Oregon State's Rob Holbrook, a rare two-sport athlete who excelled in basketball and baseball, dies at 63

Rob Holbrook, a two-sport athlete from Oregon State who played four years for the Beavers' basketball and baseball teams, died last week.

Holbrook, 63, was a member of Oregon State's Orange Express basketball teams, which regularly competed for Pac-10 titles and NCAA tournament berths under coach Ralph Miller. The 6-foot-2 Holbrook was also a four-year pitcher for OSU baseball under coach Jack Riley.

According to his father, Bob Holbrook, Holbrook died on January 15 of what was believed to be a cardiac event. Holbrook, who worked for the Oregon Youth Authority in Woodburn, lived in Oregon City.

Holbrook played basketball for Oregon State from 1978 to 1982. During Holbrook's four-year tenure, during which he played 100 games, the Beavers won three Pac-10 championships and secured three NCAA Tournament berths. Holbrook was a senior forward on OSU's 1981-82 team that went to the NCAA's Elite Eight.

Holbrook was a right-handed pitcher on the Oregon State baseball team and reported to the team when the basketball season ended.

Holbrook's career at Oregon State took a significant turn during his senior year at Parkrose High, where he led the Broncos to the 1978 Class AAA state basketball championship.

Miller provided Holbrook with a walk-on opportunity during his senior season. But Holbrook had one last chance to impress when he earned Most Valuable Player honors in the annual Metro State Basketball Series, an all-star event for the state's top seniors. Bob Holbrook said Miller sat with him during games and noticed his son's improvement. Miller then spoke with Rob.

“You’ll hear from us,” Miller said.

Bob Holbrook said assistant coach Jimmy Anderson called shortly after with a scholarship offer.

Bob Holbrook was Rob's baseball coach. One day Riley called Bob and said he was coming up to see his catcher. Riley and Bob Holbrook spoke after the game.

“The catcher is fine,” Riley said to Bob. “But I really like the mug.”

Holbrook went to Oregon State thinking he would just play basketball. But at the start of freshman year, Miller told Holbrook that he didn't mind if he played baseball after basketball season. Each year, Holbrook joined the baseball team in mid-March and played pitcher for the final six weeks of the season.

Holbrook was a two-time Major League Baseball draft pick. In 1983, Holbrook signed with Toronto after the Blue Jays selected him in the second round of the secondary phase draft. Holbrook played three years in Toronto's minor league system and one spring for Detroit. An arm injury forced him to retire.

Holbrook then played professional basketball in France for two years when a shoulder injury ended his career.

In 2010, Holbrook was inducted into the Oregon State Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 1980–81 men's basketball team.

Bob Holbrook said Rob's main interest was Oregon State sports.

“He really loved Oregon State. He watched all the football and basketball games. Sports were about the only thing he really cared about,” Bob Holbrook said.

Holbrook never married and had no children. There are no church services planned.

–Nick Daschel | @nickdaschel

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