Vol. 4, World Series Issue, Part 2 [Stanislaus

Transcription

Volume 4
Stanislaus
Historical
Quarterly
2010 World Series Issue
Part 2
Stanislaus County
Founded 1854
An Independent Publication of Stanislaus County History
S
tanislaus County Baseball
St
1
930 - 1
945
1930
19
Hughson Merchants - 1938
The 1938 Hughson Merchants, also known as the Hughson Woodmen, competed in the championship game of the Central Valley
League against the Atwater Packers that was picked to win. The results were not reported in the Modesto Bee, and in the next
season’s articles, it was not mentioned. Still though, the Merchants were a successful team for the 1938 season. The following are
articles from the newspaper concerning Hughson Merchants’ games.
Modesto Bee
June 13, 1938
Hughson Downs Rangers
In 12 Inning Contest
Modesto Bee
August 29, 1938
Shannons Drop Game to Hughson
Merchants and Atwater Packers Go into
Central League Playoffs
Defeat Is First of League Season for Shannons
Score Is 7 to 5
The Shannon Rangers suffered their first Central Valley League setback
here yesterday when they were upset, 7 to 5, by the Hughson Merchants
baseball team in a twelve inning game. Hughson, nicking pitcher Gordon
Walden for three hits, scored two runs in the twelfth to break a 5 to 5
deadlock. Previously, Rhodes, pinch hitting for Bava, Hughson’s third
baseman, had homered with one aboard in the ninth to tie the score.
Hughson had scored its first three
runs in the fifth on four hits off
Walden. The Rangers tallied all their
runs in the eighth inning, when
Styles was replaced by Hank
Leventini. Walden, who fanned
fifteen, allowed thirteen blows.
Styles and Leventini, striking out five
and six, respectively, held Modesto
to eleven hits. The defeat threw the
Rangers into a tie with the Atwater
Packers for first place in the league
standings. Hughson’s lineup: Clark,
lf; Hogg, ss; Amador, 2b; Richards, 1b; Amaral, cf; Bava, 3b; Styles, p.;
Walker, c; Nelson, c; Rhodes, 3b; and Levintini, p.
The Hughson Merchants and the Atwater Packers swept into the finals of
the Central Valley League playoffs with decisive victories in the opening
round games at the Municipal Ball Park here yesterday afternoon. The
Merchants behind the twirling of Hank Leventini, upset the Shannon
Rangers, 9 to 4, after Hughson had jumped into a 5 to 2 lead in the fourth
inning. With Leventini clouting a single and a triple to drive in three runs, the
Merchants who beat Le Grand a week ago to qualify as the fourth team in
the playoff, bunched nine blows
off Marvin “Spec” Lee, the
Rangers’ curve-baller. It was
Lee’s fifth setback against eight
wins. Atwater, after picking up a
run each in the second and sixth
stanzas, salted the game away
with a two run burst in the
seventh. The title game will be
played Sunday. The site of the
game has not been set, by John
Pimintel, league commissioner.
Modesto Bee
July 5, 1938
Atwater Outfit Beats Hughson
In League Game
Galloway Limits Merchants to Six Hits
As Southerns Win by Score of 9 to 5
Atwater’s Packers took a firmer grip on the Central Valley League here
[Atwater] Sunday when they defeated the Hughson Merchants by a score
of 9 to 5. Galloway of Atwater distributed six hits while his mates collected
eleven. Corvello, first sacker, collected three hits in four trips to lead the
winners. The victory gave Atwater six victories against one loss. Hughson
now has three wins and four defeats. Hughson’s lineup: Leventini, lf, p;
Hogg, ss; Amador, 2b; Barrelli, 3b; Martella, rf; Styles, p, lf; Walker, c;
Nelson, c; and Bava, 3b.
Styles, cf
Clark, lf
Amaral, c
Richards, 1b
Bava, 3b
Amador, 2b
Leventini, p.
Hogg, ss
Martella, rf
Rhodes, rf
Hughson Merchants
AB
H
R
5
3
3
5
2
1
5
0
0
5
2
1
5
0
2
2
0
1
4
2
0
4
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
1
E
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Front Cover Photo: 1938 Modesto Reds, with a March starting
lineup of Guerrero, cf; Seiber, 1b; B. Jones, ss; Jackson, rf;
Beckes, cf; Pickering, 2b; Randolph, 3b; Hand, c; Ferrini, lf; and
Garrison, p.
Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
Stanislaus Historical Quarterly is published four times a year, featuring freshly researched articles on Stanislaus County history.
