1929 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1929 BC Interior
1929 Vancouver Island
VICTORIA SENIOR AMATEUR BASEBALL LEAGUE
The 1929 Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League encompassed five member clubs, four from the Capital City and the other from the adjacent community of Sidney. The Jokers, a new entry, moved up a notch in competition, stepping into the fray after capturing the championship of the 1928 Victoria Commercial League.
(May 13) The Jokers made a favourable impression in their Senior Amateur League debut, edging the Sons of Canada 8 to 7 at Royal Athletic Park. Champions of the Commercial League last season, the Jokers plated the winning run in the seventh inning after coming from behind to tie the score in the sixth. Winning pitcher Wes Stickney touched home with what proved to be the winning counter after drilling a single, moving to the keystone sack on a sacrifice, a theft of third base and a resulting overthrow to the hot corner. The Wild Cards bashed out 15 base blows with outfielder Hughie Devereaux accounting for three of them, one of which was a two-bagger.
Stickney (W) and Hubbard
Kerr (L) and C. Campbell
(May 15) Lloyd Cann poled out the first home run of the early season, a solo shot, while pitching his mates on the Tillicums to a 9 to 6 conquest of the Eagles. Base hits were freely doled out and the winners collected 11 to 8 for the Feathered Tribe. Snatching three safe swats apiece were shortstop Rutledge of the Big Birds as well as catcher Cliff Hilton of the Clubbers. A brace of doubles was included in each of their totals.
Holness (L) and B. Ross
Cann (W) and Hilton
(May 20) Circuit-clouts by Wade Steele and Sylvester Williams powered Sidney to an 11 to 5 victory over the Sons of Canada. Steele also toiled on the hill for the winners, limiting the Sons to five safeties while fanning eight. Losing slinger Tommy Forbes, making his first appearance with the Canucks, was nicked for nine base raps. Catcher Frank Lines drilled a double and single for Sidney, an offensive output matched by the Sons’ third sacker Bill Emery.
Forbes (L) and C. Campbell
Steele (W) and Lines
(May 22) Sensational infield play by keystone sacker Bobby Love accounted for much of the Tillicums’ success in sending the Jokers down to a 12 to 10 defeat. Love’s brilliant glove work snuffed out rallies by the vanquished nine with ducks on the pond in both the third and fourth cantos. Each squad racked up seven safeties as Eric Whitehead claimed the mound verdict over Dave Donaldson. Tommy Greene and Cliff Hilton slugged home runs for the victors.
Whitehead (W), Cann (6) and Hilton
Donaldson (L), Stickney (3) and Downs
(May 27) Outfielder Steve Dunc hammered a pair of round-trippers in leading the Eagles to a 15 to 5 crushing of the Sidney nine in a free-hitting affair at Royal Athletic Park. Other hitters of note in the slugfest were rival first sackers Brown of Sidney and Brynjolfson of the Lodgemen who both laced a triad of one-baggers.
Steele (L), Williams (3), Brosseau (6) and Lines
McDonald (W) and B. Ross
(May 29) The Tillicums ran off their third consecutive victory, coming from behind with a two-spot in the ninth panel, by nipping the Sons of Canada 6 to 5. The Clubbers held a 9 to 5 advantage in base knocks with playing-manager Tommy Greene grabbing the spotlight with a double and three singles. Greene also was credited with the route-going hillock triumph, punching out seven Canuck batters along the way.
Greene (W) and Hilton
Curtis (L) and Bacon
(May 31) The Jokers jumped into second place in the Senior Amateur Baseball League when they took the Eagles into camp 6 to 4 at Royal Athletic Park. Base hits were scarce as winning flinger Pollard was nicked for just three safeties while Bill Holness, on the mound for the Big Birds, gave up six bingles.
Holness (L) and B. Ross
Pollard (W) and Hubbard, Behnson (6)
(June 3) League-leading Tillicums tasted defeat for the first time this season, being beat out by Sidney 2 to 1 at Royal Athletic Park. Sidney pitcher Sylvester Williams drove in both of his team’s runs with a fifth-inning single and a seventh-frame two-bagger. A bottom-of-the-ninth rally by the Tillicums netted a singleton on pinch-hitter Barnes’ single but the potential tying run was nailed at the plate on the same play. Third baseman R. Dunnett of the Clubbers, with a double and two singles, led all swatters in this contest.
Williams (W) and Lines
Cann (L) and Hilton
(June 5) Sons of Canada, last season’s champions, finally broke into the win column when they handed the Eagles an 18 to 9 licking at Royal Athletic Park. The win was aided, in large part, by the poor defensive work of the Birdmen who rang up eight fielding miscues. Outswatting the losers by a 12 to 8 margin, the Canadians were led at the dish by third baseman Bill Emery who ripped three safeties.
Forbes (W), Parfitt (6) and Bacon
McDonald (L) and B. Ross
(June 7) Sidney went into a tie with the Tillicums for leadership in the Senior Amateur circuit by virtue of an 8 to 6 conquest of the Jokers. Both teams racked up 11 base knocks but the big difference was in run-prevention as the Wild Cards booted the ball eight times while Sidney committed just one faux pas. Losing pitcher Pete Campbell of the Clubbers and Sidney’s Frank Lines both stung the sphere for a triad of bingles.
Campbell (L) and Downs
Steele (W) and Lines
(June 10) A two-out, two-run four-bagger by veteran backstop Jack Bacon in the top of the ninth frame lifted the Sons of Canada to an 8 to 6 conquest of the Jokers in Senior Amateur League action. The Sons had led most of the way until the Wild Cards knotted the count at 6 – 6 in the seventh canto. The Jokers held a huge 12 to 4 advantage in base hits but were unable to cash in on the many opportunities afforded them. Losing chucker, Wes Stickney, fanned 11 but also walked eight. At the dish, however, he led his squad offensively, drilling a two-bagger and a brace of singles.
