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.;

Eleven Reichhold Chemicals team members pose with the trophy honoring them as the commercial champions of the year in softball. Most of the men are wearing a RCI logo on their uniforms. Reichhold, like many other large companies, sponsored recreational teams for their employees. These men were part of the eighty employed by the company in 1958; the company had an annual payroll of $500,000. Plans were announced in November, 1958, to build a major phenol producing plant, necessary to plywood production, with a $1 million payroll and 150 added employees. Construction was to start the latter part of 1959. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (TNT 11-2-58, A-1)

Softball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Awards;

An exuberant Wayne Hoff of Mason Junior High shows off his basketball skills by twirling his ball in this November, 1962, photograph. He was a member of the Cheney Studs Courteers, one of the many youth groups sponsored by Ben Cheney. Each team member, in whatever sport, seemed to be well equipped with proper safety equipment and stylish uniforms. The Courteers were especially selected to provide half-time entertainment at high schools, AAU and college basketball games. Their 9.5 minute act showcased coordinated ball handling and dribbling set to rock n' roll tunes. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 2-4-62, A-8)

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

The eight-member Cheney Studs Courteers basketball team was photographed in November of 1962 in the Wilson High School gym, with coach Gene Anderson, a Cheney Lumber Co. executive, at left. The members of the Courteers were junior high students who provided half-time entertainment at various college, AAU and high school games. These youngsters showcased their ball handling and dribbling skills in exhibition numbers set to lively rock 'n roll. Kneeling at extreme left are Wayne Hoff of Mason Jr. High with Rob Norwood at his side. Tom (Hummingbird) Mack of McCarver is in the center of the second row. Ben Cheney continued his generosity in sponsoring youth sports teams, not only in his favorite pastime, baseball, but also in football and basketball. Tacoma's traveling goodwill ambassadors would perform in December, 1962, for audiences at the San Francisco Cow Palace and also in Los Angeles. Ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 2-4-62, A-8, TNT 12-16-62, C-19) TPL-9880 (Additional i.d.provided by a reader)

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Uniforms; Hoff, Wayne; Mack, Tom; Norwood, Rob; Anderson, Gene;

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)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Grant, Dale;

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)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Grant, Dale; Awards;

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)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seales, Ray;

Colt League team. Coach Norman Orr poses with his Colt League team in late June of 1970 at Heidelberg Field. The baseball team was sponsored by Ben Cheney and played under the Cheney Studs logo. Players were believed to be 15-16 years old. Photograph ordered by the Cheney Lumber Co.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Uniforms; Orr, Norman;

Baseball clinic. Cheney Stadium was packed with youngsters on Saturday, May 20, 1972, as the budding baseball stars participated in a two-hour clinic jointly sponsored by the Tacoma Twins and Carling Brewery. The News Tribune reported that 1291 kids were in attendance. Personalized instruction in fielding, batting, and other skills was provided by 16 Twins players with pitcher Hal Haydel as chief instructor. Free tickets were handed out to the young athletes to that night's Twins game with Salt Lake City; provided, of course, that they were accompanied by adults. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Twins. (TNT 5-17-72, C-16- article; TNT 5-21-72, D-1)

Baseball--Tacoma--1970-1980; Baseball players--Tacoma--1970-1980; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

These four golfers, and many more, participated in the 1972 Northwest Pro-Presidents golf tournament held at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club on April 28, 1972. The field for the one-day tournament was a mixture of Western Washington pros and club presidents. Host pro Gerry Mehlert had the best round of the day - a sparkling 69. Winner of the tournament by four strokes was the twosome of Bob Lundgaard, president of the Olympia Country Club, and professional Rick Adell. Color photograph ordered by Gerry Mehlert. (TNT 4-27-72, C-11 -article; TNT 4-29-72, p. 10 -article)

Golf--Tacoma--1970-1980; Golfers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1970-1980;

The Dash Point Owls defeated the Valley Forge Mechanics (of the Fife area) to win the Pierce County Independent Basketball League championship in 1928. The deciding game was played at the Puyallup High School. The Sumner Athletic Club and Kimball's Sporting Goods teams had lost in the semi-final round. Dash Point players included (order unknown): Hendry, A. Dayton, McDougall, B. Dayton, Dow and McVittie.

Basketball players;

ca. 1935. Superior Dairy's baseball team, City League Champions 1935. The team posed with their bat boy. Their uniforms had the emblem of a milk bottle filled with the initials S.D. (WSHS)

Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Superior Dairy (Tacoma);

Armistice Day Navy-Army Football Game at Stadium Bowl. Over 8,000 people packed the stands on November 11, 1935 for a charity Army vs. Navy Armistice Day football game held at the Stadium Bowl. The Navy arrived from Bremerton on the ferry Kalakala and stayed to defeat the Army 6 to 2 on a field that resembled a sea of mud. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum) (see D410 for more pictures of the same event)

Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The coaching staff for the 1935 Bremerton High School Wildcats reviewed plays on September 4, 1935, preparing for the opening game on the 21st. Pictured left to right are Assistant Coaches Leonard Kelly, Lloyd Critser and Charles Jones, while Head Coach Harold Shidler maps out a play in the loose dirt. (filed with Argentum) (Bremerton Sun 09-20-1935, pg. 1)

Football players--Bremerton--1930-1940; Athletes--Bremerton--1930-1940; Kelly, Leonard; Critser, Lloyd; Jones, Charles; Shidler, Harold;

Group picture of the 1935 Bremerton High School Wildcats, the local football team. The team was getting ready for the opening game on September 21, 1935. (filed with Argentum)

Football players--Bremerton--1930-1940; Athletes--Bremerton--1930-1940; Bremerton High School (Bremerton);

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;