1931 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1931 BC Interior
1931 Vancouver Island
VANCOUVER SENIOR CITY LEAGUE
A team sponsored by B.C. Telephones joined the 1931 Senior City circuit, swelling the membership to four. Then, in mid-May, games with the New Westminster Fraser Cafe team were added to the schedule under the provision that wins and losses by the Vancouver teams against New Westminster would count in the standings although the Royal City nine would not form part of the loop.
(April 25) Nearly 4,000 fans jammed into Athletic Park to witness the opening games of the 1931 VSCBL season. The Firemen and Arrows teed off in the first tilt and the Flame Quenchers looked as if they had been performing all winter, slamming the door on the Bow Missiles 3 to 0. The Telephones had an auspicious start when they came from behind to beat a wobbly V.A.C. tribe 4 to 3 by shoving over the winning tally in the last frame. “Lefty” Kaye of the Hosemen southpawed in brilliant fashion, setting the Arrows down with three widely scattered hits in the matinee tussle. Jimmy Watters smashed a triple plus a double for the winners.
Kaye (W) and Goodall
Gray (L) and Padovan
The Hello Boys plated the winner in their final turn at bat of the second contest. Jack Tanner, normally a catcher, was pressed into action at third base for the Vacs following injuries to two starters during the course of the match. Unaccustomed to the hot corner, he booted a pair of final frame ground balls and Earl Lewis followed with a timely blow to drive in the winner.
Prayther (L) and Purmal
Weaver (W) and McLean
(April 27) The Arrows pounded the horsehide for 19 base blows as they annexed their initial victory of the season, a 20 to 5 scalping of the V.A.C. aggregation. The game was essentially over after the Transfermen tallied ten runs in the first crack at bat. Every one of the Arrow regulars produced at least one safety with Merrick Cranstoun, Fred Condon and Andy Padovan showing up best with the stick, drilling three hits apiece.
Richardson (W) and Padovan, Barnes
Straight (L), Stong (1), Puder (5) and Tanner
(April 29) The Firemen scored five times in the fourth canto to defeat the B.C. Telephone baseballers 9 to 5 in a long, drawn-out affair. Jimmy Watters and Charlie Stevenson did some timely clouting for the victors, each having a brace of bingles. Playing-manager Cy McLean doubled and singled for the Phones.
Holden (W) and Richardson
Lewis (L), Weaver (4) and McLean
(May 1) Behind a barrage of baffling slants from the hefty right arm of Dave Gray, the Arrows eked out a 2 to 0 victory over B.C. Telephone at the Athletic Park diamond. “Babe” Esplen, on the mound for the Telephones, fought a bitter duel with Gray, but two walks he issued were both garnished with timely hits to produce the two Arrow markers. Shortstop Chuck Jacobson collected two of the four hits, one of which was a two-bagger, yielded to the Phones by Gray. Skipper Johnny Nestman, doubling as a third baseman, singled twice for the victors.
Esplen (L) and Spicer
Gray (W) and Barnes
(May 2) The Vacs captured their first triumph of the season, ringing the bell of the B.C. Telephone nine, 2 to 1, in the opener of a league double-bill. Committing five errors, the Arrows booted away the second contest of the day, a 5 to 4 loss to the Firemen. The V.A.C. baseballers had only four hits in the matinee tussle but were able to deliver in the clutch. Harvey McIntyre’s single drove in the winning counter in the eighth. Abe Cross of the Phones was the only player in the game to register two hits, both being one-baggers.
Lewis (L) and McLean
Puder (W) and Henry
The Arrows had a big 10 to 5 advantage over the Fire Brigade in base hits yet let the late game slip away by shoddy defensive play. Losing flinger Dave Scott`s errant throw in the final stanza allowed the winning counter to cross home plate. Scott did his best work at the platter, leading all hitters with a double and two one-baggers.
Scott (L) and Barnes
Ray (W) and Goodall, Richardson (7)
(May 4) The Firemen have finally been subdued and it took V.A.C. to turn the trick 10 to 7 in a ragtime Senior City League contest at Athletic Park. Two of the wildest southpaws hooked up when Harold Straight bested “Lefty” Kaye of the defending champions because his teammates happened to belt out a few more hits than the Hosemen. Neither Straight nor Kaye displayed much control when it came to throwing strikes. Winning tosser Straight, in particular, experienced difficulty in keeping the horsehide within the vicinity of the plate, walking nine batters, hitting two and uncorking three wild pitches. The Red Caps collected nine hits off Kaye while Straight was combed for six, two of which came off the lumber of Charlie Miron. Rookie backstop Ed Henry of the Vacs led all swatters, hammering a double and two singles.
Kaye (L) and Goodall
Straight (W) and Henry
(May 6) It took the B.C. Telephones squad nearly seven innings to find the range on talented Bill Richardson but, when they started to connect, they pounded their way to a 5 to 0 victory over the Arrows. Richardson never allowed an Arrow to reach first base for the first six rounds and looked invincible but when Rod Cameron broke through with a one-out safety in the seventh, it opened the floodgates. In the meantime, southpaw Don Weaver of the Hello Boys always managed to pitch himself out of trouble, aided by some spectacular fielding by his mates. Cameron led the hit parade for the winners with a triple and single.
Weaver (W) and Spicer
Richardson (L) and Barnes
(May 8) The much-improved Vacs turned back the Arrows 6 to 3 at Athletic Park. Hal Puder bested Dave Gray in a well-pitched contest, receiving superior support from his mates in the pinches. Outfielder Jack Cole of the Red Caps contributed some timely clouting for the winners, drilling a triple, double and single.
Puder (W) and Purmal
Gray (L) and Barnes
(May 9) A last-frame rally, reaching its climax when Arne Miller drove in two runs with a sizzling double, gave the Firemen three runs and a 5 to 4 victory over V.A.C. in the most exciting of the two games featured in a double-bill before 3,000 fans at Athletic Park. The B.C. Telephones disposed of the Arrows quite handily 7 to 2 in the other contest. Miller’s second two-bagger of the initial tussle saddled big Joe Dailey, pitching his first game of the season, with the defeat. Up until the last canto, Dailey had allowed only one earned run.
Dailey (L) and xxx
Ray (W) and xxx
The Phones looked formidable in the first two stanzas of the late encounter, lighting up losing flinger Bill Richardson for four counters. They consistently poked the horsehide in the pinches and fielded in sensational style behind the superb pitching of veteran “Babe” Esplen.
Richardson (L) and xxx
Esplen (W) and xxx
Standings W L Pct.
Firemen 4 1 .800
V.A.C. 3 3 .500
B.C. Telephones 3 3 .500
Arrows 2 5 .286
(May 11) The Firemen increased their lead in the Senior City circuit when they took a thrilling ten-inning battle from the fighting B.C. Telephones crew 2 to 1 at Athletic Park. Arne Miller and Charlie Stevenson each had two hits for the Fire Brigade with one of Miller’s wallops being a home run. Outfielder Pete Staggs singled three times for the Hello Boys.
Weaver (L) and Spicer
Ray, Holden (W) (5) and Richardson, Goodall
(May 13) A seventh-inning single by Art Morse drove in the winning run as the V.A.C. diamond pastimers handed the Firemen their second setback of the campaign, a narrow 3 to 2 loss. Winning tosser Harold Straight of the Red Caps whiffed 15 and allowed just one hit, a triple by losing chucker Larry Holden which ultimately accounted for both runs that the Hosemen scored. The Vacs touched Holden for six bingles including a circuit-clout by outfielder Jack Cole.
Holden (L) and Richardson
Straight (W) and Purmal
(May 15) Under dark skies, the bottom-feeding Arrows blanked V.A.C. 3 to 0 in a shortened six-inning encounter. Smiling southpaw Dave Scott got the shutout win with a five-hitter. Second baseman Lorne Campbell stroked three hits for the Transfermen while teammate Don Stewart from the Terminal loop laced a brace of one-baggers. Jimmy McKissock and Jack Cole both doubled and singled for the Vacs.
Puder (L) and Henry
Scott (W) and Barnes
(May 16) A large afternoon crowd witnessed the Arrows taking out the league-leading Firemen 3 to 1 in the early game of doubleheader play at Athletic Park. In the sunset encounter, the B.C. Telephones moved into second place in the standings by trouncing V.A.C. in good style 8 to 0. Pete Staggs, fleet-footed Arrow ball-hawk, pulled off two spectacular catches in the opener that helped chucker Bill Richardson take the mound win over “Lefty” Kaye, who was touched for just three bingles.
Richardson (W) and xxx
Kaye (L) and xxx
The Wrong Numbers showed too much power for the Vacs in the second tussle. As well, winning flinger Don Weaver had his southpaw slants working to perfection, continually fooling a group of Red Caps who appeared listless. Shifty initial sacker Abe Cross drove in five of the eight runs garnered by the Phones with a double in the first stanza and a triple in the sixth round.
Weaver (W) and xxx
Dailey (L) and xxx
(May 18) The Firemen scored early and often while handily defeating an overmatched V.A.C. squad 9 to 0. Suffering their third shutout loss in a row, the Red Caps were only able to mount an anaemic four-hit attack against winning tosser Frank Ray. Three of the hits Ray surrendered were garnered by outfielder Jack Cole. Leading the ten-hit Hose & Ladder offensive thrust was catcher Harry Richardson who banged out a triple and two singles.
Ray (W) and Richardson
Straight (L) and Purmal
(May 19) Inter-city baseball returned to New Westminster but not on a winning note as the local Fraser Cafe nine dropped a 6 to 0 verdict to the B.C. Telephones aggregation of Vancouver. The Cafemen were only able to scratch out three hits off winning moundsman Earl Lewis. A pair of ex-New Westminster players, Abe Cross with a double and two singles and Al Scott with a couple of one-baggers, paced the Phones’ nine-hit attack.
E. Lewis (W) and McLean
Minty (L) and Stoddart
(May 20) Playing the soundest baseball that they have shown in their last four games, V.A.C. broke their losing streak when they took a close 4 to 3 decision from the Arrows. The battle was a close one all the way with an exciting finish when the Vacs came from behind to tie the score and then push the winning run across in the last frame. Shortstop Jack Sherman opened the Red Caps’ final turn at bat with a double and later scored the winning tally on a single by Art Morse, his second one-bagger of the contest. Jimmy McKissock of the winners and the Arrows’ second sacker Lorne Campbell both drilled three safeties with a two-bagger included in Campbell’s total.
Puder (W) and Henry
Gray (L), Richardson (7) and Barnes
(May 21) The Vancouver Firemen pounded Eddie Olson’s offerings for 15 hits when they handily demolished the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster 7 to 2 at Athletic Park. “Lefty” Kaye went the route on the rubber for the Hosemen, picking up the win with a five-hitter. Charlie Miron led the Fire Brigade at the dish, slapping out four singles. Teammate Arne Miller belted a home run as well as singling while Charlie Stevenson doubled and hit a one-bagger.
Olson (L) and Stoddart
Kaye (W) and Goodall
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 7 3 .700
B.C. Telephones 5 4 .556
V.A.C. 5 6 .455
Arrows 4 6 .400
* New Westminster Fraser Cafe not included in standings
(May 23) The University of Washington Huskies divided an exhibition twin-bill with Vancouver Senior League opposition, downing the B.C. Telephones nine 6 to 5 but dropping a close 2 to 0 verdict to the Arrows.
(May 25) The Huskies varsity nine from the University of Washington wound up their four-game exhibition series against Van-City senior squads all square. They took the measure of the V.A.C. aggregation 7 to 4 in the opener of a double-dip and lost the final of the series to the Firemen 2 to 1.
