Ralph O. Coleman was a college baseball coach at Oregon State University

Oregon State Beavers

The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...

 for 35 years.

Early life

Coleman was born in Canby, Oregon

Canby, Oregon

Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:...

 in 1895 and graduated from Canby High School

Canby High School

-Academics:In 2008, 86% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 395 students, 338 graduated, 37 dropped out, 1 received a modified diploma, and 19 are still in high school.-Homebuilding program:...

. He attended Oregon Agricultural College (later renamed Oregon State University

Oregon State University

Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...

), where he lettered in track for three years before trying baseball in his senior year of 1918. After serving in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, he pitched for the Portland Beavers

Portland Beavers

The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...

 of the Pacific Coast League

Pacific Coast League

The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...

 and was offered a tryout with the Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...

, but opted instead for the head baseball coaching job at his alma mater

Alma mater

Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...

. His younger brother Ed

Ed Coleman (baseball)

Parke Edward Coleman is a former professional baseball player who played Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1932–1935 and the St. Louis Browns from 1935–1936...

 also played for the Beavers and went on to the major leagues.

Coaching career

Nicknamed The Silver Fox, Coleman remained the Beavers' head coach for 35 seasons: from 1923 to 1928, from 1930 to 1931, and from 1938 to 1966. His tenure was broken several times by other campus duties. Under Coleman's tenure, the Beavers had an overall record of 561-316-1 and finished first in the Northern Division 10 times. Coleman coached the Beavers to its first appearance in the College World Series

College World Series

The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...

 in 1952

1952 College World Series

The 1952 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 13 to June 17. The sixth tournament's champion was Holy Cross, coached by Jack Barry. The Most Outstanding Player was Jim O'Neill of Holy Cross....

, but the team lost its games to Duke

Duke University

Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...

 and Texas.

Legacy

In 1968, he was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame

Oregon Sports Hall of Fame

The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...

 in 1981, the same year that Oregon State's baseball stadium was renamed Coleman Field in his honor. (It was later renamed Goss Stadium at Coleman Field

Goss Stadium at Coleman Field

Goss Stadium at Coleman Field is a college baseball stadium in Corvallis, Oregon, on the campus of Oregon State University. It is home to the Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-12 conference...

when it was upgraded in 1999 with major donations from the Goss family.) He died in 1990, and was inducted into the OSU Sports Hall of Fame later that same year.