth || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 11–0 || 24–8 || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 || April 24 || at 1976 Oregon State Beavers Oregon State || Coleman Field • Corvallis, Oregon || 0–4 || 24–9 || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 || April 24 || at Oregon State || Coleman Field • Corvallis, Oregon || 1–2 || 24–10 || 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 || April 25 || at Oregon State || Coleman Field • Corvallis, Oregon || 12–2 || 25–10 || 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 || April 26 || Idaho || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 12–1 || 26–10 || 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 || April 27 || Gonzaga || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 1–4 || 26–11 || 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 || April 30 || at 1976 Washington Huskies Washington || Graves Field • Seattle, Washington || 9–1 || 27–11 || 5–2 |- Washington State Cougars 2 white May (11–1) |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | # ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7%" | Date ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="14%" | Opponent ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Site/stadium ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Score ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Overall record ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Pac8 record |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 || May 1 || at Washington || Graves Field • Seattle, Washington || 11–5 || 28–11 || 6–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 || May 1 || at Washington || Graves Field • Seattle, Washington || 9–0 || 29–11 || 7–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 || May 4 || Eastern Washington || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 5–8 || 29–12 || 7–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 || May 7 || Oregon State || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 1–0 || 30–12 || 8–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 || May 8 || Oregon State || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 13–3 || 31–12 || 9–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 || May 8 || Oregon State || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 3–2 || 32–12 || 10–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 || May 14 || at Oregon || Howe Field • Eugene, Oregon || 13–8 || 33–12 || 11–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 || May 15 || at Oregon || Howe Field • Eugene, Oregon || 7–2 || 34–12 || 12–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 || May 15 || at Oregon || Howe Field • Eugene, Oregon || 10–5 || 35–12 || 13–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 || May 20 || Lewis–Clark State || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 13–2 || 36–12 || 13–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 || May 21 || Washington || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 18–3 || 37–12 || 14–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 || May 22 || Washington || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 13–3 || 38–12 || 15–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 || May 22 || Washington || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 19–3 || 39–12 || 16–2 |- |- ! style="Washington State Cougars 2 white" | Postseason |- Washington State Cougars 2 white NCAA West Regional (3–1) |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | # ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7%" | Date ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="14%" | Opponent ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Site/stadium ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Score ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Overall record ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Pac8 record |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 || May 28 || vs 1976 Pepperdine Waves Pepperdine || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 8–2 || 40–12 || 16–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 || May 29 || vs 1976 Cal State Fullerton Titans Cal State Fullerton || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 5–1 || 40–12 || 16–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 || June 2 || vs Cal State Fullerton || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 1–13 || 41–13 || 16–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 || June 2 || vs Cal State Fullerton || Bailey Field • Pullman, Washington || 7–2 || 42–13 || 16–2 |- Washington State Cougars 2 white College World Series (1–2) |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | # ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7%" | Date ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="14%" | Opponent ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Site/stadium ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Score ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Overall record ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Pac8 record |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 || June 12 || vs Oklahoma || Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, Nebraska || 6–1 || 42–13 || 16–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 || June 13 || vs Arizona State || Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, Nebraska || 3–9 || 43–14 || 16–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 || June 14 || vs Maine || Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, Nebraska || 3–6 || 44–15 || 16–2 |- |- First Team All-PAC 8 References Category:Washington State Cougars baseball seasons Washington State Cougars baseball Category:College World Series seasons Washington State Category:Pac-12 Conference baseball champion seasons