(May 26) The Fraser Cafemen of New Westminster copped their first inter-city win against Vancouver City League clubs when they hung a 2 to 1 loss on V.A.C. at Queens Park in the Royal City. Outfielder Dignan’s two-run circuit-clout in the initial stanza off losing flinger Harold Straight did all the damage necessary for the triumph. Coley Hall’s single in the fourth panel drove in the lone Red Cap tally.
Straight (L) and xxx
Muscutt (W) and xxx
(May 27) The Firemen and Arrows failed to decide a winner when they battled to a hard-fought 4 – 4 draw at Athletic Park. No extra-innings were attempted as darkness prevailed. The Hose & Ladder Gang had an 8 to 6 advantage in base hits. Larry Holden and Norm Trasolini of the Flame Quenchers and Lorne Campbell of the Cartage Crew each had two base blows with Campbell’s brace being a triple and two-bagger.
Richardson and Barnes
Holden and Goodall
(May 29) The B.C. Telephones nine laid an egg and were drubbed 10 to 1 by the V.A.C. baseballers. Trailing from the first inning on, the play of the Wrong Numbers appeared to deteriorate as the game progressed. Outfielder Harvey McIntyre, catcher “Bunny” Purmal as well as infielders Jimmy McKissock and Art Morse each registered a brace of base raps for the victorious Red Caps.
Esplen (L), Kimberley (8) and Kasmer
Puder (W), Stong (9) and Purmal
(May 29) Fraser Cafe of New Westminster and the Arrows traded swats for nine innings and, after it was all over, the Vancouverites prevailed 4 to 1 over their Dewdney League hosts. Don Stewart of the Cartage Crew socked a two-run four-bagger in the fourth canto. Pete Staggs drove in the other pair of counters for the victors with a seventh-inning bases-loaded one-bagger. A single off the bat of “Hop” Wilkie produced the lone counter for the Cafemen. Wilkie wound up as the game’s leading willow wielder, slapping a trio of one-base blows.
Gray (W) and Barnes
Minty (L) and Stoddart
(May 30) The race for the Senior City Baseball League lead tightened considerably following doubleheader play at Athletic Park. The V.A.C. diamondeers kept right in the fight by administering a 9 to 2 thrashing to a disorganized New Westminster outfit in the matinee tussle while the Telephones played some bang-up baseball to stop the leading Firemen 5 to 4 in the late affair. There wasn’t much to the first game after the opening stanza when the Red Caps took advantage of walks, misplays and some well-timed base blows to score six times. Joe Dailey earned his first mound win of the season and he had the enemy tamed pretty well all the way.
Aitcheson (L), Olson (1) and xxx
Dailey (W) and xxx
The second contest was a real fight from the start with B.C. Tel showing more punch than the Hosemen owing chiefly to the splendid pitching of Earl Lewis. Frank Ray also hurled a nice game but was unfortunate in being lit up in the pinches. Lewis drove in his brother Ollie with the winning run in the seventh panel with a stinging single. The Smoke Eaters had plated a pair on a two-run double by Ralph Spicer followed by a solo homer off the bat of the Phones’ Norm Trasolini which had knotted the count in the fourth.
E. Lewis (W) and xxx
Ray (L) and xxx
Standings * W L Pct.
Firemen 7 4 .636
V.A.C. 7 6 .538
B.C. Telephones 6 5 .535
Arrows 4 6 .400
* New Westminster Fraser Cafe not included in standings
(June 1) Don Weaver and Dave Scott, southpaw hurlers, were both in fine form at Athletic Park with the result that the Arrows and B.C. Telephones were unable to produce a winner. The game ended in a 1 – 1 stalemate. Weaver allowed six base blows while the smiling Scott yielded seven scattered bingles. Dave “Babs” Johnston and catcher Roy Barnes of the Transfermen as well as the Phones’ Earl Lewis were the only batters to get more than one blow.
Scott and Barnes
Weaver and Spicer
(June 2) Harold Straight rang up 12 strikeouts and gave up just one hit yet came away empty-handed as his mates on the Vacs were only able to supply enough offense for a 1 – 1 tie with the Arrows. Bill Richardson, on the firing line for the Cartage Crew, was also at his best, surrendering just three scattered hits. A walk to Harvey McIntyre and “Bunny” Purmal’s long double in the third inning proved enough to give the Red Caps one run. A one-out dropped third strike in the fourth canto by V.A.C. catcher Ed Henry which required a throw to first base allowed speedy Pete Staggs to score from third base with the lone Arrow counter.
Richardson and Barnes
Straight and Henry
(June 2) “Lefty” Kaye and his band of Fire Quenchers from Vancouver handed the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster a 6 to 0 licking at Queens Park. The game was close until the ninth when the Vancouverites blew the contest open with a four-spot. In posting the whitewashing, Kaye handcuffed the Royal City outfit on two scratch singles while whiffing six. He also belted a third-inning solo home run. Hot corner custodian Norm Trasolini tripled and singled for the Hosemen.
Kaye (W) and Richardson
Muscutt (L) and Stoddart
(June 3) Larry Holden and “Babe” Esplen both spun four-hitters but it was Holden and the improved B.C. Telephones squad prevailing in a tightly-fought 1 to 0 victory over the Firemen. Time end time again, Holden, the clever curve artist of the Phones, found himself in trouble but it was then that he pitched his best and showed rare skill in outguessing the Hosemen swatters. Bart Bean’s single in the second frame drove home Norm Trasolini with the game’s lone counter. Trasolini had earlier belted one of Esplen’s choicest curves for a three-base blow. He wound up with a two-hit output as did Earl Lewis of the Flame Squelchers.
Holden (W) and Richardson
Esplen (L) and McLean
(June 5) Some clever pitching by Bill Minty in the pinches jettisoned New Westminster’s Fraser Cafe to a 3 to 2 victory over the B.C. Telephones nine from Vancouver in a fast and exciting match at Queens Park. All of the scoring occurred early in this tussle with each team registering a pair of runs in the second frame with catcher Len Stoddart’s two-run dinger accounting for the Royal City tallies. The Cafemen notched the winning tally in the third canto when “Hop” Wilkie drew a base on balls and scored on Eddie Olson’s double.
Weaver (L) and xxx
Minty (W) and xxx
(June 5) The V.A.C. baseballers wielded the whitewash brush in crushing the Arrows 13 to 0 at Athletic Park. The Cartage Crew mounted only a paltry four single offense against Hal Puder and Ralph Stong while the Vacs smashed the horsehide foe 17 base blows. Outfielder Harvey McIntyre and catcher Ed Henry carried off the batting honours for the Red Caps, each collecting four safeties.
Puder (W), Stong (6) and Henry
Scott (L), Richardson (6) and Barnes
(June 6) With Dave Gray and Eddie Olson pitching in masterly style and both teams playing superb ball afield, the Arrows scored a bottom of the last inning run to defeat Fraser Cafe of New Westminster 1 to 0 in a sparkling first game of a twin-bill. The second contest, which finally went to the B.C. Telephones when they outlasted the second-place V.A.C. crew 8 to 7, was characterized by errors of commission and omission, especially by the Red Caps who appeared to be off form. Olson slipped while fielding Gray’s infield roller in the final canto of the opener while Murray Lovely sped in from third base to plate the game’s sole tally.
Olson (L) and xxx
Gray (W) and xxx
The Vacs got to Earl Lewis for four first-inning runs in the late encounter but let the lead slip away. Harold Straight lasted only a few innings on the hill but it wasn’t totally his fault as with better defensive support he would have maintained the margin. Ted Clarke picked up a double and single for V.A.C.
E. Lewis (W) and xxx
Straight (L), xxx and xxx
(June 7-8) The Firemen from the Vancouver Senior City League took a weekend doubleheader from hosting Nanaimo, winning the Saturday contest 9 to 5 and the Sunday affair 10 to 5. The feature of the two games was that eleven of the runs plated were the result of four-baggers. Bart Bean and Arne Miller with a pair of dingers each as well as Charlie Stevenson and Larry Holden with one circuit-smash apiece did the damage for the Fire Quenchers while Zaccarelli smashed a brace of round-trippers and Freyolene one for the Hub City nine.
(June 8) The Arrows piled up all five of their counters in the fourth frame in downing B.C. Telephones 5 to 2 at Athletic Park. Light-hitting shortstop Mike Malone had the key hit for the Bow Missiles during their outburst, drilling a screeching two-run triple. Bill Richardson handcuffed the Phones on six hits, three from second baseman Al Scott, in grabbing the mound decision.
Richardson (W) and Barnes
Esplen (L), E. Lewis (4) and Spicer
(June 12) Back in action following a few days of damp weather, a pair of teams from the Senior City League took to the diamond at Athletic Park and V.A.C. speedball merchant Hal Puder emerged as the shining star, leading the Red Caps to a 6 to 0 whitewashing of the B.C. Telephones diamond pastimers. Only three hits were garnered off the V.A.C. hurler and not a baserunner got past second base, Ralph Spicer’s two-base rap representing that runner. Puder singled twice in helping his own cause but sufficient offense through Joe Dailey’s homer and the three-hit performance of outfielder Jack Cole was more than enough to provide him with the runs he needed.
Weaver (L), Esplen (6) and Spicer
Puder (W) and Henry
(June 12) Doug Muscutt mistakenly grooved one while attempting a ninth-inning intentional walk with first base open and Arrow outfielder Graham Robertson responded with a sharp single to drive in Johnny Nestman with the game’s only counter as the Vancouverites squeezed past Fraser Cafe of New Westminster 1 to 0. In earning the narrow mound triumph, Dave Gray whiffed ten and yielded but three safeties, two of which were garnered by shortstop Ray Hawkes. Nestman and fellow-infielder Keplinger both singled twice for the Transfermen.
Gray (W) and Barnes
Muscutt (L) and Stoddart
(June 15) The baseballers wearing the colours of the Vancouver Athletic Club took full advantage of the wildness of Frank Ray, starting hurler for the Firemen, and went on to paste the Hose & Ladder crew 8 to 2. Dropping only his second game of the campaign, Ray was off form, issuing nine walks, hitting one batter and uncorking three wild pitches in six innings on the hill. Victorious chucker Hal Straight whiffed eight and gave up four hits. Jimmy McKissock paced the Vacs with the stick, hammering a bases-loaded double and a one-bagger.
Straight (W) and Purmal, Henry
Ray (L), Smethurst (7) and Richardson
(June 18) The fast-climbing V.A.C. tribe claimed a rather one-sided 7 to 0 triumph over the the B.C. Telephones outfit at Athletic Park. Hal Puder, the league’s leading heaver, struck out seven and held the Phones to just two hits with Earl Lewis getting both of them, one being a double. Catcher Ed Henry was the batting star for the Red Caps, slamming the horsehide for three solid base blows including a three-bagger.
Puder (W) and Henry
Weaver (L), Esplen (2) and McLean
(June 19) The Firemen and Arrows battled to a ten-inning 1 – 1 draw at Athletic Park. The Fire Quenchers out hit the Bow Missiles 9 to 4 and had the best, and most frequent, opportunities to put the game away. Keystone sacker Charlie Stevenson of the Hosemen with three sound wallops, including a couple of two-baggers, was the top swatter in the contest. Teammate Norm Trasolini and Johnny Nestman of the Cartage Crew each had a brace of singles.
B. Richardson and Barnes
Kaye and H. Richardson
(June 19) Earl Lewis pitched himself out of a ninth-inning hole and preserved a 3 to 2 win for the B.C. Telephones squad of Vancouver over the New Westminster Fraser Cafe nine in a match at the Royal City’s Queens Park. It looked promising for the hosts when they loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom of the ninth but, at that point, things went bad for the Cafemen and Lewis took control as the first out came at the plate on a muffed suicide squeeze. Lewis then calmly fanned two hitters and the game was history. Lewis was also the hero with the lumber, driving in all three of the Hello Boys’ counters with a first-inning bases-loaded triple.
