1923 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1923 BC Interior
1923 Vancouver Island
Three separate senior-level baseball leagues --VANCOUVER SENIOR AMATEUR LEAGUE, VANCOUVER TERMINAL LEAGUE, VANCOUVER TWILIGHT LEAGUE -- were operational on Vancouver diamonds during the spring and summer of 1923. A smattering of inter-league games took place, not only involving the Vancouver circuits, but also with the Dewdney League, a loop consisting of teams from the outlying areas.
VANCOUVER SENIOR AMATEUR BASEBALL LEAGUE
B. C. Electrics
Collingwood Athletic Club
Elks
Young Liberals
(May 5) The Elks and the Young Liberals turned in wins in the opening games of the 1923 Senior Amateur Baseball League at Athletic Park. The Brother Bills trounced the Collingwood Balltossers by a score of 7 to 1 while the newly-formed B.C. Electrics took an 11 to 3 trimming at the hands of the Politicians. Veteran slabbers “Babe” Esplen of the Collies and “Lefty” Delcourt of the Antlered Tribe both went the distance on the hill in the curtain-raiser. Both chuckers rang up 10 strikeouts. Delcourt helped his own cause by slamming a brace of doubles while Esplen singled twice in defeat.
Espen (L) and Smith
Delcourt (W) and Cross
The Grits had their big bats in action from the very start in the shortened five-inning finale, plating four big counters in their initial turn at bat. Fly chaser Charlie Miron had three of the seven base blows registered by the winners.
McDonald (L), Traeger (4) and King
Larson (W), Arthur (4) and Richardson
(May 7) Although they garnered one more hit and made two fewer errors than the Collingwood crew, the B.C. Electrics went down to a 7 to 5 defeat at Athletic Park. Les Traeger whiffed eight in taking the mound decision. Catcher C. “Buck” Richardson and hot corner custodian Rex Cameron of the vanquished nine with two safeties each were the only swatters in the contest to reach plural figures.
Traeger (L) and Richardson
Payne (W) and Smith
(May 9) A six-inning 5 – 5 sawoff between the Young Liberals and Elks resulted when darkness prevented further play at Athletic Park. The Grits came from behind, scoring four times in the top of the final frame, to forge ahead 5 to 4 but the Antlered Herd notched a singleton in their last turn at bat to knot the count. The Libs held a 7 to 3 advantage in base hits acquired. Keystone sacker Hec Cann of the Politicians with two singles was the lone batter with more than one base hit.
Anderson and Cross
Robinson, Arthur (4) and Richardson
(May 11) A timely four-run rally in the seventh and final inning allowed the Elks to emerge as 5 to 2 victors over Collingwood in Senior Amateur League action at Athletic Park. For six frames. losing flinger Jack Tyrwhitt held the Brother Bills to four scattered safeties, allowing one run in the first canto when he walked two batters and then surrendered a single to third baseman Bill Turnbull. The Collies went ahead in the sixth when Johnny Nestman singled in a run and then scored himself on an outfield error. Winning moundsman Charlie Evans was effective all the way, surrendering but four base knocks. Rival hot corner guardians, Bill Turnbull of the Elks and Collingwood’s Stew Lindsay both banged out a brace of safe swats as did “Casey” Clarke of the Antlered Tribe.
Tyrwhitt (L) and Smith, Warren (7)
Evans (W) and Woods
(May 12) The Elks and Young Liberals were winners in twin-bill action at Athletic Park. In the matinee contest, the Grits blanked Collingwood 6 to 0 while the Antlered Herd also posted a shutout, a 3 to 0 blanking of the B.C. Electric nine in the late encounter. Victorious tosser Len Arthur of the Libs held the Suburban crew to five scattered blows in the opener while the Grits nicked “Babe” Esplen for seven safeties. Syd Whyte of the winning squad and Murray Lovely of the vanquished nine both picked up two safe knocks for their respective squads.
Arthur (W) and Richardson
Esplen (L) and Warren
Twirling in mid-season form, “Lefty” Delcourt of the Elks rang up nine strikeouts while issuing just two singles in the follow-up joust. Les Traeger, on the mound for the Electrics, also tossed a fine game, surrendering but four safeties. Not a single batter on either team managed more than a lone single.
Traeger (L) and Valnsdal
Delcourt (W) and Blochberger
(May 14) A two-out attempted theft of home by the Elks’ “Casey” Clarke, in the critical sixth and final inning, which was foiled by Collingwood pitcher “Babe” Esplen allowed the Collies to knock off the previously undefeated Antlered Herd 3 to 2. The Brother Bills had a 6 to 4 advantage in base hits. Clarke was the game’s lone player to manufacture a two-hit performance at the dish as Esplen turned back “Spex” Anderson in gaining the mound verdict.
Esplen (W) and Warren
Anderson (L) and Blochberger
(May 16) The B.C. Electric balltossers stepped right out of the cellar position and clipped the hitherto invincible Young Liberals 4 to 3 in the snappiest game of the young Senior Amateur League season. The excellent pitching of young Cliff “Lefty” Garrison and the timely hitting of Charlie Mattock, Neil Silver and Jack Andrews pulled the Electrics through. Mattock, though hampered with a sore ankle, connected for three clean hits. Paul Tatman singled twice for the vanquished Grits.
Arthur (L) and Richardson
C. Garrison (W) and King
(May 18) Ivan McDonald spun a two-hitter which ignited the B.C. Electrics to a 4 to 2 doubling of Collingwood at Athletic Park. Only the first run of the game, plated in the first stanza by the Electrics, was of the earned variety. Losing chucker “Babe” Esplen was nicked for just five safeties but his teammates were loose defensively, committing six errors. Third baseman Rex Cameron had two hits for the winners.
McDonald (W) and King
Esplen (L) and Warren
(May 21) Camille “Lefty” Delcourt was at his best at Athletic Park as the Elks’ pitching ace set the dangerous Young Liberals down on two hits while punching out seven in a skirmish in which the Brother Bills triumphed 3 to 0. The victorious Antlered Tribe got to losing flinger “Tat” Larson for six safe blows, two of which came off the bat of shortstop Harry Wilson. A throwing error in the third panel produced the initial run for the winners. In the fourth, the Elks plated their second and third tallies on back-to-back run-scoring three-baggers by “Casey” Clarke and Harry Cross.
Delcourt (W) and Cross
Larson (L) and Richardson
(May 29) The Young Liberals pummelled the offerings of Collingwood’s “Babe” Esplen for 13 safeties en route to an 8 to 1 bashing of the Suburbanites. The win moved the Grits to within a game of the league-leading Elks. Hec Cann, Jack Fraser, Syd Whyte and Harry Richardson all had two safeties for the Politicians. Shortpatcher Johnny Nestman of the Collies also had a brace of base knocks and played a strong game defensively, turning in a number of outstanding fielding gems.
Gourlay (W), Arthur (5) and Richardson
Esplen (L) and Warren
(May 30) Despite whiffing 13 and tossing a four-hitter, “Spex” Anderson of the Brother Bills had to settle for a no-decision as the Elks played their third tie-game of the season, a 5 – 5 draw with Collingwood. Three first-inning errors by the Antlered Tribe allowed the Collies to grab a 3 to 1 lead. The Elks eventually went ahead by one run but the Suburbanites knotted the count in the bottom of the ninth and darkness prevented any extension of overtime. Second sacker Bill Turnbull and hot corner guardian Lorne Lowry both had two safeties for the Clubbers who acquired nine in total.
Anderson and Cross
Tyrwhitt and Warren
(June 4) In a quick-paced, snappy scuffle at Athletic Park, Collingwood upset the Young Liberals, taking a 3 to 1 verdict from the Politicians. The Collies outhit the Grits, 5 safeties to 4, in a game which saw pitching and defense dominate. Collingwood’s Johnny Nestman, with two base raps, was the lone player in the fracas to emerge with plural hit totals. Third baseman Stew Lindsay of the victors pounded a solo round-tripper in the sixth stanza.
Simons (L) and Richardson
Esplen (W) and Warren
(June 5) In a sloppy performance by both squads at Athletic Park, the Young Liberals solidified their hold on second place in the V.S.A.B.L., dropping the B.C. Electrics 6 to 2. The teams combined for 11 errors with the Electrics being charged with six of them. The Politicians led all the way, plating singletons in each of the first three cantos. Syd Whyte and Ernie Paepke both singled twice off losing twirler Cliff Garrison. The two heaviest swatters in the contest emerged from the dugout of the vanquished nine. Outfielder Walt Valnsdal had a triple and single while teammate C. “Buck” Richardson laced a two-bagger and single. Poor baserunning by the Carmen in the final inning allowed winning pitcher “Tat” Larson to escape a jam when the Liberals were able to pull off a triple play.
C. Garrison (L) and C. Richardson
Larson (W) and H. Richardson
(June 6) A two-run four-ply smash by hard-hitting initial sacker “Casey” Clarke provided the difference as the first-place Elks extended their lead over the runner-up Young Liberals to two full games by taking the Grits into camp 4 to 2. Clarke’s blast off Len Arthur in the top of the ninth broke up a 2 – 2 tie and made a mound winner out of “Lefty” Delcourt who handcuffed the Politicians on four hits while breezing nine. Arthur struck out six while yielding an equal number of hits. Clarke and teammate Jimmy Ralston were the only players in the contest to amass two safe swats.
Delcourt (W) and Cross, Blochberger (5)
Arthur (L) and Richardson
(June 8) The top-dog Elks rallied for a pair of tallies in the sixth panel to nose out the Collingwood nine 2 to 1 in another exhibition of snappy baseball at Athletic Park. Losing chucker Jack Tyrwhitt had yielded only one hit entering the fateful sixth as the Collies nursed a 1 to 0 lead but, suddenly, the bats of the Antlered Tribe came alive as they nicked the offerings of Tyrwhitt for three base knocks, two of which went for extra bases. A three-bagger by shortstop Harry Wilson drove in the tying marker and then Wilson crossed the dish with the winner on “Casey” Clarke’s single. Charlie Evans copped the hillock verdict with a three-hitter, two of those raps coming off the lumber of Collingwood flychaser Murray Lovely. The Suburbanites lodged a protest citing a run of theirs which was disallowed.
Tyrwhitt (L) and Warren
Evans (W) and Blochberger
(June 12) Leaning on the willow for five lusty blows in the fifth inning, the Collingwood balltossers drove young Len Arthur from the mound and overcame a two-run deficit, plating five markers which propelled them to a 7 to 4 victory over the Young Liberals. Bunched base knocks by L. Warren, “Babe” Esplen, Johnny Nestman, Art Porter and Murray Lovely in the fateful fifth spelled the difference in this Athletic Park affair.
Esplen (W) and xxx
Arthur (L), Simons (5) and xxx
(June 15) The B.C. Electric balltossers crawled out of the cellar position in the V.S.A.B.L. by walloping Collingwood 8 to 5 at Athletic Park. The Carmen nicked losing chucker Jack Tyrwhitt for five hits, driving him to the showers, and added seven more off the slants of reliever “Babe” Esplen. Outer pasture guardian George Robertson, leading off for the Electrics, got things rolling when he nailed Tyrwhitt’s first pitch of the game for a four-bagger. Consecutive base raps by Charlie Mattock, Neil Silver, Walter Valnsdal and Bill Tuson in the third chapter produced four more runs for the winners. Mattock and teammate Robertson both collected two base knocks in leading the hit parade. Les Traeger allowed five hits in earning the mound triumph.
Traeger (W) and Richardson
Tyrwhitt (L), Esplen (3) and Warren
Standings
Elks 5 – 1 .833
Young Liberals 4 – 5 .444
B.C. Electrics 3 – 4 .429
Collingwood 4 – 6 .400
(June 18) In a battle of portsiders at Athletic Park, Alex “Lefty” Simons and the Young Liberals prevailed over the Elks and Camille “Lefty” Delcourt 4 to 2. The Politicians landed on the Brother Bills’ southpaw for five well-belted blows plus two more of the scratchy variety while the Elks were garnering five deserving raps and one questionable one off Simons. Syd Whyte’s one-bagger in the opening canto drove in the Grits’ first tally. The Antlered Tribe came right back in the top of the second when Frank Foran singled with two aboard, driving in the tying counter while a second marker reached home on catcher Harry Richardson’s overthrow to the hot corner on the same play. Base knocks by Hec Cann, Art Gourlay and Ernie Paepke in the bottom of that frame resulted in a brace of runs and a 3 to 2 lead for the Libs. A bases-loaded walk to Cann by Delcourt in the third forced the final Grit counter. The Liberals’ Whyte as well as Frank Foran and Walter Blochberger of the Brother Bills all had good results at the dish, each connecting for two safe swats.
