1927 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1927 BC Interior
1927 Vancouver Island
1927 B.C. LOWER MAINLAND OVERVIEW
A fire during the midst of a soccer game in early April 1927 destroyed a portion of the grandstand at Vancouver’s Athletic Park and the resulting restoration of the damaged seating area within the facility delayed the opening of the Senior City Baseball League season from late April to May 7.
Considered the two strongest Senior A circuits in the lower mainland, the New Westminster & District Baseball League and the Vancouver Senior City Baseball League set up schedules which included inter-locking games for 1927 between the three Royal City representatives and the four entrants from Vancouver.
The Vancouver Senior City Baseball League began the 1927 campaign with five entries, which included the fan-favorite Asahis, but was reduced to four clubs when the Young Conservatives folded in mid-June.
With just one returning team from 1926, the Terminal Baseball League still managed to expand from four to six teams in 1927.
With Kerrisdale unable to field a team and the Burnaby entry moving to the Terminal Baseball League, one of the mainstay Senior A circuits in Vancouver and district, the Twilight Baseball League, disbanded prior to the start of the 1927 campaign.
VANCOUVER SENIOR CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE
The circuit expanded to a five-team loop to begin the season as new entries representing the Firemen and the Vancouver Athletic Club joined the 1927 association of teams, replacing the Elks and Young Liberals of a season previous while the entertaining Asahis moved over from the Terminal Baseball League. The holdover Young Conservatives, however, mired in the cellar, failed to last beyond mid-June as the circuit reverted to four entries for the balance of the campaign.
Inter-league games with New Westminster & District League teams were added, the results of which counted in the standings.
(May 7) Creating a new record for attendance at an official opening, the Vancouver Senior City Baseball League opened its 1927 season at Athletic Park with a double-dip which saw the Vancouver Athletic Club prevail 4 to 0 over the Asahis to begin play while the Collingwood nine surprised the much-touted Firemen 5 to 0 in the day’s finale.
Fly chaser Jack Fraser staked the Vacs to a first-inning lead with a solo homer to get things underway in the opener. Winning pitcher Hal Puder handcuffed the Nippons on three hits, two of which came in the third inning, in cruising to the shutout victory. Despite being blanked, the Rising Sun contingent displayed their usual gusto with their brilliant fielding and work on the basepaths. Middle gardener Pat Worley had a brace of safeties for the Clubbers, the only player in the game to collect more than one base swat.
Nishidera (L) and Yasui
Puder (W) and Bacon
Cagey veteran pitcher Camille “Lefty” Delcourt of the Collingwood nine had the Flame Dousers eating out of his hand in the late encounter, stymying them on one base rap. He was amply supported at the dish by outfielder Bob Lundie who crashed a home run and a single to lead the Collie five-hit offensive attack.
Delcourt (W) and McLean
Thompson (L) and Goodall
(May 9) Five juicy infield errors cost the Young Conservatives big time in their game with the Asahis as they opened the new campaign on the short end of 6 to 4 count at Athletic Park. The Politicians rang up six base raps to five for the Rising Sun nine but, in spite of a ten-strikeout performance by their mound artist Carl Crowder, trailed through the entire contest. Ty Suga picked up the pitching win, fanning four along the way, and was backed up by a pair of smart double plays. Roy Yamamura was the offensive sparkplug of the Nippons, singling three times and stealing a brace of sacks. Third baseman Art Morse slugged two doubles and a three-bagger for the Tories.
Suga (W) and Yasui
Crowder (L) and Daniels
(May 13) In a battle of portsiders in which each was touched for just four safeties, Dave Scott of the Vancouver Athletic Club nine emerged as the victor in the mound joust, earning a 3 to 0 pitching win over Clare Mills and the Collingwood contingent of diamondeers. Scott fanned 13 while Mills whiffed eight batters. Middle pasture guardian Robertson of the Collies was the only player from either squad to garner more than one base rap, accumulating a triple and single. In four plate appearances, second baseman Hec Cann of the Vacs stroked a single, drew a walk, was hit by a pitched ball and laid down a perfect sacrifice. In addition, he swiped a pair of bases and scored the first run which turned out to be the winner.
C. Mills (L) and McLean
Scott (W) and Richardson
(May 13) Interleague play began with Fraser Cafe of the New Westminster circuit blasting the Vancouver Asahis 11 to 0 at Queen’s Park in the Royal City. Pitcher Henry Dodd of the Restaurateurs hurled a steady four-hitter in blanking the Nippons. Three of the hits he surrendered were racked up by Rising Sun shortstop Roy Yamamura, one being a two-bagger. The Lunchmen ripped into two Asahi chuckers for 12 hits. Jack Fraser and playing-skipper Eddie Olson both drilled a double and single for the winners while outfielders Dunn and Butler singled twice.
Nishidera (L), Sato (4) and Yasui
Dodd (W) and Buzzard
(May 14) The Vancouver Athletic Club baseballers won their third straight game of the young season when they squeezed by the Firemen 3 to 2 in the opening tussle of a double-bill at Athletic Park. Collingwood copped the late encounter 5 to 4 over the Young Conservatives in a contest which went eleven innings. In a battle of southpaws, Alex Simons of the Vacs bested the Flame Dousers’ George Kaye in the hard-fought matinee match. The Clubbers held a 6 to 5 advantage in base hits as outfielder Charlie Miron sparkled with the baton, ripping two doubles and a single. Miron plated the winning counter in the seventh panel after nailing a two-bagger to lead off the frame. He moved to the hot corner on a single by Ross Bullard, his second one-bagger of the fracas, and romped home on Haley Jackson’s infield ground out.
Kaye (L) and Goodall
Simons (W) and Richardson
The Collies had a healthy 14 to 8 edge in hits over the Tories in the finale but it took a muffed fly ball in the second round of overtime for them to grab the walkoff victory. The winning counter crossed the plate when Tory outfielder Bill Clarke failed to get under Robertson’s high swat on what looked like an easy out. Winning moundsman, Camille “Lefty” Delcourt, came on in long relief in the opening canto and did an outstanding job as a fireman, fanning 11 along the way. Bobby Mills, Alva Sibbett and Neil Silver each had three hits for the winners, a sum of base raps duplicated by second baseman Campbell of the Politicians. Included in Mills’ total of base raps was a brace of two-baggers.
Moffatt (L) and Daniels
Davis, Delcourt (W) (1) and Simpson
Standings * W L Pct.
Vancouver A. C. 3 0 1.000
Collingwood 2 1 .667
Asahis 1 2 .333
Firemen 0 2 .000
Young Conservatives 0 2 .000
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the New Westminster & District League
(May 15) Collingwood of the Vancouver Senior City loop came from behind to nip the Fraser Mills nine out of the New Westminster circuit 3 to 2 in a highly-contested inter-league battle at Queen’s Park in the Royal City. Winning pitcher Baden “Babe” Esplen of the Collies held the defending lower-mainland champions to two lone hits, both by catcher Bill Maxwell. After falling behind by a pair of counters during the middle innings, the Eastside Vancouverites tied things up in the seventh canto on Jimmy Condon’s two-run circuit-clout over the left field fence. In the top of the ninth, Condon again hit a fly ball into the left pasture which flychaser Green of the Millmen failed to hold, allowing Cy McLean, who had been reposing on third base, to trot home with what proved to be the difference-maker. McLean had two of the Collies’ six hits.
Esplen (W) and McLean
Shidler (L) and Maxwell
Vancouver Sun cartoonist Seivewright featured the City Senior Baseball League in several of his cartoon sketches, this one in the May 18th edition, others below.
(May 19) The travelling House of David baseball team lost their first game on Canadian soil this season when they were blanked 3 to 0 by the Collingwood entry of the Vancouver Senior City League. Clare Mills of the Collies held the Bearded Boys runless and hitless in the eight-inning exhibition encounter. He fanned six and walked the same number. The Collies amassed six hits, all singles.
Miller (L) and Champion
C. Mills (W) and McLean
(May 20) The red-hot V.A.C. aggregation bunched five of their seven hits during an opening-inning outburst which netted them a pair of counters, the only runs of the game in which they blanked the Asahis 2 to 0 at Athletic Park. Dave Scott was again in rare form on the hill for the Vacs, allowing only two scattered hits while striking out ten. The victors racked up seven base knocks but none of their swatters had plural hit totals. Doubles by Hec Cann and “Tat” Larson were the only extra-base blows of the skirmish.
Suga (L) and Yasui
Scott (W) and Bacon
(May 21) Playing a championship calibre of baseball, the Vancouver Athletic Club diamond pastimers reeled off their fifth consecutive league victory, a 5 to 0 conquest of Collingwood, in the first of two games played back-to-back at Athletic Park. The second contest, an exhibition affair, saw the touring House of David tribe pummel the Firemen 9 to 0. Hal Puder throttled the Collies on just one hit, a scratch single, in the lead-in tussle. He was ably supported by teammate Charlie Miron who smashed a home run, double and single.
Puder (W) and Richardson
McArthur (L) and McLean
The Whiskered Wizards were at top form in their beatdown of the Flame Squelchers. Weirman, on the mound for the visitors, showed a lot of stuff from the portside in blanking the Hose & Ladder Gang on three hits. Outfielder Sharrock led the Davids with the lumber, cracking a three-run circuit-clout to go along with a pair of singles.
Weirman (W) and Champion
Holden (L), Kaye (6) and Marks
(May 22) The Young Conservatives of the Vancouver Senior City League broke into the win column for the first time this season when they travelled to White Rock and hammered the Resort Towners of the New Westminster loop 17 to 7 in a long-drawn-out interleague skirmish. Coleman “Coley” Hall was the slugging star of the match for the Tories, slamming two home runs. Teammates Greenwell and Jenkins also connected for four-ply swats.
Traeger (W), Crowder (8) and Daniels
Harris (L), Bean (8) and Bearisto
(May 23) The University of Washington Huskies opened their annual series of exhibition games in Vancouver with a 2 to 0 win over the Firemen.
Nevins (W) and xxx
Kaye (L), Thompson (5) and xxx
(May 24) The varsity Huskies out of the University of Washington split a doubleheader with opposition from the Vancouver Senior City Baseball League, downing the Asahis 6 to 1 to begin the proceedings and then losing to the Vancouver Athletic Club nine 2 to 0 in the finale. Playing the final few innings of the opener in an uncomfortable drizzle, the Huskies connected for ten hits while winning tosser Shirrick limited the Asahis to four safeties. Eddie Kitagawa was outstanding in the middle pasture for the Nippons, recording six putouts, many of the difficult variety. He also stole home in the sixth inning to record the lone run plated by the Rising Sun nine.
Shirrick (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
The Vacs picked up single runs in both the first and second innings in their second-game shutout triumph. Charlie Miron’s single drove in the initial tally while the Bill Tuson opened the second canto with a one-bagger and eventually touched home on a fielder’s choice to wrap up the scoring. Dave Scott hurled the first five innings to earn the win and had the Students eating out of his hand during his tenure on the hill. Reliever Hal Puder was in difficulty in the seventh panel but pitched his way out of the hole he had dug for himself.
Davis (L), Turner (3) and McKenzie
Scott (W), Puder (6) and Whyte, Richardson
(May 25) Collingwood of the Vancouver Senior City League lit into the offerings of Henry Dodd, on the hill for New Westminster’s Fraser Cafe, for seven first-inning runs and breezed to a 9 to 1 pasting of the Lunchmen in Interlocking action at Athletic Park. Winning chucker Baden “Babe” Esplen had a world of stuff and whiffed nine of the Cafeterians in firing a three-hitter. Cy McLean led the Collies with the stick, stroking a triple and single. Eddie Olson singled twice for the vanquished nine.
Dodd (L) and Buzzard
Esplen (W) and McLean
(May 26) With winning tosser Ty Suga and losing twirler Carl Crowder both fanning ten opposition batters, the Asahis plated a run in the sixth canto, the lone counter of the game, and edged the Young Conservatives 1 to 0 at Athletic Park. Crowder was magnificent in defeat, limiting the Nippons to just one safety, a two-bagger by catcher Reg Yasui which drove in the fleet Eddie Kitagawa with the ultimate winner. The Tories got to Suga for five base raps, including a triple and single by first baseman Coley Hall, but left all six of their baserunners stranded.
Crowder (L) and Daniels
Suga (W) and Yasui
Standings * W L Pct.
Vancouver Athletic Club 5 0 1.000
Collingwood 4 2 .667
Asahis 2 3 .400
Young Conservatives 1 3 .250
Firemen 0 2 .000
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the New Westminster & District League
(May 27) A pair of streaks ended at Athletic Park in a game which saw the Firemen record their initial league victory, a 4 to 2 doubling of the Vancouver Athletic Club, the first loss of the season for the league-leaders. Both squads lit up the opposing twirler for seven bingles as both winning tosser “Lefty” Kaye and losing chucker Hal Puder racked up identical six strikeout totals. The big blow of the game was a two-run double by outfielder Cameron Duff of the Hook and Ladder Gang in the sixth canto which erased a 2 to 1 lead held by the Clubbers. Nick Craig singled twice for the winners, a feat replicated by catcher Syd Whyte of the Vacs.
Kaye (W) and Goodall
Puder (L) and Whyte
(May 28) Making his first start of the year on the mound, Nick Craig pitched the Firemen to their second straight win, a 7 to 4 putdown of Collingwood in the opener of a double-dip at Athletic Park. In the follow-up affair, an interleague skirmish, the Vancouver Asahis of the Senior City loop knocked off White Rock of the New Westminster circuit by a 7 to 1 score. The Flame Squelchers rapped out 12 base blows in support of Craig in the matinee fracas. Jimmy Watters collected three hits while Doug May, Charlie Stevenson and outfielder Cameron “Cam” Duff contributed two safe swats apiece. Fly chaser Bobby Mills had a triad of bingles for the Collies.
C. Mills (L), Davis (3) and McLean
Craig (W) and Goodall
Backed up by solid defensive support, winning pitcher Roy Nishidera was able to effectively scatter eight White Rock base hits to grab the hillock victory in the interlocking tussle. The Nippons had just five safeties but wobbly infield work by the Resort Towners gave the Rising Sun squad several unexpected scoring opportunities. Garnering two base raps for the winning nine was outfielder “Mickey” Sato while losing hurler Bart Bean and shortstop Hawkins of the Rockies had the same offensive output.
Bean (L) and Bearisto, Larsen (4)
Nishidera (W) and Horii
(May 29) Fraser Mills pitcher Harold Shidler turned in a convincing display of mound work when he stymied the fast-stepping V. A. C. tribe of Vancouver with a four-hitter and a 2 to 0 victory in an interleague tussle at the Circle F diamond. Shidler showed a clever change of pace and had the Red Caps off balance all through the contest. Only the Vacs’ Charlie Miron, with two doubles, was able to adequately solve the mystery of Shidler’s deliveries. Dave Scott, the Clubbers’ hurling ace, lost the verdict chiefly through his his own inept fielding in the sixth round when the New Westminster Leaguers tallied both runs. The first counter came as a direct result of a bobbled bunt combined with a wild throw to the hot corner. George Kerrigan later drove in the second marker. Kerrigan and teammate Ray Hawkes both lit up Scott for a brace of safeties to lead the Millmen offensively.
Scott (L) and Whyte
Shidler (W) and Maxwell
(May 30) Camille “Lefty” Delcourt held the Young Conservatives to one scratch single at Athletic Park as Collingwood subdued the Tories 3 to 1. The veteran Collies’ southpaw fanned eleven and was always in control of his destiny. Fly chaser Bobby Mills had three of the winners’ nine hits while teammate Johnny Nestman chipped in with a pair of raps.
Delcourt (W) and McLean
Traeger (L) and Dwyer
(June 1) With peerless Eddie Olson on the hill at Athletic Park, the Fraser Cafe nine of the New Westminster & District League easily disposed of the Vancouver’s Young Conservatives 7 to 0. Olson allowed but three one-baggers, two of which were secured by Tory initial sacker Andrews, while he whiffed eleven of the youthful Politicians. The Fork and Knifers raked losing twirler Carl Crowder for seven base raps and were the recipients of an equal number of free passes. Johnny Burgh and Sam Crawford of the Restaurateurs both clipped the orb for a brace of safe blows.
Olson (W) and Buzzard
Crowder (L) and Daniels
(June 3) The Asahis had an uncharacteristically bad game defensively, booting the ball five times, and were spanked by a heavy-swatting Collingwood nine 11 to 4 at Athletic Park. The Collies lit into the combined offerings of losing twirler Ty Suga and reliever Roy Nishidera for 14 base blows. Baden “Babe” Esplen limited the Nippons to five bingles and struck out eight in cruising to the mound conquest. Johnny Nestman tripled, doubled and singled to lead the victors with the baton. Teammate Jimmy Condon followed with a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Esplen (W) and McLean
Suga (L), Nishidera (6) and Yasui
(June 3) Heavy hitting featured the interlocking game at Queen’s Park in which the Vancouver Firemen prevailed 7 to 5 over White Rock of the New Westminster League. The victors accumulated 14 base blows while the hosting Seasiders racked up 13. It was anybody’s game until the eighth frame when White Rock outfielders Nemyre and Jerry Reynolds, in pursuit of a fly ball with two retired, collided and allowed an unearned run to score, opening the door for a further brace of unearned counters which followed. Nick Craig of the Hose & Ladder Gang had a banner day at the plate, slamming a triple and three singles. Bart Bean of the vanquished nine also sparkled with the willow, creaming the orb for three doubles and a one-bagger.
Holden (W) and Goodall
R. Reynolds (L) and Larsen
(June 4) Doubleheader action at Athletic Park featured a Fraser Cafe of New Westminster 4 to 2 conquest of the slumping Vancouver Athletic Club in interleague play to begin things and a one-sided 10 to 1 thrashing of the Young Conservatives by the rampaging Firemen in a regular Senior City League tussle which ended the activities.
The Lunchmen rode the solid pitching of “Long John” Burgh in handing the Red Caps their third consecutive setback in the opener. Burgh fanned seven using a submarine delivery while teammate Johnny Pollock delivered two doubles, one of which was the game’s most crucial blow, a bases-loaded two-bagger which drove in three markers in the fourth panel.
Burgh (W) and Buzzard
Puder (L), Scott (7) and Richardson
Winning flinger Lorne Thompson of the Blaze Extinguishers checked the woeful and fast-fading Politicians on just four hits while punching out eleven in the finale. The Tories added to their misery by kicking the pill around for seven fielding miscues. Jimmy Watters paced the batting attack of the winners, collecting a triple, double and single while Nick Craig claimed a home run and one-bagger.
Thompson (W) and Marks
Moffatt (L), Crowder (1) and Daniels
(June 5) Doug Muscutt simply toyed with the Vancouver Young Conservatives in an interlocking baseball contest in which the hosting Fraser Mills nine of the New Westminster & District League blanked the hapless Tories 8 to 0 at the Lumber Centre. Muscutt was dominant, ringing up 11 strikeouts and limiting the Tories to just two singles. Nary a Conservative runner reached second base. Home runs by Dean Freshfield and Abe Cross highlighted the 13-hit offense of the Sawmillers. Cross finished with three safeties, including his tater.
Sanders (L), Crowder (6) and Daniels
Muscutt (W) and Brennon
Standings * W L Pct.
Collingwood 6 3 .667
Firemen 4 2 .667
Vancouver Athletic Club 5 3 .625
Asahis 3 4 .429
Young Conservatives 1 7 .125
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the New Westminster & District League
(June 6) Collingwood took over sole possession of first place in the Vancouver Senior City loop after taking an impressive 11 to 2 decision from the overmatched Asahis. The Collies accumulated 11 base knocks and were aided by a second successive poor display by the Nippons defensively. Outfielder Jack Cranstoun fattened his batting average with a triple and two singles while teammate Johnny Nestman ripped a double and one-bagger. Frank Nakamura had two of the five hits surrendered by winning pitcher Camille “Lefty” Delcourt.
Delcourt (W) and McLean
H. Kitagawa (L), Suga (4) and Horii
(June 6) The Vancouver Athletic Club got back on the winning track by blanking the bottom-feeding Young Conservatives 2 to 0 at Athletic Park.The Tories played a much snappier brand of ball than in any of their recent engagements but faltered, just long enough, in the third inning to hand the Clubbers the victory. A misjudged fly ball by outfielder Thorlakson of the Politicians led to the Red Caps’ initial counter in that frame while the second tally resulted when catcher Daniels dropped a throw to the plate in the process of tagging out a runner. Winning tosser Dave Scott fanned twelve and allowed only three scattered safeties in posting the shutout hillock triumph. Loser Carl Crowder pitched admirably, surrendering just four safeties while whiffing an equal number. No player from either squad was able to acquire plural hit totals.
