1928 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1928 BC Interior
1928 Vancouver Island
VANCOUVER SENIOR CITY LEAGUE
The Generals, sponsored by General Gas, replaced the Collingwood club of the previous season and represented south Vancouver in the 1928 circuit.
Asahis, Firemen, Generals, Vancouver Athletic Club (V.A.C.)
Inter-league games with the Fraser Cafe and Fraser Mills teams of New Westminster formed a regular part of the 1928 schedule.
(April 25) What must have sounded like a three-alarm fire to Generals’ chucker Camille “Lefty” Delcourt, netted the Firemen five runs in the top of the seventh frame as the Hose & Ladder Crew erased a 3 to 2 deficit and romped to a 7 to 3 win in the Vancouver Senior City Baseball League opener. Winning tosser Nick Craig whiffed 10 while limiting the Smoke Squelchers to just three hits. Jimmy Watters slugged a brace of four-baggers for the victors, a solo shot in the sixth and a bases-loaded blast in the seventh when the Hosemen put the game on ice. Craig had a double and single in support of his mound effort.
Craig (W) and Telosky
Delcourt (L) and McLean
(April 28) The Vancouver Athletic Club band of baseballers handed the defending champion Firemen their first defeat of the young season by taking an 8 to 2 verdict from the Fire Eaters in the opening game of a league double-bill. The second contest saw the Generals capture an uphill battle from the Asahis 5 to 4 in twelve rounds of torrid pastiming. The Vacs had the upper hand in the matinee contest because they played pretty sound baseball behind the effective hurling of Hal Puder. Charlie Miron had his usual brace of safeties for the victors while Arne Miller of the Hosemen was credited with a freak home run in the last frame.
Puder (W) and xxx
Kaye (L) and xxx
Jack Cranstoun’s second run-scoring hit drove in the tying marker for the Generals in the late encounter, sending the game to overtime. Losing flinger Roy Nishidera toiled all 12 rounds for the Asahis, finally weakening in the bottom of that fateful final frame when he walked ultimate winning chucker Camille “Lefty” Delcourt to begin the inning. Murray Lovely’s long single followed and moved Delcourt to third base from where he plated the winning counter on outfielder Bartlett’s one-bagger.
Nishidera (L) and xxx
Barlow, Esplen (4), Delcourt (W) (12) and xxx
(May 2) V.A.C. pitcher Bill Richardson, strikeout king of the Terminal League last season, making his debut in the Senior City baseball circuit, stood the Asahis on their heads with his splendid assortment of benders, when he shut them out 6 to 0. The Nippons gathered only three hits off the young hurler, two of them coming in the opening round and one in the last frame. Thirteen of the Nipponese nine were retired on third strikes and not one got past second base. Losing twirler Ty Suga was touched for just six safeties but ran into trouble in the first and fifth stanzas when his support slipped badly. Third baseman Art Morse did the most damage with the stick for the victors, slamming a triple and single.
Suga (L) and R. Yasui
Richardson (W) and Bearisto
(May 4) In spite of holding the Asahis hitless, Camille “Lefty” Delcourt of the Generals suffered a mound setback when the Nippons outsmarted the Gasmen 3 to 1 in an exciting contest at Athletic Park. It was the first victory of the season for the Asahis and they gained the verdict through some daring base running and well-executed team plays. All three of their runs were squeezed across the plate as a result of some nifty bunting after batters reached base through free passes or errors. George Tanaka, the one-handed marvel who fields without a glove, made his mound debut in the Senior City circuit and had the Commanders pretty well subdued all the way with his tantalizing curves. The defensive support he received from his mates was also outstanding, especially in the case of shortstop Roy Yamamura who handled six chances flawlessly.
Delcourt (L) and xxx
Tanaka (W) and xxx
(May 6) The Fraser Mills team out of New Westminster opened their home season with a 4 to 3 win over the Firemen in the first inter-league match of the 1928 campaign. Although outhit 10 to 6, the Lumbermen led from the second inning on after briefly falling behind 1 to 0. The Hose & Ladder nine had difficulty hitting in the clutch and stranded 11 base runners. Outfielder Ryan of the Millmen was their top lumber slinger, gathering a double and single.
Craig (L) and Richardson
Lebar (W), Komp (4) and Cooper
(May 7) The first-place Vacs continued to run roughshod over Senior City League opposition when they blanked the defending champion Firemen 3 to 0 at Athletic Park. Winning pitcher Dave Scott had his lefthanded benders working well in posting seven strikeouts while issuing three hits. The Red Caps had only a 1 to 0 lead until the final frame when they scored a pair to seal the deal on consecutive singles by Hec Cann, Art Morse and Charlie Miron which were preceded by Scott’s triple. Miron was the top swatter in the clash, spanking the horsehide for a triple and one-bagger.
Scott (W) and Whyte
Holden (L) and Richardson
(May 8) The Firemen dropped the Asahis 3 to 1 in a light-hitting affair at Athletic Park. The Nippons were weak with the willow and mustered up only three bingles, two of which were of the infield variety, off winning pitcher Lorne Thompson. Outfielder Bailey had a triple and a single for the Hosemen and added a brace of stolen bases. The highlight of the game occurred when Thompson, working from the stretch, made a snap throw to catch fleet-footed Asahi shortstop Roy Yamamura between second and third base. The ensuing rundown saw six of the defensive Flame Fighters join in the lengthy hot-box pursuit of Yamamura only to see outfielder Norm Goodall, who had joined his exhausted teammates in the chase, throw low to the keystone sack, allowing Yamamura to elude the attempted tag.
Nishidera (L) and R. Yasui
Thompson (W) and Richardson
(May 8) The Generals invaded the Royal City and came away with a 6 to 4 triumph over the hosting Fraser Cafe nine in inter-league action. Falling behind early, the Gasmen knotted the count and went ahead to stay in the fifth frame. Shortstop “Babs” Johnston of the Commanders smashed a four-bagger and a triple to lead all swatters. Dean Freshfield tripled and singled for the Cafemen.
Mills (W), Delcourt (8) and Kasmer
Dodd (L), Olson (6) and Larson
(May 9) Pitcher Joe Dailey’s inside-the-park grand slam homer propelled the New Westminster Fraser Mills baseballers to a 4 to 3 victory over the previously unbeaten Vancouver Athletic Club diamondeers at Athletic Park. The Red Caps had taken a 3 to 0 first-inning lead before Dailey went to work and blanked them the rest of the way on one hit. Shortstop Duckwitz of the Lumbermen and Charlie Miron of the Vacs both had a pair of one-baggers. V.A.C. short patcher Teeters blasted a solo four-ply swat.
Dailey (W) and Cooper
Richardson (L) and Bearisto
(May 10) Flashing excellent control and playing to each batter’s weakness, Baden “Babe” Esplen dazzled the Firemen with a two-hit whitewashing in leading the Generals to a 3 to 0 shutout of the Hosemen. Second sacker Alva Sibbett led the Commanders offensively, stroking three singles.
Esplen (W) and McLean
Kaye (L) and xxx
(May 11) The scrappy Generals, held scoreless for the first five innings, fought back from a 4 to 0 deficit to gain a 4 – 4 tie with the Vacs at Athletic Park. There was plenty of loose baseball in this tilt as each team booted the ball three times, often on wild throws. The Red Caps held a slight 7 to 6 margin in base hits with outfielders Charlie Miron and Coley Hall leading the way with a couple of raps each.
Delcourt, McArthur (4), Esplen (7) and Kasmer, McLean
Straight, Puder (7) and Whyte
(May 12) With the Asahis springing a surprise to take a 3 to 1 verdict from the Vancouver Athletic Club diamondeers and the Firemen snatching a last-minute 4 to 2 decision from the Generals, the large crowd at Athletic Park were treated to a double-barrelled bill of pastiming, chock-full of interest.
Behind the capable hurling of George Tanaka, their one-handed moundsman, the Nippons played gilt-edged ball to humble the Vacs in the opener. Tanaka allowed but five hits and kept them well scattered. Frank Nakamura’s scratchy two-bagger drove in a brace of markers for the winners in bottom of the fourth frame. The game was full of fielding features with Eddie Kitigawa in the middle pasture for the Asahis pulling off the most hair-raising catch of the season.
Bourne (L) and xxx
Tanaka (W) and xxx
Ragged baserunning and a switch in hurlers late in the game, which backfired, cost the Generals their embroglio with the Fire Fighters. The usually reliable “Babe” Esplen was ineffective in a relief role, walking three batters, allowing a single and a sacrifice fly as he let a tie game slip away.
xxx (W) and xxx
C. Mills (L), Esplen (7) and xxx
(May 13) The Asahis took a 13-inning struggle from the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster in an inter-league game played in the Royal City, the final score being 3 to 2. The Nippons held a 2 to 1 lead throughout most of the game until pinch-hitter “Scotty” Lee of the Lunchmen homered in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into overtime. In the fourth extra frame, “Sally” Nakamura led off for the Asahis with a single. “Mickey” Sato then stepped to the plate and whaled the apple into the leftfield corner for a two-bagger as Nakamura sped home with the winning marker.
Nishidera, Suga (W) (12) and xxx
Dodd, Olson (L) and xxx
(May 14) The Fraser Cafe baseball pastimers from New Westminster, making their season’s debut at Athletic Park, dropped a one-sided 6 to 0 verdict to the Firemen. George Sikora limited the Cafemen to five hits and fanned six in posting the shutout victory. Nick Craig had three hits for the winners, one of which was a double. Second baseman Charlie Stevenson displayed the most power, bashing a triple and a two-bagger. Abe Cross singled twice for the Royal City tribe.
Moffatt (L) and Maxwell
Sikora (W) and Richardson
(May 15) New Westminster’s Fraser Mills nine jumped all over losing flinger Dave Scott for eight runs in the first four innings and breezed to a 9 to 2 thumping of the visiting V.A.C. aggregation in inter-league action at Queen’s Park. Dave Gray, on the mound for the Millmen, pitched a steady game, allowing five scattered hits while retiring seven batters by the strikeout route. The fourth frame was the deciding canto in the contest and saw the Lumbermen send ten batters to the plate, six of which eventually touched home. First sacker Barrett’s bases-loaded double accounted for half of those counters. Shortstop Duckwitz with three hits and Ray Hawkes with a brace of safeties were the big stickers for the Mills Gang.
Scott (L), Teeters (5) and Whyte
Gray (W) and xxx
(May 16) Playing tight defensive ball, the Asahis held the battling Generals to a 1 – 1 tie in a game that was terminated after eight innings of exciting action. The Commanders piled up seven hits to just two for the Nippons. Jack Cranstoun carried off the hitting honors with three safe bingles. Shortstop “Babs” Johnston’s single in the opening panel drove in Johnny Nestman with the Generals’ counter. The Asahis did not get the tying marker across until the sixth frame when Ty Suga, a runner on third base, successfully avoided being tagged out at the hot corner on successive pitchouts by opposing chucker Bartlett with an expected bunt from batter Frank Nakamura in the works. Nakamura eventually got a pitch on which to make contact and executed a squeeze bunt to perfection, allowing Suga to score, despite the fact that the entire infield of the Gasmen was virtually on top of him in an attempt to foil the play.
Suga and R. Yasui
Bartlett and McLean
(May 17) The slumping Vacs continued their downward spiral when the Firemen laid a 9 to 1 thrashing on them at Athletic Park. The Hosemen settled the affair in the opening round when they scored seven runs. Nick Craig allowed five scattered bingles to grab the mound decision. The Smoke Squelchers lit up loser Bill Richardson and a pair of relievers for ten base knocks with outfielder Cameron “Peggy” Duff leading the way, spanking the sphere for a triad of raps.
B. Richardson (L), Puder (1), Straight (5) and Whyte
Craig (W) and H. Richardson
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 6 4 .600
V.A.C. 4 4 .500
Generals 3 4 .429
Asahis 3 4 .429
* includes wins and losses against Fraser Cafe and Fraser Mills of New Westminster
(May 18) Two runs were enough to give the Vacs a one-run victory over the light-hitting Asahis and the 2 to 1 victory for the Red Caps kept them right in the race for top spot in the Senior City League after a bad slump. The Nippons lacked the punch against the speedball pitching of Hal Puder and had to be satisfied with one lone tally in the fourth which they secured, as usual, without the help of a hit. The V.A.C. aggregation took advantage of Asahi chucker George Tanaka’s disability, bunting against the one-handed marvel in the bottom of the fourth, eventually plating their pair of tallies on a triple by Coley Hall and Pat Worley’s single.
Tanaka (L), Suga (4) and xxx
Puder (W) and xxx
(May 18) “Scotty” Lee, star twister of New Westminster’s Fraser Cafe nine, added another scalp to his belt when he held the Firemen to four lonely bingles, whitewashing the Flame Fighters 4 to 0 in inter-league play at Queen’s Park. Shortstop Schofield pounded a home run and single for the winners. Catcher Ollie Larson poked a double and one-bagger while teammate Abe Cross singled on two occasions. Harry Richardson was the big man with the bludgeon for the Hose & Ladder Crew, producing a double and a single.
Holden (L) and Richardson
Lee (W) and Larson
(May 19) The Generals put away a sweet victory over the fast-stepping Fraser Mills nine from New Westminster when they plated three ninth-inning counters to nose out the Millmen 6 to 5. The Lumbermen had jumped out in front in the third inning and had led throughout the game, sporting a two-run cushion as the Gasmen came to bat in the bottom of the last stanza. Baden “Babe” Esplen was chiefly responsible for the Generals’ victory. He pitched steady ball and only weak support in the early frames kept him in trouble. He also contributed a triple plus a clutch run-scoring single in the ninth which plated the tying marker. Bill Brown, second baseman for Fraser Mills, pounded four hits in five visits to the plate.
