1924 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1924 BC Interior
1924 Vancouver Island
NORTHERN OKANAGAN BASEBALL LEAGUE
The league expanded to four teams in 1924 as Kelowna joined the circuit.
Enderby
Kelowna
Salmon Arm
Vernon
(May 8) Three doubles in the eighth inning produced a brace of counters, breaking up a close game, and vaulted hosting Vernon past Salmon Arm 5 to 2 as the 1924 Northern Okanagan Baseball League got underway. Keystone sacker Stokes and hot corner custodian Bill Seaton hit back-to-back two-baggers and, after Jack Burrows had been retired, first baseman Maxwell nailed a third double. Burrows, who wound up with two of Vernon’s eight hits, had earlier cranked a two-run homer to put the winners in front by a run. Seaton had an earlier hit as well, finishing the contest with two safeties, an output matched by Salmon Arm’s Stainton.
Robinson (L) and Knight, Stainton
Wilson (W) and Burrows
(May 15) Leadoff hitter Broom drilled a solo home run and winning pitcher Sparrow struck out 18 as Enderby dumped invading Vernon 5 to 2. The teams combined for 23 base hits with the victors collecting 13 of them. Third sacker Broom had a double and a single to go along with his round-tripper. Enderby catcher J. Jones nicked the orb for a triple and a pair of singles while Bill Langstaffe was best with the baton for Vernon, drilling a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Maxwell (L), Wilson (5) and Burrows
Sparrow (W) and J. Jones
(May 24) Visiting Vernon did a number on Kelowna, drubbing the Orchard City nine 11 to 2. A five-run outburst in the seventh inning put this game on ice for the Vernonites. Leading the 12-hit offense of the winners was outfielder Bill Langstaffe who singled on three occasions. Teammates “Slick” Langstaffe and Bill Seaton added a pair of safeties each with one of Seaton’s raps going for two bases. Bill Wilson twirled a six-hitter in registering the knoll triumph.
Wilson (W) and Seaton
DeHart (L), Roth (8) and Patterson, Parkinson
(June 3) Vernon doubled invading Kelowna 8 to 4 in a sloppy game in which the Orchard City squad committed eight errors. Kelowna shortstop Robie had a solo home run in a losing cause. Flychaser “Slick” Langstaffe had Vernon’s longest hit, a run-scoring double.
DeHart (L), Roth (7) and xxx
Wilson (W) and Seaton
(June 5) A complete defensive meltdown by both combatants resulted in an 11 to 7 victory for Vernon against homestanding Salmon Arm. Unlike the snappy contest they played on opening day, this tilt was tainted by 19 fielding miscues, ten of which were committed by the ultimate winners.
McKinnon, Burrows (W) (5) and Seaton
xxx (L) and xxx
(June 26) Vernon knocked Enderby from the ranks of the undefeated and claimed a share of first place in the Northern Okanagan Baseball League by nosing out the Shuswap River nine 3 to 2 in the final league game on the schedule. The two foes finished the regular campaign with identical 5 – 1 records. The game was a tight pitcher’s duel for most of the way with winning tosser Billy Wilson surrendering six hits while losing chucker Sparrow was nicked for five. Vernon opened the scoring in the third inning on a timely RBI single by third baseman Estabrooke. Sparrow lit into one of Wilson’s benders for a solo dinger in the fifth to knot the count at 1 – 1. Bill Langstaffe and first baseman Maxwell put Vernon out in front 3 to 1 in the seventh with run-scoring singles. In the eighth, Enderby made a valiant effort to even up the score as Grant crossed the dish on a one-bagger by initial sacker G. Jones but, with the tying and lead runs on the corners, Sparrow popped up to end the threat. Again in the final canto, Enderby had ducks on the pond but failed to connect when bingles meant bacon.
Sparrow (L) and Bercy
Wilson (W) and Seaton
PLAYOFFS Vernon vs Enderby (best-of-three series)
(July 12) Vernon captured the first game of the 1924 NOBL championship series, squeaking past visiting Enderby 1 to 0 in a thriller to the end. Jack Burrows returned to the hillock after a long absence and stymied Enderby on one hit while fanning 13. Losing heaver Sparrow was in the groove as well, whiffing a dozen while spinning a three-hitter. Bill Langstaffe’s seventh-inning triple drove in younger brother John for the only score of the game.
