Dick Griesser | 1956 United States Olympic Baseball Team

Dick Griesser wearing the uniform of the 1956 United States Olympic baseball team

Dick Griesser with the 1956 United States Olympic baseball team.

United States Olympic Baseball Team · Melbourne 1956

Richard Korneil “Dick” Griesser

Outfielder | U.S. Army veteran | University of Arizona All-American

Dick Griesser’s baseball life stretched from Phoenix sandlots and three College World Series appearances to Army ball in Korea and baseball’s first appearance at the Olympic Games. He later gave three decades to Flowing Wells schools and a lifetime to coaching, officiating, and helping others.

At Melbourne in 1956, he played before an estimated 114,000 spectators. Back at Arizona, he batted .377 in 1958, earned first-team Collegiate All-American honors, and helped return the Wildcats to Omaha.

BornJuly 21, 1932 · Pekin, Illinois

DiedAugust 22, 2009 · Tucson, Arizona

ParentsKorneil “Neil” and Myrtle Griesser

PositionOutfield

CollegeUniversity of Arizona, Class of 1958

Olympic TeamUnited States, Melbourne 1956

1958 Season.377 batting average

College HonorFirst-Team All-American

From Pekin to Phoenix

Richard Griesser was the middle of three children, born in Pekin, Illinois, to Korneil “Neil” and Myrtle Griesser. The family moved to Arizona in 1939 and settled in Phoenix. His father, a former Bradley University track and basketball athlete, refereed basketball in the old Border Conference. Family trips to Tucson gave young Dick an early view of University of Arizona athletics and players such as Linc Richmond.

He graduated from Phoenix North High School in 1951. Detroit Tigers scout Hank Greenberg tried to sign him directly from high school, but Myrtle insisted that her son get an education first. Griesser accepted a baseball scholarship to Arizona and joined coach Frank Sancet’s growing pipeline of Phoenix talent.

A mother’s decision: The professional offer had to wait. Education came first, putting Griesser on the path to Arizona, the Army, and eventually the Olympic Games.

A Wildcat and a Soldier

After freshman ball and a redshirt season caused by an ankle injury, Griesser became a starting outfielder in 1954 and 1955. During the summers he played for a mine-sponsored club in Bagdad, Arizona, combining baseball with a paying day job. All three Arizona varsity teams on which he played reached the College World Series.

“I thought it was just automatic that we went to Omaha in those days.”

In 1955, after dropping his ROTC commitment, Griesser was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Korea. There he unexpectedly reunited with Jack Wason, a lieutenant who had grown up on the same Phoenix street and was coaching the Army team. Griesser joined the starting outfield almost immediately.

Melbourne: Baseball’s Olympic Debut

The Army team’s schedule across the Far East led Griesser to a final Olympic tryout camp in Tokyo. His captain cut his orders with a blunt instruction: “Don’t come back unless you make the Olympic team.” He made it. The United States Services team then gave clinics and played exhibitions across the Far East before traveling to Australia around Thanksgiving.

Baseball was a demonstration sport at the 1956 Melbourne Games, its first appearance at an Olympics. With no dedicated baseball stadium, the game was laid out on the grass infield of the main Olympic stadium. A rubber slab served as the pitcher’s mound and a painted rubber sheet protected the track beneath home plate. The United States defeated Australia, 11–5.

Because a track-and-field session followed, the crowd grew through the late innings to an estimated 114,000. During the game, the men’s decathlon medal ceremony took place on the outfield grass. Griesser photographed silver medalist Rafer Johnson and, two decades later, presented Johnson with an enlarged print when the two met at a convention.

“You’d look up into the stands, and you’d just be overwhelmed by the sea of people. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Olympic keepsake: No baseball medals were awarded in 1956, but each member of the American team received a commemorative medallion. Baseball did not return to the Olympics for 28 years.

Back to Arizona and an All-American Season

After the Games, coach Frank Sancet confirmed that Griesser still had one season of eligibility, restored his scholarship, and welcomed him back for 1957–58. Griesser hit .377, won the Birren Trophy as Arizona’s leading hitter, and helped the Wildcats return to the College World Series. He was selected as one of only three first-team Collegiate All-American outfielders in the country and graduated in 1958.

His playing days continued for roughly two decades in elite men’s fast-pitch softball. He helped launch early professional fast-pitch leagues in Arizona and California and served as player-manager of the inaugural Tucson Rattlers. A towering home run for the Tucson Kings in a state championship game in Prescott remained part of his local legend.

Educator, Coach, and Mentor

Flowing Wells High School hired Griesser soon after his final college season. Across the next 30 years, he taught biology, physical education, and driver’s education; coached baseball and football; and later served as an administrator and assistant principal. He retired in 1988.

He also officiated high school football and wrestling for 40 years, worked after retirement as a school bus driver and Gray Line tour guide, and earned a reputation as a skilled woodworker and carpenter. Into his 70s, he remained active in University of Arizona alumni games and the school’s “Moose Milk” Homecoming tradition.

Honors and Recognition

First-Team Collegiate All-American, 1958
Pima County Sports Hall of Fame, 1998
T. Bruce Huffman Memorial Letterman’s Service Award, 2006
Flowing Wells High School Sports Hall of Fame, 2007
University of Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame, 2013
Arizona Softball Hall of Fame

Family and Final Years

Griesser married Evelyn Bylund shortly before leaving for Korea. They were married for 54 years and raised Karen, Robin, and Richard “Rich.” They became grandparents to Jeremy, Kyle, Brett, Brenna, Conner, Cory, Kurt, and Kirsten. His final coaching role came beside Rich on granddaughter Brenna’s recreational softball team, where he became known throughout the youth softball community as “Papa G.”