Muscutt, Lebar (8), Gray (L) (9), Dailey (9) and xxx
Esplen (W) and xxx
(May 21) Three scattered blows were the limit of the V.A.C. fence-busters as they were stymied by the left-handed slants of House of David tosser Gilbert in a game in which the long-haired barnstormers won 5 to 2. It was the opener of an exhibition series in Vancouver. A big four-run third inning put the visitors out in front to stay. Outfielder Pedersen had three safe clouts for the Vagabonds. Both of the Red Caps’ runs came as a result of passed balls.
Gilbert (W) and Reed
Scott (L) and Whyte
(May 22) The touring House of David baseballers waltzed to an easy 9 to 2 cuffing of the Generals in an exhibition tilt at Athletic Park. In toppling the Commanders, the Bearded tribe gained particular revenge on losing chucker Clare Mills who blanked them without a run or a hit on their visit to Vancouver in 1927. Stockily-built hurler Zediker of the Davids set the Gasmen down on five hits, three of which were collected by shortstop “Babs” Johnston including a home run. Second baseman Atherton picked up three solid blows for the winners.
Zediker (W) and Kendall
Mills (L), Bartlett (7) and McLean
(May 22) Fraser Mills of New Westminster defeated the Asahis 6 to 2 in an inter-league game at Queen’s Park. The Lumbermen collected two runs in the second inning and broke the game open with a three-spot in the third. Dave Gray hurled for the Millmen and, while he allowed eight bingles, was only in trouble in the fourth inning. Ty Suga went the route for the Nippons and was nicked for 13 safeties including three doubles, a couple of triples and a home run by Royal City second baseman Bill Brown. Outfielder Ray Williams was high man with the bludgeon for the Mills troupe with a double and two singles.
Suga (L) and R. Yasui
Gray (W) and Cooper
(May 24) The University of Washington Huskies took both ends of a double-bill in the opening games of an exhibition series with Vancouver senior aggregations. In the morning game, the Collegians staged a rally in the last round to score twice and nose out V.A.C. 3 to 2. Playing in the afternoon affair, the Asahis, trailing 10 to 2, made a belated comeback attempt which just fell short as the Huskies prevailed 10 to 9.
Nevins (W) and xxx
Richardson (L) and Whyte
Nishidera (L) and xxx
Horning (W), Nevins (9) and xxx
(May 25) The slugging Generals handed the University of Washington Huskies a 10 to 1 trimming in the Varsity squad’s third exhibition match in Vancouver. The Students collected only three hits off the lefthanded servings of winning tosser Bartlett. First baseman Jimmy Condon paced the Commanders with the lumber, cracking a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Kirner (L), Horning (4) and Brannon, McKenzie
Bartlett (W) and Kasmer
(May 26) The Firemen suffered a 6 to 0 exhibition game shutout at the hands of the University of Washington Huskies in the opener of an Athletic Park double-bill. The finale saw the V.A.C. aggregation slip down into second place in the Senior City loop when they were nosed out 4 to 3 by the Asahis in an extra-inning thriller.
The Washington Varsity - Firemen game was a rather dull one except for the gilt-edged work of Jerry Colhoun, the star hurler of the Huskies. Colhoun allowed only four widely-scattered raps and not a Firemen got beyond second base.
Colhoun (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
The Asahi – V.A.C. squabble produced a bushel of thrills in its closing stages and the issue was in doubt right up until the final out. George Kato’s squeeze bunt had allowed Eddie Kitigawa to score from third with the tying marker in the sixth after which starting pitchers Hal Puder of the Red Caps and the Nippons’ Ty Suga tightened up for the remainder of regulation time, sending the fracas into overtime. After the first two Asahi batters had been retired, Tom Matoba reached the keystone sack on a two-base error and scored on Suga’s single with the assistance of catcher Bearisto’s juggling of the throw to the plate which had also allowed Suga to reach second base. Oblivious to Suga’s activity, Bearisto tossed the ball to Puder and it rolled around loose while the Asahi pitcher dashed for third. Puder then retrieved the ball and heaved it toward the hot corner only too late to realize that no infielder was covering the bag as Suga romped home with what would prove to be the winning run. In the bottom half of the panel, Ernie Paepke slapped a one-out pinch-hit single which was followed by Syd Whyte’s one-bagger which sent Paepke to third. He scored when Matoba juggled Puder’s grounder while Whyte took second. Reliever George Tanaka enticed Hec Cann to hit into a fielder’s choice with Puder being forced out at second and with Whyte advancing to third. Cann and Whyte then attempted a delayed double steal but catcher Reg Yasui’s laser to second was cut-off by shortstop Roy Yamamura who whipped the ball to third base, trapping Whyte for the final out. It was a wild finish and the crowd was in a frenzy.
Suga (W), Tanaka (9) and R. Yasui
Puder (L) and Bearisto
(May 29) The Generals gained a 1 – 1 tie with the Asahis by scoring a single counter in the seventh frame. It was a light-hitting contest all the way with the Nippons taking a one-run lead in the fourth canto on catcher Reg Yasui’s artistic bunt which pushed “Mickey” Sato across the platter. The Gens knotted the count in the seventh after “Babs” Johnston tripled and was driven home on a single by outfielder H. Lovely. Nary a hitter from either side was able to secure more than a lone safety.
Esplen and McLean
Nishidera and R. Yasui
(May 30) The Firemen snuffed out the visiting New Westminster Fraser Mills squad 2 to 0 in a snappy, well-played exhibition of baseball at Athletic Park. Complete game hurlers Nick Craig of the Hosemen and the Royal City’s Joe Dailey both pitched well with little difference in their relative mound performances. Craig limited the Lumbermen to three safeties while Dailey was touched for four bingles with triples by Cameron “Peggy” Duff and third baseman Doug May doing most of the damage. Duff wound up as the contest’s leading swatter, adding a single to his three-bagger.
Dailey (L) and Cooper
Craig (W) and Richardson
(June 2) Fraser Cafe of New Westminster and the Firemen grabbed victories in doubleheader action at Athletic Park. The curtain raiser, an inter-league affair, saw the Lunchmen taking the measure of the Generals 3 to 1 while the Flame Quenchers shutout the V.A.C. diamondeers 2 to 0 in the finale.
Eddie Olson hurled a fine four-hitter for the Knife & Forkers in the opener while losing flinger Camille “Lefty” Delcourt was nicked freely and only solid defensive support kept the count against him at a low mark. Catcher Ollie Larson belted a two-run dinger for the Royal City nine in the second frame. Larson finished with two hits as did teammate Abe Cross and second baseman Alva Sibbett of the Gasmen.
Olson (W) and Larson
Delcourt (L) and McLean
George Sikora, tossing for the Firemen, held the Red Caps in the palm of his pitching hand in going the route in the late game, yielding but five safeties. Loser Dave Scott, on the other hand, was decidedly erratic despite the fact that he fanned six. Two singles, outfielder Bailey’s double and a fielder’s choice were responsible for the Fire Fighters’ initial counter in the third. They got one more in the fifth on ”Peggy” Duff’s triple followed by Nick Craig’s second single of the game. Keystone sacker Hec Cann laced two singles for the Vacs.
Sikora (W) and Richardson
Scott (L) and Whyte
(June 3) The New Westminster Fraser Cafe nine, playing errorless ball behind the heady chucking of “Lefty” Moffatt, registered their fourth straight win when they defeated the V.A.C. troupe 4 to 1 in an inter-city contest. Third basemen Dean Freshfield got the winners off on the right foot when he smacked a first-inning homer off Bill Richardson. The Vacs evened things up in the second when Coley Hall tripled and was driven in on Hec Cann’s one-bagger. The Restaurateurs added two more in the third on an RBI single by Abe Cross and an error by first baseman Hall. Moffat scored the final run of the game in the seventh canto on an infield overthrow. The Lunchmen played flawlessly on defense while the Red Caps wasted a solid pitching performance by Richardson, committing four errors behind him. Cann had a double to go along with his single. Cross registered a brace of one-baggers for the Cafemen, the same output achieved by third sacker Teeters of the Vacs.
Richardson (L) and Whyte
Moffatt (W) and Larson
(June 4) The Fraser Mills diamond pastimers from New Westminster outscored the shifty Asahis 4 to 3 at Athletic Park. The winners were staked to an early lead on newcomer Joe Hebert’s two-run triple in the opening canto, a margin which increased to three runs when Hebert crossed the plate on a muffed throw from “Mickey” Sato in the Asahi outfield. After the Nippons tied things up with a three-spot in the third canto, Fraser Mills plated the winning tally in the sixth panel, a counter which was more or less a gift from second sacker Tom Matoba who was initially slow in fielding first baseman Barrett’s roller and then dropped a toss at the keystone sack on a made-to-order double play. Catcher Cooper then cashed in the unearned run with a sharp single, his second hit of the tussle, which scored Barrett.
Muscutt (W) and Cooper
Nishidera (L) and R. Yasui
(June 5) The V.A.C. baseballers were gassed by the former Collingwood nine, now known as General Gasoline, as the Generals broke a 2 – 2 tie by scoring twice in the fifth frame in earning a 4 to 2 victory in a rain-shortened contest at Athletic Park. Both teams managed just five base knocks. Alva Sibbett led off the top of the fifth by drawing a base on balls. After swiping the keystone sack, he romped home on Bobby Mills’ one-bagger, his second single of the game, to give the Gasmen a one-run cushion. Losing flinger Hal Puder then helped Mills to get into scoring position with a wild pitch. He later plated an insurance marker on an infield out. Outfielder Pat Worley and Bill Tuson had a pair of singles each for the Red Caps off winning tosser Eddie Wingard.
Wingard (W) and McLean
Puder (L) and Whyte, Hall (5)
(June 8) Collecting just three safeties, the Asahis virtually stole a 4 to 2 decision from the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster in inter-league action. Eddie Olson, pitching for the Cafemen, was the victim of poor defensive support as his infield mates imploded in crucial situations. Winner Ty Suga doled out eight safeties to the Royal City clan, two coming off the bat of outfielder Maxwell.
Olson (L) and Larson
Suga (W) and R. Yasui
(June 8) Dave Gray pitched shutout ball to give the hosting Fraser Mills team a 3 to 0 win over the Generals in an inter-league game at Queen’s Park in New Westminster. Gray hurled a stingy game, allowing only four lonely hits while piling up ten strikeouts. Only one Gasman runner reached second base. Baden “Babe” Esplen chucked for the Gens and, apart from the initial inning, kept the hits fairly well scattered. “Stun” Bray, the latest addition to the Mills roster, bashed a home run and a single. Teammate Joe Hebert contributed a double and a one-bagger.
Esplen (L) and McLean
Gray (W) and Cooper
(June 9) A doubleheader at Athletic Park turned out to be a shutout festival with the Asahis and Fraser Mills of New Westminster emerging as the victorious celebrants. The Asahis blanked the Generals 2 to 0 in the curtain raiser and were popular winners in the glittering battle. The Royal City Millmen broke open a close second game with a hitting barrage in the seventh inning which carried them to a 5 to 0 triumph over V.A.C.
The Nippons registered their first run of the opener in the initial canto, executing a vintage squeeze bunt by Reg Yasui to score Roy Yamamura. The same play backfired on the Asahis when their next batter, Nakamura, popped up the attempted bunt which losing flinger Bartlett snared, quickly relaying the ball to third base for a second out with a following throw to the keystone sack catching another runner for the third out and a triple play. The Asahis gleaned their second counter in the sixth stanza on two singles and a walk.
Bartlett (L), Delcourt (6) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
Joe Dailey and Bill Richardson hooked up in a mound duel in the final but the Red Cap hurler blew up badly in the seventh as the Lumbermen cuffed his offerings for singles by Dailey and outfielder Paddy Ryan, two-baggers by Percy Bolstad and Joe Hebert and a triple off the bat of "Stun" Bray. Each pitcher fanned seven.
Dailey (W) and xxx
Richardson (L) and xxx
(June 10) Catcher Tony Telosky’s wild peg to third base, in an effort to catch baserunner Doug Fraser off the bag, gave the New Westminster Fraser Cafe nine a 5 to 4 ten-inning victory over the Firemen in inter-league play. Fraser had paved the way for the extra-inning triumph with a leadoff double, advancing to third on a dropped third strike which required a throw to the initial sack. With a squeeze play appearing to be in order, Fraser took a big lead which spurred Telosky’s errant pickoff throw to the hot corner. Charlie Stevenson and Jimmy Watters of the Flame Quenchers as well as Ollie Larson of the Cafemen each stroked a brace of safeties.
Sikora, Holden (L) (9) and Richardson, Telosky (7)
Moffatt, Dodd (W) (8) and xxx
(June 11) Despite somewhat lackadaisical play at times by his teammates, Hal Puder of the Vacs fashioned a two-hitter to subdue the Asahis 4 to 1. The Red Caps nicked loser Roy Nishidera for nine base raps with shortstop Herb Rotchford leading the way with a double and a brace of singles.
