1926 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1926 BC Interior
1926 Vancouver Island
Seven Senior A leagues registered with the B.C.A.B.A. for a shot at the 1926 provincial championship, one of which was a darkhorse loop from the West Kootenays of which little was known
- The crack Vancouver Senior City League experienced a playoff problem in that one of their highly competitive teams, the Collingwood entry, experienced an inability to field a full team and was bounced from further play
- 1926 saw the end of the fabulous playoff run of teams with pitcher Eddie Olson on their roster
- A rapid explosion in the number of Senior B circuits in the province took place
- A youthful group of Asahi baseballers (many of whom were still high school students) captured their first-ever Terminal Baseball League title. In addition, the Rising Sun squad picked up the Faye O’Neill Cup, the Broadway Theatre trophy and tied the Seattle Nippons for Pacific Coast Japanese bragging rights
VANCOUVER SENIOR CITY LEAGUE
With the Hanbury’s representative folding and the dissolution of B. C. Athletics’ franchise, the elite Senior A circuit in Vancouver accepted a second politically-sponsored team, the Young Conservatives, the nucleus of which constituted the former Senior A Hanbury’s nine of a season previous, to settle on a four-team loop in 1926 along with the returning Young Liberals, Collingwood and Elks.
Pre-season exhibition
(April 27) The Young Conservatives of the Senior City League edged the Terminal League Mount Pleasant entry 3 to 2 in an exhibition scuffle played on the Powell Street diamond. Both teams played errorless ball as pitching was the dominant theme. The Tories managed just six hits while the Hillmen were limited to three. The longest blows of the game were a solo home runs hit by the Conservatives’ Cecil Kimberley and Mount Pleasant playing-manager Harry Wilson.
Thompson (W), Kimberley (5) and Hall
Inch (L), Craig (3) and Ferguson
Regular-season
(May 1) Before a crowd estimated to be 3,000, the 1926 Senior City Baseball scene was opened at Athletic Park with a pair of games in which the Political clubs both triumphed. The defending champion Young Liberals blanked the Collingwood nine 2 to 0 to begin the proceedings. The new Young Conservatives entry then followed suit by coming on strong late in their contest to oust the Elks 6 to 3.
Opposing pitchers, George “Lefty” Kaye and Hal Puder, both showing mid-season form, battled tooth-and-nail for mound supremacy in the matinee tilt. Kaye emerged the winner, tossing a three-hitter, fanning six and walking one while Puder was nicked for two safeties, whiffed five and handed out two free passes. A bungled infield ground ball allowed Hec Cann of the Grits to touch the home station for the season’s initial counter in the bottom of the opening canto. Cann had drawn a walk, moved to the keystone pillow on a sacrifice and advanced to third on an infield out. The Liberals added their second tally in the fourth on an error, shortstop Anderson’s double and a sacrifice.
Puder (L) and McLean
Kaye (W) and Smith
The Elks made a brave showing in the early part of their game with the Conservatives but lost out when the murderer’s row of the former Hanbury team got to starter Dave Scott in the fifth canto for a four-spot. Cecil Kimberley rang up seven strikeouts in going the route for the hillock win, giving up just three safeties including a double and one-bagger to Antlered Tribe leadoff batter Jimmy Watters. Pacing the seven-hit attack for the Tories was hot corner custodian Art Morse who also cracked a two-bagger and a single.
Scott (L), Holden (5) and Whyte
Kimberley (W) and Goodall
(May 5) The season’s first “Battle of the Youthful Politicians” at Athletic Park saw the Young Conservatives claim victory by a 5 to 1 count over the defending league champion Young Liberals in spite of being out hit by an 8 to 4 margin. The Grits’ major downfall was their stranding of six base runners to only one for the Tories. Bill Brand picked up the knoll triumph. Vanquished chucker Jerry Reynolds made things tough for himself by plunking three batters. Only outfielder Bobby Mills of the Cons and Libs’ third baseman Charlie Miron were able to amass more than one bingle, a brace of one-baggers each.
Brand (W) and Goodall
Reynolds (L) and Richardson
(May 7) With both elbowers spinning two-hitters, Collingwood won their first game of the campaign in a 1 to 0 squeaker over the previously undefeated Young Conservatives. Winning tosser Hal Puder fanned eleven while hard-luck loser Lorne Thompson whiffed ten. Outfielder Robertson’s screaming double in the second inning plated Jimmy Condon, who had singled and advanced to the keystone base on a sacrifice, with the contest’s lone run.
Thompson (L) and Goodall
Puder (W) and McLean
(May 8) Another big crowd witnessed doubleheader action at Athletic Park in which the Young Liberals edged the Elks 3 to 2 to start things off while Collingwood followed up with a narrow 2 to 1 conquest of the Young Conservatives. “Lefty” Kaye and Larry Holden, toeing the rubber for the Liberals and Elks respectively, were both highly effective in their complete-game stints. Kaye was nicked for three hits and Holden for four but Holden’s undoing was his temporary wildness wherein he issued four consecutive walks.
Kaye (W) and Smith
Holden (L) and Whyte
“Lefty” Delcourt was his old foxy self against the Tories, stopping them on three scattered bingles.
Delcourt (W) and Daniels
Kimberley (L) and Goodall
(May 10) Southpaw pitcher Dave Scott came into his own with a vengeance at Athletic Park and twirled the Elks to a 9 to 0 whitewashing of the Collingwood aggregation. Scott issued only a pair of safeties, a triple and single both garnered by Charlie Stevenson, during the one-sided affair in which he whiffed a dozen. He had the Collies eating out of his hand the entire route and in only one inning, the sixth, did more than four hitters face him. The game was essentially over after the Wapiti Herd registered a seven-spot in the second frame. Outer pasture defender Duff had two of the winners’ seven base swats.
Traeger (L), Esplen (2) and Daniels
Scott (W) and Whyte
(May 12) Never trailing throughout the scuffle, the Young Conservatives slipped past the defending champion Young Liberals for the second time this season in a 2 to 1 squeaker and, in doing so, took the lead in the Senior City League race. The Tory’s big Bill Brand got the best of veteran Alex “Lefty” Simons in a heated political hillock battle. Brand held the Grits at bay all the way, squelching them on just three safeties while ringing up seven whiffs. The winners nicked Simons for seven base blows with catcher Roy Goodall reaching first base three times on hard-hit singles.
Brand (W) and Goodall
Simons (L) and Smith
Standings W L Pct.
Young Conservatives 3 2 .600
Young Liberals 2 2 .500
Collingwood 2 2 .500
Elks 1 2 .333
(May 14) In a wild-west finish that had the fans standing on their seats, the Elks grabbed their second win of the season at Athletic Park, knocking off the Young Conservatives 4 to 2 in a darkness-shortened, six-inning fracas which created a four-team tie for league honours. With the skies in semi-darkness as they came to bat in arrears by a single counter, the Antlered Tribe put on a last-ditch rally, aided by a walk and a pair of passed balls, which brought them three counters in the bottom of the sixth stanza. In the first half of the frame, pitcher Larry Holden, who went the distance on the hill for the Wapiti Herd in earning the mound triumph with a nifty four-hitter, had surrendered a two-run four-bagger to first baseman “Abe” Cross which had given the Tories a 3 to 2 lead. Following the three-spot Elk output, the game was called. Keystone sacker Campbell of the winners was the lone swatsmith in the contest to earn two base hits.
Thompson, Brand (L) (6) and Goodall, Clark (6)
Holden (W) and Whyte
(May 15) Collingwood and the Elks share top spot in the Senior City baseball circuit after posting victories at Athletic Park in doubleheader action. The Suburbanites doubled the Young Liberals 4 to 2 to get things underway and the Elks followed with a 4 to 0 blanking of the Young Conservatives. A four-run sixth frame in the opener allowed Collingwood to erase a 2 to 0 deficit and grab their third win of the campaign. Winning pitcher Steve Kozak, a portsider from Fort William Ontario, squeezed the Grits on just three safeties, all singles, while whiffing seven. Johnny Nestman’s two-run double drove in the winning and insurance counters.
Reynolds (L) and Bacon
Kozak (W) and McLean
Dave Scott fired a nifty one-hitter at the Tories in the second contest and went on to record the shutout knoll triumph. Losing twirler Cecil Kimberley was impressive in defeat, yielding just four safeties.
Scott (W) and Whyte
Kimberley (L) and Goodall
(May 18) Collingwood balltossers proved the superior mudders in the Senior City League tilt at Athletic Park and forced the Young Conservatives into the cellar position by nosing out the Tories 4 to 3. Both teams came out swinging hard, each posting a three-spot in the opening canto. Winning hurler Hal Puder then held the Tories scoreless for the remainder of the contest, fanning ten along the way, while reliever and loser Cecil Kimberley was nicked for the winning tally in the third stanza on catcher Cy McLean’s RBI single. Stew Lindsay and Baden Esplen both singled twice for the winners.
Thompson, Kimberley (L) (1) and Goodall
Puder (W) and McLean
(May 19) With Camille “Lefty” Delcourt stymying the Young Liberals on one hit, a double by Hec Cann, Collingwood continued to stay ahead of the pack in the Senior City loop by posting a 3 to 0 blanking of the Young Liberals. Outfielder Neil Silver drove in the first two counters for the victors with a double in the fourth round. Charlie Stevenson’s single in the fifth canto, his second safety of the contest, drove in the Collies’ third marker.
Kaye (L) and Richardson
Delcourt (W) and Daniels
(May 22) Another crowded grandstand of baseball fans at Athletic Park witnessed first-place Collingwood putting a stop to the three-game win streak of the Elks by downing the Antlered Herd 9 to 3 in the matinee affair while the Young Conservatives shoved the defending champion Young Liberals further into the cellar by administering a 3 to 1 defeat to the Grits in the follow-up skirmish.The Collies were never headed in the sloppily-played opener after plating a trio of counters in the third stanza. Les Traeger went the route on the hill, earning the victory with a four-hitter. First baseman Eric King nailed a double and a pair of singles for the winners.
Traeger (W) and McLean
Holden (L), Scott (3) and Whyte
Norm Goodall delivered an eighth inning triple which drove in a pair, breaking a 1 – 1 stalemate and sending the Tories, who were out hit by 7 to 3 margin, to victory in the late fracas.
Kaye, Reynolds (L) (7) and Smith
Brand (W) and Goodall
Standings W L Pct.
Collingwood 6 2 .750
Elks 3 3 .500
Young Conservatives 4 5 .444
Young Liberals 2 5 .286
(May 24) The crack University of Washington Huskies broke even in the first two games of their annual clash with reinforced Vancouver opposition when they dropped the afternoon game to the Young Conservatives 5 to 4 in ten innings but came back to capture an evening joust with the Elks 4 to 3. Both the Tory and Wapiti squads were bolstered with pickups from other teams. A wild throw to first base from catcher Gene Walby of the Collegians, after Doug May had bunted, allowed Norm Goodall to scoot home from third base with the winning run in the overtime session of the curtain-raiser. Goodall had led off the inning with a single. Bill Clark had three of the Conservatives’ ten hits.
Jones, Schlagter (L) (9) and Walby
Kimberley (W) and Bacon
Outfielder N. Davis drilled two doubles and a single in pacing the Huskies to the triumph against the Elks in the late encounter.
Stowell, Prevost (7), Shidler (W) (8) and Lindsay
Simons, Olson (L) (6) and Whyte, Andresen (6)
(May 25) Resisting the temptation to reinforce the roster with pickups, first-place Collingwood went with their own lineup of regulars but fell to the slick University of Washington varsity squad 6 to 2 in the third exhibition match in Vancouver by the Huskies. With winning chucker Shidler being touched for just one scratch single, the Washingtonians had things pretty well their way after giving up a couple of unearned runs in the second canto. Third baseman Beckett doubled and singled for the winners.
Shidler (W) and Walby
Kozak (L), Puder (5) McLean
(May 27) The Elks and Young Conservatives played to a 5 – 5 draw at Athletic Park in a game in which the Brother Bills were apparently robbed of a sixth-inning run which would have been sufficient to give them the victory. An incorrect rule interpretation by plate umpire Boyd Staggs in negating an Elks’ run which resulted after pinch-hitter Simpson, who had batted without reporting in to replace second baseman Campbell, successfully reached first base on an infield roller which drove in Bill Tuson from third base. Staggs not only ruled Simpson out retroactively but incorrectly disallowed Tuson’s counter. A protest by the Elks ensued. The game itself was full of miscues, including errors of omission, and saw the Tories hold a slight 5 to 4 edge in base hits. Shortstop Arne Miller’s bases-loaded triple in the fifth was their most timely blow. First sacker Jimmy Watters of the Antlered Tribe, with a double and single, was the only swatter in the contest to accumulate plural hit totals.
Thompson and Buchanan
Holden and Whyte
(May 29) Big scores were the order of the day at Athletic Park where, before another packed grandstand, the Young Conservatives handed the league-leading Collingwood nine a 10 to 6 setback in ten innings to begin doubleheader action while the Elks blanked the Young Liberals 6 to 0 in the late tussle. The Tories broke a 6 – 6 tie in the top of the overtime session when singles by Arne Miller, Bill Clark and winning pitcher Cecil Kimberley, a two-bagger by Art Morse, two walks and a sacrifice netted four counters. Miller and Clark both starred with the hickory in the opening encounter, each bagging a trio of hits.
Brand, Kimberley (W) (4) and Goodall
Puder (L) and McLean
The second tussle was nip-and-tuck for four innings until Russ Bullard’s triple in the fifth ignited a three-run outburst to blow things open for the Wapiti Gang. Winning flinger Dave Scott gave up only one hit, a hard single to Grit outfielder “Rap” Solloway in the fifth panel. Bullard and Scott picked up a brace of base swats each for the winners. Hec Cann relinquished his dual role as playing manager as “Mickey” McMahon took over as dugout skipper for the struggling Liberals.
Scott (W) and Whyte
Kaye (L) and Bacon
(May 31) Playing throughout a constant drizzle of rain, the Elks and Collingwood battled to a six-inning 3 – 3 draw before hostilities were curtailed. Both teams were held to just three hits in the sloppy conditions. Outfielder Bill Tuson of the Antlered Herd, with a double and single, was the only member of either aggregation to accumulate two base hits.
Holden and Whyte
Traeger, King (3) and McLean
(June 2) For the third time this season, twice when opposing the Young Liberals, pitcher Dave Scott of the Elks set the opposition down with one lone bingle. In a repeat of his success four days previous, Scott whitewashed the Grits on a one-hitter, taking the hillock decision 1 to 0 over Nick Craig. The Libs hit the horsehide freely but always seemed to paste it straight at a waiting fielder. The Antlered Herd plated the only score of the contest in the opening canto when Russ Bullard tripled to drive in outfielder Duff.
Scott (W) and Whyte
Craig (L) and Bacon
(June 3) It remained for veteran chucker Alex “Lefty” Simons to break a losing streak of six straight games for the defending-champion Young Liberals at Athletic Park before another large crowd. A well-rested Simons set the Young Conservatives down on three scattered hits, two of which were solo homers off the bat of shortstop Arne Miller, as the Grits edged their political foes 3 to 2. Another portsider, “Lefty” Moffatt, was used on the hill for the first time this campaign by the Tories. He, too, had a lot of stuff on the ball and was also nicked for just three safeties. The Liberals plated the winning tally in the bottom of the seventh chapter when Tory keystone sacker Bill Clark let shortstop Anderson’s ground ball dribble through his legs as Nick Craig, who had singled to begin the frame, raced to the dish from the hot corner sack with the tie-breaker. Craig had two of the triad of base raps acquired by the winners.
Moffatt (L) and Goodall
Simons (W) and Bacon.
(June 4) The Elks moved into a tie with Collingwood for top spot in the Senior City Baseball League by finishing on the long end of a 4 to 3 decision over the tail end Young Liberals. Dave Scott, Wapiti elbower, proved himself the master of the Grits for the third time this season by fashioning a five-hitter. The Antlered Herd won the game in the eighth frame after Bill Tuson singled, his third one-bagger of the contest, moved to third base on back-to-back hits by Scott and Ernie Paepke, then crossed the dish when third sacker Larson of the Politicians fumbled Jimmy Watters’ infield hit.
Kaye (L) and Bacon
Scott (W) and Whyte
Standings W L Pct.
Collingwood 6 3 .667
Elks 6 3 .667
Young Conservatives 5 6 .455
Young Liberals 3 8 .273
(June 5) The co-league-leaders in the Senior City circuit both tasted defeat in doubleheader action at Athletic Park. Collingwood dropped a 5 to 2 verdict to the basement-dwelling Young Liberals to get things underway and then the Elks blew their opportunity to grab sole possession of the penthouse slot when they also took it on the chin 5 to 2 at the hands of the Young Conservatives to wind up the diamond action. Charlie Miron began to hit his stride for the Grits in the lid-lifter, hammering out a single, double and homer in support of Nick Craig’s seven-hit mound performance. Teammate “Rap” Solloway chipped in with a triple and one-bagger.
Delcourt (L) and D. King
Craig (W) and Smith
The Tories grabbed four markers in their first turn at bat in the late tilt and were never headed despite only collecting two safeties, a triple and double both ripped by Norm Goodall. Cecil Kimberley scattered four safeties, two off the bat of newly acquired catcher Harry Richardson, in earning the knoll triumph.
Holden (L) and Richardson
Kimberley (W) and Hall
(June 7) In spite of losing their star portsider, Dave Scott, for the remainder of the season, the Elks continued to persevere in their quest for the Senior City League pennant and moved into first place by squeezing past arch-rival Collingwood 9 to 8. The Collies out hit the Antlered Tribe 13 to 8 and made just two errors against four for the winners yet the Suburbanites were unable to come through with hits at crucial times, stranding nine runners against three for the Elks. Shortstop Russ Bullard singled and doubled for the Wapiti nine while keystone partner Campbell smashed a home run. Neil Silver, outfielder Robertson and pitcher Baden “Babe” Esplen all cranked a double and single for the vanquished Collies.
Evans (W), Holden (3) and Whyte, Richardson
Kozak (L), Esplen (1) and D. King
(June 8) League moguls awarded the Elks a 6 to 5 win in their tie game with the Young Conservatives played on May 27. The Antlered Herd had been deprived of a run on a mistaken ruling by umpire Staggs.
Thompson (L) and Buchanan
Holden (W) and Whyte
(June 11) Staving off a last-inning Collingwood rally, the Young Conservatives moved past the Suburban nine into second place in the Senior City League by edging the Collies 2 to 1. Cecil Kimberley, the Tory moundsman, fanned ten batters in earning the four-hit knoll triumph. Third baseman Art Morse starred with the hickory for the Politicians, bagging two doubles and a single. Outfielder Robertson drilled a double and single for the vanquished nine.
Kimberley (W) and Hall
Delcourt (L) and D. King
(June 12) The Young Liberals and Young Conservatives strengthened their positions in the Senior City Baseball League with victories in doubleheader play before packed stands at Athletic Park. The bottom-feeding Grits disposed of the penthouse-dwelling Elks 5 to 3 in an exciting opener while Collingwood was manhandled 11 to 7 by the Tories in the finale. Winning pitcher George “Lefty” Kaye’s two-run double in the opening stanza staked the Liberals to a lead they never relinquished in the matinee tilt. Kaye picked up another two-ply clout in the fifth which drove in a third Grit counter. Playing-manager Hec Cann of the Liberals garnered two base blows in the contest, socking a bases-empty round-tripper in the sixth canto to go along with a one-bagger. Rival skipper Syd Whyte laced three singles for the Wapiti nine.