Parfitt (W) and Bacon
Stickney (L) and Downs
(June 12) Behind the steady eight-hit pitching of young Bill Holness, the Eagles threw a wrench into the pennant aspirations of the Tillicums, downing the Clubbers 9 to 6 at Royal Athletic Park. Outfielder Steve Dunc paced the Birdmen with the willow, clipping the pill for a three-bagger and single.
Whitehead (L), Cann (5) and Barnes
Holness (W) and Quinn
(June 14) A 4 – 4 tie with the Sons of Canada maintained Sidney’s slim lead atop the Senior Amateur loop. Playing under a steady drizzle of rain, the Sons had an 8 to 5 edge in base hits acquired. Bill Emery of the Canadians and Sidney second sacker Simpson led their respective nines with a double and single each.
Brosseau, Steele (1) and Lines
Curtis and Bacon
(June 15) Displaying some of the best baseball seen during the campaign, the Tacoma Kittens walked off with a pair of exhibition game victories over the Victoria Senior Amateur League All-Stars, taking the hosts down 8 to 4 and 11 to 1. A five-run explosion in the eighth panel won it for the Kits in the opener. Fly chaser Mazza ripped a triple and two singles for the winners.
Thiel (W) and Thout
Stickney, McDonald (L) (7), Greene (8) and C. Campbell
Not content with his fine offensive production in the matinee game, Tacoma outfielder Mazza continued to flex his muscles in the late tilt, spanking the sphere for four base knocks including a brace of circuit-clouts.
Comp (W) and Thout
Cann (L) and Lines
(June 17) The Tillicums jumped into a tie with Sidney for leadership in the Victoria Senior Amateur circuit when they doubled the fast-stepping Jokers 4 to 2 in one of the best games of the season. Winning flinger Tommy Greene and vanquished hurler Wes Stickney both sparkled on the hillock, each allowing just three hits. Errors at crucial times, however, plagued the Wild Cards and led to their defeat. Stickney had five strikeouts to three for Greene. Jim D’Arcy of the Jokers and Greene both managed to clip the orb for two safeties.
Stickney (L) and Downs
Greene (W) and Barnes
(June 21) The Eagles knocked Sidney off their penthouse perch by drubbing the co-leaders 13 to 7 in a free-swatting affair at Royal Athletic Park. The Feathered Tribe rang up 14 base blows to 11 for Sidney. Infielder Johnny Latham of the Birdmen and hot corner custodian Brosseau of the vanquished nine both lit up opposing hurling for three safe swats. Fly chaser Steve Dunc of the winners crashed out a solo home run.
McDonald (W) and Quinn
Williams (L), Steele (8) and Lines
(June 24) The defending champion Son of Canada continued to show improvement, winning their third in a row, a 6 to 2 victory over the Tillicums. Ray Parfitt, who carried out the pitching duties for the Sons, worked well allowing seven scattered hits while ringing up eight strikeouts. Loser Tommy Greene was nailed for 15 bingles including three apiece by Bill Emery, Colin Campbell and Jack Bacon. Greene led the Clubbers with the hickory, also swatting the apple for a triad of safeties.
Parfitt (W) and Bacon
Greene (L) and Hilton
(June 26) Cashing in on their many opportunities, the Jokers clobbered the Eagles 16 to 6, a win which moved them into a fourth-place tie with the Birdmen. Winning tosser Wes Stickney was nicked for seven safeties while punching out 12 Eagle batters. The diminutive portsider also helped on the offensive side of the ledger, smacking a double and a pair of one-baggers. His teammate, outfielder Hughie Devereaux, had an identical output with the hickory.
Stickney (W) and Downs
Thomson (L) and B. Ross
(June 28) The Tillicums moved into a full-game lead in the Victoria Senior Amateur circuit after hammering Sidney 16 to 8 in a heavy-hitting affair at Royal Athletic Park. In arrears at one point by four counters, the Clubbers mounted the heavy artillery in both the fourth and eighth panels to walk away with the verdict. Tommy Greene and Herb Doherty of the victors spanked the horsehide for three safeties apiece as did Sidney catcher Frank Lines. Greene’s output included a double and triple while Doherty picked up a two-bagger in his total and Lines a triple in his sum of swats.
Cann (W) and Barnes
Steele (L), Williams (4) and Lines
(July 1) The Sons of Canada were swept 14 to 4 and 9 to 2 by the visiting Firemen, leaders in the Vancouver Senior circuit, in a holiday twin-bill at Royal Athletic Park. In the morning attraction, the Fire Fighters clouted the offerings of Johnny Kerr and Jack Curtis, on the mound for the Canadians, for 18 safeties which included four circuit-smashes, one each by Arne Miller, Charlie Stevenson, Nick Craig and Harry Richardson. The winners changed pitchers frequently and used six chuckers during the two-game sweep.
xxx (W), xxx, xxx and xxx
Kerr (L), Curtis (6) and xxx
xxx (W), xxx, xxx and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Tragedy followed the Dominion Day contests. The following was published in the Nanaimo paper July 2nd.
Falling overboard as he leaned on the rail of the SS Princess Mary, en route from Victoria to Vancouver, Doug May, 28, of the Vancouver Firemen's baseball team which played a double-header in Victoria Dominion Day, is believed to have lost his life off Mayne Island, Gulf of Georgia, shortly after 1.30 a.m. today.
