WSU baseball complex renamed Bailey-Brayton Field during a weekend full of events honoring Brayton and his storied WSU career.

Jan. 24, 2000

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Legendary Washington State University baseball coach Charles “Bobo” Brayton forever marked his name in the ranks of collegiate baseball with 1,162 victories. And after a weekend of events honoring the former coach, his name is now etched beside another Cougar coaching legend, Buck Bailey, as the Cougar baseball stadium was renamed Bailey-Brayton Field.

The House that Bobo built now adorns the name of one of the greatest and most loved coaches WSU and collegiate baseball has ever seen. The Celebration of the Ages wasn’t just a small ceremony honoring one of the greatest coaches to ever don the crimson and gray, it was rather a weekend where the red carpet was rolled out for a Cougar legend.

Cougars old and young came together to tell stories and to remember all the great times Brayton provided them. It wasn’t a retirement, for that had been done in 1994, and it wasn’t a remembrance, but rather a celebration.

The festivities began Friday evening with a roast and dinner at the CUB on the WSU campus. Brayton was joined by 400 or so friends, family, old players and the 2000 baseball team in a special event where good times were remembered, funny stories were told and tradition was passed down.

“It was a great weekend for Cougar baseball all around and a real honor to pay tribute to such a great coach,” said 2000 WSU baseball captain Ray Hattenburg. “It was great to see and learn from the older players and it really made me feel proud and honored to be a Cougar baseball player.”

Roasters of Brayton included: former player Pat Crook, friend and teammate Butch Faller, former player Bob Stephens, son Fritz Brayton, former player Dr. John Olerud, former player Murray Gage-Cole, hunting partner, friend and current Oregon AD Bill Moos, former player Phil Hinrichs, former player Rob Nichols, former player and current Boston Red Sox Scott Hatteberg, former player and current Seattle Mariner John Olerud, and former WSU and Michigan State basketball coach Jud Heathcote.

“The weekend was very nice having all my friends and players show up and actually seeing the name on the field,” Brayton said. “It was great.”

The weekend continued Saturday with a lunch in the afternoon, then the rededication ceremony of Bailey Field to Bailey-Brayton Field. With snow covering the ground and the brisk cold giving every hint the baseball season was a year away, the home of Cougar baseball was officially renamed Bailey-Brayton Field. Two new plaques, one each of Bailey and Brayton, were unveiled at the entrance to the field and a new arch was placed above the gate proclaiming the complex as Bailey-Brayton Field.

A special halftime ceremony of the WSU-Oregon men’s basketball game concluded the weekend with the crowd giving Brayton a standing ovation. Brayton was also presented with a replica of the plaque that is outside Bailey-Brayton Field, donated by former player and longtime friend Hinrichs.

“This weekend was one of the most memorable moments in my baseball career,” said current WSU assistant baseball coach Ken Johnson. “To bring together past and present Cougars to honor such a great man and such a great coach, and be part of it is just amazing. The tradition that was passed down to our players this weekend is something that is very special.”

Renaming the WSU stadium after Brayton became an issue last spring when many former players brought the idea to athletic director Rick Dickson. A university renaming committee thought the idea was great and made their answer a yes.

“It was a special weekend because Bobo deserves to have something here permanent in his name,” said Crook, a former WSU player who was on the field for Bailey’s last and Brayton’s first WSU victory. “He belongs up there with the Friel’s, the Mooberry’s and the Bohler’s.”

John Olerud, who recently signed with the Seattle Mariners and one of the finest baseball players WSU has ever produced, joined in the weekend festivities to honor the coach that guided him to become the College Player of the Year in 1988.

“I think it’s very appropriate and a real honor to have the stadium named after Bobo and I’m really happy that I could be part of this dedication ceremony,” Olerud said. “He was a real role model for his players as far as your work ethic and what you need to do to be successful on the baseball field is concerned.”

FOR THE RECORD: Brayton, who maintained a 1,162-523-8 record and a .689 winning percentage in his 33 years (1962-94) as the WSU head coach, still ranks 11th in NCAA Division I victories. At the time of his retirement in 1994 he left the game ranked fourth in all-time collegiate victories.

During his coaching tenure, he guided Cougar teams to two College World Series appearances, 20 conference championship, including 11 straight during the ‘70s, six NCAA regional appearances and was the mentor of several Major League players, including current players John Olerud, Aaron Sele, Scott Hatteberg, David Wainhouse, Mike Kinkade, Rob Ryan and Robert Ramsay.

