The 8-man Northwestern Woodenware Co. bowling team posed for a group portrait on October 22, 1923. They participated in the Commercial League. Two bowling balls and a pair of wooden pins are being held by three members seated in front. Standing in the second row on the left is Leif Jensen, accountant for the firm. G53.1-105

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Jensen, Leif; Northwestern Woodenware Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Olene brothers. The brothers Olene both played football at the College of Puget Sound with Melvin (left) in the Class of '24 and Leonard in the Class of '27. Similar in weight and height, they were high-powered fullbacks. The 1924 C.P.S. yearbook, the Tamanawas, listed their nicknames as "Vas" (Melvin) and "Gas" (Leonard). Melvin, a transfer from Albany College, was senior class president and graduated with a degree in chemistry that year. The Olenes were from Albany, Oregon. G54.1-005 (1924 Tamanawas; TNT 11-2-23, p. 23)

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Olene, Melvin; Olene, Leonard;

Stadium High School's football players. This is Stadium High's first team in the 1923 season. Unlike the previous year which began with only three veterans on the team, Stadium was able to send eleven experienced men to battle cross-town rival Lincoln. Stadium would go on to defeat Lincoln High School three times in tightly contested games. Stadium was led by Captain Bayard Mosher (seated, third from left holding ball) and coached by Myron Carr (standing in dark jersey with cap) and Vern Clark (standing extreme right in second row). (1924 Tahoma yearbook; T.Times 11-19-1923, p. 10) G46.1-034

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Mosher, Bayard; Carr, Myron; Clark, Vern;

Stadium High School basketball team. This is part of Stadium's first team in basketball for the 1923-24 season. There were two captains that year: Cliff Bergman and Neil Yingling. From L-R (top row): Walter Dow, Lon Crosthwaite, Neil McDougall, Ed Dow. The Dow brothers were newcomers from Montana. On the bottom row, L-R: Bayard Mosher, Neil Yingling, Clifford Bergman, Herman Brix. Coached by Will Duggan, the Tigers went down to defeat three times at the hands of Lincoln High School. (1924 Tahoma- various pages; TNT 1-14-24, p. 24) G46.1-017

Basketball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dow, Walter; Crosthwaite, Lon; McDougall, Neil; Dow, Ed; Mosher, Bayard; Yingling, Neil; Bergman, Clifford; Brix, Herman;

Kay St. Main Event. The Glide Rink is packed with spectators eagerly anticipating the main event boxing match on January 24, 1924. Three stern men, including the referee, observe two fighters in action. It is noticeable that the audience, apparently all male, is well dressed with suits and ties worn. Gene Cline of Oakland and Eddie Roberts of Tacoma headlined the card with a six-round bout. Roberts, a welterweight, decisioned Cline in a tough contest. The boxing match, along with other bouts, was sponsored by the Kay Street Athletic Club. G53.1-130 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-20-24, C-3-article; TDL 1-25-24, p. 10-article)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sports spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Boxing--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cline, Gene; Roberts, Eddie;

The "Tigers," members of the South Tacoma Business Men's Club independent baseball team, pose outdoors for a team picture on April 27, 1924. All but one are wearing complete baseball attire, including caps. They would open their season against the Northern Pacific Shopmen on May 4, 1924, in the brand new baseball park at South 72nd & Lawrence. A big parade would precede the game. The Northern Pacific Shopmen would go on to win a high scoring game, 11-9. From L-R, top row, Cliff Wescott; Elmer Booth; O. Capps; Roy Hilliard; Bryon Furseth; Ed Putnam. Kneeling L-R: Ted Fosdick; Archie Genin; Lud Radike; Bishop; Brown. (TNT 4-29-24, p.12; TDL 5-4-24, C-1) G53.1-024; TPL-7766

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Uniforms; South Tacoma Business Men's Club (Tacoma);

15-year-old Alexina Slater, in cap and swimsuit, was the only female entrant in the first organized channel swim from the Tahlequah Ferry Terminal on Vashon Island to Point Defiance held on September 26, 1926. She finished fourth with a time of 1 hr. 20 minutes, outracing nine other swimmers. The Stadium High School student was only 18 minutes behind Gerhard Bahr's winning time of 1 hr. 2 minutes. While Bahr received the roars befitting the champion, Miss Slater was also heavily applauded by the crowd of 10,000. Her picture appeared on the front page of the News Tribune and the headline actually read " Girl Given Cheer as She Swims Point Defiance Channel." Miss Slater, of 5517 N. 45th St., began swimming at age 4 under the direction of her father. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-26-26, p. 1, TNT 9-27-26, p. 1)