Currently, there is no charge per subscription or individual issues, but readers must notify the editor to be placed on the mailing
list. Ideas for articles or historical information concerning topics of county history may be sent to the editor. This is a non-profit
educational publication. Stanislaus Historical Quarterly is edited, copyrighted, and published by Robert LeRoy Santos, AlleyCass Publications, 2240 Nordic Way, Turlock, CA, 95382. Tel: 209.634.8218. Email: blsantos@csustan.edu. Ellen Ruth Wine Santos
is assistant editor and proofreader. ISSN1945-8126 ©
46
Stanislaus County Baseball
1930 – 1945
(Continues “Stanislaus County Baseball, 1870-1930,” SHQ: Volume 3, 2010 World Series Issue)
1
930
1930
No Turlock baseball club would suit up for county competition in
Either the California State League didn’t organize for the 1930.
1930 season or the Modesto Reds didn’t join the league possibly
The 1930 Sierra League organized with clubs from
because of its poor showing in 1929. Nevertheless, the Reds played Waterford, Modesto, Livingston, Hughson, Atwater, and Riverbank.
independent baseball in 1930, with a lineup that was completely Teams from Modesto and Hughson replaced Ceres and Keyes from
different from 1929, featuring a sprinkling of Modesto’s Milk
Producers’ players. The Reds faced the Oakland Colored Giants in
Modesto News-Herald
its first contest, being victorious, 7 to 2, behind the pitching arm of
September 15, 1930
former Milk Producers’ hurler, Frank Enos, who fanned seven and
Enos
Stars
as Hughson Downs
kept the Giants’ bats mostly silent. Enos was again the focal point
Newman,
4 to 2
in the Reds’ next win, this time over the Lodi Athletic Club, 6 to 5.
All
Highlanders’
Hits
Made by One Man,
He pitched the first five innings, allowing only one hit, but his relief
Who Also Poles Out Homer
pitcher “was a bit wild,” according to the Modesto News-Herald.
Enos was two for three on the day with the bat, “smashing a long
Although getting but three hits, the Hughson baseball team
drive to right field, the ball missing the top of the fence by a mere
managed to defeat the Newman Merchants in a tight game
foot.”
here on Sunday by a score of 4 to 2. Frank Enos was the star
of the contest. His homer in the fourth inning with two out and
In its March 23rd outing, the Reds were again the victors,
three men on base brought victory to Hughson when Frank
4 to 1, behind the arm and bat of Enos. Modesto faced Oakland’s
took a heavy swing at a high outside ball which cleared the left
Rola Radio Company at Davis Park, with Enos again two for three in
field fence by twenty feet for a four-ply clout. The hit made all of
the batter’s box, clubbing two doubles, while striking out five on
Hughson’s hits – three. “Lefty” Borden twirled steady ball
the mound, “pitching his usual consistent game,” commented the
throughout seven innings for Hughson. He fanned ten men
newspaper. Another Oakland club was in Modesto for an April 6th
and walked but two. Enos relieved him in the eighth and retired
battle, a Reds’ shutout over the Leslie Salt Company, 1 to 0. It was
two more batters. . . . An argument in the second inning nearly
a pitching duel between Enos and Leslie’s Roderick, lasting 14
led to the game being called off. The dispute arose when two
innings, ending in a home run “clearing the boards by twenty feet
Hughson base runners started to advance a base. Second
– a home run in any park – ruined a grueling pitching battle,”
baseman Pardee of Newman threw to third as Enos slid back
according to the News-Herald.
to the bag. Umpire Campbell called Enos safe, then out, then
In other April competition, the Reds were the victors over
safe. Catcher Borba of Newman refused to continue the game
San Francisco’s Jefferson Club, 13 to 7, primarily because of the
unless Enos was called out. Hughson finally allowed Enos to be
visiting nine’s fielding errors. Modesto had just six hits in the game,
called out. Second baseman Cliff Richards made a beautiful
with Enos allowing eight hits in the first two innings, while
catch of a Texas leaguer from the bat of Ewing in the fourth
connecting for one hit himself in five trips to the plate. The Reds
inning.
once again faced the Leslie Salt Company being defeated this time
by Oakland, 11 to 7, with Enos not in the lineup. Coverage in the
local newspaper of the Modesto Reds ended at this point for the
be represented by J.C. Penney.
season. The Reds would not organize from 1931 through 1933, the 1929 season. Modesto would
th
The
following
Sunday,
April
13
,
the
Livingston Peppers dumped
leaving Modesto without semi-pro baseball during the hiatus. The
Modesto,
12
to
5,
powering
14
hits
in
the encounter.
dark days of the Great Depression may have had a dampening
In
May,
Livingston
faced
Hughson
in a ten-inning match,
effect on the Reds’ traveling game, with finances being difficult.
winning
that
contest,
11
to
10.