Crowder (L) and Daniels
Scott (W) and Richardson
(June 6) For the third game in a row, the Vancouver Asahis broke down defensively, committing seven errors, and were easy prey for the White Rock aggregation of the New Westminster circuit who hammered them 16 to 8 in an interlocking fracas at Queen’s Park. The Rockies combed a brace of Rising Sun chuckers for 20 base blows while the normally light-hitting Nippons replied with 13 of their own in the slugfest. Shortstop Lindsay picked up four safe swats, all singles, for the winners while keystone sacker Bruland and fly chaser Jerry Reynolds each stroked three safeties. Playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter supplied the bulk of the power with a home run and double. Top batter for the Asahis was hot corner custodian Satochi “Sally” Nakamura who laced a trio of one-baggers.
Suga (L), Nishidera (5) and Yasui
R. Reynolds (W) and Larsen
(June 8) Lady luck was with league-leading Collingwood baseballers of the Vancouver Senior City circuit when they defeated Fraser Mills of the Westminster & District loop 4 to 2 in an interleague skirmish at Athletic Park. When outfielder Ray Hawkes of the Lumbermen lost Jack Cranstoun’s fly ball in the sun with two runners aboard in the opening canto, the ball rolled coyly away from the fly chaser and allowed Cranstoun to circle the bases for an inside-the-park dinger which plated three runs. The Collies then snared a fourth unearned run on consecutive errors by losing pitcher Harold Shidler and second baseman “Frenchy” Duplin. For the entire contest, Shidler out pitched winning tosser Clare Mills, allowing five hits to nine for Mills, but the Millmen were unable to even up that lucky break in the first. Cranstoun had a double to go along with his home run. For the vanquished nine, Shidler bashed a triple and single while teammate Sanford, patrolling the left garden, ripped a double and one=bagger.
Shidler (L) and Maxwell
C. Mills (W) and McLean
(June 10) The Firemen completely extinguished the Japanese baseball fires at Athletic Park as they won their fifth in a row, whitewashing the Asahis 7 to 0. The Flame Dousers scored singletons in the first and third innings then blew the finale wide open with a five-spot in the fifth panel against the sagging Rising Sun nine. Catcher Norm Goodall had three hits for the winners in support of winning pitcher Larry Holden’s three-hitter.
Nishidera (L) and Yasui
Holden (W) and Goodall
(June 11) Pushing across single runs in each of their final two turns at bat, the V. A. C. baseballers defeated the speedy Asahis 2 to 0 in the matinee match of a twin-bill at Athletic Park. After falling behind early, Collingwood of the Vancouver circuit came back and captured an interleague scuffle 10 to 3 over White Rock of the New Westminster loop in the evening encounter. Alex “Lefty” Simons earned the shutout win in the curtain-raiser with a sparkling five-hit mound performance over Ty Suga was was equally strong in defeat, yielding just six safeties. Third baseman “Tat” Larson and catcher Harry Richardson both drilled a double and single for the victorious Red Caps while backstop Reg Yasui singled twice for the Nippons.
Suga (L) and Yasui
Simons (W) and Richardson
Baden “Babe” Esplen of the Collies got off to a rough start in the late encounter, surrendering a pair of counters in the top of the opening inning. He regained his form, however, and finished the contest with nine strikeouts and a five-hitter while his mates were fattening their batting averages with 15 base blows off the slants of losing twirler Rolly Reynolds. Jack Cranstoun of the Eastside Vancouverites continued his torrid pace with the lumber, accumulating four safeties including a two-bagger. Teammate “Bobby” Robertson chipped in with a brace of doubles. First sacker Bart Bean and fly chaser Jury of the Summer Resorters both lit up Esplen for four-baggers.
R. Reynolds (L) and Larsen
Esplen (W) and Smith, McLean
Standings * W L Pct.
Collingwood 9 3 .750
Firemen 5 2 .714
Vancouver Athletic Club 7 3 .700
Asahis 3 8 .273
Young Conservatives 1 8 .111
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the New Westminster & District League
(June 13) The Firemen clipped “Lefty” Delcourt for three first-inning runs and that was sufficient to record a 3 to 1 decision over Collingwood at Athletic Park. The victory for the Smoke Tasters, their sixth in succession, vaulted them into top spot in the circuit while the Collies dropped into third place, a few percentage points behind the idle V.A.C. aggregation. Nick Craig pitched every inning but the opening canto for the victors and limited the Eastsiders to five hits during his term on the hill. Charlie Stevenson and Norm Goodall both poked a double and single for the Hose & Ladder Boys. Johnny Nestman singled twice for the vanquished nine.
Kaye, Craig (W) (2) and Goodall
Delcourt (L) and McLean
(June 14) It was announced this date that the last-place Young Conservatives have dropped out of the Senior City League.
(June 14) Johnny Burgh and his slow twister held no terrors for the Van-City Firefighters who drove him to the showers in the fifth round as the Flame Fighters of the Vancouver Senior City League crushed the New Westminster Fraser Cafe nine 11 to 5 in a clash of interleague penthouse dwellers at Queen’s Park. Winning chucker “Lefty” Kaye held the Lunchmen to seven safeties and was very much in the limelight during the skirmish. He whiffed five batters, gathered a two-bagger and a single and was credited with six assists. Nifty shortpatcher Harry White of the Restaurateurs gave Kaye the most difficulty, stinging him for a triple and two doubles. The Fire Eaters battered Burgh and his successor, Henry Dodd, for 16 base hits as Arne Miller spearheaded the attack with a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Kaye (W) and Marks
Burgh (L), Dodd (5) and Buzzard
(June 15) Sporting a healthy 5 to 0 lead after an inning of play at Athletic Park, the Vancouver Athletic Club began to show cracks in their infield play and had to hold on to eke out a 7 to 6 decision over the Asahis. Winning tosser Lennox, a left-handed slabman, erstwhile of Toronto, got his first taste of action in the Van-City circuit and it wasn’t the Nippons who appeared as much the enemy as his infielders who continually let him down during his tenure on the knoll. He was nicked for just three safeties before turning the ball over to reliever Dave Scott, but two of them were of the scratchiest kind. Nevertheless, the seven errors committed behind him allowed the Rising Sun nine to trot in six tallies to make the score uncomfortably close. Charlie Miron had three of his team’s eight safeties off the slants of loser Roy Nishidera.
Lennox (W), Scott (5) and Richardson
Nishidera (L) and Yasui
(June 17) The hosting Firemen of the Vancouver Senior City League came from behind to edge Fraser Mills of the New Westminster & District League 4 to 3 in an interlocking skirmish at Athletic Park. The win for the Flame Squelchers was their eighth in a row and moved them a half-game in front of the V.A.C. contingent for top spot in the Van-City loop. George “Lefty” Kaye showed well on the hillock for the winners, stifling the Millmen on five hits while punching out eleven. A single by second baseman Charlie Stevenson of the Hook and Ladder Gang drove in the winning run in the bottom of the last panel. Unfortunately, for the Sawmillers, the tally was of the unearned variety as Jimmy Watters, who plated the winner, had reached base on a Circle F error. Losing twirler Harold Shidler was nicked for seven safeties with fly chaser Lorne Foley gathering two of them. Shortstop George Kerrigan of the Lumbermen, whose throwing error led to the tie-breaking counter, had a double and single at the platter.
Shidler (L) and Brannon
Kaye (W) and Marks
(June 18) Before a large weekend turnout geared for doubleheader action at Athletic Park, the Vancouver Athletic Club eked out a 3 to 2 victory over Collingwood to get things underway while the red-hot Firemen captured their ninth successive triumph by edging a fighting band of Asahis 4 to 2 in the late fracas. The Collies literally threw the opening tussle away when a wild pitch by losing chucker Baden “Babe” Esplen in the bottom of the last frame allowed Red Cap shortpatcher Ross Bullard to ramble in from third base with the winning counter. Bullard had reached base on a healthy double, advancing to the hot corner on an infield out. The Vacs were out hit by an 8 to 6 margin in the hotly-contested joust. Winning tosser Hal Puder recorded six strikeouts to seven for Esplen. Bullard had a single to go along with his two-bagger to lead the Clubbers at the plate. Third sacker Johnny Nestman singled three times for the vanquished nine.
Esplen (L) and McLean
Puder (W) and Richardson
The Smoke Tasters put the second game on ice in the seventh round of the sunset event as a result of singles by Jimmy Watters, Charlie Stevenson and Bill Bailey, a passed ball and a hit batter, Watters and Stevenson scoring. The Flame Squelchers had a slight 6 to 5 advantage in base hits as Nick Craig of the winners ripped a double and single while the Nippons’ Frank Nakamura laced a brace of one-baggers.
Holden (W) and Marks
Suga (L) and Horii
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 9 2 .818
Vancouver Athletic Club 9 3 .750
Collingwood 9 5 .643
Asahis 3 10 .231
Young Conservatives # 1 8 .111
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the New Westminster & District League
# ceased operations in mid-June
(June 19) The Vancouver Athletic Club pastimers visited Fraser Mills of the New Westminster circuit and, after an exciting interleague battle, fell to the hosting Millmen 3 to 2 in a ten-inning dogfight. The winning counter was unearned and came as a result of a dropped thrown ball to first base. “Tat” Larson’s home run with one aboard in the opening inning gave the Vacs their two counters.
Lennox, Grice (L) and Richardson
Levins, Muscutt (W) and Brannon
(June 20) Young bespectacled Asahi third baseman George Kato, who doubles as a Powell Street dentist, took his bat instead of forceps and yanked a victory from the Collingwood squad with a dart of a hit that rolled to the far reaches of the middle pasture of Athletic Park, allowing the fleet hot corner guardian to circle the basepaths for an inside-the-park home run that sparked the Nippons to a 3 to 2 victory. Kato’s screeching drive in the fifth put the Rising Sun Gang in the lead for the first time in the game. An insurance counter followed in the same canto which was ultimately needed to seal the deal as the Collies scored a singleton in their final turn at bat. The Asahis had just five hits in the contest as compared to ten for the East Siders. Outfielder Jack Cranstoun of the vanquished nine led all swatters with a three-hit production.
Nishidera (W) and Horii
Crowder (L), Esplen (5) and Smith
(June 21) The Collingwood diamond pastimers of the Van-City Senior association of baseballers came to life after losing three straight games when they defeated the Fraser Cafe nine of the Westminster loop 7 to 1 in a heavy-hitting interleague affair at Queen’s Park. Veteran chucker Camille “Lefty” Delcourt went the route on the bump for the Collies, allowing seven scattered blows. He also showed some pop at the plate, creaming the orb for a triple and single. Shortstop “Babe” Johnson paced the victors offensively, lacing a three-bagger and a brace of singles. Catcher Buzzard of the Lunchmen picked up a trio of one-baggers while teammate Harry Butler doubled twice.
Delcourt (W) and Smith
Burgh (L), Dodd (5) and Buzzard
(June 22) For the second time this season, batters from the Fraser Mills aggregation of the New Westminster & District League hung a defeat on Dave Scott and a strong V. A. C. contingent of Van-City Senior loop, blanking the Red Caps 3 to 0 at Athletic Park. Doug Muscutt, twirling for the Millmen, showed brilliance on the hill, limiting the Clubbers to just a pair of safeties. Outfielder Ray “Pee Wee” Williams stroked a pair of singles for the winners, both of which drove in runs.
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Scott (L), Puder (5) and Richardson
(June 24) In the snappiest exhibition of baseball this season at Athletic Park, George “Lefty” Kaye out-dueled Dave Scott as the league-leading Firemen stretched their unbeaten streak to ten when they edged the Vancouver Athletic Club 2 to 1. Kaye was nicked for just three safeties while fanning four while Scott yielded four bingles and whiffed seven. The Vacs struck first, plating their lone counter in the top of the fourth frame when outfielder Pat Worley laid down a perfect bunt on a suicide squeeze, allowing Charlie Miron to score. In the last half of the same panel, a single by Nick Craig and Worley’s miss of Norm Goodall’s fly ball let Craig touch home with the tying tally. Catcher Marks scored the ultimate winner in the fifth when after reaching first on a walk, moved to the keystone sack on Kaye’s sacrifice and sprinted home on Jimmy Watters’ single.
Kaye (W) and Marks
Scott (L) and Richardson
(June 26) White Rock chucker Rolly Reynolds tucked a win under his belt but it took him 13 innings of toiling on the knoll to grab the victory as his Resort Towner mates of the New Westminster loop eked out a 5 to 4 verdict over the Vancouver Athletic Club in an interlocking tussle at the Semiahmoo Bay diamond. The Rockies pounded out 14 hits in the marathon affair while the Red Caps of Vancouver got to Reynolds for eight safeties but went down swinging on ten occasions. Outfielder Jerry Reynolds, who picked up four safeties including a double during the game, scored the winning run in the bottom of the fourth extra frame when, with two out, losing chucker Alex “Lefty” Simons took a comebacker off the bat of Ted Bruland and, instead of taking the sure out at first base which would have retired the side, experienced brain cramp and tossed the pill to an unoccupied second base where White Rock baserunner Lindsay was heading.
Puder, Simons (L) (10) and Richardson
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 10 2 .833
Collingwood 10 6 .625
Vancouver Athletic Club 9 6 .600
Asahis 4 10 .286
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the New Westminster & District League but excludes 1 – 8 record of disbanded Young Conservatives
(June 27) Eddie Olson, stout-hearted hurling ace of the Fraser Cafe nine out of New Westminster, stopped the winning ways of the Vancouver Firemen after ten straight victories when he pitched the Eatery Gang to a 6 to 5 win over the Hosemen at Athletic Park. Olson showed his mettle in the pinches, twice recording a strikeout for the third out when the bases were loaded. The Lunchmen deserved the victory. They nailed the ball on the nose for some timely bingles including a four-ply clout by first sacker Aubrey Mounger with the hassocks empty. Teammate Sam Crawford was also a dangerous man with the war club, stroking the apple for three safeties.
Olson (W) and Buzzard
Holden (L), Thompson (5) and Marks, Foley
(June 28) There was a lot of heavy cannonading by the smart young Collingwood nine at Athletic Park when the second-placers handed the league-leading Firemen their second bump in two evenings, with a 4 to 2 setback. The Collies ripped into the offerings of Nick Craig for 12 safeties, getting at least one hit in every inning, but had trouble scoring runs. Baden “Babe” Esplen did some fancy knolling for the winners, holding the Flame Squelchers to two lonely bingles, both off the bat of Norm Goodall and one of which was of the scratchy variety. Only in the third canto did Esplen experience any difficulty when the Firemen collected both of their counters without the semblance of a hit. Two walks, some daring baserunning by Arne Miller and a couple of wild pitches allowed the Hoseman to plate a pair. Leading swatter for the victorious nine was second baseman Alva Sibbett who singled on three occasions. Outfielder Jack Cranstoun, first baseman Jimmy Condon and Esplen all lit up Craig for a brace of bingles with a triple included in Condon’s sum and a double in Esplen’s total.
Esplen (W) and Smith
Craig (L) and Marks
(June 28) The Vancouver Asahis posed no real threat for the Fraser Mills nine of the Westminster circuit in an interleague scuffle at Queen’s Park and met defeat by a 7 to 0 count. Winning pitcher Doug Muscutt mowed the light-hitting Nippon batters down on two hits while punching out ten. Losing tosser Ty Suga was injured in the fifth frame when he attempted to stop a screaming drive from George Kerrigan’s bat and had to be replaced on the hillock. Backstop Brannon starred with the hickory for the Millmen, blasting two doubles and a single.
Suga (L, Kato (5) and Yasui
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
(June 29) The Asahis, staging an uphill battle all the way, managed to plate a singleton in the eighth panel which broke a 5 – 5 tie and earn them a 6 to 5 victory over a fielding-challenged Vancouver Athletic Club nine at Athletic Park. The Asahi win, only their fifth of the Senior City League campaign, was well deserved. Although aided immensely by the ineptness afield by the Red Caps, the Nippons fielded cleanly and held their own in base hits, out hitting the Clubbers 11 to 10. The Vacs played nothing like a deserving ball team, being charged with nine miscues which continually frustrated pitchers “Lefty” Lennox and “Tat” Larson. Second baseman Frank Nakamura was the big noise at the dish in the Rising Sun victory, acquiring three hits, one a triple. His fifth-inning single drove in a pair of runs and his screaming one-bagger in the eighth drove in winning tosser Roy Nishidera with the winning counter.
Nishidera (W) and Yasui
Lennox, Larson (L) (6) and Richardson
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 10 4 .714
Collingwood 11 6 .647
Vancouver Athletic Club 9 7 .563
Asahis 5 11 .313
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the New Westminster & District League but excludes 1 – 8 record of disbanded Young Conservatives
(July 1) A frolicking band of Seattle Indians of the class AA professional Pacific Coast League took a 5 to 4 decision from a group of Vancouver amateurs under the colours of the V.A.C. in an exhibition tilt at Athletic Park. The game was somewhat of a burlesque for manager “Red” Killifer and his Puget Sound pros who did not play any of their regulars, using their large stable of pitchers as position players for the most part. The visitors put over four runs in their first turn at bat to carry the lead throughout. The Clubbers registered eight hits off winning chucker Clyde Wagner while the Tribe picked up six hits off a triad of V.A.C. tossers.
Wagner (W) and xxx
Mills (L), Puder (2), Simons (5) and xxx
(July 2) Collingwood kept up their recent fast pace by disposing of the slumping V.A.C. pastimers 6 to 1 in the matinee game of a double-dip at Athletic Park. In the late skirmish, the Firemen got back into their winning stride at the expense of the Asahis, taking down the Rising Sun nine 6 to 2. The Collies had a decided edge in the opener when Camille “Lefty” Delcourt held the Vac’s to three hits while his teammates gathered eleven bingles of the tandem of Alex “Lefty” Simons and Hal Puder. Shortstop “Babs” Johnson/Johnston showed the way for the victors with four clean wallops, including a three-bagger, in as many times at bat.
Simons (L), Puder (5) and Richardson
Delcourt (W) and Smith
The Firemen exploded for a trio of second-inning counters in the follow-up contest, driving Asahi starter and loser Roy Nishidera to the showers. The Smoke Squelchers rang up 13 base blows, including a home run by Ray Foley, while the Nippons nicked winning flinger Larry Holden for nine safeties. Top swatter in the joust was fly chaser Bill Bailey of the Flame Fighters who ripped two doubles and a single.
Holden (W) and Foley
Nishidera (L), Suga (2) and Yasui
(July 3) Outfielder “Tiny” Hunter slugged a brace of two-run homers to pace White Rock of the New Westminster & District loop to a decisive 9 to 4 thrashing of Collingwood of the Vancouver Senior City circuit in an inter-league fixture played in White Rock. Pitcher Rolly Reynolds went the route on the knoll for the Rockies, fanning 11, in earning the mound decision. Both teams registered nine base knocks but the Semiahmoo sluggers led in extra-base swats. Robertson of the Collies and White Rock’s Larsen both drilled four-baggers. Hot corner custodian Alva Sibbett of Collingwood ripped three one-baggers.
Crowder (L), Condon (5) and McLean
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
(July 4) With George “Lefty” Kaye hurling gilt-edged ball, the Firemen entrenched themselves still firmer atop the Senior City League ladder by blanking the V.A.C. baseballers 3 to 0 at Athletic Park. Only three scattered blows were garnered off Kaye’s deliveries while he was in the process of fanning six. The Fire Eaters accumulated six hits overall and scored all three of their runs in the second canto on a fielder’s choice, a bases-loaded walk and a line single by outfielder Bill Bailey who wound up as the game’s top willow wielder with a triad of one-baggers.
Kaye (W) and Foley
Larson (L) and Richardson
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 12 4 .750
Collingwood 12 7 .632
V. A. C. 9 9 .500
Asahis 5 12 .294
* includes inter-league games with teams from New Westminster & District League
(July 6) With Eddie Olson stepping in to provide solid relief in a bases-loaded situation, the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster went on to blank the Vancouver Asahis 3 to 0 in an interlocking skirmish at Athletic Park. Not a lone Asahi batter was able to register a base hit off the combined efforts of starter and winner Henry Dodd, who was derricked because of wildness, and Olson, the cagey playing-manager of the Restaurateurs. Johnny Pollock of the Lunchmen clipped losing chucker Ty Suga for three safeties.
