Ed Olsen, ‘old-school’ former El Capitan High School and Grossmont College baseball coach, dies at 89
Ed Olsen, a longtime San Diego baseball player, coach and memorabilia collector, died over the weekend. He was 89.
Olsen coached El Capitan High School for eight seasons starting in 1973 before leaving for Grossmont College, where he coached baseball and was a professor of exercise and sports science.
In 22 seasons at Grossmont, he posted a 516-373-7 record. He was voted into the California Community College Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2008, four years after retiring.
“Ed was one of a kind, a great coach, a great person, a great friend,” said Grossmont College baseball coach Randy Abshier, the man who took over for Olsen in 2005 and is still head coach of the Griffins. “He came to every one of our games, sat in the same seat. He’d come to the office and critique what he saw. But it was all good-natured and constructive. With his background in the game, we all listened.”
As a kid, Olsen worked as a bat boy and in the clubhouse for the Pacific Coast League’s Padres. He played at La Jolla High School from 1951-53 and was later inducted into the school’s hall of fame.
A seven-year minor league career was interrupted by a stint in the Marines. Olsen got as high as Double-A in pro ball while playing in the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and Kansas City A’s organizations.
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“If you look up old-school coach in the dictionary, there will be a picture of Ed. He was full of knowledge.”
Olsen’s Grossmont College teams produced a number of major league players, including Fernando Cortez, Matt Hensley, Mike Jacobs, Joe Kennedy, John Barnes, Mike Judd, Tom Fordham, Mike Hartley and Chris Jones.
Another big-leaguer, Jeff Byrd, played for Olsen at El Capitan.
Olsen managed in the minor leagues for the Mets and Padres and had prospects Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry on one of his teams. Olsen also scouted.
San Diego sports agent John Boggs was a longtime friend of Olsen’s. Boggs’ son, Steven, played for Olsen at Grossmont.
“Ed was a great baseball person and was a tremendous influence on Steven.” John Boggs said. “He was a special guy, an old-school guy. With Ed, there was no sugarcoating things. You always knew where you stood. He loved the game, loved the history of the game.”
Olsen was also “one of the great memorabilia collectors,” Boggs said. At one time, he had an autograph from every member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Ed’s historical knowledge was amazing,” Abshier said. “But his knowledge of the game on the field, his ability to pass that knowledge to his players was equally amazing. I’d put him up there with Augie Garrido and Jim Dietz among great coaches.”
Garrido, who coached at Cal State Fullerton and Texas, and Dietz, who coached at San Diego State, are members of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Ed Olsen was among the best in the business,” Abshier said. “He’ll be missed.”
There was no announcement on services.