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;

Tacoma Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen presents a watch to a Tacoma Tigers baseball player and manager Eddie Taylor. Other Tigers and members of the opposing team, the Vancouver Maple Leaf, are lined-up behind them. Wooden baseball grandstand in the background. Taylor is being awarded the watch for hitting the first homer of the season, in the opening game with the Vancouver Maple Leafs. (T. Times 5/3/1937, pg. 11)

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

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);

City League baseball, circa June of 1937. Man sitting at desk in fenced booth, per Richards Studio notes "Mr. Goldwater behind wire." (filed with Argentum)

Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1937. Sales Grange Baseball Team of Parkland, circa 1937. The team was sponsored in the City League by Saxton Lumber Co. (filed with Argentum)

Baseball players--Parkland--1930-1940; Saxton Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

The crowd of spectators in the stands at the Tacoma Tigers baseball game appear to be watching a fly ball. It is the season opener of 1937 and the Tigers are playing the Vancouver Maple Leaf. Manager Eddie Taylor leads his team to a 3-1 win in the first game, only to come back and lose the second game 10-5. (T. Times 5/3/1937, pg. 11)

Sports spectators--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma);

Publicity for Renton 7-Up Ball Club. Informal outdoor portrait of unidentified baseball player taken in July of 1942. For another view of the same player, see D13162, image 2.

Baseball players--Renton; Uniforms;

Publicity for Renton 7-Up Ball Club. Portrait of unidentified player in uniform taken on July 23, 1942. For another view of the same player, see D13162, image 1.

Baseball players--Renton; Uniforms;

These five bowlers were the Tacoma Tigers baseball club's entry in the Northwestern International Bowling Congress. Wearing these Tiger uniforms, they would be knocking down pins on April 30, 1940. From left to right are: Dick McNerthney, Doc Mazen, Bus Anderson, Dr. R. Pennington and Mike Berry. Team average was a not-too-shabby 957. (T.Times 4-29-1940, p. 11- alt. photograph)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Bowling; McNerthney, Dick; Pennington, R.; Berry, Mike;

Ten members of the Jefferson Playfield baseball team and their coach. They wear uniforms printed with "6th Ave. Old Timer" on them. The coach holds a trophy.

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

Although they appear older then their apparent years, the girls in this photograph were identified in the May 18, 1945 Tacoma Times as the Midland Junior High School softball team. The Midland girlsl team had a perfect year in 1945. They went undefeated in interscholastic play, and were declared champions of the Pierce County Junior High School leagues. L-R, back row, Lela Ames, coach, Mary Jane Hamilton, Barbara Taylor, Ruth Elmquist, Grace Keys and Norma Johnson. Front Row, Norma Dunham, Patsy Hankinson, Pat Buffum, Louise Baskett and Jean Starkweather. (T.Times, 5/18/1945, p.13) TPL-7998

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Midland Junior High School (Tacoma);

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;

Several Cheney Studs grin engagingly when caught by the camera on July 5, 1957. They are standing in front of a private airplane owned by the Cheney Lumber Co. A horse, the logo for both the lumber company and the baseball team Ben Cheney sponsored, is painted on the side of the plane. The players may have been preparing to fly out for an upcoming baseball game. Photograph ordered by the Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Airplanes;

These teenagers played in the Babe Ruth league in 1957 and were sponsored by Ben Cheney. They are wearing pinstriped uniforms similar to the ones worn by older Cheney Studs. Mr. Cheney made it possible for thousands of youngsters to participate in amateur sports in the local area. Photograph ordered by the Cheney Lumber Co.

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

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)

Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banners--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Cloherty, Brian; Hovee, Si;

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.

