1937 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1937 BC Interior
1937 Vancouver Island
1937 Vancouver Prologue
1937 saw many changes within Vancouver baseball circles. A professional team, the Maple Leafs, was granted a franchise in the 1937 Western International League, a class B circuit revived after 14 seasons in mothballs. Some of the elite players from the 1936 Vancouver Senior City League were signed by American entries in the resurrected loop.
Within the senior amateur scene, the Terminal League folded and the Commercial League suffered a blow when the 1936 champion Asahis succumbed to the allure of stepping up in competition and decided to try their hand at playing in the prestigious Senior City association of semi-pro teams, initially adding a few outside imports to their roster as a means of becoming more competitive. This move met with mixed feelings, however, as some felt it was an abandonment of their all-Nipponese roots. The experiment proved to be a bad decision and, after limping along in the cellar, Asahi management decided in late June to drop out of the Senior City League and re-join the Commercial group. Oddly enough, despite their dismal record, the offensively-challenged Asahis boasted the leading hitter, outfielder “Mousie” Masuda, in the semi-pro circuit for most of the early season.
The leagueless IOCO Imperials, champions of the 1936 Terminal League, added a few players from other teams of the defunct loop and remained active in exhibition play.
Inclement weather played havoc with scheduling of games in all operating leagues, especially in late April and the first half of May.
Vancouver Senior City League
A four-team loop to begin the campaign, the Senior City League accepted the Asahis from the Commercial League to replace the departed Arrows franchise. Reduced to three entries when the fan-favourite Nippons withdrew in late June to return to the Commercial circuit, the loop then added inter-league games against Bellingham WA to fill the void.
(April 27) Following a pair of postponements, the Senior City baseballers finally got rolling at Athletic Park where the perennially-gritty Athletics climbed aboard the mid-season chucking of portsider Hal Straight to nose out the United Distillers Limited band of diamondeers 3 to 2. The A’s counted all three of their runs in the top of the initial canto on Charlie Miron’s RBI single and Ralph Stong’s two-run double. Straight was in rare form, stymying the Distillers on four singles, and, despite the fact that his mates committed four errors behind him, was only in hot water during the fourth frame when U.D.L. plated both their counters. Stong and catcher Hal O’Banion both stroked a two-bagger and single for the winners.
Richardson (L) and Henry
Straight (W) and O’Banion
(April 28) U.D.L. hammered Arnold & Quigley 20 to 8 in a hard-hitting exhibition of baseball at Athletic Park. The two combatants totaled 28 base hits with the Distillers grabbing 15 of them. It was a disastrous fourth inning that spelled the undoing of the Quigs. Four of their chuckers were belted for 11 counters in that panel. Catcher Ed Henry collected four hits for the winners, all singles, while Bruce Thirsk had three safeties including a double. Playing-manager Don Stewart followed with a home run and single. Second sacker Jimmy Morrison was top dog with the stick for the Clothiers with a double and a brace of one-baggers.
Boston (L), Yehle (4), McKay (4), Montador (4) and Trasolini, Telosky
Jowett (W), Smith (7) and Henry
(May 5) Southpaw hurling by two such slickers as Hal Straight and newcomer Reg Wallis tamed the U.D.L. sluggers as the Athletics took a smartly-played Senior City league tilt 3 to 1 at Athletic Park. At that, Bill Richardson, ace hurler of the Distillers, had tough luck in losing the mound verdict. After allowing the A’s to score a pair in the opening frame and a singleton in the third, Richardson had the winners pretty well tamed and retired them in order most of the way. Keystone sacker Frankie Plouf of the A’s and U.D.L. shortstop Mel Fagundas both picked up a double and single.
Straight (W), Wallis (5) and O’Banion
Richardson (L) and Henry
(May 11) Five circuit-clouts featured a snappy Senior City League contest at Athletic Park and four of them were manufactured by sporters of the Athletics’ livery. The result was a rather one-sided 7 to 2 triumph for the A’s over Arnold & Quigley. Veteran Charlie Miron set the pace for the Athletic victory, rifling two-round-trippers onto Sixth Avenue to go along with a single. Teammates Tommy Kennedy and Frank Hall turned the trick once each while A & Q’s Jimmy Watters replicated the honours.
Wallis (W) and O’Banion
Boston (L) and Telosky
(May 14) Highly jubilant over the fact that they were able to get back into action after having an even dozen of their last 19 scheduled games called off owing to ratty weather, the four Senior City League clubs put on a pair of smartly-contested matches at Athletic Park. Leading off the evening’s performance, the Asahis climbed aboard the six-hit pitching of Kaz Suga to dig themselves out of a close one with Arnold & Quigley, 4 to 3. The Athletics then copped the late encounter 3 to 2 over U.D.L. on the strength of Maurice “Elmer” Randall’s three-hitter combined with timely hitting of outfielder Charlie Miron.
Suga fashioned a six-hitter in the opener and came through with a pair of large hits that drove in two of his club’s runs. Roy Yamamura’s seventh-inning double drove in the other two Asahi counters. Outfielder “Mousie” Masuda of the Nippons and infielder Jimmy Morrison of the Clothiers both collected a brace of safeties while hot corner guardian Don Moore of the Quigs smashed a home run.
K. Suga (W) and Yasui
Montador (L) and Telosky
Randall whiffed eight in the finale to capture the mound joust over Tommy Musgrave who rang up 10 strikeouts. Tommy Kennedy and Charlie Miron led the eight-hit offense of the A’s with a couple of base raps each.
Randall (W) and O’Banion
Musgrave (L) and Henry
(May 15) The Athletics and Arnold & Quigley each plucked themselves a victory plum from the Senior City baseball bush at Athletic Park. The A’s managed a 6 to 1 verdict over the Asahis in the opener while the Clothiers scored twice in their last turn at bat to edge the luckless U.D.L. nine 8 to 7 in the sunset event.
The Asahis never got out of low gear in the afternoon tussle after the A’s rolled across four runs in the blowoff frame. Frankie Plouf and Coley Hall led the winners at the dish with three hits apiece with one of Plouf’s being a two-bagger. Charlie Miron clouted a solo round-tripper for the victors. Roy Yamamura and Joe Fukui each picked up a brace of knocks off the slants of winning chucker Jim Paul.
Paul (W) and O’Banion
Stewart (L) and Yasui
Hits and runs came in large gobs in the first few innings of the late affair before the game settled down into a fairly even race. George Smith’s two-run double settled matters in the top of the ninth for the Quigs. Don Moore of the Clothiers was the only batter from either side to gather two base hits.
E. Lewis, Boston (W) (4) and Telosky
Jowett, Edy (L) (3) and Henry
(May 18) Arnold & Quigley pummeled the outclassed Asahis 15 to 1 in a painful encounter at Athletic Park. The Quigs had the game in the bag after scoring three runs in each of the first two frames. Import Johnny Plouf, brother of the Athletics’ Frankie, lasted just 1 1/3 innings on the hill in his first appearance. The Clothiers hammered out 20 hits as outfielder George Smith led the way with a home run, triple and two doubles. Shortstop Schultz and outfielder Eddie Holden both had three safeties with a pair of two-baggers included in Schultz’ sum of swats and one in Holden’s total.
B. Lewis (W), Yehle (8) and Telosky, Trasolini
J. Plouf (L), T. Suga (2) and Yasui
(May 21) The U.D.L. pastimers outscored a peppery Arnold & Quigley crew 7 to 4 through continued rain at Athletic Park. All the scoring occurred in the first five rounds of the fracas and, after that, neither side could find their way to the plate. Each team had nine hits with Jackie Sherman and Billy Adshead of the Booze Barons as well as the Clothiers’ Norm Trasolini and Jimmy Watters cashing in for two apiece. Trasolini’s swats were both two-baggers while Sherman and Watters collected one double each.
E. Lewis, Boston (L) (2) , J. Smith (3) and Telosky
Richardson, Kershaw (W) (4) and Henry
(May 22) Doubleheader action at Athletic Park saw the Athletics knock of the Asahis 8 to 5 in the afternoon session while U.D.L. squeezed out a 6 to 5 decision over the Arnold & Quigley tribe in the late affair.
The A’s pounded 13 hits off a brace of Asahi flingers in the matinee clash.
K. Suga (L), Plouf and Yasui
Holden (W) and O’Banion
Jimmy Watters of the Quigs and the Distillers’ Don Stewart both cracked home runs in the second contest.
Musgrave (W), Jowett and Henry
B. Lewis (L) and Telosky
(May 24) Fans at Athletic Park were treated to a Victoria Day triple header as the United Distillers squad of baseballers led off with a 5 to 2 victory over the Asahis, the sandwich tussle being captured by Arnold & Quigley 3 to 0 from the Athletics and an evening exhibition skirmish wherein the invading Bellingham diamondeers concluded things by edging a bolstered U.D.L. nine 4 to 3.
Bill Richardson had the upper hand in the first game, limiting the Asahis to just five hits while loser Brad Stewart allowed seven safeties, several of them scratchy. Doubles by Bruce Thirsk of U.D.L. and Herb Tanaka of the vanquished nine were the game’s only extra-base hits.
B. Stewart (L) and Yasui
Richardson (W) and Henry
Harvey Pezzola pitched an efficient five-hitter for the Quigs in the middle contest before 3,500 customers. A & Q had a 1 to 0 lead after one inning was in the books but sealed the deal in the fifth on George Smith’s run-scoring three-bagger followed by catcher Andy Telosky’s RBI single.
Wallis (L) and O’Banion
Pezzola (W) and Telosky
Scoring three times in the third frame, the Tulip Towners led all the way in the last match of the day. Andy Padovan and F. Penzo of the Washingtonians as well as Billy Adshead of the reinforced Vancouverites each stroked two hits.
Carahar, V. Penzo (W) (4) and Padovan
Kershaw (L) and Henry
(May 26) Two highly-contested ball games kept 1,500 fans glued to their seats at Athletic Park until almost the final putout. U.D.L. moved into second place in the Senior City circuit, beating out the Asahis 4 to 3 to begin the action while the Athletics fattened their lead atop the loop by defeating Arnold & Quigley 3 to 0.
The Asahis fell behind 3 to 0 early in the opener but fought back to knot the count in the fourth on a pair of safety squeezes and a stiff double by Herb Tanaka. The Whiskey Wizards forged ahead for good, however, in the sixth on a run-scoring bloop single off the bat of Johnny Keith. Billy Adshead had a bases-empty inside-the-park four-bagger for the victors.
