1947 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1947 BC Interior
1947 Vancouver Island
1947 VANCOUVER SENIOR LEVEL BASEBALL OVERVIEW
Overshadowed once again by the professional product in Vancouver, senior-level baseball struggled to hold its own with varying results during the 1947 campaign.
A four-team Senior City circuit sprang up with all new entrants: the Vancouver Athletic Club, Westerns, White Spots and York Hotel. The loop scheduled games at three different locales: Capilano Stadium, the Central Park diamond and the Powell Street facility. Coverage in the print medium for this circuit was reasonably good to begin with but waned as the season progressed. The Yorks maintained first-place throughout the regular schedule and breezed to a easy pennant while the last-place White Spot nine were far behind the other three entrants. The VAC baseballers, the youngest team in the loop, surprised everyone by finishing in second spot, although they never seriously challenged the leading Hoteliers. Come playoff time, the third-place Westerns knocked off the Vacs in a semi-final series and extended the powerful Hotelmen to six games in what was originally scheduled to be a best-of-five final, losing three games to two with one tie game.
What was considered a group of some of the more elite senior-level players from Vancouver decided early in the campaign to forego the local senior league and instead join an eight-team association of semi-pro clubs from Washington state in a circuit called the Northwest Semi-Pro Baseball League. The team, known as the Vancouver Luckies as per their sponsorship by Lucky Lager, floundered for the most part in the second division of the loop and many of the lower mainland players who began the season on the squad were released and replaced with imports. Home games for the Luckies, which were generally sparsely attended, took place at Callister Park. With the professional Capilanos getting hot in August and making a successful surge to win the Western International League pennant, the Beer Barons flew well below the radar when it came to press coverage and fan interest. Struggling at the gate, they finally resorted to playing home games on the road. Their reported loss at Mount Vernon WA on August 8th was the last snippet of any sort found in the Vancouver Sun as per their existence and it appears that they faded into oblivion. There is no indication that they continued to play beyond that point.
(May 3) The 1947 edition of the Senior City Baseball League got away to a fast start when all four teams in the loop engaged in a doubleheader at Capilano Stadium. In the opener, York Hotel, managed by Ralph Stong, staved off a seventh-inning rally by the Westerns to take a 4 to 3 victory. In the late contest, the VAC contingent, who have an average age of 20 years, proved too much for Norm Trasolini’s White Spots as they scored a convincing 8 to 1 win over the Hamburger Chain. Westerns pushed over two runs in the final frame of the matinee skirmish before Reg Wallis, York hurler, managed to quell the uprising. A two-run output off losing chucker Russ Richardson in the sixth panel propelled the Hotelmen to the victory.
Richardson (L) and McCarthy
Wallis (W) and McDonald
Pete Younie pitched a three-hit masterpiece for the youthful VAC squad in the finale. Two errors in each of the second and third cantos helped the VAC nine pile up a commanding 8 to 0 lead. Concurrently, losing flinger Chuck Biggar lost his control and issued four bases on balls.
Younie (W) and Weston
Biggar (L) and Trasolini
(May 10) The Yorks registered a convincing 8 to 1 win over the White Spots at the Powell Street grounds. Bill Surphlis earned the mound victory with a smooth eight-hit performance, whiffing eleven and issuing three free passes. The Spots held a slight advantage, 8 to 7, in base hits acquired. Third baseman Pat Thomas of the winners had a pair of base blows and drove in two counters.
Dolman (L), Selman (3) and Trasolini, Osterhauser (7)
Surphlis (W) and McDonald
(May 12) It took eleven innings for the York Hotel nine to dispose of the pesky VAC contingent 6 to 5 at Capilano Stadium. The youthful VAC entry jumped into a quick 4 to 0 lead over the first five innings. The Hotelmen started a comeback in the sixth with a singleton and plated a trio of tallies in the eighth to knot the count. Jack Mills did a superlative job as a fireman for the victors, coming to the aid of starter and winner Bill Surphlis in the second session of overtime after Surphlis allowed the first three batters to reach base. Hot corner custodian Pat Thomas of the Yorks and VAC first sacker Harvey Craig each stroked two safeties with a two-bagger included in Craig’s sum of swats.
