| Idaho Vandals baseball | |
| Founded: | 1900 [1] [2] |
| Defunct: | 1980 (May)[3] |
| University: | University of Idaho |
| Conference: | Northern Pacific (1975–1980) Big Sky (1964–1974) Pacific Coast / Northern Division (1923–1964) |
| Location: | Moscow, Idaho |
| Coach: | John G. Smith (1967–1980) |
| Stadium: | Guy Wicks Field (1967–1980) MacLean Field (192x–1966) |
| Nickname: | Vandals |
| Ncaa Tourneys: | 1966, 1967, 1969 |
| Conference Champion: | Big Sky 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969 |
The Idaho Vandals baseball team was the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho.
Varsity baseball was played at Idaho through the 1980 season,[3] primarily in the northern division of the Pacific Coast Conference. During the first six years of the Big Sky Conference, the Vandals won four titles under two head coaches, Wayne Anderson (1964, 1966)[4] and John G. Smith (1967, 1969).[5] [6] [7]
The 1966 and 1969 teams advanced to within one round of the College World Series, falling in the District 7 finals, today's "Super-Regionals" (Sweet 16).
In the first year of the Big Sky Conference, Idaho went undefeated in conference play,[8] and swept the title series with Weber State, played in Missoula, Montana.[9] For a final season, the Vandals also played in the five-team Northern Division (of the defunct PCC),[10] but were 5–11 in league games and finished last.[8] [11] [12] During the final weekend of the season, Idaho upset Palouse neighbor Washington State in Pullman to eliminate the Cougars from title contention as Oregon took a two-game lead to clinch;[13] [14] WSU won the next day in Moscow.[11] [12]
Idaho was 8–2 in non-conference games for an overall record of .[8] As a first-year league in 1964, the Big Sky champion was not invited to the NCAA playoffs. That summer, Oregon and Oregon State joined the AAWU (Pac-8) and Idaho's league play forward was in the Big Sky only.
Led by senior pitcher Bill Stoneman with a 0.45 ERA, Idaho advanced to the NCAA postseason for the first time with a 31–7 regular season record. They traveled to Greeley and eliminated Colorado State College (now Northern Colorado)[15] and Air Force,[16] [17] but then fell at Tucson to Arizona.[18] [19]