Kaye (W), Craig (7) and Smith
Holden (L) and Whyte
An eight-run third inning sewed up the wrap-up skirmish for the Tories. Leading the 11-hit offensive assault of the winning nine were winning chucker Lorne Thompson, Arne Miller, Art Morse and Abe Cross who all connected for two hits with a two-bagger included in Thompson’s total. Shortstop Miller’s brilliant play included three stolen bases, a trio of counters and a flawless display afield in which he accepted all eight of his fielding chances perfectly. Collie outfielder Robertson stung the pill for three safeties, one a three-bagger, in a losing cause.
Esplen (L) and Daniels
Thompson (W) and Hall
Standings W L Pct.
Elks 8 5 .615
Young Conservatives 9 7 .563
Collingwood 6 7 .462
Young Liberals 5 9 .357
(June 14) The front-running Elks further increased their lead at the head of the Senior City circuit at Athletic Park when they inflicted a 7 to 5 loss on the slumping Collingwood nine. The Collies, losers of five straight, opened up a 3 to 0 lead in the top of the initial chapter but were unable to hold the lead. Out hit by a 6 to 5 margin, the Elks took more chances on the bases, pilfering six sacks and, with the aggressive play, stranded just two runners to nine for the Collies. Second baseman Campbell of the Antlered Herd, with a pair of singles, was the only swatter from either dugout to reach plural hit totals.
Delcourt (L) and D. King
Evans (W), Chapman (6) and Richardson
(June 15) For the umpteenth time this season, the Young Conservatives triumphed over their political baseball rivals, the Young Liberals, at Athletic Park. This time, the Tories edged the Libs 5 to 4 in a contest which the Grits appeared destined to capture. Losing chucker Nick Craig had the Cons eating out of his hand for five innings, limiting them to just one safety but, in the sixth, he weakened and the Tories chased across five markers for their only tallies of the evening. Out hit by an 8 to 3 margin, the winners took advantage of three walks, a hit batter, two errors and a bases-loaded triple by Abe Cross in their sixth-canto splurge. Hec Cann, Charlie Miron and Haley Jackson each singled twice for the Liberals.
Brand (W) and Goodall
Craig (L) and Smith
(June 17) Camille “Lefty” Delcourt pitched superbly in relief as Collingwood notched a last-inning 4 to 3 win over the first-place Elks at Athletic Park. Eric King’s single, his second RBI swat of the contest, drove in catcher Johnny Daniels with the winning counter for the Collies while Delcourt was holding the Antlered Tribe scoreless down the stretch. Delcourt also ripped a brace of doubles, scoring once and driving in another tally.
Chapman, Holden (L) (4) and Whyte
Traeger, Delcourt (W) (3) and Daniels
(June 20) The Young Conservatives went to the head of the Senior City circuit as a result of the 9 to 5 trimming the Elks absorbed at the hands of the Young Liberals. Base hits acquired were even, eight for each team, and both winning flinger “Lefty” Kaye and loser Larry Holden fanned five opposing batters but the Grits were almost airtight in the field while a quartette of miscues were chalked up by the Wapiti Tribe. Two-hit totals were registered by Jimmy Watters and Bill Tuson of the Antlered nine as well as “Rap” Solloway of the Politicians.
Holden (L) and Whyte
Kaye (W) and Bacon
(June 22) Playing the brand of ball that carried them to the Senior City League championship the last couple of years, the Young Liberals continued to rebound from a horrendous start of the campaign by bouncing Collingwood 7 to 4. A three-run inside-the-park home run by Hec Cann in the fifth chapter boosted the Libs into a 5 to 4 lead after trailing for most of the game. Nick Craig pitched superbly in a relief role for the victors, surrendering two hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings. The Politicians punched out ten safeties to six for the Collies. Charlie Miron and Haley Jackson of the Grits as well as Collingwood’s Eric King, Stew Lindsay and Baden Esplen, all had a brace of base knocks.
Simons, Craig (W) (2) and Smith
Delcourt (L) and Daniels
Standings W L Pct.
Young Conservatives 10 7 .588
Elks 9 7 .563
Collingwood 7 9 .438
Young Liberals 7 10 .412
(June 23) In one of the hardest-fought games of the season, Collingwood moved to within one game of the second-place Elks by scoring a 4 to 2 win over the Antlered Herd at Athletic Park. A three-run sixth inning won it for the Collies. Four hits, two of them three-baggers from the bats of winning pitcher Eric King and his batterymate, catcher Johnny Daniels, plus Baden Esplen’s sacrifice fly accounted for the outburst. For the remainder of the contest, the Elks were unable to do anything with the offerings of King who finished with a six-hitter and seven strikeouts. King wound up with two of his team’s nine safeties as did his teammate, second sacker Charlie Stevenson.
Chapman (L) and Whyte
E. King (W) and D. King, Daniels
(June 24) The Elks blew an opportunity to get back on even terms with the Young Conservatives for top-spot in the loop when they bowed to the Tories 6 to 2 at Athletic Park. Unable to hit in the clutch off the superb four-hit pitching of Cecil Kimberley, the Antlered Herd stranded six base runners. The Politicians blew the game open with a five-run uprising in the sixth panel. Bobby Mills and Art Morse shared hitting honours for the winners, each stinging the pill for two safeties.
Kimberley (W) and Goodall
Holden (L) and Whyte
(June 25) Looking better than their statesmanlike prototypes on Parliament Hill, the Young Liberals continued to surge and moved into a third-place tie with Collingwood in the standings by drubbing the Collies 7 to 3 at Athletic Park. A two-run single by outfielder “Rap” Solloway in the third inning broke a 1 – 1 tie and put the Grits in front to stay. Winning pitcher Nick Craig followed Solloway’s safety with a two-run homer to further stretch the lead. Hec Cann and “Googy” Smith of the victors as well as Collies’ first baseman Jimmy Condon all stroked a brace of base swats for their respective nines.
Delcourt (L), Lindsay (3) and D. King
Craig (W) and Smith
(June 28) In an affair that was replete with errors, mediocre pitching and slow play, the Elks took a 12 to 9 decision from the Young Conservatives. Despite scoring nine times, the Tories were only able to pick up four base hits, all singles. Outfielder Duff of the Antlered Tribe led all willow wielders, acquiring three singles. Playing-manager Syd Whyte followed with a triple and one-bagger.
Chapman (W), Evans (2) and Whyte
Brand (L) and Goodall
(June 28) Out hitting the Young Liberals of the Vancouver Senior City League by a substantial 15 to 8 margin, the Britannia Beach team of the Howe Sound circuit trounced the Libs 8 to 3 in an exhibition tilt played on the home diamond of the Howe Sounders. Winning flinger G. Hammond walked six, struck out an equal number and was aided by a pair of double plays. Second baseman Hull and first sacker D. Hammond both stroked a trio of singles for the Beachmen.
Kaye (L), Larson (4) and Smith
G. Hammond (W) and McKenzie
(June 29) With his mates booting the ball on seven occasions, pitcher Doug Muscutt of the Fraser Mills nine could have sued for non-support in an exhibition game in which his New Westminster & District sidekicks dropped a 7 to 6 decision to the Young Conservatives of the Vancouver Senior City circuit. Both teams reeled off eight base blows but a disastrous sixth inning, in which the Millmen committed five miscues, was the difference in the game. Art Morse led the Tories offensively with a double and two singles. Al Scott singled twice for the Lumber Towners.
Muscutt (L) and Walby
Kimberley, Thompson (W) (6) and Goodall
(June 30) The Young Liberals continued their recent mastery over the Collingwood nine by edging the Collies 7 to 6 at Athletic Park. To second baseman Hec Cann goes a large part of the credit for the Grit win. His fielding was flawless while his single in the sixth stanza, his only safety of the game, drove in both the tying and winning markers. The Collies out swatted the Libs by a 13 to 9 count but didn’t deliver as many clutch bingles. Charlie Miron led the Politicians at the platter, slamming a double and a brace of one-baggers. Teammate “Rap” Solloway followed with three singles. Charlie Stevenson, Doug King, Stew Lindsay, Jimmy Condon and Bob Lundie each bagged a couple of safe ones for the vanquished nine.
E. King (L) and D. King
Kaye, Craig (W) (3) and Bacon
Standings W L Pct.
Young Conservatives 11 8 .579
Elks 10 9 .526
Young Liberals 9 10 .474
Collingwood 8 11 .421
(July 2) In one of the sweetest finishes of the season at Athletic Park, the floundering Collingwood gang of baseballers finally shook out of their slump by scoring three times in their final turn at bat to nose out the Elks 7 to 6 in walkoff fashion. The Antlered Herd held the lead throughout the contest after plating a trio of counters in the opening round. Sporting a two-run lead as the Collies started their last time at bat, the Elks’ cushion appeared safe until Charlie Stevenson began things with a single. Johnny Nestman then drew a walk and Stevenson scored on Jimmy Condon’s sharp single which landed Nestman at the hot corner. Fly chaser Robertson then smashed his second two-bagger of the game, sending Condon over with the tying run. Stew Lindsay then ended matters by slugging a double which allowed Robertson to breeze on homeward. Lindsay also had a single to finish with two base swats. Condon and winning pitcher Baden Esplen both stroked two singles as did outfielder Duff of the Wapiti nine.
Holden (L) and Whyte
Traeger, Esplen (W) (1) and McLean
(July 3) Outfielder Cy “Rumpy” Seymour’s bases-loaded triple in the 14th inning drove in the winner and a pair of insurance counters as the Young Liberals copped the opening game of a twin-bill 7 to 3 over the Young Conservatives at Athletic Park. In the other game, the Elks beat out Collingwood 7 to 4. Seymour eventually scored the seventh tally for his club later in the lengthy game on Tat Larson’s infield out. The Tories out swatted their political rivals 11 to 9 as Grit right-hander Nick Craig outlasted “Lefty” Moffatt. Rival hot corner custodians, Bruce Mitchell of the Libs and Art Morse of the Right Wingers carried the offensive torch for their respective nines, each punching out three base knocks.
Craig (W) and Bacon
Moffatt (L) and Ferguson
Collingwood started out like gangbusters in the late contest, plating a trio of tallies in the top of the initial canto. They began to wilt defensively, however, and before the fracas had ended, they booted the ball six times and fell out of contention. Keystone sacker Campbell picked up a double and two one-baggers for the Antlered Tribe. He also shone afield, accepting eight chances without a bobble. Third baseman Stew Lindsay punched out a two-bagger and single for the Collies.
Esplen (L) and McLean
Chapman (W), Evans (5) and Whyte
(July 5) A fatal three-base error by Collingwood fly chaser Eric King in the sixth panel opened the door for the Young Conservatives to plate a deuce of unearned counters, enough ammunition for the Tories to emerge with a 2 to 0 triumph. Following the muffed fly ball which saw benefactor Art Morse wind up at the hot corner, Norm Goodall tattooed the apple for his third one-bagger of the contest, driving home Morse. Goodall eventually swiped the keystone sack and plated a second counter on Abe Cross’ one-bagger. Both chuckers, winner Cecil Kimberley of the Cons and Collies’ hard-luck loser “Lefty” Dillon were sharp, both being touched for just four safeties.
Kimberley (W) and Ferguson
Dillon (L) and D. King
(July 6) Fresh from a series of six games in Winnipeg, the barnstorming Oslers of Toronto took the field at Athletic Park and turned back the Vancouver Young Liberals 11 to 3. The game was much better than the score indicated, featuring sharp hitting and generally brilliant fielding. The Liberals were by no means disgraced in spite of the one-sided score. They touched up the famous Joe Spring for 15 safeties. Nick Craig led the Libs with the hickory, nicking Spring for three safeties. Toronto’s Billy McIlroy, filling in at shortstop for regular Joe Breen, was the hitting star of the game, gleaning four hits off a trio of Grit hurlers.
Spring (W) and Hoose
Simons (L), Kaye (5), Puder (8) and Bacon
(July 7) After running up a cricket score of 20 to 2 against an All-Star aggregation from the Vancouver Senior City circuit in an afternoon exhibition tilt, the touring Toronto Oslers came right back to knock off the league-leading Young Conservatives in come-from-behind fashion 8 to 6 in an evening exhibition encounter. The Easterners broke open the matinee tilt with a six-run outburst in their opening turn at bat and then, for good measure, added another seven-spot in the second stanza. Outfielder Tom Burt nailed a three-run circuit-clout for the Hog Towners in their first-inning barrage. Coley Hall was the leading sticker for the Stars, swatting a triple and single off winning flinger Billy Greer.
Greer (W) and xxx
Simons (L), Kimberley (1) and xxx
With his team in arrears by a pair, diminutive southpaw chucker Herbie Morris of the Torontonians came to the rescue of starter Charlie McCay in the fourth panel of the second fracas and tossed shutout ball for the remainder of the skirmish while his mates got to loser Bill Brand for a deuce in the fifth and singletons in the sixth and ninth to pull out the victory. Fly chaser Butler stroked two doubles for the Tories.
McCay, Morris (W) (4) and Hoose
Brand (L) and Ferguson
(July 9) Larry Holden, toeing the rubber for the Senior City All-Stars, twirled his mates to a 6 to 5 triumph over the hefty-hitting Oslers of Toronto in exhibition action at Athletic Park. Holden set the Oslers down on eight hits and did some very effective hitting himself, stroking two doubles, the second of which drove in the tying and winning runs. Charlie Miron, Arne Miller and “Rap” Solloway also picked up a pair of safeties for the Vancouverites. Catcher Clare Hoose of the Oslers was the game’s top swatter, drilling three singles. Home runs were garnered by All-Stars’ outfielder “Rumpy” Seymour, a two-run shot, and Toronto clean-up hitter, Tom Burt, a solo blast.
Spring (L), Morris (4) and Hoose
Holden (W) and Whyte
(July 10) In what was unquestionably the fastest and most closely contested game of the series, the Toronto Oslers and Young Conservatives battled to a 4 – 4 tie at Athletic Park, the game being called after nine frames to allow the Easterners to catch a train for home. Both teams fielded brilliantly but fly chaser Coleman Hall of the Tories earned special mention with three scintillating outer garden grabs. The Politicians out hit the Hog Towners 9 to 7 and showed a balanced batting attack. Left-hander Dave Scott of the Vancouverites held the powerful Hogtown hitters in check most of the way. Abe Cross of the Cons and Toronto’s Cecil “Teedle” Walker led their nines offensively with a brace of swats each.
Burt and Hoose, Walker
Scott and Whyte
(July 12) The vastly improved Young Liberals continued their upward climb at Athletic Park by setting back the Elks 7 to 2, thereby forcing the Brother Bills out of second place in the loop. The wheels came off for the Elks after holding their own for the first three innings and the Grits piled it on, taking advantage of every Wapiti mistake. Nick Craig twirled for the Libs, struck out eight and allowed only five safeties, two of which came off the bat of shortstop Ross Bullard. Losing chucker Dave Scott was lit up for eleven Grit bingles. Charlie Miron and Tat Larson swung the meanest bats, both piling up a trio of safe swats.
Craig (W) and Bacon
Scott (L) and Whyte, Richardson (5)
(July 13) The touring Northern Pacifics of St. Paul MN claimed the Collingwood aggregation of the Senior City circuit as their first victim of the team’s exhibition series in Vancouver, downing their hosts 3 to 1. Abe Stemig, hurler for the Railroaders, got the nod over Baden “Babe” Esplen of the Collies in a grueling pitching battle. Stemig allowed five hits and struck out nine. Esplen yielded eight hits and whiffed ten. Leadoff batter Seller, first baseman for the Minnesotans, cranked out a solo home run to go along with a single.
A. Stemig (W) and Oettle
Esplen (L) and McLean
(July 14) The St. Paul MN Northern Pacific diamondeers cleaned up on Vancouver opposition, taking the opening game of a doubleheader from an all-star squad representing the Senior City League 10 to 4 and then hammering the Elks 9 to 3 in the finale. There was plenty of hitting in each contest but the visitors had the lion’s share of the offense. Cy “Rumpy” Seymour’s tremendous four-ply crash over the leftfield fence in the afternoon, which was the longest hit recorded at Athletic Park since the pros left town a few years back, was the highlight of the day for the local fans.
Gardell (W) and Stepnick
Holden (L), E. King (4) and Hall, Clark
The Invaders played errorless ball against the Antlered Herd in the late contest, having only one miscue during the 18 rounds of pastiming.
Ristine (W) and Oettle
Puder (L), Thompson (7) and Richardson, Watters
(July 16) The Senior City race tightened up even more after the last-place Collingwood nine knocked off the top-dog Young Conservatives 5 to 1 at Athletic Park. A mere 2 1/2 games now separates the first-place and basement dwellers in the highly-contested loop. Winning flinger Camille “Lefty” Delcourt and losing moundsman Cecil Kimberley were both nicked for six safeties but the veteran Collie southpaw did a better job of scattering his mistakes and, for good measure, punched out an even dozen Tory batters. Charlie Stevenson ripped two doubles and a single for the winners while Abe Cross of the Politicians laced a triad of one-baggers.
Delcourt (W) and Daniels
Kimberley (L) and Goodall
Standings W L Pct.
Young Conservatives 12 10 .545
Young Liberals 11 10 .524
Elks 11 11 .500
Collingwood 10 13 .435
(July 21) The Young Liberals continued their steady improvement, after starting the season in a funk, by polishing off the Young Conservatives 5 to 2. The Grits showed superior work with the willow, bunching most of their ten hits off loser “Lefty” Moffatt in the early rounds wherein they took control of the game. Nick Craig hurled a crisp seven-hitter to grab the mound decision. Charlie Miron, “Hap” Solloway and Craig of the victors as well as the Tories’ Arne Miller each pounded the orb for a brace of bingles.
Moffatt (L) and Goodall
Craig (W) and Bacon
(July 21) The Young Conservatives took another kick in the slats when the Elks shoved them into third place by taking a well-played game 3 to 1. Larry Holden, young moundsman for the Antlered Herd, was chiefly responsible for the downfall of the Politicians. He allowed only three hits, including a triple by Doug May. Losing chucker Lorne Thompson was also effective, being nicked for just five safeties. Outer pasture fly chaser Duff led the offensive drive of the victors, slamming a double and single.
Holden (W) and Whyte
Thompson (L) and Goodall
(July 23) Overcoming an early 2 to 0 deficit, the Young Liberals plated singletons in the fifth and sixth frames to tie 2 – 2 with the Collingwood contingent before plate umpire Boyd Stagg decided it was too dark to continue hostilities any longer. Both teams rang up five safeties in the evenly-matched contest and not one player from either club registered plural hit totals. The Collies went ahead in the initial canto on a timely wallop by Jimmy Condon and added a second marker in the next frame when Stew Lindsay trotted home on a passed ball after tripling. Run-scoring singles by Tat Larson in the fifth and Charlie Miron in the sixth supplied the Grits with the tying counters.