Surphlis (W), Mills (11) and McDonald
Schnider (L) and Sinser, Weston
(May 14) The Westerns exploded for eight runs in the eighth stanza to grab a 9 to 6 comeback win over the White Spots. The Restaurateurs piled up a 6 to 0 margin in the first two frames but the wheels came off in the fateful eighth. Western shortstop “Butch” Dow and outfielder Naples as well as first baseman Eddie Holden of the Spots each picked up two base hits.
Leeming (L), Biggar (8) and Trasolini
Richardson (W) and McCarthy
(May 19) The winless White Spots dropped their fourth game in a row, bowing to the youthful VAC battalion 8 to 4 before a packed house at the Powell Street grounds. Cece Stein, VAC shortstop, had a big night at the plate, hammering out three base knocks in an equal number of times at bat.
Biggar (L), Seman (6) and Trasolini
Byman (W) and Weston
(May 26) The Yorks further entrenched themselves atop the Senior City standings when they overcame a five-run deficit to go on to a convincing 12 to 6 triumph over the lowly White Spots. A six-run explosion in the eighth frame provided the Hoteliers with their margin of victory. Shortpatcher Jimmy Robertson paced the Yorkmen with the baton, creaming the apple for two doubles and a one-bagger. Second sacker Naples led the Spots with three singles while teammate Jones belted a brace of doubles.
Mills (W) and McDonald
Leeming, Biggar (L) (7), Selman (8) and Trasolini
(May 28) The Westerns moved into sole possession of second spot in the Senior City loop by taking a resounding 15 to 7 verdict from the VAC nine. Two big innings, the fifth and the eighth, were the downfall for the youthful Vacs. In both frames, they fell apart defensively and allowed the victors to plate six runs. Third sacker Thirsk had a pair of hits and an equal number of runs driven in for the winners.
Weisberg (L), Schnider (5) and Weston, Sinser
Richardson (W) and Tough
(May 30) Jimmy Tough’s Westerns, who are currently setting the hottest pace in the Senior City League, won themselves another ball game when they managed to eke out a narrow 11 to 10 win over the White Spots at Capilano Stadium. The hard-luck Spots held a 13 to 11 advantage in base hits. Western first baseman Barney Kadey led all swatters with a triad of base knocks.
Bailey/Baillie (W) and Tough
L. Holden (L) and Kelly
(June 2) In spite of boasting an enviable record of 27 wins against two defeats, the touring San Francisco Tigers were edged 7 to 6 by the league-leading York Hotel aggregation from the Vancouver Senior City circuit in the first of a two-game exhibition game series at Capilano Stadium. Third baseman Pat Thomas smashed two home runs for the Yorks while teammate Tommy Kennedy launched a solo homer to lead off the game. Thomas also had a single to top all swatters with three base knocks. Shortstop Chappie Gray of the Tigers lit up winning tosser Jack Mills for a triad of safeties, one of which was a round-tripper.
Lomax (L) and McDonald
Mills (W) and H. McDonald
(June 3) Before 1,800 baseball enthusiasts at Capilano Stadium, the barnstorming San Francisco Tigers were again upset, this time 14 to 13 by a bolstered squad of Westerns from the Senior City loop. Catcher Hec McDonald, on loan from the rival Yorks, became the hero of the night for the Westerns when he doubled off the centre field fence in the bottom of the ninth stanza to drive in the tying and winning runs. It was an impressive comeback for the Vancouverites who, at one point in the game, trailed by a 13 to 4 count. Rival shortpatchers, Chappie Gray of the Californians who displayed a rifle for an arm, and “Butch” Dow of the local crew, were the game’s leading sluggers with four-for-five performances at the dish. Gray’s output included a circuit-swat over the left field wall.
Poole, Halden (L) (8) and McDonald
Richardson (W) and H. McDonald
(June 4) The pitching-strapped White Spots continued their nose dive in taking a 14 to 4 pasting at the hands of the clever VAC nine. The Clubbers plated seven counters in the top of the first and never looked back as they piled on a bigger margin. Eddie Weisberg tossed a seven-hitter in coasting to the easy mound triumph.