Jowett (W) and xxx
J. Plouf (L) and Yasui
The five-hit shutout pitching of Maurice “Elmer” Randall was the feature of the nightcap. Only Quigs’ outfielder George Smith, with three safeties, was able to solve the mystery of Randall’s offerings. Loser Fred Yehle was also nicked for just five base raps but they were bunched and proved his downfall. Frank Hall had a pair of run-scoring singles for the A’s.
Yehle (L) and xxx
Randall (W) and xxx
(May 27) Third baseman Jackie Sherman’s three-ply swat in the eighth frame cleared three heavily-laden bags and was directly responsible for a 5 to 1 U.D.L. victory over the loop-leading Athletics. Sherman’s sizeable clout not only broke a 1 – 1 deadlock but inflicted the first defeat of the season on A’s portsider Hal Straight. Sharing some of the spotlight was United’s chucker Tommy Musgrave who held the Athletics to just five hits, one of which was a solo homer by Tommy Kennedy. Catcher Ed Henry had a double and single for the winners.
Musgrave (W) and Henry
Straight (L) and O’Banion
(May 28) U.D.L. flinger Reg Jowett not only did a superb job in a relief capacity but also laced a single in the twelfth frame that broke up a 5 – 5 tie and gave the Distillers a hard-fought 6 to 5 win over the Asahis. Brad Stewart, the Asahis’ luckless hurler, lost himself another close ball game after tossing the entire 12 innings. Jackie Sherman had started the third session of overtime by singling and was advanced to second on a sacrifice, setting the stage for Jowett’s timely blow. Playing-manager Don Stewart of the Fermenters had the game’s longest swat, a seventh-inning round-tripper which tied the score.
B. Stewart (L) and xxx
Richardson, Jowett (W) (6) and xxx
(May 29) The Asahis won for only the second time this season when they took the measure of Arnold & Quigley 5 to 1 in the afternoon portion of a twin-bill. In the follow-up game, U.D.L. rattled off their fifth win in six starts, dropping the Athletics 4 to 2.
It was youthful Kaz Suga, the same pitcher who got credit for the Asahis only other victory, who did the chucking for the victorious Nippons in the opener. Suga limited the Clothiers to just six hits. Outfielder Frank Shiraishi led the victors at the platter, securing three safeties.
K. Suga (W) and Yasui
E. Lewis (L) and Telosky
The Distillers climbed aboard the smart seven-hit pitching of Ernie Kershaw to grab the late encounter. Billy Adshead, with a trio of bingles, led the winners’ 12-hit assault against loser Reg Wallis.
Wallis (L) and O’Banion
Kershaw (W) and Meyers
(May 31) The U.D.L. baseball nine moved into a tie with the Athletics for top spot in the Senior City League by overwhelming Arnold & Quigley 10 to 7 at Athletic Park. The game was dominated by the hitters although winning flinger Tommy Musgrave, despite giving up 15 base raps, hung on for the complete-game triumph. The Whiskey Makers racked up 17 base knocks off a quartet of A & Q tossers with Musgrave, Don Stewart and Mel Fagundas each picking up a triad. Outfielder George Smith of the Quigs had four hits while teammate Earl Lewis socked the contest’s lone four-bagger.
Musgrave (W) and Adshead
Pezzola (L), Boston (7), J. Smith (7), Yehle (7) and Telosky
(June 3) Swatters from the Arnold & Quigley nine pounced on three Athletic pitchers for 19 hits and as many juicy runs in disposing of the A’s 19 to 7. The nine scraggly innings left little for the fans to enthuse over, chiefly because of some butterfingery fielding on both sides. New A & Q shortpatcher, Paul McInnes, collected four hits in his league debut. Outfielder Eddie Holden of the Quigs rapped the pill for a homer, triple and double. while Ralph Stong was best with the stick for the A’s with a home run and two singles.
J. Plouf (W), Yehle (8) and Telosky
Randall (L), Carlin (4), Straight (7) and O’Banion
(June 4) The seventh-inning collapse of U.D.L. moundsman Ernie Kershaw enabled the wobbly Athletics, with newly acquired Tim Carlin doing the serving, to scramble back into top position in the Senior City circuit as the A’s held on for a 6 to 4 triumph over the Distillers. Noticeably tiring as the game waged on, Kershaw surrendered three seventh-frame counters which broke an existing 3 – 3 tie. The Athletics’ Coley Hall led the willow wielders with three hits including a two-bagger. Catcher Ed Henry was best with the baton for the Booze Boys, belting a homer and a single.
Kershaw (L), Musgrave (8) and Henry
Carlin (W) and O’Banion
(June 5) In what appeared to be little more than a routine batting practice session for U.D.L., the Distillers piled up 29 base blows, including three home runs by playing-manager Don Stewart, in completely annihilating the Asahis 20 to 9 to lead off a double-bill at Athletic Park. In a sputtering evening contest, the Athletics beat Arnold & Quigley 10 to 4. Three members of the Uniteds, Billy Adshead, Bruce Thirsk and Stewart, considerably fattened their batting averages by gleaning five hits apiece off a trio of ineffective Asahi chuckers in the one-sided opener.
Jowett (W), Richardson (9) and Henry
K. Suga (L), Stewart (2), Nishihara (8) and Yasui
Pat Thomas, youthful third baseman of the A’s was their sparkplug in the second-game victory. He picked up four hits, one of them a three-bagger with the bases full which was the turning point in a tie game.
Pezzola, Yehle (L) (3), J. Plouf (9) and Telosky
Wallis (W) and O’Banion
(June 7) In probably the best-pitched game of the season, U.D.L. blanked Arnold & Quigley 1 to 0 to move into a first-place tie with the Athletics. Bill Richardson fanned 11 while spinning a four-hitter in taking the mound decision. Loser Harvey Pezzola was also in the groove, holding the Distillers to just five safeties. Had it not been for an RBI triple by Johnny Keith in the second inning, the clubs might still be going at it. Billy Adshead led the victors offensively with a double and single while outfielder Eddie Holden of the Clothiers had a brace of one-baggers.
Pezzola (L) and Telosky
Richardson (W) and henry
Standings W L Pct.
U. D. L. 12 6 .667
Athletics 10 5 .667
Arnold & Quigley 6 10 .375
Asahis 2 9 .182
(June 8) The nightmare continued for the badly-slumping Asahis as they fell before a barrage of runs in the sixth inning wherein the Athletics went on to smother them 20 to 9. For 5 1/2 innings, the A’s trailed but, in the sixth canto, they put up nine runs on the scoreboard to walk away with an easy verdict. Third baseman Pat Thomas of the victors distinguished himself by belting two booming homers out of the ball park. Teammates Charlie Miron and Ralph Stong also blasted round-trippers. A’s keystone sacker Frankie Plouf had four hits, all singles.
Stewart (L) and Yasui
Lambie, Randall (W) (2), Wallis (7) and O’Banion
(June 9) The Athletics increased their lead over U.D.L. when they bumped the Distillers 6 to 3 in a Senior City League tilt. The A’s bunched their blows for three runs in the third inning and were never headed after that. The United were not able to take advantage of six errors made by the Athletics, due primarily to their inability to fathom the left handed elbowing of Hal Straight. The A’s southpaw was pretty well the entire show. He held the enemy to four hits, Mel Fagundas getting three of them, and only in one frame was he in trouble when two consecutive fielding miscues put runners on base. The victors collected eleven bingles including a lusty four-ply wallop over the right field fence by Frank Hall. They kept up their attack in nearly every inning after the second frame and were threatening all the way, stranding twelve runners. Tommy Kennedy of the A’s had a consistent evening at the plate, slashing out a triad of one-baggers
Straight (W) and O’Banion
Musgrave (L), Jowett (7), Kershaw (8) and Henry
(June 12) The Asahis grabbed themselves a rare victory by nosing out the U.D.L. baseballers 6 to 5 in the afternoon portion of a double-dip at Athletic Park. In the late encounter, Bill “Chic” Sayles, Arnold & Quigley’s new pitching star from Portland OR, scrambled the Athletics on six scattered hits as the Quigs prevailed 4 to 1.
An eighth-inning counter by the Asahis was the difference maker in the opener. The only extra-base hits in the contest, all doubles, came off the bats of three Nippons, Nag Nishihara, Kaz Suga and import third baseman George Hinaga.
T. Suga, K. Suga, Takami (W) and Yasui
Jowett, Richardson (L) and Henry
Sayles’ performance in the nightcap didn’t end with his hillock stint. He also slapped out the only double of the evening which drove in a pair of runs. Quig second sacker Jimmy Morrison had a triad of base raps in support of Sayles.
Carlin (L) and O’Banion
Sayles (W) and Telosky
(June 14) The Bellingham diamond pastimers were soundly spanked by the hosting Arnold & Quigley nine 14 to 5 in an exhibition match at Athletic Park. It was a lusty-hitting affair with pitchers on both sides taking it on the chin. The Quigs never trailed after taking an early 3 to 0 lead. Outfielder George Smith and keystone sacker Don Moore paced the Clothiers offensively with four base blows apiece. Included in Smith’s total of swats was a triple while Moore’s sum embraced a pair of doubles. Catcher Andy Padovan and outfielder Meyers had three safeties each for the Tulip Towners.
B. Lewis (L), Isekite (6) and Padovan
Pezzola (W), Yehle (8) and Telosky
(June 18) Earl Lewis garnered his initial pitching victory of the season as Arnold & Quigley lambasted the hapless Asahis 10 to 1 in the first of a pair of seven-inning games at Athletic Park. Ernie Kershaw, working on the hill for U.D.L. in the second game, set the erstwhile league-leading Athletics down without a hit as the Distillers went to the head of the class with a 3 to 1 victory.
In the opener, Lewis, affectionately known as “Bird Legs” limited the not-so-nippy Nippon aggregation to six hits. The Asahis contributed to their own downfall by making six fielding blunders. The Quigs added some lusty willow work to the proceedings and were winners going away. Jimmy Watters, Don Moore and George Smith led the offensive attack, each getting three bingles.
