Back in the spring of 1947, Joe Chez caused quite a stir at Medford High School when he chose to go out for baseball rather than for the Black Tornado track and field team. Joe was a starter and earned varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. Medford was undefeated in the eight games he started as quarterback. He did not compete in track after his sophomore year when he won the Portland AAU Junior Championship in the pole vault as he was forced to choose between track and baseball; he elected baseball and went on to an outstanding pitching career at Stanford University.

At Stanford University, Joe was first team All-Coast for two years and was elected Most Valuable Player by his 1950 championship teammates. During his freshman year he had a 6 win — O loss record while leading the team in hitting at .412. Called “SNEAKY” fast, with good control and an excellent curve ball”, Joe was 7-1 as a senior and led the team in hitting with a .375 average. His varsity record was 20 wins and 4 losses. He was named 3rd team All-American pitcher and in 1976 was elected to the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame.

Back in his high school days he had served as Junior Class President and was elected Medford’s Student Body President his senior year. During the war years, while in officers’ training in the United States Marine Corps, he won the Company 480-yard fifteen obstacle course race but while on maneuvers with the Marine Corps in 1953, Joe tore the ligaments in his pitching arm thus ending his chance at a professional career.

In an interview with Dick Jewett, Mail Tribune Sports editor, when being inducted into the Stanford University Hall of Fame, Joe said: “I called to publicly share the honor. It’s everybody together that accomplishes these things.”  What he referred to be the inspiration he received from Coach McDonald, his parents, his brother, playing for the Black Tornado and with his high school teammates and from the members of the Cheyney Studs baseball team.