Weisberg (W) and Weston
Barbour (L), Biggar (1), Selman (2) and Kelly
(June 6) The rich got richer and the poor got poorer in Senior City League action at Capilano Stadium in which the top-dog Yorks embarrassed the bottom-feeding White Spots 19 to 7. The Hotelmen, sporting a record of seven wins against one loss, gathered 15 hits off the offerings of a tandem of Spot chuckers. Bill Surphlis, although not performing at his best, breezed to the complete-game knoll victory.
Surphlis (W) and McDonald
Leeming (L), Biggar (9) and Kelly
(June 7) With pitcher Bill Whyte twirling an eight-hit performance, the VAC diamondeers vaulted into sole possession of second place in the Senior City League standings when they registered a 6 to 3 win over the Westerns at Capilano Stadium. The Vacs put on their best fielding display of the season, pulling off a triad of double plays. Three unearned counters in the seventh panel broke a stalemate and allowed the Clubbers to grab the win. A dropped third strike by catcher Jimmy Tough, Westerns’ playing-manager, opened the door for the trio of unearned tallies.
Whyte (W) and Weston
Hlady (L) and Tough
(June 9) The power-laden Yorks banged out 13 hits off three VAC chuckers and wound up on the long end of a 10 to 2 score at the Powell Street grounds. Jack Mills scattered five hits in earning his second hillock victory of the campaign. His batterymate, Hec McDonald, paced the willow wielders with a three-hit output.
Mills (W) and McDonald
Schnider (L), Whyte (5), Weisberg and Weston
(June 14) The Westerns and VAC exchanged positions in the Senior City Baseball circuit when the Westerns took a 5 to 4 decision from the Athletics at the Powell Street grounds. The victors counted a pair of markers in the seventh frame as a result of a costly VAC error, erasing a one-run deficit. Russ Richardson, the winning hurler, scattered six hits in gaining the knoll decision.
Richardson (W) and Bentley
Weisberg (L) and Weston
(June 17) The Westerns strengthened their second-place position in the Senior City League standings when they knocked off the last-place White Spots 5 to 2. The victors started slowly, failing to register a hit in their first three turns at bat, but smashed into the offerings of losing flinger Gordie Selman for three counters in the fourth canto while winning tosser, Paul Hlady, held the Spots in check the rest of the way. Catcher Bentley paced the Westerns offensively with a pair of base knocks which drove in three runs. Initial sacker Forsythe laced three singles for the White Spots.
Selman (L) and Kelly
Hlady (W) and Bentley
(June 18) In a wild-swinging contest at Capilano Stadium, the first-place York Hoteliers unleashed a 19-hit barrage in registering a one-sided 20 to 7 victory over the VAC baseballers. First sacker Billy Adshead and hot corner guardian Pat Thomas both had four hits and three runs batted in for the winners.
Younie (L), Whyte (3) and Weston
Surphlis (W) and McDonald
(June 20) In spite of a superlative long-haul relief effort by veteran pitcher Jimmy Crosato, making his first mound appearance of the campaign, the hard-luck White Spots again absorbed defeat, a narrow 3 to 2 loss to the VAC aggregation. Crosato entered the game as a firemen in the second canto with the bases bulging and none out. With the Spots trailing 2 to 0 at the time, the crafty hurler wrangled his mates out of the inherited peril unscathed and, while his sidekicks were tying the score, Crosato went seven innings without surrendering a hit. In the ninth frame, however, he yielded his only bingle and this, coupled with catcher Norm Trasolini’s error, allowed the Vacs to count their third marker to take the ball game. Outfielder W. Keeley of the Athletics and Spots’ fly chaser Byman both registered two hits for their respective clubs.
Barbour, Crosato (L) (2) and Trasolini
Weisberg (W) and Weston
(June 21) Before the largest crowd of the season at Capilano Stadium, the league-leading Yorks pulled out a 14 to 12 victory over the Westerns. First baseman Billy Adshead’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning broke up a tie game and gave the Hotelmen the walkoff victory. Outer pasture defender Tommy Kennedy also had a round-tripper for the Innkeepers. Hec Highton, initial sacker for the Westerns, had a perfect five-for-five evening at the plate.
Richardson (L) and Bentley
Wallis (W) and McDonald
(June 23) For five innings it looked as if the White Spots had finally won a ball game against Senior City League competition but, as is usually the case, the Spots blew a comfortable lead and went down to another defeat. The Westerns were the culprits, taking down the Hamburgermen 11 to 7 at the Powell Street grounds. Relief flinger Ernie Choukalos was credited with the hillock victory.