Delcourt (L) and Blochberger
Simons (W) and Richardson
(June 19) The front-running Elks moved two full games ahead of their closest pursuers, the Young Liberals, when they scored twice in the opening chapter which was sufficient for a 2 to 0 blanking of the B.C. Electric contingent. The errorless game at Athletic Park saw the pitching dominate, with eight base hits split evenly by the combatants. The Brother Bills’ two counters resulted from a crisp single by shortstop Harry Wilson after Norman Bell had walked and Jimmy Ralston had reached base on a failed fielder’s choice play by the Electrics’ third baseman Rex Cameron. Winning tosser “Spex” Anderson whiffed seven and boomed out a triple, only to be nipped at the platter trying to stretch his three-bagger into an inside-the-park home run. With just four hits manufactured by each team, there were no multi-hit players in this contest.
Anderson (W) and Blochberger
C. Garrison (L), Traeger (6) and King
(June 20) The B.C. Electric Repair squad handily defeated the league-leading Elks 7 to 3 at Athletic Park. Winning flinger Les Traeger held the Brother Bills to just three bingles, fanned ten and walked five. George Robertson and Charlie Mattock of the victors both connected for a pair of safeties with one of Mattock’s going for two bases.
Traeger (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(June 21) By thumping the top-dog Elks 9 to 3 at Athletic Park, the second-place Young Liberals moved to within a half-game of the Brother Bills. The Elks had a 3 to 1 cushion heading into the final two stanzas when the Grits lit into the offerings of “Lefty” Delcourt for eight big counters. Winning pitcher “Tat” Larson surrendered six hits, two off the bat of Delcourt, to the Antlered crew. Of the ten base raps earned by the Politicians, Paul Tatman garnered a pair of them which resulted in four runs being driven in.
Larson (W) and Richardson
Delcourt (L) and Blochberger
(June 22) A rusty band of Collingwood balltossers, idle from game action for the past week, were blanked 3 to 0 by the Young Liberals. Though the Collies lost primarily on untimely errors, the Grits led in hits, finding “Babe” Esplen for six safeties while the losers were getting to Len Arthur for three. Syd Whyte led the Grits with the stick, lacing two singles which drove in a pair as well as a sacrifice fly which plated another.
Arthur (W) and Richardson
Esplen (L) and Warren
(June 23) The Young Liberals stepped into the lead in the V.S.A.B.L. when they defeated the B.C. Electrics 8 to 2 in a slow, leisurely match at Athletic Park. The Grits pummelled the offerings of losing twirler Ivan McDonald for nine bingles before he was given the hook in the after five frames. Alex “Lefty” Simons gave up six hits in recording the mound win. Four twin-killings were recorded in this clash.
Simons (W) and Richardson
McDonald (L), C. Garrison (6) and xxx
(June 25) The surging Young Liberals went on a sixth-inning batting rampage which netted them six hits and an equal number of runs, quite sufficient for a 10 to 5 spanking of the B. C. Electrics. The win increased the Grits’ margin atop the circuit to a full game. “Tat” Larson fanned eight in going the distance for the win. Paul Tatman, Hec Cann, Ernie Paepke and Harry Richardson each had two of the twelve hits produced by the Politicians. Outfielder George Robertson and shortstop Ernie Rafferty both banged out a brace of base knocks for the Repairmen.
Larson (W) and Richardson
Traeger (L), C. Garrison (6) and King
Standings
Young Liberals 9 – 5 .643
Elks 6 – 4 .600
Collingwood 4 – 7 .364
B.C. Electrical Repair 4 – 7 .364
(June 27) Cliff Garrison’s trusty left flipper was used effectively in shoving the Collingwood crew into the cellar of the Senior Amateur Baseball League. The B.C. Electrics’ portsider yielded just two hits in setting down the Suburbanites 2 to 1 at Athletic Park. “Babe” Esplen was nicked for seven safeties in absorbing the hillock defeat. The Carmen went ahead 1 to 0 in the second frame when Neil Silver and Ernie Rafferty connected for back-to-back sun-field doubles. The Collies evened things up in the sixth when Esplen banged out a two-bagger, was sacrificed to third by Johnny Nestman and touched the platter when Murray Lovely bunted down the first-base line. The winning run for the Repairmen came in the eighth when a two-base error allowed Jack Andrews to advance all the way to the keystone sack. Charlie Mattock’s solid single over second then brought him home with the clincher.
C. Garrison (W) and E. Garrison
Esplen (L) and Warren
(June 29) The Elks got back on the winning track by doubling Collingwood 4 to 2 at Athletic Park. The winning counter and insurance run were scored in the top of the ninth frame, breaking a 2 – 2 stalemate. The Collies had plenty of opportunities to prevail but could never get the timely bingle, stranding ten baserunners throughout the clash. Winning tosser “Spex” Anderson had slightly the better of Jack Tyrwhitt, fanning twice as many and fanning one less, although he was touched for one more safety.
Anderson (W) and xxx
Tyrwhitt (L) and xxx
(June 30) The Elks moved back into first place in the V.S.A.B.L. when they edged the B.C. Electric Repairmen 2 to 1. The tussle developed into a pitcher’s battle between “Lefty” Delcourt and Les Traeger with the veteran southpaw finally winning out. The Brother Bills had a decided 7 to 2 advantage in base knocks with shortstop Harry Wilson accounting for three of those bingles. His leadoff triple in the eighth frame resulted in the winning run being scored when teammate Harry Cross laid down a bunt which was muffed by third sacker Rex Cameron. Delcourt fanned nine while Traeger rang up eight whiffs.
Traeger (L) and King
Delcourt (W) and Cross
(July 4) Swatsmiths from the Young Liberals lit on the offerings of young Cliff Garrison for seven safeties and an equal number of runs in the first two innings and continued to feast on a pair of relievers for three more blows and five additional counters as they went on to crush the B.C. Electrics 12 to 5 at Athletic Park. The victory for the Politicians moved them into a tie with the Elks for top spot in the senior amateur circuit. Alex “Lefty” Simons was not at his finest in this affair, surrendering six hits, walking three and hitting a batter but he didn’t have to be that sharp as his Liberal mates provided him with more than ample offensive support to chalk up the pitching win. Leading the Libs with the lumber was playing-manager Ernie Paepke who delivered a three-bagger, double and single. Top dog with the baton for the Repairmen was outer pasture patroller George Robertson who clipped the orb for a double and two one-baggers.
C. Garrison (L), Spiers (3), Silver (5) and E. Garrison, Spiers (5)
Simons (W) and Richardson
(July 5) Collingwood sunk further into the depths of the standings after taking it on the chin 9 to 3 in a battle with the Elks. The Brother Bills pretty well wrapped up the game in the third inning when they picked up a seven-spot, primarily because of the inept defensive support that the Suburbanites gave losing twirler “Babe” Esplen. In taking the mound decision, winning flinger Charlie Evans was anything but spectacular.
Tyrwhitt, Esplen (L) (1) and xxx
Evans (W) and xxx
Standings
Elks 9 – 4 .692
Young Liberals 10 – 5 .667
B.C. Electrical Repair 5 – 9 .357
Collingwood 4 – 10 286
(July 6) The Collingwood nine drew even with the B.C. Electrical Repair squad in the V.S.A.B.L. standings when they staged a seventh-inning rally to nip the Electrics 7 to 6. Regular shortstop Johnny Nestman of the Collies stepped in as a relief pitcher in the third panel after starter Jack Tyrwhitt retired to the showers with his team trailing by a run. Tyrwhitt had been lit up for first-inning home runs by Ernie Rafferty and George Robertson prior to the pitching change. Nestman then set the Repairmen down on just two safeties for the remainder of the contest. His batterymate throughout the affair was none other than another player assuming a new position, hurler Baden “Babe” Esplen, who donned the shin guards, belly pad and mask and did a credible job behind the dish. Nestman helped in the two-run outburst in the seventh that defeated the Carmen when he singled and eventually scored along with Art Porter on a pair of errors by the Repairmen.
xxx (L) and xxx
Tyrwhitt, Nestman (3) and Esplen
(July 9) The Elks went on a batting spree at Athletic Park and walloped the Collingwood squad 16 to 4. The Antlered Tribe lit into “Lefty” Robertson for ten hits in grabbing the win. Robertson received poor defensive support, the Collies booting the ball six times. “Spex” Anderson hurled for the league leaders and though touched up for a number of scratchy bingles, was never in serious trouble. “Babe” Stewart homered and doubled for the victors while his teammate, flychaser Tenny, ripped a pair of two-baggers.
Anderson (W) and Blochberger
Robertson (L) and Richardson
(July 10) With pitcher Len Arthur dialed in and his teammates working well together, the Young Liberals blanked the Collinwood squad 7 to 0 at Royal Athletic Park. Arthur limited the Suburbanites to just three hits while ringing up seven whiffs. Meanwhile, his mates were busy chalking up eight hits, a few of which could be classified as scratchy, off the slants of losing flinger “Babe” Esplen. Charlie Miron and Paul Tatman registered two safeties apiece for the Grits with one of Tatman’s blows being a triple.
Esplen (L) and C. Richardson
Arthur (W) and H. Richardson
(July 11) The Young Liberals continued their quest with the Elks for top rung on the Senior Amateur League ladder when they nosed out the B.C. Electrics 5 to 4 at Athletic Park. The Politicians took a 4 to 0 lead in the first inning and were never headed. Alex “Lefty” Simons went all the way on the bump for the victors, punching out eight of the Carmen. Charlie Mattock and Orville Falconer had a pair of bingles each for the Grits.
King (L) and xxx
Simons (W) and xxx
(July 13) Collingwood balltossers were in full stride as they swept past the B.C. Electrical Repairmen 10 to 2 at Athletic Park. The win allowed the Collies to switch positions in the standings with the Carmen. The Suburbanites played errorless ball behind the steady hurling of Jack Tyrwhitt after securing a big lead in the first inning. Losing heaver “Lefty” Garrison was nicked for eight hits but didn’t pitch that badly. Wobbly defensive play by his mates, however, prevented him from reaching his potential in this contest. Johnny Nestman and “Buck” Richardson had two hits apiece for the victors.
Tyrwhitt (W) and Richardson
C. Garrison (L) and E. Garrison, King (6)
Standings
Elks 10 – 4 .714
Young Liberals 11 – 5 .688
Collingwood 6 – 12 .333
B.C. Electrical Repair 5 – 11 .313
(July 14) Art Gourlay was too strong for Charlie Malley, Collingwood hurler, in the Senior Amateur Baseball League fixture at Athletic Park as the Young Liberals won over the Suburbanites by a score of 7 to 2. The Collies booted the ball four times while acquiring five hits while the Politicians had only one miscue and punched out six safeties.
Gourlay (W) and H. Richardson
Malley (L) and C. Richardson
(July 16) A preview of a possible final playoff series was displayed to fans at Athletic Park when the Young Liberals defeated the Elks 5 to 1 in one of the classiest encounters of the season. The win moved the Grits to the top of the heap in the see-saw battle for top spot in the V.S.A.B.L. Two bad innings, the second when pitcher Charlie Evans couldn’t control his slants and starting catcher Harry Cross cracked a finger, and the sixth when their defense messed up three chances, spoiled the Brother Bills bid for continued leadership of the loop. Len Arthur stymied the Antlered Tribe on three hits, two off the bat of shortstop Harry Wilson, in grabbing the mound decision. Hec Cann picked up a brace of bingles for the winners.
Evans (L) and Cross, Foley (2)
Arthur (W) and Richardson
(July 17) Charlie Evans tossed a four-hitter and struck out ten in hurling the Elks to a 7 to 3 victory over Collingwood in Senior Amateur League play at Athletic Park. The win for the Antlered Tribe moved them to within percentage points of the top-dog Young Liberals. The Collies were short of chuckers and were forced to use a pair of infielders, Stew Lindsay and Johnny Nestman, to ascend the bump. “Casey” Clarke and Harry Cross ripped thee singles apiece for the winners.