Puder (W) and Whyte
Nishidera (L) and R. Yasui
(June 12) Arne Miller’s solo homer off “Babe” Esplen in the bottom of the eighth inning provided the Firemen with a 4 to 3 win over the Generals. Both teams nabbed only four hits each as Larry Holden picked up the hillock decision over Esplen. Shortstop “Babs” Johnston of the Commanders and Firemen catcher Harry Richardson were the only two swatters to accumulate a pair of safeties.
Esplen (L) and McLean
Holden (W) and Richardson
(June 13) Lanky Doug Muscutt had too much speed on his shoots for the nimble Nippons as the Fraser Mills squad from New Westminster blanked the Asahis 4 to 0 in an inter-league match. Muscutt spun a four-hitter and fanned six in recording the route-going knoll triumph. Only Asahi first sacker “Sally” Nakamura had much success with the baton against the Royal City hurler, snaring two safe hits, one of which went for three bases. The Millmen racked up eight base blows off loser Ty Suga with catcher “Stun” Bray leading the pack with four singles. Shortstop Duckwitz followed with a double and a one-bagger.
Muscutt (W) and Bray
Suga (L) and R. Yasui
(June 15) The Firemen and V.A.C. battled to a 3 – 3 stalemate in an uneventful eight-inning encounter shortened by darkness. Both sides were guilty of both mental and physical errors which allowed opposition runs. Only one of the six counters in the clash was considered to be of the earned variety. The Vacs had a slight 6 to 5 advantage in base hits as Charlie Miron of the Red Caps rapped a brace of hits, the only player to do so.
Craig and Telosky
Risse and Whyte
(June 15) The Fraser Cafe nine out of New Westminster toppled the visiting Generals from Vancouver 7 to 2 in an inter-league contest at Queen’s Park. Eddie Olson went the distance for the Royal City clan, ringing up eight strikeouts, in capturing the knoll triumph on a seven-hitter. He also picked up a couple of base knocks, matching the output of teammates Ollie Larson and “Tiny” Hunter as well as that of catcher Cy McLean of the Commanders.
C. Mills (L), Wingard (6) and McLean
Olson (W) and Paxton
(June 16) Nearly 3,000 fans witnessed a pair of stirring games at Athletic Park, one of which produced a shortened no-hitter. In the first tilt of the double-bill, the V.A.C. troupe, came from behind with a exhilarating rally in the last round to pull out a 4 to 3 victory over the Fraser Cafe nine from New Westminster. In this seven-inning contest, young Bill Richardson of the Red Caps set the Lunchmen down without a hit. The very popular Asahis took care of business in a skilful manner by stopping the league-leading Firemen 3 to 2 in the second event.
The invading Restaurateurs went ahead 3 to 0 in the lid-lifter as a result of Richardson’s early wildness and successive infield errors. Richardson then settled into a groove and fanned eight Royal City batters in succession. Pat Worley’s third clout of the game, a double, drove in the winning marker and climaxed the Vacs’ great last-inning comeback to snatch the win.
Dodd (L) and xxx
Richardson (W) and xxx
George Tanaka, the one-handed wonder of the Asahis, had the hefty-hitting Firemen puzzled for most of the late skirmish with his slow-breaking curves and they never got dangerous until the last canto when they shoved across a pair of counters. The Nippons bunched three scratch hits off Lorne Thompson in the sixth and, with a sacrifice fly and George Kato’s timely wallop, scored three times.
Tanaka (W) and xxx
Thompson (L) and xxx
(June 17) After displaying air-tight defensive baseball for eight innings and enjoying a one-run lead, the Asahis booted the ball around in the ninth and dropped a 3 to 2 decision to the hosting Fraser Mills club from New Westminster. Winning flinger Joe Dailey’s screamer to third sacker George Kato, which was trapped, allowed Eddie Novak to cross the pan before Kato could recover and make a play. Dailey and loser Roy Nishidera were both nicked for seven bingles. Roy Yamamura was the star stickman for the Nippons with three clean singles. Outfielder Joe Hebert, with two valuable hits, was the pick of the Mills clan.
Nishidera (L) and xxx
Dailey (W) and xxx
(June 18) The Firemen spotted Generals’ starting pitcher Baden “Babe” Esplen four runs in the first frame but then stepped out laughingly and sent him to the showers after 2 2/3 stanzas with a four-run outburst of their own. Not finished with business, they then piled on three additional counters during the remainder of the tussle off the somewhat ineffective slants of reliever Eddie Wingard to run away with a 7 to 4 verdict. George Sikora survived the shaky start, striking out six and yielding seven hits, to earn the complete-game knoll triumph. Nick Craig had a pair of hits for the victors while catcher Cy McLean did the brunt of the swatting for the Gasmen with a triad of base knocks.
Esplen (L), Wingard (3) and McLean
Sikora (W) and Richardson
(June 19) Rising to the occasion with some clutch pitching, Camille “Lefty” Delcourt engineered the Generals to a 5 to 1 lacing of the New Westminster Fraser Mills tribe in an inter-city scuffle at Athletic Park. The Lumbermen threatened frequently during the course of the fracas, garnering eight safeties, but Delcourt was stingy when they needed additional firepower. The Gasmen got to loser Dave Gray for three counters in the third stanza, an outburst which essentially decided the contest. Leading the nine-hit offensive thrust by the Commanders were Jack Cranstoun with a triple and double as well as shortstop “Babs” Johnston with a brace of one-baggers. Percy Bolstad had a three-bagger and single for the Millmen.
Gray (L) and Bray
Delcourt (W) and Kasmer
(June 20) Seattle and Vancouver Firemen threw all the ingredients essential to a fascinating ball game into their annual exhibition game at Athletic Park before a full grandstand. The Vancouverites came from behind to beat their American counterparts 5 to 3. Harry Richardson’s sacrifice fly in the eighth plated Charlie Stevenson with the lead counter. Stevenson had nailed a one-out double and moved to third on a bobble by the Seattle catcher. Arne Miller drove in an insurance marker later in the same canto. Third baseman Doug May had a two-run inside-the-park homer for the victors in the fourth panel.
Frykmann (L), Barton (9) and xxx
Craig (W) and xxx
(June 22) Scoring three runs in the fourth inning, after two were down, the Firemen went on to defeat the Vancouver Athletic Club 3 to 1. It was a light-hitting affair in which the Vacs held a slight 5 to 4 advantage. Doug May’s smashing single drove in the first two counters for the Flame Fighters. After pilfering second, May then crossed the plate with the third marker for the winners on catcher Harry Richardson’s one-bagger. Coley Hall’s mighty clout over the centre field wall accounted for the Red Caps’ lone run.
Holden (W) and Richardson
Puder (L) and Whyte
(June 23) The Generals took a lively 5 to 3 scrap from the Asahis in the afternoon portion of a double dose of pastiming at Athletic Park. In the later clash, an inter-league affair, Charlie Stevenson, second sacker for the Firemen, delivered a smoking bingle in the last round of an intensely-exciting contest which drove in a brace of tallies to give the Smoke Squelchers a sweet 2 to 1 victory over the Fraser Mills tribe out of New Westminster.
Winning chucker Eddie Wingard held the Nippons scoreless until the fifth when they began to hit. Twice with an Asahi runner at third base and less than two outs, smart fielding by the Gasmen flagged a potential run at the plate. Cy McLean kept up his hard hitting for the Gens with a three-bingle performance. Frank Nakamura, with a triple and single, featured the hitting of the vanquished nine.
Wingard (W) and xxx
Nishidera (L) and xxx
In arrears by a 1 to 0 count, the Flame Eaters began a last-ditch rally in the matinee match when Bart Bean drove a one-out sizzler over third base for a two-ply swat. Outfielder Foley followed by beating out a slow infield roller which moved Bean to the hot corner. There was no attempt made by the Millmen to stop Foley from stealing second which set the stage for Stevenson’s game-winning blow.
Dailey (L) and xxx
Sikora (W) and xxx
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 12 8 .600
Asahis 8 11 .421
V. A. C. 7 10 .412
Generals 7 10 .412
* includes wins and losses against Fraser Cafe and Fraser Mills of New Westminster
New Westminster Standings
Fraser Mills 13 7 .650
Fraser Cafe 8 9 .471
(June 24) New Westminster Fraser Mills waded through four chuckers, collecting 20 hits, in burying the Vancouver Generals 19 to 2 in an inter-city skirmish. The Gasmen never looked like a ball team. They didn’t hit and booted the ball all over the lot at the least provocation. Doug Muscutt was on the hillock for the Lumbermen and tossed a steady game, allowing five scattered bingles. Second baseman Bill Brown, outfielder Joe Hebert and initial sacker Percy Bolstad were the chief murderers for Fraser Mills, each collecting three safeties.
Bartlett (L), C. Mills (2), Hall (2), Condon (6) and xxx
Muscutt (W) and xxx
(June 25) After spotting V.A.C. a pair of runs in the opening frame, the Firemen came to life in the sixth panel by hammering a trio of counters over to win an indifferently-chucked ball game 3 to 2. Losing flinger George Risse hurled a four-hitter and pitched better than the results show but he was plagued by spotty defensive support. The Red Caps had an excellent opportunity to increase their three-spot cushion in the sixth stanza but failed to capitalize after loading the bases with no outs. That narrow escape seemed to pump up the Hosemen who then went on to take advantage of a pair of Vacs’ miscues in the bottom half of the round to capture the victory and earn Lorne Thompson the mound decision. The Flame Quenchers’ Jimmy Watters as well as Coley Hall and Charlie Miron of V.A.C. all picked up a brace of swats with Hall having a three-bagger in his sum of blows.
Risse (L) and Whyte
Thompson (W) and Richardson
(June 26) Spence Paxton’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning broke a 1 – 1 tie and gave the Fraser Cafe nine from New Westminster a 2 to 1 victory over the Generals in an inter-league tussle at Queen’s Park. The game was scoreless for eight innings and then “Babs” Johnston sent the hopes of the Gasmen soaring when he belted one of pitcher Howard “Scotty” Lee’s offerings for a round-tripper to put the Vancouverites ahead 1 to 0. In the Cafeterians’ half of the frame, Henry Dodd led off by blasting a double off “Lefty” Delcourt. Lee then singled to plate Dodd and tie the game at 1 – 1. After stealing second base, Lee went to third when Dean Freshfield beat out a bunt. Delcourt then retired the next two New Westminster batters without any damage being done but was unable to cope with Paxton who drilled his second one-bagger of the contest down the third-base line to send Lee home for the walkoff triumph. Both chuckers had a successful outing. Delcourt allowed eight scattered hits and whiffed ten batters. Lee let the Generals down with five blows and struck out ten. Johnston had a single to go along with his dinger in leading the Commanders at the dish while the Royal City’s Freshfield added a triple to his bunt single.
Delcourt (L) and McLean
Lee (W) and Paxton
(June 26) Young Bill Richardson was sharp as he set the Asahis down on three scattered hits while the Vacs were pummelling the offerings of lefthander Ty Suga rather viciously as the Red Caps got back into their winning ways by blanking the Nippons 6 to 0. Second sacker Teeters of the V.A.C. aggregation spanked the apple for three safeties in leading the winners offensively. Teammates Art Morse and Pat Worley both registered a pair of bingles.
Richardson (W) and Whyte
Suga (L) and R. Yasui
(June 27) In ringing up an impressive 3 to 1 triumph over the outsmarted Fraser Cafe of New Westminster, the Asahis bunted with precision and ran rings around the Cafe nine, giving the Lunchmen a lesson in inside tactics, fielding and pitching. Roy Nishidera outpitched Henry Dodd, who wasn’t all that bad, to take the mound decision with a four-hitter. Playing solid station-to-station baseball, the Nippons sacrificed on six occasions to successfully move baserunners along. Tom Matoba had a double and single for the victors while outfielder Sam Crawford led the Restaurateurs with a brace of one-baggers.
Nishidera (W) and R. Yasui
Dodd (L) and Paxton
(June 29) The Firemen and Generals went toe-to-toe for eleven innings but no winner emerged as the combatants battled to a 0 – 0 draw. Both chuckers, Nick Craig of the Hose & Ladder Gang and the Generals’ Eddie Wingard, went the route and pitched superbly. Craig fanned eight and was nicked for just two hits while Wingard tossed a five-hitter and whiffed six. Shortstop Arne Miller of the Smoke Squelchers was the only batter to register two hits.
Craig and Telosky
Wingard and McLean
(July 1) The Vancouver Firemen and the New Westminster Fraser Mills aggregation, leaders in their respective senior circuits, broke even in an exhibition double-bill with the Bellingham Tulips at Athletic Park. The Fire Fighters were nosed out 5 to 3 in an intensely exciting opening contest while the Millmen put on a fighting finish to score three runs in the tenth frame to knock off the Washingtonians 5 to 4.
Bellingham won the matinee contest because they were better than the Firemen in the pinches, especially when it came to displaying fine defensive baseball. Outfielders Clarke, Pete Staggs and Kure each pulled off outstanding catches to save the bacon for Vic Pigg.
Pigg (W) and B. Staggs
Sikora (L) and xxx
Eddie Novak outpitched Coleman in the first nine innings of the later fray but the Lumbermen lost scoring opportunities on bad baserunning. New Westminster outhit the visitors and should have triumphed in the regulation nine rounds. Reliever Joe Dailey of Fraser Mills took to the knoll in the tenth and promptly gave up two counters, sending the Tulips ahead 4 to 2. But the Millmen came right back in their half of the overtime session with a trio of tallies to escape with the win. W. Bill Brown’s sharp single drove in Ray Williams to reduce the deficit to one and both Dailey and Brown crossed home plate when Percy Bolstad’s squeeze bunt was tossed into rightfield by losing tosser Vic Pigg.