Dodd (W), Olson (4) and Buzzard
Suga (L) and Yasui
(July 8) A three-run sixth inning propelled the V.A.C. aggregation to a 6 to 5 comeback win over Collingwood at Athletic Park. Ernie Paepke’s timely single drove in the winner for the Clubmen. Alex “Lefty” Simons, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Hal Puder in the sixth panel and took over pitching chores in the seventh, got credit for the hillock victory. Coley Hall went yard with a round-tripper for the victors. Outfielder Robertson of the Collies was the contest’s top swatter, accumulating a brace of two-baggers plus a single.
C. Mills, Delcourt (L) (6) and Smith
Moffatt, Puder (1), Simons (W) (7) and Richardson
(July 8) Larry Holden, a member of the pitching rotation of the Vancouver Firemen in the Senior City Baseball circuit, was badly burned about the hands while engaged in effecting rescues from the Royal Alexander apartments, a multi-storey dwelling, in Vancouver during a fire on this date. Currently sporting a 4 – 1 record, it is expected he will be unable to take his place on the mound for several games. The death toll in the blaze currently stands at seven with numerous others hospitalized for burns.
(July 9) Pitching himself out of bases-loaded jams in the fifth and sixth chapters, Nick Craig led the league-leading Firemen to a narrow 3 to 2 conquest of the V.A.C. diamond pastimers in the opener of a double-dip at Athletic Park. In the late encounter, second-place Collingwood clipped the Asahis 3 to 1. Showing excellent control, Craig walked nary a batter and was able to come up with the superlative pitch when needed. He was aided offensively by outfielder Bill Bailey, a newcomer over from the White Rock of the New Westminster circuit, who continued to slam the sphere with consistency, connecting for three safeties. Norm Goodall added a triple and one-bagger for the winners.
Simons (L) and Richardson
Craig (W) and Foley
The Asahis started off the second game with four first-innings singles but were only able to plate one run, their lone counter of the contest. The Collies notched a pair in the fourth and tacked on an additional marker in the sixth. Rival outfielders, Collingwood’s Robertson and Mickey Sato of the Nippons, were the only swatters from either squad to acquire two base knocks.
Delcourt (W) and McLean
Nishidera (L) and Horii
(July 12) Darkness halted a heated contest at Athletic Park in which the top-dog Firemen were held to a 6 – 6 draw by the last-place Asahis in eight innings of action. The general consensus was that the passive Nippons, playing splendidly but dogged with many of the close decisions going against them, deserved a better fate. Nick Craig of the Flame Dousers had three of his team’s hits while Roy Yamamura, Reg Yasui and Tom Matoba each stroked a brace for the Rising Sun nine. Playing-manager Jimmy Watters of the Firemen was banished from the game during an argumentative tirade after poking the chest protector of plate umpire Bert Murray.
Suga, Nishidera (7) and Horii
Thompson, Kaye (8), Craig (8) and Foley
(July 13) Doug Muscutt, pitching ace of the Fraser Mills baseball tribe of the Westminster circuit, mastered the plucky young Vancouver Asahis to such an extent at Athletic Park that not until the last round did the Japanese get anything that looked like a hit off his repertoire of heaters and benders. The final count was 7 to 0 for the Millmen. Eddie Kitagawa, the lone Nippon batter to nick Muscutt for a safety, was then promptly picked off first base by the crafty chucker who rang up nine strikeouts. Fly chaser Ray Williams of the victors led the hit parade for the evening, stroking a trio of one-baggers.
Muscutt (W) and Brennon
Nishidera (L) and Yasui
(July 15) Nick Craig got the nod over young portsider Ty Suga in a grueling hurler’s battle at Athletic Park as the Firemen nosed out the Asahis 3 to 2. It was a nip-and-tuck scuffle all the way with the Fire Eaters holding a 6 to 3 advantage in base swats. Outfielders Charlie Stevenson and Bill Bailey were the most potent baton swingers for the victors, each claiming a pair of safeties with Stevenson’s brace consisting of a triple and two-bagger.
Suga (L) and Yasui
Craig (W) and Ferguson
(July 15) Facing a 7 to 3 deficit entering the last of the sixth chapter, the Fraser Cafe balltossers out of New Westminster stormed back, gathering a total of 12 runs in their next two turns at bat, to swamp the Vancouver Athletic Club 15 to 7 at Queen’s Park. During that two-inning outburst, the Cafeterians had home runs by Sam Crawford, Aubrey Mounger, Doug Fraser and winning pitcher Johnny Burgh. Second baseman Johnny Pollock had three base hits for the winners, a double and two singles. Crawford nailed a three-bagger in addition to his tater.
Puder (L), Paepke (7) and Richardson
Dodd, Burgh (W) (6) and Buzzard
(July 16) Superb hurling by Camille “Lefty” Delcourt sparked Collingwood to a 6 to 2 victory over the league-leading Firemen in the opening tilt of a double baseball card at Athletic Park. The second contest, in which the result was never in doubt, saw the visiting White Rock aggregation hammer a lackadaisical V.A.C. nine 13 to 5 in an interlocking skirmish. The first game provided a lot of snappy baseball with the Collies having the edge throughout. Delcourt stymied the Hosemen on five hits and struck out four in going the route. First baseman Lovely led the winners at the dish with a double and two singles.
Kaye (L) and Ferguson, Goodall
Delcourt (W) and McLean
The Red Caps were completely engulfed by the Resort Towners in the late affair as the invaders rocked a tandem of Club chuckers for 17 base blows. Jerry Reynolds was the big man with the willow for the Rockies, lacing out four singles.
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
Simons (L), Puder (4) and Richardson
(July 18) The Vancouver Athletic Club baseballers gave the title aspirations of Collingwood a rude jolt when they handed the Collies a 13 to 5 drubbing in a ragged exhibition at Athletic Park. Appearing nothing like the sound challenger for league supremacy that they have shown to be all campaign, the East Siders booted the ball seven times and trailed throughout the tussle. The Clubbers scored in every inning, plating three counters in the opening round when their baserunners stole five bases. Tat Larson hurled for the winners, giving up eight hits. Outfielder Charlie Miron laced three singles for the Red Caps while teammate Coley Hall led in the power department with a triple and double.
C. Mills (L), Crowder (3) and Lovely
Larson (W) and Richardson
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 14 5 .737
Collingwood 14 9 .609
V. A. C. 11 12 .478
Asahis 5 16 .238
* includes inter-league games with teams from New Westminster & District League
(July 19) First-place Fraser Mills of the New Westminster circuit took a free-hitting game from the penthouse-dwelling Firemen of the Van City loop 11 to 9 in an interlocking joust at Queen’s Park. The Sawmillers rapped out 14 safeties to 13 for the Hose & Ladder Brigade. The Lumbermen took a 2 to 0 first-inning lead and were never headed. Outfielders Ray Hawkes and Percy Bolstad of the winners creamed the apple for three base knocks apiece with each securing a double. Bolstad also robbed the Smoke Squelchers of a chance to win the game when he made a sensational catch of a drive by Jimmy Watters. Shortstop George Kerrigan smashed a two-run homer for the Millmen in the fifth. Catcher Roy Goodall led the Vancouverites at the dish, picking up a two-run round-tripper, a double and a one-bagger. Teammate Arne Miller contributed a two-ply clout and a brace of singles.
Kaye (L), Thompson (6) and Goodall
Shidler (W), Muscutt (5) and Brannon
(July 19) The touring Wakayama high school team from Japan dropped its first game on this side of the Pacific, losing to the V.A.C. nine of the Senior City circuit 3 to 0 in an interesting exhibition tilt at Athletic Park. Alex “Lefty” Simons limited the Collegians to just one hit. Coley Hall ripped three singles for the Red Caps.
Ogawa (L) and Shimamoto
Simons (W) and Richardson
(July 20) The rollicking Firemen clinched first place in the Vancouver Senior City league and a bye in the playoffs when they turned back the runner-up Collingwood crew 6 to 3 in a well-played contest at Athletic Park. It was a keen struggle for six rounds with the Hosemen putting a clamp on the game in the seventh when they shoved over three runs. Nick Craig was in his usual good form on the mound for the Flame Eaters, sending nine of the Collies back to the bench after striking out. He yielded six safeties and never allowed more than one blow in a round. Shortstop Arne Miller had a good evening with the bat for the winners, stroking a double and two singles.
Craig (W) and Goodall
C. Mills (L), Esplen (3) and Smith
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 15 6 .714
Collingwood 14 10 .583
V. A. C. 11 12 .478
Asahis 5 16 .238
* includes inter-league games with teams from New Westminster & District League
(July 22) A spectacular blaze at the Alberta Lumber Company in Vancouver broke up a well-played Senior City League game at Athletic Park when the Firemen, performing against the Asahis and holding a 1 to 0 lead, had to respond to the call of duty and leave the ballpark with only two more outs needed to settle the game. Technically, the Nippons were beneficiaries of a default but Asahi manager Harry Miyasaki refused to take the game in that way and is ready to have the game replayed if called upon.
Holden and Ferguson
Nishidera and Yasui
(July 23) The Asahis played smart baseball in blanking the slumping V.A.C. aggregation 4 to 0 in the matinee game of an Athletic Park twin-bill. A larruping band of White Rock pastimers crushed the Vancouver Firemen 12 to 1 in the finale of the day, an inter-league affair. With Ty Suga handcuffing the Clubbers on three safeties, the Nippons took advantage of every opportunity afforded them in the opener. They only garnered four safeties off Alex “Lefty” Simons but every one of them came with a runner at second base and each produced a run.
Suga (W) and Yasui
Simons (L) and Richardson
The Westminster circuit tail-enders had their most explosive offensive output of the season as they clubbed the offerings of a tandem of Hose & Ladder chuckers for 16 safeties in their impressive win. First baseman Barclay “Bart” Bean led the way with the stick, slamming two home runs and a pair of singles. Playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter of the Rockies followed with a triple, double and single while outfielder Jury belted a four-bagger and a single. Winning tosser Rolly Reynolds subdued the Hoseman on four safeties while whiffing eight.
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
Thompson (L), Holden (6) and Duff
(July 25) With second-place already locked up and a semi-final playoff date with the V.A.C. contingent in the works, the Collingwood nine couldn’t find winning tosser Roy Nishidera when hits meant runs as they waltzed through an uninspired 5 to 3 loss to the Asahis at Athletic Park. The Nippons grabbed off hits in every inning except the sixth and were fleet as deer on the basepaths, swiping six sacks. They plated all of their runs in the fifth canto, most of which were charged to losing chucker Carl Crowder. Rising Sun shortstop Roy Yamamura led the way offensively with a brace of base swats and a pair of stolen bases.
Nishidera (W) and Yasui
Crowder (L), Esplen (5), Delcourt (5) and McLean, Smith (5)
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 15 7 .682
Collingwood 14 11 .560
V. A. C. 11 13 .458
Asahis 7 16 .304
* includes inter-league games with teams from New Westminster & District League
(July 27) In an exhibition joust between rival Flame Squelching departments, the Seattle Firemen trimmed the pride of Vancouver 9 to 4 at Athletic Park. Leadoff hitter T. Ladra of the Puget Sounders cracked “Lefty” Kaye’s second pitch of the game for a booming home run.
Brown (W) and Lobaugh
Kaye (L), Thompson (7) and Goodall
(July 28) The Firemen and V. A. C. played a listless contest at Athletic Park which ended after seven innings because of darkness in a 6 – 6 tie.
Simons, Puder (5) and Richardson, Whyte (3)
Holden and xxx
(July 29) Smart chucking by left-hander Ty Suga and dashing speed on the basepaths by his mates spearheaded the Asahis to a 5 to 2 decision over Collingwood. The Collies only managed four hits off Suga and failed to land a blow when a safe crash or two meant runs. Outfielder “Mickey” Sato had a triple and single for the speedy Nippons who pilfered five bases during the skirmish.
C. Mills (L) and McLean, Smith
Suga (W) and Yasui
(July 30) In the last regular game of the campaign, a replay of their July 22 contest which was terminated before completion because of a two-alarm blaze, the Firemen squeezed past the Asahis 3 to 2.The Hosemen got the verdict through the extra-base knocks of Lorne Foley and Norm Goodall. The latter scored the winning run in the seventh through daring baserunning when he sprinted across the dish after Marks had sent a short fly to right field.
Kaye (W) and xxx
Nishidera (L) and xxx
Final Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 16 7 .696
Collingwood 14 12 .538
V. A. C. 11 13 .458
Asahis 8 17 .320
* includes inter-league games with teams from New Westminster & District League
PLAYOFFS SEMI-FINALS
V.A.C. vs Collingwood (best-of-three series)
(July 30) The third-place V.A.C. aggregation handed the runner-up Collingwood nine a 16 to 3 trouncing in the opener of their semi-final series. Two grand-slam home runs powered the underdog Red Caps to their surprising win. First baseman Coley Hall connected for a grand salami in the second panel while Charlie Miron duplicated the sacks-full accomplishment in the sixth chapter. Third baseman Jack Fraser collected four safeties for the winners, all singles, while Hall and Miron finished with three apiece.
Puder (W) and Whyte
Delcourt (L), Crowder (6), C. Mills (7) and McLean
(August 1) Although both teams ripped the orb for a dozen base hits, it was the Collingwood nine that cashed in more of their opportunities as they downed the slugging V.A.C. band of warriors 5 to 1 to even up their playoff series at one win each. A free-for-all fight in the opening inning between Johnny Nestman of the Collies and the Red Caps’ Hec Cann enlivened the action at Athletic Park. Both were obviously given the heave-ho and play continued with the combatants duelling to a 1 – 1 tie after five frames. A three-run sixth inning won it for the Collies. Jimmy Condon and “Babs” Johnson/Johnston had three hits each for the winners while Ernie Paepke and Charlie Miron of the Clubbers replicated the feat.
Esplen (W) and Mclean
Simons, Puder (W) (5) and Whyte
(August 3) A feverish playoff encounter at Athletic Park settled nothing as the V.A.C. diamondeers battled back from a 4 to 0 deficit to hold the Collingwood nine to a 4 – 4 draw in a seven-inning, darkness-shortened battle. The Clubbers had a 7 to 5 margin in base raps with Jack Fraser hitting a double and single while teammate Coley Hall singled twice. The Collies suffered injuries to infielders “Babs” Johnson/Johnston and Jimmy Condon which required multiple shuffling within their lineup.
Esplen and McLean
Puder and Whyte
(August 5) Collingwood made it to the finals of the Vancouver Senior City League after disposing of the V.A.C. battlers 4 to 2 in the fourth game of their series. The game was terminated because of darkness after eight frames. The Collies had a significant edge in base hits, a 10 to 3 margin, but were never able to put the game out of reach from the Clubbers. First baseman Jimmy Condon, badly spiked in the third game of the series, was back at his post and rang up three singles in pacing the winners with the lumber. Camille “Lefty” Delcourt struck out four in fashioning the three-hit mound triumph.
Delcourt (W) and Mclean
Simons (L) and Whyte
FINALS Collingwood vs Firemen (best-of-five series)
(August 6) The Firemen baseball squad jumped in front of Collingwood in their final playoff series by dropping the Collies 4 to 1 before a large turnout at Athletic Park. The Fire Squelchers won because they carried the punch. Out hit 10 to 7 by their Suburban rivals, they made their hits count close to maximum advantage, fielded flawlessly and did some nice base running. Jimmy Watters and Doug May both crashed a double and single for the Hosemen. First sacker Lovely of the vanquished nine picked up three singles and emerged as the contest’s leading swatter.
C. Mills (L) and Mclean
Kaye (W) and Goodall
(August 8) Collingwood squared the Senior City League finals at a game apiece by edging the Firemen 4 to 3 in seven innings of darkness-shortened and hectic baseball. Usually reliable Nick Craig, on the mound for the Hose & Ladder squad, had a final-inning defensive meltdown which allowed the Collies to plate the winning run. With the score knotted at 3 – 3, Craig had difficulty in making up his mind where to throw the bevy of bunts that the Collies began to drop, resulting in a pair of fielding errors. Unnerved, he then tossed a wild pitch as Cy McLean skidded across the dish with the winner. The Flame Squelchers had led for most of the game until Collingwood scored twice in the sixth on a run-scoring double by outfielder Robertson and Jimmy Condon’s third single of the game which tied things up.
Esplen (W) and McLean
Craig (L) and Goodall
Seivewright the cartoonist from the Vancouver Sun had some fun with the goings-on during the 1927 Vancouver Senior City League playoffs.
(August 10) George “Lefty” Kaye, one time of Winnipeg, later of Nanaimo, and for the past few seasons a prominent figure at Athletic Park, limited Collingwood to just one hit, struck out 17 and issued nary a walk, but it was insufficient for a win as the Firemen and Collies persevered to a 1 – 1 draw in an eight-inning encounter shortened by darkness. The Hook & Ladder Brigade had enough openings to win the contest and had Camille “Lefty” Delcourt repeatedly in trouble, but left ten runners stranded. Third baseman Doug May of the Flame Dousers topped all swatters with a three-hit performance.
Delcourt and McLean
Kaye and Marks
(August 12) The Firemen grabbed the fourth game of the Senior City League finals, scoring all
three of their runs in their initial turn at bat, and holding on to nose out Collingwood 3 to 2 at Athletic Park. A run-scoring single by Nick Craig and a pair of bases-loaded walks accounted for the opening canto counters plated by the Hosemen. Larry Holden fired a four-hitter in earning the hillock triumph while his mates backed him up with a faultless display of fielding..
Holden (W) and Goodall
Esplen (L), Delcourt (1) and McLean
(August 13) After taking a 6 to 4 decision in the matinee game of a playoff double-dip, the Collingwood nine, fighting every inch of the way, passed out of the playoff picture after taking it on the chin 8 to 6 in the sixth game of the final series. With their backs to the wall, the Collies plated singletons in both the fifth and seventh frames to forge ahead in the opener after the teams had battled to a 4 – 4 tie through the first four innings. Sporting a 9 to 7 advantage in base hits, Collingwood was led offensively by outfielder Robertson who stroked a double and single. Fellow fly chaser Bill Bailey of the Firemen led the vanquished nine at the platter with a trio of one-baggers.
Kaye (L), Thompson (6) and Marks
Esplen, Delcourt (W) (4) and McLean
The new champions of the 1927 Senior City loop launched into three Collie tossers for 13 base blows in the finale. Losing flinger Camille “Lefty” Delcourt was knocked out of the game which he began immediately after registering the win in the opener. Winning flinger Larry Holden pitched for 8 2/3 innings after “Lefty” Kaye was given an early hook. Outfielders Lorne Foley of the Flame Eaters and “Robbie” Robertson of the Collies both smashed home runs. Bobby Mills of the losing nine also did well with the baton, hitting a two-bagger plus a pair of singles.
Delcourt (L), Crowder (4), Esplen (4) and McLean
Kaye, Holden (W) (1) and Marks
Post-season Pacific Northwest challenge
(August 27) A three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth frame enabled the Nippons Athletic Club of Seattle to cop the first game in their annual series with Vancouver Asahis. The final score was not published. Roy Yamamura starred at shortstop for the Vancouverites.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(September 5) The Vancouver Asahis and Seattle Nippons broke even in a two-game series at Athletic Park for the intercity Japanese championship. In the morning game the Vancouverites hit the ball hard in the pinches to win 5 to 1. In the afternoon tussle, the visitors reversed the result when they shut out the Asahis 2 to 0. Roy Nishidera’s five-hit pitching and the hitting of George Kato sparked the hosts in the opener.
Naganimi (L), Arai and Takata
Nishidera (W) and Yasui
Both chuckers, winning hurler Takayashi of the Seattle nine and Ty Suga of the Asahis, tossed four-hitters in the highly-contested finale.
Takayashi (W) and Okada
Suga (L) and Yasui
1927 VANCOUVER TERMINAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
In spite of the departure of the fan-favorite Asahis, who bolted to the Vancouver Senior City Baseball League, the 1927 Terminal Baseball League grew from a four-team loop in 1926 to a six-club association. In a major transformation of the league, only the Ex-King George aggregation from a year previous returned to the fold. The addition of a strong Burnaby entry from the defunct Twilight League added instant credibility for the Terminals. Another intriguing newcomer was an all-Japanese team, the Mikados, to replace the Asahis. Three other franchises, the Grandview Centrals, the C.N.R. squad and the King Edward Old Boys rounded out the expansion squads.
