A crew of workmen were putting the finishing touches on Cheney Stadium in April of 1960. The giant, plywood wall in center field was eventually dubbed the "Great Wall of Cheney". Nalley's had already put up an advertisement which portrayed a baseball player, glove extended, reaching for an oncoming ball. Nalley's promised that any batter who hit the glove would collect $50 from the company. The stadium, which took a little more than three months to build at a cost of $840,000, was ready for the Tacoma Giants opening day game on April 14, 1960. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 3-25-60, p. 1, 4-12-60, C-9)

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Advertisements--Tacoma;

The six giant light towers at the new Cheney Stadium provided excellent lighting for watching Tacoma Giants night baseball games. Spectators could see the action on the field without eye strain on this clear June 9, 1960, evening. The Giants would bounce back from losing a doubleheader the day before and defeat the Vancouver Mounties 6-0 behind the strong pitching of Eddie Fisher. With the victory, Tacoma would tie the Seattle Rainiers for third place, trailing the Sacramento Solons and Spokane Indians. The 5.012 paying customers in attendance would not only enjoy the victory, but pre-game dedication ceremonies and contests as well, and go home with a free souvenir program featuring color photographs of the team and the stadium. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (TNT 6-5-60, B-11. 6-10-60, A-1, p. 24) TPL-9682

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Light fixtures;

These construction workers are racing against time in order to complete Cheney Stadium before baseball's opening day of April 14, 1960. This March 23, 1960, photograph indicates that they are well on their way as most of the pre-stressed, pre-fabricated grandstands are completed. View of crane lowering portion of the concrete seating; once completed, the stadium would hold more than 8,000 fans.

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Construction workers--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Tacoma Giants owner Ben Cheney and wife Marian on opening day of Pacific Coast League baseball, April 16, 1960. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney enjoying front row seats at the Tacoma Giants - Portland Beavers match in newly constructed Cheney Stadium. Ben Cheney played a major role in luring back Pacific Coast League baseball to Tacoma.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Marian; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970;

T.A.C. Awards night at Cheney Stadium. Neil Hoff, president of the Tacoma Athletic Commission, addresses the crowd at the Tacoma Giants-Portland Beavers baseball game on September 7, 1962. Standing behind him on the grassy infield of Cheney Stadium are members of the T.A.C. present for the Awards ceremony, including Stan Naccarato (second from right) and William (Bill) Gazecki, far right. Several men are holding trophies. The outstanding freshman performer for the Giants was presented the "Rookie of the Year" award; Jerry Thomas, pitcher, was selected for his prowess on the field. He had 13 wins in 22 decisions. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT 9-7-62, D-4, 9-8-62, p. 11) (Additional identification by a reader)

Awards; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Hoff, Neil; Naccarato, Stan; Gazecki, William; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Tacoma Twins' catcher Glenn Borgmann was one of 16 players involved in providing personalized instruction to young Tacoma fans on May 20, 1972, as the team in conjunction with Carling Brewery offered a two-hour baseball clinic at Cheney Stadium. It appears that the 1291 youngsters in attendance were divided into smaller groups each headed by a Tacoma Twin. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Twins. (TNT 5-17-72, C-16, TNT 5-21-72, D-1)

Baseball--Tacoma--1970-1980; Baseball players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Borgmann, Glenn; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

President John F. Kennedy, flanked by Pacific Lutheran University president Dr. Robert Mortvedt (left) and University of Puget Sound president Dr. R. Franklin Thompson (right), entered Cheney Stadium under the watchful eyes of police and Secret Service agents near noontime, September 27, 1963. The President had been invited to speak by the heads of the two universities. He had flown in from Sea-Tac Airport via special Marine helicopter along with U.S. Senators Henry Jackson and Warren Magnuson and Washington State Governor Albert Rosellini. About 25,000 people jammed into Cheney Stadium for this special occasion. TPL-10586