Coleman, Pigg (L) (10) and xxx
Novak, Dailey (W) (10) and xxx
(July 3) Although outhit by a 7 to 5 margin, the Generals continued their win streak by stopping the high-flying Firemen 3 to 1 at Athletic Park. Camille “Lefty” Delcourt gave up an early run, when outfielder Bailey doubled home Norm Goodall, but tossed shutout baseball thereafter to grab the mound verdict over Lorne Thompson. The Gasmen scored three in the fourth frame, the tying and ultimate winner coming across the dish on “Babs” Johnston’s Texas Leaguer into the middle garden. Goodall and Bart Bean of the Fire Eaters, as well as Johnston, each picked up a brace of one-baggers.
Thompson (L) and Richardson
Delcourt (W) and Kasmer
(July 4) Veteran catcher Cy McLean provided a seventh inning bunt which sent the flying Johnny Nestman across the platter with the only run of the game as the Generals literally squeezed out a 1 to 0 win over Fraser Cafe of New Westminster in an inter-league skirmish. Baden “Babe” Esplen fanned five and held the Lunchmen to four bingles in registering the hillock triumph. Nestman led the victors offensively, garnering two singles off losing chucker Eddie Olson. New Westminster’s Dean Freshfield had a double and single.
Olson (L) and Paxton
Esplen (W) and McLean
(July 6) Tony Telosky’s scratchy third-inning double down the first-base line drove in first baseman Foley with the sole counter of a 1 to 0 conquest by the Firemen of the Asahis. Nick Craig pitched a five-hitter to grab the mound verdict. He also picked up a brace of one-baggers off losing flinger Roy Nishidera. The Nippons had runners on second base inning after inning but just when chances would look best for them, Craig would tighten up and come out unscathed. Asahi catcher Roy Yasui nicked Craig for two singles.
Nishidera (L) and R. Yasui
Craig (W) and Telosky
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 15 9 .625
Generals 10 12 .455
Asahis 9 13 .409
V. A. C. 8 12 .400
* includes wins and losses against Fraser Cafe and Fraser Mills of New Westminster
New Westminster Standings
Fraser Mills 15 7 .682
Fraser Cafe 9 13 .409
(July 7) Joe Hebert’s two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning drove in keystone sacker W. Bill Brown to give Fraser Mills of New Westminster an 8 to 7 victory over the Firemen in inter-league action. The Millmen outhit the visitors by an 11 to 9 margin but the Vancouverites hit two of the three home runs during the contest. Bart Bean lifted a two-run shot over the rightfield fence during the first turn at bat for the Smoke Squelchers. Hebert of the Lumbermen connected for a dinger with one aboard in the fourth frame and catcher Harry Richardson of the Hose & Ladder gang, the game’s chief sticker, tattooed a three-run tater, also in the fourth. Richardson had a single and double to go along with his round-tripper.
Kaye (L), Holden (L) (4) and Richardson
Dailey, Muscutt (W) (7) and Brannon
(July 9) The Generals and the Fraser Mills squad of New Westminster battled for nine innings in inter-league play at Athletic Park but were unable to break a 3 – 3 tie. Both teams registered seven base blows. Outfielder Ray Williams of the Millmen was the top swatter during the clash, stinging the pill for three safeties including a triple which drove in the tying marker.
Novak and Brannon
Delcourt and Kasmer
(July 10) Howard “Scotty” Lee set the league-leading Vancouver Firemen down on four scattered hits as the Fraser Cafe team of New Westminster defeated the Hose & Ladder crew 5 to 2 in an inter-league fracas at Queen’s Park. George Sikora hurled well for the Flame Fighters, allowing the Cafeterians eight bingles but costly infield errors gave the winners three unearned tallies. Lee struck out nine batters and collected a pair of hits, including a double. Outfielder “Tiny” Hunter provided the power for the victors, slamming a double and a towering home run.
Sikora (L) and Richardson
Lee (W) and Paxton
(July 11) The Vacs put away another victory in their belated drive toward a playoff spot when they blanked the uncharacteristically poor-defensive Asahi nine 6 to 0. Five bobbles in the infield of the Nippons opened the way for five of the six runs scored by the Clubbers. Bill Richardson hurled his usual effective game, allowing only two singles, but wildness had him in trouble repeatedly. Shortstop Herb Rotchford blasted a triple and double for the Red Caps.
Suga (L) and R. Yasui
Richardson (W) and Whyte
(July 13) A hotly-contested non-balk decision during the fifth inning influenced a 2 to 1 decision for the Firemen against the Generals in an Athletic Park Senior City League scuffle. The disputed pitch, by Fireman chucker Larry Holden, was delivered without his foot on the pitching rubber and was incorrectly ruled a “dead” ball, negating the tying run from scoring from third base. Holden pitched well, striking out nine and allowing only two hits. No batter from either squad was able to manufacture more than a lone base hit.
Holden (W) and Richardson
Arthur (L) and McLean
(July 14) Crashing through for most of their runs by pulling the unexpected, the fast-rushing V.A.C. tribe dumped the league-leading Firemen 6 to 1 in the first game of a league double-bill. Fraser Mills of New Westminster captured the late contest, an inter-league affair, drubbing the Asahis with the final score not being reported in the Vancouver Sun.
Hal Puder, after two weeks in absentia, returned to the mound for the Red Caps and tied up the Hosemen effectively in garnering the knoll victory in the matinee game. The Vacs used the hit-and-run tactic to perfection in taking the battle. Charlie Miron’s triple in the third stanza and Syd Whyte’s well-placed double on the hit-and-run play in the fourth, featured the batting of the victors. Pat Worley and Hec Cann each had two singles for the winning nine.
Puder (W) and xxx
Craig (L), Kaye and xxx
Fraser Mills showed too much power with their bludgeons in the late clash as the Nippons were never in the game after the third inning. Two triples by Eddie Novak and one by W. Bill Brown were the chief factors in their acquiring of runs. Herb Tanaka had two hits for the Asahis.
Muscutt (W) and xxx
Nishidera (L) and xxx
(July 15) Fraser Cafe of New Westminster waded through two pitchers, collecting 12 bingles in defeating the Vancouver Athletic Club 6 to 1 in an inter-league fracas. Eddie Olson was on the mound for the Cafeterians and had the Clubmen breaking their backs on his slow curve which was working to perfection. He yielded just six hits, fanned five and led his team with the shillelagh, stroking three hits including a two-bagger.
Risse (L), Richardson (4) and Whyte
Olson (W) and Paxton
(July 16) Failing to deliver offensively in the pinches, the Generals fell to the climbing Fraser Cafe tribe of New Westminster 3 to 2 in inter-league action. Winning flinger Howard “Scotty” Lee did not prove that much of a puzzle for the Commanders, except when runners were on base. The Gens out-swatted the Lunchmen 9 to 8 but never came through with a rap when it counted most. Ollie Larson picked up a triad of swats for the Fork and Knifers, one of which was a three-ply clout, and drove in the winning tally on a sixth-inning single.
Lee (W) and Paxton
Esplen (L) and McLean
(July 17) After tallying all four of their markers in the opening frame, the Generals ran cold offensively and took an 11 to 4 pasting from the V.A.C. sluggers. “Lefty” Delcourt was the victim of the 11-hit assault waged by the Red Caps. Coleman Hall, the larruping outfielder of the Vacs, banged out a home run, double and single in pacing the victors at the dish. Catcher Syd Whyte was next in line with a two-bagger and a brace of singles.
Straight, Risse (W) (2) and Whyte
Delcourt (L) and Kasmer
(July 17) Sensational hitting outfielder Joe Hebert won the game for his Fraser Mills teammates when he singled past second base with two away in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Bill Brown and Percy Bolstad and supply the New Westminster nine with a 5 to 4 conquest of the visiting Vancouver Firemen. Hebert and fellow-Millman “Stun” Bray both acquired three hits in the triumph while catcher Brannon belted a home run. Shortstop Arne Miller was best with the baton for the Hoseman, spanking the sphere for two doubles and a single.
Kaye, Thompson (L) (1) and Richardson
Novak (W) and Brannon
(July 18) The invading Bellingam Tulips scored four times in the first frame and held on to defeat the Vancouver Firemen 4 to 3 in a most interesting exhibition game. The Fire Quenchers responded to the four-run outburst by plating three markers of their own in the bottom of the same canto and that was it for run production. The Tulips raked losing heaver Nick Craig for nine safeties as Ray O’Dell, Pete Staggs and outfielder Kure each stroked a brace. Jimmy Watters laced a pair of one-baggers for the vanquished nine.
Lewis, Coleman (W) (1) and Atterbury
Craig (L) and Richardson
(July 19) The Generals utilized their bunting skills to defeat the Asahis at their own game, edging past the Nippons 2 to 1. Base raps were scarce as the Gasmen managed to acquire just three to only two for the Asahis. Successive bunts by Herb Tanaka and Jubo Sekine pushed in George Kato with the first run of the game in the second inning. The Gens chased home “Babs” Johnston with the equalizer on Cy McLean’s neat bunt in the same canto and picked up the winner in the sixth when back-to-back bunts by Alva Sibbett and Bobby Mills allowed winning flinger Eddie Wingard to advance from second and third respectively. Sato had both of the Asahi base hits.
Wingard (L) and McLean
G. Tanaka (W) and R. Yasui
(July 20) Hec Cann’s eighth-inning solo homer to the middle-pasture grandstand at Queen’s Park saved V.A.C. from a defeat and gave the Red Caps a 3 – 3 tie with the hosting Fraser Mills nine. The Millmen had the better of the offensive action as Joe Hebert, “Stun” Bray and Ray Williams each poked out a pair of safeties with one of Hebert’s clouts being a four-ply swat. Joe Dailey went the route on a six-hitter for the hillock decision.
Richardson (L) and Whyte
Dailey (W) and Brannon
(July 20) One big round, the fourth, was sufficient to push the Firemen past the slipping Asahis 8 to 3. All eight of their juicy counters crossed the dish in that canto as they freely raked the offerings of a pair of Nippon tossers. George Sikora allowed six bingles in taking the knoll victory although he had one bad panel, the sixth, when the Asahis shoved over three counters. Norm Goodall of the Fire Squelchers, with a pair of doubles, was the contest’s best swatter.
Terra/Terakita (L), Nishidera (4) and R. Yasui
Sikora (W) and Richardson
(July 21) A pair of slugging matches featured a doubleheader at Athletic Park. The Firemen came from behind to outscore the Generals 8 to 6 in the opener while V.A.C. handed the strong Fraser Mills nine of New Westminster an artistic 15 to 7 inter-league trimming in the finale.
The Commanders took a 5 to 0 lead in the fourth inning of the lid-lifter only to lose it all after a bad-bounding ground ball to shortstop, which would have retired the side, opened the floodgates for an equalizing five-spot by the Hosemen. Cy McLean’s two-out double during that fourth-panel comeback was the key hit during the uprising. The Flame Fighters put over one run in each of the fifth and sixth stanzas off a weakening “Babe” Esplen to clinch the argument. Arne Miller picked up two singles and a triple for the victors.
Holden (W) and xxx
Esplen (L) and xxx
After the Millmen had jumped away to a three-run lead in the late contest, the Red Caps came back to drive Dave Gray to the showers and continue the onslaught against reliever Joe Dailey. Fifteen hits, including a home run by first baseman Haley Jackson, were accumulated by the Clubmen. Jackson, infielder Teeters and backstop Syd Whyte all smacked the apple for three base knocks.
Gray (L), Dailey and Brannon, Bray
Puder (W) and xxx
(July 22) Fraser Mills played poor hosts to the visiting Asahi club of Vancouver as the New Westminster nine laid a sound 17 to 2 thrashing on the Nippons in inter-league action. The Millmen put the game out of reach by scoring 11 runs in the opening round. Second baseman W. Bill Brown fattened his batting average with four hits incuding a two bagger. Joe Hebert, Eddie Novak and Percy Bolstad each garnered a trio of safeties with doubles being included in Hebert and Novak’s totals. Catcher Reg Yasui was the pick of the Asahis with a double and two one-baggers.
Suga (L), Nishidera (1) and R. Yasui
Muscutt (W), Novak (7) and Bray
(July 23) The Generals, losers of a 7 to 4 game against the fast-climbing V.A.C. tribe, failed once again in the clutch as they stranded 13 base runners on the paths. Winning pitcher George Risse was in trouble virtually every inning but managed to tighten up when the chips were on the line. A pair of double plays pulled him out peril when needed most. The Red Caps took advantage of the openings afforded them as Risse was especially hot when required, delivering timely wallops in both the fourth and sixth frames to drive in key runs. Teammate Charlie Miron supported his chucker with a home run while “Babs” Johnston of the Gasmen delivered a pair of doubles and a single.
Wingard (L) and McLean
Risse (W) and Whyte
(July 25) New Westminster’s Fraser Mills aggregation and Vancouver’s Firemen played an eight-inning encounter without deciding a winner. When the game was called, the combatants were knotted in a 5 – 5 deadlock. Outfielder Bart Bean of the Hosemen was fortunate enough to plate the tying run in the fifth on a base-running gaffe which turned into a gift tally. The Millmen played poorly from a defensive standpoint and could have picked up a victory. Joe Hebert had two hard base smacks for the Royal City nine while second baseman Charlie Stevenson tripled and singled for the Flame Eaters. Arne Miller poled a solo homer for the Vancouverites.