In his playing days at WSU, Brayton was a three-sport star on the gridiron, hardwood and on the diamond. He was WSU’s first baseball All-American, achieving the honor as a shortstop in 1947 and earning eight varsity letters in the three sports at WSU. Upon leaving WSU, Brayton became the head football and baseball coach at Yakima Valley Community College where he posted a 251-68 baseball record and won 10 league titles in 11 years. In September 1961, he followed in the coaching footsteps of Buck Bailey, becoming WSU’s 11th head coach.

WHO WAS THERE: Several former Cougar baseball players joined to honor their great coach including: Jim Connor, Rob Nichols, Murray Gage-Cole, Scott Hatteberg, Robert Ramsay, Mike Kinkade, Phil Hinrichs, Pat Crook, Bob Stephens, Dr. John Olerud, John Olerud, Rip Ramsay, Kevin Brunstad, Hal Brunstad, Todd Belitz, former manager Kevin Kalal, and several others.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: The Olerud family was well represented during the weekend festivities to honor their former coach. John Sr., who is currently the head of the dermatology department at the UW Medical Center in Seattle, was an All-American under Brayton from 1961-65. John Jr., is one of the best players WSU has ever produced and is set to embark on his 11th full major league season and his first with the Seattle Mariners. In addition, the father son combo of Hal and Kevin Brunstad were also in attendance to honor Brayton. The elder Brunstad was an all-star selection in 1966 and his son was an all-Pac-10 pick for the Cougs at first base in 1994.

THE 2000 TEAM WAS THERE TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION: The 2000 Cougar baseball team was very much a part of the weekend events honoring the coach that built the tradition they now play under. Team captains Ray Hattenburg and Todd Meldahl spoke at the Friday evening dinner and thanked Brayton for building the foundation on which they now play on.

“I’ve never felt so proud to be a Cougar,” said senior pitcher Matt O’Brien. “He is such a great man and such a great coach and we can learn so much from him. I’ve only met him once or twice before, but he knew how many wins I had last year and that really made me feel good knowing that he has followed me and the rest of the team.”

Hattenburg could hardly soak in the magnitude of all the weekend events and offered a John F. Kennedy like quote about Brayton.

“Ask not what Cougar baseball can do for you, but what you can do for Cougar baseball,” Hattenburg said. “This field and the tradition this program plays under are just small examples of all the great things Bobo Brayton has done for WSU baseball.”

WSU head Coach Steve Farrington was also excited after reflecting on the weekend that honored the coaching legend whose shoes he had to fill.

“This weekend was a dream for out baseball program to honor such a great man and coach,” Farrington said. “To get everyone together and see our current players interact with the history of this program is amazing and truly an eye-opening experience. It was a true history lesson for both me and the team, and I am just happy that I could share part of this with Bobo.”

THE PRIDE OF COUGAR BASEBALL: There isn’t a lot you can leave out when talking about out John Olerud, Jr. The younger Olerud left his mark on Cougar baseball like no other player has in its illustrious 104-year history. He was a consensus pick as a first-team All-American in his sophomore season in 1988, hitting a school record .464 at the plate with 23 home runs and posting a perfect 15-0 record with a 2.49 ERA on the mound. His achievements from the 1988 season earned him the honor of being named Baseball America’s College Player of the Year. His Cougar career was cut short, leaving after his junior year to play for the Toronto Blue Jays. In his three years under the guidance of Bobo, Ole hit .434 with 32 home runs, and was 26-4 on the mound. Without spending a day in the minor leagues, Olerud made his Major League debut with Toronto in 1989 and later went on to help lead the Blue Jays to consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993. A career .301 hitter in 10 major league seasons, who has won a batting title and started in a all-star game, became the one of the newest acquisitions by the Seattle Mariners this off-season and will team up with former Cougs Robert Ramsay and Aaron Sele at Safeco Field in 2000.

In his roast of Brayton he told stories about days with his former coach in the Alaska Summer League and the fact that he never worried about what Brayton was thinking, because he knew he would hear about it later.

