John Olerud

The elder Olerud played college baseball for the Washington State Cougars as a catcher and was the captain of the team that advanced to the semifinals of the College World Series in 1965.

An All-American, he was selected by the California Angels in the 1965 amateur draft and spent the next seven years studying medicine and playing minor league baseball.

At Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington, the junior Olerud played varsity basketball, golf and baseball for three years.

John Garrett Olerud, Jr. (born August 5, 1968), nicknamed "Johnny O", is an American former professional baseball player.

As a senior in 1986, he led the Saints to a state high school baseball championship as both a pitcher and a first baseman.

On June 2, 1986, at the age of 17, he was drafted by the New York Mets in the 27th round of the 1986 amateur draft, but he chose to commit to Washington State University instead.

Like his father, Olerud played college baseball for the Washington State University Cougars in Pullman under head coach Chuck "Bobo" Brayton.

As a true freshman in 1987, he hit .414 with five home runs and 20 RBIs.

As a pitcher, he went 8–2 with a 3.00 ERA and was an All-American.

Washington State finished third in the six-team West I regional of the NCAA tournament.

In 1988, Olerud hit .464 with 23 home runs, 81 runs batted in, 108 hits, 204 total bases, and a .876 slugging percentage.

As a pitcher, he had an undefeated 15–0 season, with a 2.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts.

He was a consensus All-American as both a first baseman and pitcher and was named the Baseball America College Player of the Year.

Washington State University again finished third in the six-team West I regional of the NCAA tournament.

He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1989 through 2005, most notably as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays team that won two consecutive World Series championships in and.

He also played for the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox.

Prior to his junior season in 1989, Olerud was running indoors on campus on January 11 when he collapsed; hospitalized in Pullman, he was airlifted to Spokane later in the day, accompanied by his father.

He was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which caused bleeding into the spinal column.

He remained in the hospital for about two weeks after the seizure and lost 15 lb, but was back in class by the end of January.

A few weeks later in Seattle, further examinations revealed a brain aneurysm, and he underwent surgery in late February.

From 1989 onward, he always wore a batting helmet while on defense.

Olerud returned to action for the Cougars in mid-April; he hit .359 with five home runs and 30 runs batted in during 78 plate appearances.

On the mound, he posted a 3–2 record with a 6.68 ERA.

He was a Pac-10 North All-League designated hitter.

The Cougars again won the Pac-10 North title, but lost their first two games of the North tournament in blustery Spokane to end their year early.

In June, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the third round of the 1989 draft.

Intending to return to the Cougars for his senior season, he again played summer ball with the Palouse Empire team in the Alaska League, while the Blue Jays negotiated a contract.

He told teams prior to the draft that a very large bonus would be necessary for him to forego his senior year at Washington State.

In late August, he signed with Toronto.

He is a two-time All-Star and a member of two World Series-winning teams with the Blue Jays (1992–93).

A two-time All-Star, Olerud was a patient, productive hitter throughout his career, winning the American League batting title in 1993, and finishing as runner-up for the National League batting title in 1998.

Olerud was also an excellent defensive first baseman, and won three Gold Glove Awards.

In 1999, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated titled "The Best Infield Ever?"

along with Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and Robin Ventura, when he played for the Mets.

Olerud was notable for wearing a helmet while on defense, due to him suffering from a brain aneurysm in college.

Olerud was born to Lynda and John E. Olerud, a dermatologist and former baseball player from Lisbon, North Dakota.

In a 17-season career through 2005 spanning 2,234 games, Olerud posted a .398 on-base percentage, 500 doubles, 255 home runs, 1,275 walks, 1,408 runs scored, 1,230 RBIs, 3,602 times on base, 96 sacrifice flies, and 157 intentional walks.

He was also hit by pitches 88 times and grounded into 232 double plays during his career.

He is one of only 26 players to ever hit for the cycle multiple times in their careers.

Defensively, in 2,053 games at first base, he recorded a career .995 fielding percentage.