Lindsay (L), Nestman (4) and Richardson
Evans (W) and Cross
(July 19) B.C. Electric Repair dropped Collingwood back into the basement of the Senior Amateur circuit by virtue of a 6 to 0 blanking of the Suburbanites. The Carmen held a slight 6 to 5 edge in base knocks and plated all of their tallies in a fourth-frame outburst. First baseman Spiers of B.C.E.R. and Collingwood’s Murray Lovely both garnered a pair of bingles.
Porter (L) and Richardson
C. Garrison (W), Tate (5) and King
(July 20) The Young Liberals had little difficulty in disposing of the B.C. Electric squad 4 to 1 at Athletic Park. Baden “Babe” Esplen, late of the Collingwood aggregation, made his debut as a Grit moundsman in this contest, taking the hill in relief of winning heaver Alex “Lefty” Simons in the fifth panel.
Simons (W), Esplen (5) and xxx
C. Garrison (L) and xxx
(July 21) Eighteen errors were tossed into the usual Saturday Athletic Park twin-bill, making play slow and erratic. Collingwood and the Elks emerged as winners defeating the B.C. Electrics 11 to 5 and the Young Liberals 8 to 5, respectively. In spite of making eight errors, the Collies triumphed in the opener as Len Arthur took the mound decision over “Lefty” Garrison. Both teams registered nine base hits.
C. Garrison (L) and Worley
Arthur (W) and White
By defeating the Grits in the finale, the Antlered Tribe wrapped up first place in the regular-season standings. Each team’s starter was roughed up and replaced in this preview of the league finals. The Politicians fielded poorly, booting the ball six times.
Gourlay (L), Esplen and Whyte, Richardson
Evans (W), Delcourt and Stark
(July 23) A bases-loaded three-bagger by “Sonny” Levin in the sixth stanza was the crucial blow in Collingwood’s 6 to 4 triumph over the Young Liberals. Jack Tyrwhitt hurled steady ball for the Collies, allowing five hits, three of which were garnered by Grit second baseman Hec Cann. Rival keystone sacker “Lefty” Robertson of the Suburbanites clubbed a solo home run in the opening panel.
Tyrwhitt (W) and Warren
Esplen (L), Gourlay (4) and Richardson
(July 24) The Elks, already assured of first-place, doubled the B.C. Electrics 8 to 4 at Athletic Park. The victors sported a 7 to 6 advantage in base hits in the listless affair. Skipper Bert Hawkins of the Brother Bills inserted himself into the lineup and was able to nick the apple for a couple of singles. Second baseman Ernie Rafferty managed a triple and one-bagger for the Repairmen.
Robertson (L), Tate (4) and Nestman
Delcourt (W) and Cross
(July 25) Doc Foster's Colored Giants of Seattle were handed an 8 to 2 defeat Wednesday by the Vancouver Young Liberals.
(July 25) Scheduled to play out the string in a meaningless final game, an insufficient number of players from the B.C. Electrical Repairmen appeared at Athletic Park to bring down the regular-season curtain, a situation which added another win, albeit of the forfeited variety, to the total of the benefactor Elks squad. The Brother Bills now move on to duke it out with the runner-up Young Liberals in a best-of-three showdown for supremacy of the Senior Amateur loop and an opportunity to advance into the 1923 B.C.A.B.A. sanctioned provincial playdowns.
Final Standings * W L Pct.
Elks 14 5 .737
Young Liberals 15 7 .682
Collingwood 8 14 .364
B. C. Electrics 5 16 .238
* tie games neither replayed nor counted in standings
(July 27) Vancouver Young Liberals sent Seattle's Colored Giants down to another defeat Friday topping the visitors 5 to 3. Jack Tyrwhitt started on the hill for the Libs but was hit freely by the Giants and Len Arthur relieved to hold the Giants on the scoreboard for the rest of the way. Wright took the loss.
Tyrwhitt, Arthur (W) and xxx
Wright (L) and xxx
Final 1923 Vancouver Senior Amateur Baseball League pitching statistics (from July 27, 1923 edition of Vancouver Daily World)
W L H R Pct.
Simons (YL) 5 1 30 20 .850
Larson (YL) 4 1 26 13 .800
Delcourt (Elks) 7 2 49 22 .778
Anderson (Elks) 3 1 39 20 .750
Gourlay (YL) 2 1 18 15 .667
Evans (Elks) 3 2 39 31 .600
Arthur (YL) 4 3 40 18 .571
Tyrwhitt (Coll) 2 3 44 30 .400
Garrison (B.C.E.) 3 6 54 43 .333
Traeger (B.C.E.) 2 4 41 35 .333
McDonald (B.C.E.) 1 2 20 23 .333
Esplen (Coll/YL) 3 9 92 56 .250
PLAYOFFS
Finals (best-of-three) Elks vs Young Liberals
(July 30) Out-swatted by a significant 10 to 3 margin, the Young Liberals nonetheless managed to escape with a narrow 3 to 2 victory over the pennant-winning Elks in the opener of their Senior League final series. The third inning was the frame in which the Grits inflicted the greatest damage, plating a pair of tallies on a single by Jack Fraser, a sacrifice, a hit batter, a passed ball and a wild pitch. Both teams scored in the seventh, the Politicians first on Hec Cann’s triple followed by an infield throwing error on Jack Fraser’s sacrifice attempt which went for a hit. The Elks responded with a pair in their half of the frame, putting together four hits. They threatened in every inning but one and had the tying counter on base in the ninth when “Lefty” Simons fanned “Casey” Clarke to end the game. Second sacker Harry Wilson of the Antlered Tribe had three of his team’s ten hits while teammate Jimmy Ralston kicked in with a pair.
Simons (W) and Richardson, Whyte
Delcourt (L) and Cross
(August 1) The Young Liberals, second-place finishers during the regular campaign, emerged as 1923 playoff champions of the Vancouver Senior Amateur Baseball League when they nosed out the Elks 3 to 2 to grab the Senior Amateur finals in two straight matches. Tempers flared in the highly-contested game as Art Gourlay of the Grits and the Elks’ Jimmy Ralston were both banished following sixth-inning fisticuffs. Len Arthur copped the complete-game mound decision after fashioning a four-hitter. Outfielder Paul Tatman of the Politicians was the only player in the game to acquire a brace of safeties.
Anderson (L), Delcourt (7) and Cross
Arthur (W) and Whyte
VANCOUVER TERMINAL LEAGUE
Asahis
Hanbury’s
Kitsilanos
Mount Pleasant
Spencer’s
Vancouver Lumber Company
(May 8) Arnold Bennett tossed a two-hitter and fanned seven in hurling the Mount Pleasant diamond troopers to a 6 to 0 whitewashing of the Kitsilano nine in the 1923 Terminal League opener at the Powell Street grounds. Losing flinger Lorne Thompson rang up eleven whiffs but walked seven batters while plunking another one, his wildness costing him dearly. The Hillmen had just five safe hits but took advantage of Thompson’s inconsistency in finding the plate to lead from the first canto onward. Not a single player from either squad was able to manufacture more than one safety.
Bennett (W) and J. Cadenhead
Thompson (L) and Marks
(May 10) The Asahis stepped off on the right foot in their 1923 Terminal League lid-lifter when they nursed their opportunities for a 3 to 1 victory over the defending champion Hanbury aggregation before 3,500 fans at the Powell Street facility. The Nipponese nine used clever base running to plate two of their three markers and only their first counter was driven home by a base hit. In fact, the Japanese brigade was only able to register a pair of safeties off hard-luck loser Tom Raftery during the entire contest. Raftery fanned 14 while winning chucker Ted Furumoto whiffed seven while giving up 5 base knocks. Harley Solloway and Art Morse had two safe swats apiece for the Hanbury’s diamondeers.
Furumoto (W) and Oda
T. Raftery (L) and Daniels
(May 12) Twenty five strikeouts, a dozen racked up by Spencer’s Nick Craig and thirteen by George Robinson of the Vancouver Lumber Company, featured the Terminal League game at the Powell Street grounds which the Storemen won 4 to 1. The fanning bee was even more remarkable in that the contest was terminated after six frames because of darkness. Both chuckers gave up only three safeties. Fly chaser W. Wright of the Lumbermen, with two singles, was the lone player in the game to stroke more than one hit. Pat Worley nailed a two-run homer for Spencer’s.
Craig (W) and Little, Slavin (3)
Robinson (L) and Berto
(May 15) Alex Farquhar punched out 15 Kitsilano batters while tossing a two-hitter in leading the Vancouver Lumber Company to a comfortable 6 to 2 Terminal League win over the Kitsies. Outfielders Howe and R. Thompson as well as George Robinson and catcher Maxwell each chipped in with two safe hits for the Lumbermen.
Farquhar (W) and Maxwell
Warren (L), Thompson (6) and Marks
(May 17) Spencer’s Terminal League diamondeers outpitched, outhit and outfielded the Asahis at the Powell Street grounds and came away with a 7 to 3 conquest of the Nippons. Nick Craig breezed to the hillock triumph and was supported offensively by Pat Worley who slammed a bases-empty circuit-clout.
Yoshioka (L) and Horii
Craig (W) and Shouldice
(May 19) Southpaw Tommy Raftery tossed a seven-inning perfect game in leading defending Terminal League champion Hanbury’s to a convincing 8 to 0 whitewashing of Mount Pleasant. Raftery’s batterymate, catcher Daniels, called a superlative game and provided the winning run with a first-inning three-run four-bagger. Art Morse and Norm Goodall also smashed round-trippers for the victors, the latter’s dinger coming with two mates aboard.
T. Raftery (W) and Daniels
Bennett (L) and J. Cadenhead
(May 22) The Kitsilanos captured their first win of the season, unmercifully pounding the offerings of two Asahi moundsmen for a 13 to 1 onslaught. Newcomer Cecil Kimberley breezed to the mound triumph, fanning eleven along the way. Leading the offensive charge for the Kitsies was Arnie Miller who blasted two home runs and a three-bagger.
Kimberley (W) and xxx
xxx (L), xxx and xxx
(May 29) Fighting back to overcome a first-inning 3 to 0 deficit, Hanbury’s chipped away throughout the contest and finally grabbed a 4 to 3 win over Spencer’s when a bottom-of-the-last-inning two-out balk called against losing reliever Nick Craig allowed Norm Goodall, who had opened the frame with a single then swiped both second and third, to touch the dish with the winning tally. Goodall’s aggressive approach while dashing for home from the hot corner pillow so rattled Craig that the righthander walked off the rubber while in the middle of his delivery. The win for the Millmen boosted them into a tie for top spot in the Terminal League with the Storemen. The game featured a home run by Hanbury’s “Windy” Williams with one aboard in the third. Williams also laced a single to lead all willow wielders. Hal Puder fanned 11 in going the distance for the mound decision.
Symes, Craig (L) (6) and H. Brown
Puder (W) and Daniels
Standings
Hanbury’s 2 – 1 .667
Spencer’s 2 – 1 .667
Mount Pleasant 1 – 1 .500
Vanc. Lumber Co. 1 – 1 .500
Asahis 1 – 2 .333
Kitsilanos 1 – 2 .333
(June 2) Spencer’s regained first place in the Terminal League after knocking off the Kitsilanos 6 to 2. The Storemen jumped into a first-frame 2 to 0 lead and never relinquished it, accumulating a slight 6 to 5 edge in base hits during the match. Eddie Brown pitched a five-hitter to take the mound verdict from Cecil Kimberley. Spencer’s Pat Worley slugged his third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fifth.
Kimberley (L) and Marks
E. Brown (W) and H. Brown
(June 7) The slumping Asahis dropped their third Terminal League clash in succession when they were defeated 5 to 3 by a youthful Mount Pleasant nine in a tightly-fought skirmish at the Powell Street grounds. Outhit by the Nipponese clan by a 6 to 5 margin, the Hillmen took full advantage of a first-inning blunder by Asahi first sacker Tom Matoba which resulted in a three-run outburst and an early lead which they never relinquished. Winning flinger Arnold Bennett struck out seven in going the route. Shortstop W. Cadenhead led the Pleasants at the dish, drilling a triple and single. Rival shortpatcher M. “Ross” Yonemoto singled twice for the Asahis.