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE: A famous line that Brayton often used was turned the other way around one summer game when he coached the Palouse Cougars in the Alaskan Summer League. As told by Olerud during his roast, it seems the Cougars were getting some bad calls from the umpires on that day and catcher Kevin Scott was equally having a terrible day behind the plate. Scott flat missed a foul tip that wound up hitting the home plate flush in the cup. As the umpire doubled over in misery from being struck in the cup, Olerud heard his coach’s familiar rasp from the dugout.

“Hey blue,” said Brayton. “Bad things happen to bad people.”

BILL MOOS’ ROAST: Nothing like a hunting story to find out one of the funnier stories about Brayton. Current Oregon athletic Director Bill Moos has been a longtime friend and hunting partner of Brayton’s. His story told of a goose hunting trip near Pasco at a place called Thousand Cirlces and how their Blazer wouldn’t start at the end of the day with temperatures nearing zero.

“We write a note,” Moos remembered, “and I asked Bobo why we were writing a note. And he said, ‘Because we are probably going to die.’”

“It is cold,” Bobo says. “A lot of times when we’re up elk hunting, it gets cold and you take your hands and put them in your armpits.”

“OK,” Moos says. “What do you do when your feet get cold?”

“Well,” Bobo says. “We won’t be telling anybody this, but the only other warm place in our bodies is the crotch. And I know you’re young, but I can’t get my feet into my crotch.”

“Bobo, I told you then and I’ll tell you again, you’ve got All-Pac-10 toes.”

SUNNY BOY: While it was a weekend honoring Bobo Brayton, it was also a weekend where Buck Bailey was still being recognized for his numerous coaching accomplishments as a Cougar. Between Bailey and Brayton, 1,765 games were won and 65 of the 104 years of Cougar baseball was coached by the two. Many described the duo as “two peas in a pod.” Butch Faller, a teammate of Brayton’s who played under Bailey, told stories of growing up and playing ball with Bobo under Bailey at WSU. With each story of Bailey came his famous words, “Sunny Boy.”

ROB NICHOLS’ ROAST: Rob Nichols a former player of Brayton’s in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s provided a heartfelt testimonial.

“It was a privilege to play for somebody who taught us the fundamentals of the game, somebody we respected and somebody we admired,” said Nichols. “And you know, Bobo, I just wanted to say – I hope you learned as much from Olerud as we did.”

Brayton then recalled filling out his lineup cards during Oleurd’s playing days and how he was always penciled in the No. 3 hole. “We just had to realize, guys,” Bobo said. “Ole’s better than the rest of us.”

Nichols then added, “Yeah Bobo, but you were still putting his name in the lineup when he was already gone.”

DO YOU WANT BACON GREASE WITH THAT: Current Boston Red Sox catcher Scott Hatteberg, who played for Brayton from 1989-91, offered a “year in the life of a Cougar baseball player under Bobo.” It first started with the van rides down to Lewiston, where Hatteberg admitted he was scared to drive with Brayton. Then came the long road trips where they were all wearing their Class A’s (dress clothes). He described the summers as being the best going up to Alaska playing against the best competition and even sometimes losing. In the fall they would head up to Canada and camp under the stars at the Grand Forks tournament. During this team bonding experience, Brayton also did the cooking.

“Everything was cooked in bacon grease – eggs, pancakes, everything,” Hatteberg said. “The guy works in bacon grease the way Van Gogh did in oils.”

GROVE AND OLERUD, TWO ALL-AMERICANS IN A POD: Possibly the most excited, yet most humble person in the audience Friday evening was current Cougar All-American Jason Grove who got a chance to sit next to his hero John Olerud. Grove, who is only 10 home runs away from breaking the career school record of 40, carries the same quiet mannerisms as Olerud, and shares a lot of on-field qualities as well. They are both sweet-swinging left-handed hitters, both have put numerous batting practice rounds on the WSU golf course over the right field fence and both are two-way players. Grove will take to the mound this year as well as patrol the outfield.

“It was a great weekend to meet all the players and to talk to Bobo,” Grove said. “It was amazing to meet John Olerud and just sit and talk with him. He was my role model growing up and just a great example of what this Cougar baseball program can do for you.”

DO YOU WANT TO DANCE ON FRIEL COURT: Never shy in front of a crowd, Brayton took the standing ovation he received during the halftime celebration in stride, and even offered to dance with his wife Eileen. When the WSU band struck up a rendition of “Take me out to the ball game,” Bobo took his wife’s hand and began twirling her around at half court.