Takami (L) and Yasui
E. Lewis (W) and Telosky
In spite of going hitless, the A’s were not blanked by Kershaw as they nabbed a run in the fourth frame of the late game on two infield errors. Pat Thomas’ hitting streak of 13 successive games ended with Kershaw’s masterful touch. Catcher Ed Henry had two of the five U.D.L. hits off loser Reg Wallis.
Wallis (L) and O’Banion
Kershaw (W) and Henry
(June 19) U.D.L. baseballers increased their lead atop the Senior City League by virtue of a 16 to 3 conquest of the cellar-dwelling Asahis.
xxx (W) and xxx
T. Suga (L), K. Suga (1), Nishihara (5) and xxx
(June 21) Bill Richardson and his U.D.L. mates got the best of Hal Straight and the Athletics in a battle between the top contenders which saw the Uniteds emerge as 7 to 2 winners. Neither pitcher was in top form although Richardson minimized the damage by keeping ten safeties well scattered. The two runs the A’s did manage to acquire were solo homers by Charlie Miron and Frankie Plouf. Meanwhile, the Distillers were lighting up the usually-stingy Straight for 15 base swats which came in large and attractive bunches. Ross Edy and shortstop Harry Marionetti led the way with four knocks apiece including round-trippers by each.
Richardson (W) and Henry
Straight (L) and O’Banion
(June 23) The Vancouver Sun edition of this date reported that the Asahis would be leaving the Senior City League to return to the Commercial League of which they are defending champions. To replace the Nippon team, Senior League officials plan on including inter-league games with Bellingham of the Northwestern League in the remainder of the schedule with the results to count in the standings and league statistics.
(June 24) “Chick” Sayles chalked up his second route-going hurling win since arriving in Vancouver to don an Arnold & Quigley uniform when he fired a four-hitter in leading the Clothiers to a narrow 4 to 3 triumph over the top-dog U.D.L. aggregation. The victors were led at the dish by outfielder Eddie Holden who had a double plus a run-scoring single in the fifth frame which tied the game. The winning run came later in the same canto on a perfectly-executed double steal.
Musgrave, Kershaw (L) (2) and Henry
Sayles (W) and Telosky
(June 25) A goodly crowd was on hand to witness the Arnold & Quigley crew slapping the Athletics for an 8 to 5 loop at Athletic Park. The A’s, with newcomer Bill Koch on the knoll, were merrily rolling along with a 5 to 3 lead tucked in their back pocket when Fred Yehle, pitching in relief for the Quigs, led off the seventh canto with a double. A two-bagger by Jimmy Watters and a triple by Don Moore followed and, before the inning was over, the Clothiers had forged ahead 7 to 5. Yehle shut the door on the Athletics after entering the game in the bottom of the second after the A’s had roughed up starter Earl Lewis for a quick 5 to 1 lead. George Smith had three hits for the winners including a two-bagger. Moore had a double to go along with his three-ply swat. Koch singled twice for the vanquished nine.
E. Lewis, Yehle (W) (2) and Telosky
Koch (L) and O’Banion
(June 26) U.D.L. suffered a double trimming at Athletic Park, dropping an afternoon encounter to the Athletics 5 to 2 before falling under a late barrage of Arnold & Quigley artillery in their second outing wherein they absorbed a devastating 3 to 2 setback.
Winning pitcher Reg Wallis’ two-run single in the sixth inning of the afternoon game broke a 2 – 2 tie and sent the Athletics ahead to stay. Both teams garnered seven base hits.
Randall, Wallis (W) (2) and O’Banion
Musgrave (L), Jowett (6), Kershaw (7) and Henry
The second event was a scoreless pitching duel for the initial eight stanzas. The Distillers broke through with a brace of counters in the top of the ninth off winner Harvey Pezzola on an error and a pair of hits by Ed Henry and Bruce Thirsk but the Clothiers roared back in the bottom of the frame, knotting the count on shortstop Paul McInnes’ two-run single. Cleanup hitter George Smith then provided a walkoff finish by drilling a sharp run-scoring single off loser Bill Richardson.
Richardson (L) and Henry
Pezzola (W) and Telosky
(June 28) Inter-league play got underway with the Athletics handily disposing of Bellingham 10 to 6. Two big innings, the fourth and fifth, swung the battle in favour of the A’s. Frank Plouf’s two-run homer capped a four-run fourth for the winners and sent them in the lead for good. Plouf finished the contest with three hits. Young shortstop Hec McDonald had a run-scoring triple and a single for the victors while teammate Coley Hall got in a couple of stout clouts.
Johnson (L), B. Lewis (5) and Padovan
Straight (W) and xxx
(July 1) The touring Shreveport Colored Giants put on an impressive showing in sweeping an exhibition double-bill from the bolstered Athletics squad by scores of 7 to 0 and 3 to 0. The barnstormers racked up 12 hits in each contest while the A’s were only able to muster six safeties in the opener and a paltry three in the evening match. Both Shreveport chuckers had the homesters eating out of their hand with second-game tosser, 18-year old Bradley, in particular, looking impactful in punching out ten batters while increasing his strikeout total for nine games to 148.
Coley (W) and Dawson
Wallis (L), Koch and Telosky
Bradley (W) and Dawson
Straight (L), Baer and O’Banion
(July 2) The Athletics and Arnold & Quigley pastimers mixed a lot of errors with some timely swatting which gave fans some exciting moments at Athletic Park and, when it was all over, the Athletics found themselves nursing the large end of a 9 to 6 score. Four home runs were clouted in this contest as Jimmy Watters, George Smith and Sandy Henderson connected for the Quigs while Frankie Plouf reciprocated for the A’s. Plouf and teammate Pat Thomas both wound up with the highest total of safeties, three.
Wallis (W) and O’Banion
E. Lewis (L), Pezzola (5), Boston (8) and Trasolini
(July 3) Bill “Chic” Sayles, the Arnold & Quigley ace, chucked the Clothiers to an 8 to 6 decision over an out lucked U.D.L. squad. The Distillers could have could have won this game had it not been for their ineptitude afield. Catcher Ed Henry belted a three-run homer for the Uniteds.
Richardson (L), Kershaw (6) and Henry
Sayles (W) and Telosky
Standings * W L Pct.
Athletics 16 9 .640
Arnold & Quigley 14 11 .560
U. D. L. 15 14 .517
* includes wins and losses against departed Asahis as well as with inter-league opponent Bellingham
(July 5) A three-run outburst in the final inning proved insufficient for the Athletics in their comeback quest as they fell 5 to 4 to U.D.L. in an exciting finish where the final out was recorded with the bases loaded. Both teams manufactured seven hits during the contest but outfielder Ross Edy of the Distillers was the only player to collect two.
Koch (L), Straight (3) and O’Banion
Baer, Musgrave (W) (1), Jowett (9), Richardson (9) and Henry
(July 6) Arnold & Quigley recorded a rather easy 10 to 5 triumph over pitching-short Bellingham when the two clubs clashed in an inter-league affair at Athletic Park. The Quigs put this one out of reach for the Tulip Towners by scoring four in the opening stanza and adding five more in the second. Top willow wielder during the event was shortstop Paul McInnes of the Clothiers who crashed out two triples, a double plus a one-bagger. Jimmy Watters also got in a pretty fair lick at the plate, rapping out three sharp singles.
B. Lewis (L), Martinolich (2) and Padovan
Yehle (W) and Telosky
(July 7) With the Athletics in generous give-away mode through seven juicy errors, Arnold & Quigley knocked off the wobbling A’s 9 to 4 at Athletic Park. Winning tosser Bill Sayles of the Haberdashers wasn’t required to be at his best to cop this mound decision although he did record an even dozen strikeouts while giving up ten hits. The lusty clouting of Paul McInnes once again was a feature of this contest. The A & Q shortpatcher slammed a triple, double and single.
Sayles (W) and Telosky
Koch (L), Wallis (4) and O’Banion
(July 9) Arnold & Quigley moved a half-game ahead of the Athletics in the Senior City League standings after staging a late-inning surge to topple U.D.L. 7 to 5. Outfielder George Smith’s three-run homer in the seventh inning tied the score at 5 – 5 and proved to be the turning point in a highly delightful ball game. From there, the Men’s Wear Merchants went merrily along for another run in each of the next two innings to grab the laurels. Don Moore and Norm Trasolini each bagged three safeties for the victorious Clothiers.
Pezzola, Boston (W) (5), Yehle (9) and Trasolini
Vigre (L), Musgrave (9) and Henry
(July 10) “Silent” Bill Richardson, working behind the fairly brisk hitting of his U.D.L. teammates, snaffled the Distillers’ another win, a 6 to 2 conquest of the Athletics, in Senior City League action before a large crowd at Athletic Park. The A’s managed just six bingles off Richardson and plated their only two markers in the opening canto on a pair of swats including Coley Hall’s double. From there on, Richardson sailed along in great style. A pair of first-class errors in the second stanza put the Uniteds in front and they were never headed. Johnny Keith, Bruce Thirsk, Jack Sherman and Billy Adshead of the Whiskey Makers and the Athletics’ Frank Hall all banged out a brace of safeties.
Straight (L) and O’Banion
Richardson (W) and Henry
(July 12) The U.D.L. baseballers jumped all over the offerings of Bill “Chic” Sayles for eight runs in less than three innings, driving him from the knoll, as they went on to hammer Arnold & Quigley 16 to 3. The Distillers continued their assault on a pair of relievers and wound up with 21 base blows in recording the one-sided verdict. Billy Adshead had a truly remarkable evening at the plate for the victors, slamming the horsehide for six base knocks in six attempts. Eddie Holden smashed a two-run homer for the Clothiers off winning tosser Ernie Kershaw.
Kershaw (W) and Henry
Sayles (L), Yehle (3), Boston (8) and Trasolini
(July 13) Coley Hall, playing for a reinforced U.D.L. aggregation, slammed a pair of homers, one with two aboard and the other with one runner on, to go along with a brace of one-baggers as the Distillers easily trounced the touring House of David nine 12 to 2 in an exhibition tilt at Athletic Park. Elmer Vigre went the route on the knoll for the victors, recording six strikeouts while twirling a nine-hitter.
Lewis (L), H. Anderson (4) and Cain
Vigre (W) and Henry
(July 14) Smarting, no doubt, from the pasting they received from U.D.L. just 24 hours previous, the barnstorming House of David baseball club came back and squeezed out a 4 to 2 victory over a strengthened band of Arnold & Quigley diamondeers before close to 4,000 fans at Athletic Park. There was never much between the clubs in the way of scoring throughout the game and it was essentially a pair of homers by the bearded visitors that decided the outcome. Outfielders “Lefty” Deck and Eggleston were the swatters that launched the round-trippers.