Alexina Slater, showing the vitality of youth, shrugs off her grueling 2-mile swim across the Point Defiance channel and dances the Charleston in front of a movie camera on September 26, 1926. The 15-year-old Stadium High School student was the only female entry in the race from Talequah to Point Defiance but she outswam nine others to finish fourth. Her time of 1 hr. 20 minutes was only 18 minutes slower than the winner, Gerhard Bahr. The massive crowd of 10,000 heartily cheered and applauded her efforts. Miss Slater, of 5517 N. 45th St., was presented a trophy from Mahncke & Co. in honor of her accomplishment. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-26-26, p. 1, TNT 9-27-26, p. 1)

Portrait of pugilist Gene Tunney, taken on February 8, 1927, when he landed at Camp Lewis, enroute from Seattle to Olympia. The military two person plane was met at Camp Lewis by a delegation from Olympia, headed by Governor Roland H. Hartley. Tunney, heavyweight boxing Champion from 1926-28, was honored at a luncheon in Olympia where he spoke about a proposed boxing commission bill for the state. Tunney had defeated Jack Dempsey in 1926, and again in 1927, for the heavyweight crown. He retired as Champion in 1928. (TNT 2/8/1927 p.1)

Heavyweight Champion Gene Tunney, center, removes his leather flying helmet after arriving at Camp Lewis by plane from Seattle on February 8, 1927. He is met by Governor Roland H. Hartley, left, and Brig. Gen. Robert Alexander. Tunney will complete the remainder of his journey to Olympia by automobile. He is being honored at a luncheon in Olympia where 200 guests will hear him speak about the proposed boxing commission bill for Washington. Tunney was the Champion from 1926- 28, defeating Jack Dempsey for the crown, and retired undefeated in 1928. He was known as being handsome and intellectual. He served in the Navy in World War II, was successful in business and wrote two books. (TNT 2/8/1927 p.1)

ca. 1930s. Rev. Jokatsu Yukawa, pastor of the Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church, has donned protective gear and prepares to engage in kendo, a form of Japanese fencing. Rev. Yukawa is to the right in this sepia 1930's photograph; his masked opponent is not identified. The pair are practicing at the site of the Japanese Language School on Tacoma Avenue South, which had opened in 1921. Rev. Yukawa spent five years as the temple's minister, from 1928-1933. During his tenure, a $40,000 fund drive was initiated which culminated in the construction of the present church and junior members were organized in active Young Buddhist Association groups. He was promoted to serve a larger congregation in California and was replaced by Rev. Sensho Sasaki. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 16) TPL-2008.

A large crowd of baseball fans gathered outside the Tribune Publishing Company building to watch the box score of the World Series game between the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 1930. The News Tribune had a large scoreboard mounted on the front of their building which allowed fans to follow the game play-by-play. Although Cardinals pitcher Jesse Haines outdueled Lefty Grove 3-1 to tie the Series up at 2 wins apiece, the Athletics would ultimately prevail, winning the World Series 4 games to 2. BU-12852, TPL-2115

ca. 1938. Members of the Tacoma Tigers baseball club pose for a 1938 team picture prior to their game with Yakima. William "Hack" Wilson was the Tigers' playing catcher and also their manager. He is believed to be in the back row, third from the right. TPL-4747.

ca. 1937. Frozen in time in the middle of a windup is Floyd "Lefty" Isekite of the Tacoma Tigers. "Lefty," a southpaw, pitched in the Western International League in the 1930's. He had a blazing fastball and pitched a no-hitter in 1937 against the Wenatchee Chiefs. "Lefty" last pitched for the Tigers in 1940. He was named to the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame in 1972. Floyd Gill "Lefty" Isekite passed away in April, 1992. TPL-150. (TNT 11-14-39, p. 20, TNT 8-28-49, B-9)

Cue wizard George H. Sutton visited Tacoma's Naubert & Manning billiard academy in October of 1925 where he defeated George Latshaw 250-78, running off 147 in a row. Nicknamed "Handless," Mr. Sutton toured the country and amazed spectators with his skills for almost 35 years. He had lost his arms below the elbows at age 8 in a sawmill accident. This did not prevent him from studying medicine and graduating from the University of Milwaukee. He learned to play billiards during his college years and later set a Balkline world record. Mr. Sutton would pass away in 1938, at the age of 68. (TDL 10-9-25, p. 7-article & alternate photograph; www.cuecare.com)

ca. 1924. One golfer is attempting to blast out of a bunker at the Fircrest Golf Course while his two companions remain safely out of the way. This photograph was believed to have been taken not long after the private golf course's opening in 1924. This site has been identified as the original hole design and bunker configuration of the 17th green at the Fircrest Golf Course. The course designer, Arthur V. Macan, created the hole to mirror the glaciers of Mount Rainier. Golfers soon called it "The Volcano Hole." (Additional information provided by a reader)