E. Lewis (W) and Spicer
Minty (L) and Stoddart
(June 20) Larry Holden and Merrick Cranstoun were the heroes of two stirring baseball battles at Athletic Park. Holden banged out a home run with two runners on base in the sixth frame of the opener to give the Firemen a hard-earned 5 to 4 victory over V.A.C. after the team looked to be well beaten. Cranstoun poled out a long triple and scored the only run in the follow-up tussle which gave the Arrows a 1 to 0 triumph over the luckless Fraser Cafe team of New Westminster. The Vacs lost several chances to score additional tallies in the matinee game but bad baserunning and quick work by the Firemen infielders snuffed out those opportunities. Charlie Stevenson of the Smoke & Choke Brigade kept up his heavy hitting of late with two timely base blows.
Holden, Ray (W) and xxx
Straight (L), Dailey (7) and xxx
Cranstoun reached the plate from third when losing tosser Doug Muscutt, sensing a squeeze play, deliberately threw an outside pitch which eluded catcher Len Stoddart. Dave Gray went the route to earn the mound win and was never in trouble.
Muscutt (L) and Stoddart
Gray (W) and xxx
(June 22) The Firemen handed B.C. Telephones a 7 to 2 lacing at Athletic Park. The Hosemen broke a 2 – 2 tie and blew the game wide open with a five-spot in the third stanza. Frank Ray went the distance on the rubber for the Fire Eaters, surrendering five singles. Arne Miller poked three one-baggers for the victors and teammate Jimmy Watters connected for a double and single.
Ray (W) and Richardson
Weaver (L), Esplen (3) and Spicer, Kasmer (2)
(June 24) The Arrows proved to be superior mudders as a heavy downpour short circuited the B.C. Telephones nine when the Transfermen wound up a decidedly moist City Senior contest at Athletic Park on the long end of a 7 to 1 score. A fifth-inning rain delay almost saw the coveted win by the Bow Missiles washed away in this tilt which was finally called after 6 1/2 frames. Bill Richardson picked up the hillock victory in the abbreviated tussle with a five-hitter. Shortstop Keplinger of the winners paced the willow wielders, singling three times.
E. Lewis (L) and Kasmer
Richardson (W) and Barnes
(June 29) In an exhibition encounter staged for the right to participate in the Senior City loop’s inaugural game under newly-installed floodlights at Athletic Park, the Arrows secured the honour when they downed V.A.C. 5 to 2. The Red Caps were only able to register three hits off winner Dave Gray and reliever Bill Richardson. Pete Staggs had a pair of hits for the Transfermen, one of which was a mammoth four-bagger in the fifth frame.
Gray (W), Richardson (7) and Barnes
Dailey (L) and Henry
(July 1) The touring American Clowns divided an exhibition twin-bill at Athletic Park, giving B.C. Telephones an artistic 7 to 0 lacing in the early tussle but dropping an 8 to 4 verdict to the V.A.C. ball tossers in the finale.
Becker (W) and xxx
Weaver (L), Esplen (2), March (7) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Straight (W) and xxx
(July 3) Night baseball came to Vancouver in an Athletic Park double-dip witnessed by some 4,500 spectators. The first game under the floodlights saw the Firemen defeat the Arrows 5 to 3 while the V.A.C. baseballers prevailed 1 to 0 over B.C. Telephones in the late encounter which wasn’t completed until near midnight. The Hosemen scored all five of their runs in the top of the initial canto, sending loser Bill Richardson for an early shower. Norm Trasolini homered for the winners.
B. Richardson (L), Gray (1) and Barnes
Kaye (W) and H. Richardson
A bases-loaded walk by losing flinger Earl Lewis to opposing moundsman Hal Puder forced in the only counter in the finale, giving the Red Caps the walkoff win. Hal Puder fanned five while limiting the Phones to just three hits.
E. Lewis (L) and Spicer
Puder (W) and Henry
(July 6) The Vancouver Athletic Club diamondeers blanked the Firemen 7 to 0 behind the five-hit twirling of big portsider Hal Straight. The game was pretty well decided after the Vacs put up a four-spot in the third panel. Art Morse and “Bunny” Purmal had two hits apiece for the Red Caps while shortstop Arne Miller replicated the feat for the Hosemen.
Smethurst (L), Geoghegan (3) and Richardson
Straight (W) and Henry
(July 7) The V.A.C. squad handed the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster a 5 to 2 loss at Queens Park in the Royal City. Coley Hall and Ted Clarke belted round-trippers for the Vancouverites.
Dailey (W) and xxx
Minty (L) and xxx
(July 9) Home runs by Coley Hall and Harvey McIntyre proved to be too much for the Arrows as they bowed 7 to 5 to the V.A.C. squad. The Clubbers led all the way after assuming a 2 to 0 lead in the opening canto. McIntyre wound up with three safeties to lead all willow wielders.
Puder (W) and Henry
Richardson (L) and Barnes
(July 10) The B.C. Telephones out slugged the Arrows 8 to 2 as winning tosser Don Weaver rang up 15 strikeouts. The Phones collected 11 safeties off losing flinger Don Gray with shortstop Bob Heaman picking up three of them. Graham Robertson homered for the Bow Missiles.
Gray (L) and Barnes
Weaver (W) and Spicer
(July 10) Playing errorless ball behind the superb five-hit pitching of Doug Muscutt, the New Westminster Fraser Cafemen surprised the league-leading Vancouver Firemen, edging the Hosemen 1 to 0 at Queens Park. “Lefty” Kaye allowed the bunching of two hits with an infield error in the fifth to yield the lone run. Muscutt drove in the winner after Dignan had opened the frame with a single.
Kaye (L) and xxx
Muscutt (W) and xxx
(July 11) Playing in weather that threatened to stop proceedings throughout, the V.A.C. aggregation took a close 1 to 0 victory from the Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster in the opening tilt of a doubleheader. The second game, despite a last-inning rally by B.C. Telephones, was won by a snappy and fighting band of Firemen 6 to 4. The opposing pitchers in the matinee contest, Eddie Olson and Joe Dailey were rarely in trouble and both were afforded great defensive support by their teammates. Smooth-working first baseman Ned Nelson of the Red Caps, a University of Washington recruit, drilled a home run over the right field fence for the winning run.
Olson (L) and xxx
Dailey (W) and xxx
There were plenty of hits in the second affair, along with a bevy of strikeouts.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 13) In a fast-played, entertaining session of baseball, the B.C. Telephones gang edged past the Arrows 3 to 2. Ten hits were smashed equally by the teams with Bob Heaman and Dean Freshfield of the Wrong Numbers the only swatters to amass a pair. Fairfield’s sixth-inning hit drove in the tying and winning tallies.
Weaver (W) and Spicer
Richardson (L) and Barnes
(July 14) The Fraser Cafe nine of New Westminster administered a 7 to 0 shellacking to the league-leading Firemen at Queens Park. The Vancouverites were only able to muster three hits off winning flinger Bill Minty. Doug Muscutt, Eddie Olson and outfielder Clark all had a brace of safeties for the Royal City tribe.
Kaye (L), Geoghegan (3) and Richardson, Goodall
Minty (W) and Stoddart
(July 15) V.A.C. entrenched themselves at the top of the Senior City League heap by knocking off the Firemen 8 to 6. Twice the Hose & Ladder crew held the lead only to see it wiped out. Playing-manager Coley Hall tripled, doubled and singled for the victorious Red Caps.
Ray (L) and Goodall
Straight, Puder (W) (4) and Henry
(July 17) Twenty-seven hits, thirteen errors, a parade of five pitchers and a triple play as a finale pretty well epitomizes the diamond circus disguised as a baseball game at Athletic Park in which the B.C. Telephones came out on top of the Firemen 10 to 8. Ollie Lewis, Bob Heaman of the Phones as well as the Smoke Quenchers’ Charlie Miron and Bart Bean all fattened their batting averages with three hits apiece. The headline act of the tussle, a triple play, occurred in the top of the ninth when the Wrong Numbers had runners at second and third and Al Scott in the batter’s box. Scott’s infield ground ball was whipped to the plate, trapping Heaman between home and third for the first out. The follow-up runner Johnny Kasmer hesitated long enough to draw a throw which nailed him at the keystone sack for the second out. Scott, in the meantime, had assumed the role of a spectator between first and second and was eventually run down and tagged for the final out.
Weaver, E. Lewis (W) (1) and Spicer, Kasmer
Kaye, Ray (L) (1), Miller (5) and Goodall
(July 18) The Arrows and the Telephones turned up as winners in a Saturday twin-bill at Athletic Park, the Cartage Crew cooling off the Vacs 6 to 3 while the Linemen got their victory at the expense of the Fraser Cafe gang from New Westminster by a 5 to 4 count. The V.A.C. aggregation booted five fielding chances and, coupled with losing chucker Hal Straight’s eight bases on balls, the Bow Missiles were able to capitalize on these opportunities in registering the matinee game victory. Graham Robertson of the triumphant nine as well as Harvey McIntyre and Ted Clarke of the Red Caps each slapped out a brace of base knocks.
Gray (W) and Barnes
Straight (L) and Henry, Tanner
Both teams came up with eight base blows in the finale. The Phones opened the scoring by plating a pair in the in the fourth frame and never lost the lead. Outfielder Pat Worley of the Hello Gang as well as infielders “Scotty” Knox and Ray Hawkes of the Cafemen all picked up a pair of safeties. Losing heaver Eddie Olson homered for the Royal City nine.
Olson (L) and Stoddart
Weaver (W), E. Lewis (6) and McLean
(July 20) Earl Lewis’ single in the seventh inning drove in bother Ollie with the ultimate winning counter as the B.C. Telephones ball tossers edged the Arrows 7 to 6. Lewis had earlier cracked a bases-loaded drive in the fourth frame which put three counters on the board. He wound up with three base hits to share batting honours with the Arrows’ Graham Robertson who also had three base raps, including a brace of doubles. Pete Staggs was in rare form for the Transfermen, clouting a home run and a triple.
Richardson (L) and Barnes
Esplen (W), Weaver (9) and Kasmer
(July 21) With Dave Gray providing top-notch hurling, the Arrows romped home to a 7 to 2 victory over the Fraser Cafe diamond pastimers at New Westminster’s Queens Park. Ringing up ten strikeouts, Gray had remarkable control and never issued a walk. Graham Robertson continued his torrid place at the platter for the Bow Missiles, spanking the horsehide for a pair of two-base blows. Outfielder Clark/Clarke of the Frasers was the only thorn in Gray’s side, lighting him up for a circuit-clout and a two-bagger.
Gray (W), Traeger (8) and Barnes
Minty (L), Muscutt (2) and Stoddart
(July 22) B.C. Telephones eked out a 2 to 1 triumph over the Firemen to even their record of wins and losses for the campaign at twelve. Don Weaver, with a six-hitter, struck out an even dozen Hosemen to earn the win. Losing flinger George Sikora yielded seven bingles while whiffing six. Earl Lewis of the Phones had a double and a couple of singles. Outfielder Bart Bean was tops with the stick for the Flame Eaters with a brace of doubles.
Weaver (W) and Kasmer
Sikora (L) and Richardson
Standings * W L Pct.
V.A.C. 18 10 .643
Firemen 13 11 .542
Arrows 12 12 .500
B.C. Telephones 14 14 .500
* New Westminster Fraser Cafe not included in the standings
(July 24) Not a semblance of an error marked one of the best games of the season in which the V.A.C. diamondeers blanked the Arrows 3 to 0. A pair of sixth-inning home runs, a solo dinger by Harvey McIntyre and a two-run shot off the bat of Coley Hall, accounted for all the scoring. Hal Puder handcuffed the Transfermen on four hits while ringing up seven strikeouts. Losing chucker Dave Gray fanned a dozen while surrendering nine base blows. Roy Yamamura, long-time Asahi shortstop, made his debut for the Arrows.
