Team photo of Cheney Studs. A beaming Ben Cheney (L, second row) stands proudly with his Cheney Studs amateur baseball team in Battle Creek, Michigan, on September 21, 1955. The Studs were composed of local high school and college-level stars. They had journeyed to Michigan to participate in the American Baseball Congress tournament where they concluded as national runner-ups. It appears that the Cheney Studs had also been the Cascade, Washington State, and Northwest Regional champions. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Awards;

Young baseball players attempt to relax as they enjoy the comforts of a private railroad car in a September, 1955, photograph. The men are part of the Cheney Studs, an amateur baseball team sponsored by Cheney Lumber. It is possible that the Studs were on their way to Watertown, S.D., for the first rounds of the American Baseball Congress national tournaments.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma;

These young baseball players were listed as the runner-up team in the 1954 Midget League. They posed happily on August 12, 1954, at Jefferson Park, along with their bat boy and coaches. "Schwinn" is printed on the baseball jerseys; the boys played under the team name "Bicycles." They lost in the playoffs with the North Tacoma I.O.O.F. team. Both teams had identical 7-1 records in the final second half. The I.O.O.F. team won the final playoff game, 3-2, although losing pitcher Al Hopkins only allowed three hits. (TNT 8-16-54, p. 12, TNT 8-21-54, p.8)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits;

Jack Murphy (l) and Andy Garnes (r) posed in their Cheney Studs baseball uniforms, on May 16, 1959. The picture order by the Cheney Lumber Co. is labeled "Legion Studs Post 202 at Cheney Field." The Post 202 Legion Studs were District 4 champions in 1957 and 1958 and finished fourth in 1959. They were opening a 40 games schedule in May of 1959. The 16 man travelling squad was managed by Jack Murphy and coached by Andy Garnes. Mr. Murphy was a school teacher for Tacoma public schools and Mr. Garnes, an attorney in Tacoma. (TNT 5/29/1959, pg. 16) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Legion Tacoma Post No. 202 (Tacoma)--Baseball players; Garnes, Andy; Murphy, Jack;

Ben Cheney sponsored many amateur teams, all sporting the nomenclature, the Cheney Studs. A young baseball player is photographed at dusk on June 19, 1958; he is wearing a pinstriped uniform with the familiar Studs logo. The baseball team was composed of high school and college-level stars in the Puget Sound area. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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);

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;

Line-up of Tacoma Giants baseball team on opening day, April 16, 1960, in the brand new Cheney Stadium. The Giants, managed by John "Red" Davis, were being introduced to the thousands attending the first game held in the new facility. The Tacoma team would be playing the Portland Beavers in day-night matches. Lights installed on six giant towers would provide clear viewing for night games with each tower having a bank of 62 - 1,500 watt bulbs.

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

Managed by Tommy Heath, the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League are being introduced to the thousands of spectators at Cheney Stadium on April 16, 1960, opening day of baseball. They would be the hometown Tacoma Giants' first opponent in the new stadium which was completed in three months, 14 days. The stadium was finished in time for the Giants' first game; however, the fickle spring weather did not cooperate and a massive windstorm forced postponement until Saturday, April 16th, of the doubleheader between the two Pacific Coast League clubs. They would split the games, with Portland on top in the first game, 7-2 and Tacoma coming back strong in the nightcap, 11-0.

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

Seattle Cheney Studs baseball team - team photo. Longtime coach Joe Budnick, in dark jacket, is at the extreme right in this August, 1960 photograph. The Seattle team was in Tacoma in late August to compete as tournament favorites in the Washington State Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) matches held at Heidelberg Park. They faced and defeated B & B Hardware in an all-Seattle battle on August 22nd, by rallying for five runs in the 8th inning for a 9-5 victory. The Seattle Cheney Studs then beat Criswells, champions of the Tacoma City League, 7-2 on August 28th at White Center, thereby winning the Washington State Amateur Baseball title for the second straight year. The Cheney Studs are named after Ben Cheney, local lumberman and philanthropist, who sponsored amateur teams in sports including basketball, football, and baseball. No matter what the sport, his teams were always called the Cheney Studs. (TNT 8-22-60, p. 10-article; TNT 8-29-60, p. 19-article)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Budnick, Joe;

Post #202 Legion Studs baseball team at Cheney Field. The team is flanked by their manager and their coach. Posed in the front row with the team are three small bat boys. The 202 Legion Studs played in the American Legion Jr. Baseball League, finishing the regular season 11-3. They were one of the teams in a four way tie for area champion. A double elimination tournament was held to decide the winner; the Studs were the first team eliminated in the tourney which was won by the Stadium-Bellarmine 138 team. The Studs placed second in the 4th of July tourney in Longview, defeated by Centralia. (TNT 7/6/1959, pg. 17; 7/28/1959, pg. 18)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Legion Tacoma Post No. 202 (Tacoma)--Baseball players;