This is the 185-yard par 3 8th hole on the Fircrest Golf Club Course as it appeared in the 1920's. In the background on a hill is a water tower which has since been replaced by a larger, modern tank. Situated on 160-acres in the heart of the small city, the private golf club opened in July of 1924 with nine of the planned 18 holes available. The second nine holes would be put into use by the summer of 1925. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Baseball outing on the grounds of the Western State Hospital.

Bowling has long been popular in Tacoma, producing such greats as Earl Anthony. The Tryfon Hatters bowled for John Tryfon whose hat store was located at 944 1/2 Commerce Street beginning in 1921. Greek-born Tryfon, affectionately known as "the Madhatter of Commerce Street", retired in 1973.

The Harold Stamey Insurance Agency sponsored several youth baseball teams in the 1950's. This group of boys played out of the South End Boys Club in the Metro Parks Junior League division in the summer of 1958. Standing with the players are Mr. and Mrs. Stamey and two other adults, Chris Matz and Dick Palamidessi, who were probably coaches. The striking note about this group picture is that three boys' pictures were cut and pasted into the group shot: Elvin La Coursiere and Gene Rasmussen on both ends of kneeling row and Tom Bishop, fourth from the right in the rear. The names of the Stamey Insurance team were listed at the bottom of the team photo: Front row (L-R): Elvin La Coursiere, Curtis Stamey, Dennis Waliter, Frank Hahn, Allen Burmester, Russ Fagering, Mike Endicott and Gene Rasmussen. Back row (L-R): Chris Matz, Dick Palamidessi, Chris Schmidt, Bob Gagnon, Darrell Matz, Tom Bishop, Bruce Nichols, Mrs. Harold Stamey, Harold Stamey. The Stamey team edged the East Side Boys Club 5-4 to wrap up the Junior South boys baseball title that summer. Pitchers Rasmussen and Nichols combined for a two-hitter. Photograph ordered by Harold Stamey. (TNT 8-1-58, p. 20)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teenagers--1950-1960; Stamey Insurance, Inc. (Tacoma); Stamey, Harold; Stamey, Curtis;

This South End Boys Club baseball team was sponsored by Stamey Insurance. Mr. and Mrs. Stamey and two additional coaches, Chris Matz and Dick Palamidessi, posed with the players in the summer of 1958. They played in the Junior League of Metro Park's baseball program. This was believed to be the original group portrait; see C116559-1 for touched-up version when three boys, who were probably missing the day of the photograph, had their pictures cut and pasted into the group shot. From L-R in the front row: Curtis Stamey, Dennis Waltier, Frank Hahn, Allen Burmester, Russ Fagering and Mike Endicott. In the back row, L-R: Chris Matz, Dick Palamidessi, Chris Schmidt, Bob Gagnon, Darrell Matz, Bruce Nichols and Mr. and Mrs. Stamey. Photograph ordered by Harold Stamey.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teenagers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stamey Insurance, Inc. (Tacoma); Stamey, Harold; Stamey, Curtis;

ca. 1958. Additional work had been done on C116559, image 1, to improve appearance of players manually added to the team's roster. This was the South End Boys Club baseball team sponsored by Stamey Insurance in 1958. They played in the Junior League of Metro Park's baseball program. Three boys apparently were not present at the time of the original photograph; the Richards Studio then cut and pasted their images into the group shot. Photograph ordered by Ben Cheney.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Stamey Insurance, Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1928. A copy of this photograph was ordered in October of 1958 by the Cheney Lumber Co. In the photograph, the members of the "Decimo Club" posed in their basketball uniforms. It appears to date from around 1928; the "Decimo" Club participated in the City League basketball league that year. The player holding the basketball in the front row is believed to be Ben Cheney. In 1924, Mr. Cheney arrived in Tacoma from South Bend at the age of 19. He loved sports and participated in several, including basketball. He drew a cartoon for his 1920 South Bend High School yearbook of himself dreaming of basketball glory, but at 5'8" tall he did not play varsity basketball. His true skill was in business. In 1936, he bought his first lumber mill and began building the empire that became the internationally known Cheney Lumber Co. He donated generously to allow local children to have the opportunity to participate in sports. Ben Cheney died in 1971. (The Ben Cheney Story by Med Nicholson, The Sou'wester, Fall 2000)