Sparrow (L) and Bercy
Burrows (W) and Ramsay
(July 17) Although the weather in Enderby was not the most desirable for baseball, the two finalists for the 1924 NOBL crown went at it again with the Vernon diamond troopers prevailing 6 to 3 to annex the championship. The same two heavers who had put on a spectacular performance a week previous, once again locked horns in this second and final game of the series but their slants were not nearly as baffling to opposing hitters this time around. The Enderby pastimers had 12 of the 23 safe swats rapped out in the contest but weren’t able to come through with the big hit when needed. The snappy defenses of the initial clash were also but a memory in this tilt as 15 errors, nine by the losers, had a bearing on the scoring. The victors went ahead 2 to 0 in the first inning when a pair of Enderby errors allowed Bill Seaton, who had tripled, and first baseman Maxwell to score. The Vernonites held the lead throughout the remainder of the game and, after six full innings were in front 4 to 3. They added a pair of add-on insurance markers in the seventh after back-to-back two baggers by winning flinger Jack Burrows and second baseman Forrester which sealed the deal. Forrester had three base knocks for the new NOBL titleholders while flychaser Keron and first sacker J. Jones of the vanquished nine replicated the feat.
Burrows (W) and Ramsay
Sparrow (L) and Bercy
KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE
1924 was the inaugural season for this four-team loop comprising teams from Trail, Rossland, Nelson and Metaline Falls WA.
(May 24) In a well played exhibition contest at Nelson, the home nine edged Kaslo 2-0 as Iner "Slim" Kraft twirled a two-hit shutout. The winners had just three safeties. A second-inning triple by keystone sacker Reardon drove in Lister to open the scoring while Reardon was able to touch the dish with Nelson’s second run on a poor throw to the plate.
Cockle (L) and Garland
Kraft (W) and Blair
(June 1) Playing at Trail, Nelson had early success jumping out to an 8-3 lead in the third inning but the good fortune wouldn't last as the home club went on a tear and outscored the visitors 14-1 the rest of the way for a 17-9 victory in the opening game of the Kootenay International League. Trail collected 17 hits, three by Angus McDonald the left fielder. Bill DiPasquale, the third sacker, cracked a four-bagger. Blair poked a pair of doubles for Nelson. Peter Demidoff, who relieved in the third inning, pitched marvelous ball the rest of the way for the win. The new grandstand, built at a cost of $1,200, to hold 300, was packed. An estimated crowd of 500 attended.
Kraft (L) and Blair
Routledge, Demidoff (W) (3) and Garland
(June 1) Metaline Falls shaded Rossland 5-4 in action at the American city.
(June 8) Nelson chased home two runs in the eighth inning to grab a 7-5 win over Metaline Falls. Tied 5-5, Reardon and Scotty Notman cracked back-to-back doubles for the tie-breaking marker and Notman raced home on an error for an insurance run. Catcher Blair led a 14-hit attack with a home run and a single. Reardon added a double, two singles and three scores. Iner Kraft held Metaline Falls to six hits with nine Nelson errors accounting for the American's scoring. Kraft fanned 11 and walked two.
Ryman, Robinson and Carpenter
Kraft (W) and Blair
(June 8) Rossland defeated visiting Trail.
(June 15) DeHuff held Nelson to three hits Sunday as Metaline Falls blanked Nelson 5-0. The Americans got the only run they needed this day in the first inning as Robinson drew a walk and scored on a throwing error. They added two in the fifth as winning pitcher DeHuff walked and scored on a passed ball and Ryman singled in the third run. Two in the seventh ended the scoring. Ryman reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and made home on an overthrow. Carpenter singled, stole second and scored as a throw to second went into the outfield.
Kraft (L) and Blair
DeHuff (W) and Carpenter
(June 15) Rossland beat Trail for the second time in a week, crushing the home team 10 to 2 Sunday before a large and enthusiastic crowd. Marsters fired a two-hitter for the Golden City crew allowing no earned runs. Trail, which made ten errors, made three boots in the first inning to help Rossland to two runs. They added three more in the second as Trail made two more errors and Rossland got a double by Johnson and a three-bagger by McLennan.
Marsters (W) and xxx
Demidoff (L) and xxx
Metaline Falls 2 - 1
Rossland 2 - 1
Trail 1 - 2
Nelson 1 - 2
(June 22) Nelson, trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning, quickly turned the game around with a nine-run explosion en route to a 15-10 win over Trail. The teams combined for 30 hits, 15 of them for two bases. For Nelson, Ed Langill led the attack with three doubles and a single while Jimmie Brennan slugged a pair of two-baggers and Scotty Notman and Slim Kraft each had one. Lauriente rapped three doubles for Trail. Dick Drew was good for a double and triple. Kraft survived 13 hits to go the distance for the win. He had eight strikeouts and no free passes.