Armstrong (W) and Cato
Pezzola (L), Sayles (7) and Trasolini
(July 15) The Athletics scored a pair of runs in the top of the thirteenth inning and withstood a ferocious comeback attempt by Arnold & Quigley in the bottom half of the frame to escape with an 11 to 10 extra-inning victory. Right from the start, it was a hard-hitting affair in which the lead changed hands throughout. The A’s walloped 20 base raps to 14 for the Quigs. Frankie Plouf picked up a double and three singles for the winners while shortstop Paul McInnes led the Clothiers with the stick, accumulating a trio of one-baggers.
Straight (W) and O’Banion
Boston, Yehle (L) (2) and Trasolini
(July 16) After trailing all the way, the U.D.L. baseballers scored four times in the bottom of the eighth frame and added another pair in the last half of the ninth to emerge with an 8 to 6 victory over the Athletics. Second sacker Johnny Keith’s two-run homer in the bottom of the final canto put the finishing touches on the comeback and provided the Whiskey Wizards, who were out hit by a healthy 14 to 8 margin, with the walkoff triumph. Keith not only banged out the most important hit of the contest but he also picked up a brace of singles to raise his total of swats to three, a sum duplicated by third baseman Pat Thomas and Frank Hall of the A’s. Coley Hall delivered a bases-loaded grand slam circuit-clout for the A’s in the fourth panel.
Koch, Wallis (L) (8) and O’Banion
Musgrave, Kershaw (4), Vigre (W) (9) and Henry
Standings * W L Pct.
Athletics 17 13 .567
Arnold & Quigley 17 13 .567
U. D. L. 19 15 .559
* includes wins and losses against departed Asahis as well as with inter-league opponent Bellingham
(July 19) Playing-manager Don Stewart’s triple in the second inning cleared the bases and paved the way for the U.D.L. conquest of Arnold & Quigley by a count of 6 to 3. In all, the Distillers trotted six baserunners across the dish in that fruitful frame to take complete control of the game, shoving the Quigs into second place in the process. Winning pitcher Bill Richardson of the Booze Barons was touched for seven hits, three of which were solo homers by Eddie Holden, George Smith and Andy Telosky. Outfielder Ross Edy scratched out a pair of safeties for the winners.
Pezzola, Yehle (3) and Telosky
Richardson (W) and Henry
(July 21) In spite of rapping out ten base hits to five for the United Distillers Limited aggregation, the Athletics fell to the Intoxicators 4 to 2 at Athletic Park. It was the big bat of skipper Don Stewart who again supplied the power for the Booze Barons, tattooing one of loser Bill Koch’s deliveries for a two-run homer which put them in front to stay. Frank Hall’s output of a double and single topped the A’s hit parade.
Koch (L) and O’Banion
Jowett (W) and Henry
(July 23) The strategy of issuing an intentional walk to fill the bases in anticipation of a double-play ground ball backfired and cost pitcher Harvey Pezzola and the Arnold & Quigley baseballers three runs, leading to their ultimate 6 to 4 setback at the hands of the Athletics. The Quigs were never able to fully recover from the results of that early misdirected strategy and trailed throughout the scuffle. Winning portsider Hal Straight held them to seven base raps, one of them being a home run by Ed Holden. Catcher Hal O’Banion socked a double and a pair of singles for the victors while teammate Pat Thomas chipped in with a two-bagger and single.
Straight (W) and O’Banion
Pezzola (L), Yehle (8) and Telosky
(July 24) Before an overflowing crowd at Athletic Park, the U.D.L. gang of diamond pastimers reeled off their sixth consecutive victory, slapping down Arnold & Quigley by a 3 to 1 count. Ernie Kershaw, with a six-hitter, once again held the upper hand on the Quigs’ mound ace Bill Sayles. Bill Adshead banged a third inning double which staked the winners to a 2 to 0 lead. Sayles was the only A & Q swatter who had any success against the elbowing of Kershaw, slamming a solo homer in the same frame to narrow the count to 2 to 1. The Distillers got to Sayles for an insurance tally in the sixth when an error allowed another runner to touch home plate after Sayles had loaded the sacks with a hit batsman and a pair of infield singles. Adshead added a triple to his total of swats later in the contest. Sayles also wound up with two hits, collecting a one-bagger in an ensuing turn at bat.
Kershaw (W) and Henry
Sayles (L) and Telosky
(July 26) Three bloop hits off Fred Yehle in the ninth inning were enough to break a 2 – 2 deadlock and prolong the Arnold & Quigley losing streak, sending the Athletics to a narrow 3 to 2 victory at Athletic Park. Winning chucker Earl Lewis and started the last frame merriment for the A’s with dying quail behind second base that fell in for a safety. A sacrifice by backstop Hal O’Banion moved Lewis to the keystone sack with one out. Pinch-hitter Hal Straight followed with another less-than-well-hit blooper just out of the reach of shortstop Paul McInnes as Lewis moved to third. Bert Mann’s bunt was then popped in the air but somehow found a sweet spot to drop out of the reach of Yehle, allowing Lewis to touch home plate with the deciding tally. Frank Hall had a triad of base swats for the A’s including a double. Lewis had a double earlier in the contest to bring his production of safeties to two. Sandy Henderson belted a two-run dinger for the Clothiers in the second frame while teammate McInnes picked up a double and single.
E. Lewis (W) and O’Banion
Yehle (L) and Telosky
(July 27) Young Bill Koch set the league-leading U.D.L. squad down on two widely scattered singles as the Athletics blanked the Distillers 3 to 0 at Athletic Park. The A’s scored all their runs off losing flinger Elmer Vigre in the seventh inning. Coley Hall, leading off the frame, slammed one out of the park for a 1 to 0 Athletic lead. Vigre, somewhat unnerved, walked the next batter, Ralph Stong, and after Tommy Kennedy sacrificed Stong into scoring position, Hal O’Banion delivered a well-placed single to drive in the second tally of the stanza. Koch then sounded the death knell for the Whiskey Makers when he cracked out a screaming double to end the scoring. Koch rang up ten strikeouts in recording his route-going mound triumph.
Koch (W) and O’Banion
Vigre (L), Jowett (7) and Henry
(July 28) A six-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth canto wiped out a 4 to 0 deficit and enabled Arnold & Quigley to emerge with a 6 to 4 triumph over the Athletics in a lively contest at Athletic Park. Reg Wallis had been sailing along with a comfortable lead when he got himself into a tough eighth-inning hole that swallowed him up. Run-producing hits by Sandy Henderson, Don Moore and Paul McInnes all of a sudden tied the score following an error, Andy Telosky’s one-bagger and a base on balls. Wallis got the hook at this point as reliever Hal Straight inherited a pair of baserunners. Quig outfielder George Smith quickly greeted Straight with a sharp drive that cleared the bases and left winning tosser Bill “Chic” Sayles with a two-run cushion to work with heading into the final round. Sayles was somewhat wobbly throughout the contest but emerged on top primarily because of his ability to fan opposition batters when needed. In all, he rang up 16 whiffs. Moore wound up as the top lumber slinger in the fracas, collecting a double and two singles. Frank Plouf picked up a double and single for the A’s.
Wallis (L), Straight (8) and O’Banion
Sayles (W) and Telosky
(July 30) The Piney Woods Collegians, who came through Vancouver last season as the colored St. Louis Blues, dropped an 11 to 9 exhibition game decision to the reinforced U.D.L. squad at Athletic Park. In this hard-hitting affair, outfielder Bruce Thirsk of the Distillers distinguished himself by clouting three home runs over the right field wall. Leadoff hitter Popeye of the Piney Woods nine also launched one out of the park. Thirsk added a single to his sum of swats bringing his total of base knocks to four.
Rodgers (L), Alexander (5) and Bass
Richardson, Musgrave (W) (4) and Henry
(July 31) The U.D.L. sluggers selected the fourth and fifth innings to hop on a pair of Arnold & Quigley chuckers for eight runs which produced an 8 to 2 triumph. Ernie Kershaw went the distance on the knoll for the Distillers, taming the Clothiers on an eight-hitter while fanning six. Leading the 14-hit offensive thrust of the victors was catcher Ed Henry who spanked the sphere for four safeties.
Kershaw (W) and Henry
Yehle (L), Pezzola (4) and Telosky
(August 2) Bellingham picked up their initial victory at Athletic Park this season when they hung a surprising 3 to 1 defeat on U.D.L. in inter-league play. The Tulip Towners were out hit 9 to 7 by the Distillers but took advantage of their openings. Outfielder Myers, playing in the middle pasture for the Washingtonians, was a defensive standout, hauling in nine fly balls hit his way. Billy Adshead of the Uniteds had the most production of any player at the plate, stroking three base raps.
Martinolich (W) and Padovan
Jowett (L), Vigre (8) and Henry
(August 3) Leading from the first inning onward, the Athletics maintained control and doubled Arnold & Quigley 8 to 4 at Athletic Park. Both squads stroked the horsehide for 12 base knocks in the somewhat uneventful tussle. Paul McInnes of the Clothiers and the A’s Hec McDonald both registered a double and a single.
Sayles (L) and Telosky
Wallis (W), Koch (5) and O’Banion
(August 4) U.D.L. pushed across two counters in the top of the tenth inning to capture a 5 to 3 argument from Arnold & Quigley. Ed Henry’s cued squibbler somehow evaded shortstop Paul McInnes and produced the unearned tie-breaker in the extra canto. Henry, after swiping the keystone sack, then plated an insurance tally on Bruce Thirsk’s single. Don Stewart and shortstop Harry Marionetti both picked up a double and single for the Distillers. Ed Holden, with a triple and one-bagger, was best with the baton for the Quigs.
