Montana
1917-3-27 (Missoula) Really good! Review of last few years of Montana baseball.
1933-2-08 (Missoula) Memories of 1916.
1936-9-20 Memories of famed Anaconda Juniors of 1907-08. Two became pros.
1936-9-20 Memories of famed Anaconda Juniors of 1907-08. Two became pros.
1974-7-28 GREAT resource - all-star team of 66 from 1918 to present
Herbie Plews is spoken highly of
"Herbie Plews is perhaps my favorite all-time second-rate ballplayer, just nosing out Chi Chi Olivo and Lou "The Nervous Greek" Skizas. There was something almost heroic about the stupefying mediocrity of his play, the polished indifference of his skills, which could, on occasion, move me almost to the brink of religious ebullience. It's no use trying to describe the feeling-- you'd really have to have been there to appreciate it.
Herbie Plews is spoken highly of
"Herbie Plews is perhaps my favorite all-time second-rate ballplayer, just nosing out Chi Chi Olivo and Lou "The Nervous Greek" Skizas. There was something almost heroic about the stupefying mediocrity of his play, the polished indifference of his skills, which could, on occasion, move me almost to the brink of religious ebullience. It's no use trying to describe the feeling-- you'd really have to have been there to appreciate it.
Suffice it to say that if Richard Nixon could play baseball he'd play like Herbie Plews."
Billings Red Cross League
1918
1918-6-20 Billings. Longanecker is p-1b-of-ump. Doc Stripp, Electrics MG, tells how catcher Ball hit a number of homers one season in Michigan.
1918-6-22 EJ. Five Laurel players are participating in the Red Cross League. Many Laurel fans attend. Laurel players listed - they must pay car fare to play.
25 cent attendance fee for tomorrow's game.
1918-7-03 EJ. Batting. Harry Jacobs is leading with 11-18; Longanecker is 4-10; Andrew Julius Thorine.
Games typically seven innings.
"What's a Laurel club minus Red Titus? Red has put in some ten years with the neighboring town club."
1918-6-07 EJ. Longanecker relieved - hasn't pitched in eight or so years, but showed control. Doc Stripp caught his first game in six years.
Batting.
1918-6-11 EJ. Longanecker allowed 14 hits.
"Billy Collins, who played center for the Railroaders, and Doc Watkins played against each other 14 years ago at Brainerd." Eddie Head was at his ranch - played at short by Fritz Olson. Harry Jacobs is West's captain.
1918-6-18 EJ. Standings, box. N.P.'s beat Bowens 20-4. Longanecker played 1b - 3 for 5.
1918-6-21 EJ. Harry Jacobs pitched his first game "since June Harris graduated from Harvard in 1905" (?)
1918-6-23 Gazette. Billings 12, Laurel 11. 9 innings.
"Song by Longanecker, 'Can't get 'em over, can't get 'em over.' Longy did some fine work on the coaching line." 300 ATT - largest crowd this year. "In the fifth inning about $75 was collected for the Griffith bat and ball fund to help supply Uncle Sam's soldiers with baseball paraphernalia."
Butte City League
1911-9-21 (Butte Miner) Double-header will be played 9-24 - last games of season. A.C.M. would have to win both to tie B.M.
1911-9-24 (Butte Miner) B&M wins both - ATT 800.
1911-9-24 (Butte Daily Post) overall better quality
1911-8-14 Pic & profile of Weiser Dell.
Butte City League
1938 McQueen Addition 7-26 standings
1939 McQueen Addition 7-31 standings
1941 7-10 standings
1942 7-16 .300+
1943 7-05 standings only three teams final batting
1940-8-12 Playoff series begins tonight. Free baseball was provided all summer to over 100K fans; in play-offs, admission will be 20 cents for adults, 10 for children. (100K figure seems doubtful to me)
1939-8-19 McQueen Addition team pic. Has Joe Pajnich, not Fish. Will play Butte Copper Sox for city title.
1943-8-30 McQueen lost 17-2 in opening round of playoffs. Miners Union was regular schedule winner.
