1939 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1939 BC Interior
1939 Vancouver Island

VANCOUVER SENIOR CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE

With the demise of the Commercial League of the previous season, the Patricias and Merritt-Gordons moved over to the Burrard League while Lowney’s Chocolate joined the Senior City circuit. The new-look Vancouver Senior City loop also had sponsored entries representing the Angelus Hotel, Diethers Coal and Shores' Jewelers.

(April 22) In opening City League action, Angelus Hotel showed hitting power in defeating Diethers 4 to 2 and Shores' combined power with a delectable defense to wallop Lowney’s 8 to 1. A two-run homer by Eddie Holden, his first of two hits, staked the Coalers to an early lead in the matinee tussle. Angelus got one back in the third and then grabbed the lead for good with a three-spot in the sixth. Reg Jowett tossed a four-hitter and fanned seven in taking the mound win. Coley Hall had a double and single for the winners.

Jowett (W) and Ingram
Elink (L), Thompson (6) and Henry

The Diamond Merchants sewed up the late encounter after exploding for six runs in the second frame. Sid Tough smashed a grand-slam circuit clout for the winners, one of two hits he acquired. Jimmy Biggan belted a pair of doubles for Lowney’s.

Yehle (W) and McDonald
Boston (L), Richardson (5) and McCarthy

(May 1) Lowney’s and Diethers grabbed themselves wins in the City Baseball League at Athletic Park. Both games were five-inning affairs. Diethers bunched eight timely blows to score a 6 to 2 victory over Shores' in the early game while Lowney’s, behind the two-hit pitching of Dean Ballam, nosed out Angelus 2 to 1 in the late game. The Coalmen climbed aboard the pitching of Reg Wallis in the first inning of the matinee contest to establish a 2 to 0 lead and stayed in front for the remainder of the game. Eddie Holden’s solo homer in the fourth, his second hit of the match, capped the Diethers’ scoring. Winning chucker Markel, a Terminal Leaguer last season, had excellent defensive support and won on a six-hitter.

Markel (W) and Henry
Wallis (L) and McDonald

Jimmy McKissock’s first-inning solo four-bagger got the Lowney’s crew off on the winning foot in the twilight encounter. Pat Thomas followed McKissock with a double and came racing home to score what turned out to be the winning run when Joe McCarthy punched out the first of his two singles. Jimmy Condon drove in the lone Angelus run in the fourth on a long sacrifice fly. McKissock and Thomas joined McCarthy in registering two hits for the winners.

Ballam (W) and McCarthy
Jowett (L) and Ingram

(May 8) Lowney’s and Angelus scored victories in doubleheader action at Athletic Park. Angelus, behind the cagey six-hit pitching of veteran Earl Lewis, scored a 6 to 3 win over Shores' in the first game. In the second encounter, Lowney’s came up with a big sixth inning in which they scored all their runs to beat Diethers 3 to 1. Other than the first inning, Lewis worked smoothly on the hill for the Hotelmen in the opener. His batterymate, Mauro, proved to be his best offensive weapon, spearheading a second-inning uprising with a double that drove in a pair and contributing a key sixth-inning base hit.

Lewis (W) and Mauro
Peterson (L) and McDonald

Diethers had control of the sunset encounter, leading 1 to 0 entering the sixth, when losing flinger Pete Elink lost his command somewhat, getting slapped for three sharp singles and three runs as he tried to steer the ball over the plate. George Boston picked up the mound decision for the Candybar Crew, yielding seven hits and fanning nine. Battermate Joe McCarthy paced the offense, slamming a double and two singles.

Boston (W) and McCarthy
Elink (L) and Henry

(May 10) The Angelus Hotelmen out slugged Lowney’s to capture a 10 to 8 win at Athletic Park. Both teams registered eleven base raps. Shortstop Bert Mann led the winning nine at the dish, picking up a double and two singles. Catcher Joe McCarthy was best for the Chocolaters, collecting a home run and single.

L. Holden (W) and Mauro
Ballam (L), Boston (1) and McCarthy

(May 15) A complete collapse of the Diethers’ pitching staff in the fourth and fifth innings contributed to an easy 15 to 5 victory for the Shores' nine at Athletic Park. The Jewelers raked in 14 base blows off three ineffectual hurlers in taking the one-sided triumph. The keystone combo of Jimmy Morrison and Jimmy Robertson did most of the damage with the lumber, each stroking four singles.

Thompson (L), Markel (5), Gervais (5) and Henry
Wallis (W) and McDonald, McCarry

(May 17) With numerous rainout's and dwindling attendance at City Baseball League contests, the Vancouver Sun reported that the new loop was on shaky footing and may be forced to fold. To create more fan interest, doubleheaders with five-inning openers and seven-frame follow-ups will be instituted. It was also proposed that teams from within the circuit have games scheduled against the Asahis of the Burrard Baseball League.

(May 20) Playing-manager Bill Adshead was the story as he led his Shores' charges to a 9 to 5 win over the Angelus squad in the late encounter of a City League twin-bill. Diethers won the opening game 5 to 2 over Lowney’s.

xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx

Angelus slapped the ears off starter Al Peterson of the Diamond Merchants for all five of their counters in the first inning but, in the ensuing innings, Adshead went to bat four times, had four hits including a pair of two-run homers, and scored four runs as the winners piled up nine tallies. Reg Wallis assumed the pitching chores for Shores' after the initial canto and held the Hotelmen scoreless for the balance of the game.

Jowett (L) and xxx
Peterson, Wallis (W) (2) and xxx

(May 22) Lowney’s band of diamondeers, behind the effective pitching of Chuck Holmes, blanked Shores' in the matinee joust of a two-game agenda at Athletic Park while the Angelus baseballers cashed in on a second-inning outburst to claim a 4 to 2 victory over Diethers. Holmes held the Gem Dealers to two hits while whiffing seven in the opener. A triple by Joe McCarthy and a double by Dick Bentley in the second inning drove in the two runs for the Candymen.

Yehle (L) and McDonald
Holmes (W) and McCarthy

Ralph Stong came in from the outfield to pitch Angelus to victory in the second tilt. Except for a rough second canto when the Angels scored all four of their runs, losing flinger Fred Yehle looked solid on the hill.

Stong (W) and Mauro
Gervais (L) and Henry

(May 26) Lowney’s and Shores' knocked off victories at Athletic Park in City League play. The Candy Kids climbed aboard the hurling of George Boston to score a 5 to 2 win over Diethers while Shores', held to a single in in five innings, were fortunate enough to grab a 1 to 0 victory over Angelus. The one-hitter in the opener was credited to Reg Jowett who has the misfortune to allow Hec McDonald an RBI safety after Jimmy Tough had reached base following an error. Reg Wallis pitched for the Jewelers and gave up four hits.

Wallis (W) and McDonald
Jowett (L) and Ingram

Jimmy McKissock and Joe McCarthy both doubled, producing three runs, in support of Boston’s pitching effort in the late encounter.

Dodd (L), Gervais (2) and Henry
Boston (W) and McCarthy

(June 2) A four-run rally in the sixth inning gave Angelus a 7 to 5 victory over Lowney’s while Shores' and Diethers played to a 3 – 3 draw in City League doubleheader action at Athletic Park. Reg Jowett out-dueled Chuck Holmes to take the mound decision in the first tussle. Both hurlers had relief assistance.