Furumoto (L) and Horii
Bennett (W) and J. Cadenhead
(June 9) The Kitsilano band of diamond troopers embarrassed the defending champion Hanbury’s nine, trouncing the Millmen 11 to 4. It was an off night defensively for the Woodmen who booted the ball on eight occasions. Losing tosser Tommy Raftery also had major control problems, walking five of the Kitsies. The game was essentially over after the Kitsilanos scored a big seven-spot in the third panel. Cecil Kimberley whiffed an even dozen in copping the pitching victory. Lorne Thompson picked up three base knocks for the winners while catcher Daniels blasted a three-run circuit-jack for the vanquished nine in the sixth stanza.
T. Raftery (L) and Daniels
Kimberley (W) and Marks
(June 12) Mount Pleasant appeared all set to take over the leadership of the Terminal Baseball League at the Powell Street grounds when they amassed four runs in the first three innings against the Spencer’s aggregation but the Storemen started a session of extra-base hitting and daring baserunning in the final four frames that carried them through to an 8 to 4 victory. Nick Craig, playing the role of fireman, doused the flames resulting from starter Eddie Brown’s poor mound showing and went on to earn the hillock triumph. Pat Worley’ two-run dinger in the seventh with H. Brown aboard provided with winners with insurance runs after they had tied the score and gone ahead in the sixth. Worley also clipped losing heaver Arnold Bennett for a brace of lusty doubles.
Bennett (L) and xxx
E. Brown, Craig (W) (3) and xxx
(June 14) The improving Kitsilano baseballers handed the hard-hitting Vancouver Lumber squad a 4 to 1 setback in Terminal League play at the Powell Street facility. The Kitsies took the lead with an unearned run in the fourth and led throughout. Winning tosser Cecil Kimberly stymied the Lumbermen by yielding just one lone hit. Losing twirler Alex Farquhar was touched for only three safeties, one of which was of the scratchy variety. Kimberly posted 16 strikeouts to Farquhar’s 12.
Kimberley (W) and Marks
Farquhar (L) and Thorpe
(June 16) In a surprise move, impact players Pat Worley, leading batter and home run hitter in the Terminal League, and Nick Craig, ace pitcher, were both given their releases by manager Smith of the Spencer’s ball club.
(June 15) Hanbury’s bounced three Asahi pitchers for ten hits en route to a 10 to 1 thrashing of the Nippons. The usual reliable defense displayed by Asahi teams was absent as they were atrocious afield, booting the ball time after time for a total of 12 miscues. As well, winning pitcher Hal Puder held them in check on four hits while registering 12 strikeouts.
Puder (W) and Daniels, N.Goodall
Furumoto (L), Kato, xxx and Oda
(June 19) The league-leading Spencer’s aggregation, sans two of their former star players, were humbled 6 to 1 at the Powell Street facility by portsider Alex Farquhar and his Vancouver Lumber Company teammates. Farquhar held the Storemen to one lone single and whiffed twelve batters. Defensively, the Spencer’s fielders played a ragged game and made eight errors. After three scoreless innings, the Lumbermen opened things up with a five-spot in the top of the fourth stanza on the strength of three base raps and four miscues by the Storemen. They managed only four base knocks throughout the entire clash but were fortunate enough to bunch three of them in the fateful fourth. First baseman Johnson of the winners had the game’s only extra-base blow, a two-run triple.
Farquhar (W) and Thorpe
Symes (L), Crowder (4) and Shouldice
(June 21) Rallies in the final two frames of their scuffle with Hanbury’s fell one run short as the Mount Pleasant club was nosed out by the Millmen 4 to 3 at the Powell Street grounds. The skirmish was replete with thrills, the closeness of the score and the rally by the Hillmen all going to make it the most exciting Terminal League game of the season. Tommy Raftery gave up six hits and punched out 14 in taking the hillock decision. The Pleasants had the potential tying run on the keystone sack in the final inning with just one out when Raftery tightened up and fanned the next two batters to end the game. Hanbury’s nicked losing pitcher Arnold Bennett for seven hits including two each by Harley Solloway and Bobby Mills. Solloway’s sum of swats included a two-bagger while Mills had a two-run homer in his aggregate. Shortpatcher W. Cadenhead tripled and singled for Mount Pleasant.
Bennett (L) and Harold
T. Raftery (W) and N. Goodall
(June 23) The Kitsilanos edged to within a game of top spot in the Terminal League by virtue of a 4 to 1 trimming of the offensively-challenged Asahi nine at the Powell Street grounds. Cecil Kimberley, toeing the rubber for the Kitsies, earned his third pitching victory of the season. The winners collected eight hits, five of which were doubles.
Kasahara (L) and Horii
Kimberley (W) and Marks
(June 26) The Mount Pleasant baseballers knocked Spencer’s out of a first-place tie in the Terminal League by disposing of the Storemen 8 to 7. Carl Crowder, late of the Vancouver World team in the Twilight League, made his first pitching start in the Terminal League, one which was far from successful. The Hillmen got to him for nine safeties and five walks, and blew the game wide open by posting an eight-spot in the fourth inning. Arnold Bennett, the hurler for the Pleasants, was not particularly effective either but managed to keep his head above water until the final out was made. He was touched for six bingles but was plagued by a porous defence, his mates committing a half dozen miscues.
Bennett (W) and xxx
Crowder (L) and xxx
Standings
Hanbury’s 4 – 2 .667
Spencer’s 4 – 3 .571
Kitsilano 4 – 3 .571
Mt. Pleasant 3 – 3 .500
Vanc. Lumber 3 – 3 .500
Asahis 1 – 5 .167
(June 28) The Vancouver Lumber Company pastimers grabbed a share of the crowded top rung in the Terminal League when they nosed out Hanbury’s 2 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. The game turned into a head-to-head pitcher’s joust between Alex Farquhar and Hal Puder, a clash in which either hurler could have prevailed. Both of the Lumbermen’s tallies could be attributed to errors which plagued Norm Goodall, usually the steadiest performer in the defending champion’s lineup. Hanbury’s lone counter was registered in the opening panel as a result of classy baserunning on the part of outfielder Bobby Mills who, after drawing a walk, stole two bases and scored on a sacrifice by Goodall. V.E.W. evened the count in the fifth when flychaser Wight hit safely, pilfered second, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice but, in the process, overran the pillow and was almost nipped on a relay throw which Goodall let evade him, allowing Wight to romp home safely. With two out and the sacks full of Lumbermen in the seventh, a ground ball off the bat of outer pasture guardian Newton was fielded by Goodall who, after hesitating, threw badly to first allowing Wight to cross the dish for the second time. In their final turn at bat, the Millmen had runners at second and third with only one retired but Puder rose to the occasion by whiffing the last two batters. Puder performed brilliantly in defeat, ringing up 15 strikeouts.
Farquhar (W) and xxx
Puder (L) and xxx
(June 30) The Asahis came from behind twice to tie Spencer’s but they finally faltered in the last three innings as four errors and three hits gave the Storemen more than enough to clip the Nippons 6 to 3. The Departmentals outhit the Asahis eight to four, made fewer bungles in the field and generally took better advantage of their chanced than their opponents. With the score knotted at 3 – 3 in the fourth, Eddie Brown reached first on a fielder’s choice, was safe at second when shortstop M. “Ross” Yonemoto dropped catcher "Bull" Oda’s throw on an attempted steal and came home on Raby’s single, one of three safe swats the Spencer outfielder garnered, to right field. Carl Crowder grabbed the hillock victory over Ted Furumoto.
Crowder (W) and H. Brown
Furumoto (L) and Oda
(July 3) Playing flawless afield and with heaver Arnold Bennett in cruise control, the Mount Pleasant band of baseballers overwhelmed Kitsilano 11 to 2 in Terminal League action. Bennett fanned nine in going the distance for the hillock triumph. The Kitsies were atrocious defensively, helping the Pleasants along by committing 11 miscues.
Sykes (L), Warne (4) and xxx
Bennett (W) and xxx
(July 4) Spencer’s and Hanbury’s duked it out in a fierce Terminal League fracas at the Powell Street facility in which the Millmen prevailed 3 to 2 to regain top spot in the loop. The Storemen played real classy on defense but could not connect with any regularity against the sizzling speedballs offered up by winning flinger Hal Puder. The Hanbury righthander performed well on the bump, yielding just four hits. Carl Crowder also pitched well but was nailed with the loss. First baseman “Windy” Williams of the victors belted a double and single while teammate Norm Goodall slammed a two-run round-tripper and a one-bagger.
Puder (W) and xxx
Crowder (L) and xxx
(July 5) The Asahis turned in their first victory since their win over Hanbury’s at the start of the season when they turned back the Vancouver Lumber Company 5 to 3 at the Powell Street grounds. The Lumbermen outhit and outpitched the Nippons, however, it was the Asahi defensive prowess that spelled the difference. The winners pulled off no less than four double plays behind winning chucker Bariki Kasahara. First sacker Harry Johnson of the vanquished nine also contributed to the V.L.C. defeat as he had a miserable time at the initial sack, dropping three throws which were considered as sure outs.
Kasahara (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Standings
Hanbury’s 5 – 3 .625
Mt. Pleasant 4 – 3 .571
Spencer’s 5 – 4 .556
Kitsilano 4 – 4 .500
Vanc. Lumber 3 – 3 .500
Asahis 2 – 6 .250
(July 10) Cecil Kimberley was at his finest over the course of the Terminal League game featuring Kitsilano and Spencer’s. The Kitsie moundsman wound up tossing a no-hit, no-run gem, breezing eleven along the way, in blanking the Departmentals 11 to 0. His teammates provided him with far more than an adequate amount of offensive backup, banging out a dozen base raps, five of which went for extra bases. Leading the way with three hits each were outfielder Warne and keystone sacker Jenkins. Warne’s total of safeties included a home run and a double.
Crowder (L) and H. Brown
Kimberley (W) and Marks
(July 11) Overcoming an early 4 to 0 deficit, the Mount Pleasant diamond pastimers came on strong to edge the Asahis 7 to 5. The win for the Hillmen moved them into a first-place tie in the Terminal League standings with the Hanbury’s aggregation.
Bennett (W) and xxx
M. Yoshioka, Furumoto (L) (7) and xxx
(July 12) The unique feat of two pitchers holding their opposition to one hit, but each failing to record a shutout was provided by Terminal League fans at the Powell Street facility when Hanbury’s defeated Kitsilano 5 to 1, practically eliminating the Kitsies from an opportunity to make the playoffs, something which the Millmen are now certain. It was a great battle as regards the pitching but poor fielding by the Kitsies spoiled the chances of ultimate loser, Cecil Kimberley. A run-scoring single by Hanbury’s Art Morse in the second inning was the lone hit surrendered by Kimberley. Winning flinger Tommy Raftery was nursing a no-hitter until the seventh when outfielder Warne lit him up for a solo homer. The pitching feat of both heavers, Kimberley and Raftery, is all the more striking for the fact that both had accomplished no-hit, no-run games earlier in the season.
Kimberley (L) and Marks
T. Raftery (W) and Daniels
(July 14) The race for playoff spots in the Terminal Baseball League got tighter after an eighth-inning counter by the Vancouver Lumber Company baseballers earned them an exciting 3 to 2 victory over Mount Pleasant at the Powell Street grounds, a win which vaulted the Lumbermen up a notch in their quest for post-season berth. Diminutive George Robinson, all-round star for the V.L.C. aggregation, went the distance on the rubber to carry his team to the triumph limiting the hard-hitting Hillmen to three singles. His well-placed bunt in the eighth panel, with the sacks full, then plated the winning counter, breaking a 2 – 2 tie. Opposing Robinson on the bump was Arnold Bennett upon whom the mound defeat was pinned. Bennett also pitched first-class ball but his defensive support wobbled in the fateful eighth.
Bennett (L) and Harold
Robinson (W) and Thorpe
(July 19) Jack Farquhar of the Vancouver Lumber Company baseballers and Mount Pleasant’s Arnold Bennett hooked up in tight-pitching duel at the Powell Street grounds and it was the Pleasants’ star and his mates who emerged as 3 to 2 victors. Both heavers allowed six hits as Farquhar whiffed ten while Bennett breezed nine. The win for the Hillmen practically assures them a place in the playoffs. Keystone sacker Fleming of the winners, with a brace of one-baggers, was the only player in the game who had plural hit totals.
