Bob Wren

Time at Ohio: 1939-1943, 1949-1972, 1975-1992

“The championships, the winning, that was nice – but it wasn’t the important thing ...

Helping our young men was [the] primary goal.”

That is the legacy Robert “Bob” Wren left at Ohio University before his passing in 2002.

An alumnus of the green and white, Wren returned to Ohio before the turn of the 1950s to take over as head coach of Bobcats baseball – who came off winning back-to-back MAC titles. He replaced Don Peden, giving him massive shoes to fill.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Who was Bob Wren?

Wren served as the head coach of Ohio University’s baseball team for 24 seasons (1949-1972).

His name and winning were synonymous during that stretch. Wren and the Bobcats clinched 11 MAC regular season titles, accumulated 464 total victories, and earned the school’s first (and only) appearance in the College World Series in 1970.

Ohio never had a losing season during Wren’s tenure.

Baseball was not the only responsibility for Wren, however. He also served as an assistant to Ohio University’s Dean of Men, Assistant Athletic Director, an associate professor in physical education, and later as an admission’s counselor and recruiter.

But that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Wren’s storied career in Athens.

Early Years at Ohio

Wren came to Ohio University by way of Cleveland’s old East High School, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1943.

He suited up for the school’s baseball and basketball teams – where he saw no shortage of excitement. Wren was a member of Ohio’s basketball team that earned a trip to Madison Square Garden and finished as runners-up in the 1941 National Invitational Tournament (NIT). He was also the Bobcats’ leading hitter in baseball during the 1942 season and captained the squad the following year.

Wren was a man of many hats during his undergraduate years. Along with his athletic endeavors, he was part of the planning board for the Ohio University Men’s Union, an organization dedicated to organizing campus-wide events like Homecoming Weekend and Dad’s Day.

The 1941 Bobcats basketball team. Wren is on the top row, second from the right. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

A photo of the 1943 Ohio University Men's Union Planning Board. Wren is located at the top row, third from the right. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Wren was part of the following organizations before his official retirement from Ohio University in 1992:

Athens Elks

O.U. Green and White Club

Phi Delta Theta fraternity

U.S. Army Reserves

Order of Symposiarch

Hocking Valley Sportsman Association

Ruffed Grouse Society

National Wild Turkey Federation

Wren has been inducted into the Ohio University Hall of Fame, the NCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, as well as the MAC Hall of Fame (inducted in 1989).

Two invitations for the 1989 MAC Hall of Fame Reception in Toledo. Wren was inducted into the conference's hall of fame that year.

Both cards are courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Coming Home

Upon graduating in 1943, Wren spent six years in professional baseball with the Toledo Mudhens.

But then Athens came calling back.

1949 was a year that saw renowned football and baseball coach Don Peden step down from his coaching and administrative duties.

It was the perfect time for a new coach to carry the torch and continue the winning standards set by Peden.

And Ohio knew just the right man for the job.

A page from the 1949 Athena yearbook recapping Bob Wren's first year as coach for Ohio.

The Bobcats finished with a 14-11 record that season.

Ohio never had a losing campaign during Wren's 24-year tenure as head coach.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Bob Wren became the head coach of Bobcats baseball while serving brief stints as an assistant with the football and men’s basketball teams.

Tuesday, April 5, 1949, marked Wren's first ever game as head man of Ohio. It ended with a bittersweet result against Morris Harvey College:

From the April 8, 1949, edition of The Post. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Setting the Standard

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

The Bobcat baseball team dominated the Mid-American Conference in the 1950s and ‘60s – winning nine conference crowns from 1953-1969.

Ohio won back-to-back championships in both 1953-1954 as well as 1964-1965. They also secured four-straight MAC trophies from 1968-1971.

One of Wren’s best seasons came in 1965 when the Bobcats finished with a 28-3 overall record. That team went on a 23-game winning streak along with earning first place at an invitational tournament in Clemson, S.C. (below).

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

That success only added to Wren’s trophy case, as he was awarded the 1965 District Four College Baseball Coach of the Year at that year's NCAA convention.