Butte Copper League
1948 7-15 standings
1950
1961
finis
1944-5-29 Memories of Butte City League in 1918.
"The McQueen infield is the veteran infield of the circuit insofar as having played together is concerned. Pajnich, Dunstan and Kristic have been cooperating with each other since grade school days."
"Sunday marked the first time in league history, according to veterans of play, that a game has been played at Clark Park in which all balls hit out of the park have been returned. In the first game four balls were used and all were available at the end of the contest."
Eddie Gerry has been involved in Butte baseball for 36 years now.
1946-9-08 66,890 paid attendance for 70 games - almost double 1945's attendance. Top attendance was 2,736; the four-game championship series drew gates of 2,200, 2,423, 2,684, 2,694.
1947-8-09 There will be a benefit game for Fish Pajnich. Appeared headed for big leagues when a knee injury cut short his pro career. Has had to wear an iron brace on that knee since.
Injured in game of 6-18 and had to have surgery.
1947-8-14 Paid attendance of 2,993 at double cost for Fish Pajnich.
McQueens will receive a few players from the Missoula Pirates, who dominated in the State League race.
1948-5-15 League taking a breath for the dive into the season.
League record attendance is 5,331, set in the final game of the championship series last year.
League players who have been playing longest are Pee Wee Mihelich and Mahlon (Lefty) Nettleton.
1948-5-24 Billy Paige, who's been living 50 years in Butte, may be the Copper League's biggest fan. This will be a lonely season for him, sadly - his wife, also a fan of the league, died six months ago.
Fish Pajnich is McQueen coach.
Pic of Navy officer watching game with binoculars from top of fifty-foot tall chimney.
1945-9-13 Deciding game of five-game championship series. McQueens 8, Silver Bow Parks 7. Paid admission of 1386, highest in league's two-year history.
1946-8-28 McQueen AC takes third place. North Side and Silver Bow Park are tied in championship series.
1948-7-14 Attendance of 2,211.
Butte Independent League
1922 final batting - I think has one of NLB Spearmans
1922-9-18 Colored Giants lose 10-4 to Mines League All-Stars before crowd of 1500.
Butte Mines League
Butte Mines League
start
1920 A.C.M. final stats alt
1921 A.C.M. final stats alt (took me awhile to find.) final incomplete
free weekday games averaged 5K ATT - paid Sunday, 1.2K
1922 Anodes final stats alt final standings final (incomplete)
1923 Clarks final stats alt - w/diff pics. & misc. indiv. pics
1924 Black-Pitts 2.4K ATT final stats/standings alt very complete
1925 Clarks final stats (took me awhile to find.)
1926 Anodes 9-4 standings final stats very complete
finish
Bloodgood, Al 1924 Black-Pitts
Bonner, Al veteran pitcher 1927 Montana Power
Chekaluk, Steve 1925 A.C.M. 1927 ACM (nvg that year - 23bb 18.33 in)
Clynes, Jack pro 1904-1914* 1923 Colo-Pitts
Ferguson, Lester p 1927 Anodes
Fitterer, Leo 22W 1937 WINT 1927 A.C.M.
Eley, Orville 1924 Black-Pitts
Juney, Frank 1923
Reynolds, Roland "Rollie" 1926 A.C.M.
Schinski, John 1926 A.C.M. b - interesting commentary on game - VG box
1925 Montana Powers vg box
Schwartz, Earl 1927 Clarks
Tucker, Earl .429 avg in 63 at-bats milb career 1923 Colo-Pitts
Averill, Earl 1925 Anaconda
Collard, Hap 1923
Crosetti, Frank 1927 Montana Powers
Lasley, Bill 1924 Black-Pitts 1925 A.C.M. 1926 A.C.M.
1920-9-05 (Butte) Stats. Considers Doc Tremblay to have been the MVP. Tomorrow, Labor Day, teams will tangle for prize money.
1920-9-10 Little world series. A.C.M. will play the K.O.C. team, champs of the Anaconda city league. The best in Butte v. the best in Anaconda.
