Indians NBC World Series History
The Santa Maria Indians Hall of Fame Committee is trying to track down history of all the Indians past seasons. If you have any information, other than what's provided please contact the Indians by phone (805) 345-1872 or email santamariaindians@yahoo.com
1982
The most significant moment in the Santa Maria Indians 60+ years of existence happened on Friday, August 20th, 1982 when a team led by owner Scoop Nunes and head coach Steve McFarland led the Indians to the NBC World Series title in Wichita, Kansas.
Game 1 Indians 10, North Carolina 0 (7 innings)
Starting pitcher Mike Fulmer (UCSB) won his 12th game of the season and Mike Aldrete (Stanford) hit 2 homeruns
Game 2 Indians 11, Beatrice (Nebraska) 1 (5 innings)
Starting pitcher Doug Gwaltney (Stanford) pitched 5 innings while RF Dave Hengel (UC Berkeley) went 3-4 with a HR.
Game 3 Indians 10, #1 Fairbanks Alaska 1(6 innings)
Starting pitcher John Duval (Oklahoma State) got the win and RF Dave Hengel and SS John Cardinali (Oklahoma State) added homeruns
Game 4 Indians 9, #4 Lubbock (Texas) 7
Starting pitcher Mike Fulmer won again and CF Steve Clard (UCSB) added 4 hits
Game 5 Indians 8, Liberal (Kansas) 4 (7 innings)
Starting pitcher Doug Gwaltney won his second game of the series
Game 6 Indians 13, Hutchinson (Texas) 9
In the deciding game to send the Indians into the final they faced Hutchinson, Texas with a certain Texas righty by the name of Roger Clemens on the team. Clemens did not throw against the Indians but the depleted Indians pitching staff opted for John Duval again and he picked up the win. Dave Hengel continued his hot streak with 4 RBI's and Mike Aldrete added a home run and 4 RBI.
NBC Championship Game 1
Game 7 Anchorage Glacier Pilots (Alaska) 11, Indians 1
In the first championship game for the Indians (the only undefeated team in the tournament) they fell to a powerful Pilots roster. On a team that included future big leaguers Mark McGwire, Cory Snyder, and Central Coast native (Lompoc) Casey Candaele the Pilots put up 11 runs on a tired Indians club. Overworked starter Barry Dacus picked up the loss while slugger Mark McGwire went 2-4 with a home run
NBC Championship Game 2
Game 7 Santa Maria Indians 11, Anchorage Glacier Pilots (Alaska) 4
After losing 11-1 in the first championship game to the team from the Alaska League it was no secret that the Indians pitching staff was tired and looking for help. Before the championship began, manager Steve McFarland and GM Scoop Nunes pulled a trick out of their hat.
"We were so thin on the pitching front, we had maybe 7 pitchers for Wichita. Sccop had to fly in this bright kid from Stanford named John Radtke the first weekend but he never pitched. He had to go back to California for an internship and then we made it to the finals, so we flew him out on a red-eye the following weekend. He ended up being a key part in the Championship game," said Indians former manager Steve McFarland (2007 coach of the Boise Hawks, Chicago Cubs NWL affiliate)
Mike Fulmer got the starting nod in the crucial game and gave up 4 runs in two innings. Mac went to the pen and summoned Radtke, fresh off the plane. He would throw the final 7 innings of scoreless ball and allowed the Indians offense to overcome a 4-0 deficit. Both Radtke and Fulmer held the hot McGwire to 0-3 on the night. Dave Hengel stepped in the big game with a 2-run HR in the 4th inning and another 2-run HR in the 6th inning. Mike Aldrete added 5 RBI and a HR in the 7th inning and the Tribe cruised to an 11-4 victory over the Pilots and their first and only NBC World Series Title.
"It was so great to win that one, everybody wanted to do it for Scoop," said McFarland. "He was so excited to win, I mean he was the whole show and we really appreciated everything he had done for us."
The Indians finished the tournament with a .361 team batting average and a final season record of 58-8.
1982 World Series MVP - RF Dave Hengel
1982 Individual Sportsmanship Award - GM/Owner Scoop Nunes
1982 Most Popular Player - 3B Bruce Johnson
Indians 1982 Starting Lineup