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;

Still in a crouch, a golfer believed to be Arnold Palmer watches his ball head toward the hole on the final day of the 1960 Carling Open held in September of 1960 at the Fircrest Golf Club. His two playing partners and caddy, along with hundreds of spectators, watch intently. Arnold Palmer had already won over $70,000 in 1960 and was looking to add the $3,500 first prize money to his earnings. Palmer won a disappointing $250; he finished with a total of 281 after 72-holes, nine strokes behind Ernie Vossler, a 31-year-old from Midland, Texas. Vossler beat Paul Harney by one stroke to capture the 1960 Carling Open. Photograph ordered by the Carling Brewery. (TNT 9-19-60, p.l4) TPL-9898

Golf--Fircrest--1960-1970; Golfers--Fircrest--1960-1970; Putting (Golf)--Fircrest; Sports spectators--Fircrest;

Golfer teeing off in Carling Open on September 16, 1960. Two competitors squat while waiting their turn. Large crowd follows flight of the ball. The Carling Open, held at the Fircrest Golf Course, attracted a large field of prominent players, including Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Bob Rosburg, Lionel Hebert, Don January, and Julius Boros. The event was co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society and 25,000 local residents came out to watch the action. Photograph ordered by Tom Hill, Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel, to be displayed on easels throughout hotel. (TNT 9-19-60, p. 14)

Golf--Fircrest--1960-1970; Golfers--Fircrest--1960-1970; Sports spectators--Fircrest;

ca. 1964. Compilation of articles on the Cheney Studs Courteers; copy made from customer's negative. These Tacoma youngsters, sponsored by lumberman Ben Cheney, were roving basketball ambassadors in the 1960's. Aged 11-15, and small in built, they were known for their basketball wizardry, especially their precision dribbling. George Brown and Ricky Stewart were two boys highlighted in the Medford, Oregon and Tacoma News Tribune's articles. There were also group pictures of the Courteers, including one where they are dressed in suit and tie, clutching small trophies. Photograph ordered on May 4, 1967, by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Junior High School boys come in all sizes and members of the Cheney Studs Courteers were no exception. Sponsored by lumberman Ben Cheney, the ability to master basketball drills and put on entertaining half-time programs was more important than height. Five Courteers are pictured smiling on December 2, 1967, on the floor of the Western State Hospital gym, as they greet a much smaller teammate. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Standing on top of a traveling Cheney Studs trunk is one of the smallest members of the Courteers basketball troupe. The exuberant youngster with the large grin shows that he can balance a basketball just as well as taller members. Gazing upward with a surprised look is another Courteers teammate. The junior high school students were practicing at the Western State Hospital gym on December 2, 1967. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Luggage;

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;

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;

Paul Spruell in action on May 11, 1965, at the Lakewood Ice Arena. He competed in the Novice men category in 1965. Paul was practicing for the "Ice Capers of 1965" presented by the Lakewood Winter Club later in the month. In January, 1966, Paul, 16, would compete in the U.S. Ice Skating Championships in Berkeley, California. It would be his first time at nationals. Photograph ordered by Lakewood Winter Club. (TNT 5-16-65, D-1, TNT 1-23-66, B-12)

Ice skating--Lakewood--1960-1970; Skaters; Spruell, Paul;

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;

Captured in print for all time is a portrait of youth in action. Six Cheney Studs Courteers are pictured in various poses, mimicking the frenetic activity of their half-time basketball shows. The junior high school boys would entertain crowds gathered at high school, college and even professional games, with their high potency basketball skills. They were sponsored by lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Wood carving. Forever frozen in step is this football player carved from wood. He clutches a football against his chest as he races toward an unseen goal line. This carving may have been created by Tacoma master artist Art McKellips. There were apparently several other carvings done at the same time which depicted the art of golf, basketball and baseball among others. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber.

Wood carvings; Football players;

Four-year-old Suzy Jo, a student at the Hilltop Day Care Training Center for Mentally Retarded Children, has her eyes fixed on the bouncing ball while three adults kneel behind her in the University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse on January 15, 1969. Mel Jackson, associate director of the Hilltop Multi-Service Center, jubilantly holds aloft two fund raising tickets to the upcoming UPS-University of Alaska basketball game to be held on February 1, 1969, at the Fieldhouse. Next to Mr. Jackson are Al Roberts, UPS co-chairman of the upcoming charity event, and Mrs. Marguerite Cousins, director of the training center. Proceeds from the benefit match would go to the help students at the learning center. The following year would see the nationally-ranked cagers from UPS play California's University of Redlands, with ticket sales directed once more to the learning center. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. (TNT 1-26-69, D-14, TNT 1-25-70, B-6)

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods); Girls--Tacoma--1960-1970; Jackson, Mel; Roberts, Al; Cousins, Marguerite; Fund raising--Tacoma--1960-1970;

A small group of admiring young fans surround three junior hockey players in a February, 1953, photograph shot for King Feature Syndicate. The goalie and two other players sign autographs while standing near the large goal. Photograph ordered by Allen Goldfin.

Ice hockey--Tacoma; Ice hockey players--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks; Sports spectators;

Coverage of the annual football banquet for the youth leagues, ordered by the Cheney Lumber Company. In 1959, the banquet was held at Wellmans. Seated in the middle of the long row to the right and looking back over his shoulder at a youth is Ben Cheney. Cheney helped found the kids football program in the early fifties. Cheney poured money into the program enabling many youngsters to enjoy participating in the team sport.

