OAC Teams from 1947 to 1954
Aerial View of Coleman Field, 1947
Coleman Field has been OSU's only home field since varsity baseball began in 1907. It is the longest continously used field in the Pacific 10 Conference and one of the longest in the nation. The field was also used for football practice when Bell Field (left) was the football team's stadium. Although the baseball diamond had been known as Coleman Field since the 1940s, it wasn't formally given that name by the University until 1981. [OSU Archives, #1723.]
NCAA Playoff Program, June 1952
After sweeping Southern Cal in two games for the Pacific Coast Championship, Oregon State played Fresno State in the NCAA Western Regional Playoff. The team's two victories over Fresno State on June 6 and 7 before a Coleman Field record crowd of 5,000 landed the Beavers in the College World Series. Oregon State's only appearance in the tournament ended with losses to Duke and Texas. [Program courtesy of OSU Sports Information.]
Coach Coleman, 1952
Ralph Coleman served the longest tenure of any coach in Beaver baseball history, 35 seasons from 1923 through 1966. His teams were 561-315 with 10 Northern Division titles and a berth in the 1952 College World Series. Coming to Oregon Agricultural College as a student from Canby High, Coleman pitched for OAC in 1918. His main interest was track and field, though, and Coleman lettered three years as a standout trackman for the Beavers before trying baseball his senior year. [OSU Archives #142]
Coach Ralph Coleman and Team Captain Norb Wellman, 1954
Wellman pitched for the Beavers from 1952 through 1954. He pitched one of the 1952 playoff wins against Fresno State that put Oregon State into the College World Series. This photograph appeared on the cover of the 1954 Beaver baseball press guide. [OSU Archives, P7:73]