Esplen and McLean
Larson and Smith
(July 24) Collingwood kept in the battle for a playoff berth by disposing of the Elks 9 to 7 in the first half of a double-dip at Athletic Park. The rampaging Young Liberals avoided defeat for the eighth straight time when they increased their lead atop the Senior City circuit with a 5 to 3 verdict over the Young Conservatives in the wrap-up contest of the day. The opener, in which the Collies managed to overcome an early lead by the Brother Bills, turned out to be a comedy of errors and was uninteresting, especially in comparison with the on-field product shown in the second tussle. Collingwood batters Eric King, outfielder Robertson and Baden Esplen all fattened their batting averages with three-hit performances.
Evans (L) and xxx
Delcourt (W) and xxx
The Tories bagged a pair of runs in the initial canto of the finale on a two-run smashing single through the box by Coleman Hall. Arne Miller’s safe blow to the middle garden drove in a third counter in the next frame but, after that, winning pitcher Nick Craig slammed the door and the Grits began to mount a comeback. In the fifth, the fireworks started. A two-run double off the bat of Hec Cann followed by successive two-baggers by Charlie Miron and “Rap” Solloway, both of which drove in a counter, gave the Libs a one-run lead. For good measure the Liberals slipped another tally over in the sixth after Jack Bacon singled, went to third base on Craig’s solid blow to the outer pasture and touched home after Cy “Rumpy” Seymour’s towering sacrifice fly.
Craig (W) and Bacon
Moffatt (L) and Goodall
Standings W L Pct.
Young Liberals 13 10 .565
Elks 12 12 .500
Young Conservatives 12 13 .480
Collingwood 11 13 .458
(July 26) The Young Liberals, tail-enders for a good portion of the early campaign, clinched first-place in the standings and a bye in the playoffs when they squeezed past the Elks 4 to 3 at Athletic Park. The Politicians deserved their narrow victory, hitting in clutch situations and fielding like the champions they have been the past two seasons. Both pitchers of record surrendered six hits in going the route. Winner “Lefty” Kaye recorded ten strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Larry Holden of the Elks was also in good form, whiffing four and issuing one base on balls. Outfielder Duff of the Antlered Tribe manufactured two singles and was the only swatter on either team to record more than one hit.
Kaye (W) and Smith
Holden (L) and Whyte
(July 27) The dogfight for second and third place in the Senior City Baseball League continued at Athletic Park and, when the dust had settled, only a half game separated the bottom three clubs in the circuit. In the latest chapter of this free-for-all, the desperate Collingwood nine, who were floundering badly a short time ago, showed a lot of their old-time fight by licking the Young Conservatives 3 to 2 in a highly exciting conflict which shoved the Tories into last place. The joust was replete with smart fielding and clever pitching. Baden “Babe” Esplen out pitched the cunning Bill Brand in artistic style when he fanned nine and held the Tories to three hits, two of which were garnered by catcher Norm Goodall. Brand was nicked for nine hits, three of them being doubles. The Cons struck first, plating their pair of counters in the opening stanza. Sharp hitting by Stew Lindsay, outfielder Robertson, Bob Lundie and Cy McLean produced a three-spot for the Collies in the second panel. After that, only goose eggs adorned the scoreboard. McLean had two of his team’s base raps as did Johnny Nestman and Jimmy Condon.
Esplen (W) and McLean
Brand (L) and Goodall
(July 28) Turning in their first win in six starts, the Young Conservatives got back into the running for the Senior City League playoffs when they beat the Elks 2 to 1 in a quick-paced game at Athletic Park. The win boosted the Tories out of the cellar and into a .001 percentage point lead over Collingwood for second place in the standings. Both teams racked up six base hits with second baseman Campbell of the Wapiti Herd claiming two base swats, the only player in the game to do so. The Cons picked up both of their runs in the fourth frame when Abe Cross tripled and Coley Hall followed with a home run. The Antlered Tribe had a brief last round rally which netted them their lone tally when Bill Tuson and Harry Richardson hit safely but winning chucker “Lefty” Moffatt tightened up to retire the side before any more damage was done.
Holden (L) and Whyte
Moffatt (W) and Goodall
Standings W L Pct.
Young Liberals 14 10 .583
Young Conservatives 13 14 .481
Collingwood 12 13 .480
Elks 12 14 .462
(July 30) The race for the final pair of playoff spots in the senior City League is more open than ever after Collingwood went out and trimmed the Young Liberals 6 to 3 in another torrid tussle at Athletic Park. The Collies now hold a half-game lead over both the Young Conservatives and Elks in the sprint for the last two berths. Veteran Camille “Lefty” Delcourt was touched up for nine safe blows but struck out ten of the league-leaders in pitching the Collies to victory. A four run, first-inning outburst against loser Hal Puder set the wheels in motion for the winners.
Delcourt (W) and xxx
Puder (L) and xxx
(July 31) After dropping the first game of a three-team doubleheader 9 to 3 to the Elks, the Young Liberals defeated Collingwood 6 to 1 in the final game of the Senior City League schedule. The results created a three-way tie for second spot, the triad of runners-up falling two games behind the pennant-winning Grits. The Libs started off like gangbusters in the opener, lighting up eventual winning pitcher Larry Holden for three runs in the first inning. After that initial outburst, however, their bats were silenced by Holden and only horse collars appeared on the scoreboard. The Antlered Herd came right back in their half of the frame to cop a pair of counters leading to the demise of starter “Lefty” Kaye. In the fifth, the Brother Bills took control of the game, crashing out four singles which led to a quartette of runs off loser Hal Puder. Three more hits in the sixth translated into a further trio of tallies. Jimmy Watters and keystone sacker Campbell of the Wapiti both checked in with a double and single.
Kaye, Puder (L) (2), Simons (6) and Smith
Holden (W) and Whyte
The Collies were first to score in the second game, putting over a run in the third panel, their only counter of the contest. The Libs responded with a pair in their half, added one in each of the fourth and fifth and, for good measure, batted in a brace in the sixth. Overall, the Liberals had an 8 to 6 edge in base hits over Collingwood. The feature of the game was a mammoth four-ply clout over the leftfield fence by the Grits’ Cy “Rumpy” Seymour. Seymour and fellow Lib fly chaser Alex Simons were the only two swatters in the match to accrue a brace of base raps. Three snappy double plays were pulled off during the fracas.
Traeger (L) and McLean
Craig (W) and Bacon
Final Standings W L Pct.
Young Liberals 15 12 .556
Collingwood 13 14 .481
Young Conservatives 13 14 .481
Elks 13 14 .481
A somewhat complicated three-team semi-final playoff format was adopted with the winner to meet the first-place Young Liberals in a best-of-five final series.
1926 Vancouver Senior City Baseball league playoffs
THREE-TEAM SEMI-FINALS
(August 2) A 3 – 3 tie between the Elks and Collingwood settled nothing as semi-finals, involving three teams, began at Athletic Park. Darkness prevented playing on and declaring a winner. The Brother Bills were fortunate to survive as Collingwood chucker Baden Esplen stymied them on just two hits but was given poor defensive support in the pinches. “Babe” had nine strikeouts to his credit and deserved a better fate. Charlie Evans, tossing for the Antlered Herd, drove in two of his team’s three counters. Les Traeger had two of the eight hits gleaned off Evans by the Collies.
Evans and Whyte
Esplen and Daniels
(August 3) Collingwood defaulted 9 to 0 to the Elks in their scheduled playoff game at Athletic Park, failing to have a sufficient number of registered players ready to take the field at the starting time. With their inability to field a full team for the starting time of a semi-final game two nights in succession, the Collies were voted out of the playoffs by the other three clubs and a two-out-of-three showdown between the Elks and Young Conservatives was instead implemented.
(August 4) The Elks and Young Conservatives battled to a 2 – 2 draw in eight innings of playoff action at Athletic Park. The Wapiti nine held the upper hand in base hits, doubling the total earned by the Tories, 8 to 4, but costly miscues afield negated their offensive advantage. Art Morse of the Politicians and the Elks’ Bill Tuson were the best stickers of the evening, each stroking three base knocks.
Holden and Whyte
Brand and Goodall
(August 5) The Young Conservatives got the drop on the Elks in their two-out-of-three showdown when, overcoming an early four-run deficit, they responded by overhauling the Antlered Tribe 8 to 5. A four-spot in the seventh frame broke a 4 – 4 tie and sent the Tories in the lead for good. Both chuckers, winning flinger “Lefty” Moffatt and Charlie Evans of the Brother Bills, were hit freely but the support afforded Evans by his mates was much more wobbly. Coley Hall of the winners and Jimmy Watters of the vanquished nine both ripped doubles as well as registering two singles.
Moffatt (W) and Goodall
Evans (L) and Whyte.
(August 6) Showing a sharp reversal of form defensively, the Elks played flawlessly afield and evened their series with the Young Conservatives by edging the Tories 5 to 4 at Athletic Park. Winning pitcher Larry Holden held the Cons to two runs and three hits in the six innings he toiled on the rubber. Both teams wound up with six bingles with Arne Miller of the Politicians the only player to acquire more than one safety, knocking out a four-ply dinger as well as a single. His teammate, Roy Goodall, also cranked out a tater in the initial canto which shot the Tories into a very temporary lead. Outfielder Sonny Levin’s seventh-inning single drove in the ultimate winning marker for the Antlered Tribe.
Holden (W), Chapman (7) and Whyte
Thompson (L) and Goodall
(August 8) The Elks survived a late thrust by the Young Conservatives and hung on for a 7 to 5 victory to advance to the league finals against the Young Liberals. The Wapiti Herd built up a 6 to 1 lead after two innings were in the books and never lost the lead although the Politicians came on strong like gangbusters late in the contest and had the sacks full in the ninth when outfielder Sonny Levin ended the threat with a nifty running catch of Jack Andrews’ dangerous soft liner off one of winning pitcher Charlie Evans’ tantalizing slow curves. Norm Goodall of the Cons led all swatters with a triad of base raps. For the winning nine, Jimmy Watters, outfielder Duff, Ross Bullard, Bill Tuson and Syd Whyte all clipped the orb for a brace of base knocks.
Brand (L), Thompson (1) and Goodall
Evans (W) and Whyte
FINALS Elks vs Young Liberals (best-of-five series)
(August 8) Immediately after their nerve-racking semi-final win, the Elks took the field to battle the Young Liberals in the opener of the circuit’s final series. Without another starting pitcher ready to go, Charlie Evans had but a ten-minute rest before re-assuming hurling duties for the Elks. He lasted into the eighth frame but by then it was all over but the shouting as the Grits stung the Brother Bills with an 11 to 3 defeat. Nick Craig worked on the hillock for the Libs and allowed only five bingles. The winners racked up 15 safeties as Charlie Miron, “Rap” Sallaway and Louie Tisman each gathered in three.
Evans (L), Richardson (8) and Whyte
Craig (W) and Bacon
(August 9) Playing their eighth game in nine days, the Elks were easy pickings for the Young Liberals in game two of the Senior City League finals, the Grits prevailing by an 11 to 1 margin. The Politicians stung the apple on the nose all evening, finishing with 14 base blows. Liberal playing-manager Hec Cann pounced on an Elk pitching tandem for four safeties while outfielder Nick Craig delivered three bingles. Charlie Miron smashed a two-run four-bagger. Winning pitcher George “Lefty” Kaye was touched up for just four Elk singles.
Kaye (W) and Bacon
Holden (L), Chapman (6) and Whyte
(August 10) Landing on Charlie Evans at will, the Young Liberals retained the Senior City League championship at Athletic Park by defeating the Elks 8 to 0 after 5 1/2 innings of play. It was the third straight triumph for the Libs in the series and there was never any doubt as to the outcome. The Grits scored three runs on two hits in the opening frame, four runs on as many hits in the second, and one in the fourth. Umpire Boyd Stagg called the game in the sixth. Hal Puder went the route for the Politicians and was in tiptop shape. He was nicked for only one clean, and two scratch, singles. Third baseman Tat Larson had a double and two singles for the winners.
Evans (L), Paepke (4) and Richardson
Puder (W) and Smith
The Young Liberals advanced to carry the banner as City Senior Baseball League champions in the quest to become 1926 senior A titleholders and will hook up with the Asahis, Vancouver Terminal League titlists, in the initial round of the B. C. playdowns.
VANCOUVER TERMINAL LEAGUE
A fifty percent turnover in team composition occurred to start the 1926 Terminal Baseball League season. Both the defending champion Mount Pleasant Gardens nine and the perpetual fan-favorite Asahis returned for action. With the departure of the Carleton Centre and Harry Duker’s franchises, league alignment was restored to four participants with the admittance of the Ex-King George team, over from the Senior B Goulding League, and a squad representing Hanbury’s, a graduate group from the Vancouver Senior B City circuit.
FIRST-HALF
(April 24) Scoring four runs in the first inning, the Mount Pleasant nine breezed to a 14 to 4 cakewalk over the newly-initiated Ex-King George team in the Terminal League opener at the Powell Street grounds. Ferd Inch held the Former Students to six hits in grabbing the pitching decision. Playing-manager Harry Wilson of the Pleasants had a huge evening at the dish, slamming a pair of round-trippers to go along with a brace of doubles.
Dobbin (L), Choate (6) and xxx
Inch (W) and xxx
(April 26) Running wild on the bases, the Asahis manufactured ten counters out of four bingles and five walks in outsmarting the Hanbury’s nine 10 to 4 at the Powell Street grounds. Decked out in brand new uniforms, the Nippons swiped a grand total of nine bases and used the sacrifice bunt to perfection. The Millmen had a slight 5 to 4 advantage in base hits but were lax defensively and couldn’t cope with the smart base running of the Japanese baseballers. Utility player Pinchback of the Sawmillers led all swatters with a double and two one-baggers. Teammate Herbert belted a triple and single while shortstop Roy Yamamura led the Asahi offensive attack with two singles and four stolen bases.
Nishidera (W) and R. Yasui
May (L) and Black
(April 28) Ex-King George balltossers fared better defensively and in producing timely hits when they tangled with Hanbury’s in their first-ever Terminal League set-to. When the darkness-shortened, six–inning event was over, the Ex-Kings rode away on top by a 5 to 1 margin. Percy Choate set the Millmen down on four hits, only two of them being bunched, to account for the tally surrendered. The Former Students had just five safeties, two by fly chaser Armstrong, and were able to cash in their opportunities in with the aid of some wobbly support afield by the Sawmillers.
Delbridge (L) and Pinchback
Choate (W) and Henderson
(April 29) Mount Pleasant Gardens and the Asahis played to a 6 – 6 draw before a large crowd at the Powell Street grounds. The Pleasants plated all their counters in the top of the first frame and held on while the Nippons stormed back. The game ended prematurely after six cantos with darkness enveloping the skies. Junji “George” Ito and Roy Yamamura both whacked the horsehide for three hits in leading the Asahi ten-hit offense. Pat Worley and second sacker Harry Wilson picked up two safeties apiece for the Gardens Gang.
Inch, Lowry (5) and Ferguson
Suga, Kato (1) and Horii
(May 5) Second baseman Frank Nakamura’s last-inning sizzling grounder down the right field foul line, which was good for two bases, broke up a most interesting pitching joust and gave the Asahis a 3 to 2 verdict over the defending Terminal League champion Mount Pleasant pastimers. At the time of Nakamura’s timely blow, the Hillmen were leading by one run, two had been retired and two runners were aboard. Winning flinger Roy Nishidera was nicked for only two bingles, both one-baggers, while the Nippons collected five safeties from the offerings of Lorne Lowry.
Nishidera (W) and Horii
Lowry (L) and Ferguson
(May 10) Although out hit by a 9 to 6 margin, the Mount Pleasant nine amassed three runs in each of the first and fifth innings to roll over the Ex-King George contingent 7 to 5 in Terminal League play at the Powell Street grounds. The game’s leading swatsmith was outfielder Glen Hope of the Former Students who picked up a pair of two-baggers and a single. Third baseman Andrew Tolmie doubled and singled for the Pleasants, an offensive output replicated by first baseman Leek of the Ex-Kings.
Lowry (W) and Ferguson
Choate (L) and Henderson
(May 11) The Asahis had a field day at the Powell Street grounds in Terminal League action when they ran the Hanbury’s brigade ragged on the bases, doubling ten hits into a 20 to 3 pasting of the Lumbermen. Eight runs in the first round, after leadoff hitter Herbert of the Millmen had staked his team to a 1 to 0 lead on a solo homer, gave the Nippons plenty of cushion for the remainder of the game. Catcher Reg Yasui poled out three singles for the winners along with stealing three bases. Shortstop Roy Yamamura followed with a brace of safeties and a triad of thefts. In total, the Asahis swiped 13 sacks.
Delbridge (L), McKenzie (1). May (2) and Pinchback, Black
Furumoto (W), Suga (4) and Yasui
(May 12) Spectacular defensive play gave the Asahis a 4 to 3 victory over the Ex-King George baseballers in a Terminal League skirmish at the Powell Street diamond. The Ex-Kings out batted the Nippons in nearly every round as they pumped out four doubles, one triple and four singles while the Japanese nine collected just three scattered safeties off the bafflers of Alex “Scotty” Dobbins. The opportunistic Asahis made the best of their few chances. They scored twice on errors, picked up third counter on a balk and topped things off with a last-inning squeeze play which sent in the winning run. Third baseman Menzies and Dobbins both registered two hits for the Former Students with a two-bagger included in Menzies’ total.
Kato (W), Nishidera (7) and Horii
Dobbins (L) and Henderson
Standings W L T Pct.
Asahis 4 0 1 1.000
Mount Pleasant 2 1 1 .667
Ex-King George 1 3 0 .250
Hanbury’s 0 3 0 .000
(May 18) The Ex-King George pastimers walloped the apple for three counters in the initial panel and added seven more in their second turn at bat in cruising to a one-sided 11 to 2 conquest of Hanbury’s at the Powell Street grounds. Winning flinger Menzies spun a five-hitter and rang up an equal number of strikeouts. Outfielder Glen Hope and catcher Henderson had two safeties each for the Former Students while shortstop Earl McIntyre connected for his second home run of the season.
Delbridge (L), McKenzie (2) and Pinchback
Menzies (W) and Henderson
(May 19) For four innings, the doormat Hanbury’s squad looked as if they were going to give the league-leading Asahis a real battle in their Terminal League fixture at the Powell Street grounds but they faded badly in the latter stages of the game and the Nippons ran off with an easy 11 to 3 verdict. First baseman Charles Tanaka ripped three singles for the winners while sidekick Eddie Kitagawa was credited with a home run. Outer pasture guardian Pickering nailed a round-tripper and single for the Millmen.
Suga, Kato (W) (3) and Yasui
May (L) and Pinchback
(May 25) The Asahis remained unbeaten in Terminal League action after polishing off the Ex-King George nine 6 to 1 at the Powell Street grounds. The Nippons had a balanced nine-hit attack with every player but Roy Yamamura acquiring at least one hit. Keystone sacker Frank Nakamura singled twice. Catcher Bill Henderson had three of the six hits garnered by the Former Students.
Dobbins (L) and Henderson
Nishidera (W) and Horii
Standings W L T Pct.
Asahis 6 0 1 1.000
Mount Pleasant 2 1 1 .667
Ex-King George 2 4 0 .333
Hanbury’s 0 5 0 .000
(May 27) Playing-manager Harry Wilson shook up his batting order at the Powell Street grounds and it paid dividends as the defending-champion Mount Pleasant baseballers handed the Asahis their first defeat of the campaign, a 4 to 2 clipping. A final-frame double by outfielder George Couvelier drove in the deciding marker while winning pitcher Bill Cadenhead’s single added an insurance marker. Wilson had three base blows for the victors as did third sacker Junji “George” Ito of the Nippons.