Dailey and Bray
Sikora, Holden (3) and Richardson
(July 27) A rejuvenated group of V.A.C. diamondeers closed the gap for top place in the Senior City circuit when they dropped the leading Firemen 8 to 5 in a scrappy Athletic Park struggle. Tied 5 – 5 after four innings were in the books, the Red Caps forged ahead with a two-spot in the fifth and then added another in the sixth for good measure to take the game going away. Hal Puder, who seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, picked up the mound decision with a six-hitter. Outfielder Coleman Hall cracked two doubles for the victors off losing chucker Nick Craig. Teammate Haley Jackson had a two-bagger and single while Charlie Stevenson of the Hosemen singled twice.
Puder (W) and Whyte
Craig (L) and Richardson
(July 28) The bat and speed of Cameron “Peggy” Duff carried the Firemen to an extra-inning 2 to 1 victory over the much-improved Fraser Cafe nine from New Westminster in the opening match of a twin-bill at Athletic Park. The Generals blanked the Asahis 6 to 0 in the second tilt on the schedule.
It was Duff’s bat which sent Nick Craig scampering across the plate with a two-out double for the game’s first counter in the opening stanza of the first game and it was his speed which enabled him to beat out a slow roller to shortstop in the overtime session with two out, allowing Norm Goodall to score from third base with the deciding marker. Larry Holden got the mound win, yielding just four hits. Duff wound up with a pair of doubles and a single.
Olson (L) and xxx
Holden (W) and xxx
Four runs in the third panel, when the Nippons blew up badly, gave the Generals the edge over the Asahis in the second game. Eddie Wingard pitched well for the Commanders, not allowing an Asahi baserunner past second base.
Nishidera (L), Suga (4) and xxx
Wingard (W) and xxx
(July 29) Bunching four hits in the fourth inning which resulted in five runs, the hosting Fraser Mills nine out of New Westminster went on to score an 8 to 4 victory over the Vacs in an inter-league tussle. It was a heavy-hitting affair, featured by three home runs. Coleman Hall and Syd Whyte connected for the Vancouverites while winning tosser Doug Muscutt smashed a solo blast for the Millmen. Muscutt also garnered two singles and a double to emerge as the game’s top swatter.
Richardson (L) and Whyte
Muscutt (W) and Brannan
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 18 14 .563
V. A. C. 15 14 .517
Generals 12 17 .414
Asahis 10 20 .333
* includes wins and losses against Fraser Cafe and Fraser Mills of New Westminster
New Westminster Standings
Fraser Mills 21 10 .677
Fraser Cafe 15 16 .484
(July 30) The Generals continued their mastery over the Asahis, erasing an early 3 to 0 deficit to gain a 6 to 3 conquest of the Nippons. Winning flinger Eddie Wingard was touched up rather lively in the first two rounds, including two doubles in the second inning, but got stronger as the game progressed, allowing only one bingle after the second stanza. The Generals gathered 13 base knocks with Jack Cranstoun getting three and Wingard, Jimmy Condon and George Syrotuck two each. Tom Matoba and Eddie Kitigawa both laced a double and single for the Asahis.
Wingard (W) and McLean
Suga (L) and R. Yasui
(July 31) After being blanked for the first five frames, the Firemen broke through with a pair of sixth-inning counters and went on to defeat the Vacs 2 to 1 in a light-hitting affair at Athletic Park. George “Lefty” Kaye and Hal Puder had the hitters buffaloed most of the way in this pitching duel, Kaye limiting the Red Caps to just two safeties, both singles by Charlie Miron, while Puder surrendered but three hits. A double off the bat of Jimmy Watters sent Kaye home with the tying counter in the sixth after V.A.C. had opened a 1 to 0 lead in the fourth canto. When the outfielder was a little slow in handling his two-ply clout, Miron aggressively moved to third. Fully expecting a squeeze play at the dish with Norm Goodall in the batter’s box, catcher Syd Whyte of the Clubmen called for a high pitch. Puder’s delivery was so high that it got away from Whyte and allowed Watters to race in with the ultimate deciding tally.
Puder (L) and Whyte
Kaye (W) and Telosky
(August 1) Fielding and batting like real champions, Fraser Mills of New Westminster did not have much difficulty in turning back the Generals 4 to 1 in an inter-league baseball conflict at Athletic Park. Eddie Novak, with a real assortment of benders, was a complete puzzle to the Commanders when hits meant runs. He kept the Gasmen at bay on a six-hitter while whiffing ten. Outfielder Joe Hebert of the Mills clan again scintillated with the willow, poling out a single, double and triple. Keystone sacker Alva Sibbett was the bright light for the Gens, stroking three singles.
Novak (W) and Brannon
Delcourt (L) and Kasmer
(August 2) The Asahis took another bump at Athletic Park but they showed a lot of fight before yielding up the ghost to the Firemen 9 to 6. The Nippons found themselves in arrears by five after just two innings of action but began to pounce on the offerings of winner George Sikora to gradually get back into contention. Home runs to Bart Bean and Arne Miller of the Hosemen and a succession of walks were chiefly responsible for the Asahi defeat. Both squads manufactured ten base blows. The offensive attack of the winning nine was balanced with every batter in the lineup except Sikora securing at least one safety. George Tanaka, with only one hand with which to swing the bat, hit safely three times for the Nippons and was given a big ovation when he connected for his third single.
Terra (L), G. Tanaka (1) and R. Yasui
Sikora (W) and Richardson
(August 3) With both chuckers having a hard time in finding the strike zone, the V.A.C. contingent nosed out Fraser Cafe of New Westminster 5 to 4 in an inter-league squabble at Athletic Park. Portsider Hal Straight, who copped the knoll victory, beaned two batters, had three wild pitches and gave three free trips to first base. Losing heaver Howard “Scotty” Lee was just as erratic, hitting four batsmen while giving up five walks. The game wasn’t decided until the bottom of the sixth canto when, with the score knotted at 4 – 4, Hec Cann of the Red Caps delivered his second run-scoring single of the contest, driving hot corner custodian Teeters home with what would prove to be the winner. His teammate, outfielder Coleman Hall, also picked up a brace of swats, one of which was a two-ply clout.
Lee (L) and Paxton
Straight (W) and Whyte
(August 3) The hosting Fraser Mills squad from New Westminster had no trouble in wiping out the Vancouver Generals 10 to 2 in an inter-league affair at Queen’s Park. Joe Dailey hurled a seven-hitter for the Lumbermen and had things his own way. Ray “Peep” Williams had a field day with the willow for the Mills aggregation, collecting five bingles in fives times at bat, two of them doubles, as his swats produced six New Westminster counters. Percy Bolstad also hit the pill hard, snatching a double and a pair of one-baggers. Alva Sibbett, with two singles, was the best of the Gasmen.
Delcourt (L), Bartlett (7) and McLean
Dailey (W) and Brannon
(August 4) Fraser Mills of New Westminster and the Vancouver Firemen gave a preview of a possible provincial playoff meeting at Athletic Park when they crossed paths in the opener of a double-bill. The Millmen triumphed 1 to0 as a result of losing twirler Nick Craig uncorking a wild pitch in the second frame with a runner at third base. In the second contest, the Vacs blew up in the fifth stanza as Fraser Cafe of the Royal City scored five times to win 5 to 1.
Dave Gray of the Fraser Mills aggregation emerged as the victorious moundsman in the early game primarily because of his invincibility in the pinches. Craig, who gave up just four hits, deserved a better fate but an error by his mates leading off the second canto and his ultimate wild pitch to a weak hitter at the dish, did him in.
Gray (W) and xxx
Craig (L) and H. Richardson, xxx (3)
V.A.C. contributed six fielding miscues in falling to the Cafemen. Losing chucker Bill Richardson contributed to his own downfall by making a pair of wild pickoff attempts to first base. A fifth inning two-run double by Dean Freshfield, singles by Spence Paxton and Jones, along with a pair of infield bobbles and a fielder’s choice accounted for the winners’ total offensive output.
Dodd (W) and xxx
B. Richardson (L) and xxx
(August 5) The Vancouver Firemen invaded Bellingham and walloped the hosting Tulips 7 to 2 in an exhibition match. Larry Holden, on the mound for the Hose & Ladder brigade, had the highly-touted sluggers on the Bellingham squad tied up in knots most of the way and yielded just five hits. Third baseman Doug May of the Fire Eaters hit safely three times and drove in a trio of counters with his timely swats. The game nearly ended in a fight when tempestuous Pete Staggs of the Tulips jostled Vancouver’s Charlie Stevenson at second base, rendering him unconscious, when the Firemen were completing a snappy double play.
Holden (W) and xxx
Burge (L) and xxx
(August 6) Fraser Mills rounded out their regular league schedule when they defeated V.A.C. 4 to 2 in a wild and woolly affair in the Royal City. Joe Dailey twirled a six-hitter to get the win over Harold Straight who, although nicked for just five hits, had serious control problems. “Stun” Bray again shone with the willow for the New Westminster nine, collecting a triple and a single.
Straight (L) and Rotchford
Dailey (W) and Brannon
(August 7) Cashing in two doubles, a triple and a single for four first-inning markers, the Generals hung on to edge the Asahis 4 to 3. Both squads racked up seven base knocks as Len Arthur earned the mound verdict over Roy Nishidera. Asahi outfielder Tom Matoba was the game’s most productive baton swinger, smacking a double and a brace of singles. Alva Sibbett and Johnny Nestman of the Commanders both picked up a two-bagger and a single.
Nishidera (L) and R. Yasui
Arthur (W) and Kasmer
(August 8) The University of Illinois varsity baseballers, on their way to Japan, played their first of three exhibition games against Vancouver opposition and gave a finished performance in defeating the Firemen 3 to 1. Led by former Chicago Cub pitcher Carl Lundgren, who pitched for the 1908 World Series champions, the College nine scored all their runs on errors but showed strengths in all departments of the game, especially in their fielding and the way they ran the bases. Norm Gundlack, smooth first baseman, collected three of his squad’s seven hits off “Lefty” Kaye and stole three bases. Jimmy Watters had two hits for the Hoseman and plated their lone counter with a solo home run.
O’Grady (W) and Williams
Kaye (L) and Telosky
(August 8) The visiting Asahis and the New Westminster Fraser Cafe nine failed to declare a winner in a nine-inning contest and ended hostilities in a 2 – 2 stalemate at Queen’s Park. The Nippons showed a little of their old fight and gave the Cafeterians an interesting struggle. The Lunchmen outhit the invaders by a 9 to 4 margin as Eddie Olson and Howard “Scotty” Lee both poked a brace of swats, the same output as obtained by Asahi first baseman “Sally” Nakamura.
Suga and R. Yasui
Lee and Paxton
(August 9) In a hard-fought struggle at Athletic Park, the University of Illinois diamondeers registered their second straight 3 to 1 victory, this time over the V.A.C. aggregation of pastimers. Once again, the visitors secured every one of their three markers as a result of misplays in the infield. Bill Richardson heaved a solid four-hitter for the Red Caps and deserved a better fate as not one of the base knocks he yielded was a solid blow and none figured in the scoring. The Collegians gave another finished performance of defensive play and base running. Catcher Syd Whyte of the Vacs had a pair of base raps, the only player in the game to do so.
Harrington (W) and Snyder
Richardson (L), Puder (8) and Whyte
(August 10) Finally committing an error which cost them a run, the University of Illinois baseball squad wavered slightly in their last Vancouver appearance and was held to a 3 – 3 tie by the Generals. It was a light-hitting contest with the pitchers reigning supreme over the batters. The Commanders had only two hits while the Collegians were only able to amass three. “Babs” Johnston had both base raps for the hosts including a double which drove in his team’s first two runs.
Mueller and Williams
Delcourt and McLean
(August 11) In the closest race in years, Charlie Miron of VAC edged out teammate Coley Hall and Cameron "Peggy" Duff of the Fireman to capture the 1928 batting title in the Vancouver Senior Baseball League. With a sensational sprint to the finish, Miron, who won the championship in 1926 and lost to Jack Cranstoun last year, batted .343 in 36 games. Duff finished at .339 and Hall at .333. Miron also topped the circuit in hits, 37, and tied with Roy Yamamura of the Asahis for the most stolen bases, each had 17. Hall had the most runs, 23, and doubles, 7. Arne Miller of the Firemen was the leagues leading slugger with six home runs.
George Sikora of the Firemen was recognized as the loop's top hurler finishing with a 6-1 record. Hal Puder, of VAC, had the best winning mark, seven, but also lost four times.
PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-three) Generals vs Vancouver Athletic Club
(August 11) Pushing across three runs in each of the eighth and ninth cantos, the Vancouver Athletic Club trounced the Generals 9 to 4 to capture the opening game of the league semi-finals. It was a free-hitting affair with both teams swatting eleven safeties. The Gasmen went into an early lead but the Red Caps evened things up in the middle frames and then blew things apart down the stretch. First baseman Haley Jackson of the Vacs and Generals’ outfielder Jack Cranstoun led their respective nines offensively, each cuffing the sphere for three safe blows.