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Football--Tacoma--1950-1960; Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Awards; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

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;

These five young bowlers happily displayed their trophies in May of 1961. They were the Villa Bowl bantam team that won the Western Division Championship of the 16th National Team Mail-O-Graphic tournament held at the Villa Bowl in Lakewood. The boys went on to earn 124th place at nationals. Left to right are Bradley Clevinger, Evan MacKay, Sam Munro, Jerroll Theuer and Jim MacKay who are standing in front of the Villa Bowl, a 24-lane bowling alley, in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Photograph ordered by Villa Bowl. (TNT 6-11-61, B-14)

Bowlers--Lakewood; Awards; Clevinger, Bradley; MacKay, Evan; Munro, Sam; Theuer, Jerroll; MacKay, Jim; Villa Bowl (Lakewood);

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;

Ben Cheney's generosity permitted thousands of Tacoma youth to participate in sports including football, basketball and baseball. The local lumberman and philanthropist sponsored many teams under the name, Cheney Studs, and they were able to play at the facility named after Mr. Cheney, Cheney Field. View of two Cheney Studs Midget football players practicing the art of kicking while two coaches observe on November 1, 1958. These players are dressed in full uniform including the famous Cheney Studs logo on their jerseys. The Midget Studs met Lakewood at Clover Park High School for the league championship later that day. Both teams had a 4-0-1 record; the tie was with each other. Coincidentally, they tied again in the championship game at 6-6. They were scheduled to play again the following week but were declared co-champions with no additional playoffs. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 10-24-58, D-3; TNT 11-7-58, p. 25)

Football--Tacoma--1950-1960; Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Festivities continued at the 1963 Washington State Sports Hall of Fame sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Guests appear to be conversing quietly at the head table while two men stand at the podium. The man to the right is Jack Connor, octogenarian boxing manager and one of the five honored as inductees in the Tacoma-Pierce County Hall of Fame. Present during the February 6, 1963, awards banquet were Governor Albert D. Rosellini (seated with head bowed next to trophy), baseball star Maury Wills, Ben Cheney and William Gazecki, president of the Tacoma Athletic Commission. Comedian Joe E. Brown, principal speaker, is seated on the right side of the head table. (TNT 2-7-63, C-7)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Awards; Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (Tacoma); Rosellini, Albert D.; Wills, Maury; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Gazecki, William; Connor, Jack;

Guest Maury Wills poses next to lumber magnate Ben Cheney (L) during the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Washington State Sports Hall of Fame awards gathering on February 6, 1963. Wills, a shortstop with the L.A. Dodgers, had broken Ty Cobb's record of 97 stolen bases in one season, with a grand total of 104, in 1962. He would be a major force in his fourteen years with the Dodgers, helping them to three World Series. Wills was named the 1962 Athlete of the Year by Associated Press sportswriters and would also be honored as the Washington State Athlete of the Year that evening. During the off-season, Wills made his home in Spokane. (TNT 2-3-63, B-7)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Awards; Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (Tacoma); Wills, Maury; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

An appreciative crowd greets the speaker, master of ceremonies Clay Huntington, at the podium during the 1963 Washington State Sports Hall of Fame gathering on February 6, 1963. The event was filmed by KTNT-TV. The Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1960 by the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Clay Huntington, well known Northwest sportscaster and radio station owner. Those elected to membership in the Hall of Fame must be at least five years in retirement from the sport involved. Members are recognized for their outstanding sports accomplishments and contributions. The fourth State Sports Hall of Fame gathering combined the State and Tacoma-Pierce County Halls of Fame. (TNT 2-3-63, B-7) (www.washingtonsportshalloffame.com/index2.htm)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (Tacoma); Awards;

In this photograph from November, 1963, eight Cheney Studs Courteers demonstrate some of the sparkling personality and court wizardry that made them a popular half-time attraction at high school, AAU, and college basketball games throughout the Pacific Northwest. Founded by Ben Cheney, and sponsored by the Cheney Lumber Company, the Courteers performed a 9.5 minute routine that showcased coordinated ball handling and dribbling set to lively rock n' roll music. They appeared on national television during half-time of the January 25 & January 26, 1964, Lakers-Warriors basketball games. Kneeling from L-R are: Billy Herd, Pete Wonders and Eddie Herd. Standing: George Brown, Tom Rogers, Rickey Stewart, Denny Karna and Jeff Smith. The boys ranged in age from 11-15 and stood 4'5" - 4'11." Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 1-19-64, B-13)

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Former world heavyweight boxing champions Joe Louis, left, and Max Baer, right, with store owner E. L. Irwin during a May, 1958, appearance at Tacoma's B&I Circus Store. Cliff Olson, PLU coach and athletic director; Frank Stojack, football player and wrestling champion; and Pat McMurtry, heavyweight boxing title contender, also participated in the autograph event. (TNT, 5/1/1958, p. C9). TPL-187. ALBUM 9.

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baer, Max, 1909-1959--Public appearances;Louis, Joe, 1914-1981--Public appearances; B&I Circus Store (Tacoma); Irwin, E.L.;