There
were
a
total of 26 hits and 14
Members of the Don Pedro League met in Modesto at
th
errors
between
the
two
teams.
On
May
18
,
Sierra
League standings
Weeks Sport Shop to consider a six-club league, with teams from
were:
Waterford
7-0;
Livingston
6-1;
Modesto
5-3;
Hughson 2-6;
Manteca, Escalon, Gustine, Lodi, Modesto, and possibly Newman.
Riverbank
2-6;
and
Atwater
2-6.
In
another
league
battle,
Modesto
Modesto’s Milk Producers would not enter the league, because its
defeated
Atwater
in
ten
innings,
8
to
7,
while
Livingston
traveled
to
manager, Shobe, could not secure Davis Park for its games. There
Waterford,
being
victorious,
15
to
7.
Waterford
accrued
12
hits,
but
was no further disclosure of league activities in the Modesto or
Turlock newspapers; therefore, it is uncertain that the Don Pedro eight errors were fatal in its losing thcause. The first half-season of
the Sierra League ended on June 8 , with the Livingston Peppers
League was active for 1930.
Turlock formed a twilight league of city baseball for 1930. winning the pennant.
In June league action, Atwater drubbed Modesto by a
In June, it would embark on a softball journey, then called “indoor
score
of
8
to 1, allowing J.C. Penney only five hits. In other league
baseball,” though it was played outside without spikes, and
play,
Waterford defeated Riverbank, 9 to 4, and Hughson
was for “everyone to play,” according to the Turlock Tribune.
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World Series Issue
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beat Livingston by an identical score, 9 to 4. After five weeks of the
second half-season, the Sierra League standings were: Hughson 41; Waterford 4-1; Atwater 2-2; Livingston 2-2; Modesto 1-4; and
Riverbank 1-4.
On Sunday, July 20th, Modesto was at Riverbank in a game
that had plenty of offense, ending 8 to 6, with J.C. Penney the
victors. Note that P. Johansen and his brother C. Johansen had
played for Waterford the first half-season, but now they were with
Riverbank. In an August 3 rd bout, Waterford overwhelmed
Livingston, 10 to 3, and then the next week, Livingston lost again to
J.C. Penney, 7 to 6. Former Reds’ star, Enos, was on the mound for
the Hughson Highlanders against Riverbank, allowing nine hits
Modesto News-Herald
March 30, 1931
CUBS IN CLOSE WIN OVER CERES
Munges, Twirling for Modesto, Fans Eleven
Men and Issues Two Passes
The Modesto Colored Cubs defeated the Ceres baseballteam in an
independent game at Ceres on Sunday by a score of 6 to 1. Munges
pitching for the Cubs fanned eleven men and walked two. Santos,
Ceres twirler, struck out seven batters and walked one. Santos and
Pierce both connected for two-base clouts.
but winning the contest, 19 to 11. The Sierra League standings
were: Hughson 8-2; Waterford 8-2; Livingston 4-5; Modesto 4-6;
Atwater 3-6; and Riverbank 2-8. Two weeks later, Waterford claimed
the second half-season flag of the Sierra League. It would play the
Livingston Peppers in a championship series. Both squads had
dominating offenses. Peppers, being especially hot, won the first
contest, 8 to 1. Waterford took the second match, while squirming
by Livingston in the final hit-infested encounter, 20 to 19, winning
the Sierra League crown for 1930.
193
1
931
Stanislaus County baseball plans for the 1931 season
began in early February, when the new Inter-County League was
formed to include teams from Ripon, Salida, Keyes, Riverbank, and
Modesto, which had two clubs: National Guards and Hawks. On
opening day, Sunday, April 5th, Riverbank, Ripon, and Hawks were
winners. The Guards, under the management of Lefty Groves, were
clearly outclassed by Ripon, losing, 15 to 0. The Keyes Blues and
Modesto Hawks had a competitive contest, with the Hawks winning,
4 to 1. Hawks’ player-manager, Dave Podesto, allowed four hits,
while striking out nine batters. Blues’ Hamlow hurled seven
strikeouts, while conceding nine hits.
On April 12th, Modesto’s National Guards nosed out its
sister club, Modesto Hawks, in a 5 to 4 contest, decided in the ninth
inning. It was a pitching match between Guards’ Harry Berg and
Hawks’ Dial. In another close battle, the Hawks were the victors
this time in a 4 to 3 duel against Ripon. Spenker was on the mound
for the winners, while Pope threw for Ripon. In the meantime the
Riverbank nine was successful against the Guards, 8 to 5, even
though the soldiers’ pitcher, Baker, struck out ten batters.