Holmes (L), Ballam (6) and xxx
Jowett (W), Stong (7) and xxx

In the finale, the Gem Merchants held a 3 to 0 lead up to Diethers’ half of the fifth when the Coalmen got to Al Peterson’s slants for a triad of counters. “Lefty” Gervais went the route for Diethers, allowing only two hits.

Peterson and xxx
Gervais and xxx

(June 5) Sounding off with a first-inning solo homer and winding up with a pair of counters in the seventh, Diethers managed to beat the league-leading Angelus nine 3 to 1 in the final contest of a twin-bill at Athletic Park. The early game, a long drawn-out, ten-inning affair, finished in a 1 – 1 draw between Lowney’s and Shores'. George Boston and Fred Yehle both went the route in the ten-canto opener. Yehle was touched for just four hits, two of these coming in the third inning which included a run-scoring double by Ken Lawn.

Boston and McCarthy
Yehle and McDonald

Diethers’ leadoff hitter “Sandy” Henderson pounded losing pitcher Ralph Stong’s first pitch of the game for a home run in the late affair. Winning tosser Henry Dodd drove in another pair for the Coalmen with a seventh-inning single.

Dodd (W) and Henry
Stong (L) and Mauro

(June 10) A three-run spurt in the second inning made the difference as Shores' took a 5 to 3 City Senior League victory over Lowney’s. Fred Yehle was the winning pitcher, taking the verdict over George “Lefty” Boston.

Yehle (W) and xxx
Boston (L) and xxx

(June 12) A costly error by Angelus playing-manager Billy Condon in the ninth inning allowed Diethers to sneak over the winning run which beat the Hotelmen 6 to 5. The Angels picked up two more hits than their foes as losing reliever Ralph Stong led the way with a trio of raps.

Jowett, Stong (L) (9) and Mauro
Gervais (W) and Henry

(June 17) Skipper Ed Henry crossed the plate in the last inning with the game’s only run as Diethers nosed out Shores' 1 to 0 in the first game of a double-bill. Angelus and Lowney’s played a 1 – 1 tie in the second game.

Wallis (L) and xxx
Gervais (W) and xxx

Condon and xxx
R. Holden and xxx

(June 19) Shores' squeezed out a 6 to 5 win over Angelus in the second game of a City Senior League doubleheader at Athletic Park. In the first game, Lowney’s edged Diethers 2 to 1. Walker’s second inning home run was the punch that gave George Boston the nod over the Coalmen in the opener.

Dodd (L) and xxx
Boston (W) and xxx

The lead changed hands five times in the late match. Frank Ambler supplied the game-winning wallop with a seventh-inning single as losing flinger Ralph Stong began to weaken, allowing two hits and a walk before Ambler’s decisive blow.

xxx (W) and xxx
Stong (L) and xxx

(June 24) Lowney’s and Diethers won games in a Senior City League doubleheader at Athletic Field. Lowney’s knocked off the Angelus nine 9 to 4 while Diethers nosed out Shores' 2 to 1. George Boston hurled the win for Lowney’s.

Inkster (L) and xxx
Boston (W) and xxx

Young “Lefty” Gervais captured the mound victory in the other match.

Gervais (W) and xxx
Peterson (L) and xxx

(June 26) Angelus defeated the Shores' nine 1 to 0 in the matinee game of a Senior City League double-dip. Lowney’s grabbed the other contest, knocking off Diethers 5 to 3. Reg Jowett of the Hoteliers pitched a one-hitter to capture the opening game shutout.

Wallis (L) and xxx
Jowett (W) and xxx

George Boston out-dueled Roy Holden in the late encounter.

Boston (W) and xxx
R. Holden (L) and xxx

(June 27) Shores' and Diethers scored a pair of shutout wins in doubleheader action at Athletic Park. Ed Holden of Diethers blanked Angelus 1 to 0 in the five-inning opener. The Coalmen scored the only run in the game after two were out in the initial canto. Roy Holden worked losing tosser Ralph Stong for a walk and Ed Henry followed with an RBI double.

Stong (L) and xxx
E. Holden (W) and xxx

Shores' took on Lowney’s in the seven-inning nightcap and won 2 to 0 behind Fred Yehle’s five-hit pitching. Bob Montador pitched an equally effective game for the Chocolate Bar Gang but tossed away the contest in the first inning, firing Jimmy Tough’s sacrifice bunt into right field, allowing Jimmy Robertson, who had walked, to circle the bases for the first counter. Tough later scored the Jewelers’ second run on Frank Ambler’s infield out.

Yehle (W) and xxx
Montador (L) and xxx

(July 4) With Tommy Kennedy and Jimmy Biggan leading the 16-hit batting assault, Lowney’s drubbed Diethers 12 to 9 in City Senior league action at Athletic Park.

McGuire (W) and McCarthy
Gervais (L) and Henry

(July 5) Bert Lowes’ timely eleventh-inning single drove in “Scotty” Knox with the run that gave Diethers a 2 to 1 victory over Angelus. Henry Dodd limited the Angels to nine hits over the eleven frames, hanging only horse collars on the scoreboard after the initial stanza. The game features six snappy double plays.

Jowett (L) and xxx
Dodd (W) and xxx

(July 10) Scoring eight runs in the third inning, the Angelus Hotel nine went on to defeat Diethers 11 to 4. “Tiny” Thompson of the Hotelmen and the Coalers’ Ed Henry both had three hits.

Jowett (W), Condon and Trasolini, Mauro
R. Holden (L), Gervais and Henry

(July 11) The touring Kansas City Monarchs defeated a bolstered Lowney’s nine 6 to 5 in exhibition action. The Candy Bar Crew out hit the Monarchs 13 to 9 but cagey veteran John Donaldson, no longer with an overpowering heater, got by on guile and deception with his assortment of slow, tantalizing offerings and effectively spaced the hits for minimal damage.

Donaldson (W), Matchett (9) and Hardin
Montador (L) and Henry

(July 12) Cutting loose in earnest, the Kansas City Monarchs took a lopsided 15 to 0 exhibition win from a reinforced Shores' Jewelers team.

Matchett (W) and Hardin
Yehle (L), Boston and Henry

(July 13) The House of David barnstormers defeated Angelus Hotel 5 to 1 in exhibition game action. Joe Egnatic hit a home run and triple for the Whiskered nine while Bruce Thirsk homered for the lone Angelus counter.

Swinehart (W) and Miner
Jowett (L) and Trasolini

(July 14) A strengthened Diethers Coal nine took out the touring House of David squad 4 to 1 in another exhibition match. The game was shortened to 6 1/2 innings because of rain.

Talley (L), Bass and Miner
Boston (W) and McCarthy

(July 22) Pounding the offerings of playing-manager Jimmy Condon for ten hits, including a sixth-inning home run by Ken Van Hatten, Lowney’s drubbed Angelus 7 to 2 in Senior League baseball at Athletic Park. The Chocolate Soldiers scored a pair in the first frame and led all the way. George “Lefty” Boston” cruised to the hillock triumph, southpawing the Angelus Gang into submission on seven hits.