"To defray the expenses of the series admission will be charged for seats in the grandstand and bleachers, while the hat will be passed on both fields to give all a chance in making the deal a go."
1922-7-06 Oregonian. Al Lodell, manager of Anaconda in the Butte Mines League, is negotiating with Johnny Fredericks [Frederick] and Goldman of Camas in the Willamette Valley League.
1922-9-09 baseball is blooming as it has not since 20 years ago in the days of McCloskey
1922-9-13 banquet for champion Anodes
1922-9-17 picked team will face Colored Giants of Independent League
1923-9-09 Stats. Five players are listed as having been suspended. From A.C.M. : Morton, Seiber, McKain, and Delaney. From Montana Powers: Gleason.
Two more pics on the following page.
1923-9-12 Clark players disperse
1924-6-05 (Edmonton) Chekaluk and Bowers are now pitching in the Mines League. They are not overawed; they're doing well, and they think plenty of Edmonton boys are just as good as them. Butte's high elevation makes pitching difficult. Chekaluk thinks Laurie Scott is a better catcher than any in the league.
1924-8-23 (Anaconda) There will be a little world series between the first place teams of the Butte Mines League and the Great Falls Cascade League. The Great Falls Miners have a Cuban pitcher, Salazer, and Frank "Hook" Corry, formerly of the Mines League.
1924-9-03 About Black-Pitts. Almost 100K fans attended Mines League games this year.
1924-9-07 (Anaconda) Black-Pitts will play the Stockett Miners and the Anodes of Anaconda will play the A.C.M. of Great Falls in the runner-ups series.
1925-5-09 Mayor will throw out first pitch on opening day tomorrow. Final eligible player lists, with full names.
1925-5-10 Season preview. Rosters talked of - where players have been is discussed. What season will look like. VG. MG pics.
Al Kellett described as giant pitcher. Clarence Zienke played with the Mullan Independents last season.
1925-9-15 Averill was the only player to hit the ball out of Anaconda Athletic Field. Commentary on his season.
1925-11-03 (Oakland via Calgary) Chekaluk, aka Chek, is pitching now for the Oakland Roofing Company in the Oakland Mid-Winter League. He and Bowers were assigned to Butte last year by Seattle.
1926-3-03 Anaconda. Eligible players listed, with full names. Reports on status of players - interesting and sometimes inaccurate. Thinks that Averill will return.
1926-4-03 Butte. Reserve lists, with full names. "Oscar Bowers, chewing gum advertisement, who chews so vigorously" was released.
Future of Anodes uncertain. "Not since the time that Frank Juney hurled freakish slants at bewildered Mines Leaguers has there been so much mystery about the Anodes." Clarks only has one player who wintered in Butte.
1926-4-26 Former players in UTID.
1927-7-06 rosters with full names
1920-8-28 Montana Powers. Disbanded early in the season because they were so successful and didn't want to hurt the Mines League. Their players dispersed to the various teams. They had a mascotess.
1921-9-03 A.C.M. "The Mines League season has been a great success. On an average four games a week were played. Three of those were played on weekdays at the Clark playgrounds and the other was staged at the gardens on Sundays, when the admission of two-bits was divided among the players, sixty per cent to the winners and forty per cent to the losers. This is all the money paid the men. During the week the games at the Clark playgrounds were free and as many as eight thousand people stood around and watched the sport at night. The interest was intense and each fan had his favorite."
Commentary about all the A.C.M. players. Wheezer Dell speaks highly of manager Sundberg, who caught him in olden times.
1924 Black-Pitts team pic & Al Bloodgood & James Chorlton
1925-6-17 2.7K ATT. "After all is said and done the big difference between major and minor leagues and the various classes of the latter is in the outfielders. The bushes are full of flashy infielders. A big time outfielder lasts longer and in these days draws far better pay than any other regular."
1925-8-23 Averill hit the ball fair out of Anaconda Athletic Field; the only person to do that before was Earl Tucker on 1924-8-31.