In early June, the Modesto Hawks faced the Ripon
Bears, dominating its contender, 11 to 4, behind 18 hits. Podesto
was on the mound for Modesto, allowing only three hits. In its next
game, the Hawks were out hit, with its pitcher, Shingler, being tagged
for 17, but a week later Modesto was victorious in a 10 to 9 contest
over Keyes. Neighbors, Keyes and Ceres, grappled in a 6 to 5
contest, putting Keyes in the winning column, after it slugged 16
hits. Riverbank was pummeled by the Hawks, 14 to 1, thereby
clinching the first half-season, with an eight to one record; the final
Inter-County League standings were: Hawks 8-1; Ceres 5-4;
Riverbank 5-4; Ripon 4-5; Keyes 4-6; and Guards 2-7.
For the second half-season, Ceres and the National Guards
withdrew from the league, being replaced by Hilmar and Turlock. It
was L. Nicholson’s day for Riverbank when he hit a triple and a
homer to help bring home the victory in a 12 to 9 contest over
Turlock. There were 26 hits collectively by both clubs and zero
errors in the game. In some whopping scores in August, Ripon
Bears clawed its Turlock competitor for a 16 to 2 drubbing, while
the Modesto Hawks devoured Riverbank, 17 to 9, featuring heavy
hitting by Modesto’s Mason, who blasted a grand slam home run
that witnesses claimed to be the “longest home run ever clouted”
in Modesto. In other action, Keyes and Hilmar played to a 12 to 8
conclusion, with Keyes the victor.
In early September play, undefeated Ripon kept its winning
ways by surpassing the Modesto Hawks in a 13 to 5 blowout,
blasting 17 hits from pitches offered by Modesto’s Podesto and his
reliever, Needham. The second half-season ended with Ripon the
flag winner: Ripon 10-0; Hawks 7-3; Keyes 5-5; Hilmar 3-6; Riverbank
3-7; and Turlock 1-8. This set the stage for a playoff series between
the Hawks and Ripon, which went San Joaquin County’s way. The
first engagement found Ripon winning barely by 9 to 8, with
Modesto’s pitcher, Podesto, allowing 12 hits in the loss. In the midSeptember game, the runs were less, but Ripon was on the winning
end again, 4 to 2, securing the 1931 Inter-County League
championship. Dave Podesto was on the hill for the Hawks, allowing
eight hits.
The Don Pedro League didn’t organize for 1931, but the
Sierra League did, with clubs from Waterford, Newman, Turlock,
Livingston, Atwater, and Hughson. Newman and Turlock replaced
Modesto and Riverbank from the previous year. On Sunday, March
15th, the Waterford Merchants faced the Turlock Merchants in a
preseason contest, with Waterford defeating Turlock, 4 to 3. Turlock
played errorless baseball in the game.
Turlock Merchants played the Hughson Highlanders next,
but lost another close one, 3 to 2. Turlock again had zero errors.
The victorious Highlanders hammered ten hits in the victory. The
next Sunday, Turlock finally captured a win, 7 to 3 over Hughson,
with the Highlanders putting three pitchers on the mound, while
Turlock’s Mitchell fanned 11. The match was even until the eighth
inning, when Turlock scored five runs. The next week, the Newman
Lambs were back, vanquishing Turlock 5 to 1, with Borden fanning
11 batters.
In an exciting bout on April 5th, Atwater’s Weston homered
in the ninth inning, winning the contest against Hughson, 7 to 6. Al
Walters threw for the losing Highlanders, but his teammates
committed six errors, losing the affair even though both
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World Series Issue
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squads had 11 hits each. In other action, Turlock Merchants also
accrued six errors, but the club won its bout against Livingston
Peppers, 5 to 3, behind the pitching arm of Carlstrom, who held his
opponent to four hits. The Peppers were on the field facing
Hughson’s bats the next week, winning that encounter, 7 to 5,
belting 12 hits. In early May, the Highlanders remained winless,
being defeated by Waterford in an 11 to 5 battle, with Hughson’s
hurler, Enos, fanning nine, while being bashed for 15 hits. After six
weekends, four teams were tied for first place in the league. The
standings were: Livingston 4-2; Waterford 4-2; Newman 4-2;
Atwater 4-2; Turlock 2-3; and Hughson 0-6.
