Only four years after leading the Chicago White Sox to the World Series championship, Fielder Jones was enlisted to coach the OAC baseball team. A salary dispute with Sox owner Charles Comiskey led to Jones' departure from the Windy City and he came to the Pacific Northwest to look after timber and land interests. Coach Jones traveled back and forth between Portland and Corvallis for team practices and games. Jones eventually went to St. Louis to coach the city's entry in the Federal League in 1914 and 1915. He was also coach of the American League St Louis Browns from 1916-1918
Prior to the beginnings of varsity baseball in 1907, Oregon State played baseball on an occasional basis beginning as early as 1883. In 1899, the school began playing an indoor version of the game. In 1900, the indoor baseball team compiled a 3-1 record, which included wins over the University of Oregon, Albany College, and the Salem YMCA. Baseball players in photo are: A. J. Bier (lf), Harold Belt (rf), R. D. Burgess (c), Elwood Clark (2b), Arthur Derby (1b), J. G. Elgin (mgr), Ira Hamilton (lf), James Hartley (3b), Raymond Heinkler (nf Cayst), C. E. Small (p)