Farquhar (L) and Thorpe
Bennett (W) and J. Cadenhead
(July 21) Maintaining a fighting chance of qualifying for a Terminal League playoff spot, the Vancouver Lumber Company band of diamond troopers disposed of the Asahis 5 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. The Nippons appeared overmatched against the power pitching of winner Les Traeger who held them to just three hits. Asahi central pasture patroller Tom Miyata made four dazzling fly ball catches during the contest.
Traeger (W) and Thorpe
M. Yoshioka (L) and Horii
(July 24) Tommy Raftery, Hanbury pitching star, came within an ace of scoring his second no-hit, no-run game of the season at the Powell Street grounds as the Millmen clinched first place in the regular-season standings by crushing the Vancouver Lumber Company 9 to 0. Hanbury’s will now meet runner-up Mount Pleasant in a best-two-out-of-three series for the 1923 Terminal Baseball League championship. A low liner off the bat of second baseman Lillington that Hanbury first baseman “Windy” Williams touched but could not handle was all that stood between Raftery and his second no-no of the campaign. The winners banged out 12 base hits in cruising to the victory. Charlie Stevenson and Bobby Mills stung the pill for three bingles each with a triple included in Stevenson’s sum of swats.
T. Raftery (W) and Daniels
Traeger (L), Robinson (4) and Valnsdal
Final Standings W L Pct.
Hanbury’s 7 3 .700
Mount Pleasant 6 4 .600
Vancouver Lumber 5 5 .500
Spencer’s 5 5 .500
Kitsilanos 5 5 .500
Asahis 2 8 .200
(July 26) At Athletic Park Thursday, the Terminal League All-Stars and Seattle fought to a 2-2 draw before about a thousand ardent fans. Kimberley, on the hill for Vancouver, held the Giants to just three hits while Smaulding allowed just five in the eight inning contest. The Giants scored in the top of the first inning as the game's leadoff batter swatted a triple and scored on a fielder's choice. Seattle took a 2-0 lead with a run in the seventh. The locals plated a pair in the bottom of the seventh for the tie.
Smaulding and Wright
Kimberley and Daniels
1923 final Terminal Baseball League batting averages (.300 or better)
G AB R H TB 2B 3B HR SB SH Aver.
Worley (Spencer’s) 5 16 8 9 19 2 0 4 1 1 .563
McIntyre (Kitsilanos) 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .500
Silver (Hanbury’s) 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .500
Lorne Thompson (Kitsilanos) * 10 30 8 12 15 3 0 0 3 0 .400
Warne (Kitsilanos) 5 13 4 5 12 1 0 2 2 0 .385
Solloway (Hanbury’s) 5 13 1 5 6 1 0 0 3 1 .385
Mitchell (Mount Pleasant) 10 31 9 11 18 2 2 0 1 0 .355
Jenkins (Kitsilanos) 9 31 7 11 15 4 0 0 9 0 .355
Williams (Hanbury’s) 10 32 8 11 16 2 0 1 1 1 .344
Morse (Hanbury’s) 9 24 3 8 16 2 0 2 1 1 .333
Mills (Hanbury’s) 10 34 8 11 14 0 0 1 3 2 .324
Wight (Vcr. Lumber) 10 28 3 9 9 0 0 0 6 0 .321
J. Cadenhead (Mt. Pleasant) 10 30 4 9 10 1 0 0 1 0 .300
* declared as 1923 batting champion
Other individual leaders
Runs – Norm Goodall (Hanbury’s) & Eddie Brown (Spencer’s) – tied with 11
Total Bases – Pat Worley - 19
Home Runs – Pat Worley – 4
Stolen Bases – Jenkins – 9
Sacrifices – Matsumiya (Asahis), Eddie Brown (Spencer’s) & Webster (Spencer’s) – tied at 3
PLAYOFFS
Finals (best-of-three) Hanbury’s vs Mount Pleasant
(July 29) Hanbury’s took the lead over Mount Pleasant in the Terminal League finals, blanking the East-siders 3 to 0 behind the four-hit pitching of Hal Puder. The Lumbermen scored all three of their counters in the opening canto on two singles, two doubles and an error. Puder rang up 13 strikeouts in recording the triumph.
Puder (W) and Daniels
Bennett (L) and J. Cadenhead
(July 31) Tommy Raftery twirled a solid two-hitter as Hanbury’s captured their fourth consecutive Terminal League title by disposing of Mount Pleasant 3 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds. Norm Goodall smashed a home run and a single for the Millmen while second baseman Fleming of Mount Pleasant connected for a final-inning four-bagger.
Bennett (L) and J. Cadenhead
T. Raftery (W) and Daniels
VANCOUVER TWILIGHT BASEBALL LEAGUE
Burnaby
Carleton Centre
Hudson’s Bay (folded midway through season)
South Vancouver Elks
Vancouver Engineering Works
Vancouver World
(May 9) Vernon Adams of the Hudson’s Bay team was impressive in pitching the Storemen to a 3 to 1 conquest of the defending champion Burnaby nine as the 1923 Twilight Baseball League got underway. Only in two innings did more than the minimum three batters face Adams and he could have earned a shutout had his teammates not booted the horsehide twice in succession in the opening stanza. Crafty Dave Gray was no slouch in absorbing the hillock setback. He fanned 15 while issuing eight hits and had the Bay squad eating out of his hands until the fourth chapter when the victors evened the match by nicking him for a pair of two-baggers. The Bay Boys plated a pair in the eighth on two safe blows and a couple of Burnaby fielding miscues. George Cuvelier and Andrew Tolmie both lit up Gray for a double and one-bagger while Adams wasn’t far behind, clipping the apple for a brace of singles.
V. Adams (W) and Shillingford
Gray (L) and Ewart
(May 10) The Vancouver Engineering Works’ baseballers won a loosely-played six-inning meeting with the Carleton Centre nine, squeaking by with a 5 to 4 decision, in a Twilight League match played in Burnaby. The V.E.W. aggregation outhit the C.C.’s by a 7 to 4 margin. Bob Orr, in a relief role, picked up the pitching victory over Herman McArthur. Fly chaser Morrow of the winners and Carleton’s Bob Lundie both acquired a brace of safe knocks.
Chapman, Orr (W) (4) and Buchanan
McArthur (L) and Scott
(May 11) Stellar twirling by complete game winning hurler Miller propelled the Vancouver World balltossers to an impressive 11 to 2 triumph over Hudson’s Bay in Twilight League play at the Powell Street grounds. The Newspapermen were aided immensely by the numerous errors committed by the Storemen which inflated the winning total. Miller heaved no-hit ball until the sixth stanza when Vern Adams singled up the middle for the the first safety lodged by the Baymen. Miller finished with a three-hitter, two of those safeties coming off the bat of Adams, ringing up seven punchouts along the way. Flychaser Vernon and catcher Bill Widdows had two base raps apiece for the victors.
Musiel (L), Rawlinson (5) and Kline, Shillingford
Miller (W) and Widdows
(May 12) Taking advantage of the wildness of the South Vancouver Elks’ pitching staff, Burnaby captured a darkness-shortened Twilight League contest at Wilson Park by a score of 12 to 3. Dave Gray, coming on in relief of youthful Burnaby starter Engelland in the third panel after the Elks had taken an early 3 to 0 lead, got credit for the hillock triumph. George Syrotuck and outfielder Smith had two hits each for the winners while South Vancouver’s F. "Tat" Boyes also registered a brace of safe swats.
Engelland, Gray (W) (3) and Black, Ewart
Hunter (L), J. Boyes (3), Brown (5), F. Boyes (5) and F. Boyes, McCarger (5)
(May 14) A seventh-inning infield error allowed the Vancouver Engineering Works to escape with a 4 to 3 verdict over the Vancouver World nine in a tightly-fought Twilight League clash. The Ironworkers amassed five safeties to four for the Journalists. The pitching of V.E.W.’s Bob Orr and Miller of the Newpapermen developed into a first-class mound duel and highlighted the fixture. Orr fanned seven while Miller whiffed eight. Third baseman Morrow of the winners had two safe base knocks as did outfielder Graham and hot corner custodian Robinson of the World nine.
Miller (L) and Widdows
Orr (W) and Buchanan
(May 15) The Carleton Centre baseballers built up a huge 15 to 0 lead after 4-1/2 innings and coasted to a 15 to 4 triumph over the outclassed Hudson’s Bay team. A six-run outburst in the fourth frame sealed the deal for the Carltons. Southpaw Herman McArthur earned the mound verdict and also stroked three base hits. Teammate F. “Rip” Dwan also punched out a trio of base knocks.
McArthur (W), Fitzpatrick (5) and Scott
Rawlinson (L), Sutherland (4), V. Adams (6) and Shillingford, Kline (2)
(May 16) Climbing back from a seven-run deficit midway through the contest, Burnaby managed to forge an 8 – 8 tie with the invading Vancouver Engineering Works diamond troopers at Central Park in Twilight League play. The V.E.W. aggregation had a slight 11 to 10 edge in base knocks as outfielder Douglas led the way with the baton, stinging the pill for a brace of two-baggers. Burnaby’s top swatter was Bert Pitt who clipped the orb for a double and single.
Emery, Orr (5) and Chapman
Thurston and Ewart
(May 17) Plating seven counters in the final two frames, the Carleton Centre nine roared back to grab a 9 to 8 decision from the South Vancouver Elks. Chief credit for the victory by the Carleton team goes to young “Red” Fitzpatrick who was rushed in to relieve starting pitcher Herm McArthur in the second inning when the Elks had scored three runs with one out to assume a 7 to 1 lead. He fanned both batters he faced to retire the side and then held the Southern Antlered Herd to just one safety for the remainder of the scuffle.
Mills (L) and E. Boyes
McArthur, Fitzpatrick (W) (2) and Scott
(May 18) Dave Gray tamed the Vancouver World diamond troopers on two singles and fanned a dozen in pitching Burnaby to a 2 to 0 blanking of the Newsies. Losing flinger Miller was even more stingy with the hits, yielding but one, a double to Jimmy Condon, but did not have the pinpoint control exhibited by his mound opponent.
Gray (W) and Ewart
Miller (L) and Warren
(May 19) The South Vancouver Elks registered their first victory of the 1923 campaign when they defeated Carleton Centre 2 to 1 in an exciting contest at Wilson Park. It took a late surge by the South Van nine to snatch the victory. Playing errorless ball and trailing 1 to 0, the Antlered Tribe knotted the count in the sixth inning. In the final canto, losing twirler Herm McArthur walked Elks’ second baseman J. Brown who then proceeded to third base on flychaser O’Hagan’s single. Brown then caught McArthur napping and stole home to end the contest. Winning flinger “Lefty” Hunter whiffed eight, the same total as McArthur, while giving up four base raps. Outfielder Ross nailed a double and single for the victors.
McArthur (L) and Scott
Hunter (W) and McCarger
(May 21) The Hudson’s Bay team threw a scare into the Twilight League leaders at the Powell Street facility before succumbing to the Vancouver Engineering Works nine 5 to 4. V.E.W. assumed a 3 to 0 first-inning lead which was erased in the third when Bay keystone sacker Andrew Tolmie cranked out a three-run four-bagger to give the Storemen a one-run cushion. Winning chucker Bob Orr drove in the tying counter in the fourth, moving to second base on the errant relay throw to the infield and, without stopping, headed for the hot corner when another wild toss by catcher Mellish allowed him to come all the way around to tally the winner. Outfielder Wilkes picked up a double and single for the winners while Bay shortstop Hearns singled twice.
V. Adams (L) and Mellish
Emery, Orr (W) (4) and Buchanan
(May 22) The South Vancouver Elks pushed the lowly Hudson’s Bay nine further into the cellar of the Twilight League by crushing the Retailers 14 to 4. Elks’ first baseman Taylor and flychaser G. Musiel of the Baymen both launched four-baggers in the one-sided contest.
xxx (W) and xxx
Sutherland (L), Mellish and xxx
(May 24) Carleton Centre gave a demonstration of the reason they are atop the Twilight League ladder when they pounded losing twirler Thurston of Burnaby for 14 base blows in steamrolling past the Suburbanites 10 to 3. Herm McArthur limited Burnaby to four safeties while punching out eight in going the route for the hillock decision. Shortstop R. “Bob” Lundie had three base knocks for the Carletons, two doubles and a single. Teammate F. “Rip” Dwan also collected a triad of safe swats, a brace of singles plus a two-bagger.