Routledge, Demidoff (L) (4) and Garland
Kraft (W) and Blair, Brennan
(June 22) Local boy Donnie MacKenzie marked his return to the Rossland lineup with a dominating performance Sunday as Rossland blanked Metaline Falls 9-0. MacKenzie allowed just three hits and whiffed 14 in firing the shutout. The winners managed just seven hits, but DeHuff walked two and hit three and his teammates made four errors. Catcher Johnson paced Rossland with a triple and single. Marsters added a double and single. Metaline Falls protested the game claiming poor umpiring.
DeHuff (L) and Carpenter
MacKenzie (W) and Johnson
(June 29) One of the largest crowds of the season, in excess of 600, crowded the diamond Sunday as Trail upended Metaline Falls 9 to 3. Dwyer scattered seven hits and whiffed nine in posting the win. Shortstop Dick Drew and centre fielder Cliff Morgan led a 13-hit attack each with three safeties
Robinson (L), DeHuff and Meck
Dwyer (W) and Garland, Lauriente
(June 29) Marsters and Donnie MacKenzie combined on a three-hitter Sunday as Rossland consolidated its hold on first place in the Kootenay International League with a 9-1 victory over Nelson. Rossland scored two in the first inning and coasted to the easy win. Joe Ferko paced the league-leaders with three hits. Rae slugged a pair of doubles. The two Rossland hurlers combined for 13 strikeouts, MacKenzie with seven in three innings.. Marsters left in the seventh with a sore arm.
Marsters (W), MacKenzie (7) and Johnson
Kraft (L) and Blair
(July 6) Trail clobbered Metaline Falls 13-1 as the Americans booted the ball 15 times. Cliff Morgan blasted a triple and two singles for the winners with McDonald and Dick Drew each added two safeties. Dwyer allowed six hits and fanned nine in coasting to the win.
Dwyer (W) and Conrad
Ryman (L), DeHuff and Carpenter
(July 6) Rossland added another victory to its impressive season downing Nelson 8 to 2. The Golden City nine were fast out of the gate with three runs in the first inning.
Kraft (L) and Brennan
Marsters (W), MacKenzie (7) and Johnson
(July 13) Frank Lister doubled in Scotty Notman with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday in an exciting 10-9 victory for Nelson over Metaline Falls. With two out and Notman on second with a single and Addie Scanlan on first via a free pass, Lister smacked one over the left field fence for two bases to delight a big home crowd. Nelson had fallen behind 4-1 after two innings and trailed 9-4 going into the fifth. In the second, the visitors erupted for four runs helped by four errors and Collins two-run double. They added a pair in the third with Collins' triple the key blow. After Nelson rebounded with three runs in their half of the third as Langill cracked a homer, Metaline Falls got three more in the fourth, one on Rogers' single and two when Collins connected for another three-bagger. A two-run homer by Blair brought Nelson to within three runs and they tallied a singleton in the seventh as Langill tripled and came home on a single by Blair. With two in the eighth on an error and Blair's triple Nelson tied the visitors at 9-9 setting the stage for Lister's heroics. First baseman Langill led the winners with five hits and four runs. Blair had three. Collins and Robinson rapped four apiece for Metaline Falls. Scanlan yielded nine hits in going the distance for the win.
DeHuff (L) and Allen
Scanlan (W) and Blair
Rossland 6 - 1
Nelson 3 - 4 3.0
Trail 3 - 4 3.0
Metaline Falls 2 - 5 4.0
(July 13) With its sixth victory in seven games, Rossland has extended its lead atop the league standings. Rossland crushed Trail 13-3 Sunday scoring nine runs in the first inning.
McKenzie (W) and xxx
Daws (L), Ryan (1) and xxx
(July 20) Playing at Rossland, the home squad trounced Trail 10 to 1. At Metaline Falls, the Americans whipped Nelson 15 to 6.
(July 27) League-leading Rossland kept rolling along demolishing Nelson 11-0. The game was called after six innings because of rain.
(July 27) Another large crowd was on hand Sunday as Trail downed visiting Metaline Falls 6 to 3.
(August 3) Rossland scored three in the first and another three in the second and romped to a 17-8 victory over Nelson.
Marsters, McKenzie, Singer and
Kraft, Scanlan and
(August 10) Rossland shaded Metaline Falls 4-3 in one of the more interesting games played in the Washington community this season. Trailing 4-0 in the final inning, Metaline put three runs across the pan and had a runner on third base with two out with one of Metaline's noted stickers at bat. However, the runner at third went to sleep and was tagged off the base for the final out.