Bailey/Baillie, Choukalos (W) (3) and Bentley, Tough (3)
Byman (L) and Kelly
(July 2) The York Hotel ball tossers added another victory to their growing list when they edged out the Westerns 7 to 6 at Capilano Stadium. The Hotelmen pushed across the winning marker in the top of the ninth inning when they strung a pair of timely hits together. Fly chaser Bobby Blackhall had two hits and drove in a brace of runs for the winners while outfielder Johnston of the Westerns picked up a double and single.
Mills (W) and McDonald
Choukalos (L) and Van Hatten
(July 4) In a heavy-hitting contest at Capilano Stadium, a powerful VAC team swamped the White Spot nine 21 to 6. A total of 27 base blows was recorded between the two teams with the Athletics collecting 14 while complete game winning pitcher Bill Whyte was nicked for 13.
Whyte (W) and Weston
Crosato (L), Barbour (7) and Byman
(July 7) The Yorks chalked up another triumph in Senior City League play, doubling the hapless White Spots 10 to 5 at the Powell Street grounds. The Hoteliers’ big inning came in the second when Tommy Kennedy doubled and Ralph Stong tripled in igniting a five-run outburst.
Byman (L) and Schab
Surphlis (W) and McDonald
(July 14) The Yorks suffered a rare defeat, dropping a 16 to 6 decision to the Westerns at Capilano Stadium. Both teams swatted the pill for 12 safe blows but the game was decided with the eight walks issued by losing twirler Jack Mills.
Choukalos (W) and Tough
Mills (L), Stong (7) and Surphlis
(July 19) Playing at the Powell Street grounds, the VAC nine bombed the Westerns 14 to 4.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 21) Suddenly appearing vulnerable, the league-leading York Hotel nine were defeated 5 to 3 by the VAC baseballers. The Athletics won the game in the seventh frame when they scored twice following a trio of doubles. Keystone sacker Les Brown led the victors with the willow, stroking three hits and driving across an equal number of counters. Outfielder Bob Blackhall of the Hotelmen collected four hits, including a double and triple, in a losing cause. Jack Mills clouted a solo round-tripper for the Clubmen.
Wallis (L) and Ball
Weisberg (W) and Weston
(July 23) The White Spots suffered their sixteenth defeat of the season in falling 13 to 9 to the Westerns.
Bailey/Baillie (W) and van Hatten
Barbour (L), Byman (5) and Yanchuk
(July 28) Playing-manager Jimmy Tough’s solo four-bagger in the seventh canto provided the winning edge as the Western’s squeezed by the White Spots 4 to 3. Winning tosser Paul Hlady spun a three-hitter at the Spots.
Byman (L) and Yanchuk
Hlady (W) and Van Hatten
(August 4) The travelling Oakland Colored Larks lambasted a bolstered York Hotel nine 13 to 5 in exhibition play at Capilano Stadium. The win for the Larks was their 16th straight and their 54th in 57 barnstorming contests this season.
(August 5) The reinforced Westerns were trounced 7 to 4 by Eddie Harris’ famed Oakland Colored Larks at Capilano Stadium.
(August 6) The youthful VAC contingent solidified their grip on second place in the Senior City League when they downed the bottom-feeding White Spots 7 to 3 at Capilano Stadium.
PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-three) VAC vs Westerns
(August 18) The runner-up VAC squad fell to the third-spot Westerns 13 to 6 in the opener of their semi-final playoff series at Capilano Stadium. A five-run outburst in the fifth frame pulled the Westerns out of a 5 to 2 deficit and provided them with the cushion for the victory.
Richardson (W) and Van Hatten
Younie, Whyte (L) (4), Schnider (5) and Weston
(August 19) The second-place VAC team tied their semi-final showdown with the Westerns at a game apiece. Final score, game details and complete batteries were not found in print.
(August 20) The Westerns entry in the City Senior Baseball League advanced to play York Hotel in the league finals after defeating the VAC nine 10 to 5 in the third and deciding game of the semi-finals. Young chucker Paul Hlady was the engine behind the Western win, holding the Vacs hitless after relieving starter Russ Richardson in the third canto when Richardson had been combed for eight hits and five runs.