Thurston (L) and Ewart
McArthur (W) and Scott
(May 26) The South Vancouver Elks and the Vancouver Engineering Works locked horns and battled to a 7 – 7 draw in a loosely-played Twilight League fracas. Of the fourteen runs scored, only three were earned. The first-place Ironworkers doubled the hit production of the Antlered Herd, outswatting them 10 to 5. A clutch two-out single to right field by Elks’ third sacker Oates in the bottom of the last frame drove in J. Brown with the tying counter. Opposing moundsmen, Chapman and Mills, were both able to overpower hitters with Chapman holding a 10 to 9 edge in strikeouts.
Chapman and Buchanan
Mills and E. Boyes
(May 29) A disputed call at first base in the final inning cost the tail-end Hudson’s Bay nine their second Twilight League win of the campaign. Instead, the Vancouver Engineering Works nine were lucky to escape with a razor-thin 5 to 4 protested win. The Ironworkers plated the tying and winning counters on the controversial play while an argument ensued. The Storemen had an 8 to 7 edge in base hits and led most of the way during the battle. Winning moundsman Bob Orr whiffed eleven in going the route. Losing pitcher Vern Adams was the top dog with the baton in this fracas, drilling a double and two one-baggers. Teammate Andrew Tolmie as well as Orr, second baseman McConnachie and shortstop Ham/Hamm of V.E.W. all singled twice.
Orr (W) and Colburne, Chapman
V. Adams (L) and Bruce
(May 30) Youthful chucker “Red” Fitzpatrick of the Carleton Centre team bested ace Burnaby flinger Dave Gray 3 to 2 in a Twilight League thriller played at Central Park. The game developed into an airtight pitcher’s battle which was not decided until the last Burnaby batter was retired. Fitzpatrick yielded only two hits, both of which were doubles, while Gray allowed three, the final pair of which were bunched in the seventh panel when the Carleton’s plated a deuce.
Fitzpatrick (W) and Scott
Gray (L) and Ewart
(June 2) The South Vancouver Elks moved up another notch in the Twilight League when they blanked the bottom-feeding Hudson’s Bay aggregation 10 to 0. Winning moundsman “Lefty” Hunter tamed the Storemen on one hit, a top-of-the-first-inning single by leadoff hitter Andrew Tolmie. The South Van nine lit into losing chucker Vern Adams for 11 base blows including home runs by initial sacker Taylor and second baseman J. Brown. Hunter’s batterymate, catcher F. "Tat" Boyes stung the pill for a two-bagger and a pair of singles.
V. Adams (L) and Sutherland
Hunter (W) and E. Boyes
(June 4) The Vancouver Engineering Works contingent solidified its lead atop the Twilight League by disposing of Carleton Centre 6 to 2. The triumph was the fifth in succession for the Ironworkers. One bad inning, the fifth, spelled doom for the Carletons when their youthful chucker, “Red” Fitzpatrick, was lit up for five counters. Victorious moundsman Bob Orr rang up 15 strikeouts in tossing a seven-hitter. First baseman Ells and outfielder Douglas had two hits apiece for V.E.W., a feat duplicated by the C.C.’s Bob Lundie.
Fitzpatrick (L) and Scott
Orr (W) and Chapman
(June 5) Playing errorless ball behind the steady six-hit pitching of G. Musiel, the doormat Hudson’s Bay balltossers came out of their season-long shell to down the Burnaby nine 5 to 1. The victory was only the second of the campaign for the Storemen. A four-run fourth inning propelled the Baymen to the triumph as key run-scoring hits by first sacker Stedham and catcher Bruce did the major damage. Bruce and outfielder George Cuvelier of the winners as well as Burnaby flychaser Masi all had two safeties.
Thurston (L), Gray (4) and Ewart
Musiel (W) and Bruce
(June 6) Burnaby moved into a tie for third place in the Twilight League as Dave Gray picked up his fourth pitching victory of the season in leading the Suburbanites to a 9 to 2 conquest of the South Vancouver Elks. Burnaby led from start to finish, blowing the game wide open with a five-run outburst in the third inning. Shortstop George Syrotuck picked up three of the winners’ ten base raps. Outfielder Cooper, with a home run and three-bagger, was also a potent force with the lumber for the victors.
Mills (L) and E. Boyes
Gray (W) and Ewart
(June 7) A short-handed Hudson’s Bay squad was easy prey for the Carleton Centre nine who hammered the Retailers by a score of 12 to 3 at Central Park. The Carletons collected 11 hits as winning chucker Len Arthur led the way with the baton, banging out a triple, double and single. Shortstop Bob Lundie followed with a double, single and a pair of stolen bases. First baseman G. Musiel of the Baymen had half of his team’s six hits, ripping a triad of one-baggers. Second sacker Henderson was next in line, lacing a double and single.
V. Adams (L) and Sutherland
McArhur (W) and Scott
(June 8) In a wildly exciting finish, the Vancouver World baseball team put an end to the five-game winning streak of the Vancouver Engineering Works, winning in a most unexpected manner 4 to 3 in a Twilight Baseball League game. The Ironworkers had a three-run lead as the Newsies came to bat for the last time and it seemed as though the undefeated record of the V.E.W. nine would remain intact. But then, the Journalists suddenly loaded the sacks on a fumble of Bill Widdows’ dribbler by losing twirler Chapman, a base on balls to Johnston and a single by flychaser Graham. Eddie Trayling’s hard smash found a hole through the shortstop’s legs, allowing the two lead baserunners to score and narrowing the gap to one. At this point, the infielders of the Ironworkers moved in close with the hope of cutting off another run at the plate but outfielder Blake, batting ninth in the lineup, ended the game by bouncing a hit over second, driving in the tying and winning counters. Both teams wound up with seven-hit totals with Trayling of the victors and Bob Orr of V.E.W. accounting for two apiece. Carl Crowder rang up ten strikeouts in taking the pitching decision.
Chapman (L) and Emery
Crowder (W) and Bouchard
(June 9) The Vancouver World had the tables turned on them at Wilson Park by the South Vancouver Elks in Twilight League action. Just a day previous, the Newspapermen came from behind to edge the Vancouver Engineering Works club in an exciting finish but, in this match, the Publishers had a 6 to 3 lead snatched from them by the Antlered Herd in the final canto and emerged as 7 to 6 losers. Needing three tallies to tie, the South Van nine began the late rally on a safe hit by shortpatcher O’Hagan. An infield out and a throwing error on “Lefty” Hunter’s dribbler by losing pitcher Miller followed, allowing O’Hagan to score. Outfielder Ross then nailed a two-bagger which plated Hunter with the second counter of the comeback. Ross then touched home with the tying tally on Brown’s timely single. Carl Crowder was then seconded from the outer pasture to the bump in an attempt to stop the bleeding and flychaser Kirk was easily retired for the second out. Then, with the hard-hitting initial sacker Taylor in the batter’s box, Crowder unloaded a wild pitch which sent Brown in with winning marker. Top swatter in the contest was outfielder Eddie Trayling of the World who stung the pill for three safeties.
Miller (L) (3), Crowder (7) and xxx
Barnes, xxx (W) (3) and xxx
(June 11) 18-year old portsider “Lefty” Hunter kept his undefeated mound record in tact when he pitched the South Vancouver Elks to an impressive 6 to 2 triumph over the first-place Vancouver Engineering Works nine. Hunter set the Ironworkers down on just three hits while fanning seven as the Elks moved to within 1/2 game of the league-leaders. Losing moundsman Bob Orr was also in fine form, whiffing eight while giving up five base hits. First sacker Taylor of the South Van crew had a double and single to lead all baton swingers.
Hunter (W) and E. Boyes
Orr (L) and Chapman
(June 12) In Twilight League play, the Vancouver World doubled Hudson’s Bay 6 to 3 to move 2-1/2 games ahead of the cellar-dwellers. Wildness on the part of losing heaver Sutherland in the opening canto cost him the game when the Publishers tallied three times, aided further by a two-base hit by Blake and a single by Vernon. In the fifth, a double by Bouchard, a single and a stolen base by Ab Mortimer added two more. The Bay Boys plated one in the third and a pair of unearned tallies in the fifth when outfielder Graham of the World dropped Timmins’ easy fly. The Newsies scored their last in the seventh on a walk, a stolen base and a timely bingle by Eddie Trayling. Young Barnes looked impressive on the bump for the Newspapermen in going the route.
Barnes (W) and xxx
Sutherland (L) and xxx
(June 14) Carl Crowder held the heavy-hitting Carleton Centre team to five scattered hits as the Vancouver World baseballers prevailed 6 to 1 and evened their Twilight League record at four wins against four losses. The Newsies lit into losing flinger “Red” Fitzgerald for nine safe blows, three off the bat of hot corner guardian Robinson. Shortstop Bob Lundie led the C.C.’s at the platter, stroking a double to go along with a pair of one-baggers.
Crowder (W) and Bouchard
Fitzpatrick (L) and Scott
(June 15) Two pitching assignments in two nights proved too much for Carl Crowder to handle as the Vancouver World team absorbed a crushing 13 to 3 defeat at the hands of the Carleton Centre nine. Although base hits were even at seven each, the Newspaper nine were porous on defense while Crowder was far from his usual self on the hill, walking five batters, hitting three more and uncorking a wild pitch. He did, however, have enough stuff in his repertoire to ring up ten strikeouts. Winning tosser Herman McArthur did him three better in the whiff department, fanning 13. McArthur also led all swatters with a three-hit performance. Teammate Eddie Trayling and Jack Lundie of the Carltons both registered a brace of safeties.
McArthur (W) and Scott
Crowder (L) and Bouchard
Standings
Vanc Eng. Works 5 – 2 .714
So. Van. Elks 5 – 3 .625
Carleton Centre 6 – 4 .600
Burnaby 4 – 4 .500
Vanc. World 4 – 5 .444
Hudson’s Bay 2 – 8 .200
(June 16) “Lefty” Hunter, the big southpaw chucker of the South Vancouver Elks, maintained his unbeaten record as the Antlered Herd nosed out Dave Gray and the Burnaby baseballers 2 to 1 in a fast-paced Twilight League hurler’s clash. Each twirler gave up just three hits. A home run by J. Brown of the South Van nine was the difference in the contest.
Gray (L) and xxx
Hunter (W) and xxx
(June 18) For the first time this season, the Vancouver Engineering Works lost the lead in the Twilight League when Burnaby, with Dave Gray on the slab, upended the Ironworkers 6 to 1. Gray surrendered just two safeties in going the distance. Lack of control by Bob Orr plus costly miscues by his mates led to a disastrous five-run first inning which essentially cost V.E.W. the game. Both pitchers breezed ten batters but Orr issued four bases on balls while Gray did not walk a batter.
Gray (W) and Townsend
Orr (L) and Hayes
(June 19) The Carleton Centre nine moved into top spot in the Twilight League by absolutely destroying an overmatched Hudson’s Bay team 19 to 0 at Heather Park. The massacre was exacerbated by the ineptness of the Storemen afield plus their inability to the stop Carleton’s aggressive baserunning. Had it not been for losing pitcher G. Musiel’s clean bingle off winning tosser Frank Sager, the Baymen would have also been the victim of a no-hit, no-run mound performance.
Sager (W) and Scott
Musiel (L) and Shaw
(June 20) The Vancouver Engineering Works lost their fourth straight game when Burnaby, with Dave Gray pitching, won 9 to 4, pushing the Ironworkers into third spot. Although V.E.W. outhit the Suburbanites by a 9 to 7 margin, it was their porous defense which did them in. Flychaser Ewart of the winners was credited with a fluky home run when his hit over first base rolled into an area where the ball became lost. Top swatter in the skirmish was catcher Hay of the Ironworkers who ripped a double and two singles.
Chapman (L), McConnachie (3), Orr (4) and Hayes
Gray (W) and Townsend
(June 21) It was announced in the Vancouver World edition of this date that the Hudson’s Bay team was compelled to withdraw from the Twilight League as a result of losing players to other clubs, in particular the Vancouver Engineering Works.