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mortvedt, Robert; Thompson, R. Franklin, 1908-1999; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. Proposed grandstand for the Tacoma-Pierce County baseball park, later known as Cheney Stadium, as submitted by Ben Cheney. The stadium began operation in April of 1960. The City Council voted 8-1 to award the construction contract for its baseball park to Ben Cheney based on this design, with Mrs. Clara Goering as the lone desenter. Associated with Cheney in his bid were Earley Construction and Concrete Technology. The $647,088 contract called for a prestressed concrete structure. The proposed stadium had convinced the San Francisco Giants to transfer their Phoenix Franchise to Tacoma, marking Tacoma's entrance into the Pacific Coast Baseball League. The opening saga had been the drawn out selection of a site for the baseball park. Ben Cheney proposed a plan under the lease-purchase act where the city would acquire the property he owned at Cheney Field at 1/2 its appraised evaluation. He would then build a $620, 000 stadium which the city would lease over a number of years with the property eventually reverting to the city. The county and city finally agreed jointly on a undeveloped site owned by Metropolitan Parks at Snake Lake, south of Heidelberg Park, that would be gifted to the city. A baseball park that seats 7,000 would be constructed at a cost of $590,000. The city and county would each pay $21,700 a year for 20 years; anticipated revenue from the park was a minimum of $14,000 a year. Ben Cheney made a counter proposal and Snake Lake was still selected as the site. After further discussions and concessions, including offering the majority of the property for free, the stadium site was moved to Cheney Field in order to meet the April completion deadline and possibly to avoid offending Cheney, one of the main contributors to sports in Tacoma. Then it was moved back to the Snake Lake Recreational area, at So. 23rd & Cheyenne, by a 6-2 vote with only Mayor Ben Hanson and Mrs. Clara Goering voting for the Cheney Field site. Objections included the 426 foot strip along So. 38th retained by Cheney and potential traffic problems. The stadium was finally built at the Snake Lake site and named for Cheney, sports greatest friend and benefactor in Tacoma. (TNT 8/15/1959, pg. 1; 8/18/1959, pg 1; 9/11/1959, pg. 1; 9/15/1959, pg.1; 12/22/1959, pg. 1)

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Being met at home plate is young Tacoma Giants player Matty Alou in this April 16, 1960, Pacific Coast League opener between the Giants and the visiting Portland Beavers. One of three Alou brothers from the Dominican Republic who went on to play major league baseball, Matty Alou was the best hitter for average and probably the fastest. His 15-year major league career included lengthy stints with the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He led the league in batting, .342, in 1966 as a Pittsburgh Pirate and would help Oakland to its first World Series championship in 1972. Centerfielder Alou was sent down just days before the season opened by the big league San Francisco Giants so that he could play regularly. Groomed as the successor to Willie Mays, this would help to keep his baseball skills sharp. (baseballlibrary.com) (Additional identification by a reader)

Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Alou, Matty; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

All eyes are focused on the swinging batter during Tacoma's opening day of Pacific League baseball in brand new Cheney Stadium. The packed grandstands are filled with young and old, all eager to see the Tacoma Giants battle the visiting Portland Beavers in a doubleheader on April 16, 1960. Some spectators prefer to roam the non-bleacher area on the right, perhaps to get a better view, or to enjoy the bright skies on game day. Scheduled for April 14th, opening day had to be postponed due to a major spring storm which included 59 mph winds, lows of 37 degrees, and traces of snow. The Army was called in to set a napalm fire in the infield dirt and also used portable "Herman Nelson" heaters to help dry the turf. The Tacoma Giants lost the opening game 7-2 but won the nightcap 11-0 behind an 8-hit shutout by future Hall-of-Famer Juan Marichal. 6,612 fans watched the day game while the night crowd totaled 5,671. (TNT 4-16-60, p.1-article; TNT 4-17-60, A-1-article) TPL-9657

Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sports spectators--Tacoma; Grandstands--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

Night game at Cheney Stadium. Bases appear loaded with the hometown Giants leading 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Giants would go on to defeat the Vancouver Mounties 6-0 before 5000+ fans. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber.

