Book closes on 73 years of baseball
wnen ureyun s uaseoan
team entertains the Washing
ton today in a doubleheader at
Howe Field, the final chapter
of 73 years of baseball history
at the University will end.
The book will close on Mel
Krause, who has coached
Oregon baseball since 1971.
The last in a series of coaches
who have captured the spot
light during 73 years.
Baseball was first played at
Oregon in 1877.
It remained absent from the
campus again until 1895 when
the program was revived. But
the first coach to put Oregon
baseball on the map was Bill
Reinhart, who led the Ducks
from 1924 to 1935.
After losing seasons from
1924 to 1927, Oregon gained
its first Northern Division title
in 1928. Reinhart would lead
the Ducks to two more titles in
1934 and 1935 before ending a
coaching reign that included
102 victories.
The star of Reinhart’s last
division-winning teams was
Joe Gordon, who hit .363 in
1935 and later went on to star
for the New York Yankees at
second base. Another one of
Reinhart’s stars was Howard
Hobson, who played third
base in 1925.
It was Hobson who took over
the coaching chores in 1936
and led Oregon to eight divi
sion titles in 11 years.
From 1936 until 1947, Hob
son, who is better known for
coaching Oregon’s "Tall Firs”
to an NCAA basketball champ
lonsmp in 1939, compiled
167 victories against only 75
losses.
In 1948, Don Kirsch became
the next Oregon coach at the
tender age of 25 after playing
for Hobson. It was Kirsch more
than anyone who made
excellence synonymous with
baseball at the University.
Kirsch coached the Ducks
from 1948-1970, leading the
Webfoots to 23 straight win
ning seasons, five Northern
Division titles and a 7th-place
finish at the NCAA tournament
in 1954. He also coached five
All-Americans during his stay.
One of the best players on
Kirsch’s 1949 team was a
pitcher by the name of Mel
Krause. Krause holds the dis
tinction of pitching the first
game ever at Howe Field, and
his 14 complete games in
three years stands third in the
Oregon record books.
There were several more
bonafide stars who played
under Kirsch.
Earl Averill was an All-Amer
ican in 1951 who went on to
play 12 years of major league
baseball; George Shaw was an
All-American in football and
baseball in 1954, batting .325
and leading the Ducks to their
only NCAA World Series ap
pearance; and Robbie Snow
notched a career ERA of 1.49
and was instrumental in Ore
gon’s 20-2 start in 1963 that
put them second in the nation
at one time.
Kirsch died in May of 1970
after compiling 445 career
■■*■■■■■ ' ' ' '
Photo courtesy of University Archives
In 1908, baseball’s history at Oregon was just beginning. The team had a new field — Kincaid Field, site
of Condon Hall — and the sport was booming nationally. Today, that era in Oregon history ends.
coaching wins against 238
defeats. Kirsch’s coaching
ability was applauded in 1970
when he was elected to the
American Association of
College Baseball Coaches Hall
of Fame.
He was succeeded in 1971
by Krause, who has
accumulated 218 career wins
against as many losses.
Krause led the Ducks to their
last Northern Division title in
1974, and his teams have
boasted such stars as Donnie
Reynolds, now with the San
Diego Padres, and Tom Dodd,
Oregon’s career homerun
leader with 30 who is now in
the New York Yankees organ
ization.
Krause's biggest star, how
ever, was Dave Roberts, a
1972 All-American who was
the first pick of the Padres in
the 1973 draft. Roberts now
plays for the Texas Rangers.
Krause’s current crop of
players is led by pitcher Dean
Kegler, who holds the career
record for wins with 22, and
Steve Crum, whose 13 homers
this year are closing in on
Jim Willis' record of 14 set in
1974. Kegler will be trying for
his 23rd career win today.
Win or lose today, after Ore
gon’s last out, the record book
will be the only thing to
remember them by.
