1946 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1946 BC Interior
1946 Vancouver Island
The lack of positive progression within senior level baseball in Vancouver during the 1946 season was disappointing. With stability in the world returning to normal following the wars in Europe and Asia, things seemed to hit a roadblock at the senior baseball level in Vancouver, leading to uncertainty, instability and a regression in direction and leadership. Following a relatively successful 1945 campaign, the established Senior Inter-City circuit which encompassed three Vancouver clubs and a team from Bellingham WA had reasonable aspirations entering the new season as four clubs once again were accepted into the fracas including holdover teams representing Arnold & Quigley Men’s Wear and the Bellingham Bells. A couple of new sponsors came bouncing forth on behalf of the same old groups of playing personnel and management from the season past. Coming on the scene to replace the departed Norvans of 1945 were the Niagara New Vets, with ex-Norvan skipper Casey Jones in charge while the Arrows were transformed into the stripes of Gartshore’s Athletics with Ed Henry once again calling the shots. League play got underway on May 5.
Complicating the senior amateur issue was the return of professional baseball to Vancouver in 1946 as a team called the Capilanos was franchised in the Western International League. The Capilanos played their heavy schedule of home games at a facility known, appropriately, as Capilano Stadium. The three Vancouver teams in the Senior Inter-City League also scheduled their home games at this same venue when the Caps were on the road. However, with rainouts, exhibition games involving touring teams and other entertainment regularly taking place at this ball park, the senior amateurs felt the squeeze and one club, the Niagara New Vets, who had a miserable start to the season, abandoned the circuit in frustration in late June, complaining that they didn’t get enough games with the setup in place at Capilano Park. In early July, the Vets re-appeared as part of a newly-organized, short-season loop known as the International Amateur Baseball League which also included entries from New Westminster, Haney, Blaine WA and Bellingham WA. The Niagaras played their home games at Callister Park, previously known as Con Jones Park, in Vancouver’s East End and had a high degree of success in the short-life span of that association of teams. In mid-August, it was announced in the Vancouver Sun that the Niagara New Vets had taken a one game lead in a best-of-five playoff series against Bellingham. That brief snippet was the last article found published in the print media relative to the fate of the 1946 International Baseball League.
Meanwhile, with the powerhouse Bellingham Bells squad running away with the Vancouver Inter-City League, the two remaining Vancouver teams limped along as things began to fizzle out with fewer and fewer league games being played although exhibition tilts with barnstormers filled in some of the void. The Bells, runaway leaders in the circuit, were such a strong contingent that they were crowned Pacific Northwest semi-pro champions and represented that region at the 1946 National Baseball Congress World Series held in Wichita, KS. The second-place Arnold & Quigley aggregation was reasonably competitive throughout the campaign but the cellar-dwelling Gartshore’s contingent started out on a high level but played poorly throughout the remainder of the campaign and were usually easy pickings for the other two entries. Come playoff time, the Clothiers took out the A’s in a one-sided semi-final series but were then dumped twice by Bellingham in a best-of-five final series before recognizing the futility of the task ahead of them and prudently decided to forfeit any remaining games.
(May 5) Vancouver’s Senior Inter-city Baseball League made its 1946 debut on foreign soil when the Gartshore’s Athletics ran into Bellingham WA pitcher Ray Orteig at his best and the A’s limped home on the business end of an 11 to 0 defeat from the Bells. Orteig was master of the situation all the way. He allowed but three hits, collected a triad of swats himself including a home run, and whiffed 16 of the visitors. Third baseman Cliff Gaffney and shortstop Walt Richardson of the Tulip Towners also blasted round-trippers.