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

In September, 1955, the Richards Studio accompanied local philanthropist and baseball aficionado Ben Cheney to Battle Creek, Michigan. His Cheney Studs team, composed of local high school and college level stars, participated in baseball tournaments there. Mr. Cheney is shown in this September 21, 1955, photograph sharing the 1955 Coca Cola Bottler Award for the American Baseball Congress Northwest Sectional Champions with Studs player George Grant. The table beside him is filled with smaller individual trophies to be given to team members; two of the Studs, Bob Jacobs and Dick Minice, hold trophies in their hands. Coach Joe Budnick is holding the large trophy awarded to the Studs as National Runner-up in the A.B.C. tournament. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (TNT 9-25-55, B-14)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Awards; Budnick, Joe; Grant, George; Jacobs, Bob; Minice, Dick;

Ben Cheney gets a geography lesson as a member of the 1955 Cheney Studs baseball team smilingly points to South Africa on the globe as the next destination for some members of the amateur team. Mr. Cheney loved sports and sponsored a variety of teams. His Cheney Studs had recently returned from Battle Ground, Michigan, as the national runner-up in the American Baseball Congress tournament. Team members are photographed wearing their new letterman jackets. Three of the Studs were named to the fourteen-man United States amateur baseball team chosen to tour South Africa on a three month goodwill, exhibition tour. From left to right are: Ben Cheney, Pitcher Monte Geiger of Bremerton, First baseman Ron Dodge of Olympia, Coach Joe Budnick, and Shortstop Dick Naish of Seattle. Geiger, Dodge and Naish were selected out of thousands of applicants. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 10-6-55, B-9, TNT 11-5-55, p. 8. TNT 11-7-55, p. 22)

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

On April 21, 1928, the McKinley Hill Presidents baseball team, providing excellent advertising for the Arthur Bryant Motor Co. Chevrolet dealership, lounged on the two new Chevys parked inside the Lincoln Bowl. The Chevys were probably part of the parade of businesses that led the way to the Lincoln Bowl for the opening day of the 1928 Tacoma City League baseball season. With 2000 fans in attendance, the Washington Co-ops, the 1927 champions, defeated the McKinley Hill Presidents, who were 1927's runners-up. Elwood "Andy" Anderson of the Co-ops outdueled "Ocky" Haugland of the Presidents, 4-2. (TDL 4-22-28, C-1) G53.1-027; TPL-461

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Baseball--Tacoma--1920-1930; Chevrolet automobile; Signs (Notices); Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma);

Members of the Tacoma Railway & Power Company baseball team and their "mascot" stare stoically at the camera in an April 30, 1925, photograph. L-R back row (last names only given): Bonney, Rice, Kaperick, Pyfer, Hull, Fagon, James, Gordon (Captain). Middle row (L-R): Pryor, Arnold, Kendziora, Hendry, Berry, Billsborrow. Front row (L-R); Mynhier, Williams, Kennedy, "Jargo Jr."-mascot, Purcell, Wharton, Berg. Behind them are the covered stands of Athletic Park, located on Sprague Avenue between 14th & 15th Streets, where fans could watch games in comfort. The TR & P team competed in the 6-team Commercial League in 1925; they were joined by teams from the Rhodes Bros., City Lumber, American Institute of Banking, Harmon & Co. and Washington Coop. Egg. The Commercial League opened their 1925 season at Athletic Park on April 27th, matching up the previous year's champs, the TR & P with the league runner-up, Rhodes Bros. This time Rhodes Bros. came up winners in seven innings with a 5-2 score. (TDL 4-26-25, C-2, 5-2-25, p. 6; TNT 5-19-25, p. 17) G53.1-038 TPL-10076

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The 1930 McKinley Avenue baseball team, apparently also known as "McKinley Hill," played in the five-team City League. The team won their season opener on April 26, 1930, with an 11-inning victory over the 38th Streeters. On May 1st, they battled to a 0-0 tie in their second game against South Tacoma in the Lincoln Bowl. Taking on the role of player-coach was shortstop Vince Duckwitz. (TDL 5-2-30, p. 8-article) TPL-9235; G53.1-004

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

ca. 1926. Dressed in pinstriped uniforms are the Cammarano Bros. baseball team, circa 1926 or 1927. The Cammarano Bros. were Tacoma bottlers and distributors of carbonated beverages and beer. They sponsored employee baseball teams for many years who competed in local leagues. Names of the above players were not given. (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection) TPL-10407

Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Uniforms;