First-half of schedule
(April 23) The King Edward Old Boys took Ex-King George into camp by an 8 to 1 count to get away to a flying start in the 1927 Terminal Baseball League opener. The Old Boys were quick to take advantage of errors by the George’s crew and parlayed them into useful counters. Five markers in the fourth canto sealed the deal for the Edward’s nine. Max May went the route on the bump for the victors, whiffing six while twirling a one-hitter. Fly chaser McKenzie stroked two doubles and a triple to pace the Old Boys with the baton.
Diebolt (L) and Henderson
May (W) and Casselman
(April 26) Burnaby chucker Dave Gray fanned ten and yielded just two hits as the Suburbanites blanked the Mikados 2 to 0 in a Terminal League fixture. Keystone sacker Young led the Burnabyites with the willow, creaming the orb for a double and a brace of one-baggers. Gray followed suit with a two-bagger and single.
Gray (W) and MacSorley
Terakita (L) and Takahashi
(April 27) The C.N.R. squad of baseballers opened the campaign by upsetting the King Edward Old Boys 5 to 2 in a darkness-shortened encounter at the Powell Street grounds. The Old Boys out hit the Railroaders by an 8 to 6 margin but left seven baserunners stranded. Hot corner custodian Curry of the Trackmen and King Edward catcher Casselman both cranked out two-run homers.
Young (L), Batchelor (4) and Casselman, Thomas
Woodman (W), Stodo (5) and Triller
(April 28) Dave Gray’s superb pitching, backed up with steady defensive support, allowed the Burnaby aggregation to rack up their second successive shutout in Terminal League play, a 4 to 0 whitewashing of the Grandview Centrals. The Centrals collected five hits to just four for the victorious Burnaby diamondeers but were unable to get a bingle in the pinch. Gray had 11 strikeouts while losing twirler Bill Richardson punched out seven batters. Second sacker Gordon of the Grandview contingent, with a pair of singles, was the lone swatter from either dugout to accumulate two safeties.
Gray (W) and Warren
Richardson (L), Noble (6) and Purmal
(April 29) Despite spinning a five-hitter and fanning ten batters, Mikados’ one-handed pitcher George Tanaka received weak support both offensively and afield as the Nippons were blanked 4 to 0 by the King Edward Old Boys. Winning tosser Batchelor limited the hitting-challenged Nippons to just two safeties, one of which was of the scratchy variety. First baseman “Scotty” Lister of the Old Boys led all swatters with a brace of solid blows.
Batchelor (W) and Thomas
Tanaka (L) and Takahashi
(May 2) Ex-King George swatsmiths had difficulty connecting with the slow curves of Mickey Setna at the Powell Street grounds as the C. N. R. diamond pastimers romped off with a 5 to 2 Terminal League decision. Setna was touched for just two safeties, both singles, in going the distance on the knoll. The Railroaders had five bingles off the slants of loser Johnny Diebolt with one of the clouts being a four-ply smash by keystone sacker Shaw.
Setna (W) and Tait
Diebolt (L) and Henderson
(May 3) A hard-fought and exciting pitching joust defined the Terminal League contest at the Powell Street ball yard in which the Grandview Centrals edged the King Edward Old Boys 1 to 0. Bill Noble pitched a four-hitter while fanning 14 in grabbing the mound verdict. A bases-loaded hit batsman by losing flinger Max May in the final frame forced in the only counter of the game. Up until that fateful last canto, May had been superb, allowing just one scratch hit. He finished with a three-hitter and six punchouts. Shortstop McCreary of the Old Boys was the sole swatter to accumulate plural hit totals, racking up a double and single.
May (L) and Thomas
Noble (W) and Pitt
(May 4) Speed on the basepaths and timely clouting gave the C.N.R. contingent of balltossers a well-deserved 3 to 1 triumph over homestanding Burnaby at the Carleton grounds. Harry Woodman, on the mound for the Trainmen, was a complete puzzle to the home sluggers, holding them at bay until the final round when two hits and an error allowed them to pick up a single tally. Outfielder Kendall and catcher Jimmy Tait did the most useful work offensively for the victors, each cracking a brace of base knocks in addition to a stolen base. Dave Gray fanned eleven in absorbing the hillock defeat.
Woodman (W) and Tait
Gray (L) and Warren
(May 5) Portsider Don Weaver whiffed 15 batters while limiting the Mikados to just two safeties as the Grandview Centrals grabbed a come-from-behind 3 to 2 victory over the Nippons in an exciting Terminal Baseball League fixture. Trailing by a run as they came to bat in the final frame, the Centrals rallied for a pair of counters as catcher Pitt came through with a clutch two-out, bases-loaded single to drive in second baseman Gordon and outfielder “Bunny” Purmal. Purmal had two of his team’s five hits off one-handed mound performer George Tanaka who was nailed with the hillock defeat.
Tanaka (L) and Takahashi
Weaver (W) and Pitt
(May 6) Tight pitching in the pinches featured the Terminal League fracas at the Powell Street grounds in which the Ex-King George and Burnaby nines finished all square in a 1 – 1 stalemate. Dave Gray of Burnaby and the Ex-King’s Johnny Diebolt put on a superb display of hurling. In trouble on numerous occasions, particularly in the closing rounds, they both managed to wiggle out of perilous situations. The Burnabyites held a 6 to 4 advantage in base hits acquired as Gray emerged with the game’s sole two-hit production. Diebolt rang up 12 strikeouts while Gray whiffed ten. Chuck Leek’s third-inning homer provided the Former Students with their only counter.
Gray and Warren
Diebolt and Henderson
(May 9) Star hurler Dave Gray failed to get any offensive support from his teammates as the Burnaby nine was nosed out 1 to 0 by the King Edward Old Boys at the Powell Street grounds. The Edward’s nine gathered just three hits off Gray but were able to bunch a single by shortstop McCreary, who then pilfered second, and a double off the bat of leadoff hitter Betts in the third stanza for the game’s sole tally. Speedball artist Max May of the Old Boys pitched a four-hitter to earn the shutout mound win.
Gray (L) and Warren
May (W) and Thomas
(May 10) Roaring from behind, the Ex-King George band of baseballers edged the Grandview Centrals 4 to 3 in a hard-fought Terminal League match. Right gardener Glen Hope, last season’s champion swatsmith in the Terminal circuit, crashed two doubles and a single for the victors, his final two-bagger clearing the bases in the sixth and erasing a 3 to 1 deficit. Johnny “Lefty” Diebolt tossed a six-hitter and whiffed nine in going the route for the knoll win.
Noble (L), Richardson (5) and Pitt
Diebolt (W) and McIntyre
(May 12) The King Edward Old Boys handed the Ex-King George pastimers an artistic 8 to 1 trimming at the Powell Street diamond. Winning tosser Batchelor rang up ten punchouts and was especially effective in the pinches. Hot corner guardian Leith led the winners with the stick, nailing the apple for a single, double and a three-run round-tripper. Middle gardener Gustafson was best with the hickory for the Kings, belting a triple and one-bagger.
Batchelor (W) and Thomas
Diebolt (L) and McIntyre
(May 13) In spite of a superb 14 strikeout performance by curveball artist Bill Richardson at the Central Park diamond, the Grandview Centrals suffered a 4 to 1 defeat at the hands of hosting Burnaby. Richardson yielded just four base hits but was bested by playing-manager Dave Gray of the Suburbanites who was nicked for only three safeties while punching out 12. It was a close battle all the way but the home crew showed a lot of speed on the bases and made every one of their base blows count to advantage. Gray’s batterymate, catcher Warren, did the most useful work with the war club, lacing a triple and single, both swats coming with ducks on the pond.
Richardson (L) and Pitt
Gray (W) and Warren
First-half standings W L Pct.
C. N. R. 3 1 .750
King Edward Old Boys 4 2 .667
Burnaby 3 2 .600
Grandview Centrals 3 3 .500
Ex-King George 2 3 .400
Mikados 0 4 .000
(May 20) Burnaby hurlers, starter “Lefty” Sanders and reliever Dave Gray, issued a collective ten bases on balls but were stingy with hits as not a semblance of a bingle was made by the Ex-King George band of baseballers who succumbed to the Suburbanites 2 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. The Former Students, after getting the jump in the first round primarily due to the daring baserunning of Chuck Leek, tossed the game away in the third panel when three errors in succession, after two were out, allowed both Burnaby runs to cross the plate. The victors managed only two hits, both singles, off losing chucker Johnny Diebolt.
Diebolt (L) and Hope
Sanders (W), Gray (5) and Warren
(May 23) The C. N. R. baseballers out- fielded and out-hit the King Edward Old Boys to win a free-scoring 9 to 6 verdict in Terminal League action. The Railroaders plated five counters in the second chapter of the fracas and maintained their lead throughout. Winning flinger House had two of his team’s seven hits while catcher Thomas of the Old Boys racked up three of the five safeties his squad accumulated.
House (W) and Chapman
May (L) and Thomas
(May 25) Pitcher Dave Gray had too much smoke as the ball, ringing up 12 strikeouts while limiting the Mikados to five hits, as the Burnaby baseballers whitewashed the Nippons 7 to 0 at the Central Park grounds. Burnaby was able to bunch several of their eight hits around Mikado errors to stampede the losers. Don McLean and Ed Trayling did the heavy stick work with two bingles each with a three-bagger included in Trayling’s total. Catcher Yamada of the Nippons also collected two base swats, one of which was a double.
G. Tanaka (L) and Yamada
Gray (W) and Warren
(May 25) The Grandview Centrals scored a last-inning counter to salvage a 5 – 5 tie in their Terminal League game with the Ex-King George squad at the Powell Street grounds. An errant throw to first base by King’s infielder Wright allowed the tying tally to cross the platter. Both aggregations acquired eight base knocks. Grandview hurler Bill Richardson punched out 14 batters via the strikeout route. He also picked up a brace of bingles as did batterymate Pitt and Percy Choate of the Former Students.
Choate, C. Menzies (4) and Henderson
Richardson and Pitt
(May 26) The C. N. R. baseball team added another game to their winning streak when they handed the Ex-King George pastimers a 4 to 0 setback at the Powell Street grounds. The Railway Gang scored their four tallies in the first two rounds and rode the steady four-hit hurling of winning flinger Sayers the rest of the way. Six of the Former Students bit the dust by way of the strikeout route. Nary a swatter from either club was able to muster up more than one base hit.
Diebolt (L) and Henderson
Sayers (W) and Tait
(May 27) The youthful Mikados captured their first victory of the Terminal League campaign when they trounced the King Edward Old Boys 11 to 5 at the Powell Street facility. A six-run sixth inning by the Nippons broke a 5 – 5 tie and clinched the game for them. George Tanaka and shortstop Yamamura of the victors as well as outfielder Betts and infielder Leith of the Old Boys all stroked the sphere for a brace of safe hits. Mikado catcher Yamada slammed a two-run circuit-jack in the opening panel.
McKenzie, Batchelor (L) (2), May (6) and Pauche, Thomas
G. Tanaka, Terakita (W) (4) and Yamada
First-half standings W L Pct.
C. N. R. 5 1 .833
Burnaby 5 2 .714
King Edward Old Boys 4 4 .500
Grandview Centrals 3 3 .500
Ex-King George 2 5 .286
Mikados 1 5 .167
(May 30) Despite playing two extra frames, the C. N. R. and Burnaby squads were unable to break a 3 – 3 tie in their battle for top spot in the Terminal Baseball League. The Burnabyites had a decisive 12 to 7 edge in base hits as pitchers Dave Gray of the Suburbanites and the Railroaders’ Jimmy Chapman both went the route on the knoll. Outfielder Don McLean of the Burnaby nine led all swatters at the dish, collecting two singles and a double. Middle pasture gardener Kendall of the Trackmen smashed a bases-empty round-tripper in the sixth panel.
Gray and Warren
Chapman and Tait
(May 31) Five big tallies in the second inning, including a home run by winning pitcher Bill Noble, enabled to Grandview Centrals to gallop off on the long end of a 9 to 5 score against the plucky Mikados at the Powell Street diamond. Outside of this one-sided round, the Rising Sun Gang held their own. Keeley and Clarke had two safe blows apiece for the Centrals.
Noble (W), Richardson (7) and Pitt
Terakita (L), G. Tanaka (5) and Yamada
(June 1) Burnaby ran roughshod over the Ex-King George contingent of pastimers 13 to 4 at the Central Park grounds. Alex “Scotty” Dobbins got off on the wrong foot when he made his debut on the mound for the Former Students as Burnaby pounded his offerings to all corners of the ball yard.
Dobbins (L), xxx and xxx
Sanders, Gray (W) (1) and xxx
(June 1) The C. N. R. squad held their lead atop the first-half Terminal League standings when they disposed of the King Edward Old Boys 6 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Winning chucker House limited the Old Boys to just one hit. Third sacker Curry socked a three-run homer for the victors in the opening chapter.
xxx (L). S. May and xxx
House (W) and xxx
(June 2) The Grandview Centrals doubled the King Edward Old Boys 6 to 3 in Terminal League action at the Powell Street grounds. The Centrals scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the opening panel and led throughout the game. Winning pitcher Don Weaver, who was nicked for five safeties which included a brace of raps by fly chaser Eccles, was wild and in constant trouble but he whiffed 13 batters which saved him on several occasions. Husky middle pasture guardian Robb belted two doubles and a single for the victorious nine.
May (L), Leith (4) and Thomas
Weaver (W) and Pitt
(June 3) The top-dog C. N. R. aggregation overcame an early deficit, roaring back to throttle the cellar-dwelling Mikados 10 to 6 at the Powell Street diamond. A six-run output in the sixth canto sealed the deal for the Trackmen. Outfielder Oscar Neilson ripped four singles for the Railroaders while his teammate, shortpatcher Faulkner, collected a triad of one-baggers.
G. Tanaka (L), Terakita (6) and Yamada
Woodman, House (W) (3) and Tait
First-half standings W L Pct.
C. N. R. 7 1 .875
Burnaby 6 2 .750
Grandview Centrals 5 3 .625
King Edward Old Boys 4 6 .400
Ex-King George 2 6 .250
Mikados 1 7 .125
(June 6) Shortstop Clare Menzies’ sharp double to right field with two on the basepaths in the last round, his second two-bagger of the skirmish, drove in a pair and gave the Ex-King George baseball squad an 8 to 6 triumph, their first victory of the season over the King Edward Old Boys. It was a free-hitting affair with both teams cracking the ball for extra bases with runners on the hassocks. Menzies and first baseman Chuck Leek of the King’s contingent both spanked the sphere for three base knocks. Third sacker Leith of the Old Boys tripled and doubled while his sidekick, outfielder Herod, poled out a home run.
Diebolt (W) and Henderson
May (L) and Thomas
(June 7) Grandview Centrals defeated the league-leading C. N. R. balltossers 3 to 1, only the second loss the Railroaders have endured in Terminal League play, both coming at the hands of the Centrals. Bill Richardson, with a three-hitter, got the best of Trackman chucker Sayers who yielded just four bingles. Catcher Wilfred “Bunny” Purmal’s batting and baserunning were paramount in the Grandview triumph. His first-inning double drove in a pair of markers and he added a brace of singles further into the game to go along with a pair of stolen bases. Veteran fly chaser Oscar Neilson of the C. N. R. nine singled twice.
Sayers (L) and Tait
Richardson (W) and Purmal
(June 8) Dave Gray’s superb hurling and timely hitting by his teammates gave Burnaby a convincing 10 to 1 victory over the C. N. R. diamondeers and the leadership in the Terminal League’s first half of play. Playing on their home lot, the Suburbanites made three sparkling double plays as Gray’s “smokeball” baffled the Railroaders for the better part of the fracas. Outfielder Don McLean led the way with the hickory for the victors, pounding a triple, double and single.
House (L), Sayers (5) and Tait, Triller
Gray (W) and Warren
(June 8) Keystone sacker Percy Choate’s solo home run in the top of the fifth frame provided the game’s only run as the Ex-King George pastimers squeezed out a 1 to 0 conquest of the Mikados at the Powell Street facility. Alex “Scotty” Dobbins earned the knoll verdict by tossing a three-hitter and fanning eight. One-handed slinger George Tanaka of the Nippons was saddled with the defeat despite allowing just four hits.
Dobbins (W) and Henderson
G. Tanaka (L) and Yamada
(June 9) For the second night in succession, the plucky Mikados were only able to muster three safeties and, as a result, were blanked again, this time 6 to 0 by the hustling Grandview Centrals. Winning chucker Langdale, taking his first turn on the mound this season, struck out four in picking up the shutout. His batterymate, “Bunny” Purmal, propelled the offense for the Centrals, cuffing a round-tripper to go along with a couple of singles.
Yoshioka (L) and Yamada
Langdale (W) and Purmal
(June 10) The iron arm of Dave Gray was on display at the Powell Street grounds as Burnaby padded their slim lead atop the Terminal League with a 4 to 0 shutout over the King Edward Old Boys. Gray rang up ten strikeouts while holding the Edward’s nine down to four scattered singles. His batterymate, backstop Warren, provided most of the offensive ammunition, slamming a double and a couple of one-baggers.
Gray (W) and Warren
Leith (L) and Thomas
(June 13) The Mikados offered little resistance to the heavy bombardment of the Burnaby willow wielders and took it on the chin 12 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Southpaw Johnny Diebolt limited the Nippons to five safeties in going the route for the knoll triumph. The Suburbanites racked up 13 base swats with catcher Warren and outfielder Don McLean leading the way with a triad apiece. One of Warren’s blows was a four-bagger.
Diebolt (W) and Warren
G. Tanaka (L), Terakita and Yamada
(June 13) The Grandview Centrals moved into second place in the Terminal Baseball League by recording a narrow 2 to 1 verdict over the King Edward Old Boys at Central Park. Grandview portsider Don Weaver and Max May of the Old Boys fought tooth and nail for the mound decision in which Weaver ultimately prevailed on the basis of a four-hit performance. Outer pasture guardian Clarke doubled and singled for the Centrals.
Weaver (W) and Pitt
M. May (L) and Thomas
First-half standings W L Pct.
Burnaby 9 2 .818
Grandview Centrals 8 3 .727
C. N. R. 7 3 .700
Ex-King George 4 6 .400
King Edward Old Boys 4 9 .308
Mikados 1 10 .091
(June 14) The slumping C. N. R. baseball nine received a rude jolt in their fight for honours in the first half of the Terminal Baseball League when they were bumped by Ex-King George 11 to 7 at the Powell Street grounds. The Former Students started a bombardment in the first round which continued into the second frame and, when the dust had settled, they had ten base hits, half of them doubles, and two walks which netted them eleven runs and, essentially, the game. The Railway Crew fought back hard, threatening in every panel, but the deficit proved just too great to overcome. The Trackmen actually out hit the King’s contingent by a 14 to 12 margin over the course of the contest as outfielders Kendall and Oscar Neilson each laid claim to three safeties with a double included for both. Chuck Leek and Clare Menzies led the hit parade for the winners with a brace of two-baggers each.
Sayers (L), House (4) and Simpson
Dobbins (W) and Henderson
(June 15) A protest lodged by the Grandview Centrals during their loss to the Ex-King George nine on May 10 has been upheld, the result being that the Centrals have been awarded the victory.
(June 15) The Grandview Centrals provided a big upset in the Terminal Baseball League when they travelled to the Central Park grounds and knocked Burnaby out of top spot with a sound 11 to 3 drubbing of their hosts. Grandview fielded flawlessly and hit the ball hard and often, driving loser Dave Gray from the hill in the fifth. Catcher “Bunny” Purmal as well as fly chasers Robb and Clarke were scintillating with the bat, all clubbing the sphere long and with power. Bill Richardson, one of the best curve dispensers in the lower mainland, had the Burnaby tribe on his hip nearly all the way, stopping 12 of them on punchouts.
Richardson (W) and Purmal
Gray (L), Syrotuck (5) and Warren
(June 15) The King Edward Old Boys handed the Mikados a 3 to 1 setback in a light-hitting contest at the Powell Street grounds. Winning pitcher “Jit” Lewis held the Nippons to just two hits while his mates collected five safeties.
Yoshioka (L) and Yamada
Lewis (W) and Thomas
(June 16) The C. N. R. baseball squad kept in the fight for the first-half championship of the Terminal Baseball League by doubling the doormat Mikados nine 6 to 3 in a lively-hitting contest at the Powell Street diamond. The Nippons pounded the ball harder than usual, equalling the Railroaders in base hits acquired with ten apiece but were not able to produce safe swats when it mattered most. Shortstop Yamamura of the Mikados and outfielder Kendall of the Trackmen both clipped the orb for a trio of safeties. The fielding of George Tanaka, one-handed marvel, was a feature of the game. The Rising Sun fly chaser pulled down five hard-hit balls in the middle pasture and was no slouch at the dish, picking up two singles.