Cadenhead (W) and Ferguson
Kato (L), Nishidera (8) and Horii
(May 31) A constant rain failed to put a stop to the Terminal League contest at the Powell Street ballyard in which the Hanbury’s nine copped their initial triumph of the campaign, a 12 to 11 verdict over the Ex-King George pastimers in what could best be described as an old-time batting bee. The Millmen swatted the slippery horsehide for 14 safe bingles, many of them bunched in their final turn at bat when the scored six juicy markers to pull out in front. Fly chaser Pickering poled a solo homer for the victors in the third panel.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 3) The smooth-working Asahis continued to sit pretty atop the Terminal Baseball League as a result of a well-merited 6 to 0 victory over Mount Pleasant at the Powell Street diamond. The Pleasants garnered only three hits off the slants of winning tosser Roy Nishidera who picked up nine strikeouts along the way. The defensive tactics of the Japanese proved to be a masterpiece and their squeeze-bunting skills were a sight to behold for the capacity crowd in attendance. Eddie Kitagawa tripled and singled for the Nippons while outfielder Tom Miyata added a brace of one-baggers.
Bennett (L) and Worley
Nishidera (W) and Yasui
(June 1) Mount Pleasant 12 vs Ex-King George 0. No game details or batteries found in print.
(June 2) Manager Harry Miyasaki, skipper of the Asahis, made a rare appearance on the diamond as a playing participant owing to injuries to several of his star players, and proved to still be able to cut the mustard as he singled twice and swiped a pair of bases in igniting his charges to a 4 to 1 conquest of the improved Hanbury’s nine. Ty Suga earned the mound win for the Nippons on a five-hitter while whiffing nine.
May (L) and Pitt
Suga (W) and Yasui
Standings W L Pct.
Asahis 7 1 .875
Mount Pleasant 4 1 .800
Ex-King George 2 6 .250
Hanbury’s 1 6 .143
(June 3) The Asahis defeated Mount Pleasant. No final score, game details or batteries found in newspapers.
(June 7) The Ex-King George band of pastimers ran into their worst beating of the season when the Asahis laid an 18 to 4 pasting on them at the Powell Street grounds. The league-leaders feasted on the offerings of losing flinger Menzies for 15 runs before he was mercifully replaced on the hill by Dobbins. The Nippons ran wild on the bases and stole fifteen sacks. Junji “George” Ito and Eddie Kitagawa stroked three hits apiece for the winners.
Suga (W) and Yasui, Horii
Menzies (L), Dobbins (3) and McIlwaine, Wright
(June 8) Mount Pleasant kept in the fight for first-half honours in the Terminal Baseball League when they thrashed the lowly Hanbury’s squad 14 to 5 at the Powell Street grounds. The Hillmen doubled the hit total of the Sawmillers, acquiring a 14 to 7 margin. Winning pitcher Lorne Lowry picked up four singles in support of his mound effort. Teammate Andy Tolmie registered a triple and a brace of singles while playing-manager Harry Wilson wasn’t far behind with a two-ply swat and a pair of one-baggers. Second baseman Sproule of the Millmen also collected a double and two singles.
Lowry (W) and Ferguson
Delbridge (L), May (5) and Pitt
(June 9) Powerful work with the willow by Andy Tolmie and outstanding fly chasing by George Cuvelier and Pat Worley spearheaded Mount Pleasant to a 6 to 3 win over the tricky Asahis in Terminal League play at the Powell Street ball yard. Tolmie had four safe clouts, one of them a double, and drove in four counters. Sharp fielding in the pinches by the outer pasture guardians stopped several likely rallies by the Nippons, who were hitting the shoots of winning pitcher Len Arthur hard and crisp all through the contest but generally right at a waiting defender.
Arthur (W) and xxx
Nishidera (L) and xxx
(June 10) Fielding flawlessly and hitting in the pinches, the Ex-King George Students rolled off an impressive 7 to 2 victory over the Hanbury’s nine at the Powell Street grounds. The winners gathered eleven bingles off three Hanbury hurlers, including a home run by leadoff hitter Armstrong in the first round. XKG fly chaser Glen Hope did some useful work with the big stick, lacing a double and a pair of one-baggers while catcher Pitt of Hanbury’s drilled a double and single. Winning pitcher Percy Choate was in good form, being nicked for six scattered safeties while whiffing five.
Pickering (L), May (4), McKenzie (6) and Pitt
Choate (W) and Wright
(June 14) The Ex-King George baseballers showed plenty of life at the Powell Street grounds when they knocked off Mount Pleasant 4 to 2. Winning pitcher Alex “Scotty” Dobbins handcuffed the defending Terminal League champions throughout the contest, yielding five safeties to the Pleasants while sending nine of them back to the dugout on third strikes. Third baseman Clare Menzies of the Former Students lit up losing twirler Arne Bennett for a triple and double. New recruit Harvey McIntyre, joining his two brothers on the XKG squad, played an inspiring game at second base and shone defensively.
Bennett (L) and Ferguson
Dobbins (W) and Wright
(June 16) Playing at top form, the Asahis humbled the improved Ex-King George aggregation, downing the Former Students 10 to 1 at the Powell Street diamond. The Nippons gathered 14 base hits, including a four-ply wallop by keystone sacker Satochi “Sally” Nakamura, en route to their artistic conquest. Nakamura was substituting for his brother Hiroshi “Frank” who is in the hospital after being hit in the head in a recent game. As is their trademark, the Asahis ran wild on the bases, accumulating 13 stolen sacks. George Kato breezed to the mound victory with a four-hitter. Alex “Scotty” Dobbins picked up two of the four safeties acquired by the Ex-Collegians. Roy Yamamura and Junji “George” Ito of the victors both smacked the horsehide for a trio of base swats.
Choate (L), Dobbins (5) and Wright
Kato (W) and Horii
(June 17) Ferd Inch, curveball artist of the Mount Pleasant baseball brigade, fanned 12 in pitching his squad to a 9 to 4 victory over Hanbury’s at the Powell Street grounds. Outfielder Miller garnered three hits for the victors, including a four-ply swat. First sacker “Scotty” Lister of the Hillmen blasted a four-bagger to go along with a double while shortstop Jones joined the round-tripper club with a circuit-clout and a single.
Inch (W) and Ferguson
McKenzie (L), Johnston (3), Pickering (5) and Pinchback
(June 21) Although handily out hit by a 12 to 7 margin, the Mount Pleasant baseballers managed to come from behind to snare a 6 to 5 triumph against the Ex-King George diamondeers in Terminal League play. The Former Students started off strong and were ahead 5 to 2 until catcher Pat Worley of the Hillmen evened things up with a three-run homer in the fifth canto. Things stayed deadlocked until the final stanza when Harry Wilson tripled and plated the winner on George Couvelier’s single. Top swatsmith in the contest was initial sacker Chuck Leek of the Kings who ripped three singles.
Menzies (L) and Wright
Lowry (W) and Worley
(June 22) Ex-King George’s much improved baseball machine gave the top-dog Asahis all they could handle before succumbing to the speedy Nippons 4 to 2. The Former Collegians had a narrow 7 to 6 advantage in base hits but outfielder Eddie Kitagawa of the Asahis was the game’s shining light when it came to the hickory as he slammed a home run and triple. The Japanese nine showed their usual good form on the base paths, pilfering four sacks.
Dobbins (L) and Wright
Suga (W) and xxx
(June 23) The Mount Pleasants kept in the hunt for the first-half honours in the Terminal League when they captured a last-frame 7 to 6 victory from the ill-fated Hanbury clan at the Powell Street diamond. There was plenty of hard hitting in the skirmish in which outfielder McKenzie of the Hanbury’s nine shone with two bizarre home runs. George Couvelier of the Hillmen stung the sphere for a double and a brace of singles.
Miller (W) and Worley
Johnston, Leonard (L) (6) and Pinchback
(June 24) Mount Pleasant prevented the Asahis from sewing up the first-half honours in the Terminal League by tripping the Nippons 5 to 4 before a crowd of 3,000. The Hillmen had an uphill battle on their hands after falling behind 4 to 0 early in the contest. Gnawing away at the deficit, the Pleasants finally tied things in the sixth canto and, then, in the seventh, copped the winning tally on Pat Worley’s timely double which sent outfielder Betts over the pan. The hitting of Worley and teammate “Scotty” Lister was responsible for four of the winners’ five runs. George Kato smashed a solo home run in the second frame for the Asahis. Winning pitcher Len Arthur tossed a six-hitter, fanned six and did not allow a runner to reach second base after the second inning.
Kato, Nishidera (L) (3) and Horii
Arthur (W) and Ferguson
(June 28) In a rare errorless joust, Mount Pleasant had little difficulty in disposing of the Hanbury’s nine 10 to 3 and, in doing so, earning the right to meet the Asahis for the first-half championship of the Terminal Baseball League. The Pleasants amassed 13 base blows in their conquest. Outfielders Pat Worley and “Lefty” Betts were top dogs at the plate for the victors with Worley lacing three singles and Betts collecting a double and one-bagger.
May (L) and Pitt
Miller (W), Thacker (5) and Ferguson
(June 30) The Asahis made a statement in overpowering Mount Pleasant 9 to 0 to capture the first-half Terminal League honours. Youthful southpaw Ty Suga tamed the Pleasants on two hits in grabbing the shutout mound win. Nary a runner of the Hillmen made it past first base. A three-run homer by second baseman Satochi “Sally” Nakamura in the fourth frame set the stage for the one-sided Asahi win. Outfielder Tom Matoba later belted a solo four-bagger for the Nippons.
Suga (W) and Horii
Arthur (L), Worley (6) and Ferguson
SECOND-HALF
(July 5) Only four Hanbury batters managed to reach first base against the Asahi pitching tandem of starter Roy Nishidera and reliever Doi, three on singles and one on a base on balls, as the Nipponese nine put away an 11 to 2 victory at the Powell Street grounds. Second baseman Satochi “Sally” Nakamura slammed a three-run homer and single to pace the Asahis at the platter. Eddie Kitagawa and Roy Yamamura of the winners as well as Hanbury third baseman Emeri all punched out a brace of one-baggers. The nimble Nippons were at it again on the base paths, pilfering no less than 13 sacks.
May (L) and Pinchback
Nishidera (W), Doi (6) and Tanaka
(July 6) Three home runs enlivened proceedings at the Powell Street grounds where the Mount Pleasant squad outscored Ex-King George 8 to 6. With the bases loaded in the first frame, Pouche, new Mount Pleasant backstop, smacked a questionable four-ply clout into the right field crowd. Teammate Pat Worley belted another round-tripper for the Pleasants while, in the closing stages of the game, third sacker Sherman of the Former Students lit up winning chucker Len Arthur for a circuit-dinger. Top all-round hitter in the contest was Bruce McIntyre of the Kings who ripped a pair of doubles and a one-bagger.
Arthur (W) and Pouche
Choate (L) and D. McIntyre
(July 7) The Ex-King George band of baseballers appear to be the most improved team in Vancouver senior company this season. Although they lost a tough 5 to 4 decision to the always-competitive Asahis at the Powell Street grounds, the Former Students played high-class ball and gave the Nippons all they could handle. A pop-fly lost in the sun with two out and the sacks full in the fifth round cost the Kings dearly and allowed the Japanese nine to crawl out of a three-run hole to knot the count. One inning later, Asahi outfielder “Mickey” Sato singled, swiped the keystone pillow, moved to the hot corner on an error and plated the winner on a successful squeeze play. Young portsider Ty Suga picked up the knoll victory with a superlative effort on the bump after being summoned in relief in the opening canto. Suga punched out 12 Collegians by strikes while yielding four hits. Corner infielders Chuck Leek and Sherman of the Kingmen led all swatters with a double and one-bagger each.
Kato, Suga (W) (1) and Horii
Dobbins (L) and D. McIntyre
(July 8) The Terminal League Asahis subdued the invading Toronto Oslers for five thrilling frames before the roof fell in and the Easterners won a well-played exhibition ball game 8 to 0 in front of the largest crowd of the season at Athletic Park. The Oslers slugged 14 base blows as they blew the game open by scoring in every one of the last four innings. Winning moundsman Bill Greer limited the Nippons to just four safeties, including a double and single by Eddie Kitagawa. Second baseman Jim Fleming and catcher Clare Hoose ripped three hits apiece for the Torontonians with one of Fleming’s swats being a two-bagger.
Greer (W) and Hoose
Nishidera (L) and Horii
(July 12) Ty Suga, teen-age portsided flinger of the Asahis, again turned back Mount Pleasant when he won a hurling duel from Len Arthur 3 to 2 in a closely-fought Terminal League tilt at the Powell Street grounds. Although Suga was nicked for seven safeties, three more than Arthur gave up, he was stingy in the pinches. A two-run homer to outfielder Jones was the only dent in his armor. Fly chaser Tom Miyata of the Nippons, with two doubles, was the major thorn in Arthur’s side as both of his two-baggers were achieved with ducks on the pond, resulting in runs. Outfielder “Lefty” Betts of the Pleasants led all hickory hackers, accumulating three one-baggers.
Arthur (L) and Pouche
Suga (W) and Horii, Yasui
(July 13) Hanbury’s put up a good fight against an Ex-King George lineup that was somewhat watered down but, in the end, the Former Students packed enough punch to prevail by a 7 to 5 decision. Percy Choate fanned seven of the Millmen in earning a six-hit decision over Milt May. Shortstop Harris had a great game for the Sawmillers, getting to Choate for a four-ply wallop and two doubles. Rival first sackers, Chuck Leek of the victors and Hanbury’s Sweeting, both pasted the orb for a pair of base knocks.
M. May (L) and C. May, Pitt
Choate (W) and Wright
(July 14) The cellar-dwelling Hanbury’s nine gave the Asahis all they could handle before bowing to the Nippons 3 to 0 in a snappy Terminal League fixture at the Powell Street grounds. Winning pitcher “Mickey” Sato, hurling his first game in senior A competition, was sharp in his debut performance, limiting the Millmen to two bingles while punching out seven batters. Roy Yamamura and Reg Yasui collected two hits apiece for the winners.
Sato (W) and Yasui
Johnson (L), May (6) and Thomas
(July 15) Alex “Scotty” Dobbins was in his very best form at the Powell Street grounds as he pitched the Ex-King George pastimers to a 7 to 2 victory over Mount Pleasant. The Pleasants were only able to collect three hits off Dobbins’ slants during the course of the fracas. Losing flinger Len Arthur toiled with a sore arm and was not as effective as usual. First baseman Chuck Leek gathered in four bingles for the Former Students while teammate Clarence Menzies pounded out three doubles.
Dobbins (W) and Wright
Arthur (L) and xxx
(July 18) Wiping out an early 6 to 0 deficit, the Asahis roared back to capture a bottom-of-the-ninth inning 7 to 6 decision from the Ex-King George band of diamondeers. Winning pitcher Ty “Lefty” Suga delivered the blow, a single, which drove in the tie-breaker. He was ably supported at the dish by keystone sacker Hiroshi “Frank” Nakamura who creamed the horsehide for a home run with a mate aboard, a double and a one-bagger. Outfielder Armstrong of the Ex-Kings clipped the orb for a brace of two-baggers in addition to a single while his teammate, Clare Menzies, hammered a grand-slam home run.
Dobbins (L) and Wright
Suga (W) and Yasui
(July 20) Lorne Lowry had great offensive and defensive support as he pitched Mount Pleasant to a one-sided 11 to 1 win over Hanbury’s. The defending champions got to loser Max May for 11 safeties as shortstop Jimmy McKissock belted a four-ply clout and outfielder Neil Silver a pair of doubles.
Lowry (W) and Pouche
May (L) and Thomas
(July 21) Waiting until the last round to break forth with a fusillade of base blows, Mount Pleasant staged a monumental comeback by plating six counters to tie the peppery young Asahis 7 – 7 in Terminal League action at the Powell Street grounds. Pat Worley’s solo home run in the opening canto was the only tally the Pleasants had acquired prior to their late explosion. A six-run Nippon lead began to evaporate when versatile Art Thacker of the Hillmen, who had assumed pitching duties in the fourth canto, delivered a two-run homer. A bases-loaded walk to outfielder “Lefty” Betts forced in a third marker. Third baseman Lorne Lowry doubled in a pair and then, Neil Silver delivered a sharp single to the middle pasture which drove in the tying run. The teams struggled through an extra stanza but neither side mounted any sort of a threat before the contest was called for lack of illumination. Tom Matoba of the Asahis and Mount Pleasant’s Worley led their respective teams offensively, each racking up three safeties. One of Matoba’s blows was a double while Worley had a pair of one-baggers in addition to his first-frame dinger.
Nishidera, Suga (7) and Yasui
Arthur, Thacker (4) and Pouche
(July 22) The Hanbury’s gang of baseballers, showing a lot more fight than usual, tallied eight runs in the third inning but still met defeat, 12 to 9, at the hands of the Ex-King George nine. Both teams had huge offensive explosions during the initial three frames but, once relief pitchers on both sides hit their stride, things settled down and the teams dished up some snappy baseball. Third baseman Sherman of the Kings had a four-ply smack with a runner aboard. Teammate Alex “Scotty” Dobbins pitched in with a brace of two-baggers.
Menzies (W), Choate (3) and Wright
Johnson (L), Woodman (3) and Thomas
(July 26) The Ex-King George baseballers bunched three of their six hits off losing pitcher Lorne Lowry in the fifth round, which accounted for four runs, and gave them a well-merited 5 to 2 victory over Mount Pleasant in a Terminal League game at the Powell Street grounds. Percy Choate did the firing for the winners and, after the third round when he luckily escaped with only one run being scored against him when four solid blows were delivered by the Pleasants, found his groove and pitched well the rest of the game. The Hillmen committed the game’s only two errors and each time, it cost them a run. Outfielder Harry Jones and catcher Pouche of the vanquished nine were the lone batters to acquire plural hit totals, both singling twice.
Lowry (L) and Pouche
Choate (W) and Wright
(July 27) The lowly Hanbury baseball machine nearly proved caustic to the league-leading Asahis when they gave the Japanese an unexpected hard tussle before dropping the Terminal League contest 6 to 3. The game was errorless although a number of runs secured by the Nippons resulted from pop flies dropping in safely in the sun portion of the outfield. The Millmen plated all three of their counters in the opening round when they connected for four solid blows of winning tosser “Mickey” Sato’s deliveries. Jack Woodman of the Millmen displayed a lot of class on the hill for the losers, whiffing eleven of the Rising Sun batters. George Kato smacked a home run for the youthful winners.
Woodman (L) and Thomas
Sato (W) and Tanaka, Matoba
(July 28) Smart base running enabled the shifty and youthful Asahi nine to maintain their unbeaten record in the second-half Terminal League race when they took a highly exciting conflict from the Ex-King George aggregation 5 to 2. Speed on the basepaths and skillful bunting paved the way for the first three counters by the Nippons. The Former Students did most of their damage against teenage left-hander Ty Suga in the sixth when they got to him for two runs. Both Suga and losing twirler Alex “Scotty” Dobbins were nicked for seven safeties. Shortstop Bruce McIntyre of the Kings led all willow wielders with a pair of safeties.