Richardson, Musgrave (W) (4) and Henry
J. Lewis (L) and Trasolini
(August 4) The invading Vancouver Athletics clubbed their way to an 8 to 6 win over the Bellingham of the Northwest League in an inter-league game played in the Tulip Town. The visitors jumped into a 4 to 0 lead in the first three innings and were never headed after that. Frank Hall hit a home run for the A’s in the ninth.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(August 7) Coming through in the eighth frame with three runs, Arnold & Quigley defeated the Athletics 7 to 4. Outfielder Sandy Henderson of the Haberdashers proved to be the hero of the night. He made a thrilling one-handed snare of Frank Hall’s drive against the right field wall in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and the score tied which seemed to save the game. Then, leading off the bottom of the stanza, he crashed a home run drive which gave the Quigs the lead and upset the A’s so badly that they blew a tire and allowed two more to score before the finish. Keystone sacker Jimmy Morrison of the Clothiers emerged as the scuffle’s top swatter, drilling a double and two one-baggers.
Koch (L) and O’Banion
Sayles (W) and Telosky
(August 9) Scoring 12 runs in the sixth frame, the Athletics pounded out a 14 to 3 victory over U.D.L. at Athletic Park. The Distillers used five hurlers in a vain attempt to stop the Athletic batsmen in this heavy-hitting affair. Tommy Kennedy slammed the apple for two singles, a double and a homer in pacing the A’s at the dish. “Wimpy” Quinn wasn’t far behind with two singles and a homer. Ralph Stong of the winners and the Uniteds’ Johnny Keith both laced three singles while the Distillers’ Bruce Thirsk set some sort of a record with two sharp homers over the right field fence with the bases empty each time.
E. Lewis (W) and O’Banion
Kershaw (L), Musgrave (6), Vigre (6), Jowett (6), Richardson (9) and Henry
(August 11) Arnold & Quigley of Vancouver slugged their way to an 11 to 6 win over hosting Bellingham in inter-league action. Andy Telosky, John Lewis and winning pitcher Bill “Chic” Sayles all blasted three-run homers for the Clothiers off shell-shocked loser Felix Penso.
Sayles (W) and Telosky
F. Penso (L) and xxx
(August 11) Bill Richardson pitched the U.D.L. baseballers into first place in the Senior City loop at Athletic Park with a sweet 5 to 2 victory over the Athletics. Hal Straight was sent to the hill for the A’s but a roughish eighth inning wherein some scratchy hitting and some even scratchier fielding told a sad tale, allowing the Whiskey Makers to plate a quartet of counters which spelled defeat for the husky portsider. The Athletics had a slight 7 to 6 advantage in base blows as “Wimpy” Quinn singled twice and Ralph Stong clouted a four-bagger. Second baseman Johnny Keith led the victors at the platter with a brace of one-baggers.
Richardson (W) and Henry
Straight (L) and O’Banion
(August 13) Arnold & Quigley’s John Lewis hurled a fine four-hitter through 13 innings of mound work but came up the loser in the bottom of the fourth extra-frame when the Athletics’ Earl Lewis (no relation) led off with a single, was sacrificed to the keystone sack, moved to third on a passed ball and scored, after the bases became fully occupied on a pair of back-to-back walks, on Frank Plouf’s sacrifice fly. Bill Koch also went the 13-inning route in capturing the knoll triumph on an eight-hitter. Both chuckers fanned nine batters. Ralph Stong of the A’s had two base blows including a two-run homer. Ed Holden and George Smith of the Quigs both picked up two singles.
J. Lewis (L) and Trasolini
Koch (W) and O’Banion
(August 14) Arnold & Quigley, dwellers in the cellar at this stage of the senior City race, tossed a challenge into the startled faces of the U.D.L. ball nine at Athletic park in the form of a 22-hit barrage that pinned back the ears of five pitchers and resulted in a 14 to 9 victory for the Clothiers. The Uniteds, at one stage of the game, sported a 6 to 2 margin but the Quigs picked up a pair in the fourth and then exploded in the fifth for six tallies, sparked by winning pitcher Bill Sayles’ three-run round-tripper, to grab the lead for good.
Wallis, Sayles (W) (3) and xxx
Musgrave, Kershaw (L) (3), Vigre, B. Richardson, R. Richardson (8) and xxx
(August 16) Harvey Pezzola, who started the season with Arnold & Quigley and then transferred his allegiance to the Athletics a short while ago, faced his old mates for the first time since the switch and sailed along to a 5 to 2 victory, a win which boosted the A’s back into top spot in the Senior City circuit. The Quigs did manage to get ten hits off Pezzola’s chucking but it wasn’t until the eighth inning when Jimmy Morrison slapped one over the right field wall, with Ed Holden aboard, that the Clothiers were able to score. The A’s got to loser Reg Wallis for a 4 to 0 lead after four innings were in the books. Frank Plouf led the winners offensively with a double and single while teammate Ralph Stong connected for an eighth-inning circuit-clout, his third homer in as many games.
Wallis (W), Yehle (4), E. Lewis (7) and Telosky
Pezzola (W) and O’Banion
(August 17) The Athletics continued their late-season winning streak when they came from behind to turn back a determined U.D.L. squad 11 to 8. The combatants traded the lead early in the contest with the Distillers retaking command in the fifth, only to have the Athletics knot the count once more. With the score tied in the seventh canto, the A’s grabbed a two-run advantage when winning heaver Bill Koch drilled a sharp single which plated a pair. They stretched the lead to three in the eighth without benefit of a hit. Joe McCarthy and Koch both had two hits for the winning nine, a double included for each. Bruce Thirsk tripled and singled for the Booze Barons.
Straight, Koch (W) (5) and O’Banion
Richardson, Vigre (L) (5), Musgrave (8) and Henry
(August 18) The pace-setting Athletics maintained their recent momentum by slapping down the Arnold & Quigley aggregation 10 to 7 in an eleven-inning contest. Miscues played a prominent part in the final result of this hard-fought skirmish. A & Q went on a rampage in the sixth inning, scoring six times after falling behind 7 to 0. They drew even with the A’s in the eighth but their uphill comeback was foiled in the second extra-frame when losing flinger Bill Sayles weakened, allowing three base blows which, coupled with some shaky defensive work by his batterymate, Andy Telosky, resulted in the lead and insurance counters crossing the dish for the Athletics. Three home runs were hit in the fracas, Bert Mann and Ralph Stong connecting for the A’s and Sayles for the Quigs.
E. Lewis, Pezzola (W) (7) and O’Banion
J. Lewis, Sayles (L) (7) and Telosky
(August 18) Second-place U.D.L. travelled to Bellingham and came away with a tight 1 to 0 over the hosting Tulip Towners.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Standings * W L Pct.
Athletics 27 18 .600
U. D. L. 26 20 .565
Arnold & Quigley 22 23 .489
* includes wins and losses against departed Asahis as well as with inter-league opponent Bellingham
(August 20) With Bill Koch working an effective nine innings on the mound, the relentless Athletics snaffled themselves another win over the slumping Arnold & Quigleys, taking the Clothiers to task by a 6 to 2 count. Koch allowed the Quigs just four hits, one a solo homer by catcher Andy Telosky. Losing chucker Reg Wallis was hit freely by the A’s who nicked him for 14 base blows. First baseman Earl Lewis had a stellar performance with the lumber for the winners, stinging the pellet for two doubles and a pair of singles in five at-bats.
Koch (W) and O’Banion
Wallis (L) and Telosky
(August 23) Tommy Musgrave silenced the top-place Athletics on just two hits as U.D.L. cooled off the red-hot A’s 7 to 1 at Athletic Park. The victory for the Distillers kept them in the hunt for the playoff bye which goes to the first-place finisher. The Uniteds started early to put the game away and made the most of their ten hits off loser Harvey Pezzola. Third baseman Jackie Sherman was the hitting star for the victors with a double in the second inning which accounted for two runs and a single in the third which drove in another counter.
Pezzola (L) and O’Banion
Musgrave (W) and Henry
(August 25) The Arnold & Quigley Swat Merchants came through with an explosion of base hits in the bottom of the ninth panel to score three runs and edge U.D.L. 6 to 5. The devastating loss for the Distillers gave the Athletics first place in the final standings and a bye into the league finals. In arrears by two runs as they came to bat for the last time, the Quigs responded with run-scoring hits by “Chic” Sayles, a double, and Jimmy Watters to knot the count. Don Moore’s clutch single, his third hit of the game, then ended things and smothered the Uniteds’ last opportunity to catch the A’s for top-spot in the circuit. Shortstop Harry Marionetti launched a solo round-tripper for the Fermenters.
Jowett (L), Richardson (9) and Henry
Yehle, J. Lewis (4), Sayles (W) (7) and Telosky
Playoffs
Semi-finals (best-of-five)
United Distillers Limited vs Arnold & Quigley
(August 27) A confident Arnold & Quigley nine took a torrid 3 to 1 struggle from U.D.L. in the first game of the Senior City semi-finals. Jimmy Watters’ two-run single in the fifth stanza staked the Quigs to a 2 to 0 lead. A & Q got their other counter in the sixth when Paul McInnes singled and later crossed the plate on an infield out. The Booze Barons netted their lone tally in the seventh on a single, a walk, a fielder’s choice and an infield error. Bill “Chic” Sayles allowed just five scattered hits and whiffed eleven in grabbing the hillock decision. Watters had a three-bagger to go along with his single.
Richardson (L) and Henry
Sayles (W) and Telosky
(August 28) In spite of outplaying U.D.L. for most of the game, Arnold & Quigley baseballers failed in the pinches and dropped a narrow 3 to 2 decision to the Distillers in the second game of their playoff showdown. The Clothiers held a healthy 9 to 5 advantage in base hits acquired but it was the Uniteds’ who were able to bunch the swats into meaningful counters. Shortstop Harry Marionetti’s two-run four-bagger was the deciding hit in the game. George Smith, Jimmy Morrison and losing flinger John Lewis of the Quigs as well as catcher Ed Henry of U.D.L. each racked up a pair of base knocks.
J. Lewis (L) and Telosky
Kershaw (W) and Henry
(August 30) U.D.L. diamondeers got off to a rousing start, clubbing a pair of first-inning home runs by Billy Adshead and Harry Marionetti which staked them to a 3 to 0 lead, but wilted as the game went on and eventually succumbed to Arnold & Quigley 6 to 4 in the third match of their playoff set-to. Losing chucker Tommy Musgrave was unable to hold the three-run margin against the Clothiers who finally went ahead to stay in the fourth on a double by Jimmy Morrison, a walk to winning flinger Fred Yehle plus hits by Jimmy Watters and Don Moore which accounted for three runs. Outfielder Ed Holden’s solo homer in the seventh canto provided an insurance tally.
