TEMPE, Ariz. -- Bobby Winkles, Arizona State said Winkles the baseball coach who built Arizona State into a national power from scratch and went on to manage and trainer in the majors, has
died. He was 90. Arizona Condition said Winkles died Friday with family and
friends by his side. Winkles fielded the Sun Devils' first varsity squad in 1959
and won nationwide titles in 1965, 1967 and 1969. He went 524-173 in 13 years in
Tempe. He 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, Bobby
Winkles and the field at Packard Stadium was dedicated Sun
Devils' in his honor in 2001. Winkles went on to manage four years in the
majors, going 170-213 in stints with the California Angels and Oakland Athletics
from 1973 to 1978. "A great baseball man," tweeted Bobby Valentine, a former
major league player and manager. "ASU and Cal Angles. I played for him in 1973.
First modern day Collage coach to go straight to MLB. Got one platform. Speed up
the game!!! Too bad the leaders didn't follow him!! RIP Bobby." Winkles also
spent several seasons in assorted coaching roles with the San Francisco Giants,
Chicago White Sox and Montreal Expos. He was a broadcaster with the Expos too.
From Swifton, Arkansas, Winkles starred as an infielder and studied philosophy
at Illinois Wesleyan University then played in the White Sox's farm system from
1951 to 1958 before taking over the Sun Devils.