Suga (W) and Yasui, Horii
Dobbins (L) and Wright, Menzies
(July 29) The Hanbury’s squad surprised Mount Pleasant, scoring their second win of the season, an 8 to 7 triumph, in a wild finish at the Powell Street grounds. The Pleasants almost prevailed, overcoming a 6 to 0 deficit by plating a seven-spot in their final turn at bat to jump into a 7 to 6 lead. The Millmen weren’t to be denied on this occasion, however, roaring back with a pair of counters, the final one a result of middle infielder Jimmy McKissock’s error. The Hillmen not only had a 10 to 8 edge in base hits but they also out-fumbled the victors by a 6 to 2 margin. McKissock had a particularly bad game with the glove, running up a total of five fielding miscues. Hanbury first baseman Herbert was the leading swat artist in the fracas, connecting for a double and two singles.
Arthur (L) and Pouche
M. May (W) and Thomas
(August 2) Arthur Thacker, renowned curveball dispenser of the Mount Pleasant aggregation, was not good enough to stop the galloping Asahis as the Hillmen fell to the Nipponese 5 to 2 in Terminal League play. The winners scored a triad of markers in the opening round by keeping the pressure on Thacker through their bunting, forcing him to make an unwise wild heave. Ty Suga, southpaw high schooler, limited the Pleasants to just three hits in a clever exhibition on the hill for the winners.
Thacker (L) and Pouche
Suga (W) and Horii
(August 3) Just to show that their victory of five days previous was no fluke, Hanbury’s went out and handed the Ex-King George balltossers an artistic 12 to 2 trimming in a Terminal League fixture. Max May was in great form on the rubber for the Millmen, holding the Former Collegians to five hits, one of which was a two-run circuit-jack by Alex “Scotty” Dobbins. First baseman Herbert smacked out three hits for the winners while May, sibling S. May, shortstop Emeri and catcher Thomas all rang up a brace of safe knocks.
M. May (W) and Thomas
Choate (L) and Hope
(August 4) Outfielder “Lefty” Betts’ solo four-base blow in the bottom of the eighth frame, his second hit of the game, allowed Mount Pleasant to gain a 2 – 2 tie with the Ex-King George contingent in a battle of Terminal League foes. Percy Choate and Lorne Lowry indulged in a pitchers’ joust in which each was touched for nine safeties. First baseman Chuck Leek doubled twice for the Kings while corner infielders Len Arthur and Callahan of the Pleasants each ripped a two-bagger and single.
Choate and Hope
Lowry and Pouche
(August 5) A 4 to 0 blanking of Hanbury’s at the Powell Street grounds assured the Asahis of the second-half Terminal League crown and the overall tiara for the 1926 campaign. Roy Nishidera whitewashed the Millmen on five hits, allowing only one runner to reach third base. He received perfect support afield while his mates were expanding their offensive opportunities by pilfering nine bases. Asahi fly chaser “Mickey” Sato, with a double and single, was the only player in the contest to ring up two base hits. Having captured both halves of the schedule, the Nippons will represent the Terminal circuit in provincial playdowns.
Nishidera (W) and Horii
Woodman (L) and Thomas
(August 9) Clever bunting and timely hitting enabled the Asahis to claw back from a 4 to 1 deficit to post a 5 to 4 verdict over the Ex-King George band of pastimers, keeping their slate clean in the second-half of the Terminal League schedule. The Nippons found themselves in arrears by a three-spot after Alex “Scotty” Dobbins of the Former Students blasted a three-run four-bagger in the third. Roy Nishidera, relieving starter Doi, did a superlative job in quelling the Kings on one hit the rest of the way after entering the contest in the fourth panel. George Kato and Yo Horii of the victors as well as Glen Hope and Chuck Leek of the vanquished nine, all registered two base knocks.
Choate (L) and Hope
Doi, Nishidera (W) (4) and Horii
(August 10) In a benefit game for Frank Nakamura, Asahi middle-infielder who was seriously injured early in the season and has been unable to work since, a select group of players from the other three teams in the Terminal Baseball League got together and engaged the Nippons in an exhibition match. The All-Stars prevailed 6 to 3, out hitting the league champions by an 11 to 4 margin. Hanbury’s Max May fanned five in spinning a four-hitter for the knoll win while Art Thacker of Mount Pleasant belted a round-tripper.
May (W) and Pouche
Kato (L), Suga (4) and Horii
(August 11) The Terminal League All-Stars again took the measure of a weakened Asahi team in an exhibition game at the Powell Street grounds by a 5 to 3 score in a light-hitting game. Jack Woodman of the Hanbury’s squad held the Nippons to three hits. Outfielder George Kato of the Asahis was the only player in the game to register two bingles.
Kitagawa (L), Sato and Tanaka
Woodman (W) and Thomas
With no intra-league playoff necessary, the 1926 Terminal Baseball League champion Asahis ventured into first-round provincial playoff action against the Young Liberals, champions of Vancouver’s Senior City Baseball League.
VANCOUVER TWILIGHT LEAGUE
Joining the returning champion Burnaby nine, the Kerrisdale Tyees and the South Vancouver Elks for the 1926 campaign, and replacing the departed Native Sons franchise, was a team sponsored by Shell Gas/Oil.
(May 5) The South Vancouver Elks handed defending Twilight League champion Burnaby a surprise by blanking the Suburbanites 5 to 0 at Central Park to begin the 1926 campaign. The Wapiti nine shone defensively and smacked the apple at opportune times to emerge as worthy victors. Don Mills, last season with Mount Pleasant of the Terminal League, tossed a brilliant two-hitter for the Antlered Tribe. The winners combed losing flinger Dave Gray for seven base knocks with outfielder Eddie Trayling and first baseman Fred Taylor picking up two apiece. One of Taylor’s blows was a third-inning circuit-clout which started his team on the way to victory.
Mills (W) and Bolinsky
Gray (L) and Kinney
(May 7) With Johnny “Lefty” Diebolt tossing a three-hitter and fanning a dozen of his former Kerrisdale teammates, the Shell nine, the new member of the Twilight Baseball loop, walked off with a victory in their first senior outing, decisioning the Tyees by a 4 to 2 count. Both sides were weak at bat in this clash, only five hits being garnered in the game. The winners collected just two safeties from the offerings of losing flinger King Logan but were able to transform their opportunities successfully into four unearned tallies. Veteran catcher Jack Buchanan guided Diebolt out of a few rough spots, precipitated by wildness.
K. Logan (L) and Hall
J. Diebolt (W) and Buchanan
(May 8) A three-run first-inning helped Burnaby get off and running in a 7 to 4 conquest of the South Vancouver Elks. Carl Crowder went the distance on the hill to record the five-hit victory. Offensively sparking the Suburbanites were fly chaser McKee and shortstop Anderson who both laced two safeties as well as Crowder and first sacker Don McLean who each cranked out a two-run homer.
Crowder (W) and Kinney
Boyes (L), Sanders (4) and Blownski
(May 12) The Shells failed to solve Dave Gray’s assortment of heat and benders and were defeated 6 to 1 by the Burnaby squad in a Twilight League contest. Gray was touched for just four safeties while fanning eleven. The Suburbanites grabbed a 3 to 0 lead in the opening canto and were always in command. First baseman Olson nailed a brace of doubles and a single for the winners while teammate Don McLean added a triple and one-bagger.
Gardiner (L), J. Diebolt (4) and Warren, Trotter
Gray (W) and Kinney
(May 14) The South Vancouver Elks found their batting eyes at the Powell Street facility, stinging the pill for 13 base blows in a 10 to 1 bruising of the Shell nine. Newcomer Bellamy pitched for the South End Gang and, with the exception of shortstop Harvey Asselind, who had two of his team’s three hits, had the Shell batters mesmerized. Elks’ shortpatcher Basiren was the hitting fiend of the contest, clouting a four-ply swat, a two-bagger and a single.
Bellamy (W) and Blownski
J. Diebolt (L) and Trotter, Warren
(May 15) The Elks of South Vancouver slugged their way to the top of the Twilight Baseball League by inflicting a crushing 17 to 6 defeat on the Kerrisdale Tyees at Wilson Park. Heading the 18-hit assault on a trio of Kerrisdale chuckers were shortstop Basiren, catcher Joe Blownski and fly chaser Lobban who all stung the horsehide for three base blows. Lobban’s total included a triple and double. Teammate Finlayson hammered a home run and a one-bagger.
McRae (L), Logan (4), Caswell (6) and Hall
Sanders (W) and Blownski
Standings W L Pct.
South Vancouver Elks 3 1 .750
Burnaby 2 1 .667
Shell 1 2 .333
Kerrisdale 0 2 .000
(May 17) The South Vancouver Elks creamed three Kerrisdale chuckers for 18 hits in swamping the Tyees 17 to 6 at Wilson Park. Fly chaser Lobban of the Antlered Herd crushed a triple, double and single. His sidekicks, shortstop Basiren and catcher Joe Blownski both ripped three one-baggers while keystone sacker Finlayson powered a home run and single.
McRae (L), K. Logan (4), Caswell (6) and Hall
Sanders (W) and Blownski
(May 18) Kerrisdale balltossers broke into the win column on their home diamond, scoring all nine of their tallies in the opening two chapters en route to a 9 to 3 drubbing of the Shells. The Gasmen aided things considerably for the hosts by committing seven errors. Winning tosser Setna limited the Shells to three safeties while fanning a like number. Murray McDonald doubled and singled for the Tyees.
Ferguson (L) and Warren
Setna (W) and Johnston
(May 19) Burnaby muscled themselves into an 8 to 0 lead after four innings were in the books and coasted to a 10 to 6 victory over the Kerrisdale Tyees. A hard-hit comebacker by Kerrisdale’s Murray McDonald ended winning pitcher Carl Crowder’s stint on the hill when the missile struck Crowder in the knee. Dave Gray and outfielder McKee had a brace of base raps for Burnaby with a double included in Gray’s total. The winners reeled off a pair of neat double plays.
Logan (L), Caswell (4) and Hall, Setna (4)
Crowder (W), Gray (5) and Kinney
(May 29) Burnaby balltossers climbed back into first place in the Twilight League by trimming the South Vancouver Elks 8 to 2 at Memorial Park. Seven errors by the Southern Wapiti nine had a huge bearing on their fate. Carl Crowder pitched well for the defending champions, allowing the Elks just five safeties.
Crowder (W) and Kinney
Bellamy (L), Sanders and Blownski
(June 2) Second sacker Bill Widdow’s ill-advised decision to throw out baserunner Ingledew at first base on an infield roller with one out allowed winning pitcher King Logan to scamper home from third base with the winning run as Kerrisdale nipped Burnaby 3 to 2 in Twilight League play on the Kerrisdale home turf. Burnaby had a 7 to 6 edge in base hits as losing flinger Dave Gray rang up 12 strikeouts to nine for Logan. Outfielder McRae of the Tyees had a pair of safeties, the only player in the game to establish plural hit totals.
Gray (L) and Kinney
K. Logan (W) and G. Logan
(June 4) The South Vancouver Elks easily disposed of the Shell diamond pastimers 11 to 3 at the Powell Street facility. Both teams stroked the pill for eight base knocks but the Oilmen were lax defensively, committing seven miscues, and weren’t able to hit with ducks on the pond, stranding a dozen baserunners. Fly chasers Ross, Ed Trayling and Dwan each collected a brace of one-baggers for the Wapiti while catcher Warren and utility man Cummings did likewise for the Shellmen.
Bellamy (W) and Blownski
J. Diebolt (L) and Warren
(June 5) With both teams collecting four base hits, the South Vancouver Elks took advantage of the openings offered them and increased their lead atop the Twilight League with a 4 to 1 win over Kerrisdale. Tat Boyes picked up the pitching triumph in a relief role.
McRae (L) and Johnson/Johnston
K. Logan, Boyes (W) and Blownski
(June 8) Kerrisdale won a sloppily-played 9 to 8 verdict from the Shell contingent in a see-saw Twilight Baseball League affair. A four-run sixth-inning outburst allowed the Tyees to come from behind to take the honours. Outer pasture fly chaser Gordie McLean had three of the victors’ seven base raps, one of which was a three-bagger. Cummings of the Oilmen was tops with the lumber for his squad, drilling a double and single.
J. Diebolt (L) and Simpson
K. Logan (W) and G. Logan
(June 11) Burnaby reduced the lead of the first-place South Vancouver Elks to half a game by defeating an improved Shell team 6 to 1. Dave Gray limited the Oilmen to four base hits in going the route for the hillock triumph. Third baseman Reid clouted a solo homer and a single for the winners while teammate Art Porter doubled and singled.
Gray (W) and Kinney
Cummings (L), Smith (4) and Simpson
(June 15) Although out hit, Burnaby took advantage of misplays by the Kerrisdale nine to score a 7 to 5 Twilight League victory. The tail-end Tyees had winning pitcher Dave Gray on the ropes in the third panel and almost delivered a knockout blow as they raked him for six solid blows and five counters in grabbing a temporary 5 to 4 lead. Outside of that panel, however, Gray was invincible, fanning ten and displaying perfect command. The Burnabyites copped the decision in the fourth when they scored three times without the semblance of a hit off young Don McRae.
Gray (W) and xxx
McRae (L) and xxx
(June 16) The South Vancouver Elks gained a little breathing room atop the Twilight Baseball League standings when the squeezed past their nearest pursuers, the Burnaby nine, 5 to 4. The Elks took a four-run lead in the opening stanza but Burnaby evened the count by the end of the second canto. From then on, it became a real pitching duel between eventual winner “Tat” Boyes of the Southsiders and hard-luck loser Carl Crowder. Out hit by a 6 to 5 margin, the Elks were able to plate the winning counter in the final frame when a fly ball off the bat of outfielder Eddie Trayling was misjudged in the outer pasture and fell in for a two-bagger. As Trayling sprinted toward third base in an attempt to stretch his safety into a three-bagger, the relay from the outfield to the hot corner was overthrown and he was able to touch the home station with the tie-breaker. Burnaby second baseman Widdows, with a double and single, was the lone player from either team to garner more than one base swat.
Boyes (W) and Blownski
Crowder (L) and Kinney
Standings W L Pct.
South Vancouver Elks 9 2 .818
Burnaby 8 4 .667
Kerrisdale 4 6 .400
Shell 1 10 .091
(June 19) The Shell Oilmen, with a strengthened lineup, doubled the score on Kerrisdale at the Powell Street facility, the score being 10 to 5. The fourth frame, in which Shell plated five counters without the semblance of a base hit, was the undoing of the Tyees. Winning flinger John “Lefty” Diebolt rang up a dozen strikeouts in going the route. Outfielder Gordie McLean belted a four-bagger for the vanquished nine.
K. Logan (L), xxx (4) and xxx
J. Diebolt (W) and xxx
(June 19) The South Vancouver Elks bested Burnaby 5 to 2 in a great pitching matchup between “Lefty” Sanders of the Antlered Herd and Burnaby’s Dave Gray. Sanders was touched for just two safeties, one a home run by outfielder Irvine, in posting the win. The victors collected just four safeties off the slants of Gray and were able to maximize their chances in the second round when they counted all their runs.
Gray (L) and Kinney
Sanders (W) and Blownski
(June 22) Despite being out hit 11 to 7, the Shell nine managed to again trim third-place Kerrisdale, this time by a 10 to 6 margin. Nine of the counters plated by the Oilmen came in the second frame. Winning pitcher Ferguson was in rare form, whiffing 13 Kerrisdale batters. Outfielder Ingledew and third baseman Herod, both of the losing Tyees, were the leading willow wielders, each stinging the pill for three safeties. Two of Herod’s blows were doubles.
Ferguson (W) and Simpson
Johnson/Johnstone (L), McRae (2) and G. Logan
(June 23) Kerrisdale opened their game against Burnaby in a promising manner, nicking eventual winning pitcher Carl Crowder for two hits and an equal number of runs. After that, however, Crowder was tough to get to, surrendering just one additional safety while his mates bounced back, racking up 13 base blows en route to a 10 to 3 thrashing of the Tyees. Dave Gray, manning an outfield post, and catcher Kinney of the winners both ripped the horsehide for a triad of one-baggers. First baseman Gibson of the vanquished nine had a somewhat tainted, lost ball solo home run.
K. Logan (L) and G. Logan
Crowder (W) and Kinney
(June 25) The Shell band of baseballers added their third success in seven days when they nosed out Kerrisdale 4 to 3. The Oilmen doubled the hit total of the Kerries, emerging with an 8 to 4 advantage. Southpaw Johnny Diebolt rang up 15 strikeouts in grabbing the hillock decision. Catcher Simpson and hot corner custodian Butler racked up two hits apiece for the winners, a feat replicated by Kerrisdale first sacker Gibson.
Teeporten, McRae (L) (6) and G. Logan
J. Diebolt (W) and Simpson
(June 28) A five-run outburst in the second inning carried Burnaby to an 13 to 5 triumph over Kerrisdale in Twilight League play. Carl Crowder surrendered seven safeties in going the route on the knoll for the win. Shortstop Anderson ripped three base knocks for the victors while Kerrisdale third baseman Herod belted a round-tripper.
Crowder (W) and Warren
Teeporten (L), K. Logan (2) and Shaw
(July 2) The South Vancouver Elks dropped their first game since May 29 when the improved Shell team stopped them 11 to 5. Shell portsider Johnny Diebolt punched out a dozen batters from the Southsiders in ringing up the knoll victory. “Red” McDonald and Bill Simpson were the top dogs at the dish for the Oilmen.
Hunter (L) and xxx
J. Diebolt (W) and xxx
(July 3) The South Vancouver Elks knocked off Kerrisdale 6 to 3 at Memorial Park in Twilight League action. Game details and batteries for this game not found in print.
(July 6) Benefiting from Shell defensive misplays in the second inning, the Kerrisdale band of diamond pastimers scored a six-spot which put the game on ice in an 8 to 0 whitewashing of the Oilmen. Solid two-hit pitching by Don McRae, punctuated by eight punchouts, sealed the deal for the Kerries. Second sacker Bell of the winners, with two singles, was the only swatter from either team to achieve plural base hit totals.
Robertson (L), Ferguson (3) and Simpson
McRae (W) and Shaw
(July 7) Burnaby moved to within two games of the league-leading South Vancouver Elks by dumping the Antlered Herd 7 to 2. Carl Crowder, formerly with the Burnaby nine, pitched against his old team and was nicked for eight base swats, five of which went for extra bases. Winning tosser Dave Gray was in good form, holding the Elks to four safeties while punching out 12 batters. His batterymate, catcher Warren, spanked the sphere for a triple and single while shortpatcher Anderson ripped a pair of two-baggers.
Crowder (L) and Basiren
Gray (W) and Warren
(July 9) Receiving gilt-edged defensive support from his teammates, Dave Gray hurled a two-hitter in engineering Burnaby to a narrow 2 to 1 victory over the Shell aggregation. Gray punched out 11 batters from the Oilmen but gave up a solo home run to Shell shortstop Harvey Asserlind in the final canto. Fly chasers Art Porter and Irvine of the Burnabyites both connected for two safeties with a double included in Porter’s total.
Gray (W) and Warren
Ferguson (L) and Simpson
Standings W L Pct.
