These beaming teenagers and their coaches were believed to have represented Ben Cheney's Cheney Studs team in the Tacoma Connie Mack League in 1967. The boys, all dressed identically in pinstripe uniforms and caps bearing the Cheney Studs logo, were thought to have been photographed at Heidelberg Park in Tacoma in July of 1967. They had an outstanding 10-2 record that year but failed to obtain entry into the State Connie Mack tourney due to an August loss to North Shore of Seattle, eventual Washington State champs. (TNT 8-2-1967, B-8-article on game)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms;

Members of the Cheney Studs Courteers basketball troupe share a laugh at practice on the floor of the Western State Hospital gym on December 2, 1967. The smallest member on the right deftly dribbles his ball without sparing a glance downwards. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Richards Studio notes indictate that these young ballplayers were the Seattle Cheney Studs who posed at Heidelberg Field on June 19, 1966. Ben Cheney, lumberman philanthropist, sponsored many teams over the years in a variety of sports. They were all called "Cheney Studs" regardless of the sport. Thanks to Mr. Cheney's generosity, thousands were able to participate in amateur sports with Mr. Cheney picking up the tab for uniforms and fees. One of these young men would have a long career in the major leagues: Ron Cey, Mt. Tahoma graduate, who is seated second to the right. Manager George Grant is standing at far left. The 1966 Seattle-Tacoma Cheney Studs marched steadily toward their goal of American Amateur Baseball Congress titleholders by sweeping the Northwest League, State Stan Musial Tournament and Pacific Northwest AABC. They fell just short of the national title with a loss to Dallas on September 19, 1966. (TNT 9-20-1966, p. 22-article on title game)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms; Cey, Ron; Grant, George;

Mascot, coaches and baseball players are photographed behind an array of bats in this June of 1966 scene. It may have been taken at Heidelberg Field in Tacoma. The players are all wearing uniforms bearing the logo of the Ben Cheney teams: the Cheney Studs.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The 1966 Cheney Studs basketball team posed for a group picture on March 9, 1966, at the Bellarmine gym. They would soon leave for Denver for their second consecutive appearance at the AAU basketball tournament as the Northwest representative. The team would lose to the top-seeded Armed Forces All Stars. The Studs finished their season with a 23-6 record. Jim Van Beek, #22, led the team in individual scoring for a 21.9 point average. Clint Names, #20, was the total Studs scoring champ at 587 points in 29 games. The Studs were led by player-coach George Grant. From L-R, front row: Gus Kravas, Dave Wortman, Jim Van Beek, Clint Names and George Grant. Back row: Curt Gammell, Ray Kinnaman, Tim Cousins, Clint Peeples, Don Rae and Lynn Nance. The Studs were sponsored by the Cheney Lumber Co., one of the many amateur league sporting groups under the wing of lumberman/philanthropist Ben Cheney. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 3-17-66, C-9)

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Grant, George; Van Beek, Jim; Names, Clint; Kravas, Gus; Wortman, Dave; Gammell, Curt; Kinnaman, Ray; Cousins, Tim; Peeples, Clint; Rae, Don; Names, Lynn;

ca. 1964. Compilation of articles on the Cheney Studs Courteers; copy made from customer's negative. These Tacoma youngsters, sponsored by lumberman Ben Cheney, were roving basketball ambassadors in the 1960's. Aged 11-15, and small in built, they were known for their basketball wizardry, especially their precision dribbling. George Brown and Ricky Stewart were two boys highlighted in the Medford, Oregon and Tacoma News Tribune's articles. There were also group pictures of the Courteers, including one where they are dressed in suit and tie, clutching small trophies. Photograph ordered on May 4, 1967, by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Junior High School boys come in all sizes and members of the Cheney Studs Courteers were no exception. Sponsored by lumberman Ben Cheney, the ability to master basketball drills and put on entertaining half-time programs was more important than height. Five Courteers are pictured smiling on December 2, 1967, on the floor of the Western State Hospital gym, as they greet a much smaller teammate. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Standing on top of a traveling Cheney Studs trunk is one of the smallest members of the Courteers basketball troupe. The exuberant youngster with the large grin shows that he can balance a basketball just as well as taller members. Gazing upward with a surprised look is another Courteers teammate. The junior high school students were practicing at the Western State Hospital gym on December 2, 1967. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Luggage;

This group of young football players, posed at Jefferson Park, was one of many that the Cheney Lumber Co. had sponsored throughout the years. The sixteen boys, members of the Cheney Studs Pee-Wee team, stand proudly dressed in football gear along with their two coaches in late October, 1967. Ben Cheney's benevolence meant that thousands of youngsters in the Puget Sound region were able to participate in amateur sports. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Football players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Football--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Seven exuberant Cheney Studs Courteers demonstrated their basketball skills during a session in the Western State Hospital gym on November 5, 1966. The Courteers were a collection of local middle school basketball players sponsored by philanthropist Ben Cheney. They put on fast-paced performances at high school, college and professional half-time shows. This photograph was used by the News Tribune in their March 5, 1967 edition; the Courteers had been invited to perform at the NCAA regional basketball tournament in Corvallis, Oregon, on March 18th. The Courteers were identified as: (foreground) Tim McDonough and Jeff Wilson. In back: Bob Thomsen, Ed Orr, Steve Shamberg, Dennis Franklin and John Yingling. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (TNT 3-5-67, C-22)

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods); McDonough, Tim; Wilson, Jeff; Thomsen, Bob; Orr, Ed; Shamberg, Steve; Franklin, Dennis; Yingling, John;

This group of older teens played amateur baseball under the Cheney Studs name during the summer of 1967. Mr. Cheney sponsored many teams in a variety of sports and baseball was no exception. There was more than one Cheney Studs baseball team in the local area with varying ages and abilities. Future major leaguer Ron Cey is third from left, second row. He would go on to a long career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and finishing up with the Oakland Athletics. NW League and State champs, these players would go onto Regionals in Portland in August and advance to national playoffs by defeating Oregon champions A.B. Smith. The Studs had a sparkling 37-1 record prior to the American Amateur Baseball Congress tournament held in Battle Creek, MI in September. The 1966 Seattle Tacoma Cheney Studs had been the national runners-up in the AABC title game. Tacomans Ron Cey, Rick Austin, Earl Hyder and Skip Gillis were in their final seaon with the Studs. Starting in 1968, Tacoma-area residents would not be permitted to play for Seattle-based AABC teams. (TNT 8-15-1967, p. 24-article, TNT 8-25-1967, p. 27-names of players & photograph; TNT 8-28-1967, D-8-article; various other sports articles in TNT)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cey, Ron;

One of Ben Cheney's Cheney Studs baseball teams posed for a group shot in July of 1967. Thousands of youngsters were given the opportunity to play a variety of sports thanks to the generosity of well-known lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney. All of the teams used the Cheney Studs logo on their uniforms.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms;

Captured in print for all time is a portrait of youth in action. Six Cheney Studs Courteers are pictured in various poses, mimicking the frenetic activity of their half-time basketball shows. The junior high school boys would entertain crowds gathered at high school, college and even professional games, with their high potency basketball skills. They were sponsored by lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Wood carving. Forever frozen in step is this football player carved from wood. He clutches a football against his chest as he races toward an unseen goal line. This carving may have been created by Tacoma master artist Art McKellips. There were apparently several other carvings done at the same time which depicted the art of golf, basketball and baseball among others. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber.

Wood carvings; Football players;