Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Hanson Left Enduring Legacy With UO Baseball
04/21/25 | Baseball
Oregon baseball is honoring the memory of two-time all-American Larry Hanson.
On a blind date in August of 1968, Ellie Church's life would change forever — in all of the best ways.
Little did she know that the Theta Chi her Delta Gamma sorority sister was setting her up with was none other than two-time all-American Oregon baseball player Larry Hanson. As confident as the young star was at the plate, Ellie fondly remembers that Larry's talents did not always translate to the dance floor.
"He did not enjoy dancing," she recalled. "But that slow dance, a walk home, and kiss goodnight was all she wrote."
Larry Hanson was a rising star in the California Angels farm system, then playing for the San Jose Bees. On a trip to Reno, Larry suggested to Ellie that they elope, an idea that Ellie's mother quickly shot down. But Larry persisted, finally taking the more traditional route and asking Ellie's father for permission to marry his daughter.
The two were married a short time after, in November of 1969.
"The running joke with Larry and me was he never proposed to me; Larry proposed to my dad and it was decided!" Ellie said with a laugh.
Jokes aside, Ellie and Larry's marriage would blossom as the two spent the next four seasons—and 51 years following—chasing the big league dream and Larry's minor league baseball career.
Born in Tacoma, Washington on Sept. 12, 1947, Larry Hanson was adopted by Helen and Osborn Hanson, who lived in northeast Portland. Ozzie, as his dad was known, was very involved with Larry as a youth and was a big reason behind Larry's push towards sports — particularly baseball, which he started playing at age 7.
In time, Larry would develop into a terrific three-sport athlete for Jefferson High School, earning first-team all-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) honors in football, basketball and baseball. He was so talented on the diamond that he quickly garnered interest from most of the Pac-8 universities and Major League Baseball.
After his senior season in high school, Hanson was drafted in the 34th round of the 1965 MLB Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Indians. Larry to make a decision: get a college education, or go to the pros.
As Hanson weighed his options, he visited Oregon State to learn more their baseball program and serendipitously bumped into Oregon baseball coach Don Kirsch, who pleaded, "don't do anything until we have the chance to talk about Oregon." A short time later, Hanson was headed to Eugene.
Hanson regularly attributed his success on the diamond, especially at the plate, to three coaches: Jefferson High School basketball coach Jack Riley, Jefferson head baseball coach Andy Pienovi, and of course Don Kirsch — all of whom inspired and pushed Larry to "do something better." That advice and Hanson's hard work paid off. In 1967, the right-handed third baseman led the Pac-8 with a phenomenal .454 batting average and hit safely in 21 straight games.
Following an unrivaled '67 campaign, Hanson was selected All-Coast, Pac-8 All-Conference, NCAA All-District 8, and All-America—feats he would repeat in the 1968 season, becoming Oregon's first two-time all-American baseball player. After accomplishing what no other Duck had done before, Larry was drafted by the California Angels with the 14th pick in the first round of the 1968 MLB draft.
At the height of the Vietnam war, the Angels were not the only organization looking to draft the baseball prodigy. In 1968, Uncle Sam had plans for Hanson, who would enter the army reserves and complete basic training as an Army medic. Fortunately for Hanson, he did not get called overseas and was able to keep his baseball dream alive in 1968 and 1969 playing for the Seattle Angels (Triple-A ), Quad Cities Angels (Single-A) and San Jose Bees (Single-A) of the Angels farm system.
During his professional career, Larry had a familiar minor-league story, bouncing from city to city and between Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A clubs. In 1970, Hanson was joined on the road by his wife Ellie, a recent graduate of the University of Oregon.
"We traveled between cities and teams in our Volkswagen Bus with our Irish Setter," Ellie recalled. "They were fun times."
Larry continued his major league career through the 1973 season before returning to Eugene with his young family. Daughter Amy (Jankowski) and son Mike both growing up in the same place that Larry had so much success years before.
With his playing days behind him, Larry would spend his career selling sporting goods for McKenzie Athletics — and of course, closely following his Ducks. In 1981 when the University of Oregon cut baseball and three other varsity sports (men's gymnastics, women's golf and women's soccer) due to a budget shortfall, Larry volunteered to coach the newly formed Oregon club baseball team that was funded by none other than legendary Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman.
"Bowerman wanted to remain anonymous in his funding of the club team," remembered Greg Moser, a member of the 1980 and 1981 varsity teams and 1982 club team. "But he did help us round up a talented roster to compete against the northern Pac-8 varsity teams, and of course recruit Larry to be our coach."
Coaching the club team in 1982 was a far cry from what the profession asks today.
"Larry did everything for the team — he organized travel, made sure the team was fed, ran practice, did it all. He was a one-man show," Moser added. "He was so incredibly organized and positive all the time. The team also grew up watching him as a player, so he commanded our attention and respect."
In July 2007, the university announced that it would again field a varsity baseball team – much to Larry and Ellie Hanson's delight. The Hansons were among the first to make a donation to the program and help with the construction of PK Park, Oregon's new baseball home.
"When the program came back, it meant so much to Larry," Ellie said. "Larry had so many friends, so many fond memories playing for the Ducks. We were thrilled that baseball was back at Oregon."
Until Larry passed on Sept. 24, 2024, Larry and Ellie were regulars around the Oregon Baseball program, inspiring the next generation of Diamond Ducks.
