A view of the stands and announcers booth at Tiger Ball Park. Ordered by Dix H. Rowland.

Athletic fields--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma);

A view of the baseball diamond from the announcers box at Tiger Ball Park. The safety net is in place to protect the crowd from fly balls. Ordered by Dix H. Rowland.

Athletic fields--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma);

Back drop screen at Tiger Ball Park, United Pacific Insurance Company, W.W. Seifert. The baseball field was also known as Tacoma Baseball Park. This view includes home base, the metal netting hung around the play field and the wooden stands for fans.

Athletic fields--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma);

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).

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball umpires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sports officiating--Tacoma; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma);

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)

Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Uniforms; Sporting goods; Athletic fields--Tacoma; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma);

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);

A group of twenty-six young football players proudly pose for their team portrait at Cheney Field wearing Cheney Studs jerseys and helmets and plenty of pads. Ben Cheney is standing in the rear on the right.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney Field (Tacoma); Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Ben Cheney sponsored many amateur teams, all sporting the nomenclature, the Cheney Studs. A young baseball player is photographed at dusk on June 19, 1958; he is wearing a pinstriped uniform with the familiar Studs logo. The baseball team was composed of high school and college-level stars in the Puget Sound area. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

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

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;

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;

Ben Cheney, flanked by his wife Marian, seems to pulling out cash to buy daughter Sandy a ticket to see daddy's team play in daddy's stadium. The Cheney stud logo and name are prominent in the background. Ben Cheney, millionaire lumberman and baseball enthusiast, purchased the field, Tiger Ball Park, from the San Diego Padres with the title to pass to the Metropolitan Park District. The ticket is to the series of exhibition games to be played by the Washington Cheney Studs in the summer. The Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented collegiate and high school baseball players in the Seattle-Tacoma area. During the summer of 1955, they would play 60 games, many in Cheney Field. The tickets are being purchased from Helmer Larson, longtime attache to the park. (TNT 5/29/1955, pg. B-7) TPL-8620

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Family; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Marian; Cheney, Sandra; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney Field (Tacoma); Larson, Helmer; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

Ben Cheney poses in front of the field he funded, Cheney Field, with Luther Carr, the Lincoln High School baseball and football phenomenon. Luther looks calmly and confidently at the camera. Carr had aroused the interest of many colleges but had agreed to spend the summer playing with the Washington Cheney Studs. The Studs were made up of young college and high school baseball stars of Tacoma, Seattle and nearby communities. They would play exhibition games at Cheney Field, including five against professional Class B Northwest League Teams. Carr was hitting just a shade over the .300 mark for the Studs. (TNT 5/1/1955, pg. B-14, TNT 8/1/1955, pg. 10)

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney Field (Tacoma); African American baseball players; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Carr, Luther; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

Standing in front of the athletic field bearing his name, lumberman and baseball aficionado Ben Cheney smilingly prepares to purchase a ticket to watch his team, the Washington Cheney Studs, play on May 26, 1955. Helmer Larson already has the ticket extended for the series of exhibition games featuring the Studs. The baseball team consisted of talented high school and college students based in the Tacoma-Seattle region. Mr. Cheney was a well-known philanthropist who sponsored thousands of boys and girls in a variety of amateur sports, giving children a chance to participate in athletics without financial pressure.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney Field (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Larson, Helmer; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

On August 18, 1952, Ben Cheney posed with a few of the dignitaries on hand to dedicate the ballpark purchased by Mr. Cheney for the city of Tacoma. He said, "The main thing I'm interested in is for the kids to have a decent place where they can play baseball and football or any of their other games." The dignitaries on hand were, L-R, Robert B. Abel, Dill Howell, Clay Huntington, Mr. Cheney, Fred Henricksen, Tom Cross and Tom Lantz. Ben Cheney had exercised his option to purchase the former home of the Western International league baseball club, Tiger Ball Park, from the San Diego Padres. After annual rentals totalled the $42,500 sales price, title to the park would pass to the Metropolitan Park District. Mr. Cheney was wearing the uniform of the "Cheney Studs" team from Medford, Oregon, who played against the Tacoma city league champion Brewers. The Cheney Lumber Company logo of a "stud" horse was on the baseball diamond's fence and Ben Cheney's jacket. (TNT, 8/21/1952, p.1 & 8/30/1952, pl.18)