Musgrave (L) and xxx
Wallis, Yehle (W) (1), J. Lewis (9) and xxx
(September 1) Bombarding five U.D.L. pitchers for 31 base hits, Arnold & Quigley romped to a 23 to 3 demolishing of the Distillers at Athletic Park to mercifully eliminate the Uniteds from further playoff action. The Clothiers were inspired by the pitching and batting of Bill “Chic” Sayles as every swatter in the lineup had at least two base knocks. Sayles had two stinging home runs, one with the bases loaded, while he pitched his usual effective game. He wound up with five safeties while teammates Jimmy Watters and Paul McInnes had four apiece.
Sayles (W) and Telosky
Kershaw (L), Richardson (5), Musgrave (6), Jowett (6), Edy (7) and Henry
Finals (best-of-seven)
Arnold & Quigley vs Athletics
(September 3) After a ten-day layoff, the first-place Athletics returned to action on the diamond and, without missing a beat, rang up 18 base hits in doubling Arnold & Quigley 10 to 5 to assume a one-game cushion in the league finals. The combatants were tied 5 – 5 after five innings were in the books but the A’s took the lead in the sixth on the strength of a two-spot and then put the game to bed with three more in the ninth. Coley Hall and winning flinger Hal Straight both blasted home runs for the victors while teammates Frank Hall and Hal O’Banion as well as Paul McInnes and Andy Telosky of the Clothiers each stung the horsehide for three base blows.
Straight (W) and O’Banion
J. Lewis (L) and Telosky
(September 4) The Arnold & Quigley troupe of diamondeers rebounded following their first game defeat to easily subdue the Athletics 11 to 1 and knot the series at a game apiece. “Chic” Sayles turned in one of his best mound performances of the season for the Quigs while his teammates, as usual, gave him plenty of run support.
Sayles (W) and Telosky
Koch (L), E. Lewis (5) and O’Banion
(September 6) A superb relief pitching performance by George “Lefty” Boston lifted the Arnold & Quigley nine to an 11 to 6 victory over the Athletics and a two games to one lead in the Senior City finals. Boston came to the aid of A & Q starter Fred Yehle in the second stanza after the A’s had hung up a four runs for a healthy lead. While his mates were pecking away at the deficit over their final five turns at bat, Boston kept the door closed until the eighth when he allowed a brace of counters. But, by then, the Clothiers had seized the lead big time and were in no danger of losing it. The contest’s leading bludgeoner was shortstop Bert Mann of the A’s who rang up four loud blows. Catcher Andy Telosky was top dog with the lumber for the Quigs with three base raps while teammate Ed Holden smashed a home run.
Koch (L), Pezzola (8) and O’Banion
Yehle, Boston (W) (2) and Telosky
(September 6) The United Distillers Limited diamondeers out of the Vancouver Senior City Baseball League won the baseball tournament that featured Penticton’s annual Labor Day sports agenda. U.D.L. was hard pressed in defeating the Penticton senior baseballers 5 to 3 in the tournament final in the Fruit Growing community. Southpaw Reg Jowett of the Coast squad earned the mound win over Penticton’s Les Gould. Jowett whiffed 12 while Gould fanned 10. Jowett had a no-hitter through six innings. The U.D.L. aggregation had a narrow 9 to 8 advantage in base hits. Rival outfielders Jackie Sherman of the Distillers and Alymer Cousins of Penticton each picked up a triple and single.
Jowett (W) and Henry
Gould (L) and Watkins
(September 8) Bill “Chic” Sayles pitched and batted the Arnold & Quigley aggregation to their third consecutive victory over the Athletics, a 12 to 10 verdict, in the fourth meeting of the finalists. It was a hard-hitting affair which saw the Quigs amass 16 base hits to 14 for the A’s. A five-run outburst in the eighth canto essentially sealed the deal for the Clothiers. Sayles picked up two hits, including a homer, walked three times and scored four runs in support of his mound effort. Andy Telosky of the victors as well as “Wimpy” Quinn and Coley Hall of the vanquished nine all stung the apple for three base swats. Two of Quinn’s knocks were of the four-ply variety as he was directly responsible for six of the ten A & Q counters. Keystone sacker Jimmy Morrison of the Men’s Wear Merchants also slugged a four-bagger.
Sayles (W) and Telosky
Straight (L), E. Lewis (8) and O’Banion
(September 10) Before 5,000 excited fans at Athletic Park, the Athletics staved off elimination by turning back Arnold & Quigley 6 to 3 in the fifth clash of the final series. After falling behind 3 to 0 in the second panel, the A’s came to life in the fourth and, ignited by Frankie Plouf’s long home run with the sacks empty, scored three more off losing moundsman John Lewis before the final out was made, sending them on their way to victory. Plouf, Coley Hall and Ralph Stong of the winners each had two hits as did Jimmy Watters of the Haberdashers.
Koch (W) and O’Banion
J. Lewis (L), Boston (5) and Telosky
(September 11) Playing inspired baseball behind the solid seven-hit pitching of “Chic” Sayles, Arnold & Quigley proved their right to be called the 1937 champions of the Senior City Baseball League when they took a scrappy squad of Athletics out of the picture on the strength of a convincing 7 to 1 triumph. A four-run explosion in the fifth frame sent the Quigs on to victory. The A’s played poorly on defense, miscuing afield on six occasions and they were never able to put any sustained pressure on Sayles. Hot corner custodian Don Moore slapped out four swats for the Clothiers, two of these raps being doubles.
Sayles (W) and Telosky
E. Lewis (L) and O’Banion
Vancouver Commercial League
League composition remained at five teams for 1937 after the Asahis returned to the fold in late June. Lowney’s Chocolate moved over from the expired Terminal League while the Merritt-Gordons replaced the departed Forsts.
(May 18) Behind the stellar two-hit pitching of Burton, the Patricias blanked Grant Gunn 6 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Burton whiffed eight and walked nary a one. The Pats salted the game away with four runs in the first inning on three walks, a double by Van Hatten and singles by Neil Fullen and Joe Naples. Bert Lowes drove in the other pair of markers with a sixth stanza two-bagger. Charlie Vernon, catcher for the Hotelmen, registered a pair of doubles.
Burton (W) and Vernon
McIntyre (L), Peterson (2) and xxx
(May 20) Bunching a litany of third-inning base hits along with a walk and an error, the Patricias rattled off nine runs in that fruitful frame, more than enough to knock off Lowney’s 9 to 5 in a Commercial League fixture. The Pats used three chuckers in the fray. Starter and winner D. Davis was in frequent difficulty but weathered five innings, allowing only two runs and two hits.
Esplen (L), C. Davis (3) and xxx
D. Davis (W), Martin (6), Patton and xxx
(May 21) Pitcher Al Peterson of Grant Gunn held the Merritt-Gordons well in check and blanked them 5 to 0 in a Commercial League tilt at the Powell Street diamond. The Gunners slugged their way to a three-run lead in the opening frame. A three-bagger by Peterson started the winners on the right track. Losing twirler Jimmy Condon was plagued by poor defensive support but managed to ring up 12 strikeouts before he was given the hook in the seventh canto.
Condon (L), Maveety (7) and xxx
Peterson (W) and xxx
(May 26) George “Lefty” O’Leary helped himself to a no-hit, no-run game, the supreme delight of any baseball pitcher. Toiling on the hill for Lowney’s Chocolate, the portsider set down Grant Gunn 12 to 0. Only one Gunner reached first base, that on a walk. Bob Peters and infielder Inkster paced the Lowney hitting attack with three safeties each. O’Leary and Jimmy Biggan added two-ply swats to the offensive output of the Candymen.
O’Leary (W) and xxx
xxx (L), xxx, xxx and xxx
(May 27) The Grant Gunn baseballers grabbed a 9 to 7 extra-inning win from the Patricias at the Powell Street facility. Entering the overtime session, the score was deadlocked at 2 – 2 and the Gunners went on a seven-run rampage in the top half of the canto. The Pats then came right back and chased across five counters. Al Peterson survived the scare for the complete-game mound triumph. He also blasted a triple in the late outburst.
Peterson (W) and xxx
Patton, Burton, Gibb (8) and xxx
(May 28) Veteran pitcher Larry Holden emerged as the winner in a hurling joust with Chuck Davis as the Merritt-Gordons turned back Lowney’s 4 to 3 at the Powell Street grounds. The Emgees keystone combo of shortstop Walker and second sacker Roy Brown shared hitting honours for the contest with outfielder Jimmy Biggan of the Chocolatemen, each bagging a brace of safeties.
Davis (L) and Tinling
L. Holden (W) and Spicer
(June 1) Patricia Hotel pitcher, Burton, shut down Lowney’s on four scattered hits in leading the Pats to a 2 to 0 victory over the Candymen. Burton’s double in the second inning, off loser “Lefty” O’Leary, also drove in the game’s only two markers. O’Leary, of no-hit fame, was nicked for seven safeties including a brace of two-baggers by his mound opponent.
Burton (W) and xxx
O’Leary (L) and xxx
(June 2) With “Bud” Townsend firing a four-hitter, the Merritt-Gordons edged out Grant Gunn 4 to 2 in a Commercial League tilt at the Powell Street grounds. Townsend whiffed 10 batters while losing chucker Montador fanned an even dozen. Leading the seven-hit Emgee offense was Ralph Spicer who crashed a home run to go along with a pair of one-baggers.
Montador (L) and J. Tough
Townsend (W) and McLachlan, Spicer
(June 3) A four-run outburst in the sixth inning allowed the Lowney’s Chocolate gang of baseballers to overcome a 3 to 0 deficit and escape with a 4 to 3 triumph over the Merritt-Gordons. Outfielder Jimmy Biggan had four hits for the winners while Emgee second sacker Walker lit up winning tosser Charlie Davis for three safeties.
J. Condon, Holden (L) (6) and McLachlan
Davis (W) and B. Peters
(June 4) Catcher Grant’s lusty double in the last of the ninth inning drove in the game’s lone run as Grant Gunn shaded the Patricias 1 to 0. Moundsman Ted Blackford shutout the Pats with a fine four-hit display while whiffing five.
Gibb (L) and xxx
Blackford (W) and Grant
(June 8) Bunching their hits in the first, fifth and sixth innings, Lowney’s clubbed out a 9 to 3 win over Grant Gunn in Commercial League play. Johnny Esplen spaced seven Grant Gunn hits in going the route for the knoll triumph. The Chocolatemen ran wild on the bases, pilfering eight sacks. Jimmy Tough banged out a brace of doubles for the winners.