(June 21) The Carleton Centre diamond troopers extended their lead over their closest rivals, the South Vancouver Elks, to a game and a half by defeating the Antlered Herd 9 to 4. After the Elks got to winning hurler, “Red” Fitzpatrick for three first-inning tallies, the Carletons roared back with a five-spot in their half of the same canto to assume the lead throughout. Following his opening chapter lapse, Fitzpatrick regained his composure and went the route, chalking up seven strikeouts along the way. The youthful redhead also starred at the dish, stinging the sphere for a home run, double and single. Outer pasture gardener Kirk was the best offensive player for South Van, clipping the horsehide for a double and one-bagger.
Mills (L), C. Brown (2) and E.Boyes
Fitzpatrick (W) and Scott
Standings *
Carleton Centre 8 – 3 .727
So. Van. Elks 6 – 4 .600
Van. Eng. Wks. 5 – 4 .556
Burnaby 6 – 5 .545
Vanc. World 3 – 5 .375
* results of disbanded Hudson’s Bay club not included
(June 22) Darkness prevented overtime as the Burnaby and Vancouver World squads tangled at the Powell Street grounds, the result being a 12 – 12 tie. The Suburbanites led in hits, garnering 11 while the Journalists claimed nine. Extra-base hitting featured the game, no less than seven two-baggers being recorded. Shortstop Robinson of Burnaby and World initial sacker Graham were the most timely hitters, the latter driving in five runs on a triple and double while Robinson pasted the apple for three safeties including two doubles. His namesake, third sacker Robinson of the Newsies also ripped a triad of bingles, one of which was a two-bagger.
Ross, Engelland (4) and Townsend
Miller, Barnes (4), Blake (6) and Widdows, Bouchard
(June 23) “Lefty” Hunter was nailed with his initial mound defeat of the campaign when the South Vancouver Elks were blanked 5 to 0 by league-leading Carleton Centre. The Carletons outhit the Elks yet most of their runs came as a result of costly errors by the South Van nine. Frank Sager, on the bump for the C.C.’s, earned the complete game shutout triumph.
Sager (W) and xxx
Hunter (L) and xxx
(June 25) Ace moundsman Dave Gray was virtually invincible in pitching Burnaby to a 2 to 0 triumph over the Vancouver Engineering Works squad, a victory which boosted the Suburbanites into second place in the Twilight League. The veteran righthander whiffed 15 in tossing the one-hit shutout. In addition to his hillock prowess, Gray also drove in both Burnaby runs with an opening-inning double. Hard-luck loser Bob Orr was touched for just three safeties while ringing up a dozen whiffs.
Gray (W) and Ewart
Orr (L) and Hayes
(June 27) Displaying solid and consistent play in all facets of the game, the Vancouver World baseball team blanked the Burnaby nine 8 to 0 at Central Park.The Newsies grabbed the lead in the second inning and never took their foot off the gas pedal. Newcomer Forest, who made his debut on the hill for Burnaby, was easily solved and, until he was derricked in the sixth frame, was lit up for a fusillade of hits. Winning pitcher Miller set the Suburbanites down on four bingles in earning the shutout triumph. Outfielder Vernon led the way with the stick for the Publishers, creaming the orb for two doubles which drove in four runs.
Miller (W) and xxx
Forest (L), xxx (6) and xxx
(June 28) Premiere chucker Dave Gray recorded his 100th strikeout of the campaign in pitching Burnaby to 7 to 3 conquest of Carleton Centre in a Twilight League contest which had a controversial ending. Heading into the eighth inning with the score tied 3 – 3 and darkness enveloping the skies, plate umpire Freeman decided to get another inning in so a winner could be declared, a decision which didn’t sit well with the Carletons. The C.C. tossers stalled and intentionally filled the bases on walks with none out. Scoring four times while this farcical travesty was in process, the Burnabyites decided to play along with the gimmick and intentionally swung and missed every succeeding pitch until three outs were recorded. In the bottom of the frame, Gray went to work and quickly retired the side in order, fanning the final batter for his centennial whiff.
Gray (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(June 29) When Vancouver World initial sacker Graham dropped second baseman Les Torey’s low throw in the top of the final canto, it allowed the Vancouver Engineering Works to score an unearned run and eventually take the contest 6 to 5. The win for the Ironworkers was their first in their last six starts while the setback for the Publishers pushed them further into the cellar. V.E.W. came from behind a two-run deficit to forge ahead 5 to 4 in the first half of the sixth. The Newsies tied it up in their half of the frame on Robinson’s timely one-bagger which scored Torey. After the Engineering Works nine scored what turned out to be their unearned winner, the World tried valiantly to knot the count in their final turn at bat as Blake was safe on an infield error, went to second on Bouchard’s sacrifice bunt and reached third on a balk. However, he died at the hot corner as the final two batters were easy outs.
xxx (W) and xxx
Miller (L) and xxx
(June 30) The slumping South Vancouver Elks suffered their third consecutive loss when they were dropped 10 to 6 by the Vancouver Engineering Works. The Ironworkers had an 11 to 9 advantage in safe swats. Wilkes/Wilks led the victors offensively, spanking the sphere for a quartet of safe knocks. His teammate, second sacker Andrew Tolmie, contributed three bingles. Bob Orr earned the pitching victory over “Lefty” Hunter who absorbed his second setback of the season.
Orr (W) and Hayes
Hunter (L) and E. Boyes
(July 4) Whenever the Burnaby diamond troopers meet their neighbors from Carleton Centre, spectators are often assured of something exciting. Such was the case in the latest meeting of these rivals in which the first-place C.C.’s prevailed 13 to 8, advancing another notch toward the 1923 Twilight League pennant, chiefly through heavy hitting which featured a number of extra-base clouts. Sutherland, a pickup from the defunct Hudson’s Bay squad, was on the mound for the Burnabyites and was touched up freely by the Carletons. “Red” Fitzpatrick started on the hill for the C.C.’s but was given the hook in the fifth after he failed to record an out after facing four batters. A sixth-inning judgement call at the plate so angered the already intense Burnaby supporters who responded by moving on to the field. It took ten minutes before they calmed down and play resumed.
Fitzpatrick (W), McCarthy (5) and xxx
Sutherland (L) and xxx
(July 5) The rich got richer and the poor got poorer in the realm of the Twilight League as the first-place Carleton Centre squad disposed of the basement-dwelling Vancouver World nine 13 to 7. The Newsies had a 5 to 2 lead early in the contest when they pounded C.C. starting pitcher Frank Sager out of the box. Reliever “Red” Fitzpatrick, however, kept the bats of the Publishers fairly quiet for the remainder of the tussle, surrendering just two hits, as the Carleton offensive machine began to roll as key three-baggers by Bob Lundie and catcher Scott, with plenty of ducks on the pond, put the issue beyond doubt.
Miller (L) and xxx
Sager, Fitzpatrick (W) (2) and Scott
(July 6) The Vancouver World band of baseballers again fell by the wayside in a heavy-hitting joust in which the South Vancouver Elks scored four late counters to decision the Newspapermen 14 to 12. The two teams combined for 30 base knocks with the World aggregation accounting for 17 of them. First baseman Taylor of the Elks was the top slugger in the swatfest, slamming a home run to go along with three singles. Eddie Trayling of the Printers also did well with the baton, creaming the orb for a double plus a brace of one-baggers.
C. Brown, Hunter (W) (6) and Bruce
Miller (L), Blake (7) and Widdows
(July 9) The Carleton Centre crew pretty well clinched the 1923 Twilight League pennant when they defeated the Vancouver Engineering Works 5 to 4. Winning moundsman “Red” Fitzpatrick gave up four hits in going the route. Losing pitcher Bob Orr fanned 11 and yielded five hits but was plagued by poor defensive support as only one of the runs he surrendered was of the earned variety. Catcher Scott and first sacker Herman McArthur of the Carletons each smacked a double and single while V.E.W. backstop Hayes picked up a triple and one-bagger.
Fitzpatrick (W) and Scott
Orr (L) and Hayes
Standings *
Carleton Centre 11 – 4 .733
Van. Eng. Wks. 7 – 6 .538
So. Van. Elks 7 – 6 .538
Burnaby 8 – 7 .533
Vanc. World 5 – 8 .385
* results of disbanded Hudson’s Bay club not included
(July 11) Burnaby practically eliminated the South Vancouver Elks from any chance they may have had of winning the 1923 Twilight League pennant. By virtue of their 6 to 4 triumph over the Antlered Herd, the Suburbanites still have a remote possibility of tying Carleton Centre providing the C.C.’s drop all their remaining games. Burnaby outswatted the South Van crew nine his to seven and were full credit for their victory. Pitcher Engelland tossed a seven-hitter and breezed nine in copping the hillock decision. He was also potent with the stick, plating his team’s opening counter with a solo homer and driving in the winning run with a lofty two-bagger in the sixth. Third baseman Oates sparkled offensively for the Elks, slamming two doubles.
Bellamy (L) and E. Boyes
Engelland (W) and Ewart
(July 12) By defeating the Vancouver World balltossers 4 to 1, the Carleton Centre pastimers clinched the 1923 Twilight Baseball League pennant. Southpaw Herm McArthur of the C.C.’s held the Printers to just three hits while punching out an even dozen. The Carletons accumulated six base raps with McArthur accounting for two of them, one of which was a two-bagger.
Blake (L) and Widdows
McArthur (W) and Scott
(July 13) After allowing the Carleton Centre team to claim the Twilight League pennant just a night previous, the Vancouver World diamondeers came back strong and hammered the champions 11 to 3. A six-run sixth inning sealed the deal for the Newsies. Miller took the hillock decision over Frank Sager.
Sager (L), Fitzpatrick (6) and Scott
Miller (W) and Trayling
(July 16) The Vancouver Engineering Works copped a close 5 to 4 victory over the South Vancouver Elks in a Twilight League encounter. A wild peg in the final stanza alowed the winning run to cross the plate. Chucker Mowatt of the V.E.W. nine struck out 12 and hurled a four-hitter to grab the hillock verdict over the Elks “Lefty” Hunter. Third sacker Ross Morrow hammered a grand-slam round-tripper and a single for the winners who amassed six bingles.
Hunter (L) and E. Boyes
Mowatt (W) and Chapman
(July 18) A 9 to 5 triumph over Burnaby at Central Park strengthened the Vancouver Engineering Works’ grip on second place in the Twilight League. A four-run outburst in the fourth chapter by the Ironworkers was the deciding factor in this tussle. Andrew Tolmie of the winners and Burnaby flychaser McKee each racked up a double and single.
Orr (W) and Chapman
Sutherland (L) and Cooper
(July 20) A four-hit explosion in the sixth canto that produced three runs, propelled the Vancouver World nine to a 6 to 4 conquest of Burnaby in a Twilight League encounter at the Powell Street grounds. The contest featured spectacular fielding gems by both teams. Burnaby outhit the Newsies but the knack of getting the most out of their chances was lacking.
Sutherland (L) and xxx
Miller (W) and xxx
(July 22) Pounding the offerings of “Lefty” Hunter all over the lot, the Vancouver World won their third game in succession, hammering the South Vancouver Elks 12 to 3 in a Twilight League fixture. The Newsies gathered 16 base knocks with only outfielder Blake, of those in the lineup, failing to register a hit. Hot corner guardian Robinson led the way with the baton, booming a triple and two singles. Teammates Eddie Trayling and first baseman Graham also collected a triad of bingles.
xxx (W) and xxx
Hunter (L) and xxx
(July 24) Catching fire as time ran out in the schedule, the Vancouver World won their fourth Terminal League game in a row, nosing out the Vancouver Engineering Works nine 7 to 6. The Ironworkers held a healthy 11 to 5 margin in base hits but were never able to bunch them as effectively as the Publishers. Andrew Tolmie, shortstop Ham/Hamm, first baseman Ells and catcher Chapman, all from the vanquished nine, had two hits apiece.
Miller (W), Blake (7) and Widdows
Orr (L) and Chapman
Final Standings * W L Pct.
Carleton Centre 12 6 .667
Vcr. Engineering Wks. 9 9 .500
Vancouver World 9 9 .500
Burnaby 9 9 .500
South Vancouver Elks 9 9 .500
* record of disbanded Hudson’s Bay team not included
No intra-league playoffs – Carleton Centre advances to play Terminal League champion Hanbury’s in first round of Vancouver and B.C. provincial playdowns.
