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 "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);

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;

This was Lincoln High School's baseball team in 1938. The photograph is identical to A7195, image 1, except for the omission of printed school identification. 15 boys are in uniform, supplemented by two student managers with letterman sweaters and coach Eddie Schwarz. Coach Schwarz would lead his team in battle against the Stadium Tigers on April 21st where Stadium would defeat Lincoln 10-6 at Athletic Park. (T.Times 4-21-38, p. 15-names of team members listed)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Schwarz, Ed;

Sam Jackson, center, helped make July 23, 1939 special for two unidentified polio victims by taking them to a Tacoma Tigers double header at Athletic Park, near So. 15th and Sprague. Samuel Jackson was president of the Tacoma General Hospital and chairman of the board of the National Bank of Washington. The "Golden Jubilee" was the Tacoma celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood.

Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma); Jackson, Samuel M.;

Three boys relax and clown, ready for the 1938 Tacoma Tigers season opening game. In 1937, organized baseball had returned to Tacoma after a 15 year absence. Over 6,000 fans poured into the stands to support their local 1937 Western International League champions, the Tacoma Tigers.

Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma);

Cammarano Beverages "Special Delivery" truck in front of Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store. For Davis Motor Company, Diamond T Trucks. (date on photograph may be 03-12-1937) (filed with Argentum)

Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma); Firestone Auto Supply & Service Store (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Davis Motor Truck Company (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Diamond T trucks;

The 1936 Daffodil Queen, Helen Edgerton of Puyallup, and her court were present at the Tacoma City League's opening day of the baseball season. The bleachers at Lincoln High School were packed with spectators eager to watch the two top finishers of the previous year, the champion Beacon Oilers and second place Superior Dairy, in action. Flanking the young ladies were Gov. Clarence D. Martin at far right and Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley at left. Queen Helen is third from right.

Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Governors; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1930-1940; Edgerton, Helen; Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Crowds; Lincoln High School (Tacoma);

On August 12, 1935, the Will Hardware Juniors and the Chicken Coup All Stars, from the Bremerton Junior Baseball Club, paired off to settle the tied 6-6 baseball game of the week before. Their ace pitchers and coaches posed amiably in front of Washington Field's covered, wooden bleachers. They are identified in the Bremerton Sun as Chicken Coop pitcher McCarty, Will Hardware pitcher Bob Dowell, and coaches Mulvany, Bunker and Moon. The Coop AllStars won the game 6-1. (Bremerton Sun 8/12/1935, pg. 3)

Baseball--Bremerton--1930-1940; Baseball players--Bremerton--1930-1940; Bremerton Junior Baseball Club (Bremerton); Dowell, Bob;

On May 2, 1937, Abner Bergersen, Tacoma commissioner of public works, presented a gold watch to Tacoma Tigers player-manager Eddie Taylor for hitting the first home run by a Tiger for the 1937 season. Besides managing the team, Taylor was also the teams regular 2nd baseman. After the presentation, the Tigers went on to split a double header against Vancouver in front of 4,000 cheering fans. They won the first game 3 to 1, but lost the second 10 to 5. Tacoma lost the four game series 3 games to 1. (T. Times 5/3/1937, pg. 11)

Bergersen, Abner R.; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. City League individual pictures, baseball player on the Cammarano Brothers team; possibly the coach.

Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Washington Hardware Juniors Baseball team. By the middle of July of 1940, the eleven teams of the Junior League were going into the second half of their playoffs with Washington Hardware near the top with 2 wins and no losses. (T.Times 7/16/40, pg. 11)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

Publicity for Renton 7-Up Ball Club. Close-up portrait of unidentified baseball player taken outdoors on July 23, 1942.

