Olerud, Brayton get call

Two Washington State baseball icons secured their status on a national level Tuesday, as former coach Bobo Brayton and one of his players, John Olerud, were voted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Nine others were elected, but no other school was represented twice on this year’s list of inductees.

Brayton first achieved baseball notoriety in Pullman as a player, becoming the first Cougars baseball player to be named an All-American. But it was as coach from 1962-94 that Brayton paved his way into the Hall of Fame. By the time he retired, Brayton had 1,162 wins, then fourth all time. (He is now 21st on the all-time list.)

Brayton was also recognized by the Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game as a driving force behind important rule changes.

Olerud, before going on to a lengthy major league career, starred for the Cougars from 1987-89. His name still sits atop the lists for multiple career and single-season school records. Olerud hit .434 for his career at WSU while also winning 26 games as a pitcher.

In 1988, Olerud was named an All-American as a pitcher and a hitter, winning 15 games and batting .464.

Olerud and Brayton will be honored along with the others in early July at the site of the future hall in Lubbock, Texas.

Also elected were players Jim Abbott (Michigan), Pete Incaviglia (Oklahoma State), Fred Lynn (Southern California), Phil Stephenson (Wichita State) and Derek Tatsuno (Hawaii); and coaches Jim Brock (Arizona State), Bibb Falk (Texas), Jerry Kindall (Arizona) and Dick Siebert (Minnesota).