Crosato (L), Whyte (6) and Henry, Bellamy
Orteig (W) and Padovan
(May 8) Two games featured the opening of the Senior Inter-city circuit at Capilano Stadium. The final results were a 3 to 1 triumph for Arnold & Quigley over the Gartshore’s Athletics and a 2 to 1 nod for the Bellingham Bells over the Niagara New Vets. High schooler Bill MacDonald tossed himself a man-sized game for the Clothiers in the opener, limiting to A’s to just three safeties. However, the Quigs had to go into the last cadenza to pull out the victory. With the score knotted at 1 – 1, Tommy Kennedy led off with a single, his second of the fracas, and Athletics’ hurler Bob Montador hit a wild streak at just about the same moment. Montador wild-pitched thrice, surrendered raps to Joe Naples and Hec Highton, all while his infield was imploding with untimely miscues, and before the dust had settled, the Haberdashers had two tallies and a well-earned ball game. Naples joined third baseman Jimmy Tough and second sacker Billy Adshead in matching Kennedy’s two-hit output.
W. MacDonald (W) and McCarthy
Montador (L) and Henry
The Bells collected but a meagre one-bagger off the slants of losing heaver “Pip” Steele in the second encounter but took advantage of seven free passes, a hit batsman, a couple of costly errors and stolen bases by the bushel to register their narrow win. Keystone sacker Ted Walker of the Vets was the only batter in the skirmish to register plural swat totals.
Raymond (W) and Padovan
Steele (L) and Ewart
(May 10) Trotting out four pitchers to the knoll, three of them in the opening canto, was insufficient for the Niagaras to quell the Gartshore offensive machine which racked up 15 base blows and came away with a 16 to 8 conquest of the New Vets. Jim Crosato went the route on the hill for the winners and, although he always seemed to have a comfortable lead, was unable to put the brakes on the slugging of Niagara second baseman Ted Walker who socked two home runs and two singles, all of which accounted for seven of the eight counters tallied by the vanquished nine. The A’s presented a balanced attack with Bud Brown, Ken Van Hatten, Harry Kermode, Dick Bentley, outfielder McDonald and Crosato all stinging the sphere for a brace of swats.
Crosato (W) and Bellamy
Natale (L), Spencer (1), Ballam (1), Choukalos (4) and Ewart
(May 11) The Arnold & Quigley baseballers captured a thrilling 5 to 4 victory over the Niagara New Vets at Capilano Stadium. The Niagaras came from behind twice, the last time tying the score 4 – 4 in the top of the ninth stanza, but then losing heaver Ralph Ballam yielded a single to Hec McDonald and walked three batters in succession to force in the winning tally. High school star Jack MIlls twirled the A & Q victory with a six-hitter. Mills and McDonald both ripped a duo of base knocks for the winners with a triple included in Mills’ sum of swats and a two-bagger amongst McDonald’s total.
Ballam (L) and McNaughton
Mills (W) and McCarthy
(May 12) The Bellingham Bells racked up 11 base hits off a tandem of Arnold & Quigley chuckers as the Washingtonians blasted the Quigs 10 to 2 in a game played in the Tulip Town. The Bells backed up winning tosser Jim McGhie with four twin killings.
McCulley (L), MacDonald and xxx
McGhie (W) and xxx
(May 19) Playing-manager Ed Henry smacked a pair of circuit-clouts, driving in six runs, as the Gartshore Athletics handed the Bellingham Bells their first Senior League setback with a convincing 14 to 7 win. Bob Montador hurled the route for the A’s and, after his mates had presented him with a large early lead, easily coasted to his first mound triumph. Bruce Thirsk, Dick Bentley and first sacker Marshall of the winners all hammered the apple for three safeties with two of Bentley’s raps going for doubles. Fly chaser Bernie Zender and shortstop Walt Richardson both hit four-baggers for the hosting Bells.
Montadore (W) and Henry
Lewis (L), McGhie, Raymond, Martin and Padovan
(May 26) The Bellingham Bells strengthened their grip atop the Vancouver Senior Inter-city loop by scoring a 5 to 2 victory over the visiting Niagara New Vets. The Vancouverites, with newly-signed Tommy Musgrave rationing four hits, kicked in eight errors to hand the Bells the verdict.
Musgrave (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(May 29) Bellingham’s torrid Bells, who lead the Vancouver Senior Inter-city circuit by several city blocks, were given their comeuppance at Capilano Stadium by a less-than-gracious hosting Arnold & Quigley aggregation who roughed up the Tulip Towners 13 to 4. Billy Adshead and winning flinger Bill MacDonald belted home runs for the Quigs with MacDonald’s tater scoring a pair of mates ahead of him. Starter and loser Jim McGhie of the Bells also powered a four-master.
