Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (April 26, 1955)
Statesmen, Salem, Ore.," Tuesday, April 26, 1955 (Sec 3)-3 i re Senator C I u b Sta rts A7elcom3 Senators' Baseball Section 13 th Live w Season Solons Win Pro Status in 40 Bellingham In Purchase from .The Salem Senators are about to embark on their 13th season of professiona baseball. Although semipro teams rep resenting ' he city ! were called the Senators in distant years, it wasn't until 1940 that Salem se cured its first professional club bearing that name, j The introduction of the Sena tors to Saleir1 was 'a dream come true- for the late George E. -Waters, for choir the big ball park on 25th street is still named. I Purchase Franchise j i ii A local busiressman for many years, Water? wanted to do some thing or the city he loved. He hired a businessmanager, Albert (Biddy) Bishop who had been known around the state as quite a semipro spitball pitcher in his day, and together they purchased the Bellinghanc Wash., franchise in the Class P Western Interna tional League - i They moved . the 1 franchise to Salem where Waters was financ ing the bui'din? of what is now Waters Fiel. The construction of the park under the direction of Bishop, wa completed a lew days prior to the opening of play in the 1940 season. Becord Attendance A crowd of 4,858 turned out to see what Waters and Bishop, also now deceased, had brought to Salem. Never since then has an onenine nipht crowd exceed ed that total. And hardly has -there been a game in the hun dreds prayed there since that would match the inaugural for thrills. The Senators, equipped with i few holdovers from the Belling ham club some optionees from the San Diego Coast League out fit and some free agents that Bishop had signed, battled Yak ima in the memorable opener. . It was a wild game, won finally by Salem 11-10, but only after the Senators scored five runs in the ninth inning to nullify a grand slam home run by Yaki ma's Ernie Springer in the first half of the ninth, j Players Remembered Many local fans will remember some of the players on that first Salem team. There was Bill (Bucky) Harris, the big-tummied but hard-hitting first baseman; Soy Helser, the lefthanded pitch er who later accomplished big things with Portland and who is - sow a coach at Linf ield College; Bud Brewer, a sidearmer who won 20. games; John (Bunny) Griffith the shnrtsfnn whn was also the club manager; Charley Petersen, rifle -armed center fielder who later managed the 1 It was through the efforts of Don Young that the Senators were purchased from the Portland Beavers in 1951 . and sold to Salem fans. Don was one of the city's leading lawyers. He was killed during a fishing trip In 1952. 1942 club; Steve Coscarart, the left fielder who had enjoyed some fine Coast League seasons; Al Lightner, the scatter-armed third baseman; Bobby Baer, clever little second sacker; Bob Williams, hard-hitting catcher from San Diego; Eddie . Wilson, colorful and capable outfielder who had played with Brooklyn, and John (Moose) Clabaugh, the home-run hitting outfielder who had previous!, seen many a fine campaign with Coast League clubs. But despite all the talent the Senators had, they finished a poor fifth in the final standings. Waters died shortly after the finish of the first season, but Mrs. Waters carried on as owner and director of the club. ' She fired Bishop and hired Howard Maple, a former Willamette Uni versity coach, as the general manager. Griffith stayed on as player manager. The 1941 club fared little bet ter than the first outfit, finish ing in the second division of the standings. j Then in J942 the entire West ern International League almost folded because of the fast-grow ing war. Salem, Yakima, Van couver, B. C Wenatchee, Ta- coma and Spokane were league members in 1940-41, but both Yakima and Wenatchee dropped out in 1943. The other four de cided to try it, that fateful year and after a hectic season during which night baseball was tab booed by brownouts much of the time, Salem wound up third in the standings, j Petersen Manager . Petersen managed the club in 1942 and Al L'ghtner, the third baseman and outfielder of the previous two seasons, was the business manager. The league did fold for the next three years because of the war, but Waters Field was not idle. Hundreds of kids got to play their games in the big park as junior baseball for the teen agers, on a large scale, was brought into local prominence. Also, the Camp Adair Timber wolves, of the famous 104th Di vision, adopted the park as their home grounds during those war years and played many games here. Some were against Coast League clubs passing through en route to Portland and Seattle, others against; GI competition from Fort Lewis and other Army and Navy bases. Western International League play was resumed in 1946. Mrs. (Continued' on Page 4) All-Time Attendance Record At Waters Park Set in '46 r The all-time Waters Park attendance record of 7890 may be out of reach of the current opending day effort, but the all time opening night mark of 4856 can be broken,; Salem Boosters club officers believe. ' - . j The all-time record of 7890 was notched June 15, 1946, when a benefit was given in behalf of the family of Leo (Fris co) Edwards, popular Salem Senator manager who died of a heart attack at Bremerton. There were 8001 tickets sold. Ed wards' Senators had won 13 consecutive games; at the start of the season. . j - The all-time opening night record of 4856 was set in 1940. Last year's opening day turnstile clicked