Right: Wren poses with a trophy from the Columbus Touchdown Club (left) "for distinction in college baseball coaching." The plaque on the right is his NCAA District Four recognition.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Win #400 and Guard Duty

Friday, May 8, 1970, was a day that epitomized Bob Wren’s commitment to Ohio University.

Wren (left) reads a letter from the Athens Country Club, who gifted him with a membership after his 400th win. Standing with him are baseball captain Joe Carbone (center) – who later went on to coach Ohio – and Wren's wife, Lois (right).

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

His day began at 3:15 p.m. at Ohio’s old Trautwein Field for a game between the Bobcats and Marshall Thundering Herd. Wren's squad entered that game as the MAC’s best team and reinforced their dominance with an 18-3 demolition – marking the coach's 400th career victory.

It was time to celebrate. Wren was accompanied by his wife, Lois, Ohio Athletic Director Bill Rohr, and the entire team to partake in the festivities. The team awarded their head coach a cake and other gifts while presenting Lois with a dozen roses.

Wren expressed his gratitude to the media.

“On behalf of all the fine young men whom I’ve had the privilege of coaching, I accept these gifts. It’s only because of them that I’m standing here. I’m proud of this year’s team and eternally grateful for this honor.”

And then it was time to suit up for guard duty.

Wren began his security shift around 9 p.m. at Ohio University’s athletic facilities. It was a volunteer position he accepted because of rumors that had emerged about buildings around the area being set on fire in the wake of student-wide protests of the Vietnam War. It prompted the school’s faculty to keep watch and notify authorities if anything occurred.

Wren was one of those faculty members.

The very same day he arguably achieved the most significant individual accomplishment in his career, Bob Wren spent nearly five hours protecting the community he loved.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

The 1970 Bobcats

Conference record: 14-1

MAC regular season champions – 12th in school history

District 4 champions

First (and only) College World Series appearance – finished in 4th place

Defying the Odds

Everything was on the up for the Bobcats on the field in May of 1970 ...

but the world around them was falling apart.

Political tension exploded throughout the country because of the Vietnam War, particularly with the United States' invasion of Cambodia in late April 1970. The ongoing conflict sparked outrage among America’s youth.

Everything came to a climax on May 4 when four students at Kent State University were killed during a protest, leading to schools across the state shutting down.

The 1970 Ohio baseball team. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Coach Wren and his team traveled to Bowling Green for their final road trip of the regular season on May 14. They departed Athens on the team bus and per tradition, students lined up on Court Street to cheer them on as they left.

But as Blair Lovren, a writer for The Post, highlighted in a 1991 article – it was anything but that when they returned.

“When the bus came back through Athens on Saturday night, after winning the Mid-American Conference, there was no one there to greet them but the Ohio National Guard. Everyone else was gone.”

Lovren also alludes to how the city was under martial law and that all of the lights were out. The article specifically mentions how players on the team bus saw no one but soldiers as they passed Bentley Hall on the west side of campus.

May 15, 1970: Students move back towards campus from the intersection of Court and Union street as tear gas is released by authorities. Ohio University closed the next day. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

An Ohio National Guardsman at the intersection of Court and Union street in Athens, May 1970. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

An Ohio National Guardsman stands in front of Baker Center as O.U. students look on, May 1970. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

“Their escorts were men with guns in military jeeps, not cheering students.”

Blair Lovren, 1991

Despite everything that was going on around them, Wren knew that his team was destined to play in the College World Series. It was an expectation the team set for themselves before the 1970 season even began.

Wren ultimately convinced O.U.'s administration to allow the team to keep the season going. The Bobcats continued their training at a dilapidated baseball camp in Bainbridge. And when June came, they earned that coveted spot to Omaha, Neb., to participate on college baseball’s biggest stage.

Ohio’s sensational season ended in the semifinals with a 2-0 loss to Florida St.

"It was a great year, but it was like a roller coaster emotionally ... but we hung in there and represented Ohio University as champions."