McGhie (L), Raymond (7), Martin (7) and Padovan
W. MacDonald (W) and H. McDonald
(May 31) The cellar-dwelling Niagaras came up with their first triumph of the campaign, an 11 to 8 verdict over Gartshore’s Athletics. The New Vets forged ahead in the fourth round and were never headed from that point, even though out hit by a 13 to 11 margin. Outer pasture fly chaser Jack Fisher of the winners topped the stickers, nailing a home run and two one-baggers which netted him four runs-batted-in. His teammate, hot corner guardian Jim Gilday, ripped three singles.
Purcello (W) and Duppenthaler
Crosato (L), Montador (7) and Henry, Bellamy
(June 1) Vancouver senior horsehiders failed to thwart the vaunted Seattle Matheny-Bacon semi-pro artists in a pair of exhibition clashes at Capilano Stadium. The Puget Sounders edged a bolstered Niagara New Vets squad 8 to 7 in the afternoon tilt and then defeated the reinforced Arnold & Quigley troupe 5 to 3 in the evening.
Seattle led from wire-to-wire in the early contest, a late charge by the Niagaras falling a trifle short after skipper Casey Jones had lit up winning chucker Al Ivanitch for a three-run sixth-chapter dinger.
Ivanitch (W) and Southas, Reid (4)
Pomfret (L), Goode (3), Steele (6) and Henry
The visitors broke loose for six successive singles off loser Billy MacDonald in the third canto, netting them a quartet of tallies, in taking the late contest
Glavin (W) and Reid
MacDonald (L) and McDonald
(June 2) The powerful Bellingham Bells scored all their runs in the first six frames in hammering the visiting Gartshore’s Athletics nine 15 to 4.
Montador (L), Crosato (3) and Henry, Bellamy
xxx (W), Hesky (8) and Padovan
(June 9) Bellingham continued to merrily roll along as kingpins in the Vancouver Senior Inter-city loop by bouncing the Niagara New Vets 4 to 2 in the Tulip Town. The Bells scored all four of their counters in the opening chapter on Dick Zender’s triple with the bases loaded and third sacker Cliff Gaffney’s single.
Purcello (L) and Duppenthaler
Jorrisen (W) and Padovan
(June 10) As a prelude to a regularly scheduled Negro Pacific Coast League game being played at Capilano Stadium between the Los Angeles White Sox and San Diego Tigers, the Pale Hose played an exhibition tussle against a reinforced Arnold & Quigley aggregation and came out on the short end of an 8 to 3 decision.
Morris (L), Walton and Moore
Montador (W), Mills and McDonald
(June 12) It took the Arnold & Quigley diamondeers six innings to find their batting eyes at Capilano Stadium but there was still time enough left for the Clothiers to pull out a thrilling 6 to 5 victory over the league-leading Bellingham Bells. Held tightly to four meagre raps by Bellingham chucker Dick Plank during the first five cantos, the Men’s Wear nine climbed aboard Plank’s slants in the last three frames, securing a pair of markers in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth panels. Young Billy MacDonald, hurling for A & Q, started slowly, came on stronger in the middle innings but weakened slightly in the ninth when the Bells pushed across their final tally and had the tying counter aboard when catcher Andy Padovan was induced to pop up a bunt attempt which was caught and relayed into a game-ending double-play.
Plank (L) and Padovan
W. MacDonald (W) and H. McDonald
(June 13) Driving in three runs, catcher Dal Duppenthaler was the shining light for the Niagara New Vets at Capilano Stadium in a game in which the Gartshore’s Athletics were blanked 5 to 0. Niagara pitcher “Pip” Steele held the A’s to five hits in earning the whitewash knoll triumph.
Crosato (L) and Bellamy
Steele (W) and Duppenthaler
(June 17) The Bellingham Bells continued their forward momentum by handing the third-place Niagara New Vets a 19 to 3 pounding at Capilano Stadium. The Vets, who have shown little in the field this season, hit a new low in this contest, coming up with an 11-error performance.