May and two fellow members of the baseball team had given up staterooms to a number of women who were unable to obtain berths. The three endeavored to sleep in deck chairs. The other two, Nick Craig and Arne Miller, dozed off and were awakened by what is believed to have been May's call for help. The vessel was stopped but no sign of May was found. The vessel was about half or three-quarters of a mile from the shore of Mayne Island approaching Active Pass and it was possible though not probable that May was able to reach the island. He was not considered a strong swimmer, however. [Nanaimo Free Press, July 2, 1929]
(July 3) By virtue of an 8 to 7 triumph over the Eagles, the Sons of Canada moved into second place in the VSABL. Both pitchers went the distance and were hit freely. Bill Holness was nicked for 13 safeties while the Eagles found Johnny Kerr for an even dozen. Hot corner custodian Colin Campbell of the Canadians fattened his batting average considerably, going four-for-five at the dish with two of his base blows being doubles. Teammate Bill Holman picked up a double and two one-baggers. For the Feathered Tribe, outfielder Steve Dunc belted two home runs while Wes Harper contributed three singles.
Kerr (W) and Bacon
Holness (L) and Quinn
(July 5) Wes Stickney’s choice southpaw offerings were far too much for Sidney at Royal Athletic Park where he stymied the Milltown Men on three hits as the Jokers checked in with a 4 to 0 victory. Neither Stickney nor loser Wade Steele issued a single base on balls during the nine-inning affair. Stickney faced only 28 batters, one over the minimum. Only one runner reached second base and this was on an error by Stickney. Outfielder Elmer Smith of the Jokers bagged a double and two one-base blows to lead the hit parade.
Steele (L) and Lines
Stickney (W) and Downs
(July 8) The Jokers climbed into second place in the Senior Amateur circuit when they trounced the Sons of Canada 11 to 2 at Royal Athletic Park. The Sons played an extremely poor game afield, committing nine errors. From the first inning on, when the Jesters rattled off four runs without the benefit of a base hit, the Canadians were booting the ball around. Outfielder Elmer Smith of the Comics led the willow-wielding parade with three hits including two doubles.
Lidstone (W) and Downs
Parfitt (L), Forbes (8) and Bacon
Standings W L Pct.
Tillicums 5 3 .625
Jokers 5 4 .556
Sons of Canada 4 4 .500
Sidney 3 4 .429
Eagles 3 5 .375
(July 10) The Tillicums assured themselves of a playoff berth when they defeated the Eagles 7 to 3 to take a one-game lead over the Jokers for top spot in the VSABL. One bad inning, the fourth, proved to be the undoing of the Eagles. Lloyd Cann, on the mound for the Clubbers, was effective in the pinches, ringing up nine strikeouts along the way. Third baseman Dave Essler of the Birds and playing-manager Tommy Greene of the Tillicums both registered a brace of hits with Essler’s pair of swats both being doubles.
McDonald (L) and B. Ross
Cann (W) and Barnes
(July 12) Chalking up an 8 to 2 victory over Sidney, the Sons of Canada crept a notch closer to the league-leading Tillicums and went into a tie with the Jokers for second-spot in the Senior Amateur circuit. It was a heavy-hitting affair with both teams banging out ten base blows. The Sons scored a singleton in the top of the opening stanza and led all the way. Catcher Jack Bacon had a three-bagger and single for the Canadians. Three swatters from each squad, “Kim” Campbell, Jack Noble and Ralph Mawhinney of the Sons as well as shortstop Simpson, third baseman Brosseau and outfielder Ken Darbyshire of Sidney, each stroked a double and single.
Curtis (W) and Bacon
Steele (L) and Lines
(July 13) Visiting Port Angeles WA baseballers won both games of a doubleheader against Victoria opposition, decimating the Jokers 19 to 1 in the matinee fracas and then hammering the Tillicums 12 to 6 in the follow-up affair.
Winning tosser Gibbons held the Jokers to six scattered singles and belted a home run in the opener.
Gibbons (W) and xxx
Stickney (L), Collins (9) and xxx
Port Angeles overcame a 5 to 0 fourth-inning deficit to capture the late game from the Tillicum Club nine. Hot corner custodian Conroy of the Washingtonians blasted a home run, triple and double.
Whitehead (L), Cann (6) and xxx
Sutton (W) and xxx
(July 15) Snappy first baseman Claude Belcher of the Jokers crashed out a circuit-swat in the last of the sixth inning with teammate Jim D’Arcy aboard, a clout which allowed the Jesters to erase a one-run deficit and defeat the Tillicum Club 5 to 4. Other than the opening canto when they collected three safeties and an equal number of counters, the Tillicums were mostly ineffective in dealing with the pitching of winning tosser Dan Lidstone who finished with a six-hitter plus 12 strikeouts. Belcher had a double in addition to his four-ply dinger. Fellow Jokers’ “Hap” Gandy and outfielder Barry each had three safeties with a double included in Gandy’s total.
Greene (L) and Hilton
Lidstone (W) and Downs
(July 17) The trusty willow of Dave Essler, covering the hot corner for the Eagles, coupled with the wildness of Sidney starting heaver Simpson, allowed the Feathered Tribe to gain a 7 to 4 victory over the Mill Towners. Essler drove in two runs in the third when he crashed out a triple and then lifted one of Simpson’s slow benders over the middle-pasture fence in the seventh with sidekick Johnny Latham aboard. Out hit by a healthy 12 to 6 margin, the Big Birds took advantage of their openings, particularly with the free passes, while the Millmen just didn’t deliver in the crunch. Sidney infielders Quance and Brosseau both had a triad of base knocks.
Simpson (L), Steele (7) and Behnson, Lines
Thomson (W) and B. Ross
(July 19) The Sons of Canada went into a tie with the Jokers for first place in the Senior Amateur ball race when they defeated the Tillicums 5 to 4 in a bitterly-contested battle at Royal Athletic Park. Bill Emery’s ninth-inning perfectly-placed bunt which found its way between first and second base allowed base runner Falconer “Kim” Campbell to motor on home all the way from second base with the winning counter. Campbell had earlier doubled, his third hit of the game. Both teams had eight hits in the skirmish. Winning flinger Ray Parfitt sent 13 batters back to the dugout on strikeouts.