Terakita (L) and Yamada
Hammond (W) and Simpson
(June 17) Not normally known for his base running skills, pitcher extraordinaire Dave Gray of the Burnaby nine, who entered the game in the last inning as a pinch-hitter, exhibited quick-thinking and moxie when, in the bottom of the final frame of a 7 – 7 tie game with the bases loaded and no outs, he sprinted all the way from second base which he occupied as a runner, without breaking stride, and beat a throw to the platter from first base as the King Edward Old Boys were in the midst of successfully executing a double play, from pitcher to home, for a force out, to first base for a second out. Winning pitcher Johnny Diebolt’s comebacker to losing pitcher “Lefty” Green initiated the 1-2-3 twin-killing while Gray’s daring gamble seemed to surprise the Edward’s nine as he just beat the return throw from initial sacker “Scotty” Lister to the plate by a step. In this exciting 8 to 7 victory at Central Park, the Suburbanites out hit the King’s Men 13 to 10 as their leadoff hitter Eddie Trayling collected four hits and second-man in the batting order, George Syrotuck, three.
Green (L) and Thomas
Sanders, Diebolt (2) and Warren
(June 17) The Grandview Centrals maintained their slight lead atop the first-half Terminal League standings by trimming the Ex-King George baseballers 5 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Portsider Don Weaver tossed a nifty three-hitter with nine punchouts in subduing the Former Students. His batterymate, Wilfred “Bunny” Purmal, was the big noise with the stick for the Centrals with four hits. The Grandview backstop has been on a regular tear of late, having connected safely in 15 of his last 16 trips to the dish.
Weaver (W) and Purmal
Choate (L) , C. Menzies (6) and Henderson
(June 20) The Grandview Centrals eliminated the C. N. R. baseballers from first-half contention, knocking off the Trackmen 5 to 1 at the Central Park grounds. Portsider Don Weaver was the shining light for the Centrals, holding the Railroaders to three widely scattered blows. Shortstop Keeley, outfielder Robb and first sacker Clarke all gathered two hits for the winning side with a three-bagger included in Robb’s total.
Weaver (W) and Pitt
House (L) and Simpson
(June 20) Burnaby had their troubles beating the Ex-King George pastimers but finished strong and won 13 to 7 to keep pace with the Grandview nine for top spot in the first-half standings. Winning pitcher Dave Gray was uncharacteristically pelted for eleven base blows by the Former Students, three off the bat of Glen Hope, but went the route and chalked up ten strikeouts. He also clouted a home run to go along with a single as the Suburbanites lit up a pair of hurlers from the XKG diamondeers for 13 safe swats.
Gray (W) and Warren
C. Menzies (L), Choate (5) and Henderson, Hope
(June 21) Taking advantage of the lackadaisical play exhibited by the opposition, Burnaby had little difficulty in disposing of the C.N.R. pastimers 7 to 3 at the Powell Street grounds. The victory moved the Suburbanites into a tie with the Grandview Centrals for the penthouse position in the first-half standings. The deadlock means that a best-of-three playoff will now ensue to declare a first-half winner. The Railroaders opened with three runs in the opening round but subsequent loose play on their part saw the lead soon evaporate. Third baseman Reid crushed a home run and a single for the triumphant nine. Starting catcher Simpson of the Trackmen and Burnaby fly chaser Don McLean were both ejected from the tilt as a result of a fist fight which continued into the locker room.
Diebolt (W) and Warren
Hammond (L), House (5) and Simpson, Tait
First-half playoffs (best-of-three series)
(June 22) Dave Gray and Bill Richardson, the two prize chuckers of the Terminal Baseball League, engaged in a torrid hillock battle to begin the first-half playoffs at the Powell Street grounds. Gray and his Burnaby cohorts got the verdict 2 to 1 over the Grandview Centrals after a thrilling extra round but it was chiefly due to the better defensive support that the Burnaby skipper got as errors were responsible for both of their tallies against Richardson. Gray was touched up for seven bingles and whiffed six while Richardson fanned ten and allowed six hits. Outfielder Eddie Trayling of the Suburbanites opened the overtime session with a single and scored the winning counter in walkoff fashion after Grandview middle infielders Keeley and Gordon both messed up grounders with a tailor-made double play in front of them each time. George Syrotuck of the victors as well as Gordon and first baseman Slevin of the Centrals all cuffed a brace of safe swats with a three-bagger included in Slevin’s sum of raps.
Richardson (L) and Purmal
Gray (W) and Warren
(June 23) The Burnaby baseball squad won the first-half championship of the Terminal Baseball League with a 13 to 1 bashing of the Grandview Centrals at the Powell Street grounds, their second straight playoff triumph over the Centrals. Ten runs in the sixth stanza decided the fray in favour of the Suburbanites. For five rounds, Grandview had a slight edge in a pitcher’s duel between Bill Noble and Johnny Diebolt. Catcher Warren opened the Burnaby sixth with a four-base wallop which tied the score and, as the momentum shifted, the rout began. Warren finished the contest with four clean hits while fly chasers Moore of Burnaby and Clarke of the Centrals both connected for three safeties.
Diebolt (W) and Warren
Noble (L), Weaver (6), Langdale (7) and Purmal
Second-half of schedule
(June 24) Portsider Tommy Green, former Fraser Mills hurler who gained his fame as a chucker in Regina, had too much stuff for the Ex-King George pastimers as he hurled the King Edward Old Boys to a 4 to 1 victory in the opening game of the second-half series of the Terminal Baseball League. Green and losing twirler Clare Menzies both fanned five opposition batter but the King Edward left-hander yielded just five hits as opposed to eight for XKG twirler. Green’s batterymate, catcher Thomas, hit safely three times.
C. Menzies (L) and Henderson
Green (W) and Thomas
(June 27) The C. N. R. baseball squad showed a lot of class at the Powell Street grounds when they smeared the whitewash brush all over the Grandview Centrals 4 to 0. Jimmy Chapman’s return to the mound was inspiring. He set the Grandview tribe down on four widely scattered bingles and only one runner reached second base, on a double by “Bunny” Purmal. His mates backed him up with a flawless defensive performance. Bill Noble of the Centrals also pitched well but his support wobbled in the fifth frame when the Railroaders counted their first two counters. Nary a swatter on either side managed to acquire more than one base hit.
Chapman (W) and Tait
Noble (L) and Purmal
(June 28) Burnaby started the second-half of the schedule exactly where they left off at the end of the first campaign, with a victory, the victim squad being the Mikados who were blanked 5 to 0 at the Powell Street facility. Winning flinger Dave Gray’s “smokeball” was a complete puzzle to the Nippons who only gathered two hits, one a double by one-handed star George Tanaka. Three runs in the fourth chapter settled the affair for the Suburbanites as the game was called on account of darkness and rain at the end of the fifth frame. George Syrotuck and third sacker Reid laced two safeties each for the winners with a double included in Reid’s sum of swats.
Gray (W) and Warren
Terakita (L) and Yamada
(June 29) The King Edward Old Boys knocked the C. N. R. squad from the ranks of the undefeated in second-half action, taking down the Railroaders 5 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. The Old Boys got to losing chucker “Lefty” Hammond for four runs in the first two frames which proved more than enough to win with Max May spinning a five-hitter. Fly chaser Betts, keystone sacker Campbell and catcher Thomas all ripped two singles for the King Edward’s crew.
Hammond (L) and Tait
M. May (W) and Thomas
(June 29) Scoring six times in the third round, the Burnaby diamond pastimers rolled to a convincing 9 to 3 victory over the Ex-King George nine at the Central Park diamond. Winning hurler Johnny “Lefty” Diebolt stymied the XKG aggregation of four safeties, all singles. Catcher Warren, his batterymate, led the 13-hit offensive production of the victors, slamming a double and three singles.
Curtis (L), C. Menzies (3) and Henderson
Diebolt (W) and Warren
(June 30) The Mikados surprised the Grandview nine, nosing out the Centrals 4 to 3 in a Terminal loop tilt.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 4) Burnaby moved to the top of the second-half Terminal League standings when they blanked the King Edward Old Boys 5 to 0 in a fast-moving Terminal League match. Dave Gray’s fastball in the dark evening had the Old Boys pretty well subdued and, only in two rounds did they pose any threat. Catcher Warren’s second-inning triple with two aboard and two out opened the scoring for Burnaby whose entire gamut of tallies were of the unearned variety. Middle pasture patroller Eddie Trayling of the winners pulled off the defensive play of the contest by outrunning a hard-hit ball off the bat of catcher Thomas that appeared headed to the street for a round-tripper.
xxx (L) and Thomas
Gray (W) and Warren
(July 5) Catcher Yamada’s three-run homer in the third stanza powered the Mikados to their second Terminal League victory in a row, a 4 to 2 conquest of the Ex-King George band of baseballers. Out hit by a 6 to 4 margin and kept under control by losing pitcher Alex “Scotty” Dobbins for all but the fateful third, the Nippons added another tally in that panel but were blanked the rest of the way. The Ex-Kings fought back hard after the early deficit and filled the bases in the fourth, but counted only a single tally owing to the clutch pitching of winning flinger George Tanaka who rang up ten strikeouts. They picked up their last marker in the fifth when Dobbins singled and was driven home on Chuck Leek’s double, his second safety of the game.
Dobbins (L) and Henderson
G. Tanaka (W) and Yamada
(July 6) Burnaby showed a lot of fight in coming from behind to finally edge the C. N. R. squad 5 to 4 at Central Park. Burnaby first baseman Olson’s long double in the eighth canto, his third hit of the game, drove in the winning counter. Dave Gray earned the knoll triumph in a relief role. Fly chaser Oscar Neilson of the Railroaders led his club with the stick, stroking three one-baggers.
Chapman, Orr (L) (7) and Triller
Diebolt, Gray (W) (7) and Warren
(July 6) The King Edward Old Boys lit into starter and loser Don Weaver for ten runs and ten hits en route to an 11 to 5 victory over Grandview in a Terminal League tussle at the Powell Street grounds. Backstop Thomas of the Kings belted a home run and single while outfielder Robb of Grandview connected for a four-bagger.
Weaver (L), Richardson (5) and Purmal
May (W) and Thomas
(July 7) Fly chaser Robb’s timely bases-loaded triple in the seventh panel broke up a tie game, supplying the lead counters as Grandview went on to dispose of the Ex-King George tribe 6 to 3 at the Powell Street facility. Both teams played a solid game defensively while, at bat, the Commercial Drive nine doubled the output of the Former Students by an 8 to 4 count. Third sacker Keeley and outfielder Carlson of the winning squad as well as losing flinger Alex “Scotty” Dobbins each acquired two base raps.
Noble (W) and Purmal
Dobbins (L) and Hope
Second-half standings W L Pct.
Burnaby 4 0 1.000
King Edward Old Boys 3 1 .750
Mikados 2 1 .667
C. N. R. 1 2 .333
Grandview 1 3 .250
Ex-King George 0 4 .000
(July 12) Facing an uphill battle as they came to bat for the final time, the Ex-King George diamondeers put on a spirited effort by scoring three times but fell short in dropping a 5 to 3 decision to the C. N. R. pastimers at the Powell Street grounds. The Railroaders emerged with an 8 to 7 advantage in base knocks which saw outfielder Giguere scintillate with the bat, lacing the orb for two doubles and a single. Rival middle pasture guardian, Gustafson of the Ex-Kings, poked the sphere for a two-bagger and single. Winning flinger House rang up nine strikeouts.
Dobbins (L) and Hope
House (W) and Triller
(July 13) The King Edward Old Boys kept in the race for second-half honours in the Terminal League when they disposed of of the Mikados 8 to 3 in an interesting conflict at the Powell Street grounds. The Old Boys took kindly to the offerings of losing pitcher George Tanaka and jumped away with seven runs in the first two frames, which essentially decided the issue. Max May hurled an effective encounter, spinning a six-hitter, in capturing the knoll triumph. Infielder Leith had three hits for the King Edward’s clan including a home run. Teammate Tommy Green also belted a four-bagger.
M. May (W) and Thomas
G. Tanaka (L), Terakita (3) and Yamada
(July 14) Veteran baseballer Oscar Neilson laid down a perfectly-placed bunt in the bottom-of-the-ninth frame which plated the winning counter as the C. N. R. nine nosed out the Mikados 1 to 0 in a fierce pitcher’s duel at the Powell Street diamond. For 8 1/2 frames the combatants were locked in a scoreless joust before one-handed chucker George Tanaka of the Nippons weakened as the Railroaders loaded the bases on a pair of infield hits and Tanaka’s lone walk of the contest, which set the stage for Neilson’s bunt single, his third safety of the contest. The Mikados were only able to nick winning chucker Bobby Orr for a pair of base hits, both singles, as the right-hander whiffed eight.
G. Tanaka (L) and Yamada
Orr (W) and Triller
(July 15) Trading solo home runs with their rivals in the final canto, the Grandview Centrals edged Burnaby 2 to 1 in an exciting Terminal League fracas. Trailing 1 to 0 as they came to bat in the last inning, the Burnabyites knotted the count on first baseman Olson’s four-bagger only to lose the game in walkoff fashion in the bottom of the panel when fly chaser Robb lit up losing flinger Dave Gray for a round-tripper. Gray, in defeat, pitched his usual effective game, surrendering just three hits while whiffing nine. Winning tosser, portsider Don Weaver, yielded five bingles with Olson collecting two of them.
Gray (L) and Warren
Weaver (W) and Purmal
(July 18) The championship aspirations of the King Edward Old Boys, who have been travelling along at a dizzy pace in the Terminal league recently, received a rude jolt when they fell before the tail-end Ex-King George crew 4 to 3 at the Powell Street grounds. It was a well deserved victory for the Ex-Kings who hit the offerings of losing twirler Green hard and often, fielded brilliantly behind the steady hurling of Clare Menzies and remained steadfast when the Edwards gang put on a last-round rally. Every member in the victor’s lineup had at least one hit with outfielder Gustafson and catcher Glen Hope leading the way with a brace of safeties. Fly chaser McKenzie of the vanquished nine smashed a four-ply dinger.
Green (L) and Thomas
C. Menzies (W) and Hope
Second-half standings W L Pct.
Burnaby 4 1 .800
King Edward Old Boys 4 2 .667
C. N. R. 3 2 .600
Mikados 2 3 .400
Grandview 2 3 .400
Ex-King George 1 5 .167
(July 19) Grandview Centrals continued their recent trend of last-inning uprisings when they plated four counters in a comeback 4 to 1 triumph over the C. N. R. nine. The Railroaders had only one hit off winning pitcher Bill Richardson during the course of the contest, a run-scoring double by third baseman Jimmy Tait, but held a 1 to 0 lead entering the final canto. Richardson rang up 13 strikeouts in silencing the Trackmen. Fly chasers Robb and Clarke as well as catcher “Bunny” Purmal each had a pair of hits for the Centrals with Robb’s total including a four-bagger and Purmal’s sum of swats a double.
Richardson (W) and Purmal
House (L) and Triller
(July 20) Bill Richardson stood out prominently in the 11 to 0 Grandview victory over the King Edward Old Boys at the Powell Street grounds. For the second night in succession, the Grandview hurler whiffed 13 batters as he allowed just one run in the two contests. The Centrals put over seven runs in the fifth panel.
xxx (L) and xxx
Richardson (W) and xxx
(July 20) The Burnaby nine increased their lead atop the second-half Terminal League standings by disposing of the Mikados 9 to 5 at Central Park in Burnaby. Don McLean of the Suburbanites and the Mikados’ George Tanaka both hit home runs. Tanaka, playing in the outer garden despite having only one hand, made three brilliant catches.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 21) The Ex-King George band of baseballers kept things close for six innings before wilting under pressure after two had been retired in the seventh frame during a 6 to 1 loss to league-leading Burnaby. The Former Students made three errors in succession in the fateful seventh which allowed the Suburbanites to chase across four unearned counters. Winning pitcher Dave Gray fanned ten while limiting the Ex-Kings to three hits. Outfielder Don McLean of the winners and first baseman Chuck Leek of the vanquished nine both stroked a double and single.
Gray (W) and Warren
C. Menzies (L) and Hope
Second-half standings W L Pct.
Burnaby 6 1 .857
King Edward Old Boys 4 3 .571
Grandview Centrals 4 3 .571
C. N. R. 3 3 .500
Mikados 2 4 .333
Ex-King George 1 6 .143
(July 25) The C. N. R. baseball nine bunched three of their five blows in the fourth frame and, with the help of a fielding miscue, plated all three of their markers in a tight 3 to 1 win over the hard-luck Ex-King George baseballers at the Powell Street grounds. The big blow of the run-scoring frame was a four-ply clout by outfielder Kozak. Winning tosser House was in trouble frequently but had his “Uncle Charlie” working to perfection, fanning nine. Catcher Wright of the Former Students was the only batter in the contest to ring up a plural hit total, singling twice.
C. Menzies (L) and Wright
House (W) and Triller
(July 26) The Grandview Centrals continued their late second-half hot streak when they laid a 13 to 4 pasting on the Mikados. Seven counters in the fourth frame proved more than enough for the Centrals victory. The winners collected 15 base knocks as fly chaser Clarke excelled with the lumber, poling out a home run and a brace of one-baggers. Teammate Keeley followed with a double and a pair of singles. Fly chaser Henderson used his moxie and speed on the basepaths to acquire a total of five stolen sacks.
Noble (W) and Purmal
G. Tanaka (L), Terakita (4) and G. Tanaka
(July 27) Bill Richardson’s curves and speedball baffled the Ex-King George pastimers at the Powell Street grounds as the Grandview Centrals grabbed a 5 to 1 win from the Former Students.
Richardson (W) and xxx
C. Menzies (L) and xxx
(July 27) The Burnaby baseball tribe, outclassed for most of the game on their home lot, made a valiant last-inning comeback to edge the King Edward Old Boys 9 to 8 to further cement their hold on the top rung of the Terminal League ladder. Six hits and a walk produced the five runs needed to overcome the deficit. A home run by Don McLean and Eddie Trayling’s triple were the big blows of the rally. Trayling wound up as the leading swatter in the fracas, collecting four safeties.
May (L) and Thomas
Diebolt (W) and Warren
(July 28) Lusty hitting in the first three rounds gave the King Edward Old Boys nine big tallies and an easy 9 to 4 victory over the youthful Mikados in a Terminal League fixture. Tommy “Lefty” Green led the victors with the stick, connecting for a double and two singles while infielder Campbell lashed out a home run.
xxx (L) and xxx
May (W) and xxx
(July 29) First-place Burnaby blanked the C. N. R. squad 2 to 0 behind the four-hit hurling of Dave Gray who whiffed a dozen batters along the way. Only outfielder Kendall and Bobby Orr of the Railroaders were able to get to Gray for base hits, each acquiring a pair of raps. The aggressive baserunning of fly chaser Eddie Trayling and his outstanding defensive work sparked the Suburbanites.
Gray (W) and Warren
House (L) and Triller
(August 1) Jumping on Tommy “Lefty” Green for four first-inning tallies, the C. N. R. baseball nine had little trouble in disposing of the King Edward Old Boys 6 to 2 in a Terminal League tilt at the Powell Street diamond. Winning tosser Bobby Orr throttled the Old Boys on three safeties. Neither squad showed a great deal of defensive finesse. Outfielder Oscar Neilson of the Railroaders was the only swatter on either side to gather two safeties.
Orr (W) and Tait
Green (L), Leith (5) and Thomas, Casselman
(August 2) The Ex-King George baseballers got off on the wrong foot in their fracas with the Mikados, surrendering four initial-inning runs, and despite a five-run fifth-frame rally, still fell short of the mark in losing 7 to 6 to the Nippons. Catcher Yamada of the Rising Sun nine was the contest’s leading swatter with a double and three singles. Bill Henderson led the Former Students with the hickory, drilling a triad of one-baggers.
G. Tanaka (W) and Yamada
Henderson (L), C. Menzies (1) and Choate, Henderson (1)
(August 3) The C. N. R. pastimers won handily 9 to 2 over the Mikados at the final league game played at the Powell Street grounds.
(August 3) Burnaby will represent the Terminal Baseball League in the provincial playoffs. After defeating the Grandview Centrals 7 to 1 at Central Park in the final contest of the league schedule, the Suburbanites clinched second-half honours to go along with their first-half title and will not be required to play any intra-circuit finals. Given brilliant support in the pinches, Burnaby tosser Dave Gray copped the knoll triumph over Bill Richardson with a three-hitter. Both chuckers recorded seven strikeouts. Shortstop Anderson and outer pasture guardian Crompton accumulated two hits for the winners.