Puder (W) and Whyte
Wingard (L) and McLean
(August 13) V.A.C. moved into the finals of the Vancouver Senior City League when they bumped the Generals 2 to 0 to eliminate the Gasmen in two straight games. Outplayed by the Commanders most of the way, the Red Caps managed to collect just three bingles, one of the scratchy variety, but made good use of their two solid clouts to count a run each time. Charlie Miron poked out a sharp single against the rightfield wall which scored Hec Cann with the game’s first run in the opening frame. In his next plate appearance during the fourth stanza, Miron lit into one of “Babe” Esplen’s offerings for a solo four-ply clout. Bill Richardson, on the hill for the Vacs, did the rest. Touched up for nine bingles, he was in peril virtually every inning but managed to squeeze out of any difficulties. Johnny Nestman hit the ball hard for the vanquished nine, acquiring a brace of one-baggers.
Esplen (L) and McLean
Richardson (W) and Whyte
Finals (best-of-five) Vancouver Athletic Club vs Firemen
(August 15) The Firemen and V.A.C. finished all square at 2 – 2 in their first playoff clash at Athletic Park. The Red Caps took the lead in the fourth frame on Charlie Miron’s four-bagger with the bases empty. The Hosemen came right back in the fifth panel and snared a pair of tallies on a sacrifice fly by Charlie Stevenson and Bart Bean’s RBI single. The Vacs evened matters in the ninth when pinch-hitter Ernie Paepke drove in the equalizer with a one-bagger. Arne Miller of the Smoke Squelchers and Coleman Hall of the Clubbers shared batting honors with a brace of safeties apiece with one of Hall’s swats being a screaming double.
Puder, Richardson (9) and Whyte
Kaye and Telosky
(August 17) The Firemen took advantage of the openings afforded them to come away with a 6 to 2 triumph over the Vacs in the second game of the Vancouver Senior City League finals. The Hose & Ladder tribe got to young Harold Straight for four runs in the fourth round and that proved to be enough for the victory. Straight actually outpitched winner Larry Holden but, in spite of being dogged by the breaks going against him, never lost his poise. The Red Caps held a slim 7 to 6 margin in base knocks. One of their run-producing swats was a solo home run by Charlie Miron, his third round-tripper of the playoffs. Norm Goodall had a double and single for the winners while teammate Doug May scintillated with some sparkling stops and throws at the hot corner. Straight helped his own cause by stroking a double and single.
Holden (W) and Telosky
Straight (L) and Whyte
(August 18) Scoring a brace of counters in the top of the ninth frame, the V.A.C. baseballers edged the Firemen 3 to 2 to even their Senior City final series at a game apiece. A pair of pinch-hit performances in the last canto engineered the comeback from a 2 to 1 deficit. Playing-manager Ernie Paepke, batting for Pat Worley, coaxed a leadoff walk from loser George Sikora to begin the frame. Coleman Hall then tied the score with a booming triple which sent Paepke to the dish. After an out was recorded and Sikora derricked in favor of “Lefty” Kaye, Art Morse, hitting for Haley Jackson, sneaked a dinky hit over first to plate Hall with the winning marker. Both squads manufactured six base swats as Norm Goodall of the Flame Quenchers led the hit parade with a double and single. Third baseman Teeters of the Vacs contributed a brace of one-baggers. Bill Richardson fanned nine in taking the knoll triumph.
Sikora (L), Kaye (9) and H. Richardson
B. Richardson (W) and Whyte
(August 20) A darkness-shortened affair saw the Firemen take a two games to one lead in the Vancouver Senior City baseball finals by disposing of the V.A.C. contingent 6 to 4. Both squads used two heavers on the hillock in the six-inning joust. After scoring a pair of markers in the third round, the Hosemen led for the remainder of the tussle, outhitting the Red Caps 8 to 6. In arrears by a 6 to 0 margin, the Vacs made an aborted comeback in the fifth, plated four counters but falling short of their objective. Jimmy Watters and catcher Tony Tolesky of the Smoke Swallowers as well as the Clubbers’ Coleman Hall each stroked a pair of one-baggers.
Kaye (W), Holden (5) and Telosky
Puder (L), Straight (6) and Whyte
(August 22) With young Bill Richardson pitching gilt-edged ball and Larry Holden unsteady, V.A.C. evened the Senior City baseball finals, beating the Firemen 6 to 2. The embattled clubs have met five times, registering one draw and two wins each. The Hosemen lacked punch in this scuffle and were outhit 11 to 5 by the Red Caps. Jimmy Watters’ inside-the-park homer with a mate aboard was the only serious damage inflicted upon Richardson. Hec Cann, Coleman Hall and Richardson lit up Holden and reliever Lorne Thompson for three base blows apiece with Hall smacking a triple while Cann and Richardson picked up two-baggers. Outfielder Cameron “Peggy” Duff doubled and singled for the Flame Fighters.
Richardson (W) and Whyte
Holden (L), Thompson (6) and Telosky
(August 23) In a wild finish, the Firemen pushed across a pair of ninth-inning counters to edge the V.A.C. troupe 8 to 7 and capture the Senior City League tiara for 1928. Needing only three more outs to capture the championship, the Red Caps imploded when, after a leadoff single by Jimmy Watters, pitcher Hal Puder fumbled and kicked away the ensuing tap to the mound by Charlie Stevenson and, instead of eating it, made a poor decision to throw to the initial sack and wound up heaving it into the bleachers, allowing Watters to scamper over with the tying run and Stevenson to cruise into third. Nick Craig then lofted a high fly to outfielder Coleman Hall and Stevenson, tagging up on the play, beat the throw to the plate with the winning run. Stevenson led the Firemen in their 13-hit offensive assault, banging out three safeties. Shortstop Herb Rotchford tripled and singled for the Vacs. Nick Craig and Harry Richardson of the Flame Squelchers as well as the Clubbers’ Charlie Miron all swatted the apple for a double and single.
Craig, Sikora (W) (8) and H. Richardson
B. Richardson, Puder (L) (5) and Whyte
Post-season
(August 25) Harry Miyasaki’s Vancouver Asahis travelled to Seattle and defeated the Nippon Athletic Club 2 to 0 in the first game of a best-of-three series for the Japanese baseball championship of the Pacific Northwest. Roy Nishidera limited the Seattle team to two hits.
(September 3) Asahis, smart young baseball nine of Vancouver, captured the Pacific Northwest Japanese baseball championship when they defeated the Nippons of Seattle 2 to 1 at Athletic Park. Both teams were rather weak with the bat but fielded flawlessly and ran the bases with abandon. The majority of the scoring resulted from cleverly executed squeeze plays. Roy Nishidera held the Puget Sounders to five hits in taking the mound decision.
VANCOUVER TERMINAL LEAGUE
First-half
(April 25) The Cancos celebrated their debut into the Terminal Baseball League by handing Shores' Jewelers a 6 to 4 defeat in the 1928 opener at the Powell Street grounds. The game was decided in the final frame when the Can Makers broke a 4 – 4 tie by plating a pair of markers. Winning pitcher Johnny Keith held the Gem Dealers to three hits while fanning four. He also led all hitters with a pair of doubles. “Bunny” Purmal, Shores' backstop, poled out a circuit drive.
Keith (W) and Pauche/Pausche
L. Weaver, Noble (L) (4) and Purmal
(April 26) South Hill, composed of the majority of last season’s champion Burnaby squad, lost their opening game in the Terminal Baseball League when they dropped a close 5 to 4 decision to the C.N.R. aggregation. Although holding a hefty 12 to 7 margin in base hits, the Hillers missed out on golden opportunities to put the game away. The Railwaymen scored the winning run in the last round. Catcher “Boony” Warren of the Vets had a perfect four-for-four performance at the dish.
Diebolt, Arthur (L) (4) and Warren
Chapman (W) and Tait
(April 30) The South Hill Army & Navy dropped their second Terminal League start when they were beaten 3 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds by Shores' Jewelers. The Diamond Merchants bunched their hits in two innings to win the game, playing errorless ball behind the six-hit pitching of Noble. Second sacker Keeley paced the Gem Dealers with the baton, bashing a brace of two-baggers. Noble fanned eleven during his complete game stint.
Haines (L), Arthur (5) and Warren
Noble (W) and Purmal
(May 1) Playing errorless ball behind the six-hit pitching of Noble, Shores' Jewelers got past South Hill 3 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Noble rang up ten strikeouts and walked five in his route-going mound performance. The Gem Dealers bunched their hits in two innings to grab the win. Second baseman Keeley smacked a pair of doubles for the winners while catcher “Bunny” Purmal and outfielders H. Clarke and Crompton each stroked a brace of one-baggers.
Haines (L), Arthur (5) and Warren
Noble (W) and Purmal
(May 2) “Lefty” Weaver fanned 14 in pitching Shores' Jewelers to a 4 to 0 blanking of the C.N.R. aggregation in a light-hitting Terminal League game at the Powell Street diamond. The Railroaders were only able to gather four hits, all singles, off the slants of the portsider. Outfielder H. Clarke of the Diamond Merchants provided the offensive spark for the winners with a timely triple and single.
Chapman (L) and Tait
Weaver (W) and Purmal
(May 7) Playing a flawless defensive game, South Hill edged past C.N.R. 3 to 2 in a Terminal League scuffle in which all the scoring occurred in the first two stanzas. Winning pitcher Len Arthur fanned 10 Railroaders and also singled twice along with batterymate “Boony” Warren and fellow teammates Emil Anderson, Sanders and Alec Hewer. Shortstop Faulkner paced the Trackmen with the bludgeon, cuffing a double and a brace of one-baggers.
May (L) and Tait
Arthur (W) and Warren
(May 8) Shores' Jewelers took an early lead and hung on for a 6 to 4 triumph over Canco in a Terminal League clash at Powell Street. Winning pitcher Noble rang up 11 strikeouts during his 5 1/3 innings of mound work. Outfielder H. Clarke and third baseman Barry did the heavy hitting for the Jewelers, the former with three singles and the latter with a homer and a double. Catcher Fred Pitt blasted a round-tripper for Canco.
Paushe (L), Keith (1) and Pitt
Noble (W), Weaver (6) and Purmal
(May 9) C.N.R. ran roughshod over Canco 11 to 2 at Powell Street in Terminal League play. Nicholson, Tait and Faulkner clouted out home runs for the Railroaders. Keystone sacker Nicholson wound up with four base hits for the winners.
Keith (L), Delbridge and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 10) Piling up 15 base blows, Shores' Jewelers plastered South Hill to the tune of 13 to 8 at the Powell Street grounds. Winning chucker Don Weaver pitched a six-hitter in going the route.
Weaver (W) and xxx
xxx (L), xxx and xxx
(May 14) Two circuit-clouts, a two-ply swat and a one-bagger by Earl McIntyre powered the Cancos to a 6 to 5 victory over C.N.R. in an exciting Terminal League fixture at the Powell Street grounds. Kendall, Neilson and Nicholson did the most effective work with the stick for the Trackmen against winning flinger Johnny Keith.
Keith (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(May 15) The South Hill baseballers got back into the fight for the first-half honours in the Terminal League when they stopped Shores' Jewelers 8 to 3 in a snappy game at the Powell Street grounds. A five-run sixth inning off the slants of losing chucker Don Weaver was the deciding factor in the game. Outfielder H. Clarke belted a home run for the Diamond Merchants.
Weaver (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 16) Winning pitcher Johnny Keith`s two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning broke a 3 – 3 tie and enabled the Canco nine to defeat Shores' Jewelers 5 to 3 in a Terminal League fracas. Keith rang up 11 strikeouts and added a one-bagger to his hit total in going the route. The Jewelers held a 10 to 6 advantage in base hits with catcher W. “Bunny” Purmal leading the way with a double and single.
Keith (W) and Pitt
Weaver (L) and Gordon, Purmal
(May 21) Out hitting the South Hill crew 11 to 9, the C.N.R. Terminal Leaguers eked out a close 2 to 1 victory over the Vets. The Railroaders’ Hermie McArthur took the mound verdict over Len Arthur.
Arthur (L) and xxx
McArthur (W) and xxx
(May 22) In a closely fought Terminal League skirmish at the Powell Street grounds, Shores' Jewelers defeated Canco 1 to 0. The game could have gone either way and was a battle of lost opportunities with each team failing to cash in when the door opened for them. The lone run of the contest came in the second inning when losing flinger Johnny Keith walked George Syrotuck with the bases loaded.
Keith (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 29) Shores' Jewelers cracked the ball hard in the pinches and scampered off with a well-merited 4 to 1 victory over the C.N.R. pastimers. Don Weaver had his left-handed curves working to perfection for the victors as he rang up seven strikeouts. Outfielder Don McLean poled out a solo home run for the Diamond Dealers in the second stanza. Catcher Tait of the Railroaders was the only swatter from either side to amass two bingles.
McArthur (L) and Tait
Weaver (W) and Purmal
(May 30) The Cancos were no match for the sluggers on the South Hill squad as the Hillmen trotted off with a one-sided 10 to 1 victory. Delbridge’s curves were easy picking for the Vets who slammed the horsehide for 11 safeties including a two-run homer by Lorne Campbell.
xxx (W) and xxx
Delbridge (L) and xxx
(May 31) South Hill jumped into the fight for leadership of the Terminal League’s second-half when they shutout Shores' Jewelers 2 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds behind the one-hit pitching of 16-year old Roy Haines. “Lefty” Weaver was nailed with the loss as Lorne Campbell’s clutch hitting beat him.
Weaver (L) and xxx
Haines (W) and xxx
(June 4) South Hill Army & Navy Vets captured one of those wild and woolly contests from the C.N.R. troupe, downing the Railroaders 11 to 3. The Nats kicked the ball around with abandonment, committing ten errors.