In June of 1929 Robert F. Bown, the principle of Stewart Jr. High, declared his school's baseball team "the best athletic team ever produced at the south side intermediate." It is easy to understand the pride he held for his team. Not only had Stewart won the city crown with a 5-0 record, they had also defeated Fife Junior High, Clover Park Junior High and Stadium High School. The Stewart team captured their title with a resounding defeat of rival Gray, 21-1. Posed in front of the school on June 7, 1929, as listed in the News Tribune are: third row (rear), coaches H.A. Post, W.C. Cohoon and S.S. Todd, physical director; second row, Howard Berry, Ernest Holm, Clarence Zachow, Clyde Olsen, Verne Kampbell and Arnold Doersam; first row, Howard Converse, Louis Mazza, Charles Mazza, (Capt.) Tommy Mazza, Leonard Brunstad, Albin Semion and Harvey Christlaw. (TNT 5-29-29, p. 12-article; TNT 6-14-29, 6-B) G46.1-023

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stewart Junior High School (Tacoma);

The South Tacoma baseball club, along with coaches and ball boys, posed for a a team picture on May 1, 1930, prior to their 0-0 tie with the Vince Duckwitz-lead McKinley Ave. ("McKinley Hill") crew. Elwood Anderson would go on to pitch a no-hitter in the six-inning game. The "Chevrolets" were managed by Bill Schott, new to managing a City League team. They are seated in three rows; many are wearing sweaters with the team name over their uniforms. Bottom row, fourth from left, is possibly Art Berg, first baseman and future Tacoma Pierce County Sports Hall of Famer. (TDL 5-2-30, p. 8) TPL-7140; G53.1-010

Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma);

Businesses in the 1920's and 30's often sponsored athletic teams for recreational use by their employees. Baseball was a very popular sport in Tacoma and there were numerous company-sponsored teams in various leagues. The Northern Pacific team posed for a picture on May 7, 1931; they were members of the Industrial League. A banner with the company name and "Yellowstone Park Line" is displayed in front of the group. Northern Pacific would have the honor of being one of the teams participating in Tacoma's first night games on April 25, 1930; they would be defeated by the Firemen, eventual winners of that year's B Division championship. Carl Lewis Dakin, seated third from the right, is the player holding onto the team banner. G53.1-018 (Identification provided by a reader)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Banners; Signs (Notices); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Dakin, Carl Lewis;

Monty's Independents (Garagemen) were an all-black baseball team in the newly formed 9-member "Community" league in 1931. The Community League played a 16-game season. The league was notable for having not only an all-black team, but an all-Italian team headed by Al Greco, an all-Japanese team from Fife, and an all-Slavic team. Other teams in the league were Jack & Jill, the Tacoma Red Men, the 10th Field Artillery, Steilacoom, and McKinley Hill. Monty's opened their season on May 10, 1931, against Steilacoom where they lost 31-3 in a 7-inning game. (TDL 5-10-31, 2-B) TPL-3688; G39.1-173; G53.1-007; G39.1-165;

Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; African American baseball players;

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);

Color photograph of baseball team. The uniformed 15-member University Place Cougar baseball team poses proudly on September 19, 1964. The two men with the group are probably their coaches. Three trophies are placed in front of two kneeling players on the gym floor. Photograph ordered by William Johnson.

Baseball players--University Place--1960-1970; Awards;

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;

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;

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;

Colt League team. Coach Norman Orr poses with his Colt League team in late June of 1970 at Heidelberg Field. The baseball team was sponsored by Ben Cheney and played under the Cheney Studs logo. Players were believed to be 15-16 years old. Photograph ordered by the Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Uniforms; Orr, Norman;

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);

ca. 1935. Superior Dairy's baseball team, City League Champions 1935. The team posed with their bat boy. Their uniforms had the emblem of a milk bottle filled with the initials S.D. (WSHS)

Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Superior Dairy (Tacoma);

Tacoma Giants owner Ben Cheney has his picture taken with future Hall of Famer Willie Mays during a spring training visit to the Tacoma team's parent club, the San Francisco Giants. Ben Cheney, who was president of the Cheney Lumber Company, sponsored baseball, basketball and bowling teams in Tacoma for over 20 years. He was instrumental in landing the Pacific Coast League franchise for Tacoma in 1960. Cheney Stadium is named for him.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mays, Willie, 1931-; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

On August 12, 1935, members of the Will Hardware and Chicken Coop All Star teams, from the Bremerton Junior Baseball Club, met at Washington Field to settle the 6-6 tied game from the week before. The two teams and their coaches posed amiably for this shot in front of the covered bleachers before facing off in their grudge match. Left to right, top row, are Strong, P. Mahan, B. Mahan, Demant, Quay, La Londe, Larson, Hess, Stoltz and Dowell. Center row- Moon, Mulvany, Blakey, Bruce, Thein, Sauvain and Bunker. Bottom row- McIntyre, Carpenter, Bandey, McCarty, Grams, Kelly, Wilbur and B. Dowell. The Coopsters won the second game 6-1. (Bremerton Sun 8/12/1935, pg. 3)

Baseball--Bremerton--1930-1940; Baseball players--Bremerton--1930-1940; Bremerton Junior Baseball Club (Bremerton);

Young Bobby Levin made it to the front page of the Bremerton Sun on April 24, 1937 as the city prepared for the opening day of baseball season at their new park. Young master Levin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy J. Levin, was all set for the season opener with his full sized bat and oversized glove. The city would be inaugurating their new $45,000 athletic park at the foot of Warren Ave. on the 25th with a game between the Bremerton Cruisers and the Bellingham Boosters. (Bremerton Sun 04-24-1937, pg. 1).

Baseball--Bremerton--1930-1940; Levin, Bob;