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).
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;
The Tacoma Tigers were starting the Western International League series with a double header against the Salem Senators. The Salem Senators won both games against Tacoma, 7 to 3 and 2 to 1. View of opening day baseball game; the Tacoma Tigers against the Salem Senators at Tiger Ball Park (T.N.T., 4/25/49, p. 16).
This unidentified Tacoma Tigers "bat person" was all ready for the 1949 season opener scheduled for Friday April 22. Unfortunately, it rained. The first game of the season was not played until Sunday the 24th. On that day the Tigers faced the Salem Senators in a double header. Before a home town crowd of 4,535 fans they lost both games, 7-3 and 2-1. (TNT 04/25/1949, p. 16)
Tacoma Baseball Club. The Tacoma Tigers opened their 1950 Western International title bid April 19, 1950, against the Salem Legislators. Catcher Bill Sheets, joining when the team came home to Tacoma, would be the number one catcher with Redwood Fischer as his understudy. The outfield was expected to be better than all right with George Nichols in center, Dick Wenner in left, with Dick Greco in right. (TNT, 4/19/1950, p.20) TPL-4744
Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;
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 Baseball Club. Arnold (Red) Fischer was the number one catcher during the initial fortnight of spring drills at the Tacoma Tigers camp in Bakersfield, California. With the return of Bill Sheets, Fisher was probably crowded out as the first-string receiver, but Manager Jim Brillheart hoped to utilize the youngster's power at the plate and develop him into a third baseman. (TNT, 4/13/1950, p.C-8)
Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Tacoma Baseball Club. Manager Jim Brillheart had put together the 1950 Tigers team with returning reinforcements: "Wimpy" Quinn as the number one first baseman, Dick Wenner as outfielder, catcher Bill Sheets and right-hander, Don Carter. The Tigers won the first inning of their home season and went on to defeat Spokane, 5 to 2, before 3,133 welcoming fans at Tiger Field. (TNT, 4/27/1950, p. 26) TPL-4745
Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Tacoma Baseball Club. The Tacoma Tigers opened their exhibition season in Bakersfield, California, in early April 1950. The Tigers opened in Tacoma April 26, 1950. Dave Nadeau served as auditor for the team that year with James Benson Brillheart as manager of the club. Frank Gillihan was the business manager. (TNT, 4/26/1950, p.18) TPL-4746
Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;
This publicity photograph for a Tacoma Tigers game against Salem was taken on July 17,1950. Floyd (Lefty) Isekite, one of the great southpaws of the Western International League, demonstrates a pitching grip for Clarence Stave. Stave, peering over his sunglasses, was a retired umpire. Earl Kuper, at the far right, had been a catcher and manager for the Tigers. The three committeemen were promoting Tacoma Athletic Club night, August 1, at Tiger Stadium. (TNT 7-23-50, B-7)
A crouching umpire, waiting catcher and focused batter #12 appear in this June, 1951 tableau. The batter may have made contact with the ball with a powerful swing as the ball is not in the photograph. The unidentified batter in pinstripes was a member of the Cheney Studs.
Group pictures of the Richards sponsored baseball team were taken on August 6, 1951. The twelve member team looks ready to play; the boys seated in the first row are all grasping bats or gloves while a pile of equipment including shin guards and a catchers mask are placed before them.
Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sporting goods; Group portraits--1950-1960; Boys--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The formal dedication of Tacoma's baseball park as Cheney Field took place August 18, 1952. For the occasion, Ben Cheney, who purchased the park from the San Diego Padres, flew the Medford Cheney Studs north from Oregon for an exhibition game with the Fort Lewis Brewers, second-half champions of the Tacoma City League. The Brewers were pictured on the edge of the ball field wearing "Olds Pilsner" uniforms. The Brewers handed Cheney's Medford team an 8-1 defeat. (TNT, 8/23/1952, p.24 & 8/30/1952, p.18) Format 7" x 11"
Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney Field (Tacoma);
At the May 5, 1938 opener of the Tacoma Tigers season, Mayor George Smitley throws out the first ball. Over 6,000 fans turned out to watch the defending champion Tigers meet the team from Yakima. In 1937, organized baseball had returned to Tacoma after a 15 year absence.
Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma); Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940;
The May 5, 1938 hometown debut of the Tacoma Tigers at the Tacoma Athletic Park. A record capacity crowd of 6,000 fans crams into the bleachers, spilling out onto the infield. Despite all of the enthusiasm, the Tigers, defending champions, lost to Yakima 8 to 7.
Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma);
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);
The 1939 Lincoln High School Baseball Team portrait. Fifteen players in uniform surround team manager Bob Wayno, dressed in casual dark jacket and wearing a baseball cap. The pitcher for the team was Bob Kohant. The team was coached by Eddie Schwartz. (T. Times)
Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wayno, Bob;
The 6th Avenue Colts fielded two baseball teams in the summer of 1954, participating in both the Bantam and the PeeWee divisions. Seventeen beaming boys and their head coach and manager, Si Hovee, posed with banners on a sunny day in June. All the players are dressed in regulation uniforms with the team emblem sewn on. The teams were sponsored in the Tacoma Recreational Baseball League by the Greater 6th Avenue, Inc., a business and civic organization. The 6th Avenue merchants paid $500 out of their own pockets for the boys to participate in the city's united baseball program, as a way to help them keep busy in wholesome activities. The PeeWee Colts ended up being the PeeWee League Champs as they were undefeated in regular play and won the PeeWee Tournament at Peck Field. At the far left in the second row is Brian Cloherty. He went on to play at Bellarmine High, Seattle Univ., and Eastern Washington State (now Eastern Washington University). (TNT 6-30-54, B-7 - Ad, TNT 8-22-54, C-19)) TPL-8619 (Additional identification provided by a reader)
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;
A young baseball player is shown just completing his throw in an August 29, 1954, photograph. The logo on his cap indicates that he is a member of the Cheney Studs, an amateur team sponsored by local lumberman and philanthropist, Ben Cheney. The young man is in a uniform with "Seattle" on the jersey instead of the customary pinstriped Studs uniform. The Cheney Studs had teams in other cities besides Tacoma, including Medford, Oregon, and perhaps in Seattle as well. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.
Sam Jackson, wearing a straw hat with a "Golden Jubilee" hat band, helped make July 23, 1939 special for two unidentified polio victims by taking them to a double header at Athletic Park, near So. 15th and Sprague. Three Tigers players sat behind the young patients, who were separated by two women (their mothers?), to have the day captured on film. Samuel Jackson was president of the Tacoma General Hospital and chairman of the board of the National Bank of Washington. The Tigers lost the first game of the day to Vancouver 6 to 5, but won the second 2 runs to 1, the Tigers' pitcher, Carl Brady, having given up only 3 hits. The "Golden Jubilee" was the Tacoma celebration of Washington's 50th anniversary of statehood.
Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma); Jackson, Samuel M.;
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.;
In June of 1955, while a member of the Washington Cheney Studs, Luther Carr demonstrated his bunting technique for the camera. Luther Carr played for Lincoln High School and had aroused the interest of several major colleges and professional teams. He played baseball, football, basketball and competed in track. An all around athlete, Carr in May of 1955 broke the state prep broadjump record that had stood since 1938. His jump was 23 feet, 9 5/8 inches. Carr turned down many professional sports offers after high school, choosing instead a college sports scholarship with the University of Washington Huskies. While a Husky, Luther scored on some of the most dazzling runs ever seen in Husky Stadium. The Studs, an amateur team made up of the most talented baseball players in the Puget Sound area, played 60 games during the summer of 1955 including several against professional players. (TNT 5/1/1955, pg. B-14)
Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseballs; African American baseball players; Carr, Luther; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);
George Kritsonis; 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. George was one of the pitchers for the team and attended Seattle University. He also played outfield for the Studs. He was 18 years old during the season, 6'1" tall and 160 pounds and was a native of Issaquah, Wa. George was voted "Most Valuable Player" of the Northwest series of the American Baseball Congress at Watertown, S.D. The Studs defeated Omaha 12-3 to clinch the Northwest title.
Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kritsonis, George; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;
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, outfielder, for the Studs and student at the University of Washington. Emerson was 18 years of age, 5'11", 180 pounds and originally from Kent, Wa. The Studs finished second in 1955 at the nationals of the American Baseball Congress. They were scouted heavily by the professional teams. Those scouts felt that the team was the best behaved, quietest and had the most major league prospects of any team in the playoffs. Ben Cheney emphasized that the young men on his team finish college before turning professional to better prepare them for life.
Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);
Unidentified 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. The Studs began the season by playing exhibition games against professional farm teams and also the amateur city league. They ended the season by finishing second in the nation, behind Houston, at the nationals of the American Baseball Congress.
Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);