Richardson (L) and Purmal
Gray (W) and McLean
Post-season exhibition games
(August 9) The crowd-pleasing Asahis of the Senior City League and long-time Terminal League favorites played to a 7 – 7 tie with the Terminal League All-Stars before a packed house in an exhibition match at the Powell Street grounds. Pitcher Bill Richardson of the Terminal Leaguers fanned 11 in going the route. Roy Yamamura of the Nippons, with three safeties, was the top swatter in the contest. Outfielder Clarke of the Stars as well as Richardson poled out home runs.
Suga, Tanaka (3), Nishidera (7) and Yasui
Richardson and Purmal
(August 16) Smart work on the base paths and clever bunting gave the Asahis of the Senior City circuit a narrow 3 to 2 victory over the Terminal League All-Stars. The Nippons were out batted, securing just two safeties, both off the bat of outfielder Eddie Kitagawa. However, they took advantage of six free passes to first base issued by losing flinger Bill Richardson to score all of their runs, two of which were plated with successful squeeze plays. The Stars nicked winning chucker Roy Nishidera for seven safeties as second baseman Kendall spearheaded the offence with a double and two singles.
Richardson (L) and Purmal
Nishidera (W) and Yasui
1927 NEW WESTMINSTER & DISTRICT BASEBALL LEAGUE
Reduced to three teams in 1927 with the departure of the Royals, the New Westminster & District Baseball League continued to embrace the Fraser Cafe, Fraser Mills and White Rock clubs. Head-on interlocking jousts with teams from the Vancouver Senior City Baseball league added special incentives.
(May 8) The 1927 New Westminster & District Baseball League got underway in splendid fashion when the largest crowd that has ever attended a game at White Rock saw the hosts nose out the defending champion Fraser Mills squad 5 to 4 in a ten-inning, come-from-behind struggle. The Millmen opened the scoring in the first stanza with a singleton, increased the lead to three with a pair of markers in the third canto and led all the way until the eighth panel when the Rockies came through with a three-spot to tie things up. Neither club was able to break the stalemate in the ninth but, in the top half of the extra frame, backstop Slim Bearisto of the Resort Towners unloaded a poor pickoff throw to third sacker Larsen which allowed Bill Maxwell of the Sawmillers to ramble in from the hot corner with a go-ahead tally. In the bottom of the overtime chapter, an error by Fraser Mills first baseman Abe Cross gave the Semiahmoo nine life. Second sacker Ted Bruland, the beneficiary of Cross’ miscue, was promptly sacrificed to the keystone sack. Bart Bean followed with a two-bagger which drove in the tying counter. Third baseman Larsen then earned the hero’s mantle by ripping a one-bagger which plated Bean with the winner. The White Rock crew carried dynamite in their bats all through the contest, ripping into the slants of losing pitcher Doug Muscutt for 14 safeties. Bean and “Frenchy” Duplin headed the batting parade of the winners with a triad of base swats apiece with a double included in Duplin’s total.
Muscutt (L) and Olson
Harris (W) and Bearisto
(May 10) Upwards of 1,000 spectators were on hand to witness the Queen’s Park opener in which Fraser Cafe hung on to defeat White Rock 7 to 6 in a darkness-shortened, seven-inning encounter. Eddie Olson, now in the role of a playing-manager, hurled the complete game win for the Lunchmen. The winners accumulated 15 base blows as every player in their lineup, with the exception of Doug Fraser, got to losing chucker Wes Stickney for at least one hit. Outfielder J. Martin led the way with the willow, stroking three doubles and a single. Top swatter for the Rockies was fly chaser Nemyre who tripled and singled.
Stickney (L) and Bearisto
Olson (W) and Buzzard
(May 13) Interleague play began with Fraser Cafe of the New Westminster circuit blasting the Vancouver Asahis 11 to 0 at Queen’s Park in the Royal City. Pitcher Henry Dodd of the Restaurateurs hurled a steady four-hitter in blanking the Nippons. Three of the hits he surrendered were racked up by Rising Sun shortstop Roy Yamamura, one being a two-bagger. The Lunchmen ripped into two Asahi chuckers for 12 hits. Jack Fraser and playing-skipper Eddie Olson both drilled a double and single for the winners while outfielders Dunn and Harry Butler singled twice.
Nishidera (L), Sato (4) and Yasui
Dodd (W) and Buzzard
(May 15) Collingwood of the Vancouver Senior City loop came from behind to nip the Fraser Mills nine out of the New Westminster circuit 3 to 2 in a highly-contested interleague battle at Queen’s Park in the Royal City. Winning pitcher Baden “Babe” Esplen of the Collies held the defending lower-mainland champions to two lone hits, both by catcher Bill Maxwell. After falling behind by a pair of counters during the middle innings, the Eastside Vancouverites tied things up in the seventh canto on Jimmy Condon’s two-run circuit-clout over the left field fence. In the top of the ninth, Condon again hit a fly ball into the left pasture which flychaser Tommy Green of the Millmen failed to hold, allowing Cy McLean, who had been reposing on third base, to trot home with what proved to be the difference-maker. McLean had two of the Collies’ six hits.
Esplen (W) and McLean
Shidler (L) and Maxwell
(May 20) Fraser Mills pounded Fraser Cafe playing-manager Eddie Olson for a dozen base blows en route to a 7 to 0 thrashing of the Restaurateurs. Elongated twirler Doug Muscutt of the Circle F nine checked the Fork and Knifers on five safeties, two off the bat of outfielder Sam Crawford, in earning the whitewash knoll triumph. The game was scoreless until the fifth canto when the Millmen went to work with their heavy artillery, scoring four times on run-producing hits by fly chaser Sanford, Muscutt and Dean Freshfield. Outfielder Ray Williams led the winners at the dish securing a double plus a brace of one-baggers while fellow fly chaser Ray Hawkes and catcher Bill Maxwell each singled twice.
Muscutt (W) and Maxwell
Olson (L) and Buzzard
(May 22) The Young Conservatives of the Vancouver Senior City League broke into the win column for the first time this season when they travelled to White Rock and hammered the Resort Towners of the New Westminster loop 17 to 7 in a long-drawn-out interleague skirmish. Coleman “Coley” Hall was the slugging star of the match for the Tories, slamming two home runs. Teammates Greenwell and Jenkins also connected for four-ply swats.
Traeger (W), Crowder (8) and Daniels
Harris (L), Bean (8) and Bearisto
(May 24) In spite of being rocked for five runs in the second inning, three of which were four-baggers, Fraser Mills prevailed over White Rock 9 to 5. Catcher Bill Maxwell and shortstop George Kerrigan paced the 13-hit offensive thrust of the Sawmillers, each lacing three safeties. The second-canto home runs of the Semiahmoo Bay nine were belted by playing-skipper Earl “Tiny” Hunter, “Brick” Harris and infielder Ted Bruland.
Green, Shidler (W) (2) and Maxwell
Stickney (L), Bean (9) and Bearisto
(May 25) Collingwood of the Vancouver Senior City League lit into the offerings of Henry Dodd, on the hill for New Westminster’s Fraser Cafe, for seven first-inning runs and breezed to a 9 to 1 pasting of the Lunchmen in Interlocking action at Athletic Park. Winning chucker Baden “Babe” Esplen had a world of stuff and whiffed nine of the Cafeterians in firing a three-hitter. Cy McLean led the Collies with the stick, stroking a triple and single. Eddie Olson singled twice for the vanquished nine.
Dodd (L) and Buzzard
Esplen (W) and McLean
(May 27) Rebounding from a horrendous result in his most recent mound appearance, Henry Dodd pitched the Fraser Cafe contingent to a 9 to 1 conquest of the Fraser Mills nine on the Queen’s Park diamond. Dodd was nicked for seven bingles but the only run charged to him was of the unearned variety. His mates ripped into a pair of Mills chuckers for 12 base blows as shortstop Harry White led the way with a home run and double. Fly chaser Harry Butler followed with a triple and single while Dodd had a double and one-bagger, the same output as outfielder Ray Hawkes of the losing nine.
Muscutt (L), Green (6) and Maxwell
Dodd (W) and Buzzard
Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Cafe 3 2 .600
Fraser Mills 2 3 .400
White Rock 1 3 .250
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the Vancouver Senior City League
(May 28) In an interleague skirmish, the Asahis of the Vancouver Senior City loop knocked off White Rock of the New Westminster circuit by a 7 to 1 score. Backed up by solid defensive support, winning pitcher Roy Nishidera was able to effectively scatter eight White Rock base hits to grab the hillock victory. The Nippons had just five safeties but wobbly infield work by the Resort Towners gave the Rising Sun squad several unexpected scoring opportunities. Garnering two base raps for the winning nine was outfielder “Mickey” Sato while losing hurler Bart Bean and shortstop Ted Hawkins of the Rockies had the same offensive output.
Bean (L) and Bearisto, Larsen (4)
Nishidera (W) and Horii
(May 29) Fraser Mills pitcher Harold Shidler turned in a convincing display of mound work when he stymied the fast-stepping V. A. C. tribe of Vancouver with a four-hitter and a 2 to 0 victory in an interleague tussle at the Circle F diamond. Shidler showed a clever change of pace and had the Red Caps off balance all through the contest. Only the Vacs’ Charlie Miron, with two doubles, was able to adequately solve the mystery of Shidler’s deliveries. Dave Scott, the Clubbers’ hurling ace, lost the verdict chiefly through his his own inept fielding in the sixth round when the New Westminster Leaguers tallied both runs. The first counter came as a direct result of a bobbled bunt combined with a wild throw to the hot corner. George Kerrigan later drove in the second marker. Kerrigan and teammate Ray Hawkes both lit up Scott for a brace of safeties to lead the Millmen offensively.
Scott (L) and Whyte
Shidler (W) and Maxwell
(May 31) Fraser Cafe jumped back into the lead of the New Westminster & District League when they defeated White Rock 11 to 10 in a weird sort of game which only went seven frames on account of a late start. Five errors were committed during the contest and, strangely, all five were charged to the winners. Henry Dodd picked up the mound triumph in a relief role, besting another fireman, “Brick” Harris. Sam “Wahoo” Crawford tripled and doubled for the Lunchmen while teammates Doug Fraser and playing-manager Eddie Olson both singled twice. Rockies’ first sacker Bart Bean and catcher Larsen each had three base knocks as Bean homered, doubled and singled while Larsen stroked a double and two singles.
J. Reynolds, Harris (L) (4) and Larsen
Burgh, Dodd (W) (4) and Buzzard
(June 1) With peerless Eddie Olson on the hill at Athletic Park, the Fraser Cafe nine of the New Westminster & District League easily disposed of the Vancouver’s Young Conservatives 7 to 0. Olson allowed but three one-baggers, two of which were secured by Tory initial sacker Andrews, while he whiffed eleven of the youthful Politicians. The Fork and Knifers raked losing twirler Carl Crowder for seven base raps and were the recipients of an equal number of free passes. Johnny Burgh and Sam Crawford of the Restaurateurs both clipped the orb for a brace of safe blows.
Olson (W) and Buzzard
Crowder (L) and Daniels
(June 3) Heavy hitting featured the interlocking game at Queen’s Park in which the Vancouver Firemen prevailed 7 to 5 over White Rock of the New Westminster League. The victors accumulated 14 base blows while the hosting Seasiders racked up 13. It was anybody’s game until the eighth frame when White Rock outfielders Nemyre and Jerry Reynolds, in pursuit of a fly ball with two retired, collided and allowed an unearned run to score, opening the door for a further brace of unearned counters which followed. Nick Craig of the Hose & Ladder Gang had a banner day at the plate, slamming a triple and three singles. Bart Bean of the vanquished nine also sparkled with the willow, creaming the orb for three doubles and a one-bagger.
Holden (W) and Goodall
R. Reynolds (L) and Larsen
(June 4) The first-place Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster handed the slumping Vancouver Athletic Club a 4 to 2 setback in interleague play at Athletic Park. The Lunchmen rode the solid pitching of “Long John” Burgh in handing the Red Caps their third consecutive setback. Burgh fanned seven using a submarine delivery while teammate Johnny Pollock delivered two doubles, one of which was the game’s most crucial blow, a bases-loaded two-bagger which drove in three markers in the fourth panel.
Burgh (W) and Buzzard
Puder (L), Scott (7) and Richardson
(June 5) Doug Muscutt simply toyed with the Vancouver Young Conservatives in an interlocking baseball contest in which the hosting Fraser Mills nine of the New Westminster & District League blanked the hapless Tories 8 to 0 at the Lumber Centre. Muscutt was dominant, ringing up 11 strikeouts and limiting the Tories to just two singles. Nary a Conservative runner reached second base. Home runs by Dean Freshfield and Abe Cross highlighted the 13-hit offense of the Sawmillers. Cross finished with three safeties, including his tater.
Sanders (L), Crowder (6) and Daniels
Muscutt (W) and Brennon
Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Cafe 6 2 .750
Fraser Mills 4 3 .571
White Rock 1 6 .143
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the Vancouver Senior City League
(June 6) For the third game in a row, the Vancouver Asahis broke down defensively, committing seven errors, and were easy prey for the White Rock aggregation of the New Westminster circuit who hammered them 16 to 8 in an interlocking fracas at Queen’s Park. The Rockies combed a brace of Rising Sun chuckers for 20 base blows while the normally light-hitting Nippons replied with 13 of their own in the slugfest. Shortstop Lindsay picked up four safe swats, all singles, for the winners while keystone sacker Ted Bruland and fly chaser Jerry Reynolds each stroked three safeties. Playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter supplied the bulk of the power with a home run and double. Top batter for the Asahis was hot corner custodian Satochi “Sally” Nakamura who laced a trio of one-baggers.
Suga (L), Nishidera (5) and Yasui
R. Reynolds (W) and Larsen
(June 8) Lady luck was with league-leading Collingwood baseballers of the Vancouver Senior City circuit when they defeated Fraser Mills of the Westminster & District loop 4 to 2 in an interleague skirmish at Athletic Park. When outfielder Ray Hawkes of the Lumbermen lost Jack Cranstoun’s fly ball in the sun with two runners aboard in the opening canto, the ball rolled coyly away from the fly chaser and allowed Cranstoun to circle the bases for an inside-the-park dinger which plated three runs. The Collies then snared a fourth unearned run on consecutive errors by losing pitcher Harold Shidler and second baseman “Frenchy” Duplin. For the entire contest, Shidler out pitched winning tosser Clare Mills, allowing five hits to nine for Mills, but the Millmen were unable to even up that lucky break in the first. Cranstoun had a double to go along with his home run. For the vanquished nine, Shidler bashed a triple and single while teammate Sanford, patrolling the left garden, ripped a double and one-bagger.
Shidler (L) and Maxwell
C. Mills (W) and McLean
(June 10) A sixth-inning rally which netted four runs gave the Fraser Cafe nine a 6 to 4 victory over Fraser Mills at Queen’s Park. Johnny Burgh, who took up the hillock burden in a relief role, pitched airtight ball during his tenure on the knoll which allowed the Fork and Knifers to rally for the comeback victory. Second baseman Johnny Pollock led the Lunchmen with the baton, clipping the orb for three safeties, an output equalled by Ray Hawkes and Dean Freshfield of the Millmen.
Muscutt (L) and Brennon
Dodd, Burgh (W) (3) and Buzzard
(June 11) After falling behind early, Collingwood of the Vancouver circuit came back and captured an interleague scuffle 10 to 3 over White Rock of the New Westminster loop at Athletic Park. Baden “Babe” Esplen of the Collies got off to a rough start, surrendering a pair of counters in the top of the opening inning. He regained his form, however, and finished the contest with nine strikeouts and a five-hitter while his mates were fattening their batting averages with 15 base blows off the slants of losing twirler Rolly Reynolds. Jack Cranstoun of the Eastside Vancouverites continued his torrid pace with the lumber, accumulating four safeties including a two-bagger. Teammate “Bobby” Robertson chipped in with a brace of doubles. First sacker Bart Bean and fly chaser Jury of the Summer Resorters both lit up Esplen for four-baggers.
R. Reynolds (L) and Larsen
Esplen (W) and Smith, McLean
(June 12) Taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning, Harold Shidler yielded safeties to Harry White and Sam Crawford, finishing with a two-hitter as he pitched Fraser Mills to a 5 to 2 conquest of the Fraser Cafe nine at the Mill Centre. The Lumber Slingers nicked losing fling Eddie Olson for seven bingles with Abe Cross and outfielder Sanders picking up two apiece while Shidler cracked a circuit-dinger.
Olson (L) and Buzzard
Shidler (W) and Brannon
Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Cafe 7 3 .700
Fraser Mills 5 5 .500
White Rock 2 7 .222
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the Vancouver Senior City League
(June 14) Johnny Burgh and his slow twister held no terrors for the Van-City Firefighters who drove him to the showers in the fifth round as the Flame Fighters of the Vancouver Senior City League crushed the New Westminster Fraser Cafe nine 11 to 5 in a clash of interleague penthouse dwellers at Queen’s Park. Winning chucker “Lefty” Kaye held the Lunchmen to seven safeties and was very much in the limelight during the skirmish. He whiffed five batters, gathered a two-bagger and a single and was credited with six assists. Nifty shortpatcher Harry White of the Restaurateurs gave Kaye the most difficulty, stinging him for a triple and two doubles. The Fire Eaters battered Burgh and his successor, Henry Dodd, for 16 base hits as Arne Miller spearheaded the attack with a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Kaye (W) and Marks
Burgh (L), Dodd (5) and Buzzard
(June 15) Fraser Mills swamped White Rock 10 to 1 in a New Westminster & District League game at the Milltown. Although they were able to collect nine hits off newcomer “Blackie” Nevins, the Seasiders were never really in the picture as their defensive play was sub-standard. First sacker Abe Cross gathered four base hits, two of which went for extra bases, for the Lumber Kings.
R. Reynolds (L), Bean (2) and xxx
Nevins (W) and xxx
(June 17) An eight-run outburst in the second inning lifted the lowly White Rock crew to a 12 to 8 upset of the league-leading Fraser Cafe aggregation at Queen’s Park. Rollie Reynolds and third baseman Larsen both launched home runs for the Rockies in that second-canto explosion with the sacks being loaded on each occasion. The Lunchmen cracked out 17 base knocks to 15 for the Semiahmoo Bay outfit in the heavy-hitting affair. Larsen and playing-manager “Tiny” Hunter of the Resort Towners both wound up with three safeties as did Johnny Pollock, Doug Fraser and catcher Buzzard of the Fork and Knifers.
J. Reynolds (W), R. Reynolds (7) and Bearisto
Ferguson (L), Dodd (2), Burgh (5) and Buzzard
(June 17) The hosting Firemen of the Vancouver Senior City League came from behind to edge Fraser Mills of the New Westminster & District League 4 to 3 in an interlocking skirmish at Athletic Park. The win for the Flame Squelchers was their eighth in a row and moved them a half-game in front of the V.A.C. contingent for top spot in the Van-City loop. George “Lefty” Kaye showed well on the hillock for the winners, stifling the Millmen on five hits while punching out eleven. A single by second baseman Charlie Stevenson of the Hook and Ladder Gang drove in the winning run in the bottom of the last panel. Unfortunately, for the Sawmillers, the tally was of the unearned variety as Jimmy Watters, who plated the winner, had reached base on a Circle F error. Losing twirler Harold Shidler was nicked for seven safeties with fly chaser Lorne Foley gathering two of them. Shortstop George Kerrigan of the Lumbermen, whose throwing error led to the tie-breaking counter, had a double and single at the platter.
Shidler (L) and Brannon
Kaye (W) and Marks
(June 19) Atrocious defensive support behind pitcher Eddie Olson cost the Fraser Cafe diamondeers big time as the Lunchmen squandered a five-run lead, imploding in the middle innings to come out on the short end of a 14 to 5 decision with the hosting White Rock nine. Olson pitched a reasonably good game, surrendering 11 safeties while ringing up ten strikeouts, but 13 of the 14 runs charged to him were unearned and came as a result of inept fielding by his mates. Winning tosser Rolly Reynolds of the Rockies was also nicked for 11 safeties while whiffing seven. Playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter led the Semiahmoo Bay Clan at the dish, slamming a home run and two doubles. Doug Fraser was best with the hickory for the Cafeterians, drilling three singles while teammate Harry Butler belted a four-bagger and a single.