Esplen (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and Grant
(June 18) With their leadoff hitter, Joe Naples, cracking the apple for two triples and a double, the first-place Patricias bounced the Merritt-Gordons 5 to 1 in a Commercial League tussle at the Powell Street grounds. The win for the Pats increased their lead in the standings to three full games. Catcher Ralph Spicer was best with the willow for the Emgees, smashing the pill for a three-bagger and two singles.
Barton (L), Brown (4) and Spicer
Clark (W) and Vernon
(June 23) The Vancouver Sun edition of this date reported that the Asahis would be leaving the Senior City League to return to the Commercial League of which they are defending champions.
(June 24) A dropped fly ball in the sixth inning allowed the lead run to score and led directly to a 2 to 1 win by the Patricias over Grant Gunn in a snappy Commercial League contest at the Powell Street grounds. Jim Strachan hurled an effective four-hitter in taking the complete game knoll verdict for the Pats. He fanned ten along the way while hard-luck loser McIntyre of the Gunners was nicked for seven hits while fanning an equal number of batters. A three-bagger by McIntyre drove in the lone run for the losers in the second inning.
Strachan (W) and xxx
McIntyre (L) and xxx
(June 25) Lowney’s pitcher Roy Holden gained a victory over big brother Larry as the youngest of the illustrious baseball family appeared at the Powell Street grounds, handcuffing the Merritt-Gordons on three hits as the Chocolatemen prevailed 4 to 0. Youthful Roy also nicked his older sibling for a brace of hits. Teammate Jimmy Biggan led all swatters with a trio of base raps.
L. Holden (L) and xxx
R. Holden (W) and xxx
(June 29) The Asahis’ return to the Commercial Baseball League was a successful one as the Nipponese nine, having shed all their import players, defeated the Lowney’s Chocolate aggregation 7 to 2 at the Powell Street grounds. Effective relief pitching by Nag Nishihara, along with timely hitting, enabled the winners to overcome a third-inning 2 to 0 deficit and post the victory. Nishihara allowed only one hit and whiffed six during his stint as a fireman.
xxx, Nishihara (W) (4) and xxx
Esplen (L) and xxx
(June 30) With Jimmy Condon in top form on the mound, the Merritt-Gordons turned back the league-leading Patricias 6 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. Condon limited the Pat sluggers to just two bingles and was accorded air-tight support from his teammates. The Emgees climbed aboard the slants of losing flinger Gibb for 11 safeties.
Condon (W) and xxx
Gibb (L) and xxx
(July 2) Veteran left-hander Ty Suga set the Grant Gunn baseballers down on one hit as the Asahis registered a 3 to 0 Commercial League victory. The Nippons combed losing twirler McIntyre for ten hits including a solo homer by Kaz Suga in the third canto.
T. Suga (W) and Yasui
McIntyre (L) and Grant
(July 6) Behind the six-hit pitching of Johnny Esplen, Lowney’s turned back the league-leading Patricias 10 to 1 in a Commercial League fixture at the Powell Street grounds. First baseman “Scotty” Lister and outfielder Paterson/Patterson each clicked for a double and single in pacing the winners at the platter.
Burton (L), Clark (6), Patton (6) and Vernon
Esplen (W) and B. Peters
(July 7) With Kaz Suga keeping ten hits well scattered, the Asahis picked themselves off another Commercial Baseball League victory as they trounced the Grant Gunn outfit 9 to 1. Infielder Roy Yamamura slapped out three singles for the Nippons while outfielder Bentley and first baseman Black led the Gunners offensively with a pair of one-baggers each.
K. Suga (W) and Yasui
S. Tough (L) and Grant
(July 8) Art Inkster’s last-inning two-bagger, his second hit of the game, drove in the tying and winning markers and gave Lowney’s a 4 to 3 victory over the Merritt-Gordons at the Powell Street grounds. Following a shaky start on the hill, winning tosser Doug Sauder settled down and finished with a three-hitter.
Sauder (W) and B. Peters
Condon (L) and Spicer
(July 9) The Merritt-Gordons humbled Grant Gunn 8 to 5 in a Commercial League scuffle at the Powell Street grounds. The Emgees jumped into an early four-run lead against the Gunners and were never headed. No batteries or game details were published.
(July 9) Playing at Athletic Park on a rare occasion, the Asahis walloped the Patricias 10 to 1. The Nippons made good use of eight hits and the wildness of Patricia pitcher Patton to drub the erstwhile league-leaders. First baseman Roy French poled a home run for the Pats’ only counter in the second inning. Joe Fukui, “Mousie” Masuda and Yuki Uno all had a brace of swats for the Asahis with Fukui’s total including a double.
Patton (L) and Vernon
Nishihara (W) and Yasui
(July 12) The Asahis hung up another Commercial League victory at the Powell Street grounds, defeating the Merritt-Gordons 2 to 0 in a hard-fought contest. Ty and Kaz Suga shared the mound duties for the Nippons and limited the Gordons to two singles. The victors plated their first counter in the second panel when Nag Nishihara romped home on a fielder’s choice. Doubles by Nishihara and Yuki Uno gave the Nippons their other run in the fourth.
T. Suga (W), K. Suga and xxx
McArthur (L), Brown (2) and xxx
Standings P W L Pct.
Asahis 4 4 0 1.000
Patricias 12 8 4 .667
Lowney’s 12 6 6 .500
Merritt-Gordons 12 5 7 .417
Grant Gunn 12 3 9 .250
(July 14) A bad fourth inning cost Larry Holden and the Merritt-Gordons a 6 to 2 defeat at the hands of the Patricias in Commercial League baseball at the Powell Street grounds. The Pats scored all their runs in the fourth frame, bunching five hits with a couple of Emgee miscues in the outburst. For the rest of the game, Holden was never in peril as the Gordons got in some threatening rallies themselves only to be quashed by the Hotelmen’s keystone combo of “Gummy” Leach and George Van Hatten who reeled off sixth and seventh-inning twin killings to stifle the comeback.
L. Holden (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx
(July 15) The Asahis suffered their first reverse since they re-entered the Commercial Baseball League when Lowney’s nosed them out 3 to 2 in a smartly-played contest at the Powell Street grounds. Rookie chucker Doug Sauder of the Chocolatemen fanned nine and allowed just five Asahi hits in emerging with the mound decision. Outfielder Frank Shiraishi of the Nippons was the only bludgeoner from either squad to amass two base hits.
Jim Fukui (L), Nishihara (5) and Yasui
Sauder (W) and B. Peters
(July 20) Taking advantage of four Lowney fielding miscues, the Patricias enhanced their position atop the Commercial Baseball League with a 6 to 1 victory at the Powell Street grounds. First baseman Roy French and hot corner custodian Noble both poked a brace of safeties for the Pats. Art Inkster did likewise for the Candymen.
Clark (W) and Vernon
Davis (L) and B. Peters
(July 21) With Cecil “Tiny” Thompson in the lineup, the Merritt-Gordons slugged out an 8 to 7 extra-inning win over Grant Gunn in Commercial League action. Second baseman Walker of the Emgees stroked a double and a brace of singles in leading the winners at the dish. Shortstop Jimmy Tough of the Gunners was the game’s top swatter, lambasting the pill for a triple, double and single. His teammate, outfielder Cranston, slugged the contest’s lone four-bagger.
Blackford (L) and Grant
Townsend (W) and Spicer
(July 22) The Asahis blanked the league-leading Patricias 4 to 0 behind the four-hit chucking of Nag Nishihara. Frank Shiraishi led the Nippons offensively with a pair of doubles and a one-bagger. Nishihara and shortstop Roy Yamamura followed with a double and single apiece. Pats’ infielder Noble had two of his team’s four hits, a triple and single.
Nishihara (W) and Yasui
Strachan (L) and Vernon
(July 23) Grant Gunn and Lowney’s battled to an eight-inning 3 – 3 Commercial League stalemate at the Powell Street baseball venue. Johnny Esplen of the Chocolate Soldiers punched out 15 Grant Gunn batters via the strikeout route while Sid Tough of the Gunners recorded nine whiffs. First sacker Art Inkster of the Candymen led all baton swingers, drilling four singles. Outfielder Bentley was best with the lumber for the vanquished nine, poling a triple to go along with a one-bagger.
S. Tough and Grant
Esplen and Tinling
(July 27) Home runs by Kaz Suga and pinch-hitter Frank Shiraishi were largely responsible for the Asahis 6 to 2 victory over Lowney’s in Commercial League action. The Chocolatemen out hit the Nippons by a slim 9 to 8 margin but tossed the game away with four costly fielding miscues. Catcher Bob Peters was the shining star with the bludgeon for the Candymakers, cuffing a home run, double and two singles. Suga had a two-bagger and single to go along with his circuit-clout.
Esplen (L) and B. Peters
T. Suga (W) and Yasui
(July 28) Combing Larry Holden’s slants for 11 bingles, the Patricias downed the Merritt-Gordons 4 to 1 in a Commercial League fixture at the Powell Street grounds. Winning heaver Gibb limited the Emgees to five base swats including one two-bagger. Shortstop “Gummy” Leach of the Pats pasted Holden for a double and three singles.
Gibb (W) and Vernon
L. Holden (L) and Spicer
(July 29) An Athletic Park double-bill saw the Lowney’s Chocolate aggregation crush the hapless Grant Gunn nine 14 to 0 to open proceedings while the Merritt-Gordons administered a 17 to 2 thrashing to the Asahis in the finale.
Art Inkster held the Gunners to three hits in the matinee skirmish while his mates were accumulating 15 base blows. Outfielder Jimmy Biggan paced the Chocolate Soldiers with the hickory, slamming four base knocks while Inkster contributed three.
Inkster (W) and B. Peters
S. Tough (L), Straight and Grant
Every batter in the Emgees lineup with the exception of defensive replacement Pat Worley had at least one base hit as the winners bombarded a pair of Asahi twirlers for 20 base knocks in running away with the second contest. Fly chaser Tommy Faulkner led the swatsmiths with a brace of doubles and a single. Winning flinger Jimmy Condon and shortstop Ron Martin both accumulated a triad of one-baggers.