Richardson, Hlady (W) (3) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Finals (best-of-five) Westerns vs York Hotel
(August 24) The surprising Westerns upset the dope by pounding out a 14 to 10 decision against the veteran Yorks nine in the first game of the Senior City League finals. Down 10 to 3 after three stanzas were in the books, the underdogs gnawed away at the deficit, finally tying the game and sending it into extra innings. A four-tally outburst in the tenth canto then sealed the deal. The Westerns stung Yorks’ pitching ace Bill Surphlis for 16 hits.
Hlady, Bailey/Baillie (W) (3) and Tough
Surphlis (L) and McDonald
(August 25) A timely three-run rally in the final frame pushed the Westerns to a 10 to 9 walkoff win over the Yorks and a two-game lead in their Senior City League playoff final. Down 9 to 7 as they came to bat for the final time, the Westerns began the inning on Ken Van Hatton’s double. He came around the touch the platter on “Butch” Dow’s two-bagger. Winning tosser Russ Richardson then singled and another two-ply sock by Frank Ambler completed the comeback.
Mills (L) and McDonald
Richardson (W) and Tough
(August 26) Barney Kadey’s failure to touch second base on an apparent home run during a late uprising cost the Westerns at least one run and perhaps the ball game as the York Hotel nine escaped with a 12 to 10 victory to remain alive in the third match of their final series. The Westerns, slugging hard to overcome a 12 to 3 deficit after six chapters had been completed, came within an eyelash of knotting the count before Kadey’s oversight stopped them in their tracks. The game had to be terminated after seven innings because of darkness.
Johnston (L), Bailey (4) and Tough
Wallis (W) and McDonald
(August 28) Jack Mills’ five-hit pitching job, coupled with some solid clouting, gave the Yorks a 15 to 4 victory over the Westerns at the Powell Street grounds in the fourth tussle of the final series. Chief sluggers for the winners were Tommy Kennedy, Pat Kennedy and Mills who all smashed round-trippers. The series is now knotted at two wins apiece.
Mills (W) and McDonald
Hlady (L), Bailey (6) and Tough
(August 29) Yorks and Westerns, currently tied at two games each in the best-of-five Senior City Baseball League playoffs, settled for a 3 – 3 draw at the Powell Street grounds in an abbreviated six-inning fixture which ended prematurely because of darkness.
(September 1) Taking time away from their quest to capture the 1947 Vancouver Senior City Baseball crown, the York Hotel nine participated in the two-day Kamloops Labor Day tournament and won the tourney final, defeating the Kelowna Red Sox 12 to 4 and walking away with first prize in the $1,100 competition. First baseman Billy Adshead led the Yorks’ offensive attack with four hits. Playing-manager Ralph Strong smashed a homer and two singles while Pat Thomas and Bobby Blackhall added three hits apiece.
Surphlis (W) and McDonald
Corson (L), xxx and Kielbiski, xxx
(September 10) The York Hotel baseballers copped the 1947 Vancouver Senior City Baseball League title by edging the Westerns 5 to 4 in a heated windup affair at the Powell Street grounds. Both winning flinger Jack Mills and the Westerns’ Russ Richardson surrendered six safeties in going the route. A seventh-inning solo homer by Pat Thomas broke a 4 – 4 stalemate and sent the Hotelmen to victory and the league crown.
Mills (W) and McDonald
Richardson (L) and xxx
NORTHWEST SEMI-PRO LEAGUE
Game Reports/Game Results involving Vancouver Luckies
(May 14) The Vancouver Luckies entrenched themselves firmly in the cellar of the Northwest Semi-Pro Baseball League in their home debut at Callister Park when they blew a 10 to 2 decision to the invading Bellingham Bells. The Bells grabbed an early 4 to 0 lead, extended it in the middle innings and held the upper hand throughout. Middle infielder Hickok led the Tulip Towners with two hits and a pair of runs batted in. Third baseman Bob Stinson of the Luckies was credited with an inside-the-park home run, the game’s only extra-base blow.