Boston (W) and McCarthy
Condon (L) and Trasolini

(July 24) Collecting 14 base raps, Diethers Coal smothered the Angelus Hotel squad 7 to 2. “Lefty” Gervais went the distance on the hillock for the Coalmen, winning on an eight-hitter.

L. Holden (L), Keith (4) and Trasolini
Gervais (W) and Henry

(July 29) Lowney’s Chocolate diamondeers clinched first-place honours in the City Senior circuit by defeating Shores' Jewelers 8 to 5 at Athletic Park. The loss for the Gem Dealers relegated them to second spot as the Angelus Hotel nine and Diethers Coal continue their battle for third place. Although Shores' collected as many hits off the tandem of winning tosser Bob McGuire and Dick “Lefty” Hammond as the Candy Kids did off Reg Wallis, six errors by the Jewellery Merchants and the 13 bases-on-balls issued by Wallis spelled the difference. Jackie Sherman was the sole Shores' batter who shone at the dish, garnering three safeties.

McGuire (W), Hammond (7) and McCarthy
Wallis (L) and Trasolini, Adshead (2)

(August 5) The Angelus Hotelmen moved into a tie for third-place with Diethers when they clubbed the Coalmen 10 to 6. Larry Holden drilled a pair of doubles and a single for the Angels. Bruce Thirsk topped the Coalers with the stick, singling on three occasions.

Condon (W) and Mauro
Gervais (L), Dodd (3) and Henry

(August 7) Diethers dropped from the Senior League playoff picture as they absorbed another licking, this time 7 to 4 by the Angelus Hotelmen. Winning flinger Reg Jowett was breezing along with a one-hitter for seven innings but got the hook in the ninth after giving up a triple to Gibbs followed by a Bruce Thirsk circuit-clout.

R. Holden (L), Gervais and Henry, E. Holden
Jowett (W), Stong (9) and Trasolini, Mauro

Final Standings       W      L      Pct.
Lowney’s             11      6     .647
Shores'               8      7     .533
Angelus              10     12     .455
Diethers              9     13     .409

PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best-of-three) Angelus vs Shores' Jewelers

(August 9) In a high-scoring affair, Shores' Jewellers went one game up in their best-of-three playoff series by belting the Angelus Hotelmen 13 to 7. Fred Yehle survived a 15-hit output by the Angles to pull through with the complete game mound triumph as it was the bludgeoning of his mates that rated him the win. The Jewelers scored all their runs in three big innings, all spaced, with three in the fourth canto, four in the sixth frame and a half dozen in the eighth stanza.

xxx (L) and xxx
Yehle (W) and xxx

(August 14) With their backs to the wall, the Angelus Hoteliers beat down Shores' Jewelers 11 to 2 to even their best-of-three series. Although southpaw Reg Jowett of the Angles was touched for eleven safeties, he did a great job in spacing them and coming up tough in the clutch. The winners collected eight hits off losing flinger Al Peterson.

Peterson (L) and McDonald
Jowett (W) and Trasolini

(August 18) The combined pitching efforts of Reg Wallis and Fred Yehle gave Shores' Jewelers a well-earned spot in the City Senior League finals as they downed Angelus Hotel 13 to 9 in a hard-hitting game three. The lead changed hands many times during this high-scoring semi-final match but the final break came in the seventh inning when losing flinger Reg Jowett began to fade. Playing-manager Jimmy Condon came to his aid but was ineffective in a relief role and before the bleeding had stopped, the Gem Dealers had picked up seven counters.

Jowett (L), Condon (7) and Trasolini
Wallis, Yehle (7) and McDonald

Finals (best-of-five) Shores' Jewelers vs Lowney’s

(August 25) With a booming barrage of bingles which drove left-hander George Boston from the Lowney mound, Shores' Jewelers scored an 11 to 6 victory over the Chocolate Men in the opener of the City Senior League finals. Reg Wallis and Billy Adshead had a brace of hits apiece for the Diamond Merchants. Tommy Kennedy had a big night at the dish for Lowney’s, going three-for-five.

Yehle (W) and McDonald
Boston (L), Wallyer (7) and McCarthy, Walker (4)

(August 26) Lowney’s evened the City Senior League finals at a game apiece by defeating Shores' 7 to 2 in the second match of their series. Bob McGuire got the hillock triumph on a four-hitter. The Candy Makers clouted out 12 hits during their victory, many of them for extra bases. Alex Matson was high man with the war club, going three-for-four.

McGuire (W) and Trasolini
Wallis (L) and McDonald

(September 1) It took fourteen innings of hard-fought diamond action to decide a 1939 Senior Baseball League champion for Vancouver and, when the dust had settled, Shores' Jewelers prevailed 4 to 3 over Lowney’s. The game was a struggle between winner Fred Yehle and Pete McGuire of the Candymen. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Lowney’s evened the score when Lawn scored on Boston’s single. Billy Adshead put the Diamond Merchants in front once more in the tenth with a solo homer but the Chocolate Soldiers came right back when Lawn’s single drove in Tommy Kennedy. In the top of the fifth extra-frame, Adshead once again came through with a timely blow to drive in Ken Van Hatten.

Yehle (W) and McDonald
McGuire (L) and McCarthy

1939 post-season tournament

(September 4) Diethers of Vancouver captured the Penticton Labor Day tournament. Bob Montador pitched the Vancouver nine to a 3 to 1 win over Brewster WA in the morning and George “Lefty” Boston was on the mound when the Coalmen outscored the Wenatchee WA Eagles 8 to 4 in the afternoon.

1939 Vancouver City Finals (best-of-three) Shores' Jewelers (City Senior League) vs Asahis (Burrard League)

(September 7) A high fly, lost in the stadium lights at Athletic Park, resulted in two runs for Shores Jewelers Thursday night as the City League champions shaded the Asahis 4-2 in the opening game of their three-game series for the City championship. Ken VanHatten's drive brought in Reg Wallis and Frank Ambler with the deciding markers. Shores had taken the lead with the run in the first inning but the Asahis tied it in the fourth with Nag Nishihara knocking in Kaz Suga with an infield hit. Jewelers went ahead in the fifth, but the Asahis pulled off a "squeeze" play to tie it up again. Al Peterson and VanHatten each had three hits for the winners. Fred Yehle scattered seven hits in going the route on the mound for the winners. Shores rapped 12 hits off Nishihara.

Yehle (W) and McDonald
Nishihara (L) and Masuda

(September 8) In the same way as the night before, Shores' came up with an eighth-inning rally to defeat the Asahis 9 to 6 to take the Vancouver championship from the Burrard League club. With the contest knotted 6 – 6, catcher Hec McDonald of the Gem Dealers led off the bottom of the eighth with a two-bagger, his second of the game. Bob Walker’s clean single then drove home McDonald with the eventual winning counter. Shores' then added a brace of insurance tallies to seal the deal.

Maruno (L), Nishihara (8) and Mitsui
Wallis (W) and McDonald

VANCOUVER BURRARD LEAGUE

In terms of exposure within the Vancouver print media, the 1939 Burrard Baseball League, with an established track record as a solid amateur loop, seemed to play second fiddle to the revised “City Senior Baseball League” which had rosters containing a sprinkling of former semi-pro players of previous campaigns. Both circuits, however, took a distant back seat to the coverage afforded the darlings of the press, the neophyte Capilanos of the professional Western International League. It wasn’t an unusual occurrence for players from one league to occasionally appear with a team in the other loop.

