ca. 1927. Undated photograph circa 1927 of baseball team believed to be Stadium High School's, ordered on June 7, 1976, by Gus J. Paine Insurance. Team members are wearing a variety of striped uniforms; one wears a cap with the letter "T" above the bill while another tall player, standing next to coach L. Lynn Deal, has the letter "T" visible on his jersey. Standing at the extreme right is believed to be Gus Paine, later a prominent Tacoma sportsman and businessman. Mr. Paine played semi-professional baseball for the Cammarano Brothers for several years and also played in various baseball leagues in the late 1920s and 1930s. (TNT 4-14-83, E-12 -obituary)
Members of baseball team associated with the A. Mirenta & Co., Inc., most of whom are wearing striped uniforms, pose outside the company's office in possibly the late 1920's or 1930's. Company president August Mirenta is believed to be the man dressed in suit and tie in back row. Many Tacoma businesses sponsored athletic teams for several decades as a means to foster camaraderie and goodwill among employees. Gus Paine, who according to his obituary was an "avid baseball fan," is believed to be seated first row, extreme right. Mr. Paine, a prominent sports figure and local businessman, played in several baseball leagues in his youth. He also spent two years as a catcher for the House of David team. He was heavily involved in civic responsibilities with membership in the K Street Businessmen's Assn., Sons of Italy, Fircrest Golf Club, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Tacoma Elks Lodge and the Tacoma-Pierce County Independent Insurance Agents Assn., among others. Photograph ordered on June 7, 1976, by Gus J. Paine Insurance. (TNT 4-14-83, E-12-obituary)
Tacoma Twins baseball team. Tacoma's Twins were a minor league team affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. 1974 was the third year that the team was based in Tacoma. The team is pictured above in August of 1974 with executive vice-president and general manager, Stan Naccarato (third row, extreme left) and manager Cal Ermer (second row, seated, second to the right).
Half-brothers Sugar Ray Seales (l) and Dale Grant (r) assume a typical boxing pose in this October, 1973, studio portrait. Tacoma was well represented at the 1972 Olympic games by Mr. Seales who would become the sole American boxing gold medal winner. His younger brother, Dale Grant, also was a notable local boxer who was named the US Amateur Boxer of the Year in '72 for his outstanding record. Mr. Seales was born in the Virgin Islands in 1952 while his father was stationed at an Army post there. He became involved in the Tacoma Boys Club in Tacoma after moving here in 1965 and was coached for many years by Joe Clough. Mr. Clough would resign as Mr. Seales' manager in May of 1973 after his first seven victories as a professional. Bill Dickson would then manage Mr. Seales. Photograph ordered by Larry Morris.
Close-up of an intense Dale Grant with clenched fists. 18-year-old Dale Grant, the half-brother of Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Seales, was also a product of the Tacoma boxing scene. Unlike his brother who was born in the Virgin Islands, Dale Grant was born in Seattle in 1955. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, he won the 1972 National AAU championship but in the 156-lb. division. He would also win the 1973 National Golden Gloves championship in that weight division; Sugar Ray Seales had won the 1972 National Golden Gloves championship in the 139-lb. division. Mr. Grant, a TCC student, would turn pro on October 5, 1973, and make his successful debut in Santa Rosa, California, on October 13th. His manager was Larry Morris, son-in-law of local promoter George Yelton. Photograph ordered by Larry Morris. (www.boxrec.com; TNT 10-5-73, B-3 article)
Sugar Ray Seales, left, and half-brother Dale Grant, right, come from a Tacoma family of boxers; both have become champions in the boxing arena. In this 1973 photograph, Seales is a 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist and an unbeaten pro welterweight vying for the world championship. Seales would be the sole American gold medalist in boxing. Grant, an 18-year-old righthander, is just entering professional boxing. Grant was named U.S. Amateur Boxer of the Year for 1972 by the AAU and has a championship 290-18 record. He would be training alongside his brother who stated that "Nobody's hit me any harder than Dale in training." (TNT, 10/5/1973, B3). Photograph ordered by Larry Morris.
Tacoma boxer Dale Grant poses with an unidentified man, possibly his new manager Larry Morris, on October 2, 1973. Following in the footsteps of his half-brother Sugar Ray Seales, Mr. Grant had already won numerous boxing awards and honors. He would announce turning pro on October 5, 1973, with a bout scheduled eight days later in California. He would go on to defeat veteran boxer Dave Arrealino in an unanimous six-round decision. At the start of his professional career, Dale Grant was six feet tall and weighed 153 lbs. Photograph ordered by Larry Morris. (TNT 10-5-73, B-3 article; TNT 10-14-73, B-1 article)
Tacoma boxing champ Dale Grant was 18 when he posed behind his impressive array of trophies including several large Golden Gloves awards in October 1973. Dale Grant was the half-brother of Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Seales. At that time, Mr. Grant was a student at Tacoma Community College. He announced that he was turning pro on October 5, 1973, with a debut scheduled in Santa Rosa, California, on October 13th. He went on to defeat veteran boxer Dave Arrealino in an unanimous six-round decision. Dale Grant began his boxing career at the Tacoma Boys Club in 1966. He had a 290-18 amateur record and won 29 championships. Unlike his older half-brother, he was a right hander. (Photograph ordered by Larry Morris, manager.) (TNT 10-5-73, B-3 article; TNT 10-14-73, B-1 article)
Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Seales sparring in a local gym on October 2, 1973. This is possibly Sugar Ray's own gym, newly opened at 1517 Commerce St. He was the sole American gold medalist in boxing in Munich's 1972 Olympic Games. Sugar Ray had his first pro fight on January 11, 1973, at the University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. By October of that year, he had turned 21 years old and was 11-0. His younger half-brother, Dale Grant, also turned pro in October of 1973. The hard-hitting brothers would be training together. Photograph ordered by Larry Morris. (TNT 8-7-73, B-1-article; TNT 8-17-73, B-2 article; TNT 8-19-73, D-2 article; TNT 10-5-73, B-3-article)
Studio portrait of a boxer. This young man in stocking feet is poised to make a run in the annual Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament coming up in early February of 1979 at the University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. The tournament had been sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission since 1949. A close-up of the boxer is D169239, image 5. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission.
Studio portrait of a boxer. Roger McCane has his gloved fists up in a traditional boxing pose when photographed in early January of 1979. He would be participating in the Tacoma Athletic Commission's annual Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament to be held on February 3, 1979, at the University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (Additional information provided by a reader)
