OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Bobby Winkles' return to the College World Series was special on two levels.
He got to watch Arizona State -- a baseball team he coached to three titles in the 1960s -- and he was part of yesterday's 40th reunion of the 1969 championship team.
Joining Winkles for the weekend reunion in Omaha were assistant coach Jack Smitheran, left fielder John Dolinsek, first baseman Jeff Osborn, right fielder Ralph Dickenson, shortstop Roger Detter, pitchers Ken Hansen and Joe Miller, third baseman Terry Brenner and infielders Gene Kobar and Tom Welton.
The 79-year-old Winkles coached the Sun Devils from 1959-71 and stayed in contact with many of his players after leaving for a major-league managerial career with the California Angels and later the Oakland A's.
ASU also won NCAA titles in 1965 and 1967 under Winkles.
The Sun Devils captured titles in 1977 and 1981 under head coach Jim Brock, who replaced Winkles and won 1,100 games until his death from cancer following the 1994 College World Series.
Pat Murphy succeeded Brock and has won more than 600 games in 15 seasons but has yet to guide ASU to a national championship.
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