Asahis : Fukui Joe 1b, Kaminishi Kaye 2B, Maruno Mike P/3B, Masuda Mousie OF/C, Mitsui Koei C/OF, Nakamura Ed OF, Nishihara Nag P/OF, Sawayama Tom P, Shiraishi Frank OF/P, Shishido George SS , Suga Kaz P/OF, Tanaka Herb, Uno Yuki 1B/2B, Yamamura Roy 2B

Merritt-Gordon : Bentley Dick C, Burton P, French, Fullen Neil , Gibb P, Grant C, Inkster Archie P/1B, Leach “Gummy” C, McAdam P, McCarthy Joe C, McDonald Hec (also Shores' Jewelers – Vancouver Senior League), McIntyre Jack “Lefty” P, Mondador Bob P, Moser Al P, Noble Rupert 3B, Sauder Doug P, Sears Len P, Tough Jimmy C, Van Hatten (also Westerns & Patricias)

Western Monarchs : Ambler Frank P, Blackford P, Casement Bob, Crosato J. P, Crosato R. P, Ewart C, Francis Pat P, Lanhan P, Lawn Ken P, MacDonald/McDonald Bill P/OF, Mauro Pete C (also Patricias), MacKinley/McKinley OF/P, Naples Joe, Pope P, Roach Stew C/3B, Steel/Steele “Pip”P/3B, Straight Byron P, Turnbull 2B, Van Hatten 1B (also Merritt-Gordon & Patricias), Waxstein SS, Young Laurie OF/P

Patricia Hotel : Brown Roy P/OF, Davis C, Gates P, Gibbs P, Greaves Tommy “Red” OF, Hale OF, Mauro Pete C (also Westerns), McKay Don 1B, McLachlan, McLellan C, Molyard 3B, Patton George “Major” P, Reid Andy P/SS, Rondpre Ray P, Scott George, Smith, Van Hatten Ken 2B (also Merritt-Gordon & Westerns)

(April ) Asahis rapped 10 hits and rode the strong arm of Nag Nishihara to capture the opening game of the Burrard League, 9-2 over Merritt-Gordons. Nishihara had a tough start, allowing five hits and both runs in the first three innings, but settled down to pitch no-hit ball the rest of the way. He fanned eight and walked two. Kaz Suga, Yuki Uno and Mike Maruno led the winners each with two hits. Frank Shishido rapped a two-run triple in the final stanza.

Nishihara (W) and Mitsui
Montador (L) and Grant

(May 2) Five fielding miscues by the usually impregnable defense of the Asahis spelled their doom as the Patricia Hotel nine doubled the Nippons 8 to 4 at the Powell Street grounds. George Patton pitched a commendable game for the Pats, limiting the Asahis to six hits. Losing twirler Kaz Suga was touched for nine bingles. The Hotelmen came from behind a 4 to 2 deficit to pull the game out of the fire, scoring three in the fifth and another trio in the seventh.

Patton (W) and xxx
Suga (L) and xxx

(May 4) Using six would-be pitchers did little to help the new entry in the Burrard League, the Western Monarchs, in taking a 23 to 10 beating from Merritt-Gordon. The Monarchs pushed six runs across in the first inning but the Emgees came right back to tie in their half of the frame and rang up ten more counters in the third canto to put the rout into motion.

Gibb, McIntyre (W) (1) and xxx
Straight (L), J. Crossato, Young, R. Crossato, Lanhan and xxx

(May 9) The Asahis are up to their old pilfering tricks again as witnessed by their 9 to 8 win over Merritt-Gordon at the Powell Street grounds. Frank Shiraishi stole home to cap a four-run last inning in which the Nippons rallied from an 8 to 5 deficit.

Montador (L) and Leach
K. Suga, Maruno (W) and Matsui

(May 10) The Patricias pushed across a run in the bottom of the last inning at the Powell Street grounds to shade the Western Monarchs 5 to 4 in Burrard League play. Smith’s line drive to the middle pasture drove in Davis, who had earlier walked, with the deciding tally. With losing chucker Pat Francis pitching a steady five-hitter, the Monarchs were a much better outfit than in their Burrard League debut last week and, based upon their eleven-hit offensive output, were unfortunate not to have come out as winners. Tommy Greaves of the Pats and Western’s Ken Lawn both stroked round-trippers.

Francis (L) and xxx
Rondpre (W) and xxx

(May 12) Entering the game in a relief role in the third frame, Jack McIntyre picked up his third hillock triumph of the campaign as Merritt-Gordon got past the Western Monarchs 9 to 6. The Emgees out hit the Monarchs by an 8 to 4 margin.

Burton, McIntyre (W) (3) and Grant
McKinley, Lanham, Pope and Roach

(May 13) Tommy Sawayama, rookie Asahi pitcher, set the Patricias down on two hits in his Burrard Baseball League debut as the Nippons won 6 to 2. Sawayama struck out seven and walked three. Gates, pitching for the Pats, was touched for nine safeties. Kaz Suga paced a nine-hit attack with two hits and two scores. Koei Mitsui added a double and single.

Sawayama (W) and Mitsui
Gates (L) and Davis

(May 16) The best pitching duel of the Burrard League season saw the Patricias and Merritt-Gordon battle to a 0 – 0 draw in a game terminated after seven innings because of darkness. George Patton of the Pats had the edge over the Emgees Len Sears, limiting the Gordons to one hit, a single by Ken Van Hatten in the first inning, while striking out ten. Patton was tagged out at the plate in the sixth frame while attempting to score on George Scott’s single.

Sears and xxx
Patton and xxx

(May 17) The Asahis strengthened their lead in the Burrard League, disposing of the Western Monarchs 8 to 3. Except for the second inning, winning pitcher Mike Maruno was never in trouble, going the route on a four-hitter.

Francis (L), Pope and Roach
Maruno (W) and Mitsui

(May 19) The league-leading Asahis suffered their second reverse of the season at the Powell Street grounds where they were quelled by Merritt-Gordon 6 to 4 in a seesaw battle. The Emgees, who held an 8 to 6 edge in base hits, jumped all over losing flinger Tommy Sawayama for four first-inning runs. Winning tosser Jack McIntyre had difficulties in the second and third frames as the Nippons tied the score only to fall behind for good in the sixth.

Sawayama (L) and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx

(May 24) The Western Monarchs continued along their winless way in Burrard League baseball. The Monarchs blew another contest at the Powell Street grounds, dropping an 11 to 8 verdict to Merritt-Gordon.

Pope, Straight, Blackford and Roach
McAdam, McIntyre and Grant

(May 26) The Patricias went into a two-way tie for first place in the Burrard Baseball League, nosing out the winless Westerns 2 to 1 at Powell Street. Their win puts them even with the Asahis with four victories against two defeats. The Monarchs were leading 1 to 0 when Molyard of the Pats walloped one of Pat Francis’ offerings over the fence for a two-run homer.