Puder (W) and Henry
Gray (L) and Barnes
(July 24) Fraser Cafe of the Royal City continued to have the upper hand on the Firemen of Vancouver when they blanked the Hose & Ladder gang 2 to 0 at Queens Park. Eddie Olson was the story in this game. Not only did the New Westminster flinger throw a three-hit shutout but his bottom-of-the-ninth inning two-run homer ended the tilt in walkoff fashion. Olson was also the only player on either squad to acquire more than one base rap.
Thompson (L) and Richardson
Olson (W) and Stoddart
(July 25) The Arrows rallied to take a 4 to 2 decision from the Firemen in the early portion of a two-game set at Athletic Park. In the late affair, the V.A.C. nine did some serious entrenching in the top place of the circuit when they downed the Fraser Cafe ball tossers from across Kingsway 2 to 1 in a hard-fought affair. Outfielder Pete Staggs’ inside-the-park homer in the bottom of the eighth, his second hit of the game, brought victory to the Cartage Crew in the matinee event. Bart Bean of the Fire Squelchers also had a circuit-clout as well as a two-bagger.
Kaye (L) and Goodall
Richardson (W) and Barnes
Left-hander Harold Straight of the Red Caps emerged as the winner after battling tooth-and-nail with Doug Muscutt of the Cafemen for mound supremacy in the follow-up event. Joe Dailey of the Vacs and New Westminster’s Tanny Butler led their respective nines with two-hit performances.
Muscutt (L) and Bray
Straight (W) and Henry
(July 29) A long famine for the Firemen continued at Athletic Park when the Hosemen absorbed a 9 to 0 pasting at the hands of the Arrows. In losing their eighth in a row, the Fire Eaters were limited to three hits by winning flinger Don Gray. On top of that, they booted the horsehide seven times. Outfielders Pete Staggs and Merrick Cranstoun paced the 11-hit Bow Missile offensive thrust with three safeties apiece. Cranstoun’s total included a round-tripper.
Gray (W) and Barnes
Ray (L) and Richardson, Goodall
(July 31) Losing pitcher Eddie Olson’s long fly ball which narrowly fell in for a double was the only hit that the Fraser Cafemen of New Westminster were able to chisel off the slants of big left-hander Hal Straight as the Vancouver Athletic Clubbers ran off with a 4 to 0 win over their Royal City hosts. Straight socked a two-run double in helping his cause from the knoll.
Straight (W) and Henry
Olson (L) and Stoddart
(July 31) The Arrows nosed out B.C. Telephones 4 to 3 in a game which took twelve innings to declare a winner. Both teams had plated a single counter in the eleventh frame after ending regulation time knotted at 2 – 2. Playing-manager Johnny Nestman of the Projectiles ended proceedings by laying down a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the third extra canto which allowed a racing Lorne Campbell to score from the hot corner. The walkoff knoll win was captured by Bill Richardson who went the entire route as did losing flinger Earl Lewis. The Cartage Crew out hit the Phones by an 11 to 7 margin with Campbell and Freddy Condon of the victorious nine and infielder Chuck Jacobson of the Wrong Numbers each picking up a trio of raps, with on of Jacobson’s falling in for two bases.
E. Lewis (L) and Kasmer
Richardson (W) and Barnes
(August 1) The eight-game losing streak of the Firemen was broken when the Hosemen turned on the league-leading V.A.C. squad and handed them a 7 to 0 whitewashing in the afternoon game of a league twin-bill. The evening imbroglio saw the B.C. Telephones nine drop a 7 to 5 decision to the Fraser Cafe delegation from New Westminster. Larry Holden pitched a six-hitter in the matinee game to lift the Smoke Squelchers from their prolonged slump. Charlie Miron with a home run and single and Norm Goodall with a pair of two-baggers led the 12-hit offensive thrust of the winners.
Holden (W) and Richardson
Straight (L), Dailey (9) and Henry, Purmal
The Hash Slingers had a 10 to 9 hitting edge in the second contest with New Westminster’s Clarke, “Stun” Bray and winning tosser Doug Muscutt as well as Ralph Spicer and Abe Cross of the Hello Boys all drilling a brace of base blows.
Muscutt (W) and Senuty, Stoddart
Esplen (L), Weaver (6) and Kasmer
(August 3) Digging themselves out of a four-run deficit after an inning of play, the Vacs licked B.C. Telephones 8 to 5. The Red Caps picked up one in the second, two in the fourth and shot ahead for good with two more in the seventh. Catcher Ed Henry had a double and three singles for the victors while playing-manager Coley Hall blasted a homer to go along with a couple of one-baggers.
Dailey (W) and Henry
Weaver (L) and Kasmer
(August 4) Grabbing a 3 to 0 lead at the outset, the Arrows coasted to a 5 to 2 victory over New Westminster’s Fraser Cafe aggregation at Queens Park in the Royal City. Dave Gray and Pete Staggs combined to lay the Cafemen low. Gray allowed five hits and fanned ten while the Arrows whaled the offerings of two Royal City chuckers for 11 safeties. Staggs had a three-hit performance at the dish, including a first-frame four-bagger. Eddie Olson was the only Restauranteur to touch Gray for two safeties.
Gray (W) and Barnes
Minty (L), Muscutt and Stoddart, Senuty
(August 5) The Firemen flopped back into their old rut at Athletic Park and absorbed a 2 to 0 blanking by the second-place Arrows. The Bow Missiles got a break in the seventh inning when outfielders Charlie Miron and Bart Bean of the Hosemen let a routine and easily catchable fly ball by Graham Robertson fall in for a double. A sacrifice followed then a squeeze play brought in the game’s first run as bunter Johnny Nestman beat out the throw to first base. Nestman proceeded to swipe second and, on catcher Norm Goodall’s errant throw to the keystone sack, continued on to the hot corner. The peg to third from the outfield was wide of the mark, landing in the Firemen’s dugout and Nestman was awarded home with the second and last counter of the game. Bill Richardson rang up ten strikeouts in recording the shutout knoll triumph.
Kaye (L) and Goodall
Richardson (W) and Whyte
Standings * W L Pct.
V.A.C. 23 11 .676
Arrows 17 13 .567
Firemen 14 17 .452
B.C. Telephones 14 17 .452
* New Westminster Fraser Cafe record of 7 – 17 not included in the standings
(August 7) George Sikora out-pitched Dave Gray but the Arrows took the game from the Firemen 2 to 1. Sikora gave up just three hits but the Transfermen won mostly because of bobbles at critical moments, including a wild pitch by Sikora which allowed the first run by the winning nine. Gray gave up six hits and fanned nine while also scoring what proved to be the winning marker on Lorne Campbell’s sixth-inning one-bagger. Outfielder Charlie Miron of the Hose & Ladder Brigade singled on three occasions.
Sikora (L) and Richardson
Gray (W) and Whyte
(August 8) The Firemen went on a hitting rampage in the matinee performance at Athletic Park and beat Fraser Cafe of New Westminster 7 to 4. In the late attraction, the Arrows cut into the first-place cushion held by V.A.C., dropping the Red Caps 4 to 3. The Flame Fighters belted Bill Minty’s offerings for 12 safeties in wrapping up the opener.
Minty (L) and xxx
Geoghegan (W), Ray (4) and xxx
With the Vacs in front 3 to 2 in the top of the eighth and runners on the corners, Roy Yamamura of the Projectiles was a dead-duck at the dish as Pete Staggs tried in vain to lay down a squeeze bunt on a pitch well outside the strike zone. Irked with his inability to make contact, the slugging outfielder proceeded to clout one far and deep for a two-run round-tripper as the Cartage Crew moved ahead for good.
Richardson (W) and xxx
Dailey (L) and xxx
(August 10) Eleven innings of fast and furious baseball saw the Arrows nose out the Firemen 2 to 1 at Athletic Park, the eighth straight win for the Cartage Crew. The first eight innings were scoreless, frames in which superb fielding and brilliant pitching in the clutch alleviated the menace of runners on the bases. Then came the ninth, a lone run for the Arrows and the hard-fought-for equalizer by the Firemen. Goose eggs were applied to the scoreboard in the tenth but, in the top of the second extra canto, a single by Lorne Campbell, Jack Cranstoun’s double and a hit batsman filled the sacks for the Transfermen. The Hosemen changed pitchers at this point and, before new chucker George Sikora could retire the side, he was greeted by a Texas Leaguer to shallow leftfield by Graham Robertson which plated the deciding tally. Five batters, Cranstoun, Pete Staggs and Fred Condon of the winning nine as well as Jimmy Watters and Bart Bean of the Fire Brigade, all had a double and single for their respective teams.
Gray (W) and Barnes
Holden (L), Sikora (11) and Goodall
(August 11) The B.C. Telephones diamond pastimers came from three runs down to defeat the hosting New Westminster Fraser Cafe outfit 8 to 4. A disastrous seventh inning spelled the doom for losing heaver Eddie Olson and the Cafemen. First baseman Abe Cross blasted a triple and a two-bagger for the Wrong Numbers, the latter clout driving in a pair of counters during the comeback seventh frame.
E. Lewis (W) and Kasmer
Olson (L) and Stoddart
(August 12) Two runs down going into the last of the tenth inning failed to prove an insurmountable barrier to a fighting crew of Arrow Transfer ballplayers at Athletic Park. The Projectiles wiped out the deficit and added the winning tally as well in running off their ninth straight victory, a 6 to 5 triumph over the league-leading V.A.C. contingent. The teams were deadlocked 3 – 3 after nine innings and, in the top of the tenth, the Red Caps pulled ahead by a pair on losing twirler Hal Straight’s RBI double followed by a run-producing fielder’s choice. Then, the comeback ensued, capped by Pete Staggs’ double which, aided by an outfield bobble, plated the tying and winning counters. Staggs and third sacker Art Morse of the Vacs led the batting parade, each clubbing a two-bagger plus a brace of singles.
Straight (L) and Henry
Richardson (W) and Barnes
(August 14) A booming RBI triple by infielder Ned Nelson was the beginning of a seventh-inning rally that netted V.A.C. a 4 to 3 victory over the Fraser Cafe baseballers of New Westminster. Coley Hall’s single followed Nelson’s swat, driving in the deciding run. Joe Dailey earned the knoll victory for the Red Caps, tossing a five-hitter. Hall also had a two-bagger to emerge as the game’s most productive swatter.
Dailey (W) and Henry
Muscutt (L) and Stoddart
(August 14) B.C. Telephones opened up a 1 1/2 game lead in their battle for the final playoff berth when they downed the pursuing Firemen 7 to 3 under the lights at Athletic Park before 4,500 fans. Don Weaver’s hurling and a host of bad breaks sent the Firemen down to defeat after they had enjoyed an early two-run margin. Weaver fanned 11 of the Hosemen and limited them to just three base hits. Abe Cross led the seven-hit offense for the Phones, garnering a triple and single.
Weaver (W) and Spicer
Ray, Sikora (L) (1) and Goodall
(August 15) The Arrows lost valuable ground when they were nosed out by the visiting Fraser Cafemen from New Westminster 6 to 5 in the matinee portion of a double-dip at Athletic Park. The evening game under the lights saw the Firemen claw their way back to within a half-game of the third-place B.C. Telephones’ squad when they edged past the Hello Boys 7 to 6. Eddie Olson’s home run was the feature of the opening match as the Cafemen snapped the run of victories for the Transfer Troupe at nine.
xxx (W) and xxx
Gray (L), Richardson and xxx
The Hose & Ladder aggregation used four pitchers before they were able to stuff the coveted victory away from the Wrong Numbers. Six errors proved to be costly to the losers. Playing-manager Jimmy Watters of the Choke-on-Smoke Gang got the game off to a rollicking start with a leadoff home run clout.
xxx, xxx, xxx, xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Standings * W L Pct.
