Held in 1947, the first College World Series was an eight-team tournament held in Kalamazoo, Mich. University of California swept Yale to win the first CWS.
Find out more fun facts about the greatest baseball tournament in the nation.
Before becoming commander in chief, George H.W. Bush was leading on the diamond. Bush played first base and captained the 1948 Yale baseball team that lost in the championship round to Southern California.
Perhaps a homage to his dad playing in the tournament, George W. Bush was the first President to attend the College World Series. In 2001, Bush even threw out the first pitch.
Before determining Omaha was to be the permanent home for the College World Series, the tournament was held in two other locations. Kalamazoo, Mich. and Wichita, Kansas housed the CWS from 1947-1949 until Omaha was declared home in 1950.
For 60 years, Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium was the site of the College World Series, and home of the minor league Omaha Royals. Since 2011, the CWS upgraded to the TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.
Of course, in a tournament of the best college teams there'll be stars that emerge in the majors. Barry Bonds is one of the most notable players to make it in the pros. Roger Clemens, J.D. Drew and Robin Ventura round out an impressive professional group.
7. The ultimate upset
In 2008, Fresno State shocked the world when it became the first No. 4 regional seed to win the College World Series since turning to the 64-team format.
As of 2012, there have been over eight million fans to attend the College World Series in Omaha.
9. Dave Winfield: MVP pitcher?
You may remember Hall of Famer Dave Winfield as an outfielder in his pro days, but the talented baseball player was a pitcher in the College World Series. Winfield was named MVP of the tournament in 1973.
Winfield wasn't the only star to be named MVP during the College World Series. Huston Street, Mark Kotsay and Pat Burrell all took home the MVP trophy during their college careers.
11. First no-hitter
Fans of the College World Series were treated to a no-hitter in the tournament's first year in Omaha. Texas Longhorn pitcher Jim Ehrler threw the first-ever no-hitter in 1950.
Not to be outdone, Oklahoma State's Jim Wixson tossed the second and last no-hitter in College World Series history in 1960.
13. Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders, one of the greatest athletes in Florida State history, not only led the Seminoles football team to the Sugar Bowl, but also helped the baseball team make the College World Series.
Sanders' Seminoles have made the tournament more times than any other school (21) without winning a championship.
15. Most championships
On the other hand, Southern California has won the College World Series more than any other team in the nation. The Trojans have 12 championships, double its next closest competition: Texas and LSU.