McKinley, Francis (L) and Roach
Reid (W) and Davis

Standings         W     L      Pct.
Asahis            4     2     .667
Patricias         4     2     .667
Merritt-Gordon    5     3     .625
Westerns          0     6     .000

(May 28) The Asahis edged past Merritt-Gordon 3 to 2 at Powell Street to move into sole possession of first place in the Burrard League. Jack McIntyre, pitching for the Emgees, suffered a spell of wildness in the fifth inning, giving up three walks. A trio of errors by his mates in the same frame gave the Nippons two runs which tie the score at that stage of the game. Another pair of fielding miscues in the sixth canto permitted the Asahis to tally the winning marker.

McIntyre (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

(June 1) The Westerns scored all seven of their runs in the fourth inning but still remained winless, dropping the Burrard League contest 9 to 7 to the Patricias. Sparked by Bob Casement’s homer, the Monarchs moved temporarily ahead of the Pats 7 to 6 in that frame but were unable to maintain the cushion.

Gates, Gibbs and Mauro
Straight, Pope, Francis and Roach

(June 7) Behind the two-hit pitching of Mike Maruno, the Asahis trimmed Merritt-Gordon 3 to 1 in Burrard league play. Maruno, better known as an infielder, had the Emgees chasing his slow, looping curve and change of pace. Uno had three hits for the winners including a double. Roy Yamamura pitched in with a two-bagger and single.

Sauder (L) and xxx
Maruno (W) and xxx

(June 9) The hapless Westerns booted away another Burrard Baseball League game at the Powell Street diamond. A couple of sixth-inning errors by the Monarchs helped Merritt-Gordon score three runs and overcome a 3 to 1 deficit to squeeze out a 4 to 3 victory.

McIntyre (W) and Bentley
Steele (L) and Roach

(June 13) Doug Sauder, young Merritt-Gordon pitching ace, limited the Patricias to one hit, a double by George Scott, as the Emgees triumphed 7 to 1. The Gordons smoked losing twirler Ray Rondpre and reliever George Patton for twelve base knocks. Ken Van Hatten and Rupert Noble paced the victors’ hitting attack with three blows each.

Rondpre (L), Patton (5) and xxx
Sauder (W) and xxx

(June 14) Kaz Suga, one of the Asahis’ star twirlers in the Burrard League, used his bat as well as his strong soupbone to advantage as the Nippons drubbed the hapless Western Monarchs 11 to 5. Suga had three hits including a home run in pacing the winners’ ten-hit attack. Bob Casement had three hits for the Westerns.

Steele (L), Straight and Roach, Ewart
Suga (W) and Masuda

(June 16) The Asahis turned back their closest Burrard League pursuer, Merritt-Gordon, 5 to 3 at the Powell Street grounds. The Nippons bunched their hits for a four-run rally in the sixth inning that did the trick. Nag Nishihara shaded Jack McIntyre, Emgee ace, in their mound duel. Both teams collected eight hits.

Nishihara and Masuda
McIntyre (L) and Bentley

(June 17) After eleven successive defeats, the young Western Monarchs turned the tables on the Patricias 4 to 1 for their first win of the season. With the score tied 1 – 1 entering the last inning, catcher Pete Mauro singled. Laurie Young followed with a double and a winning three-run rally has its start.

xxx (W) and Mauro
xxx (L) and xxx

(June 20) The Westerns gave the loop-leading Asahis a tough fight for the marbles at Powell grounds before dropping a 6 to 5 decision. The Monarchs made a great last-inning stand that almost pulled the game out of the fire. They scored two runs and had the tying marker on second base when winning pitcher Mike Maruno finally retired the side.

Maruno (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx

(June 21) The Merritt-Gordon nine tightened their grip on second place in the Burrard Baseball League by trimming the Patricias 8 to 3. Winning moundsman Doug Sauder helped his own cause with two healthy base hits.

Sauder (W) and xxx
Patton (L) and xxx

(June 24) The Asahis went on a bender and increased their Burrard League lead with an 11 to 3 win over the Patricias. Kaz Suga held the Pats to six hits while his mates were clubbing 13 base blows off a pair of chuckers from the Hotelmen. Eleven stolen bases helped the Nippons to pile up a lopsided score.

Patton (L), Rondpre and xxx
Suga (W) and xxx

(June 27) Pete Mauro, umpire baiter deluxe, talked himself out of a Burrard League tussle as his Western Monarchs were hammered 13 to 4 by the league-leading Asahis. The Westerns committed eight errors and allowed the Nimble Nippons to run wild on the basepaths to post their ninth straight Burrard League victory. Mauro, the Westerns' catcher was send to the showers in the fifth inning after the umpire tired of his talking out of turn. The Asahis started their splurge in the first inning as they went through the lineup to chalk up four runs on one lone hit, four walks and five errors. They added three in the second as George Shishido scored on another error and Koei Mistui slammed a homer with Roy Yamamura on base. Mitsui and Shishido led the winners each with three hits. Tommy Sawayama held fthe Westerns to seven hits in posting the win.

Crossaro (L), Steele and Mauro, Roach (5)
Sawayama (W) and Masuda, Mitsui

(June 28) The Patricias remained in a rut, dropping their seventh straight decision 6 to 0 to Merritt-Gordon. Jack McIntyre blanked the Pats on four scattered hits. Losing heaver Ray Rondpre was lit up for ten safeties.

Rondpre (L) and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx

(July 5) The Patricias folded up again, acquiring only one hit against Nag Nishihara, Asahi chucker, as the Nippons breezed to a 12 to 0 whitewashing of the Pats.

xxx (L) and xxx
Nishihara (W) and xxx

(July 7) The Asahis hung up their eleventh straight Burrard Baseball League victory, shutting out the Western Monarchs 10 to 0 behind Kaz Suga’s five-hit pitching. Three Western hurlers issued eight free passes to first and the Nippons made the most of 16 stolen bases to waltz home.

Suga (W) and xxx
xxx (L), xxx, xxx and xxx

(July 8) The Westerns scored a rare Burrard League victory, blanking the Merritt-Gordon aggregation 3 to 0. The hard-hitting Emgees were stymied by “Pip” Steele who limited them to three hits. Smooth fielding in the late innings by his Monarch teammates saved Steele’s shutout.

xxx (L) and xxx
Steele (W) and xxx

(July 11) The Patricias snapped an eight-game losing streak at the expense of the cellar-dwelling Western Monarchs but it took an extra-inning to do the trick. The score was 6 to 5. In the last of the eighth inning, Molyard singled, stole second, advanced to third on Ken Van Hatten’s wild throw to the keystone sack and scored on McLellan’s single to right field.

Francis, MacDonald/McDonald and Mauro
Patton (W) and McLellan

(July 12) The Asahis kept their current Burrard League win streak in tact although they required an extra inning to defeat the Merritt-Gordons 9 to 6. Trailing 6-5, Yuki Uno lead off the seventh for Ashais with a triple down the third base line and scored as Koei Mitsui smashed a three-bagger to right field to tie the game and force an extra inning. Kaz Suga proved to be the hero for the winners slashing a double to score Frank Shiraishi with the deciding run. Shiraishi had drawn a free pass. George Shishido followed with another double to score Suga and Mitsui fourth hit of the game brought in the ninth run. Uno rapped three hits and scored three times. Mike Maruno yielded eight hits in going the route for the win. Jack “Lefty” McIntyre was battered for 13 hits. Asahis racked up nine stolen bases, three apiece by Roy Yamamura and Shiraishi.

