Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Tim McCall
Championship Celebration Series: The 1972 Baseball Team
9.22.22 | General
Fifty years ago, as Temple Baseball was boarding its bus following a win over Penn State in the NCAA Regionals, one of the players called out, "Guys, we are going to the World Series!"
What an amazing accomplishment for a team from the Northeast Region to accomplish. The Owls, who at one point early in the 1972 season were sitting at .500 and wondering about the future of the season.
"We did not start out like a house on fire," said Temple Athletics Hall of Famer Jack Don. "I vividly remember when we were 8-8 and Skip (Wilson) sat us down in the locker room after the game and would not let us get up from our seats. And two hours later we disbanded. Skip really let us have it as he knew we had the talent, but we were just not performing. We just took off from there."
Coach Wilson, who passed away in August, knew a thing or two about baseball. The all-time winningest coach in Temple history with 1,034 victories over 44 seasons, could see he had something special with this team. And that talk helped forge a bond that would last for a half-century.
Temple would win its next 12 games after that Wilson postgame talk. The Owls would also only lose five more games overall until they reached the College World Series.
Then, following their 4-3 win over Penn State to win the Regional and earn their trip to Omaha it truly hit them. Temple was going to the World Series
"Seemed like all season long, anytime we needed a well-pitched game, a big hit, a bunt, a stolen base, a diving catch in the outfield, a double play. It seemed like we got it," said star pitcher Ed Molush. "We just had one of those seasons where everything fell the right way."
 "None of this would have happened without Skip," added Don. "The man knew baseball inside and out and made sure we knew baseball inside and out."
Rosenblatt Stadium, the biggest stage for college baseball, was next for the Owls. Temple would meet up with national powers, starting first with Oklahoma in its opener.Â
"We were not intimidated even though we had every reason to be, we did not flinch," Don recalled. Â "Skip told us we could play with anybody and that is what we carried with us."
Molush took the mound for the Owls and threw a gem of a game. He held the Sooners in check the entire game, pitching a complete game. It was not enough as the Sooners won the pitching duel, taking the first game 2-1 in 13 innings.
Temple would respond with wins over #7 Iowa, 13-9 and #6 UConn, 7-4.  Then the Owls would meet another tough pitcher, this time it was Arizona State ace Craig Swan.   The top hurler on the top team in the nation, Swan would shut out the Owls, 1-0, to end the team's dreams of a National Championship.
It was again Molush who took the loss. The Sun Devils scored their lone run on a fielders' choice in the first inning with future major leaguer Bump Wills coming home with the game's lone run. It was a third place finish for Temple, which is still the highest finish by a northeastern school in the tournament's history. Â
Â
"The College World Series was special," said Molush. "Because of the uniqueness about it. We just banded together during that great season and did as well as we could do. To fight our way to the semifinal game was not so bad. We can hold out heads high. Great bunch of guys. Great teammates."
These teammates came back together this summer, returning to campus on June 10, the true anniversary of their trip to Omaha, to celebrate one of the greatest seasons by any team in Temple Athletics history.
"I have to tip my hat to Phil Gore, who reached out and contacted the AD (at Temple), in getting the ball rolling," said Don. Â "We had dinner at Moriarty's on Friday, took in the Temple campus and Phillies game on Saturday, and a picnic in Bucks County on Sunday."Â
"I was the one sitting back in my home in California when I realized June '22 is coming around and it is the 50th anniversary and I do not know if anyone else is thinking about it," recollects Gore. "It is a little bit like Haley's Comet coming around. And if you do not catch Haley's Comet coming around you are going to miss it.
So, I sent the email to (then AD) Fran Dunphy. His response was very enthusiastic. I emailed Mike Arace, one of the great pitchers on our team to see what he thought. His response was very favorable. He forwarded my email to other guys on the team and the feedback was "what a great idea, let's do it."
Gore, a pitcher on the team, orchestrated the anniversary weekend which was attended by almost the entire team. Vice President and Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson greeted the players and presented each with a replica Temple baseball jersey, with the number 72 on the back, and hat. Then took them of a tour of campus with a stop at the new Charles Library.
The players then regrouped to watch the Phillies play at Citizens Bank Park, making an appearance on the big board during the game.
