Ralph Coleman (November 30, 1895 – July 8, 1990) was the face of baseball at Oregon State University for 35 years. Later, they put his name on the stadium.
Coleman was born in Canby, Oregon in 1895 and came to Oregon Agricultural College (later renamed Oregon State University), where he lettered in track for three years before trying baseball in his senior year of 1918. His legacy would endure between the white lines.
After serving in World War I, he pitched for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League and was offered a tryout with the Detroit Tigers but opted instead for the head baseball coaching job at his alma mater. His younger brother Ed also played for the Beavers and went on to the major leagues.
Nicknamed the Silver Fox, Coleman remained the Beavers’ head coach for 35 seasons split into three sections: from 1923 to 1928, from 1930 to 1931, and from 1938 to 1966. Other campus duties took him away from the diamond. Coleman’s career record was 561–316–1 (.632). The Beavers finished first in the Northern Division ten times. Coleman led Oregon State to its first appearance in the College World Series in 1952.
He also led basketball and baseball coaching clinics in Europe and Asia while serving in the Army.
Ralph Coleman is a member of the Oregon State Athletics and the American Baseball Coaches Association halls of fame. In 1981, Oregon State’s baseball stadium was renamed Coleman Field in his honor.