McIntyre (L) and Bentley
Maruno (W) and Mitsui

(July 14) The Asahis 12-game win streak in the Burrard League came to an end and it took the lowly Western Monarchs to turn the trick in a most exciting skirmish. A little bit of every thing was thrown in as the Westerns prevailed 12 to 10. With their speed on the basepaths, the Nimble Nippons forced Western catcher Pete Mauro into many a hurried throw which missed their target and were often cashed in as unearned runs. Mauro, however, redeemed himself by going four-for-five at the dish. Frank Shiraishi and Kaz Suga hit successive home runs for the Nippons in the fourth inning.

xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx

(July 19) Western Monarchs’ belated drive for a Burrard Baseball League playoff berth goes on unabated. Merritt-Gordon was the most recent Western victim as the reinforced Monarchs staged a four-run outburst in an extra-inning 5 to 1 win. Doubles by Stewie Roach and Joe Naples featured the surge. Roach also homered in the fourth inning.

Francis (W) and Roach
McIntyre (L) and Grant

(July 20) The Westerns won their third straight Burrard League game, defeating the Patricias 3 to 1. “Pip” Steele out-dueled Andy Reid for the mound victory. The Monarchs had a slight 6 to 5 edge in base hits. A triple by Laurie Young followed by Pete Mauro’s homer, settled the issue for the Westerns in the fifth inning.

Reid (L) and McLellan
Steele (W) and Mauro

(July 21) The combined efforts of three hurlers produced a shutout victory at the Powell Street grounds where the league-leading Asahis scored a 5 to 0 win over the Merritt-Gordons. For no concrete reason, Kaz Suga was relieved after two innings by Mike Maruno. Nag Nishihara finished the game after Maruno twisted his ankle sliding into third base. Both teams had five hits.

Montador (L) and Bentley, Leach
Suga, Maruno (3), Nishihara (W) (5) and Masuda

(July 25) For the second time within a week, pitcher “Pip” Steele got the nod over the Patricia Hotel nine in a hard-fought game as the Western Mustangs edged the Pats 2 to 1. Steele limited the Patricias to four hits with “Red” Greaves four-bagger producing their lone run. Losing flinger Gates set the Westerns down on two hits but a combination of walks and errors allowed the Westerns to score their pair of counters in the fourth frame.

Steele (W) and xxx
Gates (L) and xxx

(July 26) Asahis ran up an 8-4 lead and held off a Merrit-Gordon rally in the ninth to escape with an 8-7 win Wendesday. Ty Suga led the winners, pitching eight-hit ball with nine strikeouts while polling three hits and scoring a pair. Koei Mitsui also had three safeties for the Asahis. The home club pulled to within a run and had the tying run on third with just one down in the ninth but Suga fanned the next two batters to end the game. Asahis had 12 hits off loser Doug Sauder.

T.Suga (W) and Masuda
Sauder (L) and Grant

(July 27) Both pitchers, winner Frank Shiraishi of the Asahis and the Patricia Hotel’s Ray Rondpre, tagged home runs as the Nippons blasted the Pats 9 to 1. Shiraishi had the upper hand on the hill, limiting the Hoteliers to just three hits while his mates were lighting up Rondpre for 11 safeties.

Shiraishi (W) and Masuda
Rondpre (L) and McLellan

(July 28) The Westerns picked up their fifth consecutive Burrard League victory, vacating the cellar in the process, piling up a 12 to 3 win against Merritt-Gordon. Pat Francis, Western heaver, allowed only four hits and fanned eleven.

McIntyre (L), A. Moser and Grant
Francis (W) and Mauro

(July 31) Having already clinched first-place in the Burrard League and a bye in the opening round of the playoffs, the Asahis were tripped up 2 to 1 by the Merritt-Gordons in an extra-inning skirmish at the Powell Street grounds. Portsider Jack McIntyre set the Nippons down on four hits, one of which was a somewhat flukey four-bagger by Kaz Suga. Rupe Noble with two singles and a triple led an eight-hit Emgee assault. In the overtime stanza, scratch hits by Noble, "Gummy" Leach and Dick Bentley produced the winning counter.

Suga (L) and xxx
McIntyre (W) and xxx

(August 1) The Westerns were shoved back into the Burrard Baseball League cellar when they took it on the chin 11 to 3 by the high-flying Asahis. Kaz Suga was just about the whole Asahi show. He pitched no-hit ball until the sixth inning, struck out eleven and didn’t walk a batter. In addition, he had a perfect four-for-four performance at the plate. Teammate Koei Mitsui checked in with a four-for-five batting output.

Suga (W) and xxx
MacDonald/McDonald (L), Pope (3), Lawn (7) and xxx

(August 2) The Patricias slipped back into a last-place tie when they dropped a tough 9 to 8 decision to the Merritt-Gordons. The Emgees were out hit 11 to 8 but made the best of their shorter ration. The winning run came in the final frame when Jimmy Tough doubled, was sacrificed to third and scored on Doug Sauder`s infield out. Archie Inkster, in a relief role, was credited with the hurling triumph.

Sauder, Inkster (W) (5) and Tough
Reid (L) and McLellan

(August 3) Trailing 5 to 1 as they came to bat in the top of the final inning, the Patricias rallied for six runs to pull the game out of the fire and walk off with a 7 to 5 win. Catcher McLellan`s scorching triple drove in the tying and winning runs.

Patton, Reid (W) and McLellan
Steele (L), Francis (7) and Mauro

(August 5) The Westerns once again climbed out of the basement position in the Burrard League when they nosed out the Patricias 1 to 0. Winning chucker Pat Francis was in rare form, limiting the Hotelmen to four measly hits while fanning ten.

Francis (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx

(August 7) The Western Monarchs drubbed Patricia Hotel 7 to 2 to just about clinch a playoff berth. “Pip” Steele went the route, tossing a three-hitter and striking out 13 for the win. Two of the hits he served up were homers, compliments of Don McKay and Ken Van Hatten. The Westerns roughed up a pair of Pats’ hurlers for 13 base blows as Laurie Young collected a triad of raps and Stew Roach belted a home run.

Rondpre (L), Reid and McLellan
Steele (W) and Roach

(August 8) The Burrard Baseball League playoff hopes of the Patricias were practically extinguished when they dropped a tough 4 to 3 decision to the Merritt-Gordons. For 5 2/3 innings, George “Major” Patton pitched no-hit ball to cool off the Emgees as the Pats were rolling along with a three-run lead. Then, the fireworks began for the Gordons. Al Moser walked, Dick Bentley and Archie Inkster singled and Rupe Noble drove all three in with a triple to tie the score. “Gummy” Leach then pole a double to drive in the winning run. Tommy Greaves had a two-run homer for the Pats in the second frame.

Moser, McIntyre, Montador and Tough
Patton (L) and McLellan

(August 9) Sixteen year old Billy MacDonald pitched the Western Monarchs to a 5 to 3 victory over the top-ranked Asahis and moved the Westerns a step closer to a playoff spot. The Nippons played with a weakened lineup as three of their regulars, Roy Yamamura, Mike Maruno and Nag Nishihara, were absent. After spotting the Asahis two runs in the first frame, the Westerns scored four on an ailing Kaz Suga in the second to give MacDonald a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. The Nippons held a 7 to 6 advantage in base hits with Frank Shiraishi leading the way with a double and single.

