Probably the best coach college baseball has ever seen. It is a great loss for the game of baseball, especially college baseball.
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An amazing man indeed Catching Coach. Here is some info I got from an online AP report:
Dedeaux, who guided Southern California to a record 11 NCAA baseball championships and helped mold such major league greats as Mark McGwire, Randy Johnson and Tom Seaver, died Thursday. He was 91.
Dedeaux headed a thriving trucking business and he once said of his reported $1 annual salary at USC: "I always say everyone gets paid what they're worth. I could cash my check on the bus."
A twinkle in his eye, Dedeaux was quick with a quip.
• On friend Casey Stengel's often indecipherable speech: "People talked about Stengelese, but I understood every word. Of course, I'd occasionally wonder if there was something wrong with me because I was the only person in our group who did understand."
• On longtime pal Tommy Lasorda: "I love the guy. But when people say we look alike and think we're brothers, it's really insulting because he's so ugly."
• On his two-game major league career: "I had a cup of coffee with no sugar in it."
Dedeaux, who coached the Trojans for 45 years before retiring in 1986, died in suburban Glendale of complications from a Dec. 2 stroke, the school said.
Nearly 60 USC players under Dedeaux went on to big league careers, including Dave Kingman, Fred Lynn and Roy Smalley.
"Rod Dedeaux was one of a kind. I consider myself fortunate enough to have been his friend," Seaver said through New York Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz. "He never forgot you. Even though I was only there for one year, it seemed like I played for him for 10 or 20 years. There's no one who has ever been like him."
Dedeaux had a record of 1,332-571-11, the most wins in Division I history until Cliff Gustafson of Texas surpassed him in 1994. Dedeaux's record currently ranks seventh among Division I coaches.
He had winning seasons in 41 of his 45 years with the Trojans, and during one stretch, USC went 37 years without a losing season.
"A giant has passed away," said USC athletic director Mike Garrett, an outfielder for Dedeaux in 1965. "It leaves a huge void in all of baseball."
The Trojans' national championships included five in a row from 1970-74 — no other school has won more than two straight — and they won 28 conference titles under him. A number of baseball publications named Dedeaux "Coach of the Century."
"Rod not only was college baseball's greatest coach, he was the sport's and USC's greatest ambassador," said current USC baseball coach Mike Gillespie, an outfielder on Dedeaux's 1961 national championship team.
Hall of Fame manager Lasorda said he and Dedeaux were "real good buddies" for 43 years.
"I'll cherish the days that I spent with him and traveled with him," he told The AP Thursday night. "He was my mentor, he was my idol, and he was my friend."
Lasorda said Dedeaux's family put a television in his room Wednesday night showing the national championship football game between USC and Texas. The Trojans lost 41-38.
"He loved USC very, very much," Lasorda said.
Dedeaux played three seasons for Southern California, and appeared in two games at shortstop for the 1935 Brooklyn Dodgers, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. A back injury ended his career several years later.
In recent years, Dedeaux walked with the aid of a cane shaped like a baseball bat that had the signatures of several Hall of Famers.
He was a frequent visitor to Trojans' games at the field named in his honor in recent years, attended every College World Series since retiring, and was a regular at Dodger Stadium. With a mischievous grin, he called almost everyone "Tiger."
Dedeaux helped in the development of amateur baseball in the United States and overseas. In 1964, he coached the U.S. Olympic team when baseball was a demonstration sport, and guided the American team, which included McGwire, to a silver medal in Los Angeles 20 years later when the sport achieved medal status.
"Rod was a very meaningful person in my life, instrumental in my becoming the player that I was and the person that I am. I loved him a lot," McGwire said through his spokesman, Marc Altieri.
Dedeaux lent his expertise to Hollywood, serving as technical director and consultant for the baseball movies "Field of Dreams" and "A League of Their Own."
He founded Dart Transportation Inc. in the 1930s and it grew into a million-dollar trucking business. He continued to show up for work daily until recently.
He is survived by his wife, Helen; sons Justin and Terry; daughters Michele and Denise; and nine grandchildren, including current USC baseball player Adam Dedeaux.
Funeral details were pending. A memorial service will be held next spring at Dedeaux Field.
Dedeaux, who guided Southern California to a record 11 NCAA baseball championships and helped mold such major league greats as Mark McGwire, Randy Johnson and Tom Seaver, died Thursday. He was 91.
Dedeaux headed a thriving trucking business and he once said of his reported $1 annual salary at USC: "I always say everyone gets paid what they're worth. I could cash my check on the bus."
A twinkle in his eye, Dedeaux was quick with a quip.
• On friend Casey Stengel's often indecipherable speech: "People talked about Stengelese, but I understood every word. Of course, I'd occasionally wonder if there was something wrong with me because I was the only person in our group who did understand."
• On longtime pal Tommy Lasorda: "I love the guy. But when people say we look alike and think we're brothers, it's really insulting because he's so ugly."
• On his two-game major league career: "I had a cup of coffee with no sugar in it."
Dedeaux, who coached the Trojans for 45 years before retiring in 1986, died in suburban Glendale of complications from a Dec. 2 stroke, the school said.
