Buck Bailey

Arthur Buckner Bailey (June 2, 1896 – October 28, 1964) was a college baseball head coach; he led the Washington State Cougars for 32 seasons, from 1927 through 1961, except for three seasons during World War II, and had an overall record of

Early years Born in San Saba in central Texas, Bailey graduated from Eldorado High School in Eldorado. basketball coach Jack Friel was the interim baseball coach from 1943 through 1945.

Bailey's Cougar baseball teams won 14 conference titles (twelve PCC North Division and two AAWU), and went to the College World Series in 1950 and 1956. The 1950 team was runner-up to Texas in the fourth CWS, the first played in Omaha. The Cougars also made the NCAA tournament in his final two seasons of 1960 and 1961; he retired at age 65. preceding the Cougars' runner-up finish in Omaha. Bailey–Brayton Field, the Cougars' home stadium since 1980, was also named for Bailey and later added the name of his successor, Chuck "Bobo" Brayton, in 2000. Brayton played shortstop for Bailey after the war and was the school's first baseball All-American, in 1947. He succeeded Bailey after the 1961 season and led WSU for 33 years.

During his first stint with the Cougars before the war, Bailey had a friendly rivalry with Tubby Graves (1886–1960) of rival Washington; Nine years older, Graves was one of his coaches at Texas A&M; he stepped down as head coach of the Huskies in 1946 and continued in the UW athletic department as a special assistant until his death.

Death Three years after his retirement, Bailey and his wife Frances were killed in an automobile collision in New Mexico in October 1964.