DEAD RINGER: Brayton, who has always been a competitor in everything he does, was reminded of the days when several former players would come back for an annual alumni game. Brayton recalled how he was at his house when Dale “the whale” Ford and John Olerud Sr., were challenging him and Bob Stephens to a game of horseshoes. Well, as it turns out Brayton and Stephens won the match and as Olerud and Ford were leaving to go back home, Brayton said with a chuckle. “We beat them so bad we sent them packing!”

THE LADY BEHIND THE MAN: Several times during the weekend people paid their respects to the woman behind the man. Eileen Brayton, who has been married to Bobo for nearly 40 years, was thanked several times by Bobo’s friends and old players, and even at one point one of the roasters offered jokingly that former players don’t come back to see Bobo, but rather to see Eileen

YO QUIRO TACO BELL: During the seventh-inning stretch of the banquet Friday evening, the crowd was treated to a music video honoring his coaching career and a rather comical dose of audio outtakes that Brayton did for a local Mexican restaurant some years ago. Over and over the sounds were played of Brayton messing up his lines calling out, “Hey muchachos.”

WAS THAT ED CHEFF IN THE CROWD: Long-time rival and friend, Lewis-Clark State Warrior head baseball coach Ed Cheff was in the crowd to honor Brayton. With opening day set only one week from the event and the Cougars taking on the Warriors Jan. 29, Brayton had to offer his insights to the 2000 team on why his old rival showed up at the roast.

“Ed was there sizing you guys up last night,” Brayton said at the field dedication Saturday. “People thought he was there for me, but he was there to see you guys and to scout you guys.”

PASSING DOWN NO. 18: Cougar first baseman Steve Curran wears No. 18 on his back every time he takes to the field, but he couldn’t help but take home a little of the past of his number. In his playing days from 1987-89, John Olerud wore No. 18 and when his WSU jersey was placed in the silent auction, Curran just had to own it.

IT WOULDN’T BE A ROAST WITHOUT JUD HEATHCOTE: There wasn’t a better way to finish off the roast of almost five hours then with Brayton’s good friend and college basketball Hall of Fame coach Jud Heathcote. Heathcote, who shared an office at one time with Brayton in old Bohler Gym, pulled out just about every trick in the book when it came to roasting someone and got the whole audience on their knees laughing.

IT WOULDN’T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT AN UMPIRE: With Brayton being famous for his numerous run-ins with umpires in his coaching days, it was only fitting that one came to pay his respects during the weekend events. Long-time regional umpire Hank Weaver, both a friend and on-field enemy of Brayton, showed up wearing an umpires mask.

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE WEEKEND: WSU Head Football Coach Mike Price: “Bobo Brayton is so deserving of this honor. His legacy along with Buck built this program full of tradition. It is nice that we recognized him for his numerous accomplishments.”

WSU Shortstop Shawn Stevenson: “A truly amazing weekend that brought the WSU baseball program closer together. It makes our program stronger all the way through and creates a sense of family. Bobo did so many amazing things while he was here and created a great stadium for us to play in. This weekend couldn’t make me and my teammates any prouder to wear the crimson and gray.”

WSU co-Captain Todd Meldahl: “A great opportunity for Cougar baseball to get together and share memories and old stories. It was a great and learning experience to meet the players that played here before me and a real honor to pay tribute to such a great man in Bobo Brayton. The reinstalling of the tradition that Bobo built is something our team and program is dedicated towards.”

Chuck Curran, father of WSU first basemen Steve Curran: “This was an unbelievable weekend of showing support for a true Cougar and college baseball legend. It was great to hear the old stories going back 50 or so years and seeing how the current players are reacting to the tradition this program has. This weekend really did a lot to bring together former and present players to support a great man.”

Rod Commons, WSU Sports Information Director: "Chuck "Bobo" Brayton, one of the winningest collegiate baseball coaches in NCAA history, and one of the most innovative and imaginative leaders in the college game. A three-sport letterman at WSU, Brayton was the school's first All-American, a 1947 pick at shortstop. Named head coach to succeed Buck Bailey in 1962, Brayton played on two championship baseball teams at wSU, and beginning in 1965, coached the Cougars to an unprecedented 13 straight Northern Division Pennants. When he retired after the 1994 season, he had won 1,162 games, lost just 523, with eight ties in 33 seasons. His legendary record was the fourth best in the history of the NCAA Division I baseball."