Nearly 60 USC players under Dedeaux went on to big league careers, including Dave Kingman, Fred Lynn and Roy Smalley.
"Rod Dedeaux was one of a kind. I consider myself fortunate enough to have been his friend," Seaver said through New York Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz. "He never forgot you. Even though I was only there for one year, it seemed like I played for him for 10 or 20 years. There's no one who has ever been like him."
Dedeaux had a record of 1,332-571-11, the most wins in Division I history until Cliff Gustafson of Texas surpassed him in 1994. Dedeaux's record currently ranks seventh among Division I coaches.
He had winning seasons in 41 of his 45 years with the Trojans, and during one stretch, USC went 37 years without a losing season.
"A giant has passed away," said USC athletic director Mike Garrett, an outfielder for Dedeaux in 1965. "It leaves a huge void in all of baseball."
The Trojans' national championships included five in a row from 1970-74 — no other school has won more than two straight — and they won 28 conference titles under him. A number of baseball publications named Dedeaux "Coach of the Century."
"Rod not only was college baseball's greatest coach, he was the sport's and USC's greatest ambassador," said current USC baseball coach Mike Gillespie, an outfielder on Dedeaux's 1961 national championship team.
Hall of Fame manager Lasorda said he and Dedeaux were "real good buddies" for 43 years.
"I'll cherish the days that I spent with him and traveled with him," he told The AP Thursday night. "He was my mentor, he was my idol, and he was my friend."
Lasorda said Dedeaux's family put a television in his room Wednesday night showing the national championship football game between USC and Texas. The Trojans lost 41-38.
"He loved USC very, very much," Lasorda said.
Dedeaux played three seasons for Southern California, and appeared in two games at shortstop for the 1935 Brooklyn Dodgers, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. A back injury ended his career several years later.
In recent years, Dedeaux walked with the aid of a cane shaped like a baseball bat that had the signatures of several Hall of Famers.
He was a frequent visitor to Trojans' games at the field named in his honor in recent years, attended every College World Series since retiring, and was a regular at Dodger Stadium. With a mischievous grin, he called almost everyone "Tiger."
Dedeaux helped in the development of amateur baseball in the United States and overseas. In 1964, he coached the U.S. Olympic team when baseball was a demonstration sport, and guided the American team, which included McGwire, to a silver medal in Los Angeles 20 years later when the sport achieved medal status.
"Rod was a very meaningful person in my life, instrumental in my becoming the player that I was and the person that I am. I loved him a lot," McGwire said through his spokesman, Marc Altieri.
Dedeaux lent his expertise to Hollywood, serving as technical director and consultant for the baseball movies "Field of Dreams" and "A League of Their Own."
He founded Dart Transportation Inc. in the 1930s and it grew into a million-dollar trucking business. He continued to show up for work daily until recently.
He is survived by his wife, Helen; sons Justin and Terry; daughters Michele and Denise; and nine grandchildren, including current USC baseball player Adam Dedeaux.
Funeral details were pending. A memorial service will be held next spring at Dedeaux Field.
Here's to Coach. One of the all time greats.
"Hey tiger" is all I can say, along with many, many thanks for all you did for USC and college baseball.
"Hey tiger" is all I can say, along with many, many thanks for all you did for USC and college baseball.
I posted this on another site....
Rod Dedeaux was a baseball legend and I am honored that I had the chance to get to know him this past year. Since several of the players from Mater Dei play in the Trombly Baseball program, I went to numerous games at Dedeaux Field on the Mater Dei campus last year. Rod's grandson was also on the team so many times I had the privleage of sitting with the Dedeaux Family and right next to Rod. Having him call me "TIGER" and go into one of his great stories was something that I will never forget. He even set up some games for our players this summer at Dodger Stadium and USC against a Tapai National Team.
Rod Dedeaux was a legend and will truely be missed. His passing gives us the opportunity to reflect on his life and the impact that he had on amateur and pro baseball. All around the country there are thousands of people who are telling stories about Rod. Those that had the opportunity to meet him are very lucky as he was a special person. My families thoughts and prayers are with the Dedeaux Family as the mourn Rod's passing and celebrate his great life.
Rod Dedeaux was a baseball legend and I am honored that I had the chance to get to know him this past year. Since several of the players from Mater Dei play in the Trombly Baseball program, I went to numerous games at Dedeaux Field on the Mater Dei campus last year. Rod's grandson was also on the team so many times I had the privleage of sitting with the Dedeaux Family and right next to Rod. Having him call me "TIGER" and go into one of his great stories was something that I will never forget. He even set up some games for our players this summer at Dodger Stadium and USC against a Tapai National Team.
Rod Dedeaux was a legend and will truely be missed. His passing gives us the opportunity to reflect on his life and the impact that he had on amateur and pro baseball. All around the country there are thousands of people who are telling stories about Rod. Those that had the opportunity to meet him are very lucky as he was a special person. My families thoughts and prayers are with the Dedeaux Family as the mourn Rod's passing and celebrate his great life.