South Vancouver Elks 12 4 .750
Burnaby 13 6 .684
Kerrisdale 5 12 .294
Shell 5 13 .278
(July 13) The South Vancouver Elks came out swinging and inflicted a heavy 14 to 4 defeat on the Kerrisdale nine. Carl Crowder breezed to the mound victory, holding the Kerries to just three singles while fanning seven. Speedy outfielder Eddie Trayling led the victors’ 14-hit offensive thrust, clipping the horsehide for three singles.
Crowder (W) and Taylor
K. Logan (L), McRae (6) and xxx
(July 14) Burnaby slab artist Dave Gray was in top form as he held Kerrisdale to just three hits in pitching his mates to an impressive 8 to 0 thrashing of the Kerries. Losing pitcher Don McCrae was the only Kerrisdale batter who could solve Gray’s heater, nicking the Twilight League ace for two safeties. Catcher Warren and first sacker Olson each had two of the nine hits registered by the Burnabyites.
McRae (L) and Johnson
Gray (W) and Warren
(July 16) A three-run outburst in the final inning lifted Kerrisdale to a narrow 7 to 6 verdict over the Shell Oilmen. Murray McDonald’s three-run homer was the critical blow of the contest and gave the Kerries a 7 to 5 lead. The Shell tribe made a belated comeback attempt and narrowed the deficit to a singleton when Jack Wyard doubled, scoring catcher Simpson. First sacker Gibson led the victors at the dish by stroking three singles.
K. Logan (W) and Johnson
Barnes (L) and Simpson
(July 17) Surrendering four safeties, two of which were homers by infielders Widdows and Finlayson, while whiffing 14 batters, Dave Gray led the Burnaby squad of baseballers to a 5 to 2 triumph over the league-leading South Vancouver Elks at Memorial Park. The Burnabyites opened the game quickly by plating a three-spot in the opening round and led throughout the fracas. Outfielder Ed Trayling of the Elks, with two singles, was the only swatter in the contest to accumulate a pair of base raps.
Gray (W) and Warren
Sanders (L) and Taylor, Blownski
(July 20) In a heavy-hitting Twilight League affair, Kerrisdale knocked the South Vancouver Elks out of top spot by edging the Southenders 12 to 11. The teams combined for 27 base blows with the Antlered Tribe picking up 14. Three times the game was tied but, in the sixth panel, the Kerries went ahead to stay by registering a five-spot. Top willow wielder in the contest was keystone sacker Finlayson of the Wapiti Herd who clipped the apple for two triples.
Sanders (L) and Taylor
McRae (W) and Shaw
(July 23) The South Vancouver Elks, in spite of being out hit, regained some momentum by edging the Shell diamondeers 6 to 5 in a darkness-shortened Twilight League affair. Winning pitcher Carl Crowder’s home run in the fourth panel, which sent a runner in ahead of him, turned out to be the pivotal hit of the skirmish.
Crowder (W) and Blownski
XXX (L) and Simpson
(July 24) Kerrisdale defaulted to the South Vancouver Elks 9 to 0.
(July 27) Kerrisdale threw a big scare into the Burnaby diamond pastimers but the Twilight League leaders staged a desperate batting rally in the last frame, scoring four times, to knock off the Kerries 10 to 8. The high-scoring affair featured a home run by second sacker Bell of the West Siders off winning tosser Dave Gray who fanned 15 but was not his sharpest on the hill, being lit up for eight safeties. Losing twirler Don McRae was gleaned for ten base swats including a bases-loaded triple by fly chaser Irvine in the final chapter. Shortpatcher Anderson of the Burnabyites grabbed batting honours for the contest, stroking a trio of singles.
Gray (W) and Warren
McRae (L) and Johnson
(July 28) Pitching his second game in two days, Dave Gray held the South Vancouver Elks to two hits as Burnaby went further into the lead in the Twilight Baseball League by whitewashing the Elks 3 to 0. The game was easily the best of the season as, until the fifth inning, neither side looked like scoring. Losing pitcher Carl Crowder matched Gray’s mound effort until weakening in that fateful fifth when Burnaby went ahead 2 to 0 by means of a walk, a three-bagger by hot corner guardian Reid and a single. Shortstop Anderson had two, one of which was a double, of the six hits garnered by the victors.
Crowder (L) and Blownski
Gray (W) and Warren
(July 30) Dave Gray continued his stellar performance on the hillock of late, hooking up with Shell pitcher Ferguson in a Twilight League hurling joust in which the Burnabyites scored a pair in the final frame to claim a 2 to 0 victory. Gray whiffed an even dozen and limited the Oilmen to one hit. Tagged with the loss, Ferguson was only a notch behind the Burnaby mound ace, but didn’t get the same defensive support. He gave up four base hits, fanned ten and like Gray, issued one base on balls.
Gray (W) and Warren
Ferguson (L) and Simpson
(August 3) The South Vancouver Elks stayed in the running for top spot in the Twilight Baseball League by disposing of an error-prone Kerrisdale nine 8 to 3. Speedy outfielder Eddie Trayling clubbed a home run plus a pair of singles for the Antlered Herd. Fly chasers Don McRae and Ingledew of the Kerries nicked winning pitcher “Lefty” Sanders for two safeties each with a triple included in McRae’s total and a double in Ingledew’s sum of swats.
Sanders (W) and Blownski
K. Logan (L) and Johnson
(August 10) Dave Gray wrapped up the season with another sterling mound performance as pennant-winning Burnaby defeated the South Vancouver Elks 2 to 1 in the final game of the Twilight Baseball League schedule. Losing flinger “Lefty” Sanders gave Gray quite a run for his money as both flingers were touched for just four safeties. Burnaby third baseman Reid led all swatsmiths, hammering a pair of triples.
Sanders (L) and Blownski
Gray (W) and Warren
Final Standings W L Pct.
Burnaby 22 6 .786
South Vancouver Elks 17 9 .654
Kerrisdale 8 17 .320
Shell 5 20 .200
As no intra-league playoffs were held, pennant-winning Burnaby moved directly into the first round of the B. C. Senior A playoffs, facing off against Fraser Mills, champions of the New Westminster & District circuit.
NEW WESTMINSTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE
The New Westminster circuit was reduced from five to four entrants for the 1926 season with the departure of the defending provincial champion Fraser Cafe nine along with Port Moody and the B. C. Box Manufacturers. Joining the returning Fraser Mills and White Rock franchises for the new campaign were the neophyte Chryslers and Royals, with the latter team featuring a number of the former Fraser Cafe players
Pre-season exhibition game reports
(April 10) Playing at Athletic Park, the Fraser Mills nine of the New Westminster League defeated the Young Conservatives of the Vancouver Senior City circuit 6 to 3 in ten innings. First baseman N. “Abe” Cross of the Tories blasted a solo home run.
Chestnut, Thorburn (W) and Richardson
Kimberley, Thompson (L) and R. Goodall
(April 11) Fraser Mills picked up a second exhibition game victory, blanking the Vancouver Young Liberals 2 to 0 at Queen’s Park in the Royal City.
xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
Regular season game reports
(May 1) The New Westminster Royals, a new entry, drew first blood in the 1926 New Westminster & District League when they trampled on White Rock to the extent of 11 to 3 at the Semiahmoo Bay resort. A five-run uprising in the fourth chapter by the Royals followed by a six-spot in the fifth panel sealed the downfall by the Rockies who held a 9 to 8 margin in base hits acquired. The Blue Bloods played flawlessly behind chuckers Clare Mills and Eddie Olson while the homesters struggled defensively with seven errors. Hitters with plural totals were all from the vanquished nine, these being keystone sacker Brouland, catcher Bearisto and outfielder/pitcher Kilgore.
Mills (W), Olson (5) and Andresen
Bruns (L), Kilgore (5) and Bearisto
(May 8) Slamming out 14 base knocks, the Fraser Mills diamondeers pummeled White Rock 14 to 2 in a heavy-hitting affair. Doug Muscutt struck out six and surrendered ten fairly well-scattered hits to claim the mound triumph. He also led the winners with the baton, hammering a triple and two singles. His batterymate, catcher Thon, and losing flinger Bruns of the Rockies, both ripped the horsehide for a double and one-bagger.
Kilgore (L), Bruns (8) and Bearisto
Muscutt (W) and Thon
(May 11) Chryslers 1 vs Royals 4. No game details or batteries found in print.
(May 14) A three-run seventh inning powered the Fraser Mills diamondeers to a narrow 4 to 3 win over the Royals in New Westminster & District League play at Queen’s Park. None of the counters obtained by the Regals were scored as being earned. Third baseman Dean Freshfield of the Millmen and the Blue Blood fly chaser Jimmy Roddick were the only swatsmiths to spank the sphere for two safeties.
Chestnut (W), Muscutt (7) and Thon
Robertson (L) and Andresen
(May 15) Eddie Olson shut-down Fraser Mills on two hits while fanning a dozen in hurling the Royals of New Westminster to a 2 to 0 blanking of the Lumbermen at Fraser Mills. First baseman Johnson staked the Blue Bloods to a 1 to 0 lead in the second frame on a solo homer. A ninth-inning insurance counter sealed the deal. Johnson wound up as the premiere swatter in the contest, accumulating a brace of one-baggers in addition to his dinger.
Olson (W) and Andresen
Muscutt (L) and Thon
(May 15) Bases-empty home runs by infielders Visintainer and Brouland in the second frame started the engine rolling for hosting White Rock who went on to take out the invading Chryslers of New Westminster 4 to 1 in a Royal City & District tussle. Ollie Lewis, in his mound debut for the Rockies, whiffed ten and limited the Autos to three base blows, one of which was a solo homer by hot corner custodian Barclay Bean. Visintainer added three singles to his round-tripper for an evening’s output of four base swats.
Frykman (L) and Somerville
Lewis (W) and Bearisto
(May 18) Superior defensive play and a willingness to take a chance helped engineer the Royals to a 7 to 4 conquest of the Chryslers in New Westminster action at Queen’s Park. The Blue Bloods out swatted the Autos by a 10 to 6 margin with Eddie Olson lacing three singles and catcher Neil Andresen cranking out a triple and single. Hot corner protector Barclay Bean led the Chryslers with the stick, smashing a double and one-bagger.
Robertson (W) and Andresen
Frykman (L) and Somerville
(May 25) The nifty nine from White Rock slipped past the New Westminster Chryslers 7 to 3 in a free-hitting contest at Queen’s Park. The Rockies piled up 13 base blows to an even dozen by the Autos. Playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter belted a home run and single for the winners. Third baseman Barclay Bean and outfielder Jimmy Roddick both rang up three hits for the vanquished nine with a two-bagger part of Bean’s sum of swats.
Lewis (W) and Bearisto
Dyer (L), Cromer (6) and Somerville
Standings W L Pct.
Royals 5 1 .833
Fraser Mills 2 1 .667
White Rock 2 3 .400
Chryslers 0 4 .000
(May 30) The Chryslers of New Westminster finally broke into the win column when they defeated the Fraser Mills nine 8 to 4 on the home turf of the Millmen. Leo Downing made his debut as a pitcher for the Automotive squad and proved effective in clutch situations. None of the four markers tallied by Fraser Mills were of the earned variety. Outfielders Jack Connar and Jimmy Roddick, along with infielders Barclay Bean and Hedlund, all stroked two safeties for the winners while backstop Thon of the losing nine replicated the feat.
Downing (W) and Minnahan
Gifford (L), Chestnut (6) and Thon
(June 2) Pinch-hitter Tanny Butler’s two-out double in the tenth inning drove in Sam Crawford with the game’s lone run as the New Westminster Royals nosed out the Fraser Mills nine 1 to 0 in a thriller at Queen’s Park. A pair of former teammates, pitchers Doug Muscutt and Eddie Olson locked horns in a battle for hillock supremacy which Muscutt could easily have won as the Millmen outswatted the Blue Bloods by a 10 to 6 margin. Olson, however, was able to squirm his way out of difficulties with the aid of solid defensive support. First sacker Hawkes of the Millmen emerged as the contest’s top offensive cog, lacing a triad of one-baggers.
Muscutt (L) and Thon
Olson (W) and Andreson
(June 4) Seven infield errors, the most crucial of which occurred in the seventh inning, tell the tale of the New Westminster Chryslers’ 6 to 5 defeat at the hands of White Rock. The Rockies were able to come from behind with two unearned counters in the fateful seventh to escape with the narrow win. Playing-manager “Tiny” Hunter doubled and singled for the winners while catcher Minnahan ripped a three-bagger and single for the Automobiles.
Lewis (W) and Bearisto
Cromer, Downing (L) (3) and Minnahan
Standings W L Pct.
Royals 6 1 .857
White Rock 3 3 .500
Fraser Mills 2 3 .400
Chryslers 1 5 .167
(June 5) Second-place White Rock stopped the league-leading Royals of New Westminster 7 to 2 to move a notch closer to the top-dogs. Utility man Hawkins and relief chucker Ollie Lewis poled out four-ply sways for the Semiahmoo Resorters while shortstop Joe Herrle of the Royals slapped out a triad of one-baggers.
Mills (L), Olson (5) and Andresen
Bruns (W), Lewis (7) and Bearisto
(June 8) Fraser Mills climbed within striking distance of the league-leading Royals of New Westminster at Queen’s Park when they defeated the Chryslers by a score of 5 to 2. The Millmen took the lead in the second frame with a three-spot, a margin which they retained throughout the contest. Peppery keystone sacker Al Scott sparkled for the winners, acquiring two hits and adding four stolen bases. Fly chaser Jimmy Roddick paced the Carmen with the baton, drilling a double and one-bagger.
Muscutt (W) and Ogilvie
Downing (L) and Minnahan
(June 10) The improved Fraser Mills nine maintained their recent momentum when they defeated White Rock 10 to 4 in a free-hitting Royal City & District loop match. The visiting Rockies held their own up until the eighth chapter when the Millmen broke the game open with a five-spot. “Lefty” Chestnut was solid on the hill for the winners, whiffing nine of his former teammates and limiting them to six safeties. He also showed some pop in his bat by ripping a brace of two-baggers. Shortpatcher O’Dell aided Chestnut’s mound effort, stroking a double and two singles.
Lewis (L) and Bearisto
Chestnut (W) and Ogilvie
(June 11) Sam “Wahoo” Crawford’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth frame drove in the winning counter as the Royals escaped with a 3 to 2 win over the Chryslers in an all-Royal City battle at Queen’s Park. The Blue Bloods, out hit by a 10 to 6 margin, were fortunate to claim victory as losing pitcher Hedlund had the best of it with mound opponent Eddie Olson. Catcher Harry Somerville of the Autos led all swatters with a double and two singles while teammate Leo Downing ripped a triple and two-bagger.
Hedlund (L) and Somerville
Olson (W) and Andresen
(June 12) In a game at Fraser Mills, the Royals’ Eddie Olson and Doug Muscutt of the Millmen hooked up in a hotly-contested pitching joust with both teams registering just five hits. When the dust had cleared, the Lumbermen finally stung Olson with a defeat as they nipped the Blue Bloods 3 to 2. Newly recruited catcher, Gene Walby starred in this debut with Fraser Mills, lighting Olson up for a two-run homer in the seventh canto which tied the game up and then driving in the winner with a ninth-inning two-bagger. Teammate O’Dell and Royal catcher Neil Andresen both ripped a double and single.
Olson (L) and Andresen
Muscutt (W) and Walby
(June 12) Ten home runs defined the batting-spree which took place at White Rock in which the hosting Rockies outlasted the Chryslers from New Westminster 16 to 14. Starting pitcher Leo Downing of the Autos, in spite of connecting for a quartet of circuit clouts, was unable to lead his team to victory. Entering the last of the ninth inning, the Semiahmoo Bay nine trailed 14 to 12 but outfielder Bailey, playing the middle-pasture position, settled things in walk-off manner with a grand-slam dinger. Initial sacker Visintainer of White Rock creamed the orb for three round-trippers while teammate Earl “Tiny” Hunter as well as outfielder Jack Connar of the Chryslers went yard once each with well-hit taters.
Downing, Hedlund (L) (3), Frykman (9) and Somerville, Minnahan
Lewis, Bruns (W) (9) and Bearisto
(June 15) Fraser Mills went to the top of the heap in the New Westminster & District ball loop when Leo Downing pitched the last-place Chryslers to a 5 to 1 victory over their Royal City cousins, the Royals, at Queen’s Park. There was no scoring until the seventh canto when the Blue Bloods picked up a singleton which was quickly neutralized when the Automotive Men answered with a four-spot, two of these tallies being unearned. Outfielder Jack Connar of the Chryslers led the baton swingers in the fracas, lacing a triad of one-baggers.
Mills (L), Olson (7) and Andresen
Downing (W) and Somerville
Standings W L Pct.
Fraser Mills 6 3 .667
Royals 7 4 .636
White Rock 5 4 .556
Chryslers 2 9 .182
(June 19) With ace hurler Eddie Olson tossing shutout ball, the Royals of New Westminster blanked White Rock 5 to 0 to move into a first-place tie with Fraser Mills. The big difference in the game was the sloppy defensive work displayed by the Rockies as none of the five runs scored against them were of the earned variety. Both teams registered seven base hits with nary a player from either squad able to garner more than a lone base rap. Both Olson and White Rock’s Arnold Frykman, who pitched seven innings of scoreless relief, rang up six strikeouts.
Bruns (L), Frykman (2) and Bearisto
Olson (W) and Andresen
(June 20) Sloppy play on the part of both teams defined the New Westminster & District League game in which Fraser Mills outscored White Rock 10 to 6. A total of 18 errors occurred, nine by each squad. Bobby Thorburn of the Millmen and Rockies’ first baseman Visintainer both nicked the apple for a double and single. Fraser Mills catcher Gene Walby, with a three-run circuit-drive, and fly chaser Bailey of the Semiahmoo Bay team, with a solo shot, poled out round-trippers for their respective nines. Middle pasture patroller Clarke of the Frasers showed his speed on the base paths, pilfering three sacks.
Chestnut (W), Muscutt (6) and Walby
Lewis (L), Frykman (8) and Bearisto
(June 21) Fraser Mills of the New Westminster & District League defeated the Young Conservatives of the Vancouver Senior City loop 3 to 2 in an exhibition encounter at Queen’s Park. The game was snappy throughout and was featured by the daring base running of Al Scott of the Millmen. Scott swiped second, third and home, all on the same plate appearance.
Moffatt (L) and Hall
Jones, Muscutt (W) and Walby
(June 22) Sparked by a three-hit performance and a daring steal on the part of shortstop Joe Herrle, the Royals of New Westminster downed the invading White Rock aggregation 8 to 3 at Queen’s Park. A five-run fourth inning spearheaded the Majestics to the win. Eddie Olson rang up ten strikeouts and yielded seven hits in going the distance for the knoll triumph. He also ripped a pair of two-baggers and a single in aiding his mound assignment. Outfielder Axel Johnson belted a solo homer for the winners.
Frykman (L), Bruns (4) and Bearisto
Olson (W) and Andresen
(June 24) Visiting White Rock upset Fraser Mills 5 to 4 in the Lumber Town. Ringing up 13 base blows off a tandem of Millmen hurlers, the Rockies took control of the skirmish with a three-run outburst off losing flinger Bobby Thorburn in the fifth frame. Earl “Tiny” Hunter and third sacker Hawkins did the heavy work with the stick for the victors, each racking up three base blows.
