Oct. 25, 2011

SPOKANE, Wash. - Washington State University baseball legend John G. Olerud was honored as part of the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame's class of 2011 at a ceremony, Tuesday inside the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

Olerud, who played 1987-89 in Pullman, was joined by Ed Cheff (baseball coach), John Owen (wrestling coach), Tammy Tibbles (women's basketball player) and Corissa Yasen (women's track & field).

Also recognized, Tuesday were Washington State's Rod Commons and former basketball and football official Clyde "Chick" Sale. Commons served as the sports information director at Washington State from 1976-2007, and along with Sale, was named to the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame's Scroll of Honor.

"I feel very blessed to be here," Olerud said. "We had a great group playing for coach ("Bobo") Brayton at Washington State."

As a Cougar, Olerud batted .434 as a first baseman/designated hitter and posted a 26-4 record with a 3.17 ERA as a pitcher. In 1988, he was named Baseball America's Player of the Year after batting .464 with 23 HR and 81 RBI while going 15-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts on the mound. He went on to play 17 seasons in MLB and earned World Series rings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993.

Commons served as the president of the College Sports Information Directors (CoSIDA) during 2004-05 and was elected to the association hall of fame in 2007.

"This honor for an old farm boy from Oregon was unexpected and a thrill," Commons said. "It is surreal that I am included on a list with those who have been honored before me."