Plank (W), Atkinson and Padovan
Purcello (L), Steele and Duppenthaler
(June 18) The Seattle Steelheads of the Negro Pacific Coast Baseball League played to a 2 – 2 draw with Vancouver’s Gartshore Athletics in exhibition play at Capilano Stadium.
Cogdell and Hardy
Montador and Henry
(June 23) Behind the four-hit pitching of Adrian Jorrisen, the homestanding Bellingham Bells increased their Van-Bell Inter-city loop lead by shutting out the Gartshore Athletics 5 to 0.
xxx (L) and xxx
Jorrisen (W) and xxx
(June 28) It was announced in the Vancouver Sun of this date that the Vancouver Senior Inter-city League has been reduced to three teams with the departure of the Niagara New Vets from the loop. The Niagaras, unhappy with the number of games they were able to play at Capilano Stadium, withdrew from the circuit.
(June 29) The Bells of Bellingham knocked off Arnold & Quigley, their closest pursuer, 8 to 6 at Capilano Stadium in the first of a split-venue weekend series.
Jorrisen (W) and Padovan
Mills (L) and McDonald
(June 30) The return of veteran pitcher Al Moser to action with Arnold & Quigley did nothing to slow down the rampaging Bellingham Bells who throttled the Clothiers 11 to 3 on the Tulip Town diamond.
Moser (L), xxx and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 5) After a lengthy lull in diamond action, the Gartshore’s Athletics squad of baseballers got back on the field but remained inept with their bats, accruing just three safeties in falling 5 to 0 to Arnold & Quigley. Young Billy MacDonald of the Quigs got credit for the complete game blanking. Losing tosser Jimmy Crosato hurled his best game of the season, yielding just five hits, but was given poor support afield in the clutch. The Clothiers took the lead in the third stanza on a pair of base hits and a like number of errors. Ralph Stong and Laurie Dow pulled a neat double steal in the fourth to further increase the margin.
Crosato (L) and Henry
W. MacDonald (W) and H. McDonald
(July 6) Gartshore’s Athletics, never the team to fool the Vancouver senior baseball public, kept their scoreless skein very much alive at Capilano Stadium in taking an 11 to 0 drubbing from the loop-leading Bellingham nine. It was the fourth game in succession that the A’s have failed to register a single tally. Sid Van Sinderen led the 16-hit assault by the Bells on losing flinger Bob Montador, creaming the orb for a home run, double and single.
Jorrisen (W) and Padovan
Montador (L) and Henry
(July 15) At Bellingham, the hometown Bells walloped the hapless Vancouver Gartshore Athletics 22-4 in a Senior League game Monday night. The Bells' onslaught included 20 hits, four of them home runs. Bernie Zender ripped a pair of four-baggers.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 17) The touring House of David nine rallied around their gallant cause in the ninth inning to nudge the Arnold & Quigley squad 7 to 5 in exhibition action at Capilano Stadium. The Quigs held the lead from the first inning on and went into the final canto with a 5 to 4 margin but then starter and loser Billy MacDonald began to tire, loading the hassocks on walks. Johnny Theil then singled in the tying marker and Ted Hanauer followed with a two-run one-bagger to provide the Bearded Boys with the insurance counters. The victory was a costly one for the Whiskered Wizards as they lost their pint-sized second baseman Lennie Kallis who had to be hospitalized with a fractured left ankle after being taken out on a rolling block at the keystone sack while pivoting to complete a double play.
Edwards, Wykoff (W) and L. Hummel
W. MacDonald (L) and H. McDonald
(July 22) Gartshore’s Athletics, having snapped out of their run-scoring drought, plated enough tallies at Capilano Stadium to win three games, but they still lost 13 to 12 to Arnold & Quigley in ten innings. The Clothiers held a healthy 18 to 8 edge in base hits but still needed an overtime session to settle the fracas as A & Q tosser Billy MacDonald kept the A’s in the game by issuing 11 free tickets. Pat Thomas clubbed a pair of home runs for the victors while Jack Treece of the A’s ripped the apple for four safeties.
