Eliminated in the 1951 Saskatoon
Optimist tournament, members of the California Mohawks and
Saskatoon 55s watch the final from centre field. Left to
right, Bud Watkins, unknown, Steve Stavrianoudakis, Charlie
Beene. (Photo
courtesy Charlie Beene)
The 1951 season opener at Cairns Field in Saskatoon. Image
courtesy of The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix.
Baseball was big news on the
prairies. This was a tournament preview -- taking up a major
portion of the sports section. Left to right -- Bob Garcia,
Bob Stevenson, Charlie Beene, Roy
Dean, Jimmy Shields, Pete Polus,
Andy Porter, Andy Swota
(Saskatoon
Star Phoenix, June 29, 1951)
This
headline, in the Medicine Hat paper went the full width of the
page. It announced the Medicine Hat (California) Mohawks 16-2 win
over Moose Jaw clinching third spot in the WCBL standings.
California kids in Saskatoon,
1951. Left: Charlie Beene (all of seventeen)
and his even younger pals. Centre: Beene,
unknown, Steve Stavrianoudakis. Right: Bob
Garcia and friend. (Photographs courtesy Charlie Beene)
Player-manager Roy Taylor
(extreme right) with three of his stars with the Saskatoon
55s. Jack Hannah left, Sherman Watrous centre,
and Bob Herron right. (Saskatoon
Star Phoenix, June 13, 1951)
1993 in Billings, Montana. Gordie
Howe comes to town while on a tour marking his 65th
year. Charlie Beene and Howe go through
Beene's album of their time playing ball in Saskatoon in 1951.
(Photo courtesy Charlie Beene)
Left - a
member of the Indian Head Rockets accepts the trophy for winning
the Foam Lake Tournament and a berth in the Saskatchewan playoffs.
Note the "eagle" emblem on the left sleeve. The ball club had been the
Jacksonville Eagles before crossing the border and making a few uniform
alterations. The Florida-based team became Indian Head's
representative in Saskatchewan baseball. Velcro surely would have
been handy back in those days!
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