Basketball players--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. Customer's print. Ben Cheney, standing far left, proudly poses with his Cheney Studs, World's Amateur Champions for 1960. The baseball team was awarded the Quaker Oats trophy for a 50-game winning season. Each member, including the batboy, holds a miniature version of the trophy. The Studs, Seattle division, defeated Detroit 3-1 in Battle Creek, Michigan, on Tacoman Earl Hyder's home run , to capture the national American Amateur Baseball Congress title on September 21, 1960. (TNT 9-22-60, D-6)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Awards; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

Tacoma Giants owner Ben Cheney with future Hall of Famer Willie Mays during a late March, 1963, spring training visit to the Tacoma team's parent club, the San Francisco Giants. The Big League Giants played spring ball in Arizona. The Tacoma team also took their spring training in Arizona in the Casa Grande area. This photograph may have been taken on March 27, 1963, as Mr. Cheney's team took on their Big Brothers in a thrilling slugfest. The Tacoma Giants staged a 7-run rally in the ninth inning to edge the parent San Francisco Giants 10-9. Mr. Cheney put on a suit and served as first base coach for the Big Club for a couple of innings. He was reportedly in a state of exultation over "his" team's victory. ALBUM 9. (TNT 3-28-63, B-5)

Baseball players--Arizona--1960-1970; Mays, Willie, 1931-; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; San Francisco Giants (San Francisco);

Same as C137871-1 without Studs logo in upper left corner. Local lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney has donned a Giants uniform; he is standing next to baseball star Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants. Mr. Cheney had journeyed to Arizona in March, 1963, and was present during the Giants' spring training. He was the owner of the Tacoma Giants, minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The picture with Willie Mays may have been taken in late March, 1963, when the two teams played an exhibition game. Mr. Cheney was permitted to act as first base coach for the Big League team for a couple innings. The minor league Tacoma Giants swatted their Big Brothers 10-9 with a thrilling come-from-behind ninth inning. ALBUM 9. TPL-1399 (TNT 3-28-63, B-5)

Baseball players--Arizona--1960-1970; Mays, Willie, 1931-; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; San Francisco Giants (San Francisco);

Tacoma Giants owner Ben Cheney during a March, 1963, Arizona spring training visit to the Tacoma team's parent club, the San Francisco Giants. Mr. Cheney, second from the right, smiles broadly at the camera. The other man in Giants uniform is S.F. Giants manager Alvin Dark. Mr. Dark was the 1948 Rookie of the Year and would go on to skipper the Oakland A's, leading them to a World Series title in 1974. At the far left is W.D. "Rosy" Ryan, general manager of the Tacoma Giants and next to him, famous screwball pitcher and Hall-of-Famer Carl Hubbell, director of the farm system for the San Francisco Giants. At the start of the 1963 season, the San Francisco Giants were the defending National League champions. ALBUM 9. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Baseball players--Arizona --1960-1970; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; San Francisco Giants (San Francisco); Dark, Alvin; Hubbell, Carl; Ryan, W.D.;

Tacoma Giants owner Ben Cheney with catcher Tom Haller during a March, 1963, spring training visit to the Tacoma team's parent club, the San Francisco Giants. The S.F. Giants were the defending National League champions and conducted spring training in Arizona. Tom Haller broke in with the S.F. Giants in 1961 and stayed with them through the 1967 season. He then was a Los Angeles Dodger from 1968-1971 before ending his career with the Detroit Tigers in 1972. Statistics indicate that he played a total of 1,294 games during his 12 year career with a batting average of .257. The tall (6'4") Haller was a former quarterback for the University of Illinois. ALBUM 9.

Baseball players--Arizona--1960-1970; Haller, Tom, 1937-2004; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; San Francisco Giants (San Francisco);

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;

Copy of customer's print. Ben Cheney, baseball aficionado, with San Francisco Giants catcher, Tom Haller, during 1963 spring training in Tucson, Arizona. Cheney is wearing a San Francisco Giants uniform while Haller sports his catcher's protective gear. Ben Cheney at that time was the owner of the Tacoma Giants, minor league club affiliate of the S.F. Giants. He enjoyed going to the Big League's spring training in Arizona. Tom Haller would play in the Big Leagues for 12 years, be an All-Star, and later return to the San Francisco Giants as a coach and executive. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Arizona--1960-1970; Haller, Tom, 1937-2004; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; San Francisco Giants (San Francisco);