Montador (L) and Henry
W. MacDonald (W) and H. McDonald
(July 28) The hosting Bellingham Bells added another length to the Senior Inter-city loop lead when they defeated runner-up Arnold and Quigley 10 to 5. Frank Ambler and Hec Highton ripped a pair of bingles apiece for the Quigs.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(August 2) Bringing veteran chucker Ernie Kershaw out of mothballs helped the Gartshore’s Athletics nine register a 12 to 9 win over Arnold & Quigley at Capilano Stadium. Kershaw, though somewhat rusty through inactivity, was equal to the occasion and tamed the Clothiers on seven safeties, the same number of swats yielded by losing flinger Billy MacDonald. Six A & Q errors paved the way for one big Gartshore’s inning, the fifth, when they plated seven tallies. The Haberdashers lost sweet-fielding initial sacker Hec Highton to a suspected sprained ankle when he caught his spikes while sliding into second base.
W. MacDonald (L) and H. McDonald
Kershaw (W) and Bellamy
(August 7) The invading Bellingham Bells handed Gartshore’s Athletics a 5 to 1 defeat at Capilano Stadium. Pete Zender tossed the victory for the Bells, scattering four Athletic hits. Ernie Kershaw surrendered seven base knocks and was saddled with the loss. Veteran first baseman Ty Hofeditz of the Tulip Towners belted a triple and double.
P. Zender (W) and xxx
Kershaw (L) and xxx
(August 9) Staging a two-run uprising in the ninth inning, Arnold & Quigley defeated Gartshore’s Athletics 7 to 6 to consolidate their hold on second place in the Senior Inter-city loop. Although issuing six bases on balls and being in hot water frequently, A & Q moundsman Bill MacDonald survived and managed to snare the pitching victory over the A’s Bob Montador.
Montador (L) and xxx
W. MacDonald (W) and xxx
(August 10) Making their last Vancouver appearance before pushing off for the National Baseball Congress semi-pro tournament in Wichita KS, the Bellingham Bells wound up as 6 to 1 losers against Arnold & Quigley in the first of a home-and-home weekend series of games. Jack Mills earned the route-going mound verdict for the Men’s Wear nine, tossing a seven-hitter. Billy Adshead’s homer, over the “555” sign at Capilano Park, won him $25.
Devieux (L), Crawford (5) and Rinekool
Mills (W) and H. McDonald
(August 11) Going beyond revenge for their loss of a day previous, the Bellingham Bells decimated the visiting Arnold & Quigley aggregation 21 to 2 in the Washington town. Sid Van Sinderen led the Tulip Town offensive attack in the annihilation, smashing a home run, triple, double and two singles in six trips to the dish.
Song (L), W. MacDonald (3), Hall (7) and H. McDonald
Jorissen (W) and Padovan
(August 27) A reinforced Arnold & Quigley squad took care of business in an exhibition tilt with the Oakland Larks of the Negro Pacific Coast Baseball League, shellacking the visiting Birds 11 to 3 at Capilano Stadium. Some heavy hitting by Billy Adshead and tight pitching by Bill White, on loan from the professional Vancouver Capilanos of the Western International League, and Bob Montador provided the impetus for the A & Q conquest.
xxx (L) and xxx
White (W), Montador and xxx
(August 28) In a wild and wooly contest, the Oakland Larks squared their two-game exhibition series with the bolstered Arnold & Quigley nine, defeating the Clothiers 16 to 14 at Capilano Stadium. Both teams laid heavy wood to the orb, the coloured Larks banging out 17 hits and the Quigs 13, including home runs by Joe Naples and Jimmy Tough.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(September 2) The five-game, two-day Courtenay baseball tournament ended on Labor Day with Duncan tying Arnold & Quigley of Vancouver 4 – 4 when their seven-inning final game was called on account of darkness. A near riot ensued during the contest when Hec Highton, A & Q first baseman, threw his bat at Duncan twirler Doug English after the Duncan chucker had plunked him with a pitched ball.
PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-three)
(August 26) Showing some of their old form at the plate, Arnold & Quigley hammered out a one-sided 19 to 1 victory over Gartshore’s Athletics in the first game of the senior baseball semi-finals. The Quigs accumulated 21 hits with Tommy Kennedy, Billy Adshead and Joe Naples leading the way with the hickory. Billy MacDonald tossed a six-hitter to capture the knoll victory.