Even while undergoing cancer treatment, Griesser spent more than a year championing the induction of Marty Hurd, one of the University of Arizona’s first Black athletes, into the school’s sports Hall of Fame. He persisted through repeated setbacks because, as he put it, “It’s the right thing to do.” Dick Griesser died in Tucson on August 22, 2009, at age 77.

Timeline

1932Born July 21 in Pekin, Illinois.

1939The Griesser family moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

1951Graduated from Phoenix North High School and accepted a University of Arizona baseball scholarship.

1954–55Became a starting Arizona outfielder and reached the College World Series.

1955Drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned to Korea.

1956Made the United States Services Olympic baseball team and played in Melbourne.

1958Batted .377, returned to Omaha, earned first-team All-American honors, and graduated.

1958–88Served Flowing Wells schools as a teacher, coach, and administrator.

1998–2013Received major hall-of-fame and service honors across Arizona athletics.

2009Died August 22 in Tucson, Arizona.

Photographs and Memorabilia

All 38 photographs supplied by the Griesser family are included below. Select any image to open the full-size file.

Newspaper photograph of Dick Griesser receiving the Birren Trophy — Griesser, at left, receives the Birren Trophy as Arizona’s leading hitter after batting .377.

Dick Griesser in a USA baseball uniform — Griesser in the uniform of the 1956 United States team.

Birren Trophy awarded to Dick Griesser — The Birren Trophy awarded to Arizona’s leading hitter.

Adelaide home run trophy awarded to Dick Griesser in 1956 — Adelaide, Australia, home run trophy, December 1956.

Flowing Wells Hall of Fame award for Richard Griesser — Flowing Wells Hall of Fame recognition, 2007.

1956 Olympic commemorative medallion — The commemorative medallion presented to members of the 1956 team.

Phoenix American Legion junior baseball state champions — Phoenix American Legion Junior Baseball state champions.

T Bruce Huffman Memorial Lettermans Service Award presented to Dick Griesser — The University of Arizona Letterman’s Club honored Griesser’s service in 2006.

White United States Olympic team cap — A United States Olympic team cap from the 1956 trip.

Flowing Wells outstanding service award for Richard Griesser — Flowing Wells recognized Griesser’s 30 years of service upon his 1988 retirement.

Meads Pharmacy fast pitch softball team — Griesser continued playing elite men’s fast-pitch softball long after college.

1958 All-American College Baseball Team certificate for Dick Griesser — Griesser’s 1958 first-team All-American certificate.

An illustrated newspaper feature highlighted Arizona’s .377 hitter.

Signed 1956 United States Services baseball team photograph — The signed United States Services team photograph from Melbourne.

Signed 1956 Australian Olympic baseball team photograph — The signed Australian team photograph from the 1956 Olympic Games.

Dick Griesser with family members at an honors event — Griesser and family at an Arizona athletics recognition event.

Young Dick Griesser wearing an Arizona baseball cap — A young Griesser in an Arizona baseball cap.

Dick Griesser beside his displayed USA jersey — Griesser with his displayed USA jersey and recognition plaque.

Army baseball players in the Far East — Army baseball in the Far East helped lead Griesser to the Olympic tryouts.

Army baseball team group photograph — Members of an Army baseball squad during Griesser’s military service.

Young Dick Griesser wearing a whistle — Griesser as a young athlete.

Dick Griesser kneeling beside a University of Arizona family paver — Griesser beside the Richard “Dick” Griesser family paver at Arizona.

1949 Phoenix Madison Motors state championship baseball team — The 1949 Madison Motors state champions from Phoenix.

Dick Griesser and a fellow Arizona baseball alumnus in uniform — Griesser, number 36, participating in an Arizona alumni baseball event.

Dick Griesser in a 21st Infantry baseball uniform — Griesser with the 21st Infantry during his Army service.

Dick Griesser batting in a baseball game — Griesser, number 14, at bat during an Army game.

Military officer presenting Dick Griesser with an award — Griesser receives an award during his Army baseball years.

Cars marked for the United States Olympic baseball team in Australia — Cars supplied for the U.S. Olympic baseball team in Australia.

Two United States Olympic team members on an Australian beach — Members of the U.S. delegation during the Australian trip.

Dick Griesser smiling in his USA baseball uniform — Griesser in Australia wearing the gray USA uniform.

Dick Griesser beside an Australian baseball home run wall — Griesser at an Australian ballpark during the 1956 tour.

Four members of the 21st Infantry baseball team — Four 21st Infantry ballplayers during Griesser’s Army service.

Newspaper clipping announcing Dick Griesser as a United States Olympic baseball all-star — A hometown newspaper introduces Griesser as the right fielder selected for baseball’s first Olympic exhibition, December 1, 1956.

Newspaper report of the United States victory over Australia at the 1956 Olympic baseball demonstration — An Associated Press report records the United States’ 11–5 victory, Griesser’s role in the outfield, and a crowd estimated at 100,000.

Members of the United States baseball delegation posing during their overseas tour — Members of the United States baseball delegation during the overseas tour connected with the 1956 Olympic trip.

Members of the United States baseball delegation visiting a community during their overseas tour — Members of the American delegation visit a local community during their Far East and Pacific travels.

Sources and Acknowledgments

This profile was prepared from the biography and family recollections supplied by Dick Griesser’s son, Rich, together with Olympic records, University of Arizona sources, contemporary reporting, and the Griesser family photograph collection.

Richard Griesser Olympic Team Biography, supplied by Rich Griesser.
Griesser family photograph and memorabilia collection.
Olympedia profile for Richard Griesser
Olympedia: 1956 Olympic baseball demonstration
Arizona Daily Star reporting by Greg Hansen and Ryan Finley.
University of Arizona Athletics records and Hall of Fame materials.
Legacy.com obituary, August 26, 2009.