Cascade County League
1923 Montana Powers final batting
1924 Stockett Miners final batting
Reppy, Gay p. Pitched for Oakland at 16 in PCL. Pitched now and then in high-mid minors from 1914 to 1928. 1924 A.C.M.
1923-9-15 Alex Remneas managed Anaconda Copper Mining to a less-than-stellar-finish; while coaching third base in the last game of the season he was presented with a tumbleweed bouquet with a message reading: "From your admirers - both of them."
Remneas is the clerk of the court of Cascade county.
1923-9-20 AWESOME. Financial stats for season.
1924-4-29 (Anaconda) Many former Mines Leaguers in league.
1924-7-09 League will consider rules of not allowing children into the grandstand without a ticket and having two umpires for games.
1924-8-23 (Anaconda) There will be a little world series between the first place teams of the Butte Mines League and the Great Falls Cascade League. The Great Falls Miners have a Cuban pitcher, Salazer, and Hook Corry, formerly of the Mines League.
1924-9-07 (Anaconda) Black-Pitts will play the Stockett Miners and the Anodes of Anaconda will play the A.C.M. of Great Falls in the runner-ups series.
1924-9-14 Mines-Cascade series stats
1924-9-16 AWESOME. Financial stats for season. 102,290 attended 119 games. $12,047.39 to be split among the players.
1924-9-18 (Shelby, MT) "Con Robinson was in Shelby several days this week attending to business matters. Mr. Robinson has been pitching for the A.C.M. team in the Cascade county league this season."
1924-10-01 Jack Brensten, league umpire, was badly hurt in a car crash, September 10. He is leaving the hospital.
1924-10-16 (Great Falls) Picked Great Falls team will meet the Brooklyn Dodgers today. Charlie Schwartz pitched in 33 games this year and lost only eight. "Schwartz has an offer now to go with the Tigers but stated Wednesday that he would rather spend another year in the local circuit."
The Dodgers beat Bozeman 13-0 yesterday, playing before well over a thousand people.
"Barnstorming teams have the reputation of playing 'punk' baseball - decidedly punk. But Brooklyn will be out here to win. There will be no laying off in the field, no easing up on the hill - for the Dodgers are coming here on a percentage basis."
1924-10-19 Charlie Schwartz signed a provisional contract with the Dodgers for next year. His negotiations with the Tigers are closed. Schwartz would have been a regular with Portland (PCL) in 1923 if he hadn't thrown out his arm.
Dazzy Vance said the Great Falls team is the most difficult team he's faced in the trip.
1924-10-22 Lou Morton, Stockett Miners infielder, is leaving for the coast. He will play winter ball in Taft, California.
1924-12-07 F.J. "Spud" Ryan, who caught for A.C.M. this year and who has also played in Butte, will report to the St. Louis Browns' training camp next spring.
1923-9-06 Miners 2, Woodmen 1. Miners tied Montana Powers for 1st.
1923-9-09 Montana Power 3, Miners 1. Championship game. 4K ATT. Play by play.
1923-9-10 Miners 2, A.C.M. 2. Still both tied for 2nd. alt Cold weather is approaching -the tie will not be played out.
1924-5-04 Hook Corry threw a no-hitter in the league opener for about 1K fans.
1924-5-23 Alex Remneas lost a seven-inning no-hitter 1-0.
1924-5-29 Dave Salazar threw a no-hitter before 1.5K+ fans.
1924-5-30 Hook Corry struck out 18.
1924-7-08 Schwartz throws one-hitter in seven innings for about 2K fans.
1924-8-16 Dave Salazar threw a five-inning no-hitter
1924-9-11 Black-Pitts 10, Stockett Miners 5. A.C.M. 5, Anodes 2.
1924-10-16 Dodgers 9, Great Falls 3. 2K ATT. Dutch Ruether pitched most of the game - it's been a long time since he last pitched in Great Falls.
1924-10-17 Dodgers 2, Great Falls 1. 2K ATT. Vance k'd 15. Charley Schwartz gave the Dodgers a hard time.