Olson (L) and Buzzard
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Cafe 7 6 .538
Fraser Mills 6 6 .500
White Rock 4 8 .333
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the Vancouver Senior City League
(June 19) The Vancouver Athletic Club pastimers visited Fraser Mills of the New Westminster circuit and, after an exciting interleague battle, fell to the hosting Millmen 3 to 2 in a ten-inning dogfight. The winning counter was unearned and came as a result of a dropped thrown ball to first base. “Tat” Larson’s home run with one aboard in the opening inning gave the Vacs their two counters.
Lennox, Grice (L) and Richardson
Nevins, Muscutt (W) and Brannon
(June 21) The Collingwood diamond pastimers of the Van-City Senior association of baseballers came to life after losing three straight games when they defeated the Fraser Cafe nine of the Westminster loop 7 to 1 in a heavy-hitting interleague affair at Queen’s Park. Veteran chucker Camille “Lefty” Delcourt went the route on the bump for the Collies, allowing seven scattered blows. He also showed some pop at the plate, creaming the orb for a triple and single. Shortstop “Babe” Johnson paced the victors offensively, lacing a three-bagger and a brace of singles. Catcher Buzzard of the Lunchmen picked up a trio of one-baggers while teammate Harry Butler doubled twice.
Delcourt (W) and Smith
Burgh (L), Dodd (5) and Buzzard
(June 22) For the second time this season, batters from the Fraser Mills aggregation of the New Westminster & District League hung a defeat on Dave Scott and a strong V. A. C. contingent of Van-City Senior loop, blanking the Red Caps 3 to 0 at Athletic Park. Doug Muscutt, twirling for the Millmen, showed brilliance on the hill, limiting the Clubbers to just a pair of safeties. Outfielder Ray “Pee Wee” Williams stroked a pair of singles for the winners, both of which drove in runs.
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Scott (L), Puder (5) and Richardson
(June 24) Spectacular fielding by the keystone combo of “Frenchy” Duplin and George Kerrigan, who were credited with no less than four double plays, coupled with an explosive 18-hit offensive attack, enabled Fraser Mills to wallop White Rock 14 to 1 at Queen’s Park. Outfielder Percy Bolstad gathered four hits for the winners and scored an equal number of runs. Teammates Dean Freshfield and Ray “Pee Wee” Williams both connected for three safeties with two of Freshfield’s blows being doubles. Losing flinger Jerry Reynolds was best with the baton for the Resort Towners, drilling a triple and a brace of one-baggers.
Nevins (W) and Brannon
J. Reynolds (L), R. Reynolds (5) and Bearisto
(June 26) White Rock chucker Rolly Reynolds tucked a win under his belt but it took him 13 innings of toiling on the knoll to grab the victory as his Resort Towner mates of the New Westminster loop eked out a 5 to 4 verdict over the Vancouver Athletic Club in an interlocking tussle at the Semiahmoo Bay diamond. The Rockies pounded out 14 hits in the marathon affair while the Red Caps of Vancouver got to Reynolds for eight safeties but went down swinging on ten occasions. Outfielder Jerry Reynolds, who picked up four safeties including a double during the game, scored the winning run in the bottom of the fourth extra frame when, with two out, losing chucker Alex “Lefty” Simons took a comebacker off the bat of Ted Bruland and, instead of taking the sure out at first base which would have retired the side, experienced brain cramp and tossed the pill to an unoccupied second base where White Rock baserunner Lindsay was heading.
Puder, Simons (L) (10) and Richardson
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
(June 26) Bunching three timely hits with a walk in the bottom of the eighth canto, the Fraser Mills outfit broke a 4 – 4 tie and emerged with a 7 to 4 decision over Fraser Cafe of New Westminster in a lively contest in the Lumbering Centre. The Millmen lit up a brace of Lunchmen twirlers for 14 base blows with Abe Cross and Ray Hawkes leading the way with three raps apiece. Jack d’Easum of the Cafeterians also connected for a triad of safeties.
Dodd (L), Burgh (8) and Buzzard
Shidler (W) and Brannon
(June 27) Eddie Olson, stout-hearted hurling ace of the Fraser Cafe nine out of New Westminster, stopped the winning ways of the Vancouver Firemen after ten straight victories when he pitched the Eatery Gang to a 6 to 5 win over the Hosemen at Athletic Park. Olson showed his mettle in the pinches, twice recording a strikeout for the third out when the bases were loaded. The Lunchmen deserved the victory. They nailed the ball on the nose for some timely bingles including a four-ply clout by first sacker Aubrey Mounger with the hassocks empty. Teammate Sam Crawford was also a dangerous man with the war club, stroking the apple for three safeties.
Olson (W) and Buzzard
Holden (L), Thompson (5) and Marks, Foley
(June 28) The Vancouver Asahis posed no real threat for the Fraser Mills nine of the Westminster circuit in an interleague scuffle at Queen’s Park and met defeat by a 7 to 0 count. Winning pitcher Doug Muscutt mowed the light-hitting Nippon batters down on two hits while punching out ten. Losing tosser Ty Suga was injured in the fifth frame when he attempted to stop a screaming drive from George Kerrigan’s bat and had to be replaced on the hillock. Backstop Brannon starred with the hickory for the Millmen, blasting two doubles and a single.
Suga (L, Kato (5) and Yasui
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Mills 10 6 .600
Fraser Cafe 8 8 .500
White Rock 5 9 .357
* includes interlocking schedule games with teams from the Vancouver Senior City League
(July 3) Outfielder Earl “Tiny” Hunter slugged a brace of two-run homers to pace White Rock of the New Westminster & District loop to a decisive 9 to 4 thrashing of Collingwood of the Vancouver Senior City circuit in an inter-league fixture played in White Rock. Pitcher Rolly Reynolds went the route on the knoll for the Rockies, fanning 11, in earning the mound decision. Both teams registered nine base knocks but the Semiahmoo sluggers led in extra-base swats. Robertson of the Collies and White Rock’s Larsen both drilled four-baggers. Hot corner custodian Alva Sibbett of Collingwood ripped three one-baggers.
Crowder (L), Condon (5) and McLean
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
(July 5) White Rock remained in the fight for New Westminster & District League laurels when they shutout the strong Fraser Mills clan 2 to 0 at Queen’s Park. Both squads registered seven base swats. The teams battled for eight scoreless frames but, in the ninth, playing-manager Earl “Tiny Hunter’s single, third baseman Larsen’s double and Jerry Reynolds’ long clout for two bases accounted for the two runs by the Resort Towners. Fly chaser Ray Hawkes of the Millmen was the contest’s most consistent batter, drilling three singles.
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
Nevins (L), Muscutt (9) and Brannon
Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Mills 10 7 .588
Fraser Cafe 8 8 .500
White Rock 7 9 .438
* includes inter-league games with teams from Vancouver Senior City League
(July 6) With Eddie Olson stepping in to provide solid relief in a bases-loaded situation, the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster went on to blank the Vancouver Asahis 3 to 0 in an interlocking skirmish at Athletic Park. Not a lone Asahi batter was able to register a base hit off the combined efforts of starter and winner Henry Dodd, who was derricked because of wildness, and Olson, the cagey playing-manager of the Restaurateurs. Johnny Pollock of the Lunchmen clipped losing chucker Ty Suga for three safeties.
Dodd (W), Olson (4) and Buzzard
Suga (L) and Yasui
(July 10) A pair of pinch-hit home runs in the bottom of the ninth-inning almost allowed the White Rock baseballers to knot the count and extend the game in their eventual 4 to 3 loss to the Fraser Cafe nine. Ted Hawkins and Nemyre of the Rockies, swinging the lumber for Jury and Bearisto, both launched two-out solo homers off winning chucker Johnny Burgh of the Fork & Knifers before the final out was recorded. The Lunchmen had a 10 to 7 edge in base knocks with Doug Fraser and Aubrey Mounger both ripping a brace of blows. Jerry Reynolds of the Resort Towners also collected a pair of safeties. Shortstop Harry White of the Eatery nine as well as White Rock’s Bart Bean both nailed round-trippers earlier in the fracas before the ninth-inning comeback attempt.
Burgh (W) and Buzzard
R. Reynolds (L) and Bearisto
(July 13) Doug Muscutt, pitching ace of the Fraser Mills baseball tribe of the Westminster circuit, mastered the plucky young Vancouver Asahis to such an extent at Athletic Park that not until the last round did the Japanese get anything that looked like a hit off his repertoire of heaters and benders. The final count was 7 to 0 for the Millmen. Eddie Kitagawa, the lone Nippon batter to nick Muscutt for a safety, was then promptly picked off first base by the crafty chucker who rang up nine strikeouts. Fly chaser Ray Williams of the victors led the hit parade for the evening, stroking a trio of one-baggers.
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Nishidera (L) and Yasui
(July 15) Facing a 7 to 3 deficit entering the last of the sixth chapter, the Fraser Cafe balltossers out of New Westminster stormed back, gathering a total of 12 runs in their next two turns at bat, to swamp the Vancouver Athletic Club 15 to 7 at Queen’s Park. During that two-inning outburst, the Cafeterians had home runs by Sam Crawford, Aubrey Mounger, Doug Fraser and winning pitcher Johnny Burgh. Second baseman Johnny Pollock had three base hits for the winners, a double and two singles. Crawford nailed a three-bagger in addition to his tater.
Puder (L), Paepke (7) and Richardson
Dodd, Burgh (W) (6) and Buzzard
(July 16) The visiting White Rock aggregation hammered a lackadaisical Vancouver Athletic Club nine 13 to 5 in an interlocking skirmish at Athletic Park. The result was never in doubt as the Semiahmoo gang jumped into an early lead and continued to add on to their cushion. The Red Caps were completely engulfed by the Resort Towners who rocked a tandem of Club chuckers for 17 base blows. Jerry Reynolds was the big man with the willow for the Rockies, lacing out four singles.
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
Simons (L), Puder (4) and Richardson
(July 17) The Fraser Mills pastimers practically clinched first place in the New Westminster & District League when they defeated the Fraser Cafe nine 5 to 4 at the Sawmill Centre. The Cafemen started badly and were never able to quite catch up. The game, overall, was crisply played with excellent hurling and classy fielding. Abe Cross was the batting hero for the Millmen, driving in four of their five counters with a first-inning single and a fifth-frame double.
Burgh (L) and Buzzard
Nevins (W) and Brannon
Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Mills 12 7 .632
Fraser Cafe 11 9 .550
White Rock 8 10 .444
* includes inter-league games with teams from Vancouver Senior City League
(July 19) First-place Fraser Mills of the New Westminster circuit took a free-hitting game from the penthouse-dwelling Firemen of the Van City loop 11 to 9 in an interlocking joust at Queen’s Park. The Sawmillers rapped out 14 safeties to 13 for the Hose & Ladder Brigade. The Lumbermen took a 2 to 0 first-inning lead and were never headed. Outfielders Ray Hawkes and Percy Bolstad of the winners creamed the apple for three base knocks apiece with each securing a double. Bolstad also robbed the Smoke Squelchers of a chance to win the game when he made a sensational catch of a drive by Jimmy Watters. Shortstop Kerrigan smashed a two-run homer for the Millmen in the fifth. Catcher Roy Goodall led the Vancouverites at the dish, picking up a two-run round-tripper, a double and a one-bagger. Teammate Arne Miller contributed a two-ply clout and a brace of singles.
Kaye (L), Thompson (6) and Goodall
Shidler (W), Muscutt (5) and Brannon
(July 23) A larruping band of White Rock pastimers crushed the Vancouver Firemen 12 to 1 in an inter-league affair at Athletic Park. The Westminster circuit tail-enders had their most explosive offensive output of the season as they clubbed the offerings of a tandem of Hose & Ladder chuckers for 16 safeties in their impressive win. First baseman Barclay “Bart” Bean led the way with the stick, slamming two home runs and a pair of singles. Playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter of the Rockies followed with a triple, double and single while outfielder Jury belted a four-bagger and a single. Winning tosser Rolly Reynolds subdued the Hoseman on four safeties while whiffing eight.
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
Thompson (L), Holden (6) and Duff
(July 24) Stocky twirler Rolly Reynolds chalked up his second mound victory in two days as he pitched White Rock to a narrow 6 to 5 verdict over the Fraser Cafe contingent of baseballers. Although the Rockies were out hit by the Cafeterians, they made their bingles count by bunching them, especially in the fourth frame when they drove over three runs. Playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter of the Resort Towners drilled two doubles and a single. The top swatter in the contest was shortstop Harry White of the Lunchmen who doubled twice to go along with a brace of one-baggers.
Burgh (L) and Buzzard
R. Reynolds (W) and Bearisto
(July 26) Two runs in the initial inning were enough for the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster to defeat the visiting Everett WA All-Stars 3 to 1 in an exhibition encounter at Queen’s Park. Shortstop Harry White sparked the Lunchmen at the dish, collecting three bingles, one of which was a four-bagger. Aubrey Mounger, former Restaurateur now playing for the invaders, cracked a solo homer for their only run.
Weingard (L) and xxx
Dodd (W) and xxx
(July 27) The Everett WA All-Stars gained a split in their exhibition series against New Westminster opposition when they defeated the Fraser Mills aggregation 6 to 2. The Millmen, using their entire pitching staff, played a listless game and failed to make much of an impression on the Washingtonians. Shortstop George Kerrigan was the only bright spot for the Lumbermen. He gathered three base blows, one of them a homer. Former Fraser Cafe player Aubrey Mounger slammed out three safeties for the winners and hurled the bulk of the contest in winning fashion.
Novak, Mounger (W) (2) and xxx
xxx (L), xxx, xxx and xxx
(July 29) The relative strength of the two divisions of senior baseball in the Royal City was decisively proved when the Senior A Fraser Cafe gang downed Trapp Buicks, leaders of the Senior B League, 8 to 0 in an exhibition affair at Queen’s Park. Eddie Olson, who started for the Cafeterians and had the less-experienced Buicks eating out of his hand, retired from his mound duties in the seventh frame and took the hillock decision over Haddie Stoddart.
H. Stoddart (L) and xxx
Olson (W), Dodd (7) and xxx
(July 31) The White Rock crew was bumped from any possibility of entering the New Westminster & District League playoff picture after absorbing a 7 to 1 defeat at the hands of the Fraser Mills nine. The Millmen dominated in all aspects of the game from the pitching of “Blackie” Nevins to the power hitting of shortstop George Kerrigan who hammered two circuit-clouts. Only Jerry Reynolds, who singled three times, showed much spark for the Rockies. Outfielder Ray Williams had another outstanding defensive game for the Sawmillers and stroked a trio of one-baggers as a bonus. Fellow fly chaser Morris Ryan also had three bingles, one of which was a double.
R. Reynolds (L) and Bearisto
Nevins (W) and Brannon
Final Standings * W L Pct.
Fraser Mills 14 7 .667
Fraser Cafe 11 11 .500
White Rock 10 11 .476
* includes inter-league games with teams from Vancouver Senior City League
PLAYOFFS
FINALS
Fraser Cafe vs Fraser Mills (best-of-five series)
(August 2) Fraser Mills drew first blood in the battle for the New Westminster & District League championship while downing Fraser Cafe 7 to 2 at Queen’s Park. The Millmen jumped on losing flinger Eddie Olson for ten bingles which, combined with numerous errors on the part of the Lunchmen, turned the game into a one-sided affair. Winning pitcher Doug Muscutt held the Knife & Forkers scoreless until the seventh canto and wound up with a four-hitter. Shortstop George Kerrigan continued his torrid pace with the bat for the victors, slamming a double and two singles. Teammates Ray Hawkes and catcher Brannon chipped in with a pair of one-baggers each. Aubrey Mounger appeared back in uniform for the Restaurateurs after a short late-season stint with the Everett WA aggregation.
Olson (L) and Buzzard
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
(August 5) The Fraser Cafe nine scored five times in the seventh canto en route to an 8 to 6 victory over Fraser Mills, a win which squared their final series at a game apiece. The Millmen made a valiant comeback attempt in their final turn at bat when, facing a huge hole, they counted a four-spot on a two-out, grand-slam homer by Ray Williams but the rally fell short on a follow-up pop up. Outfielder Sam Crawford led a 13-hit onslaught by the Lunchmen, stroking a triple and two singles.
Shidler (L, Nevins (7) and Brannon
Burgh (W) and Buzzard
(August 8) Abe Cross’ failure to touch third base prior to crossing the plate on George Kerrigan’s two-bagger in the final frame, robbed Fraser Mills of a victory when they were forced to accept a 3 – 3 tie with the Fraser Cafe nine in the third game of their playoff series at Queen’s Park. It was a tight pitching matchup between Eddie Olson and Doug Muscutt with the Mill chucker having a slight advantage, conceding six bingles to his opponent’s eight. Olson gathered three of the six hits allowed by Muscutt while Kerrigan, playing his final game for the Sawmillers before heading to Los Angeles for a tryout with the Pacific Coast League’s Angels, clouted a home run in addition to his two-out double which should have won the game but for Cross’ omission.
Olson and Buzzard
Muscutt and Brannon
(August 9) Timely hitting by the Fraser Mills aggregation and costly errors by the Fraser Cafe nine, gave the Lumbermen the jump in the fourth game of the finals when they defeated the Cafeterians 4 to 1 at Queen’s Park. But for the fatal third inning in which the Lunchmen imploded, the teams might have retired in another deadlock. Winning chucker “Blackie” Nevins held the Eatery nine to six relatively scattered hits and was the beneficiary of three snappy double plays turned in by his infielders . Outfielder Morris Ryan, with the game’s lone extra-base hit, a double, to go along with a one-bagger, led the Millmen at the plate.
Nevins (W) and Brannon
Burgh (L) and Buzzard
(August 13) Fraser Mills won the championship of the New Westminster & District Baseball League and earned the right to meet the Vancouver Firemen in the first round of the provincial playoffs by virtue of their 7 to 4 win over Fraser Cafe in the second game of a doubleheader played at Queen’s Park Stadium. The Lumbermen dropped the early game 4 to 1 which tied up the series.The Cafemen, playing with their backs to the wall, took a third-inning lead in the opener when outfielder Sam Crawford blasted a three-run homer after losing pitcher Doug Muscutt had issued free passes to Eddie Olson and Harry White. The lead was stretched to four in the fifth frame and although the Sawmillers tallied a singleton in the eighth canto, they were never really a threat, being outswatted by an 8 to 4 margin. Crawford later added a one-bagger for a two-hit production. Ray Hawkes added a double and single for the winners, an output equalled by Aubrey Mounger of the Lunchmen. Henry Dodd struck out five in 7 1/3 innings of superb mound work before needing help from the veteran Olson to finish things off.
Dodd (W), Olson (8) and Buzzard
Muscutt (L), Shidler (8) and Brannon
Falling behind 2 to 0 in the opening canto of the finale after dropping the first game didn’t seem to faze the Fraser Mills nine. They calmly chipped away at the deficit and, in the seventh panel, took control of the game by putting up a four-spot on the scoreboard, the big hit of the outburst being a triple by Percy Bolstad, who wound up whaling the horsehide for four safeties. Winning pitcher Harold Shidler was supported well in the field, especially by outfielder Ray Williams who continued to make outstanding catches. Veteran moundsman Eddie Olson of the Restaurateurs, who was tagged with the hillock defeat in a relief role, belted a home run in a losing cause.
Shidler (W) and Brannon
Dodd, Olson (L) (4), Burgh (8) and Buzzard
1927 B.C. SENIOR “A” BASEBALL PROVINCIAL PLAYOFFS
FIRST ROUND
Firemen (Vancouver Senior City League) vs
Fraser Mills (New Westminster & District League)
(Best-of-seven series)
(August 15) The Vancouver Firemen, appearing in the late stages of the game as though they were fatigued after extinguishing those flames from Collingwood, dropped the opener of their provincial playoff match with the Fraser Mills nine out of the New Westminster loop, 9 to 6 at Athletic Park. Out hit by a healthy 13 to 6 margin, the Hose & Ladder squad hung tough throughout the contest and, after trailing for virtually the entire game, plated a three-spot in the eighth panel to tie the score. But their hopes were dashed when three singles and a base on balls allowed three more Lumbermen into the haven in the ninth. Doug Muscutt grabbed the hurling win after 1 2/3 innings of relief work in which he fanned three. Starting chucker “Blackie” Nevins, keystone sacker “Frenchy” Duplin and first sacker Abe Cross each ripped a brace of base blows for the Sawmillers with a three-bagger included in Nevins’ sum of swats. Norm Goodall led the Fire Squelchers with the stick, clubbing a double and a pair of one-baggers while teammate Jimmy Watters was credited with a two-ply clout and a single.
