“When I made up the lineup, I always put Ole [John Olerud] in the third spot—where you want your best all-around player—and filled in around him,” says WSU baseball coach Bobo Brayton. “He led the world in everything.”
On the rare occasion when Ole faltered a little on the mound, Bobo would visit the big lefthander with words of advice: “Remember you are John Olerud. There’s no one better.” He was named national College Player of the Year in 1988.
—from Washington State Magazine, Summer 2002
WSU
| 1987 |
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Hit .414 with 5 HR and 20 RBIs. As a pitcher, he went 8-2 with a 3.00 ERA and was a freshman All-American. | 
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| 1987 |
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Baseball America’s named Olerud as NCAA Player of the Year. | |
| 1988 |
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Set WSU single-season records at batting average .46, 23 home runs, 108 hits, 204 total bases, and a .876 Slugging percentage, and tied the mark at 81 RBIs. As a pitcher, he had an undefeated 15-0 season, and threw 113 Ks with a 2.49 ERA. He was a consensus All-American as both 1B and Pitcher and Baseball America College Player of the Year. | |
| 1988 |
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Helped lead the Cougars to a 52-14 record, winning the Pac-10 North and advancing to the ’88 NCAA West Regional. | |
| 1989 |
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Suffered a brain aneurysm in January. | |
| 1989 |
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While recovering from the aneurysm, Olerud hit .359 with 5 HR and 30 RBI in 78 plate appearances. He threw for three wins, two losses, and a 6.68 ERA. He was a Pac-10 North All-League Designated Hitter. | |
| 1989 |
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Left Pullman as WSU’s career leader in batting average (.434), slugging percentage(.824), and in the top five in home runs (33) and pitching wins (26). |
Professional Career
| 1989 |
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Began his Major League career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He became only the 16th player since the start of the amateur draft to skip the minors and go straight to the major league. Debuted September 3, 1989. | 
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| 1992 |
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Blue Jays went to the World Series, with Olerud at designated hitter or first baseman. | |
| 1993 |
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Led the American League in batting average (.363), runs created (156), intentional walks (33), times on base (321), on-base percentage (.473), OPS (1.072), and doubles (54, also a career high), while posting career highs in home runs (24), RBI (107), runs (109), and hits (200). He was the 20th player to tally 200 hits as well as 100 walks in one season. | |
| 1993 |
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Won the Hutch Award given to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson. | 
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| 1996 |
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Traded to the New York Mets. | |
| 1997 |
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Knocks in over 100 runs with Mets. | |
| 1998 |
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Sets Mets team single season records for batting average (.354), on-base percentage (.447) and runs created (138). | |
| 1999 |
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Sets Mets team records for most walks (125) and times on base (309) in a season. | 
Sports Illustrated, Sept. 6, 1999. Photographed by: V.J. Lovero |
| 1999 |
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Appears on the cover of the September 6 issue of Sports Illustrated, along with fellow Mets infielders Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and Robin Ventura. The four of them committed only 27 errors in the season. The Mets go to the National League Championship Series. | |
| 2000 |
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Agrees to a three-year, $20 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. | |
| 2000 |
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Wins his first Gold Glove. | |
| 2001 |
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With the Mariners, earns a .401 on-base percentage, 94 walks, 272 times on base and 19 intentional walks in 159 games. | 
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| 2001 |
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Inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame. | |
| 2002 |
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45 doubles, 102 walks, 10 sacrifice flies and 11 intentional walks. He recorded a .398 on-base percentage, 39 doubles, 98 walks, 269 times on base and led the American League in sacrifice flies (12). | |
| 2002 |
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Won his second Gold Glove. | |
| 2003 |
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Won his third Gold Glove. | |
| 2004 |
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Signed with the New York Yankees to fill in for injured first baseman Jason Giambi. | |
| 2004 |
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During a game between the Yankees and Mariners, the Mariner home crowd gave Olerud a standing ovation. | |
| 2004 |
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Left Game 3 of the AL championship series due to an injured foot. | |
| 2005 |
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Signed with the Boston Red Sox in May. | 
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| 2005 |
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Announced retirement from baseball on December 6. At the time of his retirement, his 2,239 career hits represented the 143rd-highest total in Major League Baseball history. His career .398 OBP ranks 65th all-time, and his 500 doubles are good for 44th all-time. His 17-year career spanned 2,234 games. | |
| 2007 |
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Inducted into the College Baseball Hall Of Fame. | |
| 2011 |
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Notable contribution to baseball recognized October 25, 2011, and inducted into the Inland Northwest Hall of Fame. |
Sources
“Six join hall of fame” (Washington State Magazine, Summer 2002)
Any errors or additions, please email us.