Montador (L), Crosato (5) and xxx
W. MacDonald (W) and xxx
(August 28) Gartshore’s Athletics were eliminated from the playoff picture after dropping the second semi-final game to Arnold & Quigley as part of a twin-bill at Capilano Stadium. Final score, game details and batteries not found in print.
Finals (best-of-five)
(September 6) The Vancouver Sun reported this date that Arnold & Quigley had bolstered their roster for their forthcoming final series with the mighty Bellingham Bells by adding three players from other teams. Bolstering the Clothiers in further playoff action are pitchers Ernie Kershaw and Bob Montador as well as shortstop Laurie Dow.
(September 7) Bellingham portsider Dick Plank kept Arnold & Quigley at bay for most of the distance as the visiting Bells manhandled the Clothiers 8 to 2 in the opening game of the league finals. The Washingtonians collected eight base blows off losing heaver Bob Montador who was somewhat on the wild side, keeping the bases well populated for most of the contest.
Plank (W) and xxx
Montador (L) and xxx
(September 8) The Bellingham Bells took a two-game lead in the Senior Inter-city finals by out-slugging Arnold & Quigley 18 to 15 in the Tulip Town. No game details nor batteries were published. Facing a two-game deficit, it was strongly rumoured that the Quigs have waved the white flag and thrown in the towel for the season, in which case, the Bells would be 1946 champions of the circuit.
International Amateur Baseball League
(July 13) The Niagara New Vets defeated the Bellingham entry of the International League 9 to 2 at Callister Park as pitcher “Pills” Purcello went the route for the mound triumph.
Little (L), Troust (6), Gilday (7) and Hickok
Purcello (W) and Sooter
(July 14) Enjoying a highly successful weekend, the Niagara New Vets took the hosting Blaine WA team to task, downing the Border Dwellers 7 to 2 behind the solid heaving of chucker “Pip” Steele.
Steele (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 17) The Niagara New Vets remained unbeaten in International Amateur League play after rallying for three runs in the eighth inning at Callister Park to defeat the New Westminster Army & Navy 4 to 1. “Pip” Steele did a masterful job on the hill for the winners, striking out a dozen batters while scattering seven hits. He topped off his mound performance with a three-bagger in the eighth canto to drive in the fourth run. Andy Clovechok of the Vets also tripled for the victors in the eighth panel.
xxx (L) and xxx
Steele (W) and xxx
(July 20) Invading Haney was downed 9 to 6 by the hosting Niagara New Vets at Callister Park, the Vets’ fourth consecutive victory.
Minty, Stevens (L) (2) and P. Telosky
Ballam, Steele (W) (5) and Sooter
(July 22) Niagara New Vets dropped their first league game in the International Amateur League, going under to the Bellingham nine 10 to 6 at Callister Park. Eight errors proved the undoing of the Niagaras and hung the mound defeat on “Pills” Purcello.
Raymond (W), xxx and xxx
Purcello (L) and xxx
(July 24) Pinch-hitter “Fat” Kelly’s single in the tenth inning scored Roy Brown, giving the Niagara New Vets a 7 to 6 victory over Haney in International Amateur League action at Callister Park.
Read, Minty (L) and Lehman
Purcello, Drummond, Ballam (W) and Sooter
(August 7) Just one inning of infield indecision, plus the airtight pitching of Ralph Ballam, cost the New Westminster Army & Navy diamondeers a tough 2 to 0 defeat at the hands of the hosting Niagara New Vets in the last Northwest Amateur League tilt at Callister Park.
xxx (L) and xxx
Ballam (W) and xxx
PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals
(August 17) Timely bingles by Jimmy Gilday, playing-manager Casey Jones and Len McDonald in the sixth frame of a hard-fought battle at Callister Park gave the Niagara New Vets a 5 to 3 win over Bellingham and a one game to none lead in the semi-final International Amateur League best-of-five series.
Nothing further was found in succeeding issues of the Vancouver Sun shedding light on the continuation of this series or the fate of the circuit.