(born September 23, 1958) A big guard who shoots 50%, plays great defense and long minutes? Let’s sign him up. Ray Blume checked off all the boxes as a key member of the Oregon State’s “Orange Express” basketball teams.
Blume was already a hometown hero at Parkrose high school. He led the 1977 version of the Broncos to a 25-1 record and a 3rd place finish in the state tournament, losing only to undefeated champion North Eugene. Blume was named first team all-tournament and all-state.
Ray then joined Ralph Miller’s largest and most talented freshman class ever at Oregon State along with his Grant High School rival, Mark Radford. Blume was an immediate contributor as an OSU freshman, averaging 16 mins per game off the bench, shooting an impressive 52% from the field. Those shooting numbers would never fall off, Ray would average over 50% for his entire 4-year career.
His sophomore year saw Blume take over a spot in the starting lineup and his 13 points per game and over 50 steals helped the Beavs advance to the NIT.
That set the table for the two most exciting years in OSU basketball history, back-to-back Pac-10 championships, the 26-game winning streak, the 8 weeks ranked #1 in the country.
Blume was a key figure on both ends of the court, scoring in double figures, shooting over 50% and averaging 3 assists and nearly 2 steals per game. He was also a transcendent teammate, sharing the ball with back court mate Mark Radford, veteran big man Steve Johnson and newcomers Lester Conner and Charlie Sitton.
He was invited to tryouts for the 1980 Olympic team trials following his junior year.
Following a 2-year professional career, Ray settled in Portland, where he remained a force in AAU ball for many years. He has been honored with inclusion in the OSU Hall of Fame and the Pac-12 basketball Hall of Honor.
Welcome Bernard Ray Blume to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. 
OSU “Orange Express” ballers – Mark Radford, Steve Johnson, Ray Blume
Causing havoc – Ray Blume & Mark Radford