"Temple did a wonderful thing making up the uniform tops, especially with the number 72 on the back and the Phillies were so gracious," said Molush. "It truly was a special weekend."
Â
What an amazing accomplishment for a team from the Northeast Region to accomplish. The Owls, who at one point early in the 1972 season were sitting at .500 and wondering about the future of the season.
"We did not start out like a house on fire," said Temple Athletics Hall of Famer Jack Don. "I vividly remember when we were 8-8 and Skip (Wilson) sat us down in the locker room after the game and would not let us get up from our seats. And two hours later we disbanded. Skip really let us have it as he knew we had the talent, but we were just not performing. We just took off from there."
Coach Wilson, who passed away in August, knew a thing or two about baseball. The all-time winningest coach in Temple history with 1,034 victories over 44 seasons, could see he had something special with this team. And that talk helped forge a bond that would last for a half-century.
Temple would win its next 12 games after that Wilson postgame talk. The Owls would also only lose five more games overall until they reached the College World Series.
Then, following their 4-3 win over Penn State to win the Regional and earn their trip to Omaha it truly hit them. Temple was going to the World Series
"Seemed like all season long, anytime we needed a well-pitched game, a big hit, a bunt, a stolen base, a diving catch in the outfield, a double play. It seemed like we got it," said star pitcher Ed Molush. "We just had one of those seasons where everything fell the right way."
 "None of this would have happened without Skip," added Don. "The man knew baseball inside and out and made sure we knew baseball inside and out."
Rosenblatt Stadium, the biggest stage for college baseball, was next for the Owls. Temple would meet up with national powers, starting first with Oklahoma in its opener.Â
"We were not intimidated even though we had every reason to be, we did not flinch," Don recalled. Â "Skip told us we could play with anybody and that is what we carried with us."
Molush took the mound for the Owls and threw a gem of a game. He held the Sooners in check the entire game, pitching a complete game. It was not enough as the Sooners won the pitching duel, taking the first game 2-1 in 13 innings.
Temple would respond with wins over #7 Iowa, 13-9 and #6 UConn, 7-4.  Then the Owls would meet another tough pitcher, this time it was Arizona State ace Craig Swan.   The top hurler on the top team in the nation, Swan would shut out the Owls, 1-0, to end the team's dreams of a National Championship.
It was again Molush who took the loss. The Sun Devils scored their lone run on a fielders' choice in the first inning with future major leaguer Bump Wills coming home with the game's lone run. It was a third place finish for Temple, which is still the highest finish by a northeastern school in the tournament's history. Â
Â
"The College World Series was special," said Molush. "Because of the uniqueness about it. We just banded together during that great season and did as well as we could do. To fight our way to the semifinal game was not so bad. We can hold out heads high. Great bunch of guys. Great teammates."
These teammates came back together this summer, returning to campus on June 10, the true anniversary of their trip to Omaha, to celebrate one of the greatest seasons by any team in Temple Athletics history.
"I have to tip my hat to Phil Gore, who reached out and contacted the AD (at Temple), in getting the ball rolling," said Don. Â "We had dinner at Moriarty's on Friday, took in the Temple campus and Phillies game on Saturday, and a picnic in Bucks County on Sunday."Â
"I was the one sitting back in my home in California when I realized June '22 is coming around and it is the 50th anniversary and I do not know if anyone else is thinking about it," recollects Gore. "It is a little bit like Haley's Comet coming around. And if you do not catch Haley's Comet coming around you are going to miss it.
So, I sent the email to (then AD) Fran Dunphy. His response was very enthusiastic. I emailed Mike Arace, one of the great pitchers on our team to see what he thought. His response was very favorable. He forwarded my email to other guys on the team and the feedback was "what a great idea, let's do it."
Gore, a pitcher on the team, orchestrated the anniversary weekend which was attended by almost the entire team. Vice President and Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson greeted the players and presented each with a replica Temple baseball jersey, with the number 72 on the back, and hat. Then took them of a tour of campus with a stop at the new Charles Library.
The players then regrouped to watch the Phillies play at Citizens Bank Park, making an appearance on the big board during the game.
"Temple did a wonderful thing making up the uniform tops, especially with the number 72 on the back and the Phillies were so gracious," said Molush. "It truly was a special weekend."
Â
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