V. A. C. 24 13 .649
Arrows 20 14 .588
B.C. Telephones 16 18 .471
Firemen 16 19 .457
* New Westminster Fraser Cafe record of 8 – 20 not included in the standings
(August 17) The B.C. Telephones nine entrenched their third-place position in the Vancouver Senior City circuit when they set the penthouse-dwelling Vacs down 8 to 3 before a near-capacity audience at Athletic Park. Left handed flinger Don Weaver of the Phones held the Red Caps to six non-intermingling safeties while his teammates were cracking 14 base knocks off losing twirler Hal Puder. Earl Lewis furnished the brunt of the offense for the winners, cracking four singles.
Weaver (W) and Spicer
Puder (L) and Henry
(August 18) The Arrows stayed in the fight for the leadership of the Vancouver Senior City loop and the coveted bye into the playoffs when they hammered out a 5 to 0 shutout of the New Westminster Fraser Cafe. While his mates, particularly Pete Staggs, were pounding the offerings of Eddie Olson frequently and vigorously, Bill Richardson hurled one-hit ball for the Transfermen. It was Olson who spoiled the perfect performance by lining a single in the fourth. Staggs lit up Olson for a brace of doubles and a single.
Richardson (W) and Barnes
Olson (L) and Stoddart
(August 19) Pinch-hitter Nick Craig’s bottom-of-the-ninth single with two out drove in the tying marker and led to the winning run being scored on an overthrow to the plate as the Firemen inflicted a painful 7 to 6 defeat on the Arrows before an overflow crowd at Athletic Park. It was a hard night for the chuckers as both teams had to fish into the bag for relief moundsmen before the third inning was over. Lorne Campbell and Dave Scott of the Bow Missiles as well as Jimmy Watters and winning tosser Larry Holden of the Hosemen each singled twice. Charlie Miron had a two-run four-ply clout for the winners.
Scott, Gray (L) (3) and Barnes
Kaye, Ray (2), Holden (W) (3) and Richardson
Standings * W L Pct.
V. A. C. 24 14 .632
Arrows 21 15 .583
B.C. Telephones 17 18 .486
Firemen 17 19 .472
* New Westminster Fraser Cafe record of 8 – 21 not included
(August 20) Battling for the third and final playoff spot, the B.C. Telephones squad extended their lead over the Firemen to a full game when they knocked off the New Westminster Fraser Cafe aggregation 7 to 2. Earl Lewis went the distance on the knoll for the victory, fanning eight while yielding six hits. The big inning for the Phones was the fourth when they put up a four-spot. Ralph Spicer and Johnny Kasmer each singled twice for the victors, a feat replicated by Eddie Olson of the Hash Slingers.
Muscutt (L), Minty (4) and Rae
E. Lewis (W) and Kasmer
(August 21) Before an estimated overflow crowd of some 6,000, the Firemen managed to hang in there in their battle for the last playoff berth when they got by the Arrows 9 to 7 in a free-hitting, ragged affair. The Hosemen lit up a tandem of Arrow chuckers for 17 hits with second baseman Charlie Stevenson leading the way with a pair of doubles and a brace of one-baggers. Arne Miller crashed a four-bagger for the winners. Merrick Cranstoun belted a double and a brace of singles for the Projectiles.
Scott, B. Richardson (L) (7) and Whyte
Holden, Sikora (W) (7) and H. Richardson
August 22) Scratching out a 7 to 6 verdict over the Fraser Cafe squad of New Westminster in the matinee affair of a twin-bill, the Firemen put the pressure on the B.C. Telephones nine to win the late encounter or face a showdown for third spot in the league’s final game. The aspirations of the Phones toward undisputed possession of third place, however, were dashed in the second tilt when the Arrows hung a 4 to 2 defeat on the Wrong Numbers. The Flame Eaters had had no easy task in the afternoon contest. Their lead was in danger until the final out, particularly after losing heaver Bryan Lewis clouted a home run to bring the Royal City nine to within one run of the Hosemen’s total.
B. Lewis (L) and xxx
Ray, Sikora (W) (4) and xxx
Dave Gray thwarted the Phones on five hits in the late event, setting up a winner-take-all joust for third-spot in the league’s final contest. Jack Cranstoun laced four one-baggers for the Transfermen, one of which drove losing chucker Earl Lewis to the showers in the sixth stanza.
Gray (W) and Barnes, Whyte
E. Lewis (L), Weaver (6) and Kasmer
(August 24) B.C. telephones captured third place in the Vancouver Senior City League after a narrow 3 to 2 victory over the Firemen. Don Weaver emerged as the victor of a hurling joust with George Sikora of the Hosemen. Both twirlers gave up seven safeties. The Phones came from behind, scoring a pair in the eighth on a sharp RBI single by Abe Cross and an outfield overthrow to third base following a hit by Ralph Spicer. Earl Lewis tripled and singled for the winners. Teammate Abe Cross picked up a double and one-bagger while Arne Miller cranked out a brace of doubles for the eliminated Smoke & Flame Fighters.
Weaver (W) and Spicer
Sikora (L) and Richardson
Final Standings * W L Pct.
V. A. C. 24 14 .632
Arrow Transfer 22 16 .579
B.C. Telephones 19 19 .500
Firemen 18 20 .474
* New Westminster Fraser Cafe record of 8 - 22 not included in the final standings
Playoffs
Semi-finals (best-of-five)
B.C. Telephones vs Arrow Transfer
(August 26) Airtight pitching by Bill Richardson, backed by some deadly extra-base bludgeoning by his Arrow teammates, left the B.C. Telephones one game down to the Transfermen after a 6 to 1 first-game victory by the Cartage Crew. Richardson hurled a four-hitter, fanned nine and probably could have had a shutout had he not eased up in the final frame. Slugger Pete Staggs of the Projectiles shared the spotlight with Richardson, blasting a home run, double and single in four times up. Merrick Cranstoun also belted a round-tripper for the victors. Abe Cross singled twice for the Phones.
E. Lewis (L), Esplen (8) and Kasmer
Richardson (W) and Barnes
(August 28) Don Weaver’s southpaw slants sent the B.C. Telephones nine into a tie with the Arrows at one game apiece as he was gleaned for just three scant hits in whitewashing the Transfermen 5 to 0. The Arrows, uncharacteristically, played a poor defensive game, committing six fielding miscues which compounded their evening of frustration. Two of the trio of knocks yielded by Weaver were infield raps, a bunt single by Jack Cranstoun and a slow grounder which Johnny Nestman beat out. Nary a runner passed beyond the second sack and only two got that far. Eleven batters returned to the Arrow dugout as strikeout victims. Jimmy Watters cranked out three base blows for the winners, one of which was a three-bagger. First sacker Abe Cross contributed a brace of doubles.
Gray (L), Scott (7) and Barnes, Whyte
Weaver (W) and Spicer
(August 29) The B.C. Telephones edged the Arrows 3 to 2 to take a two games to one lead in their semi-final series. Each club tallied a run in the first frame and the game went scoreless until the eighth when the Phones plated a pair on Ralph Spicer’s walk, Bob Heaman’s terrific double and Rod Cameron’s single. A final canto rally by the Projectiles fell one run short. After a shaky start, winning flinger “Babe” Esplen of the Hello Boys settled into a groove and finished with a six-hitter. Heaman had a one-bagger to go along with his two-ply blast.
Esplen (W) and Spicer
Richardson (L) and Barnes
(August 31) Dave Gray allowed just three hits as the Arrows bombarded the B.C. Telephones unit for eight counters in the final frame to walk away with 9 to 0 triumph. The win for the Bow Missiles squares the series at two games apiece. Up until the ninth stanza, the Transfermen led only by a single tally, complements of Pete Staggs’ second-frame solo homer but things fell apart for the Phones in that fateful last panel. Jack Cranstoun, Roy Yamamura, Graham Robertson and Johnny Nestman each banged out two base blows for the Arrows with a triple being part of Cranstoun’s total.
Gray (W) and Barnes
Weaver (L), E. Lewis (9) and Spicer
(September 2) Before an Athletic Park crowd in excess of 6,000, the B.C. Telephones annexed their semi-final series with the Arrows as Don Weaver blanked the Cartage Crew 4 to 0 on a six-hitter. The Phones bunched their hits to tag losing heaver Bill Richardson for two runs in the second frame and added one more in each of the third and eighth cantos, the final tally being charged to reliever Dave Gray. Earl Lewis sparked the Hello Boys at the dish with a pair of doubles and a one-bagger.
Weaver (W) and Spicer
Richardson (L), Gray (3) and Barnes
Finals (best-of-seven)
B.C. Telephones vs V. A. C.
(September 7) A pair of chuckers named Hal engineered a V.A.C. double-victory over B.C. Telephones in the first two games of the battle for the Senior City championship. Puder was the first of the Harold “call me Hal” clan to ascend the hillock and his clubmates pulled him to the top of the heap by a garrison finish which took the ball game 3 to 2 in the tenth stanza. In the late frolic, portsider Straight, with gilt-edge defensive support, went the distance as the Red Caps swept with a 5 to 1 triumph. Ned Nelson, Vacs’ second sacker who recently signed with the New York Yankees, gave one of the greatest fielding exhibitions in Vancouver baseball annals, handling nine chances without fault in the afternoon encounter and 14 in the night fray, with better than half of them being of the difficult variety. Earl Lewis of the Phones led the batting parade, even though he was on the losing end, poling out a triple and double in each of the two contests.
Esplen (L) and xxx
Puder (W) and xxx
Weaver (L) and xxx
Straight (W) and xxx
(September 9) Championship hopes for the B.C. Telephones gang are on life-support following an 8 to 4 trimming from the Vancouver Athletic Club, the Red Caps’ third win in the series. The Clubbers assumed a three-run lead in the second inning and remained in front throughout the tussle, even though out hit by the Phones 8 to 5. Winning flinger Joe Dailey had a couple of singles as did Abe Cross and Ralph Spicer of the Wrong Numbers.
E. Lewis (L) and Spicer
Dailey (W) and Henry
(September 11) B.C. Telephones avoided elimination by eking out a 1 to 0 victory over V.A.C. in a ten-inning struggle. Don Weaver bested the loop’s top hurler, Hal Puder, in a gruelling hill duel in which the Vacs collected six hits to five for the Phones. Weaver’s batterymate, Ralph Spicer, emerged as the game’s star when he tripled in the bottom of the overtime canto, driving in Earl Lewis with the game’s lone tally. Harvey McIntyre and catcher Ed Henry both singled twice for the victors while Ross Morrow of the Hello Boys picked up a double and one-bagger.
Puder (L) and Henry
Weaver (W) and Spicer
(September 14) Before an overflow crowd, the V.A.C. clouters put up a four-spot on the board in the initial stanza and went to to a 5 to 2 triumph over the B.C. Telephones, a victory which clinched the 1931 Senior City crown for the Red Caps. Portsider Hal Straight went the route on the rubber for the win, yielding seven hits while whiffing four. Keystone sacker Ned Nelson slammed a triple and a brace of one-baggers for the victors while “Bunny” Purmal had a pair of doubles. Ross Morrow was the best with the stick for the Telephone Tribe, copping a double and single.
Weaver (L), Esplen (1) and Spicer
Straight (W) and Henry
VANCOUVER TERMINAL LEAGUE
Membership within the 1931 Terminal League remained constant at four clubs although a transition occurred with two of the 1930 entries leaving the fold only to be replaced by a pair of new franchises. The Mc & Mc team of a year previous was supplanted by another hardware-sponsored aggregation, Marshall-Wells, while the void left with the dissolution of the South Hill Army & Navy Vets squad was filled by a former Point Grey group of diamondeers, now playing under the banner of an automobile dealership, Begbie, Carter & White.