Condon (W) and Spicer
Nishihara (L), K. Suga (7) and Yasui
(August 2) Unorthodox rookie chucker Doug Sauder of Lowney’s registered his third straight Commercial League mound victory when he and his mates stopped the redoubtable Asahis 8 to 3 with a three-hit pitching display at the Powell Street grounds. Art Inkster spearheaded the 11-hit offense of the Chocolatemen by bashing a triple, double and single. Catcher Bob Peters was next in line with a home run and one-bagger.
Sauder (W) and B. Peters
T. Suga (L), Maruno (4) and Yasui
(August 4) Merritt-Gordons’ chances of gaining a Commercial League playoff berth were given another setback when they suffered a 4 to 3 reverse at the hands of the league-leading Patricias at the Powell Street grounds. A three-run outburst by the Pats in the top of the opening frame proved to be the difference in the game. Leading stickmen for the winners were outfielder D. Davis with a double and a brace of singles as well as shortstop “Gummy” Leach with a triple and one-bagger. Infielder Ron Martin laced a triad of singles for the Emgees.
Clark (W) and Vernon
Townsend (L) and Spicer
(August 5) Despite a solid four-hit pitching performance by chucker McIntyre, the hapless Grant Gunn nine suffered another Commercial League loss at the Powell Street grounds when they were blanked by Lowney’s 2 to 0. Johnny Esplen, on the hillock for the Candymen, limited the Gunners to three bingles.
Esplen (W) and xxx
McIntyre (L) and xxx
(August 6) With newcomer George Onofrychuk tossing a five-hitter, the Merritt-Gordons bunched four hits for two runs in their final turn at bat to knock off the Asahis 5 to 3. Roy Brown paced the Emgees’ 12-hit batting attack with a double and two singles. Second sacker Walker followed with a triple and one-bagger.
Onofrychuk (W) and Spicer
K. Suga (L) and Yasui
(August 9) It was no contest at the Powell Street grounds after the second inning as far as the Grant Gunn band of baseballers was concerned. The Merritt-Gordons, fighting an uphill battle for a playoff spot, shoved over sic runs in the second stanza and waltzed to an 11 to 2 Commercial League victory. Larry Holden, twirling for the Emgees, limited the Gunners to three hits and struck out nine. Holden, Cecil “Tiny” Thompson and outfielder Walker all registered a pair of bingles for the winners.
Straight (L), McIntyre (2) and Grant
L. Holden (W) and Spicer
(August 11) Fireballing “Cannonball” Perry of the touring Colored House of David fired a sizzling one-hitter and whiffed 20 batters as the visitors blanked the Commercial League All-Stars 3 to 0 in exhibition action at Con Jones Park. It was not until two had been retired in the bottom of the ninth canto that Perry lost his no-hit bid when Jimmy Biggan shot a fast roller to the left of second base which shortstop Stockard was able to get his hands on but was unable to recover in time to throw out the speedy Biggan.
Berry (W) and McCray
B. Brown (L) and B. Peters
(August 12) The barnstorming Colored House of David aggregation took their second straight exhibition game from the hosting Commercial League All-Stars, dumping the Selects 8 to 5. First baseman Porter had three hits for the winners while Murray West slammed a triple and single for the Stars.
Lomax (W) and McCray
B. Brown (L), Montador (5) and Yasui
(August 17) Two somewhat tainted inside-the-park homers by Neil Fullen, the ball on each occasion bouncing elusively away from Lowney centre fielder Patterson, started the Patricias on a merry-go-round at the Powell Street grounds and ended with an 11 to 6 victory for the Hoteliers. The victory for the Pats gave them a bye in the Commercial League playoffs. The Chocolatemen had a hefty 11 to 6 advantage in base blows but were unable to translate their safeties into runs. Art Inkster of the Candymen had four hits in a losing cause, two of them doubles. Murray West also picked up a brace of two-baggers for the Chocolate Soldiers.
B. Brown (W) and Vernon
Brien (L) and B. Peters
(August 18) Kaz Suga’s grand-slam home run gave the Asahis a timely 10 to 8 victory over the Patricias, first-place finishers in the Commercial Baseball League. A costly error by first baseman Roy French, which would have retired the the Nippons without Suga stepping in to bat, completely changed the complexion of the game.
Gibb (L) and Vernon
Nishihara (W) and Yasui
(August 19) A rocketing last-inning triple by Art Inkster with the bases fully occupied drove in all the runs necessary for Lowney’s Chocolate to down the Merritt-Gordons 3 to 2 and, in the process, knock the Emgees out of the playoff picture. Doug Sauder pitched a five-hitter for the hillock victory but was in peril of being tabbed as the loser when his team came to bat for the last time trailing 2 to 0. Percy Pamphlet had a pair of two-ply swats for the victorious Candymen who now move on to face the Asahis in the semi-final playoffs..
Sauder (W) and B. Peters
Condon (L) and Spicer
Final standings W L Pct.
Patricias 14 7 .667
Lowney’s 11 9 .550
Asahis 11 10* .524
Merritt-Gordons 9 11 .450
Grant Gunn 8 16 .333
* it appears that, as a condition of their late re-entry into the 1937 Commercial Baseball League, the Asahis were assigned phantom losses for all the early-season games they missed, with wins being credited to the other four entries, several of which seem to have been awarded to Grant Gunn.
Playoffs
Semi-finals (best-of-five)
Asahis vs Lowney’s
(August 23) The Asahis and Lowney’s played to a 1 – 1 standoff in the opener of the Commercial League semi-finals. Ty Suga and Johnny Esplen hooked up in a pitcher’s duel in which Esplen surrendered seven base raps while Suga was nicked for just three. The Nippons scored their marker in the first frame on scratch hits by Roy Yamamura and “Mousie” Masuda, the former scoring on Kaz Suga’s long fly. Fred Tinling’s sacrifice fly in the fifth brought in Dan Peters from third with the tying marker. Peters had opened the canto with the first hit of the game off Suga, a triple. Masuda was the only swatter on either squad to register two hits.
T. Suga and Yasui
Esplen and B. Peters
(August 24) Pitcher Doug Sauder’s undefeated record in Commercial League baseball came to an end as Lowney’s dropped a 5 to 3 call to the Asahis, giving the Nippons a one-game lead in the semi-final playoffs. Out hitting their opponents by a slight 6 to 5 margin, the Chocolatemen had the bases loaded in the last inning when Sauder grounded in to a double-play to end the game. Winning tosser Kaz Suga had the only two-hit batting performance of any player in the tussle.
Sauder (L) and B. Peters
K. Suga (W) and Yasui
(August 26) The Asahis stole everything but the shirts off Lowney’s backs in the top of the first inning of their playoff tilt at the Powell Street grounds. Five pilfered bases, including a triple steal, ignited the Nippons to a three-run lead, to which they clung for a 6 to 3 victory. The Candymen nicked winning heaver Nag Nishihara for nine bingles, including a perfect four-for-four by vanquished chucker Art Inkster, but were only able to score in the second inning. Third baseman Herb Tanaka homered for the Asahis in the third inning. Tanaka and outfielder “Mousie” Masuda both checked in with a brace of raps for the winners.
Nishihara (W) and Yasui
Inkster (L) and B. Peters
(August 27) The opportunistic Asahis once more were out hit but were able to cash in on shaky infield work by Lowney’s to defeat the Chocolate Soldiers 6 to 4 and wrap up their semi-final series in four games. Frank Shiraishi’s timely triple in the sixth inning tied the score 4 – 4 and then a pair of costly miscues by Lowney’s followed which sealed their doom. Roy Yamamura had an opening-inning home run for the Nippons.
Davis (L) and B. Peters
T. Suga, Nishihara (W) (4) and Yasui
Finals (best-of-seven)
Asahis vs Patricias
(August 30) Reserve infielder Yuki Uno slashed a three-run inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning which propelled the Asahis to a 3 to 1 conquest of the Patricias in the opening match of the Commercial Baseball League finals. First baseman Roy French of the Pats accounted for their lone counter with a bases-empty circuit-clout which also came in the fifth. Winning tosser Kaz Suga was nicked for six hits while defeated heaver “Tib” Burton held the Nippons to just three safeties.
K. Suga (W) and xxx
Burton (L) and xxx
(August 31) The red-hot Asahis made it two in a row over the Patricias at the Powell Street grounds, scoring three times in the opening frame en route to a 7 to 2 conquest of the Hotelmen. Veteran portsider Ty Suga tamed the Pats on six hits of which “Gummy” Leach collected three, including a home run. A trio of Patricia pitchers paraded to the mound with the starter, Norm “Lefty” Clark, being saddled with the knoll defeat. Frank Shiraishi and Herb Tanaka knocked out circuit-clouts for the Nippons.
Clark (L), Gibb (2), Patton (5) and Vernon
T. Suga (W) and Yasui
(September 2) The Asahis soundly whipped the Patricias 7 to 2 to take a solid grip on the ball title of the Commercial League of which they are seeking to repeat. Nag Nishihara pitched a masterful game for the winners, giving up five hits while punching out eight at the dish with his offerings. “Mousie” Masuda, Frank Shiraishi and catcher Reg Yasui all picked up a brace of hits for the Nippons.
Nishihara (W) and Yasui
Burton (L) and Vernon, Davis
(September 3) The Asahis completed their conquest of the Commercial baseball League after whitewashing the hapless Patricias 12 to 0 in a one-sided affair that was terminated midway through the fifth inning on account of darkness. The Nippons won the series in four straight games. Veteran southpaw chucker Ty Suga was accorded airtight support and limited the Pats to five hits in posting the shutout victory. Kaz Suga doubled twice for the winners while teammates Nag Nishihara and “Mousie” Masuda both stroked a double and a one-bagger.
Strachan (L), Clark (3), Burton (3), Gibb (4) and R. Brown
T. Suga (W) and Yasui
Post-playoff exhibition game
(September 9) A benefit game for catcher “Red” McLaughlan of the Merritt-Gordons, who suffered a broken hip during Commercial League action early in the season, was held at the Powell Street grounds and featured the league-champion Asahis facing an All-Star team of Commercial League players. The Stars took the exhibition contest 7 to 4 as Roy Brown with two doubles and Roy French with a home run led the offensive attack. Jimmy Condon took the mound decision with a seven-hitter.
Condon (W) and xxx
T. Suga (L), Jim Fukui (4) and xxx