Cann (L) and Barnes
Parfitt (W) and Bacon
(July 22) The Jokers jumped into undisputed occupancy of the premier berth in the Senior Amateur Baseball League by trouncing the Eagles 11 to 3. The winners connected for eleven hits off losing pitcher McDonald including a home run, triple and single by Hughie Devereaux. Shortstop Jim D’Arcy also had three hits for the Jesters, all singles. Johnny Latham smacked a two-run round-tripper for the Big Birds.
McDonald (L) and Quinn
Stickney (W), Lidstone (6) and Downs
(July 24) Sidney’s unheralded band of diamondeers grabbed off a 5 to 3 victory at the expense of the slumping Tillicums. The setback marked the third straight for the Clubbers. Sylvester Williams, on the slab for the Millmen, scattered eight hits, breezed seven and clouted a two-run homer. Keystone sacker Quance singled on four occasions for Sidney.
Williams (W) and Lines
Whitehead (L), Cann (6) and Barnes, Hilton
(July 26) The Sons of Canada maltose went into a tie with the Jokers for top spot when they humbled the Eagles 15 to 7 in a rather listless tussle at Royal Athletic Park. The loss for the Feathered Tribe eliminated them from playoff contention. Canadians’ third sacker Bill Emery was tops with the hickory, stroking three singles. His teammate, fly chaser Bill Holman, bagged a home run with two runners on the cushions as well as a one-bagger. Outfielder Nachtrieb doubled and singled for the vanquished nine.
Curtis, Roscamp (4), Parfitt (W) (6) and Bacon
Holness (L), Thomson (7) and B. Ross
(July 29) Sidney had their hopes for the playoffs dashed after suffering an 8 to 3 setback at the hands of the Jokers. The victory for the Jesters moved them a half-game in front of the Sons of Canada in the pursuit of first place. The Comics grabbed a 4 to 0 lead in the third stanza and put the game on ice with another four-spot in the seventh. Sidney catcher Frank Lines was instrumental in putting together a triple play in the third inning when he caught the Joker base runners napping with all three cushions occupied. Initial sacker Brown of the Mill Towners as well as Claude Belcher and catcher Downs from the Wild Cards each had three bingles with a three-bagger included in Belcher’s output.
Stickney (W) and Downs
Steele (L) and Lines
(July 31) Clouting the offerings of three Sidney chuckers for 17 hits, including a circuit-smash by Jack Noble, the Sons of Canada contingent of baseballers crept back into a tie with the Jokers for first place in the Senior Amateur loop, taking a 14 to 4 verdict from the Mill Towners. Noble’s two-run dinger in the second inning sparked a six-run scoring spree in that frame and drove losing flinger Sylvester Williams to the showers. Catcher Jack Bacon and first baseman Ralph Mawhinney of the Sons both accumulated four singles. The Canadians will now face the Jokers in a sudden-death first-place tie-breaker.
Williams (L), Behnson (2), Quance (8) and Lines
Curtis (W) and Bacon
Final Standings W L Pct.
Sons of Canada 8 4 .667
Jokers 8 4 .667
Tillicums 6 6 .500
Sidney 4 8 .333
Eagles 4 8 .333
First-place tie-breaker (sudden-death)
Sons of Canada vs Jokers
(August 2) A nine-inning showdown at Royal Athletic Park failed to produce a winner as the Sons of Canada and the Jokers tied 7 – 7 in their quest for first-place, the McGavin Cup which goes to the club finishing in top-spot and a bye into the league finals. The game was one of those affairs in which, first one team and then the other, had the lead an it kept the fans on the edge of their seats. A last-inning rally by the Jokers when they were in arrears by two counters and were down to their final out, pilfered the victory from the Sons. The lead changed hands on five occasions during the course of the game which featured plenty of heavy hitting highlighted by four-bagger and triple off the bat of the Sons’ Bill Holman as well as two doubles apiece by Wes Stickney of the Jokers and the Canadians’ “Kim” Campbell. Outfielder Elmer Smith had four singles for the Jesters while teammates Stickney and Claude Belcher both delivered a trio of raps.
Parfitt, Curtis (6) and Bacon
Lidstone and Downs
(August 5) The Defending champion Sons of Canada captured the McGavin Cup and a bye into the Senior Amateur finals by decisively defeating the Jokers 10 to 2 in the tie-breaker for top spot in the circuit. The fifth inning saw the demise of the Jokers as they fell apart defensively at the same time that losing chucker Wes Stickney was becoming as wild as a March hare. The Canadians collected but two hits in this frame, both singles, but scored six runs. Jack Noble held the heavy-hitting Jokers to six hits in going the route. Versatile Orville Falconer of the Sons was the game’s top baton swinger, pasting three safeties including a four-ply swat.
Noble (W) and Bacon
Stickney (L), Lidstone (6) and Downs
Semi-finals (best-of-three)
Tillicums vs Jokers
(August 7) Johnny Craig, snappy shortstop for the Tillicum Club, covered himself with glory at Royal Athletic Park when he clouted one of Dan Lidstone’s high pitches over the leftfield fence, with two runners aboard, to give the Tillicums a come-from-behind, final-inning 4 to 3 walkoff win over the Jokers in the first game of the league semi-finals. Craig had earlier belted a double, one of nine safeties yielded by Lidstone. The Jesters got to winning flinger Tommy Greene for eight singles and appeared to be headed for victory until Craig’s last-frame heroics. Greene and his batterymate Roy Barnes along with keystone sacker Cab Collins of the Wild Cards each singled twice.