Jack Fournier was drilled in the head by a pitch.
1923-9-13 Tommy Adamson & Max Rachac.
1924-9-05 Stockett Miners (nvg)
1924-9-10 Stockett Miners pitching staff
1924-9-10 Stockett Miners
Flathead League
Great Falls City League
1918
1918-7-07 Tribune. Box. At Earling park.
1918-9-19 Tribune. Box, standings. Bitter feeling was exhibited by both teams. With the score tied
2-2 in the sixth and the sun gone down, Umpire Boe declared the last scheduled game forfeited by the Old Timers to the Moose. Captain Remneas protested the forfeiture to the league president, who overruled Boe and ordered the game to be replayed next Sunday afternoon.
Moose do not want to replay game - will play Old Timers for a side bet of $200 if they really want to play.
Top three teams given in standings - Moose 16-6, Old Timers 16-7.
Helena City League
Helena City League
1950 Capital Sports final batting
1951
1952 North Side Merchants
1950-8-27 Final batting. One-handed pitcher Bob Lightbody led league with .419 average. George Snyder, another pitcher, finished 4th with a .370 average.
1951-9-04 George Snyder, Capital Sports' ace, has returned from summer school in Bozeman. "Snyder pitched the Sports to the postseason flag in 1950. He hurled in six of the seven games, including a doubleheader Sunday afternoon and the finale the following Monday evening."
Bob Lightbody dueled Snyder in the 1950 play-offs, and they may duel again.
1951-9-04 Capital Sports 7, East Helena 2. George Snyder won third straight play-off game.
1950-9-24 Final ball game of year. Capital Sports 11, Old-Timers 8. "The contest netted $143.40 toward installing lights at the Memorial ball yard..."
"Andy Tomcheck, who organized the game, commended the players and the fans for their co-operation in helping to get the lighting-fund off to a good start."
Bob Lightbody pitched three innings for Capital Sports and gave up nine hits and five runs.
Intercity League
Intercity League
1934 Butte Colored Sox
1934-9-09 Team pic. Lost 1st game of playoffs 37-7, then came back to win three straight.
1934-9-02 Laurel Leafs 37, Colored Giants 7. 3K ATT
1934-9-03 Colored Giants 17, Laurel Leafs 8. Colored Giants scored 12 in eighth in come-from-behind win.
1934-9-09 Colored Giants 12, City League All-Stars 6.
1934-9-12 Colored Giants manager Doug Jackson is left alone in Butte, keeping windows clean at store, while team goes back to their and his hometown of Arkadelphia.
Missoula City League
1933 7-13 standings
1935
1935-4-24 "We recall that in the first City League game of history, the present president, Senator John Campbell, winning a tight game as pitcher, allowed only two hits, one by Neil McKain, who is playing this season in the Washington-Idaho League, and one by Harry Lee Baker, who is now state forester in Florida.
"That opening game was not settled until the seventh inning when Elmer J. (Hole-in-One) Stowe knocked a two-bagger to start a scoring spree that broke a previous tie."
Montana State League
1899
1900 BR
1937-10-31 About Joe McCarthy, a colorful character from 1900. Articles about him reprinted.
Montana State League
Montana State League
1935 Freebourn 2nd half final standings final batting and fielding final pitching
1936 East Helena 2nd half final standings final batting alt but same quality
1941 7-10 standings
Blastic, Henry-Hank good in WINT former Montana State leaguer
Pajnich, Frank-"Fish" .415 in 1935 for Butte Freebourns. 1936 Butte - league batting leader w/ .475 - 2g with 1934 Portland. In 1937, umpired the first half of the year then won the batting title in the second with .448 average.
Carr, Wayne Butte Colored Giants
Championship -
between 1st and second half winners
1935-9-01 alt next day Freebourn 7, Colored Giants 6.
1935-9-03 Freebourn 10, Colored Giants 1. identical next day
1936-8-27 East Helena 8, Butte 1. 1st game
1936-8-29 East Helena 11, Butte 4. 3rd game - second was 10-10 tie
1936-9-01 East Helena 5, Butte 3. East Helena won four games to one.