Arthur (W) and Warren
McArthur (L), Beddison, Tait and Tait, Beddison
(June 6) C.N.R. came through with a five-run outburst in the fifth inning to defeat the Canco nine 5 to 3 in a Terminal League game at the Powell Street facility. Complete-game winner May of the Railwaymen struck out nine batters while limiting the Canmakers to just three safeties. Hot corner guardian Curry of the Trackmen had a pair of base raps, the only swatter from either club to do so.
May (W) and Tait
Monk (L), Keith (5) and Pauche/Pausche
(June 7) Clobbering the offerings of four South Hill flingers for 17 base knocks, Shores' Jewelers soundly trounced the Army & Navy brigade 22 to 5. Winning chucker Don “Lefty” Weaver had control difficulties, walking seven and hitting one batter, but rang up nine strikeouts while yielding just five safeties. Spanking the sphere for a triad of raps apiece were Don McLean, H. Clarke and C. Leek of the Diamond Merchants. McLean counted a home run within his collection of swats, Clarke a triple and Leek a two-bagger.
Weaver (W) and Purmal, McLean
Diebolt (L), Haines (1), Sanders (5), Taylor (7) and Warren
(June 11) South Hill went into a tie with Shores' Jewelers for top spot in the first-half of the Terminal League schedule by blasting the Cancos 10 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. The same two teams will now duke it out in a best-of-three playoff for the first-half title. Second baseman Charlie Young of the Hillers pounded the apple for a homer, double and triple. Catcher “Boony” Warren also hit a four-bagger, a bases-empty shot in the fourth frame.
Keith (L), Monk (3) and Pitt
Arthur (W) and Warren
First-half playoffs (best-of-three) South Hill Army & Navy Vets vs Shores' Jewelers
(June 12) South Hill took the lead in the first-half championship of the Terminal Baseball League when they beat Shores' Jewelers 5 to 3 in the opener of the finals. Opposing heavers Len Arthur and Don Weaver pitched superbly but loose defensive play by their mates diminished the sheen of their knoll efforts. Carlson of the Diamond Dealers belted a circuit-clout in the sixth frame.
Weaver (L) and xxx
Arthur (W) and xxx
(June 13) The South Hill Army & Navy Vets hammered out a 6 to 4 victory over Shores' Jewelers to take the best-of-three series for the first-half championship of the Terminal League in two straight games. Len Arthur took the pitching decision after coming on in a relief role in the second canto. First baseman Alec Hewer led the winners offensively with three safeties in four times at bat.
Diebolt, Arthur (W) (2) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Second-half
(June 18) With South Hill rookie Roy Haines unable to locate the plate, the C.N.R. aggregation downed the Vets 8 to 1 in the opening game of the second-half of the Terminal League schedule. The Railroaders bunched hits for four runs in the third inning and added four more in the seventh. Winning tosser Hermie McArthur set the Hillers down on six hits. Faulkner was the big noise with the stick for the winners, slamming a brace of doubles.
Haines (L) and xxx
McArthur (W) and xxx
(June 19) Bunching four hits, coupled with a defensive miscue and a fielder’s choice, in the third inning of play enabled the Canco nine to defeat Shores' Jewelers 6 to 5 at the Powell Street diamond. The key hit in the uprising was a two-run single by infielder Coello. Winning pitcher Johnny Keith’s double and outfielder Barnett’s one-bagger also drove in important runs for the Canmakers.
Leith (L), xxx and xxx
Keith (W) and xxx
(June 20) Shores' Jewelers handed South Hill their second loss in the last-half schedule by edging the Army & Navy Vets 4 to 3. The Hillers counted all three of their markers in the opening canto on a two-run single by first baseman Hewer followed by outfielder Taylor’s RBI double. Leadoff hitter Bruce McIntyre got one back for the Gem Merchants in the bottom half of the same frame when, after drilling a single, he eventually scored on an infield single by Don McLean. In the fifth, the Diamond Dealers evened things up on W. “Bunny” Purmal’s two-run single. Shores' won the game in the bottom of the ninth when C. Leek singled to drive in McIntyre.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 21) C.N.R. picked up their second victory of the second-half by edging the Canco nine 6 to 5 at Powell Street. Timely hitting and better defensive play by the Railroaders was the essential difference in deciding the outcome.
Keith (L) and xxx
May (W) and xxx
(June 25) Herman McArthur held Shores' Jewelers to just two hits in piloting C.N.R. to a close 3 to 2 Terminal League conquest of the Gem Dealers. The Railroaders notched the winning counter in the seventh canto when Shores' catcher “Bunny” Purmal overthrew the bag on McArthur’s steal attempt.
McArthur (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and Purmal
(June 27) Pounding three Shores' chuckers for 18 hits, the Canco nine scored a 9 to 4 victory over the Jewelers in a Terminal League game at Powell Street. Outfielder Barnett smashed a bases-empty home run for the American Can Company diamondeers.
Keith (W) and xxx
Noble, Leith (L) (5), xxx and xxx
(June 28) Though out hit by a 6 to 4 margin, the C.N.R. baseballers maintained their unbeaten record in the second-half of the Terminal League by posting a narrow 1 to 0 win over the South Hill A & N Vets. The contest’s lone run was plated in the fourth inning on an outfield overthrow to the plate which allowed Emery, the Railroaders runner at third base, to score. Emery had just advanced to the hot corner on a sharp single by Kendall.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 4) Four Canco errors in the fourth inning proved to be fatal for them and allowed the C.N.R. baseballers to maintain their unbeaten second-half record as the Railroaders prevailed 4 to 1 at the Powell Street diamond. Harvey’s triple had driven home Eldred to give the Can Makers a 1 to 0 lead but the Trackmen came right back in their half of the canto to register three counters, all coming as a direct result of miscues. Another error in the seventh frame allowed C.N.R. second baseman Nicholson, who had reached base on his second hit of the game, to plate a fourth tally for his team.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
Second-half standings W L Pct.
C. N. R. 5 0 1.000
Canco 2 2 .500
South Hill Army & Navy 1 3 .250
Shores' Jewelers 1 4 .200
(July 5) The Cancos were beaten 5 to 1 by South Hill in a Terminal League fixture at the Powell Street grounds. Five unearned runs by the Vets in the sixth proved the downfall of the Manufacturers.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 9) The C.N.R. diamond pastimers were handed their initial reverse of the Terminal League’s second-half when they were bombarded 15 to 4 by Shores' Jewelers. The Diamond Merchants roughed up four C.N.R. pitchers for 12 base blows in recording the win. Winning pitcher Don Weaver was also in form, punching out 11 Railroaders via the strikeout route. Bruce McIntyre had three hits for the winners.
xxx (L), xxx, xxx, xxx and xxx
Weaver (W) and xxx
(July 10) South Hill Army & Navy vets defeated C.N.R. 4 to 2 in a Terminal League game at the Powell Street facility. Winning flinger Les Traeger rang up 12 strikeouts with second baseman Nicholson, who drove in both counters for the Railroaders with timely hits, the only thorn in his side.
Traeger (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 11) Canco lost a one-sided 17 to 2 contest to Shores' Jewelers in a Terminal League fixture. The Gem Dealers banged out 12 hits off a pair of Canco tossers and pulled off a pair of double plays in support of winning chucker Don Weaver.
Monk (L), Delbridge and Pauche/Pausche
Weaver (W) and Purmal
(July 16) Poor defensive support led to a 4 to 1 loss by the C.N.R. nine to the American Can Company diamondeers. Canco held a 7 to 4 advantage in the base-hit department with Eldred of the winners pounding a home run.
May (L) and Tait
Monk (W), Keith and Pitt
(July 17) In a game highlighted by outstanding defensive play by the winners, in particular second sacker Nicholson, the C.N.R. nine defeated Shores' Jewelers 1 to 0. A miscue by the Diamond Merchant’s Murray Leith provided the Railroaders with the game’s lone run.
Weaver (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 18) South Hill defeated the American Can Company 7 to 2 at the Powell Street diamond in a Terminal Baseball League fixture. Winning chucker Les Traeger’s arm and the batting of Lorne Campbell proved to be more than the Canco crowd could handle as the South Hill moundsman struck out a dozen batters and the third baseman collected three hits. Pauche had a home run for the Can Manufacturers.
Traeger (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 24) The South Hill Army & Navy Vets moved into a first-place tie with C.N.R. in the second-half Terminal League standings by staging a late rally for a 5 to 4 walkoff win against Shores' Jewelers. After Keeley had smacked a solo homer to put Diamond Merchants in front 4 to 3, the Jewelers promptly blew that lead in the bottom of the final frame when South Hill’s Bill Widdows picked up his third hit of the game, moved to second on pinch-hitter Les Traeger’s single and scored the tying marker on Lorne Campbell’s one-bagger. When Traeger and Campbell moved into scoring position as a result of a bad throw to first, history repeated itself as another errant peg to the initial sack on Alec Hewer’s infield ground ball allowed Traeger to touch home plate with the winning tally.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 25) Scoring six times in their final two turns at bat, the C.N.R. baseballers grabbed a comfortable 7 to 2 win from Canco at the Powell Street grounds. Tait of the Railroaders smashed a home run off losing flinger Johnny Keith. The defensive stars of the game were second sacker Nicholson of the Trainmen and Canco shortstop Tony McIntyre.
xxx (W) and xxx
Keith (L) and xxx
(July 30) C.N.R. rose to the top of the heap by defeating Shores' Jewelers 1 to 0. Hermie McArthur and Don Weaver locked horns in a torrid pitching joust. The only run of the contest came in the second inning when, after striking out two, Weaver loaded the bases on consecutive bases on balls, only to have Shores' backstop W. “Bunny” Purmal charged with catcher’s interference on the next batter’s swing which forced in the ultimate winner.
Weaver (L) and Purmal
McArthur (W) and xxx
Second-half standings W L Pct.
C. N. R. 8 4 .667
South Hill Army & Navy 7 4 .636
Canco 4 7 .364
Shores' Jewelers 4 8 .333
(August 2) The Vancouver Sun on this date declared that the South Hill Army & Navy Vets had been declared champions of both halves of the 1928 Terminal Baseball League schedule, eliminating the need for a final playoff series. League officials, however, decided that to keep the team in readiness for any Vancouver or provincial playoff run, it would be wise for South Hill, in cooperation with the other league teams, to partake in a few post-season games during the month of August. Only the C.N.R. team chose not to participate in the post-season action.
Post-season Terminal League games
(August 9) Canco defeated Shores' Jewelers 7 to 6 in a post-season Terminal League game at the Powell Street grounds. Winning tosser Johnny Keith fanned 13 while being nicked for seven hits. He was also credited with an RBI on a bases-loaded walk by losing chucker Don Weaver which forced in the winning run.
Keith (W) and Pitt
Weaver (L) and McLean, Clarke, Purmal
(August 13) W. "Bunny" Purmal, the hard working catcher of Shores' Jewelers, edged out teammate H. Clarke for the 1928 batting title in the Terminal League. Purmal's .393 average was six points better than Clarke's .387. Lorne Campbell of South Hill was a close third, at .375, while leading the league in runs scored, with 20, and hits, 30. Kendall of C.N.R. was the leading base stealer with 16 thefts.
South Hill's Les Traeger had the best winning percentage among the hurlers with four wins and no losses. Workhorse Don "Lefty" Weaver of Shores won the most games, eight, and led in strikeouts with 176 in 131 innings pitched.
(August 14) Cancos had the upper-hand on Shores' Jewelers, taking out the Gem Dealers 6 to 4 in a post-season match. Johnny Keith went the route on the mound for the Can makers and took the hillock verdict with a four-hitter. Don McLean, at shortstop for the Jewelers, made the defensive play of the game when he went into the middle pasture to make a brilliant catch of H. Maveety’s dying quail.
Pearsall (L) and North, Purmal
Keith (W) and Pauche
(August 15) Bunching their hits in the fourth inning to score four runs, South Hill defeated Shores' Jewelers 5 to 0 in a post-season exhibition fixture. Roy Haines’ two-hit pitching, Emil Anderson’s hitting, Don McLean’s fielding and Johnny Keith’s unassisted double play in the first inning were the outstanding features of the game.
Haines (W) and Warren
Keeley (L) and Purmal
B.C. Senior A baseball playdowns
New Westminster Senior Baseball League Finals (best-of-five) Fraser Cafe vs Fraser Mills
(August 14) Fraser Mills and Fraser Cafe tangled to a 5 – 5 draw in the opening match of their battle for New Westminster baseball supremacy. The Cafeterians out hit the Millmen 12 to 8 but sparkling fielding by the Loggers’ infield kept the score knotted. The game featured four home runs, two by each squad. Outfielder “Robbie” Robertson and catcher Spence Paxton connected for the Restaurateurs while fly-chasers Joe Hebert and Ray “Peep” Williams reciprocated for the Mills nine. “Stun” Bray of the Lumbermen was again his squad’s big man with the willow, driving out three hits in four attempts.
Lee and Paxton
Novak and Brannon
(August 15) With an amazing .477 average in 20 games, Joe Hebert of Fraser Mills easly took the batting championship of the New Westminster Senior League. The runner-up, teammate R. "Stun" Bray was more than 100 points behind at .365. Eddie Olson of Fraser Cafe was third with a .364 mark. Hebert also topped the senior league in doubles, 13, triples, 3, and was tied with Bill Brown of Fraser Mills for the most hits, 51. Brown had the most runs, 35.
