OSU
Sports History Minute - April 13, 2001
Part
13 of 20: The 1950s ... Twice, But No Cigar
The
decade of the 1950s was a historic 10-year stretch
for men's athletics at Oregon State because OSU
qualified for play in not one but two of the
nation's top college sporting events ... the Rose
Bowl and the College
World Series.
In 1952, Ralph Coleman's team won the District 8
NCAA Championship and
advanced to the College World Series in Omaha for
the first and only time
in school history, where it finished seventh in
the eight-team tourney.
OSU finished 27-12 that year, a school-record number
of wins up to that
time. Outfielder Dwayne Helbig won batting honors
with a whopping .411
percentage, also a Beaver record.
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Above:
Joe Francis had a career day at the
Rose Bowl.
Top,
Right: Dwayne Helbig was named All-American
in 1953.
Bottom,
Right: Tommy Prothro was only in
his second season as coach of the Beavers
when he lead them to the Rose Bowl.
Photos
from The Beaver.
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For his hard work, Helbig won All-Pacific Coast
Conference and All-America
honors.
OSU pitcher Bailey Brem also won All-PCC honors
and was named All-America
in 1953.
Oregon State Head Football Coach Tommy Prothro was
in his second season
with the Beavers in 1956 when his team finished
with a 6-1-1 conference record and a ticket to Pasadena
for the Rose Bowl.
It was not a good trip.
Iowa crushed Oregon State 35-19, jumping off to
a quick 14-0 lead en route to its ninth win in 10
trips to Pasadena.
The Beavers rallied behind the passing and running
of Joe Francis, but could not overcome the early
Iowa lead. Francis had a career day, rushing for
73 yards in 15 carries and completing 10 of 12 passes
for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Attendance was 97,126. No Beaver team in any sport
had ever competed before a bigger crowd.
--
By George
Edmonston Jr. and Chuck Boice
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