In late July 1931, a season in which the Asahis were in one of their worst slumps ever, sparkplug shortstop Roy Yamamura unexpectedly left the Nippons to play for the Arrows of the Vancouver Senior City League.
(April 27) Eddie Kitagawa’s Asahis and the Terminal League both got off to a flying start when the Nippons turned back Shores' Jewelers 5 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds where approximately 4,000 spectators witnessed the proceedings. Winning tosser Ty Suga’s left-handed slants bothered all but outfielder Keith "Lefty" Fairbairn of Shores' who collected a double and single. Frank Shiraishi homered for the victors.
Arthur (L) and Pitt
Suga (W) and Yasui
(April 28) Making their debut in Senior A baseball, Stan Carter’s squad of pastimers, playing under the name of Begbie, Carter & White, shoed a lot of class in blanking Marshall-Wells 5 to 0 in a Terminal League fixture. Winning tosser McAdam fanned seven and gave up three hits in 5 2/3 innings of mound work. First baseman Don Stewart of the winners had three hits including a four-ply swat.
McLellan (L) and Warren
McAdam (W), Bourne (6) and W. Downie
(April 29) Shores' Jewelers captured their first win of the campaign by dumping Marshall-Wells 7 to 2. Purcell went the route on the rubber for the Gem Dealers, limiting the Hardware Gang to five hits while whiffing seven. Third baseman J. Cameron paced the offensive attack of the victorious nine, slamming three doubles.
March (L) and Warren
Purcell (W) and Pitt
(April 30) Battering the offerings of a tandem of Asahi chuckers for sixteen hits including a homer and six doubles, the Begbie, Carter & White entry in the Terminal League trampled the Nippons underfoot 15 to 8 at the Powell Street grounds to take possession of top spot in the loop. Second sacker Al Scott slammed a double plus three singles in leading the Auto Dealers at the dish while outfielder Norm Kay had a pair of doubles and a single. Teammate Ross Edy smashed a home run.
G. Tanaka (L), Suga (2) and Yasui
Young, Orr (W) (1), Bourne (4) and Hackman/Hagman
(May 4) Two triple steals, one by each team and both occurring in the fifth inning, marked a slugging 9 to 4 victory for Marshall-Wells over the Asahis in Terminal League play. A six-run explosion in the fifth inning allowed the Hardwaremen to capture their first triumph of the season. Max May yielded seven hits and fanned an equal number of Nippon batters in going the route for the mound win. Three of the safeties he surrendered were off the bat of shortstop Roy Yamamura who doubled and singled twice. Third baseman George Syrotuck homered and singled for Marshall-Wells while outfielder S. May checked in with a triple and one-bagger.
Maikawa (L), G. Tanaka (5) and Yasui
May (W) and Ingram
(May 5) Errors in two rounds prevented Shores' Jewelers from stopping the winning streak of Begbie, Carter & White in a Terminal League fixture at Powell Street. Darkness stopped hostilities at the end of six frames with the score knotted at 2 – 2. Hermie McArthur held the Chevrolet Gang hitless for five cantos but unearned counters in each of the third and sixth frames allowed the Begbies to escape with a tie while finally getting to McArthur for three bingles in their last turn at bat. Shortstop Bill Mazelow and outfielder Ross Morrow each collected two hits for the Diamond Merchants with one of Morrow’s raps being a double.
McArthur and Pitt
Quartermaine and Pauche
(May 6) The Asahis regained their winning ways when they turned back Shores' Jewelers 5 to 3 in a hard-fought Terminal Baseball League game. Playing faultless afield, the Nippons parlayed seven hits, six walks, three sacrifices and four stolen sacks into important counters. Shortstop Roy Yamamura singled three times for the winners. Ross Morrow homered and singled for the Gem Dealers while teammate “Lefty” Fairbairn picked up a double and a one-bagger.
Suga (W) and Yasui
Townsend (L) and Pitt
(May 11) Making a successful Terminal League debut, pitcher Hallett of Begbie, Carter & White limited the Asahis to just two hits as his Chevrolet Dealer mates remained undefeated after nosing out the Nippons 3 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds. Hallett made an auspicious start although he issued six walks, two of which turned into runs. The Begbies collected ten hits off loser Ty Suga including a double and single by first baseman Don Stewart.
Hallett (W) and Pauche
Suga (L) and Yasui
(May 12) Crafty pitching by former Regina hurler Tommy Green propelled the Marshall-Wells nine to a 3 to 1 win over Shores' Jewelers. The veteran southpaw was touched for eight hits but he was at his best in the pinches when had the Gem Dealers chasing pitches outside the strike zone. The Hardwaremen were only able to collect three hits off the slants of losing flinger Gregson but made two of them count to good advantage when scoring their three runs in the second inning. Outfielder “Lefty” Fairbairn of the Diamond Merchants was the contest’s prime swatter, hitting a pair of doubles and a single. Barnett led the victors at the platter with a brace of two-baggers.
Gregson (L) and Pitt
Green (W) and Warren
(May 13) A bottom of the final-frame round-tripper by outfielder Lefty Fairbairn broke a 2 – 2 tie and gave Shores' Jewelers a walkoff 3 to 2 win over the league-leading Begbie, Carter & White aggregation. Opposing moundsmen Chuck Pearsall of the victors and McAdam of the Auto Dealers had nine and eight strikeouts respectively. Ross Morrow also clouted a homer for Shores'.
McAdam (L) and xxx
Pearsall (W) and xxx
(May 14) George Tanaka, a one-handed pitching star, allowed only one bingle, a double by second baseman Ikona, as the Asahis blanked Marshall-Wells 2 to 0. Losing hurler “Bus” March surrendered just three hits to the Nippons, one being a leadoff homer to Roy Yamamura to begin the game. Yamamura also had a single.
G. Tanaka (W) and Yasui
March (L) and Shillingford
(May 18) Scoring eight runs in the second inning, Begbie, Carter & White pummelled Marshall-Wells 10 to 1 at the Powell Street diamond. Despite the one-sided score, both teams registered eight base raps, the difference being the disparity in extra-base blows. Norm Kay and B. Johnstone slammed home runs for the Auto Dealers and Kay added a double to his four-bagger. Bill Kay completed the extra-sack assault with a brace of two-baggers.
Orr (W) and Thomas
M. May (L), March (2) and Shillingford, Warren
(May 19) The Asahis bunted their way to a 9 to 3 Terminal League victory over Shores' Jewelers at the Powell Street grounds where the stands were packed to capacity while the overflow surrounded the field. The Nippons held only a slight edge in base hits, 6 to 5, but with their speed, superior baserunning skills and station-to-station mentality, were able to lead from start to finish. First baseman W. “Scotty” Lister doubled and singled for Shores' while teammate Lefty Fairbairn as well as Mickey Maikawa of the Asahis each stroked a pair of singles.
Gregson (L), Pearsall (3), Townsend (5) and Pitt
G. Tanaka (W) and Yasui
(May 20) In a wild seventh inning, the Asahis tallied five runs and handed Begbie, Carter & White an 8 to 3 crushing. The loss for the Chevie Dealers was only their second of the young season. The Nippons had only three hits, two by playing-manager Eddie Kitagawa, during the course of the game but, as usual, their speed and aggressive approach forced the Begbies into committing six errors. Third baseman Ross Edy picked up two of the seven hits acquired by the vanquished nine.
Suga (W) and Yasui
Hallett (L) and Thomas
(May 21) Scoring twice in the final canto, Shores' Jewelers put on a fighting finish to beat out Marshall-Wells 6 to 5 in a Terminal League fixture. Ross Morrow’s solid blow to leftfield drove in the winning run after H. Wickett had doubled and scored on Lefty Fairbairn’s two-base smash, his second double of the contest. Morrow and Wickett also singled earlier in the game for a two-hit production. Poor baserunning by Marshall-Wells cost them at least two runs. Catcher Shillingford, Tommy Green and outfielder A. Mitchell all singled twice for the Hardwaremen.
McLellan (L) and Shillingford
Townsend, Arthur (W) (5) and Pitt
First-half Standings W L Pct.
Begbie, Carter & White 5 2 .714
Asahis 5 3 .625
Shores' Jewelers 3 4 .429
Marshall-Wells 2 6 .250
(May 25) Shores' Jewelers of the Vancouver Terminal League dropped a 15 to 14 slugfest to the Victoria Elks in exhibition action on the Island. Six hurlers were used by the two squads. Four homers were crashed out, one each by Forbes, Morgan and Bowden of the Capital City Antlered Tribe as well as one by outfielder Lefty Fairbairn of the visitors.
Townsend, Pearsall, Mazelow, Arthur and xxx
Noble, Webster and xxx
(May 26) Out hit by only a 10 to 9 margin, the league-leading Begbie, Carter & White aggregation were still trounced 11 to 2 by Shores' Jewelers in Terminal League action. Third baseman Widdows singled on three occasions for the victors while teammate and winning chucker Hermie McArthur slammed a three-run round-tripper. Second sacker Al Scott doubled and singled twice for the Begbies and outfielder McAdam hit a couple of doubles.
McArthur (W) and Pitt
Quartermaine (L), Orr (4) and Thomas
(May 27) A two-out double by W. “Scotty” Lister with the bases loaded in the seventh inning gave Shores' Jewelers a 9 to 7 triumph over the Asahis in their Terminal league game at the Powell Street grounds.
Suga, G. Tanaka (L) (1) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 28) A 4 to 2 victory by Marshall-Wells over Begbie, Carter & White created a three-way tie for top spot in the Terminal Baseball League. The Chevrolet Dealers are now deadlocked with the Asahis and Shores' Jewelers for the Penthouse position. “Bus” March of the Hardwaremen set the Motor Squad down on five hits in taking the mound triumph. George Syrotuck of the MW’s was the only swatter from either side to punch out two hits.
March (W) and Warren
Noble (L) and Pauche
(June 1) The Begbie, Carter & White diamond pastimers reclaimed first place in the Terminal Baseball circuit after edging the Asahis 5 to 4 at the Powell Street grounds. The hectic see-saw battle was decided on a misjudged fly ball launched by catcher Thomas of the Chevies in the sixth inning which went for three bases. The blow drove in the tying marker and, on the next pitch, the fleet-footed backstop gave the Nippons some of their own medicine by swiping home with the counter that proved to be the winner. Ross Edy fanned seven and gave up five hits in taking the mound win. Don Stewart marked his return to the Terminal League by clouting a triple and a double.
Edy (W) and Thomas
Suga (L) and Yasui
(June 3) Shores' Jewelers climbed back into a tie for first place with Begbie, Carter & White when they downed Marshall-Wells 5 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. Backed by the classy three-hit pitching of Chuck Pearsall, the Gem Dealers had home runs from second baseman Hunter and outfielder Lefty Fairbairn in piling up nine hits. Hunter wound up with three base knocks.
Pearsall (W) and Pitt
McLellan (L) and Warren
(June 4) Begbie, Carter & White showed too much strength with the willow for Shores' Jewelers in the battle for top spot in the Terminal League and took a lively struggle 5 to 3 from the Diamond Merchants. The Chevie Dealers banged out 13 hits off a pair of Shores' hurlers with second baseman Al Scott leading the way with three singles. Don Stewart, Norm Kay, Bill Kay and B. Johnston each had two safeties for the victors with a double included in first baseman Stewart’s total. W. “Scotty” Lister doubled and singled for Shores'.
McAdam (W), Edy (6) and Thomas
McArthur (L), Townsend (2) and Hackman, Pitt
(June 8) Nine doubles, three twin-killings and a pair of circus catches lent plenty of colour to a 4 to 1 triumph by Shores' Jewelers over the Asahis in a Terminal League diamond battle. Outfielder Lefty Fairbairn and third sacker Widdows each collected a brace of doubles for the winners while Mickey Maikawa of the Nippons supplied the fielding feature, doubling Roy Keeley off first after making a leaping stab catch of Wills’ smash down the first-base line. Len Arthur held the Asahis to four hits in taking the complete-game hill decision.
