Pat Kuehner, USC Baseball Standout Who Drove in Winning Run in 1968 College World Series, Dies

LOS ANGELES—Pat Kuehner, the USC baseball standout who drove in the game-winning run of the 1968 College World Series and later went on to become an assistant coach with the Trojans, died earlier this month at the age of 75 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and cancer. He passed away surrounded by his family at his home in Arizona.
 
A 3-year letterman (1966-67-68), Kuehner was the starting left-fielder on the 1968 title team. He provided one of the greatest moments in College World Series history when, with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth, he drove in the tying and winning runs with a pinch-hit triple to win the title for USC. It was the fifth College World Series Championship in the Trojans' storied history.
 
Kuehner was drafted by the Washington Senators that same year in the 25th round of the 1968 MLB Draft. He played two seasons of professional baseball before returning to the college game as an assistant coach.
 
Kuehner started at his alma-mater, becoming the Trojans' first full-time assistant coach in 1972 and staying until 1974. Kuehner then went on to serve as an assistant with the Arizona State Sun Devils, helping ASU to its fourth CWS title in 1977. He would go on to work in the ASU athletic department for several years as a Senior Administrator.
 
Kuehner eventually settled long-term in Arizona, where he would become the Vice-President and General Manager of Hanson Aggregates, Arizona region.
 
He is survived by his wife Trisha, his two daughters Kelli Kuehner and Jenni Crook, and his three siblings Peter Kuehner, Nancy Kraus and Susie Grabiel.
 
A celebration of life will be held at the Arizona Country Club on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 1pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. They have also set up a fundraising page in his honor with the Barrow Neurological Foundation (giveto.supportbarrow.org/donate). Please include "in memory of Pat Kuehner" under tribute information.