Baker (W), Arnson (6) and Carr
Kuljis (L), Glavin (6) and Henry
(May 17) A third straight defeat was administered to the Vancouver Luckies when the visiting Lake Stevens Lundeens bunched runs in two frames to overpower the Beermen 9 to 3 at Callister Park. A seven-run sixth frame provided the Washingtonians with the ammunition for victory. First baseman Russell of the winners punched out two singles and a double, driving in a pair of runs. G. Averill tossed a six-hitter for the complete game hillock triumph.
G. Averill (W) and Palmer
Glavin (L), Kuljis (6) and Henry
(May 21) Sedro-Woolley catcher-manager Roy Rasler gave Vancouver fans a full evening’s entertainment at Callister Park where his team posted a 7 to 3 triumph over the Vancouver Luckies. When it was all over, the fiery playing-manager had hit an inside-the-park home run, been kayoed by a thrown ball and finally ejected from the tussle for too-vigorously protesting called balls and strikes. Four-baggers by fly chaser Fred Betschart and Rasler in the fifth and sixth cantos gave middle reliever Stew Reynolds the knoll victory. Losing twirler Walt Leskiw turned in a highly creditable performance, retiring 14 of the visitors on strikes.
Wolslegel, Reynolds (W) (4), Waldie (7), Holt (7) and Rasler, Myers
Leskiw (L), Ballam (8) and Chokoulas
(May 24) The Vancouver Luckies snapped their losing streak in the Northwest Semi-Pro Baseball League at Callister Park by pounding two Seattle pitchers for 12 hits and a 9 to 3 victory over the Travellers. Walt Leskiw, starting and winning hurler for the Beer Barons, held the Puget Sounders to three hits and no runs for six innings before a sore arm forced him out of the skirmish.
Brixtner (L), Curran (7) and McNamee
Leskiw (W), Ballam (7) and Chokoulas
(May 25) The Vancouver Luckies failed to hit in the clutch and, as a result, went down 3 to 2 to the Lundeens of Lake Stevens in a Northwest Semi-Pro Baseball League contest. The Canadians rapped out 13 hits but left 15 runners stranded on the base paths. Luckies’ hurler George Glavin held the hosts to four base blows but the homesters bunched them for their three tallies.
Glavin (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 1) The Vancouver Luckies travelled to Sedro-Woolley and won a Northwest Semi-Pro League contest 4 to 1 behind a six-hit pitching chore by Walt Leskiw, who fanned 16 during the tilt.
Leskiw (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(June 7) A poor start, in which they surrendered nine runs over the first four frames, cost the Vancouver Luckies big time as they dropped a 10 to 8 decision to the hosting Seattle Travellers. Joe McNamee, veteran Seattle catcher, led the stickmen with a four-for-four output at the platter while Ernie Choukalos, receiver for the Lager men, rapped out a triple, double and single. Seattle’s Stan Zalubowski powered an inside-the-park homer.
Leskiw (L), Ferluga (3) and Choukalos
Brixtner (W), Briggs (9) and McNamee
(June 18) With Andy Padovan making his debut as playing-manager, the Vancouver Luckies showed improved play and hustle but still came out second best, falling 10 to 3, in their Northwest Semi-Pro League joust with the visiting Sedro-Woolley squad. The Washingtonians pounded Walt Leskiw’s slants for 14 hits and won with ease. Miles Jordan handled the mound chores for the winners, holding the Beermen to nine hits. First baseman Palmer of the Skagit County nine stung the sphere for a trio of swats and drove in an equal number of tallies. Shortstop Jack Hjelmaa, in his first appearance for the Vancouverites, looked good with a three-for-five night at the plate.
Jordan (W) and Myres/Myers
Leskiw (L) and Padovan
(June 21) The Vancouver Luckies, attempting to escape the Northwest Semi-Pro League cellar, smashed their way to a decisive 13 to 0 pasting of the invading Lundeens of Lake Stevens.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 2) Displaying the calibre of baseball required to move out of the second division of the Northwest Semi-Pro loop, the Vancouver Luckies stopped the Bellingham Bells 5 to 2. Portsider Jack Ferluga struck out a dozen Bellingham batters while limiting the Bells to five safeties. Middle pasture patroller Jack Fisher garnered three of the Luckies’ 12 base knocks, one of which was a two-bagger. For the Tulip Towners, outfielder Dick Zender drove in both their counters with a triple and double.