Frykman (W) and Nemyre
Thorburn (L), Muscutt (5) and Walby
(June 25) Fraser Mills romped off with a 14 to 7 thrashing of the lowly Chryslers of New Westminster at Queen’s Park. The Millmen pounded Leo Downing for 17 base hits and were aided by eight miscues on the part of the Automotive Men. Winning chucker Armour “Lefty” Chestnut” was also touched up rather lively but always had a huge cushion to work on. First baseman Ray Hawkes and fly chaser Bill Maxwell of the Millmen both creamed the apple for three safeties.
Chestnut (W) and Walby
Downing (L) and Somerville
(June 27) Before a record-breaking crowd of Lumber Towners, homestanding Fraser Mills blanked the Royals from New Westminster 1 to 0 to move into a first-place deadlock with the Regals. Stan “Beaner” Jones and Clare Mills hooked up in a fine display of knoll work in which the Millmen held a slight 6 to 5 edge in base hits. Dean Freshfield’s sacrifice fly in the seventh round plated Bill Maxwell from third base with the game’s lone counter. Maxwell had reached base on an error so the counter went into the books as being unearned. Rival fly chasers, Clarke of the Frasers and the Bluebloods’ Sam Crawford, led their respective teams with a brace of base knocks each.
Mills (L) and Andresen
Jones (W) and Walby
(June 27) Down White Rock way, the hosting Semiahmoo Bay nine turned back the bottom-feeding New Westminster Chryslers 7 to 4 in a contest that featured three home runs. A three-run sixth inning, highlighted by Lindsay’s double and one-baggers by Bearisto and Brouland, broke a 4 – 4 tie and propelled the Rockies to victory. Minnahan and Beaton of the Auto Men as well as White Rock playing-manager Earl “Tiny” Hunter each cranked out a four-bagger. Following the game, rumours began circulating that the last-place Chrysler squad was ready to throw in the towel and disband for the season.
Bean (L), Hedlund (6) and Somerville
Lewis (W) and Bearisto
(June 29) Rejuvenated with new manager Earl Cruver at the helm, the Chryslers of New Westminster knocked off their city cousins, the Royals, 6 to 2 to capture just their third win of the season. The Car Men got to losing pitcher Eddie Olson for 11 base blows and were fully deserving of their upset win. Although touched for eight safeties, winning tosser Leo Downing held the Royals without an earned run. Outfielder Jimmy Roddick, a former Royal, led the Chryslers with the baton, clipping the sphere for three base swats.
Downing (W) and Somerville
Olson (L) and Andresen
Standings W L Pct.
Fraser Mills 9 4 .692
Royals 9 6 .667
White Rock 7 7 .500
Chryslers 3 11 .214
(June 30) The New Westminster & District Baseball League reverted to a three-team circuit following the withdrawal of the New Westminster Chryslers from the loop. The Chrysler players are now free to sign with any other club before the July 1 deadline and it is expected that some of their key personnel will be on the radar of these teams.
(July 4) Ed Olson was back in form when the Royals of New Westminster opposed White Rock and the big fellow stopped the Rockies on five hits with the result that the Blue Bloods walked away with a 4 to 1 victory. Shortstop Joe Herrle and catcher Neil Andresen led the victors’ eight-hit offensive thrust, each slamming a double and single.
Olson (W) and Andresen
Downing (L) and Minnahan
(July 6) A three-run opening frame proved to be sufficient for the Royals of New Westminster who hung on to defeat Fraser Mills 3 to 1 before close to 2,000 fans at Queen’s Park. The Lumber Towners had a slight 6 to 5 edge in base hits acquired with losing twirler Doug Muscutt the only batter in the game to pick up two hits. Gus Hedlund, late of the Chryslers, was the hero of the pitching battle against Muscutt. Catcher Neil Andresen’s single in the bottom of the first inning, aided by an outfield error, allowed the Royals to plate their second and third tallies, good enough for their margin of victory.
Muscutt (L) and Walby
Hedlund (W) and Andresen
(July 9) White Rock tripped up Fraser Mills 5 to 4 at Queen’s Park and, in doing so, boosted the Royals of New Westminster into the lead in the Westminster circuit, a half-game ahead of the Millmen. Ollie Lewis picked up the mound win with last-inning relief help from Arnold Frykman. The Rockies scored once in the first canto and built up a 5 to 0 lead before the Lumber Towners got on the scoreboard in the seventh frame on Doug Muscutt’s grand-slam round-tripper. Outfielder Bill Maxwell of Fraser Mills was the hitting star of the contest, lacing a triad of base raps.
Jones (L), Muscutt (4) and Walby
Lewis (W), Frykman (9) and Minnahan
Standings * W L Pct.
Royals 11 6 .647
Fraser Mills 10 6 .625
White Rock 8 9 .471
* 3 – 11 record of defunct Chryslers not shown
(July 11) Fraser Mills of the New Westminster & District Baseball League crushed the Terminal League’s Asahis 10 to 0 in an exhibition affair. The mostly teen-age Nippon baseballers were no match for the powerful Millmen and were out-hit by a 13 to 4 margin. Al Scott and outfielder Clarke led the way with the baton for the winners, each swatting the apple for three safeties.
Doi (L), Nishidera (5) and Horii
Bean (W), Chestnut (6) and Walby, Ogilvie
(July 13) The Royals of New Westminster scored a pair in their last turn at bat to edge the Young Conservatives of Vancouver 4 to 3 in an exhibition tussle staged at Queen’s Park. The Tories grabbed an early lead which they held until the final canto. The Tories out-clouted the Blue Bloods by a 12 to 7 margin but didn’t hit the ball consistently when bingles meant bacon. Third baseman Butler of the Politicians was the game’s most productive hitter, slamming a triple and two singles.
Thompson (L) and Goodall
Mills, Hedlund (W) and Somerville
(July 14) Hefty hitting when it meant runs carried the Fraser Mills nine to a 5 to 0 shutout over invading White Rock. The triumph for the Millmen elevates them into a first-place tie with the Royals of New Westminster and practically places White Rock out of the running for the playoffs. Doug Muscutt tamed the Rockies on six hits in capturing the mound decision. His batterymate, catcher Chris Walby, belted a solo home run in support of Muscutt. First baseman Barclay Bean of the winners, currently leading the league in hitting, picked up a double and single.
Frykman (L) and Minnahan
Muscutt (W) and Walby
(July 16) The Royals of New Westminster downed an all-star aggregation from the Bellingham WA Twilight League 7 to 6 in an exhibition skirmish at Queen’s Park. Outfielder Jack Connar of the Blue Bloods and Bellingham third baseman “Red” Higgerson, who toiled last season with Fraser Mills, each spanked the sphere for three safeties.
Rankin (L) and Thon
Hedlund (W) and Andresen
(July 17) In an exhibition tilt at Athletic Park in Vancouver, the invading Royals of New Westminster spanked the hosting Young Liberals 10 to 3.
Olson (W), Mills (7) and xxx
Kaye (L), Simons (7) and xxx
(July 18) A bases-empty round-tripper by third baseman Hawkins in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning broke up a well-contested joust at Semiahmoo Bay, lifting the homestanding White Rock aggregation to a 7 to 6 win over the Royals of New Westminster. The defeat for the Majestics dropped them a half-game behind Fraser Mills in the struggle for first-place. Eddie Olson opposed Leo Downing on the hill in this contest with both chuckers being hit freely for 11 safeties. Olson fanned ten batters as against four for Downing but Olson’s support was well below par as his mates committed seven fielding miscues. Hawkins drilled a pair of singles in addition to his circuit-clout. His teammate, Brouland, also had three hits, one of which was a double. Jimmy Roddick was the top swatter for the Blue Bloods, nailing two doubles and a one-bagger.
Olson (L) and Andresen
Downing (W) and Davis
(July 21) Fraser Mills pounded out 16 base hits in swamping the Royals of New Westminster 7 to 1 at Queen’s Park. The Millmen applied pressure right from the start, jumping into a 3 to 0 lead after an inning of play. Armour Chestnut and his left-handed shoots proved troublesome for the Regals who collected seven safeties, pretty well scattered over the nine frames. Infielders Hawkes and O’Dell led the winners with the lumber, each registering a triad of base clouts.
Chestnut (W) and Walby
Hedlund (L) and Andresen
(July 23) The Everett WA All-stars nosed out a 4 to 3 victory over the hosting New Westminster Royals in exhibition action at Queen’s Park. The Majestics out hit the invaders, 10 to 6, but were wobbly in the field. Joe Herrle, Doug Fraser and Neil Andresen of the Royal City nine all picked up a pair of base hits.
Novak (W) and Al Mounger
Mills (L), Hedlund (8) and Andresen
(July 23) Edwin Rudolph Olson, better known as “Eddie” and dubbed the Moses of the New Westminster Ishmaelites, led his band of visiting Royals into the promised land of playoffs when he tamed the meek Fraser Mills nine on five safeties as the Blue Bloods blanked the Millmen 4 to 0 right on their home turf. The Lumber Towners garnished things for the invaders, enabling the Regals to score three unearned counters. Olson, with a double and single, was his own best friend when it came to aiding his mound effort. Teammates Axel Johnson and “Frenchy” Duplin kicked in with a brace of one-baggers each. The win for the Royal City nine eliminated the White Rock aggregation from any playoff hopes.
Olson (W) and Andresen
Jones (L) and Walby
(July 29) Fraser Mills played top calibre baseball in defeating White Rock 6 to 2 in a crucial New Westminster & District League encounter played in the Semiahoo Bay resort. Each club ripped the apple for nine safeties but the visitors bunched their knocks to better advantage. Utility player Bean, a high-average batter in the circuit, came on as a relief pitcher in the fifth canto with the score deadlocked and blanked the homesters for the remainder of the contest. Losing chucker Arnold Frykman pitched a solid game in defeat, whiffing 13 of the Frasers. The Millmen presented a very balanced hitting attack while outfielder Bailey of the Rockies, with a double and three singles, was by far the top gun for the vanquished nine.
Muscutt, Bean (W) (5) and Walby
Frykman (L) and Minnahan
PLAYOFFS (with only two teams qualifying for the playoffs, the combatants went directly into final playoff mode) Finals (New Westminster Royals vs Fraser Mills) best-of-five series
(August 2) The Royals of New Westminster came from behind in the ninth inning to earn a 3 – 3 tie with Fraser Mills in the opening game of the New Westminster & District Baseball League finals before 2,500 enthusiasts at Queen’s Park. It was a sterling game, both teams putting up a fine brand of ball although a Blue Bloods’ error in the fifth opened the door for a pair of counters by the Millmen. Eddie Olson hurled in great form for the Majestics, allowing the Frasers just six hits, all one-baggers. The Regals gleaned nine safeties off “Lefty” Chestnut and Doug Muscutt with outfielder Jimmy Roddick accounting for three of them, one of which was a double.
Olson and Andresen
Chestnut, Muscutt (5) and Walby
(August 6) Fraser Mills forged ahead in the final playoff series at Queen’s Park by registering a 6 to 4 victory over the Royals of New Westminster. The Royals out hit the winners 13 to 9 but, apart from the fifth inning when they tallied three hits in a row, their blows off winning chucker Doug Muscutt were well scattered. On the other hand, Fraser Mills bunched their clouts, three coming in succession in the opening chapter, and another three in the sixth, in both cases multiple runs being tallied against losing flinger Eddie Olson, well-known Royal City haberdasher, whose playoff idol status took a big hit. Bill Maxwell of the Millmen and the Majestics’ Joe Herrle both got credit for inside-the-park home runs but, in each instance, their swats were of the lucky variety, being aided by bad hops in the outer pasture. Herrle and teammate Doug Fraser led the hit parade, both winding up with a trio of base raps.
Muscutt (W) and Walby
Olson (L) and Andresen
(August 9) The Royals of New Westminster evened things up in their playoff rhubarb with Fraser Mills, clipping the Millmen 8 to 5 at Queen’s Park in a darkness-shortened, six-inning encounter. The Blue Bloods were the better team overall in this joust, playing in errorless fashion and out clouting the Frasers by an 11 to 7 margin. It was anybody’s game until the sixth frame when the Royals shoved a pair across to seal the deal on two-baggers by Joe Herrle, Doug Fraser and fly chaser Jack Connar and a walk to Doug Grimston. Herrle poled out three hits for the winners while teammates Fraser and Connar contributed a brace each, the same output achieved by outfielder Bill Maxwell of the losing nine.
Hedlund (W) and Andresen
Jones (L), Bean (3) and Walby
(August 11) Fraser Mills took the lead in the New Westminster & District League finals, tripping up the Royals of New Westminster 6 to 3 at Queen’s Park. For the second time in the series, Doug Muscutt of the Millmen out pitched the iconic Eddie Olson in a playoff match. The gritty Muscutt hung in there after falling behind early in the game and, in the face of seeing teammate “Lefty” Chestnut warming up for duty as a fireman, stayed the course and had the satisfaction of watching his mates make up the deficit and splurge ahead. Top lumberman for the victorious Frasers was catcher Gene Walby who creamed the horsehide for a double and triple.
Muscutt (W) and Walby
Olson (L) and Andresen
(August 13) The two crack teams in the Westminster & District circuit, Fraser Mills and the Royals of New Westminster, were again unable to declare a winner after battling for eight fierce innings to a 1 – 1 stalemate at Queen’s Park before darkness stepped in and ended things. The game was a brilliantly-played affair with the big crowd kept on edge during the entire proceedings. Eddie Olson and Armour “Lefty” Chestnut battled tooth and nail on the hillock with Chestnut receiving 1/3 inning of help from Doug Muscutt in the eighth and final canto. The Millmen collected six base hits to just three for the Regals. A bases-loaded walk in the second-inning forced in the lone run for the Majestics while the Sawmillers responded in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Barclay Bean, his second base rap of the contest.
Olson and Andresen
Chestnut, Muscutt (8) and Walby
(August 16) Edwin “Eddie” Olson, king of the senior amateur baseball scene in the lower mainland, has been dethroned. He lost his crown to Doug Muscutt, ancient rival, at Queen’s Park in a most tragic manner. After taking the measure of his lanky, former teammate in the first tussle of the day they engaged in by a 3 to 1 verdict, his strong right arm finally weakened under the terrific strain of a double-duty hillock assignment as the Fraser Mills nine, with Muscutt again on the knoll, lit into him for 23 hits and and an unmerciful 19 to 0 beating in the second encounter. It was a heart-wrenching finish for the New Westminster Royals pitcher who has been supreme in B. C. baseball circles for the past three seasons.
Before a record-breaking crowd of over 8,000, Olson tamed the Lumber Slingers on six hits while ringing up eight strikeouts in the opener to knot the series. He also belted a seventh-inning solo home run. The Royals plated a brace in the eighth stanza, sufficient for victory, when outfielder Jack Connar smashed a double. Connar also sparkled defensively for the Blue Bloods, making a couple of sensational catches in the outer garden, one of which resulted in a double play.
Muscutt (L) and Walby
Olson (W) and Andresen
The finale was a Shakespearian tragedy of major proportions with the game turning into a rout very early. Overlooked, however, was the strong mound presence of Muscutt who blanked the Royals on just six hits. Leading Fraser Mills with the willow were outfielders Clarke and Maurice Ryan who both registered four hits. One of Clarke’s safeties was a four-ply clout. The series ended with the Millmen capturing three games while the Royals picked up two wins. Two others ended in draws.
Olson (L) and Andresen
Muscutt (W) and Walby
With the annexation of the 1926 New Westminster & District Baseball League title, Fraser Mills now enters the Senior A provincial playoffs facing Twilight League champion Burnaby in the opening round.
HOWE SOUND LEAGUE
It appears that there were only two teams battling out for supremacy of the 1926 Howe Sound Baseball League, Britannia Beach and Britannia Mines.
(June 28) Out hitting the Young Liberals of the Vancouver Senior City League by a substantial 15 to 8 margin, the Britannia Beach team of the Howe Sound circuit trounced the Libs 8 to 3 in an exhibition tilt played on the home diamond of the Howe Sounders. Winning flinger G. Hammond walked six, struck out an equal number and was aided by a pair of double plays. Second baseman Hull and first sacker Dick Hammond both stroked a trio of singles for the Beachmen.
Kaye (L), Larson (4) and Smith
G. Hammond (W) and McKenzie
(July 5) The Beach team of the Howe Sound League dropped just its second game of the season to the Mine team, a close 7 to 6 setback. Errors were largely responsible for the defeat. Bill Cadenhead pitched good ball for the winners and received airtight support.
(July 23) Hitting four pitchers to all corners of the lot, the Beach team of the Howe Sound Baseball League gained an easy 21 to 6 win over the Mines team. With the victory, the Beach team requires just one more win to qualify for the playoffs. Louis Tesreau’s playing was the feature of the game. The import shortstop poled out a home run and played his position in the infield in big-league style.
(July 26) In the first extra-inning game of the season, the Mine team defeated the Beach nine 4 to 3 in thirteen innings. The Beach Boys came from behind to tie the score in the ninth after which both teams battled along until the last half of the fourth round of overtime when two hits and an error produced the winning counter.
Cadenhead (L) and xxx
Etter (W) and xxx
(July 30) Britannia Beach presented a surprisingly strong baseball squad when they shutout the Royals of the New Westminster & District League 3 to 0 in a snappy exhibition game at Queen’s Park. The visitors triumphed over Eddie Olson, lighting him up for eight bingles including a home run by catcher McKenzie.
D. Hammond (W), Edder and McKenzie
Olson (L) and Andresen
1926 B. C. SENIOR A BASEBALL PROVINCIAL PLAYOFFS
ROUND 1
Vancouver Senior City Baseball League champions (Young Liberals) VS
Vancouver Terminal League champions (Asahis) (best-of-three series)
(August 14) With the Terminal League Asahis eating out of his hand, Hal Puder twirled the Young Liberals of the Senior City loop to a 7 to 0 victory over the Nippons in the first game of their provincial playoff series. It was a no-hit, no-run gem for Puder who punched out nine Asahi batters along the way. Going into the ninth, he had a perfect game but a lone base on balls and a couple of errors quickly snuffed that out. Kenichi “Ty” Suga, the Asahi mound artist, still not 17 years of age, lacked control and sustained his first pitching defeat of the campaign. The Grits ripped into the youthful southpaw’s offerings for 13 safe blows, three by outfielder Cy “Rumpy” Seymour. Hec Cann, Charlie Miron and Tat Larson all picked up a brace of safeties with a three-bagger included in Cann’s total.