(August 10) Trail walloped Nelson 10 to 2.
(August 17) Trail plated three runs in the second inning and led all the way in an 8-4 victory over Nelson before a large afternoon crowd at Nelson. Trail's big second inning was highlighted by Gaynor's two-run three-bagger to centre field. Gaynor also collected a pair of two-baggers. Hughie Horswill and Frank Lister each had a double for Nelson.
xxx (W) and xxx
Kraft (L) and xxx
(August 17) In the final game of the regular schedule, Rossland blanked Metaline Falls 3-0. Donnie MacKenzie fired a seven-hitter for the victory, his third against Metaline this season, and racked up ten strikeouts. He walked just one. In 27 innings against Metaline Falls, MacKenzie has allowed just one run. Shortstop Joe Ferko and left fielder McLellan led the winners each with two hits. MacKenzie helped his own cause with a triple, the longest blow of the game. Catcher Sheridan had three hits for the losers.
Gillespie (L) and Sheridan
MacKenzie (W) and Johnson
Rossland 11 - 1
Trail 6 - 6
Metaline Falls 4 - 8
Nelson 3 - 9
INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL
(June 21) In Intermediate ball, Trail hosted Nelson and jumped into a 6-0 lead after two innings en route to a 9-4 decision. Louis DeMore held the visitors to just five hits while Trail cranked out 15 hits, three each by DeMore and catcher Al Hall.
Ioanin (L) and Houston
DeMore (W) and Hall
(August 2) Playing at Nelson, the Trail Intermediates squeezed by Nelson 6-5 behind the solid hurling of Lefty DeMore who fanned 14 in besting Chapman of the home club.
DeMore (W) and Moytilla
Chapman (L) and Wright
KOOTENAY-BOUNDARY AREA BASEBALL
BOUNDARY INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
A team from Malo WA, situated 12-1/2 miles NNE of Republic and 8-1/2 miles SSW of Curlew on Washington state route #21, was admitted as the fifth entry to the BIBL for the 1924 season.
With the Grand Forks Gazette being the only provider of information for this circuit and the fortunes of the Grand Forks club going into the tank in mid-season after an encouraging start, coverage for the 1924 BIBL in this publication diminished as the season progressed.
(April 27) Curlew knocked off Grand Forks and Republic got past Midway in the opening games of the 1924 BIBL. No final scores, game details or batteries were published.
(May 4) The Grand Forks balltossers evened their BIBL record at one win and one loss by taking a 17 to 14 slugging match from Republic on the home turf of the Gold Miners. Leading the 18-hit attack presented by the Forkmen were playing-manager William Gowans and first sacker Leonard who both pounded the pill for a brace of doubles and a pair of one-baggers.
Henderson, Galipeau (W) and Gowans
O’Connor (L) and Moran
(May 4) Curlew won their second straight BIBL game, disposing of the neophyte Malo squad. No final score, game details or batteries found in print.
(May 11) Plating a deuce in the bottom-of-the-ninth frame, Grand Forks copped an exciting 4 to 3 victory from invading Midway. Nursing a one-run lead, the Half-the-Distance diamondeers allowed Grand Forks to knot the count on a bases-loaded passed ball. A single by shortpatcher Atwood then drove in the winning counter in the walkoff encounter. Atwood had another one-bagger and a double to go along with his game-deciding bingle.
D. Nicholas, Burke (8), Hill (L) (9) and Brown
Docksteader, Galipeau (W) and Gowans
(May 11) The newcomers from Malo delighted their hometown fans by registering their first BIBL win, a triumph over Republic. No final score, game details or batteries published.
Standings W L Pct.
Curlew 2 0 1.000
Grand Forks 2 1 .667
Malo 1 1 .500
Republic 1 2 .333
Midway 0 2 .000
(May 18) Surprising Malo nosed out Grand Forks 9 to 8 before a large crowd on the home turf of the Ferry County nine. A three-run ninth panel lifted the Malo contingent to victory. Outfielder C. Johnson led the winners’ 11-hit offense, slamming a double and two singles. Portsider Crowe of the Forkmen, who began the game in the outer pasture before being seconded to the hillock, absorbed the mound defeat. With the baton, he singled three times to lead the vanquished nine at the dish.
Thomet, Crowe (L) and Gowans
Perkins (W) and Caldwell
(May 18) Moundsman Bellow was in fine form, stopping the hosting Midway nine on four hits as Curlew prevailed 11 to 2 in BIBL action.