MacDonald/McDonald (W) and Roach
Suga (L), Shiraishi (3) and Masuda

(August 10) The Westerns helped their Burrard Baseball League playoff chances along with an 11 to 8 victory over Merritt-Gordon.

xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx

(August 11) The Asahis took care of business and disposed of the Patricias 4 to 2. In order to have any hope of making the playoffs, the Pats are now faced with the task of winning four successive games. The Hotelmen opened the scoring in the second inning when Roy Brown hit a solo four-bagger but that was the only time they held the lead. The Nippons out hit their opponents 7 to 6 with winning hurler Kaz Suga leading the winners with a double and single.

Gates (L) and McLellan
Suga (W) and Masuda

Asahis          24 - 6
Merritt-Gordon 15 - 15 9.0
Westerns        12 - 19 12.5
Patricias        9 - 20 14.5

(August 14) Still breathing, the Patricias blanked the Western Monarchs 8 to 0 behind the four-hit flinging of George “Major” Patton.

Patton (W) and McLellan
Ambler (L) and Roach

(August 16) The Patricias’ bid for a spot in the playoffs wound up on the rocks when they absorbed an 11 to 3 trouncing from the Asahis in a six-inning, darkness-shortened, game. Frank Shiraishi, pert-time hurler for the Nippons, limited the Pats to three hits.

Shiraishi (W) and Masuda
Patton, Gates, Brown and McLellan

PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (best –of -five) Western Monarchs vs Merritt-Gordons

(August 17) The Merritt-Gordons showed superiority in all facets of the game as they whitewashed the Western Monarchs 6 to 0 in the opener of the Burrard League semi-finals. Portsider Jack McIntyre of the Emgees had his crossfire working to perfection as he stymied the Westerns on two hits while whiffing eleven of them. Rupert Noble had a couple of doubles for the winners.

Steele (L), MacDonald/McDonald (8) and Mauro
McIntyre (W) and McCarthy

(August 18) One more win and the Merritt-Gordons can face the Asahis for the Burrard Baseball League title. The Emgee Boys made themselves top-heavy favourites for a berth in the finals by whipping the Western Monarchs 8 to 4 at the Powell Street grounds. The winners packed too much punch in their bats for the Western chuckers to handle.

Francis (L), MacDonald/McDonald (6) and Roach
Montador (W) and McCarthy

(August 21) The battling Westerns stayed alive in the Burrard League playoffs by holding the Merritt-Gordons to 1 2 – 2 tie in a thriller at the Powell Street grounds. The game had to be terminated after seven innings because of darkness. Catcher Joe McCarthy’s single in the first inning and “Gummy” Leach’s double in the fifth drove in the two Emgee runs. The Westerns scored their first counter in the second stanza on a double steal after Stew Roach had tripled. Their second tally came in the third canto when McKinley doubled and came around to score on a miscue at the initial sack by Archie Inkster.

Montador and McCarthy
Steele and Roach

(August 22) The Merritt-Gordons finally disposed of the Western Monarchs, winning a 6 to 1 verdict in a tilt curtailed to six innings. Southpaw Jack McIntyre pitched his second win of the semi-final series for the Emgees, a nifty three-hitter and also slugged a long home run in the fourth frame with two mates aboard. The Westerns lone tally was plated on a round-tripper by McKinley in the fifth panel.

McIntyre (W) and McCarthy
Reid (L) and Mauro

Finals (best-of-seven) Merritt-Gordons vs Asahis

(August 23) A huge third inning propelled the Asahis to a first game 8 to 5 win over the Merritt-Gordons in the Burrard Baseball League finals. A pair of errors, a walk, a wild pitch plus a homer by Nakamura with ducks on the pond provided the Nippons with a big seven-run outburst which proved too tough for the Emgees to overtake.

xxx (L), xxx (3) and xxx
Suga (W) and xxx

(August 24) The Asahis will have a fight on their hands if they want to win the Burrard Baseball League title. The nimble Nippons took a 5 to 1 lacing from the Merritt-Gordon nine in the second meeting of their final series. Bob Montador held the Asahis to six hits in going the route. Catcher Joe McCarthy had a two-run homer for the winners.

Maruno (L) and Masuda
Montador (W) and McCarthy

(August 25) Playing flawless defense behind the four-hit chucking of Nag Nishihara, the Asahis blanked Merritt-Gordon 3 to 0 to take a two games to one lead in the Burrard League finals. Taking advantage of losing heaver Jack McIntyre’s wildness plus unsteady fielding by the Emgees, the Nippons registered singletons in the second, fourth and fifth cantos.

McIntyre (L) and xxx
Nishihara (W) and xxx

(August 29) The Asahis took a stranglehold on the Burrard League title by trimming the Merritt-Gordons 2 to 1 in a game which could have easily gone the other way. The Emgees out hit the Nippons 8 to 4 and had it not been for a brain freeze by their reliable third sacker Rupe Noble, they could have emerged with the triumph. The game only lasted five complete innings as darkness prevented further play. During their last turn at bat, with out out, the Gordons had Noble as a baserunner on second base and Dick Bentley at first when Archie Inkster singled sharply to left field. In full flight, Noble made it to third but, when Asahi outfielder Frank Shiraishi bobbled the pickup, instead of heading for home to easily plate the tying counter, he somehow lost his concentration and retreated to third, unsure as to whether he had made contact with the hot corner sack. Doug Sauder then hit into a double play and the game was called.

Nishihara (W) and Mitsui
Montador (L) and Grant

(August 31) Jack McIntyre, Merritt-Gordons’ ace flinger, kept his team from elimination as he completely overwhelmed the Asahi hitters by blanking the Nippons 9 to 0. McIntyre gave up just two hits, struck out four and walked one. The Gordons scored in the first inning then added four in the third and coasted to the win. Gummy Leach rapped three hits, one a double, to pace the winners. Dick Bentley chipped in with a triple and single, scoring three times.

McIntyre (W) and McCarthy
Suga (L) and Masuda

(September 1) The Merritt-Gordons tied the Burrard League final series by shutting out the Asahis 2 to 0 at the Powell Street grounds. The winners scored their first run in the second frame when Neil Fullen singled and was brought home on a double by Hec McDonald. The final run was plated in the third canto when "Gummy" Leach singled, moved to third on a sacrifice and infield out and then scored on Bob Montador’s bingle.

xxx (L) and xxx
xxx (W) and xxx

(September 2) The Asahis captured the 1939 Burrard Baseball League crown, nosing out the Merritt-Gordons 3 to 2 at Powell Street. It was the third straight championship for the Asahis. Brilliant fielding featured the final, particularly outfield catches by Neil Fullen of the Emgees and “Mousie” Masuda of the Nippons. The Asahis plated the clinching run on doubles by Koei Mitsui and Nag Nishihara in the fourth inning.. Merritt-Gordons out-hit the winners 8 to 6 with Neil Fullen the big noise with three hits, including a pair of two-baggers. Rubert Noble also had three hits. Mitsui and Nishihara each poked a double and single for Asahis.

McIntyre (L) and McCarthy
Maruno (W) and Mitsui

(September 4) The Vancouver Asahis defeated Fife Nippons of Tacoma WA 8 to 4 for their second win in the best-of-three series for the Pacific Northwest Japanese championship.