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cheney Field (Tacoma); Abel, Robert B.; Howell, Dill; Huntington, Clay; Henricksen, Fred; Cross, Tom; Lantz, Tom;

Group portrait of Miller & Donovan Tigers Baseball Team at Tiger Ball Park, also known as Tacoma Baseball Park. The Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma Club of the Western International Baseball League) was sold to the San Diego Club of the Pacific Coast League for $109,000 in October 1947. The sale included the Tacoma Tigers park property in Tacoma, the players, team franchise in the Western International League and all other franchises and privileges of the club. (TNT, 10/2/1947) TPL-6690

Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma;

Tacoma Tigers, Tacoma Baseball Club, Enoch Alexson. A group portrait of the 1949 team at Tiger Ball Park.

Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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. 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;

Exterior - Cheney Field. The Seattle Studs baseball team came to town in late August, 1957, to join their Tacoma counterparts in the State ABC Tournament. Games were played at Cheney Field; lights were available for night games. View of exterior of Cheney Field near admissions booth; cutout of a stallion, symbol of the Cheney Studs, is highlighted on fence. Eight teams, including the defending national champions Tacoma Studs and Seattle City League champs, Seattle Studs, participated in the August 23-28 tournament. Neither Studs team was the eventual winner; the Tacoma Contractors defeated the Seattle Hardwoods 10-7 to claim the title. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 8-20-57, p. 21)

Cheney Field (Tacoma); Athletic fields--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

One of the Cheney Studs junior league football teams pose in front of the sign for Cheney Field. To the right in the Studs jacket is Ben Cheney, Tacoma lumberman and sports philanthropist, and in front and to his left is his daughter Sandra, in Studs jacket and hat. Ben Cheney donated thousands of dollars for uniforms and equipment to sports teams, enabling youngsters to experience the thrill of sports. He had helped the kids football program get started 6 years prior and had continued to aid the program. By 1956, it had 30 competing teams. The boys wear the familiar "Cheney stud" logo on their uniform shirts; they also wear helmets and pads.

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

The Cheney Studs are pictured in front of the Cheney Field sign on August 9, 1958. The Richards Studio has labeled these pictures as the "Seattle" Cheney Studs baseball team. Ben Cheney, local lumberman and noted philanthropist, sponsored many amateur teams in a variety of sports. All groups were called the Cheney Studs regardless of members' ages or sport chosen. Coach Joe Budnick is seated to the far left in this photograph. Others identified are: Earl Hyder, first row 4th from left; Bob Maguinez is in the second row, second from right; Gene Anderson, Cheney Studs Athletic Director is in the second row, extreme right. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hyder, Earl; Maguinez, Bob; Anderson, Gene;

Oldsmobile billboard on new ball park fence, City Motor Co., Anson Hart. Two other, smaller, billboards above advertise the Sportsmen's Grill and Russ Michael's Service.

Billboards--Tacoma--1940-1950; City Motor Co. (Tacoma); Sportsmen's Grill (Tacoma); Russ Michael's Service (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic fields--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The fence at Tiger Ball Park. The baseball field in Tacoma was known as Tacoma Baseball Park or Tiger Ball Park. The field would be used for all local high school games, College of Puget Sound home games, all games of the 70-tilt City league schedule in addition to home games of the Tigers for the 1950 season. This view shows advertising signs for Brown & Haley, Mobilgas, Coca-Cola, Burnett Brothers, Peerless Laundry, Washington Hardware, and City Sign Company. The score board is nestled in above Mobilgas and below Mallon Motors. Ordered by Robert Martin, c/o W.H. Opie Co. (TNT, 4/26/1950, p.19)

Athletic fields--Tacoma; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Baseball Park (Tacoma); Tiger Ball Park (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Advertisements--Tacoma;

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;