– Joe Carbone, captain of the 1970 team and eventual O.U. head baseball coach (1989-2012)

Right: The original scoresheet from Ohio's semifinal loss to Florida St. in 1970

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Bob Wren: A Man of Many Duties

Wren left his role at Ohio University due to budget cuts on his coaching staff in 1972. He decided to pursue an opportunity in the major leagues, accepting a scouting position with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The long-time coach also had stints in New York and Pittsburgh before returning to southeast Ohio in 1975 – but this time for a new role: Assistant Dean of Admissions.

Wren went on recruiting trips throughout the state, including stops to Canton, Akron, Cleveland, Dayton, and Cincinnati.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

An alumnus of Ohio University, Wren had a unique stance on recruiting students.

“It’s not so much selling. It’s convincing students that they could get a good education,” Wren told reporters. “The quality is here. That was one of my selling points as a coach. I sold them quality.”

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

PAWS Campaign

In 1989, Wren was named chairman of the ninth annual PAWS program – an effort to provide college athletes with scholarships.

The campaign’s goal was to raise $108,000.

Left: Wren (right) poses with Athletic Director Harold McElhaney (left) and Shannan Ritchie (center) – who was a cross country athlete and PAWS recipient.

Notable Players from the Wren Era

Throughout the course of his 24-year career with Ohio Baseball, Wren coached 63 players who went on to sign professional contracts. Twelve of those players suited up in the major leagues.

Here are a few.

Mike Schmidt

Schmidt was one of the key contributors on Ohio’s 1970 team that made the school’s first ever College World Series appearance. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972. Eight years later, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the World Series when the Phillies defeated Kansas City in six games.

The former Bobcat third baseman also won three National League MVP awards (1980, 1981, and 1986).

Left: Schmidt in 1970. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Schmidt (center) presents his World Series MVP check to Ohio Athletic Director Harold McElhaney (left) at a Bobcats basketball game, 1981.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Steve Swisher

A native of Parkersburg, W. Va., Swisher played catcher for Ohio University before being selected in the first round of the 1973 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. He was a National League All-Star in 1976 and played nine seasons in the major leagues with the Cubs, Cardinals, and Padres.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Rich McKinney

McKinney suited up for the green and white during their dynastic runs of the 1960s. The infielder was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1968. He did not make his major league debut until 1970 and spent seven seasons in the professional ranks – playing in 341 total games.

Bob Brenly

Originally from Coshocton, Ohio, Brenly departed from Ohio University in 1976. He made his major league debut in 1981 with the San Francisco Giants. Brenly played in more than 800 games during his nine-year career.

He was hired as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2001 season. The Diamondbacks won that year’s World Series – which to this day remains the franchise’s only championship. Brenly, at age 47, became the fourth rookie manager in MLB history to clinch a World Series crown.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Bob Wren Stadium: A Memorial to Greatness

Trautwein Field, a place that saw Bob Wren shine brightest for over two decades, would no longer be the home of Ohio Bobcats Baseball in April 1998.

The groundbreaking ceremony for a new stadium the year before signaled a new era for Ohio, one that received Wren’s stamp of approval.

Left: Wren at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new baseball stadium on April 26, 1997.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Construction of Bob Wren Stadium. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

The First Game at Bob Wren Stadium

Saturday, April 18, 1998

Above: Wren, with his family watching, throws the first pitch of the day to Ohio catcher Nate Conrad. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Right: Scott Malinowski of Ohio slides to home plate during the second game of a doubleheader. Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

Ohio split a doubleheader against the Bowling Green Falcons with a 4-1 win in the first match. The Falcons secured the second game with a 3-1 final score.

It was also a special day for Bobcats power-hitter Bart Leahy. Heading into the double-header, Leahy had already tallied 23 home runs in his career for Ohio.

He earned his 24th in the first game that Saturday – becoming the first player to hit a home run at Bob Wren Stadium.

Right: Bart Leahy played for Ohio from 1995-98.

Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections, Ohio University Libraries.

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