only 1352 times when rain threatened. Last year's Save-Your-Senators night attract ed 4124. , , ;',!:,. .jl They Helped Capture Senators1 Sole Flag Iff lp ?fff Hjrll Vmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmtmmmmmmmmm'vm m m "wmmMm.ifiijfmm i mu. t.y" Few Senators fans will ever forget the hard-hitting crew of 1953 . which, won the first half of the Western International League pennant, the only flag any Senators club has ever taken. From left to right with their respective batting averages at the time, are Shortstop Gene Tanselli, who is again with the club this season, Manager Hugh Lnby, Outfielder Connie Peres, Outfielder Lea .Witherspoon, Third-baseman Milt Smith and Outfielder Jimmy Deyo. Ex-Giant Snyder Laments Change In Modern Game SAN ANTONIO. Tex. UV Base ball men weren't just teams in 1922 they were "families and baseball was a "good family game," according to a man who starred for the New. York Giants in that era. Pancho Snyder, catcher for the Giant team that won the National League Pennant two years straight (1921 and 1922) expressed his opin ion while talking over old times with Art Nehf. a teammate on John McGraw's teams in the twen ties. "Baseball used to be a good family game," Snyder said. "We used to travel like a team we'd play cards together, eat together, have our family squabbles and our little differences, but on the field we were a unified bunch of men. "Now it's different. Players have become individuals who think of their own records and their own problems." Waters Field Cost $60,000 ' Waters Field was built in 1940 at a cost which was at that time estimated at $60,000. Were the same park and facilities to be erected today, the cost would be triple that figure, according to estimates. Hugh Luby Hugh Luby is in his fifth season as general manager of the Sen ators. Luby took over in 1951 when the Senators were pur chased from the Portland Beavers. He's been the boss, and second baseman ever since, except fox a brief period after the start of the 1954 sea son when Harvey Storey was manager. Storey was released after a few weeks of play. ':' 'i?!.' 1 v-- .-;'i J; i 'Mfl ' . - i : 1 '-Ks-f 1 t Ti Bought for Use Of Youngsters Sports fans who have bought one or more student season ticket to the Salem Senator games and donated them to the Salem Sen ator Booster Club to distribute through the YMCA, Salvation Army and Juvenile Court include: Dr. P. ,E. WedeL Murray M. ! Scholfield, Prime Ofl Co., Clyde ; Prall, Emma Peters, Oregon Gra-'" vel Co., Optimist Club of Salem. William . Nail, Moo try Pharmacy, Walter Lukins, C. R. Lindstrom,-' Browns Jewelry Store, Ruth E. Bressler, N. J. Blevins. Eisner Motor Co., Salem Elks' " Lodge,. Hollywood Lions Club, Lilly v Gilmer, Larry Oslund, Plaza Hotel Napa, Calif., Loren D. Hicks. t P. W. Hale, jeweler, Silverton-' Rotary Club, J. E. Waterhouse; Dallas Lions Club, Meier and Frank Co. Lipman's of Salem: Dallas Lion ' Club, Al Ingels and John Kitz- ' miller of Dallas. Present plans are that, through the generosity of these various individuals and firms and clubs. worthy young folk between 12 and 18 will be given use of a season -ticket for 30. days at a time, and then return it to the sponsorinjf organization for further use, to obtain the widest possible amount of good from the gifts, sponsors say. . Pete Chirm in Fifth .Spnsrm Pete Chinn, the popular little . Chinese trainer for the Salem Sen-.-, a tors, will be in his fifth season 1 with the club' this year. When' ' Hugh Luby took over the man-;'.'; agership ofthe Senators in 1951, he . secured the former Navy veteran' from the Oaland club of the Coast ' League. Chinn had been assistant trainer for the Oaks, and met Luby ' when Hugh played for that dub. ',' 10 Managers r r a. ror jenurors Manager Tear ' John Griffith .,194(Mri Charles Petersen 1942 ' Leo (Frisco) Edwards 1946 "- Tedd Gullic - 1946' Jack Wilson 1947-48 Bill Beard .1949 C Ad Liska 1950 Hugh Luby ..1951-53 . Harvey Storey .... 1954. Hugh Luby 1954-55 Tele-Treat Invites You to Get j Acquainted with 1 .Sx WSSawn'1" mvt MWKwtiSa-Mi i 2 :-1 Hugh Luby Manager Home Town: Salem, Oregon Married: 1 son, 1 daughter Age: 39 Height: 5-10 Weigh!: 185 i OPEIIIIIG DAY SPECIAL TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY 0IILY1 f ' ' - ' . ' I ; i . ! Jumbo Deluxe Teleburger Keg. 35c AND Jumbo Thick Milkshake A Regular 60c Value . I Reg. 25c lor uvyy Teletreat Your Family Toniaht-We Feature the Finest . Frostkist 3 3825 II. River Road Phone 'Em In We'll Have 'Em Ready Call 4-4802 Open Tuesday thru Thursday, 12 Noon to 11 P.M. Friday and Saturday, 12 to 12 Closed Mondays ! Invites You to Get Acquainted .with swSe' ' " . - - . : " - i - . - ( ; -.. V M 1 , .. . ' f - . . ) ' f - - ' ' , ' ' - : ' h ' - ' 1 Bob Tucker Pifcher Age: 21 Home Town: Sacramento, (alif. Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Bats and Throws Lefthanded 'Welcome Back to Wate rs Field, Salem Senators" WORLD'S SMARTEST MEN'S WEAR! SPORT SHIRTS BY MANHATTAN VAN HEUSEN ic WHITE STAG BARNEY BELLER all the sew styles, colors for the coming season! a 4 I en Jo pair X "w; JU&tiL STRETCH SOCKS S1.00 A PAIR 'GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR another big shipment of INTERWOVEN stretch socks ar rived at Miller's today. And Inter woven label on your socks means extra comfort and style . . . extra wear, too! All the regular and high shades in plain and pat terned are here. Whatever your font size or shape, these nylon socks fit like a glove. You can pjck from a wide selection of patterns.