Arthur (W) and Pitt
G. Tanaka (L), Suga (5) and Yasui
(June 11) After rain had put a damper on diamond action for a couple of days, Terminal League play resumed at Powell Street with Shores' Jewelers edging Marshall-Wells 4 to 2. The Hardwaremen were held to three hits by winning moundsman Gregson while Tommy Green was nicked by the Diamond merchants for five safeties. Fred Condon, formerly of the Senior City League Arrows, made his Terminal League debut with Marshall-Wells by poling out a long home run. Second baseman Bill Mazelow of the Hardware team, who had played for Shores' all season, hit a triple and single for his new club.
Green (L) and Warren
Gregson (W) and Pitt
(June 22) A errant throw to third base by catcher W. Downie with an Asahi runner seemingly trapped gave the Nippons a ninth-inning run which was sufficient to defeat Begbie, Carter & White 2 to 1. A previous forced error led to the Asahis’ initial counter in the sixth after the Chevrolet Dealers had taken a one-run first-inning lead. Opposing moundsmen Ty Suga and Ross Edy both pitched well, Suga giving up just three hits and Edy five.
Edy (L) and W. Downie
Suga (W) and Yasui
(June 24) Weakening in the eighth frame after holding the opposition to just a single hit, one-handed hurler George Tanaka of the Asahis was lit up for three hits and a pair of runs as Marshall-Wells went on to defeat the Nippons 3 to 1. A triple by outfielder A. Mitchell, a single by winning tosser “Bus” March and another three-bagger by Bill Mazelow proved to be the undoing of Tanaka in the fateful eighth.
March (W) and xxx
G. Tanaka (L) and xxx
First-half Standings W L Pct.
Shores' Jewelers 8 5 .615
Begbie, Carter & White 7 6 .538
Asahis 6 8 .429
Marshall-Wells 6 8 .429
(June 29) Young Ross Edy triumphed over Chuck Pearsall in one of the best-pitched games seen in the Terminal League all season when the Begbie, Carter & White crew blanked Shores' Jewelers 2 to 0 to move up on even terms with the Diamond Merchants. Edy allowed only four scattered bingles and Pearsall, who fanned ten, was touched for just six. Second sacker Al Scott had two base raps for the winners and scored the game’s first run after hitting a double in the third stanza. Catcher Thomas plated the second counter on a daring theft of home in the sixth canto. “Scotty” Lister singled twice for Shores'.
Pearsall (L) and Pitt
Edy (W) and Thomas
(June 30) The Asahis prevailed 2 to 1 over Marshall-Wells in a ten-inning affair at the Powell Street diamond. Reggie Yasui delivered the deciding hit with the bases loaded. The Hardwaremen had two runners thrown out at the plate as the Nippons played a superlative defensive game.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 2) The Begbie, Carter & White ball tossers scored a singleton in the bottom-of-the-last frame to take a narrow 6 to 5 walkoff win from the Asahis. The Chevrolet bunch were led at the dish by B. Johnstone who picked off a triple and a double.
Suga, Maikawa (L) (7) and Nakamura
Edy, McAdam (W) (4) and Thomas
(July 6) Shores' Jewelers absorbed an unexpected 5 to 2 defeat from the Marshall-Wells tribe in Terminal League action. The Hardwaremen took the lead with four tallies in the inaugural stanza and never looked back.
McLellan (W) and xxx
Gregson (L), Townsend (1) and xxx
(July 8) Marshall-Wells upset Begbie, Carter & White 4 to 3 at the Powell Street venue. Four consecutive hits off the bats of George Syrotuck, Tommy Green, Warren and A. Mitchell in the eighth inning decided the issue.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 9) Bunching their hits for four runs in the third frame, Shores' Jewelers blanked the Asahis 4 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Len Arthur earned the shutout win, spinning a four-hitter.
Arthur (W) and xxx
G. Tanaka (L), Suga (3) and xxx
(July 13) Superb pitching by youthful Ross Edy was chiefly responsible for a 4 to 1 victory by Begbie, Carter & White over Shores' Jewelers at the Powell Street grounds. The victory put the Auto Dealers on even terms with the Diamond Merchants for the first-half title.
Edy (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 14) With close to 4,000 watching the combat at the Powell Street grounds, the Begbie, Carter & White baseball squad captured the first-half title of the Terminal Baseball League when they took a thrilling 2 to 1 contest from Shores' Jewelers. Don Stewart of the Chevies was the hitting star with a triple and double. Teammate W. Kay chipped in with a double and one-bagger. Third baseman Hunter of the Gem Dealers accounted for their lone tally with a solo home run.
McAdam (W), Edy (5) and Pauche
Townsend (L), Pearsall (3) and Pitt, Townsend (3)
(July 15) Marshall-Wells opened the second-half of the Terminal League schedule with a clean-cut 3 to 1 victory over the Asahis. Making his mound debut for the Hardwaremen, winning chucker Kennedy held the Nippons to two hits while ringing up eight strikeouts. The Asahis uncharacteristically played sub-par defensively committing four errors, two of these by losing flinger Ty Suga which were costly. Shortstop “Gummy” Leach and outfielder A. Mitchell each poked a double and single for the victors.
Suga (L) and Yasui
Kennedy (W) and Warren
(July 16) Crashing through with seven base hits in their last two turns at bat, Shores' Jewelers pounded out a 6 to 3 victory over Marshall-Wells in a Terminal Baseball League tilt. Both teams accumulated eight base raps but the Diamond Merchants bunched all but one of theirs into their strong finish. Bill Mazelow and Tommy Green of the Hardwaremen as well as Shores' catcher Townsend and winning chucker Len Arthur each picked up a couple of blows with one of Townsend’s going for a two bases.
McLellan (L), Mazelow (6) and Warren
McArthur (W) and Townsend
(July 20) Although the Asahis went wild on the basepaths, pilfering ten sacks, the Begbie, Carter & White baseballers came from behind to power their way past the Nippons by a 9 to 7 score. The Asahis had the Car Dealers somewhat bewildered early in the game with their speedy baserunning and well-placed bunts. In the fourth canto, however, the Auto Crew got to losing tosser George Tanaka for seven hits with their war clubs. B. Johnstone, Don Stewart, Jimmy McKissock and Faulkner pummelled the ball hard for the Begbies, each collecting two bingles with Faulkner and Stewart’s brace of raps all being doubles.
G. Tanaka (L) and Yasui
McAdam (W) and Pauche, Watson
(July 21) The Asahis of the Terminal League and Hirochos, high school champions of Japan, battled nine innings to a 2 – 2 tie with over a thousand of their countrymen applauding. The Vancouverites were extended to the limit to hold back the tourists, making their first appearance of their Pacific Coast tour.
(July 21) Only five hits were distributed between the two teams in the Terminal League fixture and the game was just that close as the Begbie, Carter & White tribe nosed out a 2 to 1 victory over Marshall-Wells. Winning flinger Cec Helmer of the Begbies fired a two-hitter at the Hardwaremen while losing heaver Hallett was also in superb form, whiffing ten, against his former mates. Second sacker Al Scott of the Chevie Dealers broke up a 1 – 1 tie with a fifth-inning round-tripper. He had earlier smacked a double.
Helmer (W) and Thomas
Hallett (L) and Warren
(July 22) Pounding a pair of Asahi hurlers for 15 hits, Shores' Jewelers had a merry time at the expense of the tired Nippons in a Terminal League tilt at the Powell Street grounds, burying their foes 12 to 1. The Asahis managed only two hits off the slants of victorious chucker Len Arthur. Roy Keeley, “Scotty” Lister, Lefty Fairbairn, Hunter, Townsend and E. Moore each had two base knocks for the Gem Dealers.
Arthur (W) and Townsend
Maikawa (L), G. Tanaka (5) and Yasui
(July 23) The Begbie, Carter & White baseballers continued their winning ways, blanking Shores' Jewelers 4 to 0 at the Powell Street diamond. Winning tosser Ross Edy, with a five-hitter, had the edge on Shores' Chuck Pearsall who was touched for six safeties although Pearsall rang up eleven strikeouts to eight for Edy. Shortstop B. Johnstone doubled and singled for the winners.
Pearsall (L) and Townsend
Edy (W) and Watson
(July 27) Marshall-Wells fended off a late rally by the shorthanded Shores' Jewelers aggregation to defeat the Diamond Merchants 8 to 6. Outfielder E. Moore of Shores' had a triple to go along with two singles. Teammate Roy Keeley ripped three one-baggers. For the victorious Hardwaremen, Tommy Green doubled and singled while third-sacker Robb singled twice.
Gregson (L) and Pauche
McLellan (W) and warren
(July 28) The league-leading Begbie, Carter & White aggregation disposed of the Asahis 4 to 1 in Terminal League action. Outfielder Mickey Sato staked the Nippons to an early 1 to 0 lead with a third-inning solo four-bagger but the Auto Dealers evened things up in the fifth and went on the finalize things with a pair in the sixth and a singleton in the seventh. Triumphant moundsman McAdam held the Asahis to four hits. Ross Edy and keystone sacker Al Scott of the Chevies each had two hits.
McAdam (W) and Watson
Suga (L) and Yasui
(July 29) Scoring three times in the ninth inning, Marshall-Wells handed the Asahis another defeat, a 7 to 4 setback. R. Barnett was the batting hero for the winners, driving in three runs in the late stages of the game. He wound up bagging a double and a single as his contribution for the evening. His teammate, “Gummy” Leach tripled and doubled while another Hardwareman, Tommy Green, picked up a brace of doubles. The Tanaka boys, Herb and George, both singled twice for the Nippons.
Kennedy, Mazelow (W) (5) and Warren
Maikawa, G. Tanaka (L) (8) and Yasui
(July 30) Executing a triple play in the second frame saved Shores' Jewelers a lot of trouble but it didn’t prevent Begbie, Carter & White from landing the honours 2 to 0 in a Terminal League tilt. Victorious flinger Ross Edy tossed a three-hitter for the shutout win. Only Shores' catcher Telosky gave him any trouble, singling twice. Outfielder Bill Kay hit a four-ply clout for the Begbies in the seventh canto.
Edy (W) and Thomas
McArthur (L) and Townsend, Telosky
(August 3) Shores' Jewelers wiped out a two-run deficit by scoring three times in the sixth panel en route to a 5 to 4 win over the vulnerable Asahis. Each member of the Diamond Merchants’ keystone combo, Roy Keeley and second sacker Hunter, picked up a tandem of raps with a double included in Hunter’s total. Frank Nakamura singled twice for the Nippons.
Suga (L) and Yasui
Arthur (W) and Telosky
(August 4) Chucker Cecil Helmer of Begbie, Carter & White was tight in the pinches, limiting the Marshall-Wells troupe to just four hits as the Chevrolet Dealers triumphed 4 to 1. It was the sixth straight victory in the second-half of the schedule for the Begbies. Brothers Norm and Bill Kay were the stars with the bat for the victors, each blasting a pair of hits. Bill rang up two doubles while Norm had one. Bill Mazelow cracked out a triple and single for the Hardwaremen.
March (L) and Warren
Helmer (W) and Thomas
(August 5) Shores' Jewelers scored a run in the bottom of the opening canto and hung on to shutout Marshall-Wells 1 to 0. Only seven hits were garnered in the game by the two teams. Winner Chuck Pearsall of the gem Merchants was touched for four hits while fanning six. Losing flinger Hallett gave up just three safeties and whiffed five.
Hallett (L) and Warren
Pearsall (W) and Telosky
(August 6) The Asahis dropped their seventh straight game of the second-half schedule when they were beaten by Begbie, Carter & White 4 to 2. Ross Edy’s two-run, pinch-hit single in the sixth stanza broke a 2 – 2 tie and propelled the Chevies to the win.
