PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Taking on defending national champion Texas to open the 1950 College World Series, Rutgers overcame a 2-0 deficit after six innings with one in the seventh and three in the eighth to pull off a 4-2 upset victory. As part of the go-ahead rally, first baseman Bob Suba stole home. It was one of seven stolen bases for the Queensmen, also known as the Scarlet, that day, still a CWS single-game record.
 
The aggressiveness nature on the base paths was a hallmark of head coach George Case's style. A native of Trenton, New Jersey, Case led the major leagues in stolen bases five consecutive seasons from 1939-43, the only player in history to achieve the feat, and paced the American League a sixth time in 1946. The outfielder earned all-star status four times in his 11 seasons (1,226 games) in the big leagues, 10 with the Washington Senators and one with the Cleveland Indians.
 
To further display his speed, Cleveland owner Bill Veeck once put Case up against Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens in a promotional 100-yard dash, with the world-class track star edging out Case by just a half step.
 
After a back injury forced retirement from the field at age 31, Case opened a successful sporting goods business, George Case's Sports Center, in his hometown. The family, led by half-brother Cliff, also ran Case's Pork Roll, which had been created by George Case Sr. in the 1870s and is still in operation today.
 
Rutgers then had an opening for the 1950 season following the retirement of veteran coach Charles Ward. Athletic director George Little and assistant athletic director Harry Rockafeller targeted Case, who had stayed involved with local clinics and had a reputation as someone who knew how to teach the game.
 
"I've missed baseball a lot since retiring," Case told The Central New Jersey Home News heading into the 1950 season. "There have been some professional managing offers but I felt that they would interfere too much with my sporting goods business in Trenton. This position, however, fits in perfectly all the way around."
 
"I know he enjoyed the sporting goods business, but he missed being around baseball," recalled his son George Case III. "A coaching opportunity working with young men was very appealing to him."
 
After starting 2-1-1, the Scarlet won 14 of the next 15 games. Finishing the regular season with a 10-7 home win over Virginia in front of a crowd of 2,500, the team stood at 17-4-1 and earned the right to represent District II at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
 
"My dad's style of baseball was really what is known as small ball and the stolen base was a major weapon for Rutgers baseball," Case III said. "At the time, the Rutgers baseball field (today where the Rutgers practice football complex is located) had a huge left field line so very few home runs were hit there over the years. My dad taught his players to get on base, then get moved into scoring position and then score."

 

RU followed up the win over Texas by knocking off Wisconsin, 5-3. Tom Forster pitched a complete-game six-hitter, and Ray Van Cleef went 4-for-5.
 
That setup a meeting with Washington State in the winner's bracket final. With the game tied at one in the top of the ninth, the Cougars loaded the bases with no outs. The Queensmen countered with a dramatic triple play, one of just three recorded in College World Series history. Third baseman Steve Kalapos started the action by fielding a grounder and throwing home to catcher Hardy Peterson for the force, with Peterson relaying to Suba at first base. Suba spotted the runner who started at second trying to score and threw back to Peterson for the tag at home.
 
Washington State would go on to plate two in the 10^th to take a 3-1 win. However, Rutgers rebounded to throttle Wisconsin, 16-2, to stay alive, but would be knocked out by Texas, 15-9, to take third place. The Longhorns would go on to win the national championship once again. Van Cleef was named Most Outstanding Player after hitting 10-for-24 (.417) in the tournament.



"That 1950 World Series team was very special, great players and terrific young men," Case III said. "My dad really enjoyed teaching what he called the 'right way' to play baseball; good defense, good pitching, speed, knowing how to hit and run, knowing how to bunt, and most importantly learning the game, carrying themselves properly and dressing like major league ballplayers."
 
In his 11 seasons leading the program, Case posted a 117-85-3 record. In 1960, he had the chance to coach his son.
 
"I really enjoyed playing for my dad at Rutgers even though it was only that one year," Case III said. "In fact, when I was in high school, playing basketball and baseball, I told my coaches to tell any recruiters not to bother because I was going to Rutgers. I loved Rutgers from a very early age and knew so many people at Rutgers. I was fortunate to have learned so much about baseball and Rutgers from my dad."
 
In 1961, Case took an offer to return to the major leagues, working as the third base coach for the Washington Senators and manager Mickey Vernon, a friend and former teammate. He would later bring his passion for the game to coaching in the minor leagues, staying in the game for nearly five decades, and would receive many glowing letters from former players in the years to follow.
 
Case would pass the reigns of the Rutgers program to Matt Bolger, who was followed by Fred Hill, in the tradition of winning coaches.
 
Author Gary Livacari summed up Case, who passed away in 1989, best: "Case is best remembered as a man with a strong sense of humility who rarely spoke of his many accomplishments – a man known to have his priorities in order. He was described by those who knew him best as 'a special person,' and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather."

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.