July 1, 2009

Corvallis, Ore. -

By Brooks Hatch
Gazette-Times reporter

Gene Tanselli left his mark as a tough competitor, a true and loyal Beaver and a friend, athletic department coworkers and former players said Tuesday in remembering the former Oregon State baseball player and coach.

Tanselli died this past Friday in Corvallis. He was 80.

A standout shortstop at OSU from 1949-51, Tanselli played professionally for several years, and then returned to his alma mater in 1962 as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach from 1967-72 as the successor to the legendary Ralph Coleman.

Paul Valenti was Tanselli's freshman baseball and freshman basketball coach in 1947-48. He later was OSU's head basketball coach at the same time Tanselli was the baseball coach, in an era when the athletic department was much smaller and closer socially, and when many athletes, like Tanselli, played two or sometimes three sports.

"Gene was a good person, a good, tough competitive guy, and an outstanding baseball player, a helluva baseball player," Valenti said. "He did a good job.

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