Maikawa (L) and Yasui
McAdam (W) and Pouche
(August 10) The Asahis and Marshall-Wells played to an eight-inning 0 - 0 scoreless draw in a Terminal League struggle. Three times during the fray, the Nippons had runners thrown out at the plate. Outfielder Frank Shiraishi of the Asahis picked up three singles to lead all batters.
Suga and Yasui
Kennedy, March (6) and Warren
(August 11) Begbie, Carter & White, first-half Terminal League winners, continued unbeaten in the second-half of the schedule after posting a 6 to 2 triumph over the Marshall-Wells contingent. Errors and walks gave the Begbies three runs early in the fray although losing pitcher Fred Condon held the league-leaders hitless until the seventh inning when they clinched the game with three more tallies. Outfielder A. Mitchell was the only batter from the Hardwaremen to do much damage to the offerings of winning flinger Ross Edy, driving in both of the Marshall-Wells counters.
Edy (W) and xxx
Condon (L) and Warren
(August 12) The Asahis continued their freefall in the Terminal League when they fell before the heavy bats of Shores' Jewelers 10 to 3. The Diamond Dealers bunched most of their 13 base blows in the second and sixth frames when they plated 9 of their 10 counters. Outfielders “Lefty” Fairbairn and Widdows had three hits apiece for Shores' with Widdows’ total including a couple of doubles. Frank Nakamura had a bases-empty home run for the Nippons.
Townsend (W), Gregson (4) and Telosky
Maikawa (L), Suga (2) and Yasui
(August 13) Pitcher Cecil Helmer of the runaway-leading Begbie, Carter & White baseballers in the Terminal League hurled a seven-inning no-hit, no-run game as the Auto Dealers demolished Shores' Jewelers 12 to 0. Helmer rang up eight strikeouts in his recording his hurling gem. Every member of the Begbies managed to get at least one hit. Second baseman Al Scott had three while outfielders B. Johnstone and Bill Kay both belted home runs.
Pearsall (L), Gregson (4) and Telosky
Helmer (W) and Thomas
(August 17) R. Barnett’s home run drive in the third frame was the only run scored in a Terminal League fixture won by Marshall-Wells 1 to 0 over Shores' Jewelers.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(August 18) Cecil Helmer of the Begbie, Carter & White baseballers allowed just one hit, an infield single by Ken Yamamura, but it was enough to give the struggling Asahis a 1 to 0 victory over the Car Dealers who have already laid claim to the overall Terminal League crown by sweeping both halves of the schedule. Yamamura beat out an infielder bounder in the sixth and plated the lone run of the contest, an unearned tally, following an error by the Begbies.
Helmer (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(August 19) Begbie, Carter & White pounded Shores' Jewelers 6 to 2 to further widen their huge lead in the Terminal League’s last-half standings. The game was highlighted by the sensational defensive play of the Shores' “Lefty” Fairbairn in the middle pasture.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(August 20) The Vancouver Sun announced this date that, with the Begbie, Carter & White club already having won both the first and second halves of the Terminal League schedule, the remaining league contests would be called off and that an all-star squad with players from the other three teams in the circuit would get together and oppose the Chevrolet Dealers in an exhibition match to tune the Begbies up for their upcoming provincial series with the champions of the Victoria circuit.
(August 20) Timely hitting in three frames gave the Begbie, Carter & White diamondeers a 5 to 3 victory over a strong contingent of select players from other clubs in the Terminal League. Both teams played snappy ball as playing-manager Bobby Orr of the Chevies out-pitched two hurlers from the All-Stars. Roy Keeley cracked out a homer for the Selects while George Syrotuck of the Stars and the Begbies’ Jimmy McKissock picked up three-baggers.
xxx (L), xxx and xxx, xxx
Orr (W) and xxx
BC SENIOR PLAYOFFS
Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball Finals (best-of-five)
(August 17) Clouting the offerings of youthful Bill Holness to all corners of the lot, the Elks captured the Senior Amateur League championship of Victoria by downing the Eagles 12 to 2 in the fourth game of a five-game series. The Elks now move on to face the Vancouver Terminal League title holders, Begbie, Carter & White, in the first round of the provincial playoffs.
Terminal League/Vancouver Island quarter-finals (best-of-three)
Vancouver Begbie, Carter & White (Terminal League) vs Victoria Elks (Victoria Senior Amateur League)
* Playoff pickups from other Terminal League teams added to the Begbie, Carter & White roster
Fairbairn “Lefty” OF (Shores' Jewelers), Pearsall Chuck P (Shores' Jewelers), Tanaka Herb 3B (Asahis), Yasui Reg C (Asahis)
(August 22) Propelled by a pair of long circuit-clouts from the hefty bat of Jack Morgan and an inside-the-park round-tripper by Art Minnis, the hosting Victoria Elks eked out a 9 to 8 victory over the Begbie, Carter & White baseballers, champions of the Vancouver Terminal League, in the first of a three-game series in the initial round of the B.C. Senior “A” Baseball playdowns.
(August 25) Vancouver’s Begbie, Carter & White ball tossers crashed their way through to a clean-cut 6 to 2 victory over the Victoria Elks to even up their first-round series in the provincial Senior “A” baseball playdowns. Although wild at times, Cec Helmer of the Terminal Leaguers dished up a nice assortment of breaking balls in tossing a seven-hitter for the win. The Motormen slammed 13 hits off a brace of Capital City heavers which culminated in three base blows, including a double, by first baseman Don Stewart. Second baseman Al Scott delivered a triple and single.
Webster (L), Noble (5) and Bowden
Helmer (W) and Yasui
(August 26) Begbie, Carter & White of Vancouver’s Terminal Baseball League rubbed the Victoria Elks out of the playoff scene by hammering the Capital City champions 12 to 8 in a wild and woolly third-game affair. The Chevies piled up a 9 to 0 lead after six frames but, after the Elks plated six counters in the seventh canto, they were back in the ball game again. However, a single tally in the eighth and another pair of runs in the ninth by the Vancouverites pretty well put the game and the series on ice. Playoff pickup Herbie Tanaka singled three times for the winners while Don Stewart punched out a two-bagger and a single. In taking the route-going defeat, chucker Leo Holden of the Victorians rang up 12 strikeouts.
Pearsall (W), Helmer (7) and Yasui
Holden (L) and Bowden, Bacon
Lower Mainland semi-finals (best-of-five)
Vancouver Begbie, Carter & White (Terminal League) vs New Westminster Fraser Cafe
(August 28) Fraser Cafe of New Westminster went one game up in their semi-final playoff series when they turned back the Begbie, Carter & White Terminal Leaguers 4 to 2 at Queens Park. Eddie Olson did the hurling duties for the Cafemen and, after a wobbly start in which he was nicked for two runs in the second frame, avoided peril thereafter. Five errors contributed to the downfall of the Vancouverites who held a narrow 7 to 6 edge in base hits. Outfielder Norm Kay of the Begbies, with two singles, was the only player from either squad to amass more than one hit. His brother, Bill Kay, had a solo-homer in the second panel.
McAdam (L), Pearsall (5) and Yasui
Olson (W) and Stoddart
(August 29) Begbie, Carter & White evened up their Senior “A” playoff series with the New Westminster Fraser Cafe when they downed the Royal City troupe 3 to 1 at Athletic Park. Ross Edy’s pitching brought victory to the Chevies. He held the Cafemen to three hits while his mates got to loser Doug Muscutt for eight safeties. The Auto Dealers played flawlessly afield in support of Edy’s fine work on the hillock. Don Stewart, Begbie’s first baseman, socked a homer over the right field fence.
Muscutt (L) and Rae
Edy (W) and Yasui
(September 8) Playing in conditions which were far from ideal, the Fraser Cafe nine from New Westminster downed the Terminal League’s Begbie, Carter & White baseballers 5 to 3 in the third game of their inter-league series, a win which gave them a two games to one advantage. Catcher Len Stoddart belted a bases-empty four-bagger for the Royal City troupe and teammate Johnny d’Easum smacked a pair of doubles.
Helmer (L) and Yasui
Olson, Muscutt (W) (5) and Stoddart
(September 15) The Fraser Cafemen of New Westminster earned the right to meet the Vancouver Athletic Club, champions of the Vancouver’s senior circuit, for the Lower Mainland crown and the de facto provincial tiara by easing past Begbie, Carter & White 2 to 1 to capture their inter-city semi-final series three games to one. Bryan Lewis, with a four-hitter, got the mound win over Ross Edy who was touched for just three hits. A terrific double play, engineered by third baseman “Scotty” Knox of the Royal City nine, ended the game as the Auto Dealers were threatening to tie the score. Outfielder “Lefty” Fairbairn, a playoff pickup of the Begbies, was by far the top swatter in the low-hit tussle, drilling a triple and double. The New Westminster team will apparently be adding shortstop Roy Yamamura, who wore both the Asahi and Arrow uniforms, to their roster for the final series along with another pickup, catcher Ralph Spicer of the Telephones.
Lewis (W) and Stoddart
Edy (L) and Yasui
Lower Mainland finals (best-of-five)
New Westminster Fraser Cafe vs Vancouver Athletic Club (Vancouver Senior City League)
(September 16) Fraser Cafe of New Westminster startled the V.A.C. nine by eking out a 3 to 2 win over the favoured Red Caps in a ten-inning tussle. The Vacs seemingly had the game in the bag with a 2 to 1 lead in the bottom of the ninth until a timely error by third baseman Coley Hall allowed the tying counter to be plated. In the overtime stanza, playoff pickup Roy Yamamura singled, stole second and raced in to score the walkoff winner on “Hop” Wilkie’s hit. The Clubbers held a wide 13 to 6 margin in base hits acquired but were lame in the clutch. Hal Puder rang up eleven strikeouts in a losing cause.
Puder (L) and Henry
Muscutt (W) and Spicer
(September 19) The strengthened New Westminster Fraser Cafe nine, grossly underestimated by the cocky Vacs as per their sub-par 8 and 22 performance during the regular campaign against Vancouver opposition, find themselves one game away from eliminating the Red Caps after splitting a playoff twin-bill with the Clubbers, taking a 12 to 3 drubbing in the opener but rebounding for a 5 to 4 triumph in the late game under the lights. The first game was totally one-sided as loser Eddie Olson and reliever Bill Minty were rocked for plenty of hits and almost as many runs by the hard-hitting Vacs.
Olson (L), Minty and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
With the score tied in the second game, a seventh-inning error allowed speedy playoff pickup Roy Yamamura to reach second base for the Cafemen where a sacrifice followed by “Scotty” Knox’s single sent him across the plate with what turned out to be the winning marker. The Vacs had the potential tying and go-ahead counters on the sacks in the ninth but Doug Muscutt fanned Earl Lewis to end the threat and the game.
Straight, Dailey (L) (5) and xxx
Lewis, Minty, Muscutt (W) and xxx
(September 21) The Royal City’s Fraser Cafe nine, a club that often didn’t draw a sufficient number of paying fans at home to pay the umpires, a team that lost more 1 to 0 games than any other way, a group of baseballers bolstered by pickups Roy Yamamura and Ralph Spicer who were afforded little in the way of respect by their Vancouver opponents, knocked off the vociferous V.A.C. diamondeers 10 to 5 in the fourth game of their series to claim the championship of the Lower Mainland and perhaps even beyond. A six-run outburst in the eighth frame did the trick for the Cafemen, lifting them atop from a 5 to 4 deficit. Eddie Olson’s two-run double sent the go-ahead and insurance runs home during the uprising. Olson wound up with a trio of base blows as did Spicer. Jack Cole picked up three bingles for the Red Caps and teammate Harvey McIntyre smashed the game’s lone round-tripper.
Muscutt (W) and Spicer
Puder (L) and Henry