Baseball

1982

Aug 29

Dick Whitman – Baseball

(Nov. 9, 1920 – Feb. 12, 2003) Dick Whitman earned a spot in Oregon’s sports legacy by reaching the Major Leagues for all or parts of six seasons, and helped two teams win the National League pennant. Born in Woodburn in 1920, Whitman played outfield from 1940-42 at the University of Oregon, and signed with..Read More

Aug 29

Dick Whitman – Baseball

1981

Aug 30

Roy Helser – Baseball

(Aug. 27, 1911 – Oct. 25, 1994) Roy Helser made a name for himself as a long-time pitcher for the Portland Beavers, then as a coach at Linfield College, where he led the Wildcats to a national championship. Helser graduated from Portland’s Benson High, but didn’t play baseball at the school, and didn’t begin attending..Read More

Aug 30

Sylvester Johnson – Baseball

Born in Portland (Dec. 31, 1900 – Feb. 20, 1985), Sylvester “Syl” Johnson played his way into the professional ranks as a right-handed pitcher at age 19 and didn’t stop until age 46, a span that included 19 seasons in the Major Leagues. Johnson started his pro career with the Vancouver, B.C. Beavers of the..Read More

Aug 30

Howard Fox – Baseball

Born in Coburg, Howard Fox (Mar. 1, 1921 – Oct. 9, 1955) played his way through the University of Oregon and into a lengthy Major League career as a right-handed pitcher. He spent nine seasons and played for three different teams from 1944 to ’54 before moving to the minor leagues, where his career ended..Read More

1980

Aug 31

Carson “Skeet” Bigbee – Baseball

(Mar. 31, 1895 – Oct. 17, 1964) Carson Bigbee, born in 1895, grew up in Lebanon and played baseball at the University of Oregon before beginning a standout career in the Major Leagues. Bigbee played part of just one season for the Ducks, 1915, before turning professional. He reached the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1916 at..Read More

Aug 31

Ken Williams – Baseball

(Jun. 28, 1890 – Jan. 22, 1959) Born in Grants Pass in 1890, Ken Williams was one of the state’s first Major Leaguers, spending 14 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox as a top-flight hitter and base stealer. Williams didn’t find his way to professional baseball until 1913, when..Read More

Aug 31

Ken Williams – Baseball

Aug 31

Earl Averill, Jr. – Baseball

(Sep. 9, 1931 – May 13, 2015) As a baseball player, Earl Averill, Jr., had plenty of expectations to live up to and he did in three years at the University of Oregon and seven seasons in the Major Leagues. The son of Hall of Famer Earl Averill (inducted in 1975), Earl Jr., hit .439..Read More

Aug 31

Wes Schulmerich – Baseball

(Aug. 21, 1901 – Jun. 26, 1985) Born in Hillsboro in 1901, Wes Schulmerich was a multi-talented athlete credited with being the first player from Oregon State University to reach the Major Leagues, where he played for four seasons. In later years, he became one of the school’s most visible fans, and was inducted into..Read More