Edgar Melik-StepanyanDonning a red wig he made...

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan

Donning a red wig he made his freshmen wear, holding a cane that’s

shaped like a bat, and acting as young as ever, Rod Dedeaux capped

his birthday celebration like only he knew how.

Surrounded by family and about 70 of his former players, the

Glendale resident and legendary University of Southern California

baseball coach led a spirited rendition of “McNamara’s Band,” the

same song the Trojans sang after every one of their 1,332 victories

under Dedeaux.

“It was so wonderful,” said a teary-eyed Dedeaux.

The most decorated coach in NCAA history was honored on Saturday

on the USC baseball field that bears his name, as fans and alumni

joined in celebrating Dedeaux’s 90th birthday, which is Tuesday.

Dedeaux was moved to tears by the ceremony, which was attended by

Hall of Famers Tommy Lasorda and Tom Seaver, former Los Angeles

Dodger Owner Peter O’Malley and Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully, among

others.

“It’s so great to walk in the rose garden and still smell the

roses,” said Dedeaux, who has 11 national titles, 28 conference

championships and six coach-of-the-year awards to his credit. “I’m

probably the only person in history that’s enjoying my eulogy while

I’m still alive.

“I love these guys and their success is something that’s hard to

put into words. They are like family, like my own flesh and blood. To

see them come back, and for them to say maybe I did something to help

them, it’s a major thrill.”

La Canada Flintridge resident Spiro Psaltis -- a left-handed

pitcher on USC’s 1978 championship team -- said Trojan baseball was

Dedeaux’s passion and his life from 1942-86 before he stepped down

with an overall record of 1,332-571-11 (.699).

But Gary Sutherland, a 1962 Glendale High graduate who played

under Dedeaux in 1964, might have put it best when he said his former

coach is larger than life.

“When we think back on our lives, this guy comes to the

forefront,” said Sutherland of Dedeaux, who was named Coach of the

Century by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball in 2003, in

addition to being honored as the head coach of the All-Time College

World Series team.

“He’s just a phenomenal human being.”

Dedeaux was an amazing coach who touched countless lives on and

off the field, including that of Seaver, a three-time Cy Young Award

winner who was one of more than 50 of Dedeaux’s players to compete in

the majors.

“He’s one of those special guys that comes into your life and he

opens doors,” Seaver said. “If you’re smart, you go through them and

you learn what’s in the next room.

“You learn things from him that are the kinds of things that are

with you for your entire life.”