Lidstone (L) and Downs
Greene (W) and Barnes
(August 9) Nothing was settled in the second game of the VSABL semi-finals when the Tillicums and Jokers battled to a 3 – 3 deadlock in a game terminated after seven innings when darkness set in. Wes Stickney and Lloyd Cann, opposing moundsmen, allowed but 13 hits between them with the Jokers collecting seven of these. Cann’s triple in the second canto drove in the initial counter for the Tillicum Club. Bobby Love of the Clubbers was credited with a two-run inside-the-park homer in the third which upped the score to 3 – 0. The Jesters knotted the count in their half of the same canto on RBI hits by Elmer Smith, catcher Downs and Stickney. Only goose eggs made it to the scoreboard for the remainder of the game. Downs and outfielder Barry of the Comics were the only two swatters to get two hits.
Cann and Barnes
Stickney and Downs
(August 12) The Jokers stayed alive by taking a 7 to 4 six-inning verdict from the Tillicum Club in the third game of the semi-finals. The Jesters went ahead 4 to 0 in the second inning and were never headed in the darkness-shortened event. Shortstop Jim D’Arcy picked up three hits for the winners, all singles while rival shortpatcher Johnny Craig cranked out his second home run of the series, a two-run smash, in a losing cause.
Whitehead (L), Cann (2) and Hilton, Barnes
Stickney (W) and Downs
(August 14) Last season’s Commercial League champions, the Jokers, advanced a step closer to their first Senior Amateur championship when they eliminated the Tillicums 8 to 2. The winners turned in their best performance of the season behind the effective five-hit pitching of Dan Lidstone. Veteran southpaw, playing-manager Tommy Greene, survived just two innings and a 2 to 1 deficit before Lloyd Cann took over hillock chores for the Clubbers. A triple play engineered by Greene prevented more damage from occurring in this frame. Greene, the league’s batting champion, had a triple and single to lead his team at the platter. Spanking the horsehide for a double and single were Jim D’Arcy, Hughie Devereaux and “Hap” Gandy, all of the victorious nine.
Greene (L), Cann (3) and Barnes
Lidstone (W) and Downs
Finals (best-of-five)
Jokers vs Sons of Canada
(August 16) Power-hitting outfielder Bill Holman clouted a pair of mighty circuit-smashes as the Sons of Canada got off on the right foot by defeating the Jokers 13 to 9 in the shortened opener of the best-of-five final series for the Victoria Senior Amateur crown. Holman was joined by third sacker Bill Emery in the home run department as Emery ripped a third dinger for the winning nine. The Jesters led for five of the seven innings played before the Sons registered a six-spot in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead for good. The game was called after 6 1/2 frames as darkness prevented further play. Outfielder Elmer Smith of the Wild Cards picked up four singles in a losing cause. Shortstop Orville Falconer registered a double and a single for the Canadians.
Stickney (L), Lidstone (6) and Downs
Curtis, Noble (W) (3) and Bacon
(August 17) Wes Stickney’s three-run round-tripper in the bottom of the sixth frame broke up a 2 – 2 tie and propelled the Jokers to a 5 to 2 decision over the Sons of Canada in the second game of the VSABL finals. As was the case in the opener, darkness prevailed after 6 1/2 innings were in the books. Both nines registered six base raps as the Jesters’ Hughie Devereaux and backstop Jack Bacon of the Sons both checked in with a double and one-bagger.
Parfitt (L) and Bacon
Lidstone (W) and Downs
(August 19) The Jokers and Sons of Canada, aspirants for the Victoria Senior baseball championship, battled through seven innings of playoff baseball, finishing in a 2 – 2 deadlock. The Sons scored their pair of tallies in the fourth canto on RBI hits off the bat of Orville Falconer, a double, and a single by Bill Holman. The Comics responded with a deuce in the sixth. After Cab Collins singled, advanced to second on Wes Stickney’s bingle, reached third on a fielder’s choice, he crossed home plate with the first Joker tally on a peg to the keystone sack that was dropped. Hughie Devereaux’s single later in the stanza drove in catcher Downs with the equalizer. Second baseman Falconer “Kim” Campbell emerged as the game’s most productive hitter, slapping out three singles.
Lidstone and Downs
Noble and Bacon
(August 21) A two-run single in the seventh and final inning by hot corner guardian “Hap” Gandy provided the Jokers with a 2 to 1 victory over the Sons of Canada in the fourth game of the VSABL finals. Gandy’s timely hit came when the Jesters were in arrears 1 to 0. Hughie Devereaux started the rally with a single into the middle pasture, his second base knock of the contest. Jim D’Arcy followed with another bingle which sent Devereaux to third as D’Arcy moved into scoring position on an ill-advised outfield relay, setting the stage for Gandy’s clutch hit. Jack Noble of the Canadians lit up winning tosser Wes Stickney for a pair of two-ply clouts.
Stickney (W) and Downs
Parfitt (L) and Bacon
(August 23) Clouting the offerings of Jokers’ moundsman Dan Lidstone to all corners of Royal Athletic Park in the first three innings, the Sons of Canada piled up a substantial six-run lead which easily stood up in their eventual 9 to 5 conquest of the Jesters. The game five result placed the teams on even terms with two victories apiece plus a tie in their mutual quest for Capital City supremacy. The Sons played errorless ball behind the six-hit pitching of Jack Noble who assumed his usual cool manner throughout, even after he was lit up for a two-run inside-the-park dinger by Wes Stickney. “Kim” Campbell, covering the keystone cushion for the Canadians, led the hickory hackers with a trio of one-baggers while teammates Jack Bacon, Bill Holman and Noble each checked in with a double and single..