Nevins, Muscutt (W) (8) and Brennon
Craig (L) and Marks
(August 18) Snatching a stinging defeat from the jaws of victory, the Fraser Mills squad of New Westminster let a 5 to 0 lead slip away in the ninth inning and fell prey to the Vancouver Firemen 6 to 5 at Queen’s Park. The second-game result squares the series at a game each. The Millmen had galavanted all around the Hosemen for eight panels until the bats of the Flame Thwarters finally came alive with a resounding crash which brought in four tallies. Arne Miller’s sacrifice then allowed Lorne Foley to cross the plate with the tying marker and Charlie Stevenson scored what proved to be the winner when “Frenchy” Duplin booted winning pitcher George “Lefty” Kaye’s infield grounder. Norm Goodall picked up a double and single for the winners who were out hit 10 to 9. Outfielder Ray Williams nailed a three-run homer for the Frasers.
Kaye (W) and Marks, Goodall
Muscutt, Shidler (L) (9), Nevins (9) and Brannon
(August 20) The smooth-working Fraser Mills baseball aggregation cleaned up on the Vancouver Firemen 8 to 3 before a big crowd at Athletic Park to gain the advantage of one game in their current playoff struggle. The Millmen looked very much like champions, hitting the ball hard and timely, fielding in sensational style and scampering around the bases with abounding speed and skill. Fraser Mills first baseman Abe Cross was very much in his element, poling out a triple and home run. Shortstop Percy Bolstead also shone offensively for the victors, banging out a triple and double. The Firemen kept in the battle by getting runners on base in nearly every round but were unable to touch winning tosser Harold Shidler for any sustained periods except, in the eighth, when they plated all three of their counters.
Shidler (W) and Brannon
Holden (L), Thompson (5) and Goodall
(August 23) A last-inning rally was quickly snuffed out by reliever Doug Muscutt when the Vancouver Firemen fell 7 to 6 to Fraser Mills of the Westminster circuit before a record crowd at Queen’s Park. The Millmen entered the ninth with a comfortable 7 to 4 margin but starting pitcher “Blackie” Nevins walked Jimmy Watters to begin the frame and then surrendered a two-run round-tripper to Norm Goodall which reduced the cushion to a single tally. After tossing two wide ones by Doug May, Nevins was given the hook and Muscutt proceeded to whiff inherited batter May as well as Nick Craig before assisting on the final out, a comebacker by Lorne Foley. Goodall had another two-run circuit-clout in the third canto which gave the Flame Dousers a temporary 2 to 1 lead. Outfielder Bill Maxwell topped the hickory hackers for the winning nine, lacing three bingles. Fellow fly chaser Ray Williams was next in line with a brace of two-baggers. Charlie Stevenson of the Vancouverites accumulated a triad of one-baggers.
Kaye (L) and Marks
Nevins (W), Muscutt (9) and Brannon
(August 25) The Firemen from Vancouver went down fighting, succumbing to the superior play of the smart aggregation of pastimers from Fraser Mills 5 to 3 in another one of those hectic last-round finishes that has characterized the series. The Millmen emerged with a four games to one advantage in taking the series and earning the right to play the Terminal League’s Burnaby entry. The Lumbermen carried the punch in their bats again, outswatting the Hosemen by an 11 to 5 margin. They put together one big round against loser Nick Craig, the fifth, scoring four times on consecutive stinging singles by Ray Hawkes, Dean Freshfield, Abe Cross and Bill Maxwell. Coming to bat in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto two runs in arrears, the Hook & Ladder tribe filled the bases on three walks with one retired which caused the banishment of starting and winning flinger Doug Muscutt in favour of southpaw “Blackie” Nevins. Lorne Foley bounced a slow roller off one of Nevin’s offerings which was clumsily relayed to the plate for a force play. Plate umpire Stern initially signaled safe but immediately afterward waved his right hand, indicating an out. After the ensuing argument was quelled, play resumed with two out and Charlie Stevenson grounded out to end the encounter and the series. Cross paced the Sawmillers offensively, lacing three singles. Catcher Brannon assisted with a brace of one-baggers. Lorne Foley topped the vanquished nine at the dish with a bases-empty homer and a single.
Muscutt (W), Nevins (8) and Brannon
Craig (L) and Marks
Native Sons (Victoria Senior Amateur League) vs
Burnaby (Vancouver Terminal League
(Best-of-three series)
(August 17) Dave Gray, Burnaby’s fast-working right-hander, had a relatively calm workout at Athletic Park when he tamed the Native Sons, pride of Victoria baseball circles, 11 to 4 in the opener of their B. C. playoff showdown. Gray handcuffed the Sons on four hits while whiffing six. The Capital City nine never got going and provided dismal defensive support for losing chucker Dan Lidstone. The Suburbanites jumped into a 4 to 0 first-inning lead and continued to add to their cushion throughout the one-sided contest. Gray was no slouch with the lumber as he pummeled the pill for four base knocks in support of his mound toiling. Teammates Olson and Moore followed with a double and two singles each while keystone sacker Young smashed a two-run circuit-jack. Fly chaser Stanyer led the Sons offensively with a two safeties.
Lidstone (L) and Bacon
Gray (W) and Syrotuck
(August 20) With veteran hurler and playing-manager Dave Gray coming to the rescue in the sixth round, Burnaby of the Vancouver Terminal League hung on to edge the Victoria Native Sons 10 to 9 to sweep their playoff series in two straight games. The contest was very much a slugfest with the visiting Burnabyites clouting out 15 safeties to eight for the Canadians. Three circuit-smashes were launched during the proceedings with Burnaby’s Don McLean slugging the most significant, a grand-slam dinger in the fourth panel. George Syrotuck of the winners and Victoria fly chaser Stanyer also clouted four-baggers. Burnaby will now face the winner of the Vancouver Firemen- Fraser Mills series.
Diebolt, Gray (W) (6) and Warren
Parfitt (L) and Bacon
SECOND ROUND
Burnaby (Vancouver Terminal League) vs
Fraser Mills (New Westminster & District League) (
Best-of-five series)
(August 27) Fraser Mills cashed in on a couple of critical errors to push over three unearned counters and shutout Burnaby 3 to 0 at Athletic Park in the first game of their semi-final round. The Burnaby aggregation proved to be a much tougher opponent than many expected. They cracked the offerings of winning pitcher Doug Muscutt hard at times, getting seven bingles and being robbed by some fancy fielding of likely-looking hits. Twice the victors cut off Burnaby rallies in-the-making by smart double plays. Losing chucker Dave Gray gave the victors difficulty but grooved too many pitches after going ahead in the count rather than enticing batters to chase. He was nicked for ten hits, four off the bat of Ray Hawkes, while fanning eight. He did not issue a walk. Hawkes’ swat total included a pair of two-baggers. The final result has been challenged by Burnaby after one of their base runners, outfielder Crompton, was erroneously called out at second base after a balk had been called against Muscutt of the Millmen.
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Gray (L) and Warren
(August 30) The Vancouver Sun reported that the result of the opening game between Fraser Mills and Burnaby, an apparent 3 to 0 victory for the Millmen, had been thrown out by the playoff committee, upholding the Burnaby protest that once a balk is called, the ball is dead and no other play can be made under the circumstances.
(August 30) Burnaby roughed up Fraser Mills starting pitcher “Blackie” Nevins for six hits and three runs in the first inning and a third and went on to capture a 3 to 1 triumph in a replay of the opening game of the provincial semi-final series. The contest, played in a drizzling rain at Queen’s Park Stadium in New Westminster, was abbreviated to six innings. Both contingents racked up seven safeties with backstop Brannon of the Sawmillers showing up best with the bludgeon, ripping a pair of doubles. Shortstop George Syrotuck singled twice for the victors.
Gray (W) and Warren
Nevins (L), Muscutt (2) and Brannon
(September 1) Fraser Mills evened up their playoff series with Burnaby, taking a 7 to 3 decision from the Suburbanites at Athletic Park. Both squads stung the sphere for nine base blows but the Millmen were more effective in bunching their bingles, lighting up Dave Gray, he of loose arms and willowy hands, for enough safe raps to tally three in the opening stanza. It was the same story in the fourth panel as the Lumbermen got to Gray for a quartette of markers, two of which were the result of catcher Brannon’s four-ply clout. Winning tosser Doug Muscutt had a slight edge over Gray in the strikeout department, registering six to Gray’s five. Ray Hawkes of the winners and Gray both nicked the orb for three safeties with a double included in the latter’s sum of swats.
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Gray (L) and Warren
(September 2) One big round with the bludgeon proved enough to give Fraser Mills a well-earned 4 to 0 victory and a one-game margin over Burnaby at Athletic Park. Surprise starting pitcher Ray Hawkes of the Millmen got off to a wobbly start when he filled the sacks with one down in the opening canto but dug himself out of that hole by fanning the next two batters. After that, he settled down and finished with a three-hitter and 11 strikeouts. Outside of the fourth panel when the Frasers dropped five clean bingles into safe places and plated all of their four markers, losing chucker Johnny “Lefty” Diebolt kept the winners off the scoreboard. Percy Bolstead, catcher Brannon and Bill Maxwell each had two of the eight base knocks garnered by the Westminster champions while outfielder Eddie Trayling equalled that feat for the Terminal Leaguers.
Diebolt (L) and Warren
Hawkes (W) and Brannon
(September 3) Fraser Mills reached the final stage of the B.C.A.B.A. senior A playoffs by blanking Burnaby 5 to 0. The Millmen concentrated their attack in the last frame when they scored four times to clinch the game which was a hard-fought mound joust between Doug Muscutt and Dave Gray. The Lumbermen out hit the Suburbanites by a 7 to 5 margin. Shortstop Percy Bolstead led the winners at the dish with a double and single. As well, he stole two bases in succession in the eighth frame.
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Gray (L) and Warren
FINALS
Rossland Miners (West Kootenay League) vs
Fraser Mills (New Westminster & District League)
(Best-of-five series)
(September 5) The Fraser Mills pastimers, who have shown a faculty of doing most of their stuff in one frame, picked on the lucky seventh to score four runs after being held scoreless for six rounds. The outburst was more than sufficient to claim a 4 to 1 victory over the Rossland Miners, defending Senior A baseball champions, in the first clash of their best-three-out-of-five showdown at Athletic Park. Fate was rather kind to the Mainlanders as they plated their quartette of counters just prior to a heavy rain storm breaking which prevented further hostilities. Batters, for the most part, were held in check as both contingents were limited to five safeties. Husky portsider “Blackie” Nevins, who went the route on the knoll for the Millmen, broke up the game in the seventh with a slashing bases-loaded single, his second base knock of the contest, which drove in a pair. Fortunately for the Westminster champions, on the same play the Rossland fielders, fighting the precipitation, tossed the ball around on relay pegs so ineptly that the bases were cleared and Nevins wound up tallying.
Cobain (L), McKenzie (7) and Joe Ferko
Nevins (W) and Brannon
(September 7) A brutal defensive performance by the Fraser Mills nine contributed to their 6 to 5 defeat by the Rossland Miners in the second game of the provincial finals. The West Kootenay champions hit the ball hard, accumulating ten safeties off the slants of losing flinger Doug Muscutt, but were aided in tying up the series with a half dozen infield miscues by the Sawmillers. Highly-touted twister Don McKenzie was nicked for eight safeties in grabbing the hillock triumph. Outfielder F. Cosgriff slashed three one-baggers for the victors while teammates Leo Burke and Bill Molisky each creamed the apple for a brace of knocks. Included in Burke’s total as a three-bagger while Molisky was credited with a double in his sum of swats. Keystone sacker “Frenchy” Duplin tripled and singled for the vanquished nine. Burke was spectacular in the middle garden for the Kootenayites, spearing no less than six flies of which two or three were of the outstanding variety.
Muscutt (L) and Brannon
McKenzie (W) and Joe Ferko
(September 9) Shortstop Herb Rotchford, cleanup hitter for the Rossland Miners, greeted reliever Doug Muscutt with a two-run bases-loaded single in the eighth canto, a blow which tied the contest and paved the way for the Golden City nine to complete a 5 to 4 comeback victory over Fraser Mills. Muscutt then surrendered a second one-bagger, allowing another inherited runner to plate the winner. In arrears 4 to 0 after three innings were in the books, the Miners stayed the course and cut the deficit to a pair after starting tosser “Blackie” Nevins of the Lumbermen began to noticeably weaken in the seventh. The Rosslanders with eight safeties, doubled the total acquired by the Millmen. Catcher Joe Ferko and first sacker Don McKenzie led the West Kootenay invaders with the baton, each cracking out a trio of base swats. McKenzie’s third bingle of the contest drove in the winning counter. The Miners committed six errors but were able to ride the storm behind winning flinger “Skid” Marsters who limited the Fraser Mills squad to four safeties. The narrow win puts the Mining Towners on the cusp of repeating as B. C. champions.
Marsters (W), Laird (9) and Joe Ferko
Nevins (L), Muscutt (8) and Brannon
(September 10) Cleaning up the baseball pastimers from Fraser Mills in artistic style, the Rossland Miners romped off with the Senior A baseball championship of the province for the second year in succession when they took the fourth game of the series 8 to 4 before a large crowd at Vancouver’s Athletic Park. The clean-cut victory gave the Rossland crew three out of four games and proved beyond all doubt that they were the superior team. They showed more power with the bat and were better fortified with pitchers. Portsider Harry Cobain did the hurling for the champions in the finale, surrendering eight safeties. He found himself in a jam from time to time but was able to pitch his way out in every round except for the seventh when the Westminster champs showed their last fight and scored three times. Short on pitching, Fraser Mills was forced to use regular outfielder Ray Hawkes on the hill after starter “Blackie” Nevins was derricked to the showers during a five-run Rossland uprising in the second panel. Herb Rotchford of the winners and Abe Cross of the Sawmillers both registered three hits for their respective squads. Cobain and Leo Burke of the Mountainmen delivered solid three-base blows to go along with a one-bagger.
Nevins (L), Hawkes (2) and Brannon
Cobain (W) and Pratt, Joe Ferko
1927 SENIOR “B” BASEBALL
Senior “B” level baseball continued to make great strides within British Columbia during the 1927 season. More leagues and teams than ever appeared, especially in the lower mainland of the province.
When it came to the provincial playdowns, the original plan was to declare a champion from the bountiful number of leagues/teams in the Lower Mainland and have that representative face the Vancouver Island champion, the winner then to play the Interior titlist for the B. C. senior “B” crown.
A serious outbreak of infantile paralysis within the interior of the province curtailed the proposed Interior final series between the Mainline champion from Enderby and the Trail Shieks, West Kootenay League titleholder, which was to have been a provincial semi-final. With those two teams quarantined and unable to compete any further, the provincial finals reverted to a best-of-three series between the Mid-Island League champs, the Nanaimo Eagles, and the North Shore League victor, the Squamish Indians.
* League champion
Delta Baseball League - Abbotsford, Ladner, Langley Prairie, White Rock *
Dewdney Baseball League - Coquitlam, Hammond, Port Haney *, Port Moody
Fraser Valley Baseball League - Agassiz *, Chilliwack, Sardis
Goulding Baseball League - B. C. Commercial School, Cancos *, Cardinals, Kingsway Athletics, St. Pats, Woodwards
Mainline Baseball League - Enderby *, Kamloops, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm
Mid-Island Baseball League - Alberni Elks, Nanaimo Eagles *, Timberlands
New Westminster Senior B Baseball League - Elks, St. Andrews, Trapp Buicks *
North Shore Baseball League - Elks, Native Sons, Squamish Indians *, West Vancouver
Point Grey Senior B Baseball League - Dunbar, Heather Park, Kerrisdale *, Marpole, West Point Grey
South Vancouver Senior B Baseball League - Army & Navy, Burnaby Athletic Club, Collingwood Theatre *,Native Sons, Regent Theatre, Victoria Theatre
Vancouver Senior B City Baseball League - Hudson’s Bay, Mount Pleasant Retailers, Rat Portage Lumber, St. Andrews Excelsiors *, St. Augustines Stags
West Kootenay Senior B Baseball League - Nelson Fairviews, Trail Sheiks *, Ymir
1927 B. C. SENIOR “B” BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
PRELIMINARY LOWER MAINLAND PLAYDOWNS
First Round
Squamish Indians (North Shore League) defeated Cancos (Goulding League) 8-1, 6-1
Kerrisdale (Point Grey League) beat Collingwood Theatre (South Vancouver League) 1-9, 8-8, 9-4, 9-7
Port Haney (Dewdney League) eliminated Trapp’s Buicks (New Westminster League) 1-11, 3-0, 10-3
White Rock (Delta League) knocked out Agassiz (Fraser Valley League) 14-2, 8-0
Bye – St. Andrews Excelsiors (Vancouver Senior B City League)
Second Round
Squamish Indians (North Shore League) eliminated St. Andrews Excelsiors (Vancouver Senior B City League) 10-4, 6-2
Port Haney (Dewdney League) defeated White Rock (Delta League) 1-0, 3-2
Bye – Kerrisdale (Point Grey League)
Third Round
Squamish Indians (North Shore League) knocked out Kerrisdale (Point Grey League) 12-1, 0-2, 12-0
Bye – Port Haney (Dewdney League)
Fourth Round (semi-finals)
SEMI-FINAL SERIES #1
Squamish Indians (North Shore League) vs Port Haney (Dewdney League)
Best-of-three series
(September 8) Willie Gallagher tossed a four-hitter and rang up 18 strikeouts in pitching the hosting Squamish Indians of the North Shore Baseball League to a narrow 3 to 2 victory over Port Haney of the Dewdney Baseball League in the opening game of the B. C. Senior “B” baseball semi-finals before 1,200 fans at Mahon Park. Both Gallagher and losing pitcher Bill Minty went the route on the rubber with Minty allowing seven bingles and whiffing three. Trailing 2 to 1 as they came to bat in the last half of the sixth frame, Squamish engineered a comeback on back-to-back two baggers by Moses Josephs and Gallagher which tied the game and then a single by Joe Gallagher which drove in the ultimate winner.
Minty (L) and T. Telosky
W. Gallagher (W) and R. Baker
(September 13) The Squamish Indians won their way into the provincial Senior “B” baseball finals by decimating the Port Haney nine 14 to 0. Willie Gallagher, the Indians’ star hurler, held Port Haney to a lone scratch hit. The winners picked up 13 base knocks with Gus Band collecting three while Tony Manson, Ray Baker, Joe Gallagher and D. Baker each grabbed a pair.
W. Gallagher (W) and R. Baker
Minty (L), F. Muskett (2), George (6) and T. Telosky
SEMI-FINAL SERIES #2
The Vancouver Island champion Nanaimo Eagles advanced directly to a berth in the B. C. finals with the cancellation of the Trail (West Kootenay League) vs Enderby (Mainline League) playoff series which was cancelled because of an outbreak of Infantile Paralysis and resulting quarantine in the interior of province. The Interior winner was to have gained a spot in the B. C. final series.
Championship Round
Squamish Indians (North Shore League) vs Nanaimo Eagles (Mid-Island League)
Best-of-three series
(September 17) The Squamish Indians of the North Shore circuit, lower mainland winners, plated six first-inning counters to drub the invading Vancouver Island champion Nanaimo Eagles 14 to 10 at Vancouver’s Athletic Park in the opening match of the B. C. senior “B” baseball finals. The free-hitting game was unexpected, considering the reputation of the two starting pitchers. Even though he was lit up for 11 bingles, winning heaver Willie Gallagher managed to punch out a dozen Nanaimo batters. Joe Gallagher of the Tribe had three of his team’s 15 safeties, two doubles and a single.
Gailus (L), Rice (4) and Brown
W. Gallagher (W) and R. Baker
(September 18) The Nanaimo Eagles captured the Senior “B” baseball championship of the province when they defeated the Squamish Indians in back-to-back games at the Central Sports ground in the coal-mining town by identical scores of 2 to 1. Nanaimo’s Hank Gailus and Willie Gallagher of Squamish pitched two full complete games for their respective squads and, in Gallagher’s case, after going the route in the matinee tussle in Vancouver just a day previous. The games were so close that the result depended upon the last inning of the last game. Ernie Edmund’s ninth-inning sacrifice fly drove in Zaccarelli with the winning counter.
W. Gallagher (L) and R. Baker
Gailus (W) and Brown
Gailus (W) and Brown
W. Gallagher (L) and R. Baker