"Larry was an amazing Duck and (in fact) there was none better past or present," Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. "We will forever miss him, and we are really excited to honor his lifetime achievements."
Little did she know that the Theta Chi her Delta Gamma sorority sister was setting her up with was none other than two-time all-American Oregon baseball player Larry Hanson. As confident as the young star was at the plate, Ellie fondly remembers that Larry's talents did not always translate to the dance floor.
"He did not enjoy dancing," she recalled. "But that slow dance, a walk home, and kiss goodnight was all she wrote."
Larry Hanson was a rising star in the California Angels farm system, then playing for the San Jose Bees. On a trip to Reno, Larry suggested to Ellie that they elope, an idea that Ellie's mother quickly shot down. But Larry persisted, finally taking the more traditional route and asking Ellie's father for permission to marry his daughter.
The two were married a short time after, in November of 1969.
"The running joke with Larry and me was he never proposed to me; Larry proposed to my dad and it was decided!" Ellie said with a laugh.
Jokes aside, Ellie and Larry's marriage would blossom as the two spent the next four seasons—and 51 years following—chasing the big league dream and Larry's minor league baseball career.
Born in Tacoma, Washington on Sept. 12, 1947, Larry Hanson was adopted by Helen and Osborn Hanson, who lived in northeast Portland. Ozzie, as his dad was known, was very involved with Larry as a youth and was a big reason behind Larry's push towards sports — particularly baseball, which he started playing at age 7.
In time, Larry would develop into a terrific three-sport athlete for Jefferson High School, earning first-team all-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) honors in football, basketball and baseball. He was so talented on the diamond that he quickly garnered interest from most of the Pac-8 universities and Major League Baseball.
After his senior season in high school, Hanson was drafted in the 34th round of the 1965 MLB Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Indians. Larry to make a decision: get a college education, or go to the pros.
As Hanson weighed his options, he visited Oregon State to learn more their baseball program and serendipitously bumped into Oregon baseball coach Don Kirsch, who pleaded, "don't do anything until we have the chance to talk about Oregon." A short time later, Hanson was headed to Eugene.
Hanson regularly attributed his success on the diamond, especially at the plate, to three coaches: Jefferson High School basketball coach Jack Riley, Jefferson head baseball coach Andy Pienovi, and of course Don Kirsch — all of whom inspired and pushed Larry to "do something better." That advice and Hanson's hard work paid off. In 1967, the right-handed third baseman led the Pac-8 with a phenomenal .454 batting average and hit safely in 21 straight games.
Following an unrivaled '67 campaign, Hanson was selected All-Coast, Pac-8 All-Conference, NCAA All-District 8, and All-America—feats he would repeat in the 1968 season, becoming Oregon's first two-time all-American baseball player. After accomplishing what no other Duck had done before, Larry was drafted by the California Angels with the 14th pick in the first round of the 1968 MLB draft.
At the height of the Vietnam war, the Angels were not the only organization looking to draft the baseball prodigy. In 1968, Uncle Sam had plans for Hanson, who would enter the army reserves and complete basic training as an Army medic. Fortunately for Hanson, he did not get called overseas and was able to keep his baseball dream alive in 1968 and 1969 playing for the Seattle Angels (Triple-A ), Quad Cities Angels (Single-A) and San Jose Bees (Single-A) of the Angels farm system.
During his professional career, Larry had a familiar minor-league story, bouncing from city to city and between Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A clubs. In 1970, Hanson was joined on the road by his wife Ellie, a recent graduate of the University of Oregon.
"We traveled between cities and teams in our Volkswagen Bus with our Irish Setter," Ellie recalled. "They were fun times."
Larry continued his major league career through the 1973 season before returning to Eugene with his young family. Daughter Amy (Jankowski) and son Mike both growing up in the same place that Larry had so much success years before.
With his playing days behind him, Larry would spend his career selling sporting goods for McKenzie Athletics — and of course, closely following his Ducks. In 1981 when the University of Oregon cut baseball and three other varsity sports (men's gymnastics, women's golf and women's soccer) due to a budget shortfall, Larry volunteered to coach the newly formed Oregon club baseball team that was funded by none other than legendary Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman.
"Bowerman wanted to remain anonymous in his funding of the club team," remembered Greg Moser, a member of the 1980 and 1981 varsity teams and 1982 club team. "But he did help us round up a talented roster to compete against the northern Pac-8 varsity teams, and of course recruit Larry to be our coach."
Coaching the club team in 1982 was a far cry from what the profession asks today.
"Larry did everything for the team — he organized travel, made sure the team was fed, ran practice, did it all. He was a one-man show," Moser added. "He was so incredibly organized and positive all the time. The team also grew up watching him as a player, so he commanded our attention and respect."
In July 2007, the university announced that it would again field a varsity baseball team – much to Larry and Ellie Hanson's delight. The Hansons were among the first to make a donation to the program and help with the construction of PK Park, Oregon's new baseball home.
"When the program came back, it meant so much to Larry," Ellie said. "Larry had so many friends, so many fond memories playing for the Ducks. We were thrilled that baseball was back at Oregon."
Until Larry passed on Sept. 24, 2024, Larry and Ellie were regulars around the Oregon Baseball program, inspiring the next generation of Diamond Ducks.
"Larry was an amazing Duck and (in fact) there was none better past or present," Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. "We will forever miss him, and we are really excited to honor his lifetime achievements."
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