Noble (W) and Bacon
Lidstone (L) and Downs
(August 25) In an unusual move for a team about to face a sudden-death match for the VSABL crown, the Jokers embarked upon a tough exhibition match with the Nanaimo entry of the Vancouver Island Baseball League, defeating the Hub City nine 8 to 5 in 12 innings and, in the process, using pitcher Dan Lidstone on the hill for the tenure of the overtime contest. Rival shortstops Jimmy D’Arcy of the Victorians and Nanaimo’s Dan Kulai were the bright lights in the battle.
McInnes (L) and Edmunds
Lidstone (W) and Downs
(August 27) Stepping from the Commercial League into the Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League and carrying off the pennant in their first season, the Jokers trimmed the Sons of Canada 7 to 1 in the sixth and final game of the league playoffs. The new Peden Cup holders now move on to tackle the New Westminster champions in the B.C. senior playdowns. Wes Stickney, star southpaw hurler of the Jesters, had the Canadians eating out of his hand, stymying them on but four hits, one of which was a last-inning solo home run by outfielder Tommy Forbes. First baseman Claude Belcher had a triple and single for the winners while Forbes had a double to go along with his round-tripper.
Stickney (W) and Downs
Noble (L) and Bacon
B.C. semi-finals (best-of-three)
New Westminster Fraser Mills vs Victoria Jokers
(August 29) Fraser Mills, three-time champions from the New Westminster circuit and defending provincial champions, demonstrated their abilities in no uncertain way by defeating the Jokers, Victoria titleholders, 19 to 5 in the first clash of their semi-final showdown. The Millmen collected 23 base blows while veteran Doug Muscutt of the Lumbermen held the Jokers to five scattered bingles. Six home runs were crashed out of Royal Athletic Park, five by the Royal City nine. Connecting for Fraser Mills were flashy first sacker Chuck Jacobson who belted three of the dingers, Joe Hebert and Harry White. Initial sacker Claude Belcher of the Victorians also lifted one out of the ballpark.
Muscutt (W) and Kratz
Donaldson (L), Lidstone (2) and Downs
(August 30) New Westminster Fraser Mills eliminated the Victoria Jokers from further play in the B.C. Senior “A” playdowns by dumping the Capital City champions 10 to 1 at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. The Royal City troupe gathered three runs in the opening canto and never looked back. Dave Gray earned the knoll win over Wes Stickney. The Jokers played much better than in the first game of the series but were unable to come up with clutch hits with runners in scoring position.
Stickney (L) and Downs
Gray (W) and M. Sullivan
VANCOUVER ISLAND BASEBALL LEAGUE
Aside from having a five-team intra-city circuit in 1929, Victoria also was represented by the defending champion Capitals in the southern/lower island division of the six-team Vancouver Island Baseball League, considered to be a Senior “B” loop, along with clubs from Chemainus and Duncan. The northern/upper island division of the loop consisted of entries from Courtenay, Port Alberni and Nanaimo. Playing primarily weekend games, this circuit appeared to be loosely managed as league officials never seemed to be sure of the correct standings of the member teams.
(May 19) The defending champion Victoria Capitals defeated Nanaimo 6 to 3 in the league opener played in the Coal City. Shortstop Jack McKenzie picked up a pair of singles and a double for the Caps while winning chucker Norm Forbes tripled and singled. Fly chaser McNaughton singled twice for Nanaimo.
N. Forbes (W) and Bowden
Rice (L), Robinson (6) and Edmunds
(May 19) Homestanding Duncan squeezed past Chemainus 6 to 5.
(May 19) Courtenay took Port Alberni into camp 7 to 5.
(May 24) Playing a steady brand of ball behind the effective twirling of Jim Dangerfield, the Victoria Capitals opened their home season at Royal Athletic Park in regal style by trouncing Port Alberni 10 to 1 in a Vancouver Island League fixture. Dangerfield held the visitors to four scattered hits and breezed nine. Leading the 12-hit offensive thrust of the winners was outfielder Murty Dunn who stroked four singles.
Jamieson (L) and North
Dangerfield (W) and Bowden
(May 25) The Victoria Capitals nosed out the Senior Amateur League All-Stars from the Capital City 2 to 1 in an exhibition tilt at Royal Athletic Park. Sid Shaw, formerly with Burnaby, was on the mound for the Caps and turned in a fine performance, allowing just three scattered hits. The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when keystone sacker Murty Dunn of the Caps nailed a two-run double. The Stars scored their lone run in the eighth when Tommy Greene tripled and scored on Dunn’s error.
Shaw (W) and Bowden
Stickney (L) and Lines
(May 26) Nanaimo had no difficulty in defeating Port Alberni 13 to 5 in a rather listless game. McNaughton and Rice both collected three safeties for the winners with a triple included in McNaughton’s sum of swats and a brace of doubled in Rice’s total. Edwards and Kearney both singled twice for Port Alberni while losing pitcher Miles blasted a solo home run.
McDonald (L), Miles (3) and xxx
Wilson (W) and Edmunds
(May 26) Courtenay defeated Duncan 5 to 2.
(May 26) Chemainus handed the Victoria Capitals their first league setback when they edged the visitors 3 to 2. Southpaw twirler McGinnis of Chemainus, who chucked for Nanaimo last season, had the Caps well in hand. He allowed only four hits and struck out nine. Losing flinger Norm Forbes was nicked for six safeties. The homesters plated the winning counter in the eighth canto when Victoria outfielders Roy Copas and Art Minnis let a very catchable fly ball drop in between them in portraying Alphonse and Gaston. Needless to say, the “I’ve got it, no you take it” routine allowed a Chemainus base runner to cheerfully accept the unearned run.
