With a record of 17-10 and 12-2 in the conference, the 1976 Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League champions took Columbia to its first-ever College World Series Regionals and broke a 13-year title drought. The team featured two Columbia Athletics Hall of Famers (Rolando Acosta — inducted in 2008, and Michael Wilhite — inducted in 2018).
In his first year of varsity baseball in 1976, Wilhite started in center field and played a starring role during the Lions’ run to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Late in the season, Wilhite salvaged the second game of a doubleheader against Cornell with two home runs – including the game-winner in the ninth inning. And in the final series at Penn, he hit another game-winning home run to clinch the Lions’ first Ivy League title in over a decade. Wilhite is still the program’s all-time leader in slugging percentage and triples.
Acosta was the team’s ace his first year, posting 52 strikeouts in 73 innings with a 3.33 ERA over 11 starts. No one has pitched more innings (336.2) or won more games (22) in Columbia baseball history than Acosta.
Led by head coach Dick Sakala, the 1976 Lions had several other key contributors, including catcher Jim Bruno, first baseman Bob Kimutis, and shortstop Harry Bauld — all named First Team All-League for the first time in their careers. Kimitus’ significant presence in the batter’s box helped him draw 25 walks in 29 games. He slugged seven home runs and had 32 RBIs.
The Lions’ 1976 offense ranks fourth all-time in a season with 18 triples. Sakala’s team compiled a .301 batting average, with nine players hitting over .300. The Lions re-wrote the program’s record book at the time, setting season records in hits, runs, total bases, triples, and runs batted in. They also tied all-time marks for doubles, home runs, league wins, and overall wins. The 1976 title would be Columbia’s only outright baseball crown until 2008.