Puder (W) and Bacon
Suga (L), Nishidera (9) and Yasui, Horii (9)
(August 18) Superlative defensive play in the pinches behind good pitching by young Roy Nishidera, oft known simply as “Nishi”, kept the Asahis, popular Terminal League winners, in their Senior A playoff game with the hard-hitting Young Liberals as the two Vancouver squads duked it out to a 1 – 1 draw in the second game of their first-round series. The Grits had 12 runners left on base, an indication of the Nippons’ strength in the clutch. The Libs also pulled off a defensive gem, a first-inning triple play which bailed winning chucker Nick Craig out of a hole. The Liberals garnered nine hits to six for the Asahis in the eight-inning encounter ended by darkness. The Asahis plated their counter in the second frame after Eddie Kitagawa doubled, was sacrificed to third and raced home on third sacker Charlie Miron’s poor peg to first base on an infield grounder. The Politicians tied the score in the fourth when “Rap” Solloway doubled to drive in Miron. Catcher Yo Horii of the Nippons was at his best in both feinting throws and whipping the ball to occupied sacks in attempts to catch unsuspecting baserunners. Horii and shortstop Roy Yamamura also pulled off a spectacular middle-of-the-infield cutoff and relay to catch Cy “Rumpy” Seymour at the dish. Yamamura and first baseman Charles Tanaka of the Nippons as well as Alex Simons and Jack Bacon of the Liberals each had two hits with one of Yamamura’s being a two-bagger.
Nishidera and Horii
Craig and Bacon
(August 23) Pitcher Hal Puder again subdued the Asahis, this time on three scattered singles, as the Young Liberals bounced the Terminal Leaguers from the playoff picture with a controlled 6 to 0 blanking of the Nippons. A four-run third inning set the wheels in motion for the Politicians who collected an even dozen base blows in the contest. Cy Seymour, Tat “Skinny” Larson, Hec Cann and Nick Craig of the Grits all clipped the orb for a brace of safeties with the totals of Seymour and Craig containing a three-bagger. With the victory, the Young Liberals advance to meet Britannia Beach, champions of the Howe Sound Baseball League, in the next round of provincial playoff action.
Puder (W) and Smith
Suga (L), Nishidera (3) and Horii
Vancouver Twilight Baseball League champion (Burnaby) vs
New Westminster & District Baseball League champions (Fraser Mills)
(Best-of-three series)
(August 19) Although putting up a good fight against Fraser Mills, Dave Gray and his Burnaby cohorts fell 4 to 2 to the Millmen in the opener of their playoff series held at Queen’s Park. The Suburbanites struck first, plating a second inning counter on a wild throw by catcher “Nip” Ogilvie of the Frasers. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Lumber Kings notched three tallies in their half of the canto on a run-scoring double by Dean Freshfield, an RBI single by shortstop O’Dell and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Bill Maxwell. Burnaby scored again in the sixth courtesy of a pair of errors by the Millmen. The final tally of the contest occured in the seventh panel when Al Scott of the winners tripled and scored on winning pitcher Stan “Beaner” Jones’ single. Jones whiffed five in putting together a four-hitter while losing flinger Gray was nicked for eight hits while whiffing four. O’Dell and teammate Maurice Ryan were the only swatters to accumulate two base raps.
Gray (L) and Warren
Jones (W) and Ogilvie
(August 21) Fraser Mills, champions of the New Westminster & District League, eliminated Burnaby from further playoff action by downing the Suburbanites 9 to 2, thereby sweeping the series in two straight contests. The “Circle F” nine outclassed the Twilight Leaguers from the start and, after running in nine runs in the first five innings, took things easy. Burnaby put up a good fight but could not withstand the barrage put up by the Lumbermen batters. The Sawyers ripped into the slants of Dave Gray, iron man of the Burnaby squad, for 15 base blows while winning tosser Doug Muscutt and Barclay Bean served up six safeties. Before taking the rest of the night off with a comfortable lead, Muscutt lit up Gray for three singles. Teammates Bill Maxwell, Bobby Thorburn, Ray Hawkes and Maurice Ryan all stroked a brace of safe swats as did catcher Warren of Burnaby. Fraser Mills now advances to face the United Commercial Travelers, champions of the Victoria Amateur Baseball League, in the next round of the provincial playdowns.
Muscutt (W), Bean (7) and Ogilvie
Gray (L) and Warren
ROUND 2
Howe Sound Senior Baseball League champions (Britannia Beach) vs
Vancouver Young Liberals (Best-of-three series)
(August 21) As a warm-up for their series with the Young Liberals, Britannia Beach took on the Young Conservatives of the Vancouver Senior City League in an exhibition at Britannia. In a smartly-played contest, the Conservartives defeated the Beach nine 4 to 2.
(August 25) The Vancouver Young Liberals smothered the Britannia Beach nine of the Howe Sound Baseball League 13 to 0 in a one-sided, six-inning affair which opened their second-round playoff series. The final score was somewhat deceptive in that the Beachmen played snappy ball outside of the last frame and several of the Politicians’ 15 hits were of the scratchy variety. Yet, Grit hurler, George “Lefty” Kaye, had his curve ball working to perfection and limited the Howe Sounders to just six lone singles. Cy “Rumpy” Seymour led the winners at the dish with a double and two one-baggers. Sidekicks Tat Larson, Nick Craig Charlie Miron, Haley Jackson and “Rap” Solloway all stung the horsehide for a brace of raps with one of Miron’s blows a three-run four-ply clout.
R. Hammond (L) and Hull
Kaye (W) and Bacon
(August 26) Prodding through five innings in a drizzle of rain, an outclassed Britannia Beach nine was blanked for the second game in succession, taking it on the chin 8 to 0 at the hands of Vancouver’s Young Liberal baseball machine. Hal Puder picked up his third shutout win of the playoffs, limiting the Beachers to just a solitary single, a Texas Leaguer off the bat of fly chaser Newby in the fourth chapter. Charlie Miron’s three-run homer in the fourth canto, his second bingle of the scuffle, was the big blow of the game. The Grits now move on to face the winner of the Fraser Mills - Victoria U. C. T. series in a provincial semi-final series.
Puder (W) and Smith
Fisher (L), Etter (4) and Hull
Victoria Senior Amateur Baseball League champions (United Commercial Travelers) vs Fraser Mills (New Westminster & District League)
(Best-of-three series)
(August 26) Before a capacity crowd at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, the Fraser Mills aggregation from New Westminster copped the first game of their quarter-final series from the United Commercial Travelers, titlists from the Capital City, 5 to 0. Winning pitcher Armour “Lefty” Chestnut” survived a pair of bases-loaded, one-out situations with crucial outs to preserve a four-hit shutout. The Millmen gathered eight hits off the slants of Norm Forbes, three of which were home runs, a two-run shot by outfielder Clarke and bases-empty dingers nailed by Dean Freshfield and catcher “Nip” Ogilvie. Clarke had a brace of one-baggers to go along with his tater.
Chestnut (W) and Ogilvie
Forbes (L) and C. Campbell
(August 28) Fraser Mills qualified to meet the Young Liberals of Vancouver in the next round of the B. C. senior A playdowns when they eliminated the Victoria United Commercial Travelers 9 to 8 in a thrilling come-from-behind victory. The Victorians had taken a three-run lead by scoring six times in the sixth round as a result of some heavy slugging off southpaw starter Stan “Beaner” Jones of the Frasers. Doug Muscutt relieved Jones and held things in check while his mates narrowed the gap. In the final canto, it was his bases-loaded single which drove in the winning counter. Both teams belted the horsehide with vigor, each accumulating 14 safeties. Fly chaser Clarke of the Sawmillers clubbed a home run with two mates aboard. Seven two-baggers were registered, two by shortpatcher O’Dell of the winners. Clarke and first sacker Ray Hawkes of the Millmen as well as Harry Copas and Art Webster of the Travelers all checked in with three base blows.
Noble (L), Forbes (9) and Bowden, C. Campbell
Jones, Muscutt (W) (6) and Ogilvie
ROUND 3
Fraser Mills (New Westminster) vs
Young Liberals (Vancouver)
(Best-of-five series)
(August 30) A capacity crowd at Queen’s Park in New Westminster was on hand to witness the opening tussle of the provincial senior A semi-finals and, when it was all over, the Young Liberals of the Vancouver Senior City circuit had captured the skirmish, in convincing fashion, by a 6 to 1 verdict over the hosting Fraser Mills nine. The Grits got to a sore-armed Doug Muscutt for 11 safe blows while portsider George “Lefty” Kaye stymied the Lumbermen by allowing just two singles. A four-run fourth inning by the Politicians in which every counter came after two had been retired was the dagger in the heart of Frasers. Tat “Skinny” Larson with a double and single led the victors offensively while teammates Haley Jackson and Nick Craig both contributed a brace of one-baggers.
Muscutt (L) and Ogilvie
Kaye (W) and Bacon
(September 1) The Young Liberals of Vancouver took a stranglehold on their B. C. semi-final series against Fraser Mills by turning back the Millmen for the second time in as many starts, this time by a 5 to 1 score. Up until the seventh inning of this Athletic Park clash, it was an even battle although the Grits always appeared the more likely team to take the lead. The big break finally came in the eighth chapter when the Royal City champions had a defensive meltdown. leading to a three-spot by the victors. Al Scott had a horrible time at the keystone sack position, contributing three of his club’s six miscues. The Lumbermen were also out-hit 10 to 6 by the Politicians as Lib chucker Hal Puder was able to pull himself out of any hole he created by his wildness. Charlie Miron racked up three safeties for the winners, all one-baggers, and starred defensively along with teammate Cy “Rumpy” Seymour. Haley Jackson slammed a two-run round-tripper for the Grits in the pivotal eighth.
Puder (W) and Bacon
Chestnut (L) and Ogilvie
(September 4) A five-run splurge in the sixth frame boosted the Young Liberals of Vancouver to a 6 to 3 victory over Fraser Mills of the New Westminster & District circuit and a three-game sweep of their B. C. senior A semi-final series. The Grits, trailing 3 to 0, got to losing twirler Doug Muscutt for six of their 11 hits in the pivotal sixth and moved ahead to stay. Winning pitcher George “Lefty” Kaye was nicked for ten hits but they were much more scattered than those which Muscutt yielded. When he encountered trouble, which was often, Kaye also showed his best. Hec Cann, Nick Craig and Rap Solloway had two hits each for the winners while catcher Clarke, second baseman O’Dell and shortstop Ray Hawkes of the Millmen responded with equal swat totals.
Muscutt (L) and Clarke
Kaye (W) and Bacon
Lower Mainland post-elimination challenge series
Burnaby, Twilight League champions, and the Asahis, winners in the Terminal League, played a challenge best-of-three series following their elimination from the 1926 B. C. senior A playoffs.
(September 2) Terminal League diamond style, as purveyed by the young, smart Asahis, proved superior to Twilight League brand of baseball as played by Burnaby’s battling pastimers, in the first clash between the foes for the consolation championship of the lower mainland. Dave Gray of the Burnabyites, and his strong right arm, tried nobly to stand the Japanese on their heads, sending ten of them back to the bench after a third strike but, it was all in vain as the Nippons played airtight defensively and blanked the suburbanites 3 to 0. Gray limited the Rising Sun nine to just four hits but three of them counted in the scoring. Winning chucker Roy Nishidera not only tossed a six-hit shutout but did not walk a batter and allowed only one Burnaby baserunner to reach second base. Young Roy Yamamura sparkled at shortstop for the winners, cutting off several likely-looking hits with his speed and quick pegs to bases. The Nippons counted singletons in each of the first, third and fourth stanzas with Yamamura and second sacker Satochi “Sally” Nakamura slamming triples which produced markers.
Gray (L) and Warren
Nishidera (W) and Yasui
Seattle Nippons vs Vancouver Asahi
(September 7) In the midst of their series with Burnaby, the Asahis faced off with the Seattle Nippons in a Labor day doubleheader, the Puget Sound squad taking the morning game 2 to 1 while dropping the afternoon encounter 17 to 14. Roy Nishidera and Seattle’s Nagamine hooked up in a pitcher’s joust in the opener with Nagamine winning out on the basis of a four-hitter. The Vancouverites did not field up to their usual defensive standard, making five miscues. The final contest was a not only a slugfest but was loosely-played by both aggregations.
(September 9) The Asahis completed the conquest of Burnaby, Twilight League champions, when smart base running and timely hitting enabled them to defeat Dave Gray and the Suburbanites 2 to 0, a win which earned them the Fay O’Neill trophy. Roy Nishidera, with a three-hitter, grabbed his second shutout win of the series. The Nippons swiped five bases and racked up six safeties with outfielder Eddie Kitagawa picking up two of those.
Nishidera (W) and Yasui
Gray (L) and Warren
FINALS (Best-of-three series)
Vancouver Young Liberals vs Rossland Miners
Tucked high in the Monashee Mountain range, and situated 6 miles uphill from Trail, Rossland is lodged in the eroded crater of a long-extinct volcano. With the 1926 census showing 2,100 people as a population count, the Golden City diamondeers were regarded as a real long-shot in their first-ever quest for provincial senior A baseball supremacy.
(September 9) Picking off a one-run lead in the first frame and never being headed thereafter, the Rossland Miners took first blood in the best-of-three series with the Vancouver Young Liberals, grabbing a 4 to 3 win in the opening game of the B. C. Senior A baseball finals, a contest played on a neutral diamond in Nelson. After a wobbly start, Vancouver chucker Hal Puder settled down and finished with an eight-hitter while winning moundsman Don McKenzie of the Miners was nicked for five safeties. One of the base raps McKenzie surrendered was a solo homer to Cy “Rumpy” Seymour in the third panel. With the score knotted 4 – 4 in the bottom of the eighth canto, McKenzie won his own game when he laid down a perfect bunt allowing baserunner Ferko, who had tripled, to scamper in from the hot corner. The Grits made a valiant attempt to tie things once again in the top of the ninth but, after Seymour had clouted a two-out ground-rule double, Rossland infielder Teeters pulled down Tat Larson’s scorching line drive to end matters. Seymour wound up as the contest’s leading swatter with three safeties, collecting a single to go along with his round-tripper and two-bagger.
Puder (L) and Smith
McKenzie (W) and Ferko
(September 11) The Rossland Miners captured the Senior A baseball championship of British Columbia on their home turf by taking the Young Liberals of Vancouver into camp to the tune of 5 to 3. The game was featured by four home runs, two of which were belted by Rossland’s Hunton, a pickup from Trail who replaced a hospitalized Golden City player. Teammate Leo Burke also smashed a circuit clout. Hunton’s second dinger, a two-run shot, came in the eighth stanza and provided the Mountainmen with their margin of victory. The calls of plate umpire Laird were not popular with the Grits, the game ending in a miniature donnybrook in which players and spectators joined. Laird was obliged to seek police protection to leave the ballpark. Alex “Lefty” Simons smashed a home run for the vanquished nine who played good but listlessly, citing the unfamiliar high altitude for their less-than-stellar performance.
Craig (L) and Bacon
Marsters, Cobain (W) (6) and Ferko
A Vancouver Province sports reporter, signing off on his column with the initials A.R.D., pointed out that the the Young Liberals had used a pickup, Jimmy Watters of the Elks, who had been granted permission by the B.C.A.B.A. to play solely if regular Hec Cann of the Grits had been unable to make the trip to the Kootenays. As it turned out, Cann did indeed journey with his mates to the Interior and both Cann and Watters played the entirety of the series. Had Rossland been defeated in either game, the grounds were there for a successful overturning of the results.
1926 B. C. SENIOR B BASEBALL PLAYDOWNS
A growth in the number of leagues registered as Senior B circuits was evident in 1926, particularly within the lower mainland of British Columbia.
Ten Senior B circuits throughout the province entered the fray for B. C. laurels. A team from Abbotsford eventually emerged as a deserving provincial titlist. Not only did the Fraser Valley nine win a remarkable 14 of their 15 league encounters in a loop which included teams from Langley, White Rock and Ladner, they then eliminated clubs representing five different circuits in their march toward the Senior B tiara. Along the playoff trail, Abbotsford vanquished the Port Haney Rivermen, the New Westminster Elks, the Squamish Indians, the Vancouver Island champions from Alberni and, finally, the Interior representatives, the Trail Sheiks. Led by 42-year old pitcher Frank Minckler, who toed the rubber in every one of his team’s games, the West Valley outfit amassed a 1926 league and playoff record of 24 – 2 – 1. They concluded their awesome season by beating a team from Blaine, Washington 8-2 in a benefit game staged to aid two players from Langley who were injured during the regular season.
DELTA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Abbotsford
Ladner
Langley
White Rock
SEMI-FINALS
1926 Lower Mainland/Vancouver Island Senior B final game reports
Abbotsford vs Alberni (best-of-three series)
(September 6) Pitcher Frank Minckler whiffed whiffed seventeen and allowed only three scattered hits as Abbotsford overwhelmed the Island champions from Alberni 10 to 0 in the opener of their B. C. Senior B semi-final series played at Athletic Park in Vancouver. The Port team gave losing twirler Miles, who fanned ten, very poor defensive support. Minckler and teammate Mutch each had two hits for the winners.
Miles (L) and North
Minckler (W) and Fossett
(September 7) Abbotsford took a second one-sided contest from Alberni, this one an 18 to 3 pasting, to advance to the provincial Senior B finals.
1926 Interior Senior B baseball final game reports
Trail Sheiks vs Revelstoke (best-of-three series)
(September 7) The Trail Sheiks and Revelstoke must play a third and deciding game to settle the Interior Senior B baseball championship after splitting their first two jousts. The Sheiks captured the morning game 5 to 4 which took 12 innings to complete. First baseman Dorman doubled home second sacker Matovich with the winning counter in the third overtime session.
Spurgeon (W) and Marshall
Pradolini (L) and Kincaid
Hosting Revelstoke stayed alive with a decisive 10 to 3 triumph in the late encounter. Although both squads were credited with seven base blows, winning pitcher Granstrom of the Mainliners was much more effective in clutch situations than the trio of Trail hurlers and received almost perfect support from his mates.
Granstrom (W) and Kincaid
Dorman (L), Gavrilik (6), DeMore (6) and Marshall
(September 8) The Trail Sheiks advanced to the B. C. Senior B finals after decisioning homestanding Revelstoke 11 to 6 in the third game of their best-of-three series. The Silver City nine out hit the Mainline Leaguers by a 13 to 8 margin and didn’t have as many defensive lapses afield as their hosts, although both teams played ragged at times. Catcher Matty Marshall ripped four hits for the winners, one of which was a double. First sacker C. Henderson was best with the hickory for the losing nine, cracking a triple, double and single. Outfielder Louis DeMore hit a three-run homer for the Sheiks in the fifth frame.
Spurgeon (W) and Marshall
Granstrom (L), Pradolini (7) and Kincaid
FINALS (best-of-three series)
Trail Sheiks vs Abbotsford
(September 11) Committing twelve errors, the Trail Sheiks were hammered 8 to 2 by Delta League champion Abbotsford in the opener of the 1926 Senior B baseball finals. 42-year-old chucker Frank Minckler, who has pitched every game Abbotsford has participated in this season, fanned 13 Smeltermen in tossing a six-hitter for the mound triumph. The Fraser Valley squad broke a close game open with four markers in the eighth panel. Minckler and keystone sacker Mutch had two safeties apiece for the winners.
Minckler (W) and Fossett
Spurgeon (L) and Marshall
(September 13) Abbotsford annexed the Senior B baseball championship of B. C. by blanking the Trail Sheiks 10 to 0 in a loosely-played contest, sweeping the series in two straight games. Winning pitcher Frank Minckler allowed the visitors but four scattered hits and fanned 16 batters. The winners racked up seven base hits with Minckler accounting for two of them. Trail catcher Matty Marshall, who does a splendid job behind the plate, despite the handicap of a crippled leg, lit up Minckler for a pair of safeties.
DeMore (L), Matovich (3) and Marshall
Minckler (W) and Fossett