DEWDNEY BASEBALL LEAGUE
Coquitlam, Hammond, Haney, IOCO * , Port Moody
* IOCO – 1923 Dewdney League champion
(May 10) The defending champion IOCO baseballers captured their 1923 home opener, edging Port Moody 3 to 2.
Thorburn (L) and Baird
Robinson (W) and Clarke
(June 22) The IOCO band of diamondeers chalked up their tenth straight win, a 10 to 1 thumping of Coquitlam.
Robinson (W), Dowding and Bacon
Payne (L), Smith and Duncan
NEW WESTMINSTER SENIOR AMATEUR LEAGUE
B.C. Box Manufacturers*Elks
47th Battalion
Peoples Providers
*1923 league champion
(May 15) People’s Providers edged the 47th Battalion, a new entry, 4 to 3 in the 1923 Royal City opener at Queen’s Park. The contest ended after five innings when darkness prevented further play.
Harrison (L) Earle and McLean
Eadie (W) and Curtis
(May 29) The youngest team in the New Westminster Senior loop, the 47th Battalion, trounced the People’s Providers 7 to 1.
Eadie (L), Doyle and Curtis
Harrison (W) and McLean
(June 12) The 47th Battalion defeated People’s Providers 8 to 4 at Queen’s Park.
(July 3) Superior defense enabled the 47th Battalion band of baseballers to move into a tie for the leadership of the New Westminster circuit when they beat the B.C. Box Manufacturers 8 to 5 at Queen’s Park.
Currie (L), Waltham and Finlayson
Harrison (W) and McLean
Revised 1923 rosters
Finals (47th Battalion vs B. C. Box Manufacturers
(August 1) The B. C. Box Manufacturing nine captured the playoff crown emblematic of supremacy in the 1923 Royal City circuit by squeaking out a razor-thin 2 to 1 verdict over the 47th Battalion.
Harrison (L) and McLean
Currie (W) and Somerville
CHILLIWACK VALLEY BASEBALL LEAGUE
AgassizChilliwack Athletics*
Chilliwack Blue Birds
Rosedale
Sardis
*1923 league champion
DELTA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Clayburn
Cloverdale
Delta
Murrayville
LOWER MAINLAND SENIOR PLAYOFFS
Quarter-finals (best-of-three) Carleton Centre (Twilight League champions) vs Hanbury’s (Terminal League champions)
(August 4) Hanbury’s of the Terminal League slipped past Carleton Centre of the Twilight League 4 to 3 in the first game of their Lower Mainland quarter-final series. The Twilight Leaguers collected 11 base hits to just six for Hanbury’s but a pair of late-inning fielding miscues cost them the game. Playing in the seventh panel with the score tied 2 – 2, a Hanbury one-bagger to the middle pasture found a hole between Carleton fly-chaser F. Dwan’s legs and rolled to the deepest part of the outfield for a three-base error and the lead run. Then, in the eighth, losing twirler Herm McArthur made a wild heave to first base which allowed an insurance counter to cross the platter. Down by a pair as they came to bat for the final time, the Sawmill nine made a valiant effort to knot the count, loading the sacks, but were only able to push across one run. First baseman Jack Lundie of the Carleton’s topped all swatters in the contest with three safeties. Teammate J. Brown and Hanbury’s Art Morse both stroked a brace of bingles.
McArthur (L) and Scott
Kimberley (W) and Daniels
(August 8) Hal Puder struck out 13 and limited Carleton Centre to just four hits in pitching Hanbury’s to a 5 to 2 win over the Suburbanites in the second and final game of their playoff series. The Millmen collected eleven hits off a pair of Carleton tossers with Norm Goodall leading the pack with a three-ply clout and a brace of one-baggers. Teammate Harley Solloway laced a triad of singles.
Puder (W) and Daniels
Fitzpatrick (L), McArthur (6) and Scott
QUARTER-FINALS (Best-of-Three)
IOCO (Dewdney League champions vs Chilliwack Athletics (representing the Chilliwack Valley Baseball League)
(August 8) Scoring three runs in the eighth frame to break a 6 – 6 deadlock, IOCO captured the opening game of the Lower Mainland quarter-finals 9 to 6 from Chilliwack. Winning flinger Robinson gave up nine hits while fanning eleven. Jack Bacon and third baseman Coyle both blasted a trio of base knocks for the Refinery Towners.
Robinson (W) and Bacon
Ratzman (L) and Bruce
(August 10) IOCO advanced to the next round of the Lower Mainland Senior playoffs by dumping the visiting Chilliwack nine 15 to 5. The Oilmen banged out 12 hits in overwhelming the Valley champions who fell apart defensively in the sixth and seventh innings.
G. Sager (L) and Atkinson, Bruce
Thorburn (W) and Bacon
Hanbury’s (Terminal League champions) vs Young Liberals (Vancouver Senior Amateur League champions)
(August 13) An unfortunate error by Art Morse, Hanbury’s flashy shortstop, deprived Tommy Raftery of the Millmen a shutout in the initial game of the Lower Mainland senior baseball semi-finals at Athletic Park. Ernie Paepke of the Young Liberals crossed the plate with the equalizer on Morse’s sixth-inning wide heave to first base as the Grits and Terminal Leaguers played to a 1 – 1 draw in the darkness-shortened opener. The Sawmillers had opened the scoring in the initial round when Norm Goodall singled to drive in Raftery from second base. Raftery and “Lefty” Simons, twirling for the Politicians, were both stingy with the hits, each yielding but three, all singles.
Simons and Richardson
T. Raftery and Daniels
(August 16) Ernie Paepke’s screeching fourth-inning three-ply clout to the middle garden with all hassocks populated stowed away a 6 to 3 victory for the Young Liberals at Athletic Park against the Terminal League champion Hanbury’s squad. With the score 3 to 1 against them, the Grits struck for four in that fateful frame to grab control of the contest, adding another counter in the fifth for good measure. Len Arthur punched out eight, walked nary a batter and was nicked for six safeties in copping the knoll victory. Paepke had a one-bagger to go along with his triple. Teammates Hec Cann and Jack Fraser both stroked a pair of singles while Harley Solloway and Art Morse of the Millmen each banged out a brace of wallops, with one of Morse’s and both of Solloway’s being doubles.
Kimberley (L), Puder (5) and Daniels
Arthur (W) and Whyte
(August 18) The Young Liberals came through with a 17 to 2 lambasting of Hanbury’s Mill to capture the city of Vancouver senior baseball crown as well as a trip to the Lower Mainland finals. Leading from start to finish, the Grits pounded a pair of Hanbury chuckers for 18 base blows. Winning moundsman “Tat” Larson pitched the first eight innings for the victors, surrendering all seven of the opposition hits. Outfielder Orville Falconer blasted two doubles and a brace of one-baggers for the Politicians while teammates Larson, Jack Fraser and first baseman Charlie Mattock each drilled three hits.
Larson (W), Arthur (9) and Whyte, Richardson (8)
Puder (L), Kimberley (6) and Daniels
SEMI-FINALS (Best-of-Three)
IOCO (Dewdney League champions) vs B.C. Box Manufacturers (New Westminster League champions)
(August 15) New Westminster’s B. C. Box Manufacturers went one game up in their Lower Mainland semi-final series with IOCO when they blanked the Oil City nine 2 to 0. Gordon Currie, on the mound for the Royal City troupe, twirled great ball and held the Refinery Towners to three hits. Losing heaver Robinson was no slouch either as he held the Manufacturers to just four safeties.
Currie (W) and Somerville
Robinson (L) and Bacon
(August 22) Defending provincial senior champion IOCO was eliminated from further play after dropping a 3 to 1 decision to the B.C. Box Manufacturers of New Westminster at Queen’s Park. The Boxmen gave winning flinger Gordon Currie great support, playing errorless afield while the Refinery Towners were sloppy, committing seven miscues. All three of the IOCO tallies were of the unearned variety. Outfielder Jack McCrae and catcher Harry Somerville each singled twice for the winners.
Robinson (L) and Bacon
Currie (W) and Somerville
FINALS (Best-of-Three)
New Westminster Box Manufacturers (New Westminster League champions) vs Vancouver Young Liberals (Vancouver Senior Amateur League champions)
(August 25) Playing before one of the largest crowds that has witnessed a baseball game at Athletic Park in years, the Young Liberals, Vancouver city champions, downed the B.C. Box Manufacturers of New Westminster 1 to 0 in the first game of the Lower Mainland championship series. The game was scoreless for 8 1/2 innings despite the fact that the Politicians were swinging the hickory for a flock of hits. Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, after first baseman Charlie Mattock of the Grits had singled and advanced to second base on an infield out, he romped home with the walkoff winning tally on Hec Cann’s one-bagger. Charlie Miron and third sacker Jack Fraser had three hits apiece for the victors.
Currie (L) and Somerville
Simons (W) and Richardson
(August 29) With victory well in sight, the B.C. Box Manufacturers’ defense weakened in the seventh inning at New Westminster’s Queen’s Park, allowing the Young Liberals of Vancouver to push five runs across the platter and tie the score 7 – 7. In the one other inning played before darkness fell, neither team broke the stalemate and the resulting draw. Both combatants banged out eleven safeties with New Westminster complete game chucker Gordon Currie leading the way with two doubles and an equal number of one-baggers.
Arthur, Larson (4) and Whyte
Currie and Somerville
(September 1) The Vancouver Young Liberals captured the 1923 Lower Mainland senior baseball tiara by turning back the B.C. Box Manufacturers of New Westminster 6 to 3 at Athletic Park. Pitcher “Lefty” Simons of the Grits was the game’s shining star, holding the Royal City team to two scattered hits while whiffing seven. The Boxmen scored all three of their tallies in the opening stanza, initiated by an infield error, a passed ball and a walk. The Politicians tied the game with a trio of markers in the second round and went ahead in the seventh, adding a singleton in that frame, and padding the margin with a brace of insurance counters in the eighth panel. Simons and outfielder Paul Tatman both stroked a brace of swats for the Libs.
Simons (W) and Whyte
Gordon (L), Currie (8) and Somerville
VANCOUVER ISLAND SENIOR PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-three)
Nanaimo Coal City defeated Courtenay 3 to 0 and 9 to 4.
Finals (best-of-three)
(August 16) Nanaimo Coal City defeated Victoria C. P. R. 3 to 0 in the first game of the Vancouver Island senior baseball finals.
(August 18) Converting four fourteenth-inning singles into two runs, the visiting Nanaimo senior baseballers won a marathon 6 to 4 decision from Victoria C.P.R. to advance to the provincial senior finals. The Railroaders had plenty of opportunities to win but were unable to cash in on their chances, stranding 17 baserunners.
Kaye (W) and xxx
Forbes (L) and xxx
1923 B.C. FINALS (Best-of-Three)
Nanaimo Coal City (Vancouver Island champions) vs Vancouver Young Liberals (Lower Mainland champions)
(September 3) The Vancouver Young Liberals got the jump on Nanaimo Coal City to earn a 3 to 2 victory in the opener of the provincial finals. No game details or batteries located in the Vancouver Daily World.
(September 5) The home-standing Nanaimo Coal City clan and the Vancouver Young Liberals battled to a ten-inning 5 – 5 tie in the second game of the B.C. senior amateur baseball finals. The Coalers made a valiant comeback to earn the draw after falling behind 5 to 0. Both teams stroked ten base blows. The Politicians pulled off a triple play during the early part of the game. Shortstop W. Rice led the Islanders with the stick, spanking the sphere for three safeties. Charlie Miron and Syd Whyte of the Grits both laced a double and single, a feat replicated by Phil Piper and P. Courtenay of Nanaimo..
Simons, Arthur (9) and Whyte
Kaye, Stickney (9) and Piper
(September 8) Close to 4,000 customers at Athletic Park witnessed the Vancouver Young Liberals’ conquest of the Nanaimo Coal City contingent 4 to 0, a victory that earned the Grits the 1923 British Columbia senior baseball championship. “Tat” Larson went the route for the Libs to earn the shutout win on a five-hitter. Nanaimo starter “Lefty” Kaye was given the hook after 5 1/3 innings when he was lit up for all Vancouver four runs. Playing-manager Ernie Paepke, Bill Giguere, Charlie Miron and Jack Fraser all had two hits for the new champions.
Kaye (L), Stickney (6) and Piper
Larson (W) and Whyte