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Cheney Stadium. The last finishing touches are being put into place in the new Cheney Stadium in preparation for baseball's seasonal opener on April 14, 1960. Pacific Coast League baseball would be coming to Tacoma for the first time since 1905 as the local Tacoma Giants face off with the Portland Beavers. View of nearly empty stadium with three workers near dugout; covered grandstand would be able to accommodate 5740 fans with an additional 2500 in the bleachers. Photograph ordered by the Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 3-25-60, p. 1)

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Grandstands--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Ben Cheney and guest at Tacoma Giants game. Dressed in suit and tie, Tacoma lumberman and baseball fan Ben Cheney, along with a guest believed to be his cousin Francis Cheney, enjoy the June 9, 1960, Giants game at Cheney Stadium. The stadium was dedicated that evening during pre-game ceremonies when Ben Cheney thanked all those who made the new park possible. Mr. Cheney was instrumental in bringing Pacific Coast League baseball back to Tacoma and was named to the Giants Board of Directors. Beside local baseball and government officials, San Francisco Giants president Horace Stoneham and San Francisco Giants farm system director Carl Hubbell were in attendance. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (TNT 6-5-60, B-11, 6-10-60, A-1, p. 24)

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

Mark Wojahn of 3592 East "K" Street was photographed in uniform at the Tacoma Giants' opening day game in Cheney Stadium on April 16, 1960. He won the batboy contest sponsored by ShopRite Food Centers and became the Giants' first batboy for 1960. He is wearing a cap with the large letter "T" embroidered above the bill; his hands and a towel are partially covering his baseball jersey. As batboy Mark watched every play in the new stadium from the edge of the field. (TNT 4-12-60, D-1 Ad)

Wojahn, Mark; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hats--1960-1970;

Baseball clinic. Cheney Stadium was packed with youngsters on Saturday, May 20, 1972, as the budding baseball stars participated in a two-hour clinic jointly sponsored by the Tacoma Twins and Carling Brewery. The News Tribune reported that 1291 kids were in attendance. Personalized instruction in fielding, batting, and other skills was provided by 16 Twins players with pitcher Hal Haydel as chief instructor. Free tickets were handed out to the young athletes to that night's Twins game with Salt Lake City; provided, of course, that they were accompanied by adults. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Twins. (TNT 5-17-72, C-16- article; TNT 5-21-72, D-1)

Baseball--Tacoma--1970-1980; Baseball players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

President John F. Kennedy is pictured upon his arrival via special Marine helicopter at Cheney Stadium's parking lot on September 27, 1963. He is shaking hands with Tacoma Mayor Harold Tollefson who is standing next to his brother, Congressman Thor Tollefson. Following President Kennedy in the informal reception line are Senators Henry M. Jackson and Warren G. Magnuson and Governor Albert D. Rosellini. Man in bow tie at far left is believed to be Pierce County Commissioner Harry Sprinker. The President had arrived at Sea-Tac Airport at 11:30 am from Salt Lake City and had traveled to Tacoma to deliver a speech at Cheney Stadium. It was the President's first appearance in Pierce County since becoming the Chief Executive. His last visit to Tacoma was in 1959 when he spoke about a labor bill.

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Legislators--Washington; Governors; Rosellini, Albert D.;

Governor Albert D. Rosellini at podium. The governor, along with federal, county, city and university officials, was on hand to welcome President John F. Kennedy to Tacoma on September 27, 1963. The President had applauded vigorously upon Governor Rosellini's introduction by Dr. Robert Mortvedt (in mortarboard) of Pacific Lutheran University. Governor Rosellini indicated that he was proud to issue a heartful welcome from the people of Washington State and he looked forward to working with the President on conservation issues and the development of outdoor recreation facilities in this state. Visible behind Governor Rosellini are: (left to right) Congressman Thor Tollefson, US Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Dr. R. Franklin Thompson, President Kennedy, Dr. Robert Mortvedt, US Senator Henry M. Jackson, unidentified man, and Mayor Harold Tollefson. (TNT 9-27-63, A-1,2-articles)

Rosellini, Albert D.; Governors; Public speaking--Tacoma--1960-1970; Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Jackson, Henry M., 1912-1983; Mortvedt, Robert;