Yehle (W) and McDonald
Nishihara (L) and Masuda

Maruno (L), Nishihara (8) and Mitsui
Wallis (W) and McDonald

(September 22) The newspaper the New Canadian selected a Burrard League All-Star team with five Ashahis on the club. Mousie Masuda was chosen as the best catcher, Kaz Suga was given the nod at first base, Roy Yamamura at second, Koei Mitsui in right field and Nag Nishihara as one of three pitchers. Rupert Noble of Merritt-Gordons was rated best at third base, Joe Naples of Westerns, left field and Neil Fullen of Merritt-Gordons in centre field. Jack McIntyre and Bob Montador, both of Merritt-Gordons, were selected as pitchers.

VANCOUVER JAPANESE LEAGUE

(April 7-9) Union Fish had the upper hand as the Vancouver Japanese League kicked off the new season with a pair of double-headers Friday and Sunday. Fish topped Steveston Fuji 12-10, surviving a seven-run second inning by the Fuji. Inouye and Okumura led a 10-hit attack each with three safeties. Shoji had three for the losers. Kamitomo, who relieved in the second inning, picked up the win.

Tanaka (L) and Sogawa
Kutsukake, Kamitomo (2) and Asano

Fish then continued their offensive outburst with a 14-2 triumph over Hammond, pounding out 15 hits. Second baseman Suzuki led the winners with three hits and four runs. Okumura added three more hits and two runs and Idenouye had three hits and three runs. Tamura had three hits for Hammond. Mike Maruno scattered nine hits for the pitching win.

F.Hoshizaki (L), Tamura and Kusano
Maruno (W) and Asano, Yanagizawa

Giants cracked out 18 hits in overwhelming Mikado 14 to 5. Centre fielder Eddie Nakamura led the attack with four hits and four runs. Ashikawa added three hits and shortstop Miike knocked out two safeties and scored four times. Yuki Uno was best for Mikado with three hits.

Korenaga (W), Fujioka (8) and Kutsukake
Yasui (L) and Goromaru

A three-run eighth inning lifted Hammond to a 9-6 victory over Mikado. Shortstop Hoshizaki and right fielder Tamura each had three hits for the winners. Tommy Sawayama scattered ten hits in posting the pitching win.

Sawayama (W) and Kusano
Yoshinaka (L) and Goromaru

(April) Shige Okumura cracked an extra-inning homer to hand Union Fish a 7-5 victory over Mikado who had a chance to win in the eighth but had a run taken off the scoreboard. with Yosie Yasui aboard, Doc Yasui hit a sharp single down the third base line and gallopped all the way home on an outfield error. However, the edler Yasui failed to touch second base and the run was disqualifed. The game went into the 10th inning when Okumura's four-bagger ended the battle. Suzuki also clubbed a homer for the winners and Goromaru had a circuit blow for the Mikados.

Fukui, Maruno and Asano
Kozai, Yoshinaka and Goromaru

In a game which featured 18 walks, Steveston Fujis, who blew an early 6-3 lead, scored three runs in the eighth inning to down Asahi Giants 9-7. Winning pitcher Tanaka issued eight hits and 14 free passes. Pansy Fujioka and Roche Korenaga combined to allowed six hits and seven walks in a losing effort.

Fujioka, Korenaga and Kutsukake
Tanaka (W) and Sogawa

(May 14) The Fairview Mikados blew a 13-0 lead in dropping a disheartening 14-13, 12-inning, marathon to the Giants Sunday. Mikados got the jump with four runs in the first inning three in the third and six in the top of the fourth. Then the Giants got busy smacking 18 hits, including a homer, triple and three doubles to push across 13 runs to tie the score with a singleton in the bottom of the ninth. In the third overtime frame a pair of hits chased in the winner. Reliever Roche Korenaga picked up the victory. Giants blanked the Mikados for the last eight innings. The game's leading hitter was the losing pitcher, Yoshinaka went six for seven.

Yoshinaka (L) and Goromaru
Fujioka, Korenaga and Kutsukake

Union Fish blew a 4-2 lead in the top of the eight but got a homer from Shige Okumura with Otto Yanaigizawa aboard in the bottom of the stanza and held off a ninth inning rally by the Fish to notch a 6-5 triumph over Hammon Farmers. In the ninth Hammond got Tsujiura and Frank Hoshizaki on base and Kaz Hoshizaki rapped a single with both runners taking off for home. Tsijiura scored but a terrific throw from Yanagizawa caught the second runner for the final out.

Sawayama (L) and Masuda
Kamitomo, Kutsukake and Asano

(June 25) After a series of cancellations caused by picnics and poor weather, the Japanese League swung back into action Sunday at Powell Street Grounds as the Giants dumped Union Fish 8-4. Giants used a five-run outburst in the sixth to secure the victory, although out-hit 13 to 7. Run-scoring hits by Ken Kutsukake and Pansy Fujioka highlighted the big inning. For the Fish, six players had two hits apiece - Tanaka, Asano, Baron Wakabayashi, Suzuki, Mike Maruno and Jim Fukui. Kutsukake was the lone Giant with two safeties.

Fujioka (W) and Kutsukake
Fukui (L) and Asano

(July 1)

Union Fish    6 - 2
Hammond       4 - 3 1.5
Giants        4 - 4 2.0
Steveston     3 - 5 3.0
Mikado        2 - 5 3.5

(July 30) Hammond Farmers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday to edge the Giants 2-1 in the rubber game of their semi-final series. A first inning home run by Eddie Nakamura had given the Giants a 1-0 lead and Roche Korenaga had blanked Hammond for eight innings and fanned the first batter of the ninth. But Korenaga hit opposing hurler Tommy Sawayama with pitch, walked Hoshizaki and faced a bases-loaded drama when Doug Oike reached with a bunt. On Kusano's hard grounder to short Giants were able to get an out at third but the relay to first for a potential double-play was seconds late as Sawayama scored to tie the game. Mousie Masuda followed with a clean single to right centre field but an outstanding throw from Eddie Nakamura to home plate caught Oike in a hot box between third a home. He scrambled back to third when third baseman Kaye Kaminishi dropped the ball when the pair collided. Oike slid home with the winning run seconds later when second baseman Frank Nakamura tried to throw him out at home after he and Kaminishi had trapped Kusano between second and third. Kutsukake dropped the peg and Hammond had the victory.

Korenaga (L) and Kutsukake
Sawayama (W) and Masuda

(August 27) Mike Maruno pitched and batted Union Fish to the championship of the 1939 Japanese Baseball League. He scattered nine hits Sunday as the Fish crushed Hammond 15-4 in the third and deciding game of the league playoff. At the plate, Maruno cracked a homer and two doubles, scoring three times to lead a 16-hit attack. Left fielder Otto Yanagizawa and right fielder Fukui each rapped three hits and scored three times. Doug Oike collected three hits for the Farmers. Mousie Masuda smacked a home run for Hammond. Union Fish were awarded the Ko Ishii Cup for their championship season.

Kusano (L), Sawayama, Tamura, Ty Suga and Masuda, Ono
Maruno (W) and Asano

VANCOUVER SENIOR CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE

VANCOUVER BURRARD LEAGUE

VANCOUVER JAPANESE LEAGUE

VANCOUVER BUSSEI LEAGUE