(August 17) Behind the heady chucking of Dave Gray, the Fraser Mills nine gave a sparkling defensive exhibition to go along with some heavy hitting and got the jump on the Fraser Cafe tribe by taking the second game of the Royal City finals 10 to 3. The Millmen won the game during their first turn at bat when they pounded the offerings of losing heaver Eddie Olson for four counters. In all, they rang up 14 safeties with outfielder Joe Hebert leading the way with a home run and two singles. Fly-chasers “Robbie” Robertson and Sam Crawford had seven of the eight safeties accumulated by the Lunchmen off winning tosser Gray with Robertson collecting four of them, all one-baggers.
Gray (W) and Brannon
Olson (L) and Paxton
(August 19) Big Joe Dailey pitched one of the better games in his tenure as a hurler. He conceded two scattered hits, a scratch single by “Robbie” Robertson in the first inning and a home run by Dean Freshfield in the fifth, struck out eleven batters and ended up by knocking a circuit-clout over the centre field fence to give Fraser Mills their second straight win over Fraser Cafe, a 4 to 1 decision. Losing flinger Henry Dodd was combed for seven hits but kept them fairly well scattered. He was the victim of a couple of costly errors by his infield which gave the Mills brigade two runs. Nary a bludgeoner from either squad was able to come up with more than one bingle.
Dodd (L) and Paxton
Dailey (W) and Bray
(August 21) Excitement galore was the fare dished out to the customers at Queen’s Park when Fraser Cafe kept in the race for the New Westminster Senior A title by wading into the offerings of Doug Muscutt and Eddie Novak for a total of 18 hits as the Cafemen pinned back the ears of the Fraser Mills nine 12 to 2. Although a trifle wild, Howard “Scotty” Lee tossed an effective game for the Fork & Knifers, allowing seven hits. Lee, along with teammates “Robbie” Robertson, Earl “Tiny” Hunter and Sam “Wahoo” Crawford all pasted the pill for a triad of swats with both Lee’s and Hunter’s sum of clouts including a four-bagger and that of Robertson’s, a double.
Muscutt (L), Novak (2) and Bray
Lee (W) and Paxton
(August 22) With big Joe Dailey doing a superb job as a reliever, the Fraser Mills baseball aggregation stepped up and broke a 4 – 4 tie, knocking off the Fraser Cafe baseballers 9 to 5 to capture the New Westminster Senior A League title. The Queen’s Park showdown was a heavy-hitting affair featuring home runs by Earl “Tiny” Hunter of the Lunchmen and “Stun” Bray of the Loggers. The winners raked a pair of Cafeteria hurlers for 17 hits in repeating as Royal City titlists. Joe Hebert and shortstop “Zeke” McClurken both had three base raps for the Millmen, a feat replicated by Hunter and Ollie Larson of the vanquished nine.
Dodd (L), Lee (5) and xxx
Gray, Dailey (W) (5) and xxx
B.C. Senior A semi-finals (best-of-three) South Hill Army & Navy Vets (Terminal League champions) vs Vancouver Firemen (Vancouver Senior City League champions)
(August 24) It was strictly no contest as the Firemen, champions of the Vancouver Senior City Baseball League, walloped the South Hill Army & Navy Vets of the Terminal Baseball League 13 to 2 in the opener of their semi-final series, The Hillmen were never able to recover after the Hosemen picked off eight runs to begin the game on 6 hits and 3 errors.
Diebolt (L), Traeger (5) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(August 27) The South Hill Army & Navy Vets were eliminated from the provincial Senior A baseball scene when they dropped their second game in a row to the Vancouver Firemen, this time taking it on the chin 8 to 1. The Flame Fighters substituted freely after grabbing a comfortable 4 to 0 lead after one inning of play. Norm Goodall and Nick Craig had two hits apiece for the Hosemen.
Craig, Kaye, Holden, Sikora and xxx
Traeger (L) and Blownski
B.C. Senior A semi-finals (best-of-three) Victoria Native Sons (Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League champions) vs Fraser Mills (New Westminster Senior Baseball League champions)
(August 25) The Fraser Mills baseball club from New Westminster hammered the outclassed Victoria Native Sons 11 to 0 in the opening game of the B.C. Senior A semi-finals. Eddie Novak held the Victoria champions to just two hits in posting the shutout triumph. The Mills aggregation pounded 14 safeties off losing twirler Lloyd Cann.
Cann (L) and Bacon
Novak (W) and xxx
(August 26) Failing to score in two games and getting only one baserunner past second base in 18 innings of baseball, the Victoria Native Sons passed out of the provincial Senior A playoffs after absorbing a 4 to 0 blanking by the New Westminster Fraser Mills troupe. The Victorians had four hits in this game, bringing their total to six in the two games.
Kerr (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
B.C. Senior A finals (best-of-seven) Vancouver Firemen vs New Westminster Fraser Mills
(August 29) George “Lefty” Kaye held the hard-socking Fraser Mills nine to four hits as the Vancouver Firemen opened the provincial senior A finals with a 6 to 4 victory over the New Westminster champions. Wild in the early going, Kaye settled into a groove as his teammates out hit and out fielded the Lumber Lords from across the Kingsway. Norm Goodall and Nick Craig, with a brace of raps apiece, did the heavy sticking for the Hosemen against losing twirler Joe Dailey.
Dailey (L) and Brannon
Kaye (W), Sikora (9) and Richardson
(August 31) Lacking their usual pep, the Vancouver Firemen fell behind early and went on to suffer an 8 to 2 defeat at the hands of the New Westminster Fraser Mills clan. Dave Gray started somewhat shakily on the hill for the Lumbermen but soon settled down and finished with a six-hitter while whiffing ten. He also stroked a couple of singles to aid the offensive cause. Snappy shortstop “Zeke” McClurken of the Royal City brigade walloped three hits for his club including a triple, the game’s only extra-base blow. Collecting a brace of one-baggers each were “Paddy” Ryan and “Peep” Williams of the winners as well as Norm Goodall and Arne Miller of the Flame Thwarters.
Sikora (L), Holden (2), Thompson (7) and Richardson, Telosky
Gray (W) and Brannon
(September 1) Although Fraser Mills of New Westminster out hit the Firemen, they were unable to connect in the pinches off “Lefty” Kaye and, accordingly, fell to the Vancouver Hose & Ladder gang 5 to 1. The Fire Eaters, in contrast, bunched their bingles off loser Eddie Novak, especially in the third and fourth frames when they took control of the contest. The Millmen got their only tally in the seventh round on three successive hits after two were out.
Novak (L), Dailey (4) and xxx
Kaye (W) and xxx
(September 3) Before 3,000 enthusiasts at Athletic Park, the Vancouver Firemen grabbed a stranglehold on their provincial final series with the Fraser Mills troupe of New Westminster, disposing of the Royal City nine 6 to 1. Nick Craig, with a three-hitter, pitched superlative baseball for the winners, flashing perfect control, a splendid assortment of benders and a smoking fastball. He also collected a pair of hits, the second of which drove in a pair of sixth-inning runs. “Zeke" McClurken, with two singles was the only Lumberman to have any success against Craig.
Craig (W) and Richardson
Gray (L), Muscutt (8) and Brannon
(September 5) Staging a seventh-inning outburst that netted them four counters, the New Westminster Fraser Mills diamond pastimers hung a 4 to 0 defeat on the Vancouver Firemen to prolong the B.C. final series. Winning pitcher Joe Dailey was the big noise in this fracas, allowing the Hosemen but three measly hits while ringing up five whiffs. Run-scoring singles by “Peep” Williams and “Zeke” McClurken followed by a two-run double off the bat of catcher Brannon produced the four Fraser Mills’ tallies.
Dailey (W) and Brannon
Kaye (L), Thompson (7) and Richardson
(September 7) Third baseman “Stun” Bray of the New Westminster Fraser Mills contingent lived up to his nickname when he stunned the visiting Vancouver Firemen by jolting a two-run dinger in the bottom of the eighth and final frame to lift the Millmen to a 10 to 8 win over the Hosemen. For the first 5 1/2 cantos, the teams went scoreless but then, in the final 2 1/2 rounds, the bats came to life and the runs were plentiful. The Royal City squad out hit the Vancouverites 11 to 6 during the course of the darkness-shortened encounter. Backstop Brannon of the victors was best at the platter, securing a triad of base swats.
Craig, Kaye (7), Holden (8), Thompson (L) (8) and Richardson
Gray, Dailey (W) (7) and Brannon
(September 9) Trailing by two runs as they came to bat in the bottom of the ninth frame, the Fraser Mills diamondeers from New Westminster put on their rally caps to plate a pair and extend the seventh game of the B.C. Senior A finals into an extra-inning. The Vancouver Firemen, somewhat startled but not disheartened by the sudden turn of events, came right back and took the lead in the top of the tenth when two walks, a sacrifice and Arne Miller’s sacrifice fly sent Norm Goodall flying across the plate. With fight in their eyes as they grabbed their bats for the final time, the Mills troupe garnered a one-out single by Percy Bolstad, followed by “Stun” Bray’s sharp one-bagger which sent Bolstad to third and allowed Bray to reach the keystone sack on the outfield throw to the hot corner which was not cut-off by a middle infielder. With Larry Holden taking over on the hill for “Lefty” Kaye at this point, it was expected that he would issue an intentional pass to Joe Hebert, the heaviest sticker in the Lumbermen’s lineup. But such was not to be the case as the slugging Hebert lit into a low ball from Holden and nailed it for two bases, driving in both runners to end the game and give the the Mills clan the provincial championship for 1928. Despite being on the losing side, Goodall was the most productive offensive player in the game, slamming a homer, a double and a single, not to mention a pair of walks.
Kaye (L), Holden (10) and Richardson
Gray, Dailey (3), Novak (W) (7) and Brannon, Bray
Post-playoff exhibition series
Rossland, the team which cleaned up the B.C. baseball championship in both 1926 and 1927, travelled to the lower mainland to challenge the 1928 titleholders, Fraser Mills, in a friendly exhibition series.
(September 10) Appearing a trifle stale from prolonged inaction on the diamond, the invaders from the Golden City of Rossland lost the opening encounter of their exhibition series with the Fraser Mills squad of New Westminster 6 to 0. The Millmen jumped into a quick 3 to 0 lead in the opening canto, added another tally in the third and plated two more in the fourth round. Both teams laced the pill for six safeties but it was winning heaver Eddie Novak who held the upper hand in the pinches. Outfielder R. Morrison of the Miners was the contest’s top swatter, rapping a double plus a brace of one-baggers.
Walsh (L) and Sullivan
Novak (W) and Brannon
(September 12) Doug Muscutt, lean right-handed twirler for the Fraser Mills baseballers, blanked the visiting Rossland club 3 to 0 and, in the process, got credit for a seven-inning no-hit, no-run victory. He fanned five, didn’t walk a batter but did curve his shoots into the ribs of a pair of Rosslanders. Otherwise, he was perfection plus. Big and powerful “Tiny” Pradolini, ex-Revelstokian, did the hurling for the Golden City nine and, except for the opening canto when the Lumbermen plated all three of their counters, came up with an excellent mound performance, punching out eight New Westminster batters while yielding five hits. W. Bill Brown and Percy Bolstad had two singles apiece for the victors.
Muscutt (W) and Brannon
Pradolini (L) and Sullivan
(September 14) The Rossland baseballers dropped their third straight exhibition game to the Fraser Mills aggregation, narrowly losing by a 3 to 2 score. All the scoring in this contest occurred during the initial three frames. The West Kootenay gang scored their brace of counters in the first inning following a walk to outfielder Morrison and a single by catcher Sullivan which was then booted, not only by the retrieving outfielder, but also just behind second base on the subsequent relay throw, allowing Sullivan to motor all the way home. The Millmen countered with single tallies in the first, second and third panels. Dave Gray struck out eight and gave up just three safeties in taking the hillock verdict. Louis DeMore southpawed for the Miners, surrendering five bingles while whiffing ten. Keystone sacker W. Brown of the New Westminster champions was the sole batter in the game to rack up a pair of hits, one of which was a three-ply clout.
DeMore (L) and Sullivan
Gray (W) and Brannon
B.C. Senior B baseball playoffs
Lower Mainland Senior B Finals (best-of-three) Vancouver Knights of Columbus vs Britannia Mines
(September 8) Superior hurling by Bill Cadenhead, former Terminal League star, was chiefly responsible for Britannia Mines taking the measure of the Knights of Columbus 4 to 2 in the opening game of the series. It was a pitcher’s battle throughout with Cadenhead triumphing over Leo Holden. The Miners bunched hits in the fourth frame to score all their runs with Neilson driving in a pair and Runge and Wilson one each, all on singles. The Knights got on the scoreboard in the eighth when Wickett’s single, Spicer’s double and two infield outs gave them two runs.
Cadenhead (W) and Clark/Clarke
L. Holden (L) and Spicer
(September 12) The Knights of Columbus passed out of the provincial Senior B scene when they were defeated by Britannia Mines 5 to 4. The Miners grabbed an early 4 to 0 lead and held on for the victory and a sweep of the series. Ross Morrow and first baseman McGuire of the Knights as well as Britannia’s Bill Cadenhead each had a pair of hits.
Delcourt (L), L. Holden (2) and Spicer
Kozak, Cadenhead (W) (3) and Clark/Clarke
B.C. Senior B Finals
The Victoria Capitals, champions of the Vancouver Island Senior B Baseball League, copped the 1928 British Columbia Senior B baseball championship. No dates of games, scores or game details of the final series found.