1937-8-27 Semi-final about to be decided
1937-8-29 Silver Bow Parks, Missoula 9. Biggest crowd in years.
1937-8-30 Missoula 4, Silver Bow Park 2.
1935-9-06 Montana State Leaguers have been nominated for All-American amateur team that will sail for Japan October 3.
1936-9-04 Lew Olsen of East Helena is trying to get a Red Sox try-out.
1936-9-05 William T. "Bill" Cullen appointed play and activity program director for grade schools in district No. 1
former Butte Mines League player, current Montana State League player.
1936-12-27 East Helena, league champs, had a half-dozen Missoulans in line-up.
1937-9-11 League's attendance much higher per game than in previous years.
1938-12-31 The State League having folded, Butte's baseball needs were served by the City Amateur League.
Northern Montana Industrial League
Northern Montana Industrial League
1926-4-17 (Regina) Amby Moran hired - got recommendations from Happy Felsch, Swede Risberg, and Nig Donaldson - his break was when he umpired with the Scobie team last summer.
1926-9-08 Pics of Great Falls Electrics and A.C.M. Has full names.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/george-puccinelli/ Herb Hester signed for his Shelby Drillers/Havre Hillers.
Puccinelli pitched both games of doubleheader 7-21 v. Scobey, MT team, managed by Happy Felsch.
Western Montana League
Western Montana League
Inter-Mountain League (Class D)
1909-6-04 Salary limit is $1500/month for 13 players Tamp Osborne traded to Butte
car service to parks is nvg
car service to parks is nvg
1909-7-11 league blew up 7-4 - team losses listed account of when John J. McCloskey managed PNWL champ team - $3K salary/month for team
Thomas 1909
Butte city championship
Butte city championship
1939-8-19 preview.
1939-8-24 Copper Sox 13, McQueen 4. Boxes have batter BB and SO.
Butte Colored Sox
Butte Colored Sox
Butte Parks
1938-7-10 Organized very recently. Are a combination of the Butte and Silver Bow Parks teams of last year's Montana State League. Will play Butte Colored Giants. Have Fish Pajnich.
1938-8-01 Coeur d' Alene 15, Butte Parks 8.
1938-9-04 Butte Parks 15, Coeur d' Alene 2. Rubber match of five-game series. Fish hit two homers.
1938-9-05 Coeur d'Alene Miners 11, Butte Parks 1.
Butte Copper Sox
1938-9-05 Coeur d'Alene Miners 11, Butte Parks 1.
Butte Copper Sox
1939-7-30 Today the Copper Sox will face an integrated team: the International All-Stars of Conrad, MT, a baseball force with the former battery for the Butte Colored Giants and a lineup sprinkled with former Coast Leaguers. The town the team represents, Conrad, "takes its baseball as seriously as it does its cash crop of beet sugar."
1939-7-19 Beat University Store of Missoula 12-8
1939-8-18 Beat old-timer's team of former City, Mines, and State leaguers 10-3.
1940-10-06 Lose to Earl Mack's Touring All-Stars 22-7; Rollie Hemsley is a cut-up
Dallas, Porky 1926 Plentywood play by play
Dumler, Carl-Dutch 1939 University Store of Missoula same team that won Montana State League championship in 1937
Gebeau, Joe p. 1909 WCAN. 1910 Hamilton +action pic. 600 ATT.
Tremblay, Amedee 1912 UA 1912 Butte lost 16-2 alt
Verheyen, Fred p. 1911 TL. 1912 Butte Independents Beat Bozeman twice in a day.
Boardman, Charlie 1926 Scobey 1.2K ATT
Davenport, Dave 1926 Plentywood
Dell, Wheezer Called Weiser until 1915 1911 Hammond 14K
Lavan, Doc 1912 Dillon playing under assumed name - St. Louis Browns were hiding him in Montana to keep other teams from getting him. See SABR bio. box Dillon beat Butte 16-2.