Bellew (W) and W.Pace
Turner (L) and Brown
(May 25) Republic bounced Curlew from the undefeated ranks while Malo grabbed a share of the top-spot in the BIBL with a victory over winless Midway. No details on either of these games were found in print.
(June 1) Grand Forks @ Curlew and Midway @ Republic. Results not known.
(June 8) Republic @ Grand Forks and Curlew @ Malo. Results not published.
(June 15) Grand Forks @ Midway and Malo @ Republic. Possibly rained out. No final scores or game details located.
(June 22) As winning flinger Docksteader limited the Midway squad to just three hits, his teammates provided him with more than ample support in both the field and at bat in a BIBL game wherein visiting Grand Forks triumphed 6 to 1. Outfielder Manly led the nine-hit Grand Forks offense, slapping out a double and single.
Docksteader (W) and Gowans
B. Nicholas (L) and Brown
Standings W L Pct.
Curlew 4 2 .667
Malo 4 2 .667
Republic 4 3 .571
Grand Forks 3 4 .429
Midway 1 5 .167
(June 29) Homestanding Grand Forks continued to show late-season improvement, after falling out of contention midway through the campaign, when they defeated the hard-hitting Malo nine on the Columbia grounds 18 to 17 in a pitching-challenged slugfest. 32 base blows were registered in this swat parade with the Forkmen gathering 19 of them. A last-inning rally by the Americans fell just short of tying things up. Versatile southpaw Crowe, manning the initial sack for Grand Forks in this contest, led all swatsmiths with a four-hit performance, all singles. Picking up three safeties apiece were keystone sacker Newbauer and hot corner guardian Scott of the winners as well as outfielder S. Johnson and third baseman Hildebrand of the Malo aggregation. Included in Johnson’s and Hildebrand’s total of base knocks was a home run each.
Perkins (L), C. Johnson and Caldwell
Docksteader (W) and Gowans
(July 6) Republic crept past Curlew and Malo into first place in the BIBL by trouncing Curlew 13 to 1. The Republicans lit up a pair of Curlew chuckers for 19 base blows in the rout.
R. H. Pace (L), Nelson and W. Pace
Milton (W) and Dalbraith
(July 6) Midway won for the second time in the BIBL season, stopping Malo 6 to 2 in the B.C. town.
Perkins (L) and Hildebrand
D. Nicholas (W) and Brown
Standings W L Pct.
Republic 5 3 .625
Curlew 4 3 .571
Malo 4 4 .500
Grand Forks 4 4 .500
Midway 2 5 .286
(July 13) Last season’s cellar-dwellers, the diamond pastimers from Republic, capped off a Cinderella campaign by downing hosting Curlew 9 to 7 to capture the 1924 BIBL pennant. With Curlew threatening to tie the score in the final segment, the Republicans thwarted a first and third double-steal attempt as keystone sacker Hank Hergemrider cut-off catcher Hillyard’s peg to second base and relayed the pill back to to the waiting backstop to nip the runner advancing from the hot corner. Hergemrider and his keystone combo teammate, shortstop O’Connor, both cuffed two doubles for the new champions.
Milton (W) and Hillyard
R. H. Pace (L), Nelson and W. Pace
No record of any playoffs found.
FINAL BATTING STATS FOR 1924 GRAND FORKS BIBL TEAM
(Source – Grand Forks Gazette – July 25, 1924 edition)
Catcher William Gowans was the leading hitter on the 1924 Grand Forks club in the Boundary International Baseball League. Gowans, who doubles as the team’s playing-manager, had 14 base hits in 36 at bats for a .389 batting average.
G AB R H Avr.
Ray Foley 1 4 1 2 .500
Gowans 9 36 15 14 .389
Crowe 8 35 13 13 .372
Leonard 4 18 4 6 .333
Thomet 2 6 1 2 .333
Haverty 1 3 2 1 .333
Manly 7 27 4 8 .296
Docksteader 5 24 5 7 .292
Scott 7 35 6 10 .287
Atwood 7 33 8 9 .273
Henderson 8 22 4 6 .273
Newbauer 5 20 4 5 .250
Brothers 8 40 11 10 .250
Roy Foley 1 4 1 1 .250
Galipeau 8 23 2 4 .176
McCannon 6 27 3 3 .111
Smith 1 1 1 0 .000
Hodgson 1 2 0 0 .000
Kidwell 1 1 0 0 .000
Team average .247