Forbes (L) and Bowden
McGinnis (W) and Wylie
(June 1) Spotting Chemainus nine runs in the first four innings, the Victoria Capitals tasted their second consecutive defeat when they finished on the short end of a 10 to 7 score at Royal Athletic Park. Left-hander McGinnis held the hosts in check, spinning a five-hitter while whiffing seven. Reliever Norm Forbes of the Victorians had his speedball working, ringing up 12 strikeouts in seven frames. Outer pasture guardian B. McBride laced three hits for the victors, one of which was a two-bagger. Teammate W. Robinson clipped the apple for two doubles.
McGinnis (W) and Wylie
Shaw (L), Forbes (3) and Minnis
(June 2) In a Vancouver Island tussle played in Port Alberni, the hosting Elks knocked off Nanaimo 8 to 2. Winning chucker McDonald held the visitors to eight hits. Kearney led the winners at the dish, collecting a triple and two singles. Teammates Robinson, Williamson and Galliford each had two safeties with one of Robinson’s raps going for two bases. Ernie “Fat” Edmunds singled twice for Nanaimo.
Wilson (L) and Edmunds
McDonald (W) and xxx
(June 2) Invading Courtenay defeated the hosting Duncan nine 8 to 2.
(June 8) The Victoria Capitals found no difficulty in defeating the Friday Harbor WA nine in exhibition doubleheader action, taking them into camp 19 to 1 in the afternoon fixture and 13 to 3 in the evening game. First baseman “Doc” Webster of the Caps stung the sphere for three hits, including a double, in the matinee tilt. Outfielder Hower accounted for the invaders’ lone counter with a solo home run.
Crout (L), Lohman (2), Knight (7) and Nash
Dangerfield (W) and Morgan
Norm Forbes ripped two doubled for the Victorians in the late encounter. Losing pitcher Hower crashed out his second four-bagger of the day, another bases-empty shot.
Hower (L) and Fleming
Shaw (W) and Bowden
(June 9) The Nanaimo baseballers defeated Courtenay 8 to 5 in a game that featured several fast double plays. Courtenay was only able to secure five hits off winning tosser Wilson while the Hub City nine garnered 11 safeties off the offerings of McKee. Outfielder Millard smashed a home run for the winners.
McKee (L) and xxx
Wilson (W) and Edmunds
(June 9) Pitcher Norm Forbes stymied hosting Duncan on one hit, a three-base blow by infielder Williams, while striking out 13 batters as the Victoria Capitals clipped the Up-Islanders 6 to 1. Herb Cummins and “Doc” Webster both had a pair of base knocks for the Caps.
Forbes (W) and xxx
Duncan (L) and xxx
(June 22) A nine-run third stanza settled the issue in favour of hosting Victoria who went on to ring up a 13 to 3 triumph over Duncan. Jimmy Dangerfield picked up the complete-game mound triumph by posting a seven-hitter with five strikeouts. Shortstop Dirome belted a solo homer for the Duncanites in the sixth chapter.
Baldwin (L), Robertson (3) and xxx
Dangerfield (W) and Morgan
(June 30) Visiting Chemainus beat Duncan 14 to 5 in an Island League fixture. Both pitchers went the distance and were hit rather freely, each being nicked for a dozen base blows. The Duncan nine played poorly defensively and also left several base runners stranded in key situations.
McInnes (W) and xxx
Robinson (L) and xxx
(June 30) The Victoria Capitals relinquished the leadership in the southern section of the Vancouver Island Baseball League when they lost to hosting Port Alberni 2 to 1 in a hard-fought battle.
(July 1) Nanaimo and the Victoria Capitals split a Holiday doubleheader in the Hub City. The Caps grabbed the opener 11 to 2 while the Up-Islanders prevailed 4 to 4 in the finale.
(July 6) The Victoria Capitals entertained the visiting Squamish Indians of the North Shore League in an exhibition doubleheader at Royal Athletic Park, taking the afternoon attraction 8 to 7 and playing to a 4 – 4, 11-inning deadlock in the nightcap. Three tallies in the eighth frame spelled defeat for the Tribe in the early game after they had run up a six-run lead in the first five innings. The Caps started their comeback in the sixth, narrowing the deficit to three runs after Norm Forbes’ home run had broken the scoring drought. Both teams registered 13 base hits with Squamish outfielder Art Gallagher leading the way with four singles. Forbes had a double and single in addition to his four-bagger while Capitals’ teammate Herb Cummins singled three times.
W. Gallagher, Lindsay (6), J. Gallagher (8) and Shillingford
Dangerfield (W) and Morgan
As in the first contest, the combatants had equally effective offenses in the late contest, each side picking up 10 safeties. Both pitchers bent but never broke when the game was on the line. Victoria moundsman Norm Forbes whiffed 11 while Willie Gallagher of the Indians retied 10 via the strikeout route. After two extra cantos failed to produce a winner, the game was called because of darkness. Second baseman Jimmie Gallagher of Squamish as well as third sacker Dunn and outfielder Hoskins of the Victorians all picked up a two-bagger and single.
W. Gallagher and Shillingford
N. Forbes and Bowden
(July 7) The visiting Courtenay nine knocked off Nanaimo with ease, drubbing their hosts 14 to 3. The invaders led from the outset and, by the end of three frames, had piled up a 12 to 0 cushion.
McKee (W) and Downie
Wilson (L), Gailus (2) and Edmunds
(July 15) Plating four counters in the top of the ninth canto, the Victoria Capitals grabbed a 9 to 6 win from the Duncan nine. Outfielder Hoskins had the game-deciding blow for the Caps, ripping a two-out, two-run single which drove in the lead and insurance markers. Duncan first baseman Williams and keystone sacker Herb Cummins of Victoria each drilled three singles. Outfielder Roy Copas blasted a home run and one-bagger for the winners.