Mohler, Kid 1915 Leggatt of Butte roster listed - full names did not appear in boxes
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Steamboat-Williams/
"In 1910 the Woodworth/Williams family was farming near the Soldier Creek Schoolhouse. Around this time, 18-year-old Rees began playing baseball for a team made up of the neighboring ranches against the Cascade town team. Williams would next pitch for Cascade, making the 16-mile horseback ride twice a day for 35 cents pay, which barely fed his horse.7 One of the most ardent supporters of the Cascade ball team was Montana legend “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, the first African American woman to carry the U.S. Mail. “For each game she prepared buttonhole bouquets of flowers for each player from her own garden, with larger bouquets reserved for home-run hitters. Any man speaking ill of the local team in her presence could expect a bouquet of knuckles in his face.”8 In the only known photographs of the Cascade ball team around this time, Fields appears in both, while Williams is absent."
"In 1910 the Woodworth/Williams family was farming near the Soldier Creek Schoolhouse. Around this time, 18-year-old Rees began playing baseball for a team made up of the neighboring ranches against the Cascade town team. Williams would next pitch for Cascade, making the 16-mile horseback ride twice a day for 35 cents pay, which barely fed his horse.7 One of the most ardent supporters of the Cascade ball team was Montana legend “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, the first African American woman to carry the U.S. Mail. “For each game she prepared buttonhole bouquets of flowers for each player from her own garden, with larger bouquets reserved for home-run hitters. Any man speaking ill of the local team in her presence could expect a bouquet of knuckles in his face.”8 In the only known photographs of the Cascade ball team around this time, Fields appears in both, while Williams is absent."
https://montanawomenshistory.org/the-life-and-legend-of-mary-fields/ pic of her with Cascade team
Pics:
1911-4-30 Hamilton team pic
Pics:
1911-4-30 Hamilton team pic
Fish Pajnich
1959-5-24 Pic - is still bowling
1959-5-24 Pic - is still bowling
1965-10-07 still bowling
Charley Pride
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pride-001cha Played snippets of three seasons in minors - also played in Negro Leagues.
https://archive.is/X78lJ W/ pic of him playing guitar in Smelterites uniform.
"In 1960, Pride and his wife Rozene mortgaged their furniture to pay for the drive with their infant son, from Memphis to Montana, and a stint with the Missoula Timberjacks of the Pioneer League.
“After three games with the Timberjacks I was released, but manager Nick Mariana told me about a couple semi-pro teams in Helena and gave me two names to contact — Bud Sautter and Kes Rigler,” Pride said.
Charley Pride
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pride-001cha Played snippets of three seasons in minors - also played in Negro Leagues.
https://archive.is/X78lJ W/ pic of him playing guitar in Smelterites uniform.
"In 1960, Pride and his wife Rozene mortgaged their furniture to pay for the drive with their infant son, from Memphis to Montana, and a stint with the Missoula Timberjacks of the Pioneer League.
“After three games with the Timberjacks I was released, but manager Nick Mariana told me about a couple semi-pro teams in Helena and gave me two names to contact — Bud Sautter and Kes Rigler,” Pride said.
Rigler gained national fame in the 1930s, appearing in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not,” as a one-armed minor league baseball player. Sautter also played in the minors, with the Great Falls Electrics in the early 1950s.
“When I got off the bus here, I called Bud Sautter, who was managing the Helena (Cardinals) team,” Pride said. “We spoke in his (M.L. Brown) sporting goods store and Bud said that he didn’t really have a job for me, but that maybe something could be worked out, and he put me up in a room at the YMCA.”
“When I got off the bus here, I called Bud Sautter, who was managing the Helena (Cardinals) team,” Pride said. “We spoke in his (M.L. Brown) sporting goods store and Bud said that he didn’t really have a job for me, but that maybe something could be worked out, and he put me up in a room at the YMCA.”
He added that he “clearly remembered” Sautter telling him not to get ahold of Kes Rigler, the East Helena Smelterites’ manager, until he figured something out.
But the next morning, there was a knock on the door, and there stood Rigler.
