UCLA

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Founded: 1881 Enrollment: 47,500 (2021) Played baseball since: 1920 Team name: Bruins School colors: Blue and gold Home ballpark: Jackie Robinson Stadium Conference: Pac-12 (NCAA Div. I)

The University of California, Los Angeles was originally founded as the Southern California branch of the California State Normal School (the main campus being in San Jose). It became an independent campus in 1887, renamed as the Los Angeles State Normal School. In 1919, the state transformed the school into the second campus of the University of California system (after Berkeley), and it was known as the Southern Branch of the University of California. In 1927, it was renamed the University of California at Los Angeles, the name it would keep until the “at” was changed to a comma (the current name) in 1958.

The Bruins played their first season of intercollegiate baseball in 1920 under coach Fred Cozens. That year or soon after the school joined the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In 1928, they became a charter member of the California Intercollegiate Baseball Association. The Bruins played as independents in 1933 and 1934 before rejoining the CIBA from 1935-1966. In 1967 their baseball team joined the rest of the UCLA teams in the Athletic Association of Western Universities. In 1968, the conference renamed itself the Pac-8; subsequent expansions led to new names Pac-10 and then Pac-12.

In the summer of 2022, UCLA and USC notified the Pac-12 that they were both withdrawing to join the Big Ten Conference beginning in August, 2024.

UCLA has been to five College World Series, winning in 2013.

Baseball Almanac lists more than 90 former Bruins who have played in the Major Leagues.

The best of them, as well as the most influential, was Jackie Robinson, a multi-sport star (baseball, basketball, football, track) who starred in the Negro Leagues before becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the 20th century, breaking the so-called color barrier. Robinson only played the 1940 season at UCLA (he transferred after earning his associate’s degree at Pasadena Junior College), before to pursue opportunities in semi-professional football. His Hall of Fame career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, including Rookie of the Year honors and a World Series title, cemented his legacy.

Utility man Bobby Brown played the 1944 season with UCLA, later played eight years with the Yankees, had his career interrupted by military service in Korea, and eventually became president of the American League.

Other Bruins to have notable Major League success include Gerrit Cole, who has more than 130 wins so far in his 11-year career, and is currently starting for the Yankees; Dave Roberts (currently manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers), and All-Stars Chris Chambliss, Jeff Conine, Troy Glaus, and Chase Utley

Home games are played off campus at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The facility was built in 1981, and seats 1,820.