N. Forbes (L) and Bowden
Robinson (W) and Stroulger
(July 20) The Victoria Capitals jumped into a tie for first place with Chemainus in the Lower Island section of the circuit when they trounced the visiting Courtenay aggregation 12 to 3 at Royal Athletic Park. Winning chucker Jimmy Dangerfield fanned seven and was nicked for nine safeties but kept them well scattered. Herb Cummins led the Caps’ 12-hit attack with a double and two singles, the same batting output as achieved by Courtenay’s “Lefty” Larson. Outfielder Tayo had a two-run four-bagger for the vanquished nine.
McKee (L), Larson and Lennon, Tayo
Dangerfield (W) and Bowden
(July 21) Nanaimo walloped the offerings of three Chemainus pitchers to handily win by a score of 16 to 4.
(July 22) Duncan took kindly to the offerings of young chucker Pollock, Port Alberni slabman, and slugged their way to a 23 to 3 victory in an Island League game. The slaughter began with a six-run first inning and climaxed with a 12-run seventh frame. Shortstop McDonald had five base raps for the Duncanites.
Pollock (L), Gilliland (7) and Galliford
Robinson (W) and Stroulger
(July 27) The Victoria Capitals took over first place in the southern section of the Vancouver Island Baseball League when they trounced the visiting Chemainus diamond pastimers 13 to 7. Gordon McInnes, slab artist for the invaders, heaved a reasonable game and held the Caps to 10 hits but his teammates gave him heartbreaking support, committing no less than nine bobbles. Jimmy Dangerfield, doing the heaving for the Capitals, was touched for 13 safeties which included a circuit-smash by cleanup hitter B. McBride, his second hit of the contest. W. Robinson, at third base for Chemainus, had three safeties, all singles while Dangerfield collected a double and single in support of his mound effort.
McInnes (L) and Johns
Dangerfield (W) and Morgan
(July 28) Nanaimo narrowly escaped with a 13 to 12 conquest of the Duncan aggregation in a hectic battle played in the Hub City. It was a see-saw affair in which the homesters pulled the game out of the fire by plating three runs in their final turn at bat.
(August 3) Nanaimo, leaders of the northern section of the Vancouver Island Baseball League, suffered a 15 to 7 setback at the hands of the Victoria Capitals, top-berth occupants of the southern section. The Caps scored all their runs in two innings, six in the opening canto and nine more in the sixth. The hard-hitting affair produced 28 base knocks, 16 for the Caps and a dozen by the Hub City nine. Outfielder James of Nanaimo was by far the most productive bludgeon wielder, slapping out a quintet of one-baggers in as many turns at bat. First sacker Webster, outfielder Roy Copas and winning chucker Norm Forbes all had three hits for the triumphant nine with Copas doubling twice while Webster bagged a triple and Forbes a double in their accumulation.
Gailus (L), Wilson (6) and Edmunds
N. Forbes (W) and Bowden
(August 10) Collecting 14 safeties including circuit-clouts by infielders Elliott and Dirome, the visiting Duncan ballplayers defeated the Victoria Capitals 15 to 6 in a heavy-hitting, loosely-played Vancouver Island League game at Royal Athletic Park. Williams, on the mound for Duncan, held the Caps to eight hits, walked five and breezes a pair. Elliott’s smash came in the opening inning with one runner aboard while Dirome pasted his dinger in the fifth with the cushions empty. Elliott also had a double while Dirome picked up a one-bagger as well. Second baseman McEwan of the Duncan nine came away with a double and a brace of singles to lead all willow-wielders.
Williams (W) and Thorne
Dangerfield (L) and Bowden
(August 11) Behind the solid chucking of Gordon McInnes, the home-standing Chemainus squad dumped Duncan 13 to 4.
Robinson (L) and Stroulger
McInnes (W) and Wylie
(August 25) The Victoria Capitals split a twin-bill with Courtenay on the latter’s home turf, dropping the afternoon fixture 7 to 3 and rebounding for a 14 to 9 triumph in the nightcap. The outcome of the games has left league officials somewhat puzzled as to the correct standing of the teams. However, it is understood that both the Capitals and the Chemainus nine are still in the running. Poor defensive play had a huge bearing on the Caps’ fortunes in the opener.
N. Forbes (L) and xxx
McKee (W) and xxx
First game winning twirler McKee attempted the iron-man routine, returning to the slab in the late encounter, but was knocked out after going a combined 15-innings.
Dangerfield (W) and xxx
McKee (L), Larson (7) and xxx
(August 28) Unmercifully pounding the offerings of three Chemainus twirlers, the Victoria Capitals marked up a convincing 16 to 1 throttling of the visiting balltossers at Royal Athletic Park. The fixture was a sudden-death affair to proclaim a winner of the Vancouver Island Baseball League. The one-sided result was unexpected as Chemainus had copped four wins from the Caps, one through a forfeiture, during the regular campaign. Chemainus collected but four hits from the slants of complete-game winner Norm Forbes. Herb Cummins, with three doubles and a single, was the leading swatsmith for the winners. Forbes helped his own cause considerably with a triple and a brace of one-baggers while Jack Morgan smashed a home run and a single.
McInnes (L), Johns (2), Lowe (2) and Wylie
N. Forbes (W) and Bowden
1929 Senior “B” Baseball Championship (sudden-death)
Victoria Capitals vs Squamish Indians
(September 7) The Squamish Indians won the Senior “B” baseball championship of the province when they turned back the Victoria Capitals with ridiculous ease at Athletic Park. The score in the sudden-death event was 21 to 0 and it might have been greater had the Indians cared to take the affair more seriously. The Mainland nine collected 16 hits and ran wild on the bases while their ace balltosser, Willie Gallagher, was blanking the Caps. The one-sided slaughter was mercifully terminated after seven innings.
Dangerfield (L), Forbes and xxx
W. Gallagher (W) and xxx