Baseball players--Renton; Uniforms;

In August of 1942, the "Tillicum Chiefs" of Western State Hospital, who played in the Twilight League, had won 23 games and were in the playoffs for the circuit title. Much of the credit went to their pitcher Dick Smith who returned to Santa Clara University before the final playoff games. Pictured in the back row, left to right, Clink Jacobs (mgr.), Dick Smith, Fred Hebert, unidentified patient who served as mascot, Howard Johnson, Phil Jacobs and Garry Robinson (business mgr.) Front row, left to right, Bus Mitchell, Lorny Merkle, Johnny Ward, Dewey West and Bob Huegel. Chuck Rasmussen, Bud Clausen and Red Little were absent. (T. Times 9/4/1942, pg. 12)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western State Hospital (Lakewood)--baseball players;

Unidentified player with the Western State Hospital "Tillicum Chiefs."

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western State Hospital (Lakewood)--baseball players;

Back of Photo:
Cheney Stadium
Photograph by Bruce Larson

Back of Photo:
Peck Field

Last day of school photographs; photo ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune. View of four unidentified boys with their baseball equipment; they are likely getting ready to start playing in a summer baseball league, possibly at the Tacoma Boys' Club.

Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children playing baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sporting goods; Children--Social life--1940-1950; Recreation--Tacoma; Boys--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Having spent a busy night on December 24, 1946 visiting every good little girl and boy in Tacoma/Pierce County, on Christmas Day Santa took in a baseball game. On December 25, 1946 the unidentified players on the 3 and 0 Club helped prove that it is never too late in the season for a good baseball game. This photograph was taken by Walde Krauklis, the husband of Genevieve Louise Richards Krauklis, when he worked as a photographer for the Richards Studio.

Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Santa Claus--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; 3 and O' Club (Tacoma);

Ten members of the Jefferson Playfield baseball team. They wear uniforms printed with "6th Ave. Old Timer" on them. According to Richards Studio notes, the team was sponsored by the 6th Ave merchants.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Old Timers (Baseball Team); Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Baseball Club. Mel Knezovich, Gordon Walden, Lefty Bob Kerrigan and Cline Hufford were expected to be the "big four" starting pitchers for the Tigers during their 1950 season. They would be backed up by Gil Loust, Bob Penner, Don Carter and Vince Lazor. (TNT, 4/19/1950, p.20)

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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);

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)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Uniforms;

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)

Baseball players--Tacoma; Uniforms;

The 1956 Tacoma Cheney Studs baseball team. The team was made up of the best amateur players from local high school and college teams. Bottom row, third from left, is Joe Budnick, Studs manager and University of Washington coach. The 1956 Studs contained many of the team members from the previous year, plus several new outstanding players. To the right of Joe Budnick are Luther Carr, George Kritsonis and George Grant. In the back row, third from the right is Ron Dodge. Other players included Mel Manley, Monte Geiger, Pete Walski and Gary Moore. The team won the Seattle City League Crown, finished second in Tacoma's City League and third in the Northwest International League. They lost to Tacoma's Shoemen in the Washington State Amateur Baseball Championship. The Shoemen came from behind to win 5 straight games, including one double header, to be the representative for the state. The Shoemen continued on to win the Amateur World Series, the American Amateur Baseball Congress, in 1956.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

A young baseball player with the 1955 Washington Cheney Studs team. The Cheney Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented high school and college talent in the Seattle-Tacoma area. This is possibly Fred Emerson who played outfield for the Studs. During the school year, Fred attended the University of Washington. He was 18 years of age, 5'11", 180 pounds and a native of Kent, Wa. After a stellar winning season, the Studs finished second at the American Baseball Congress in Battle Creek, Michigan, behind the team from Houston, Texas.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

A trio of young ladies appear to be crooning into the microphone at the Seattle banquet honoring the Washington Cheney Studs baseball team. The October 30, 1955, gathering was to acknowledge the feats of the young amateur players, and award them with trophies and new jackets. A portrait of sponsor Ben Cheney graces the occasion. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banquets; Awards;

Group portrait-- Washington Cheney Studs. Members of the Cheney Studs baseball team and their coaches gather in front of a portrait of benefactor Ben Cheney and the massive trophies awarded them at the September American Baseball Congress tournament. The players were being honored at a banquet held in Seattle on October 30, 1955. Trophies and new jackets with the Cheney Studs logo were given to the team at that time. Sepia photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

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