He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1989 through 2005, most notably as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays team that won two consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.

[7][5] An All-American,[8] he was selected by the California Angels in the 1965 amateur draft and spent the next seven years studying medicine and playing minor league baseball.

[4][9] At Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington, the junior Olerud played varsity basketball, golf, and baseball for three years.

At age 17, he was selected by the New York Mets in the 27th round of the June 1986 amateur draft, but chose to attend Washington State University.

[3] Like his father, Olerud played college baseball for the Washington State University Cougars in Pullman under head coach Chuck "Bobo" Brayton.

[13][16] Prior to his junior season in 1989, Olerud was running indoors on campus on January 11 when he collapsed; hospitalized in Pullman, he was airlifted to Spokane later in the day, accompanied by his father.

[30][31] Intending to return to the Cougars for his senior season,[32][33][34] he again played summer ball with the Palouse Empire team in the Alaska League,[35][36] while the Blue Jays negotiated a contract.

He had originally intended to return to Washington State for his senior year but agreed to sign with the Blue Jays only after they promised that he would report directly to Toronto.

After the 1996 season, Olerud was battling veteran Joe Carter and up-and-comer Carlos Delgado for a spot at either first base or designated hitter.

Delgado was young, had a bright future and a low salary, while Gaston preferred Carter to Olerud, feeling the latter wasn't aggressive enough at the plate.

[43] In the 1999 campaign, Olerud appeared on the cover of the September 6 issue of Sports Illustrated, along with fellow Mets infielders Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and Robin Ventura.

In mid-July 2004, the Mariners were in last place in the American League West Division and Olerud was designated for assignment;[44] he was hitting .245 with five homers and a trade was attempted but not completed; he was released the following week.

[45] About a week after his release, Olerud was signed in early August by the New York Yankees to fill a void left at first base by the injury of Jason Giambi.

Olerud started the second game on Saturday, August 14; his first time up, Mariners catcher Dan Wilson went to the mound to have a "conference" with pitcher Jamie Moyer.

[47] His American League Championship Series was cut short when he was forced to leave due to an injured foot in Game 3.

He was added to Boston's 25-man roster on May 27, sharing time at first base with Kevin Millar and batting in the middle of the lineup (including several starts in the clean-up spot).

[49] Olerud lives with his wife, Kelly, who was a high school classmate,[1] and their children (one son and one daughter) in the Seattle suburb of Clyde Hill.