University Southern California Trojans
George Ambrow, Member of USC's 1971 CWS Title Team, Dies
May 13, 2026 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – USC baseball great George Ambrow, who helped lead the Trojans to a College World Series title in 1971, passed away earlier this month at the age of 74.
Ambrow starred as the starting shortstop for the 1971 team in his freshman season at USC, leading the Trojans to the program's seventh NCAA Championship and the second title in a remarkable run of five straight championships for USC from 1970-74.
A graduate of nearby Long Beach Poly High School, Ambrow earned All-Conference honors in 1971, batting .314 with a team-high 43 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. He had three home runs and 27 RBI in his lone season on the field at USC.
Despite his collegiate career being cut short by injury, Ambrow would go on to be drafted in the 18th round of the 1974 MLB Draft. He was also drafted in the first round of the 1970 MLB Draft out of high school, but after the Mets took Ambrow with the 23rd pick, he declined to sign and joined Rod Dedeaux's squad at USC.
He came to USC as a decorated prep athlete from Long Beach Poly, earning CIF Player of the Year honors his senior season.
Ambrow joined the Trojans in Orange County at Great Park last season to throw out the first pitch on May 12, 2025.
Ambrow starred as the starting shortstop for the 1971 team in his freshman season at USC, leading the Trojans to the program's seventh NCAA Championship and the second title in a remarkable run of five straight championships for USC from 1970-74.
A graduate of nearby Long Beach Poly High School, Ambrow earned All-Conference honors in 1971, batting .314 with a team-high 43 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. He had three home runs and 27 RBI in his lone season on the field at USC.
Despite his collegiate career being cut short by injury, Ambrow would go on to be drafted in the 18th round of the 1974 MLB Draft. He was also drafted in the first round of the 1970 MLB Draft out of high school, but after the Mets took Ambrow with the 23rd pick, he declined to sign and joined Rod Dedeaux's squad at USC.
He came to USC as a decorated prep athlete from Long Beach Poly, earning CIF Player of the Year honors his senior season.
Ambrow joined the Trojans in Orange County at Great Park last season to throw out the first pitch on May 12, 2025.
It was an honor to have Trojan Great George Ambrow, star shortstop from USC's 1971 National Championship squad, throw out the first pitch this weekend! 🙌✌️#FightOn x #TrojanFamily pic.twitter.com/JxL7di4qkU
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) May 12, 2025
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