The 1947 NCAA baseball tournament was the first NCAA-sanctioned baseball tournament that determined a national champion. The tournament was held as the conclusion of the 1947 NCAA baseball season, beginning on June 20. The College World Series was played at Hyames Field on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan from June 27 to June 28. The first tournament's champion was California, coached by Clint Evans.
Tournament The tournament was divided into two regional brackets, the Eastern playoff and the Western playoff. Each region played a single elimination bracket, with the champion advancing to the College World Series.
Field The tournament field was determined by regional committees, some of whom held playoffs, while others selected specific conference champions, and still others simply selected their representatives. The eight teams were divided among the East and West brackets. School Conference Record (Conference) Berth California CIBA 27–10 (11–4) District selection Clemson Southern 24–4 (13–2) Won Southern District Playoff Mountain States Big Nine 22–5 (9–3) MNYC Big Six 15–12 (7–4) Won District Playoff Texas SWC 19–3 (14–1) District selection Yale EIBL 17–8–1 (9–3) District selection
Eastern playoff At Yale Field, New Haven, Connecticut
Western playoff At Merchants Park, Denver, Colorado
College World Series
Participants School Conference Record (conference) Head coach CWS appearances CWS best finish CWS record California CIBA 29–10 (11–4) Clint Evans 0(last: none) none 0–0 Yale EIBL 19–8–1 (9–3) Ethan Allen 0(last: none) none 0–0
Results The first College World Series was a best of three series.
Bracket
Game results Date Game Winner Score Loser Notes June 27 Game 1 California 17–4 Yale June 28 Game 2 California 8–7 Yale California wins CWS
Notable players California: Jackie Jensen Yale: Frank Quinn, George Bush, Bill Howe
Tournament notes Future President of the United States George H. W. Bush was Yale's captain and appeared in the 1947 and 1948 College World Series. (Bush was actually waiting on-deck when Cal recorded the final out in the second game of the 1947 series.)
References