By Doug Levy
FOR ALL THAT YOU DO
THIS RIM NEWS IS FOR YOU
buo
RECREATION *
INTRAMURALS
103 Gertinger Hall
°hone 686-4121.686-4113
Volleyball Doubles
Mixed I
Mixed II
Fun Run April 28
Men
Women
Ultimate Frisbee — Coed Action
RESULTS
1st
Costales/Scully
Buchanan/Rotsell
2 5 mile
2 5 mile
Track ft Field (team)
Men
Track ft Field (individual)
1500 meters
100 meters (women)
100 meters
5000 meters
4x400 relay
4x100 relay
110 meter hurdles
400 meters
800 meters
High Jump
Long Jump
Shot Put
Alan Lester
Amy Chase
Sigma Chi
Robert Greer
Sandi Young
Jett Kramer
Robert Greer
Tingle
Sigma Nu
Jim Richards
Herger Hanspeter
Kelly Walters
Jay Brown
Kevin Simmons
J Bernstein
2nd
Teger'Romos Vieina
Haley/Keonon
Jeff Miller
Kim Fraedrick
Tingle
Mark Farley
Julie Caspell
Jim Krueger
Mark Farley
Sigma Chi
Theta Chi
Kevin Simmons
Scott Chesnut
Rob Arkes
Lance Clark
Lance Clark
A Steinhaus
otmuaii miramurais — Wei weainer continues
to cause rescheduling of games. Finally this
week round three is getting underway. Teams
with 3-0 and 2-1 records at the end of the third
round will go into play-offs. Play-offs will con
tinue as far as time permits.
Tennis Mixed Doubles Tournament — Get
your entry in now! Deadline is Friday, May 15 by
12:00 noon. Matches will be played at the Alder
Street Courts if the weather is good. In case of
rain the tournament will move to the Covered
Courts. Pro sets will be played (first team to
eight games) with no ad scoring. Play is
scheduled to begin at 10:00 a m. on Saturday,
May 16. Participants must provide two new
tennis balls and their own racquet.
Frisbee Golf Tournament — The first annual
tournament will be played on Tuesday, May 19
starting at 3:40 p.m Each player must provide
his/her own disc. Players have a choice of
playing 9 or 18 hole tournament. The tour
nament is designed for two person teams or
individual entries. Deadline for entry is Friday,
May 15 at 4:30 p.m. Maps of the campus course
area are available at the RIM office.
Frisbee Distance & Accuracy Throw will be
held on Thursday, May 21 at 3:45 p.m. Come to
the field below Howe Field (below the bank).
Participants may use their own disc or ones
provided. Special mini disc throw will also be
included. Try this event “just for fun.”
Court Reservations — Reservations for the
Covered Tennis Courts and Outdoor
Racquetball Courts can be made at the RIM
office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a m. to
2:15 p.m. Courts are available for reservation
use Monday through Friday from 3:30
p m.-11:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30
a m.-11:30 p.m. Bring student ID and current
fee card.
Fun Run - Put Wednesday, May 20 at 4:00 p.m.
on your calendar now. Here's a chance to run a
2.5 or 4.5 mile course and get a tan at the same
time. Meet at the duck pond (Franklin & Onyx).
Course information available at RIM office.
rnsoee & nacKy &acK i-estivai
Ultimate Frisbee Tournament will be held on
Saturday, May 30 beginning at 10:00 a m. This
will be a single elimination tournament There
will be co-ed, women’s and men's divisions.
Entries available at the RIM office.
Hacky Sack will begin at 1:00 p.m. See a hacky
sack footbag demonstration, then try your skill.
Hacky Sacks available for those who need
them. Learn basic skills and hacky sack
games.
OPEN RECREATION
Spring 1981
SWIMMING - Identification required at open swim
Gerlinger Pool 7:00 am - 8:30 am M U W H (cap required)
Gerlinger Pool 12:30 am - 1:30 pm MUWHF (cap required)
Leighton Pool 11 30 am - 1 30 pm M U W H F
Leighton Pool 7:30 am - 9:00 pm M W (50c charge)
Leighton Pool 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Sunday (50c charge)
BADMINTON
Gerlinger Annex B-54
6:00 pm -9:00 pm U* H*
VOLLEYBALL
Gerlinger Annex B-54
5:30- 7:30 pm M* W*
OPEN RECREATION
Esslinger Hall 3:30 pm - 9:00 pm M U W H*
Gerlinger Hall 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm F*
Gerlinger Annex 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Saturday"
1 00 pm - 4 00 pm Sunday"
*Gyms are available during these time periods EXCEPT where
scheduled for classes, intramurals, athletics, club sports or
special events
Esslinger Hall
Gerlinger Hall 8:00 am - 3:30 pm*5
Gerlinger Annex
*'Students may use gyms during this period only when no
classes are scheduled
Budweiser presents this page as a service to students interested
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product by the University of Oregon.