“When Kes said he had a job for me at the Smelter, that decided right there who I’d play for,” Pride recounted.
The Smelterites were comprised of several guys who worked at Asarco, and Pride said their work hours were designed not to interfere with the team’s schedule.
Known as the Copper League until Butte’s three teams dropped out the year before, the 1960 Montana State League was comprised of four teams; the Smelterites, Cardinals, and Anaconda’s Copper Kings and Anodes.
Among his better games that season was a 4 for 4 performance (double, home run, 3 runs, 6 RBIs, stolen base) in an 18-10 win over the Anodes; 3 for 4 (RBI) in a 9-0 win over Helena; and a single and a homer in a 3-2 win over the Cardinals.
Among his better games that season was a 4 for 4 performance (double, home run, 3 runs, 6 RBIs, stolen base) in an 18-10 win over the Anodes; 3 for 4 (RBI) in a 9-0 win over Helena; and a single and a homer in a 3-2 win over the Cardinals.
When the Smelterites swept Helena in four straight contests during the State League playoffs – to end the season on a 21-game winning streak – Pride stole three bases in the finals’ 11-2 victory.
Charley won the League’s batting crown with a lofty .424 average, while leading the state with 42 hits (in 26 games) and nine doubles, and was No. 2 with 29 RBIs.
In 1962, East Helena won another state crown by defeating Butte’s South Side 3-1 in a best-of-five series. Pride finished second in the batting race with a .372 average, led the league with 20 runs scored and tied for the most stolen bases, with seven.
“Charley was a great curveball hitter,” remembered former Smelterite teammate Terry Screnar. “If he got a curve in his wheelhouse, he could hit it a mile.”
Pride played with the Smelterites through 1964, before moving to Great Falls. During his off-time, he entertained at East Helena’s Hughy’s — later called the Korner Bar — the U&I Club, Helena’s Main Tavern and the White Mill Bar.
[Tried out with Angels and Mets in 1965 to no avail.]
[Tried out with Angels and Mets in 1965 to no avail.]
And the rest is history, as Charley Pride went on the achieve 33 No. 1 hit singles, and was the first African American inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, in 2000.
http://www.helenahistory.org/Charlie_Pride_In_Helena.htm
(the smelter kept 18 jobs open for ball players, regulating their days off so they could have a team).
http://www.helenahistory.org/Charlie_Pride_In_Helena.htm
(the smelter kept 18 jobs open for ball players, regulating their days off so they could have a team).
Rigler soon discovered that Charley could sing as well. Rigler paid him $10 to sing over the PA system for fifteen minutes before games, which was the same amount he got paid for playing the game. Charley's singing boosted attendance...
https://www.newspapers.com/search/?date-end=1911&date-start=1911&keyword=%22weiser+dell%22
Steve Chekaluk RHP
https://www.newspapers.com/search/?date-end=1911&date-start=1911&keyword=%22weiser+dell%22
Steve Chekaluk RHP
Chekaluk, Steve Walked 55 in 65 innings in 1925 for Seattle.
1926-4-09 (Saskatoon, BC) "Steve Chuckaluk and Oscar Bowers have been turned loose by the Seattle club of the Pacific Coast League. Bowers had joined up with the Salt Lake City team of the Utah-Idaho league. Chuckaluk will likely lineup with one of the teams in the Montana league this summer.
1926-4-09 (Saskatoon, BC) "Steve Chuckaluk and Oscar Bowers have been turned loose by the Seattle club of the Pacific Coast League. Bowers had joined up with the Salt Lake City team of the Utah-Idaho league. Chuckaluk will likely lineup with one of the teams in the Montana league this summer.
Both Chuckaluk and Bowers are well known in Western Canada professional and semi-pro baseball circles, having performed in numerous tournaments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They went into the camp of the Seattle club in California this spring, and although they started out well, couldn't keep pace with the coast leaguers. Chuckaluk's big fault was lack of control.
Laurie Scott, peppery forward of the Saskatoon Sheiks, is a former team-mate of the pitching pair."
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