Baker (L), Arnson (3) and Carr
Ferluga (W) and Padovan
(July 6) Playing on their home turf, the Sedro-Woolley squad edged the Vancouver Luckies 4 to 3 to record their sixth victory of the Northwest League campaign.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx(W) and xxx
(July 9) Taking advantage of every lapse by their hosts, the invading Sedro-Woolley nine grabbed a narrow 6 to 5 win over the Vancouver Luckies at Callister Park. Both teams stroked eleven base blows but the Beermen frittered away several opportunities with a poor exhibition of base-running. Infielders Acton and Gee as well as fly chaser Fred Betschart all stroked a double and one-bagger for the winners, a feat replicated by outfielder Joe Brockenborough of the Luckies.
Jordan (W) and Rasler
Leskiw (L) and Padovan
(July 11) The Bellingham Bells blanked the visiting Vancouver Luckies 4 to 0 in the Washington border town. The Lagermen out hit their hosts by an 8 to 6 margin as losing flinger Jack Ferluga fanned 11 but walked eight and hit one batter. Dick Plank hurled the shutout win for the Bells.
Ferluga (W) and xxx
Plank (W) and xxx
(July 20) The Vancouver Luckies won 6 to 1 over the hosting Lundeens of Lake Stevens in a Northwest Semi-Pro League game. The Vancouver pitching tandem of Walt Leskiw and Jack Ferluga held the Resort Towners to just five hits. Ferluga was particularly impressive in his role as a fireman, fanning five batters in succession after entering the game in the eighth canto.
Leskiw (W), Ferluga (8) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(July 23) Trouble hit the Vancouver Luckies in large doses as they dropped a Northwest Semi-Pro League tilt to Mount Vernon 7 to 2 at Callister Park. The first hint of grief developed when stellar southpaw Jack Ferluga was stricken with stomach flu but had to tough it out in spite of the illness as the Lagermen were strapped for alternative chuckers. Ferluga gamely took the mound but was far from his usual self, walking six, hitting two batters and uncorking three wild pitches. Eight fielding miscues by his mates did nothing to help matters. The second spot of trouble came in the first frame when catcher-manager Andy Padovan received a broken finger stopping a foul tip. He remained in the game until the seventh chapter but the injured digit left him far below par. Last and largest on the Luckies’ list of woes was Bob Moen, rangy Mount Vernon left-hander, who handcuffed the Beer Barons with a neat five-hit mound chore.
Moen (W) and Cardin
Ferluga (L) and Padovan
(July 26) Playing at Queen’s Park in New Westminster, the Vancouver Luckies split a pair of Northwest Semi-Pro League games with the Seattle Travellers, winning the opener 10 to 8 and dropping the nightcap 8 to 5.
(July 27) Northwest Semi-Pro League action, again moved from Callister Park to New Westminster’s Queen’s Park, saw the Vancouver Luckies pound out 34 hits in two games with Oak Harbor, 17 in each tilt, as they won handily 15 to 10 in the afternoon slugfest and 17 to 5 in the evening affair.
(August 6) The Vancouver Luckies continued their recent practice of transferring home games by engaging in a double-dip with the Everett WA diamondeers at Bellingham. The scant number of Tulip Town fans who showed up for the twin-bill were pulling hard for the Luckies as defeats for Everett would have given the hometown Bells a chance to catch the league-leaders. Fate was unkind to the Lager Boys, however, and they were edged 4 to 3 in the opener and then skittered away a 10 to 4 lead to drop the nightcap 12 to 10.
Canover (W) and Thorlefson
Ballam (L), Courtier (9) and Padovan
Noyes, Peppin (1), Tedesco (5), Canover (W) (7) and Thorlefson
Courtier, Ballam (L) (6) and Padovan
(August 8) The Vancouver Mounties travelled to Krait County WA and absorbed a 4 to 1 defeat at the hands of the powerful Mount Vernon nine. Chuck Courtier and Ralph Ballam pitched for the Luckies and limited the home team to six hits, one of which was a home run by Ralph Orteig.
Courtier (L), Ballam and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
The August 8th game reported in the August 9th edition of the Vancouver Sun was the last article found relative to the fate of the 1947 Luckies. It is doubtful that they continued play beyond this point.