Baseball
b. Feb. 17, 1915, New Orleans, LA
Dedeaux played shortstop for the University of Southern California and had a very brief major league career, going 1 for 4 with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935.
He returned to his alma mater as baseball coach in 1942 and compiled an amazing record in 45 seasons, winning a record 1,331 games, 28 conference titles, and 10 NCAA tournament championships, in 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, from 1970 through 1974, and in 1978.
Combining an emphasis on fundamentals with an impish sense of humor that helped keep his players relaxed, Dedeaux won six coach of the year awards. He retired after the 1986 season. More than fifty of his players, including Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, went on to major league careers.
Dedeaux coached the U. S. team at the 1964 Olympics, when baseball was offered as a demonstration sport, and he coached the U. S. silver medal team in 1984, when it was added to the program as a medal sport for the first time.
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