In May, Waterford and Turlock played a wild game in
which there were 12 combined errors, with Waterford the victors,
11 to 4. The Hughson Highlanders were still winless, losing to the
Livingston Peppers, 10 to 3, with Hughson’s hurlers, Nickerson
and Crow, allowing 16 hits in the dismal showing. Waterford
continued its winning ways in its 6 to 4 conquest over Livingston
on June 7th, claiming ownership of the first half-season flag. The
Sierra League standings were: Waterford 8-2; Atwater 7-3;
Livingston 6-4; Newman 4-6; Turlock 4-6; and Hughson 1-9. Because
of its poor performance, Hughson decided to withdraw from the
league, being replaced by Modesto’s J.C. Penney. In its outing
with Waterford, J.C. Penney lost the contest, 7 to 4, behind the
troubled pitching of Enos and his reliever, Felker. But this would be
Modesto’s only loss, winning the next seven contests, thereby
taking the second half-season pennant, with the final standings
being: Modesto 7-1; Atwater 5-3; Waterford 4-4; Turlock 4-4; and
Livingston 0-8.
On August 30th, J.C. Penney faced Waterford in the first
game of the playoff series, winning by a score of 2 to 0. The following
week, J.C. Penney again dominated 3 to 0, with Enos on the hill. The
News-Herald remarked: “Frank Enos twirled superb ball . . . [only]
one man was able to get past second base during the entire game.”
J.C. Penney won the 1931 Sierra League championship. This was
the first time that a Modesto club won a championship of either the
Sierra League or the Don Pedro league.
For 1931, the Modesto Merchants played as an
independent club. It faced Oakland’s Refinite Water Softeners on
March 22nd, defeating the Bay Area club, 5 to 0. It played an Oakdale
contingent twice in June, winning those contests, 9 to 5 and 7 to 6.
Stockton’s Harley-Davison faced the Merchants in August,
defeating Modesto at Enslen Park, 5 to 2. But the next weekend, the
Merchants were victors over Tracy-Banta, 8 to 1. It was the club’s
eighteenth win of the year. In September, the Merchants won a
contest from Harley-Davison, 14 to 9, and another, 6 to 1, over
Brentwood. Modesto’s Colored Cubs that was playing independent
baseball. The News-Herald reported on two Cubs’ games, one
against Ceres, the Cubs victorious, 6 to 1, and another against
Hilmar, with the Cubs winning that one 8 to 4.
1932
Modesto’s winter league for 1931-32 concluded its
competition in February, with many of its players joining clubs for
the 1932 county baseball season. Riverbank’s winter league club
would join the Don Pedro League. In February, Riverbank played
Modesto’s Yellow Jackets, also a winter league team,
Riverbank winning, 9 to 1. In March, the Modesto Merchants met
Harley-Davidson on March 13th, at Enslen Park, in an exhibition
contest, with Modesto the victors, 10 to 4, behind 15 hits. The next
week, Modesto was at La Grange, facing the Gold Diggers, winning
that battle, 3 to 2, in the ninth inning, with timely hits from Bracco
and Mann. On the last weekend of March, a combined Waterford
Modesto News-Herald
July 18, 1932
Hawks Down Oakdale
In Close Tilt
Podesto’s Aggregation Scores Three Runs
On No Hits in Eighth Frame
Dave Podesto’s Modesto Hawks came from behind to eke in
several squeeze plays and three runs in the eighth inning and
consequently win 5 to 4 from the Oakdale Merchants Sunday
afternoon at the Enseln Park. The Hawks registered only six
hits, not making any during the big scoring period. Ferrini hit
two for four, and Tony Antonelli sparkled with the timber for
Oakdale, smacking a home run and two singles
and La Grange team grappled with the Merchants, defeating
Modesto, 4 to 3, at Enslen Park.
The Don Pedro League didn’t organize for the 1931 season,
but it did for the 1932 season, having clubs from Oakdale, Riverbank,
Ceres, Valley Home, La Grange, and the Modesto Hawks. At
Modesto’s Aviation Field, Riverbank’s San Patricia Club clipped
the Hawks by a score of 8 to 4, even though Modesto out hit its
opponent. In other league action, Ceres played Oakdale to an 8 to 7
win, behind the arm of Workman. By the third week, the league’s
standings were: Oakdale 2-1; Riverbank 2-1; Ceres 2-1; Modesto 11; La Grange, 0-2, and Valley Home 0-2.
In May competition, Oakdale drubbed a weak La Grange
club, 18 to 3, while the Modesto Hawks lambasted its Ceres opponent
in another lopsided contest, 18 to 2. On the hill for the Hawks was
Dave Podesto, who allowed seven hits as opposed to the 15 hits
given up by Ceres’ hurler, Santos. In another blowout, Riverbank
unloaded on its northeast neighbor, Valley Home, 26 to 4. By the
sixth week of league play, there were four clubs in first place, while
La Grange and Valley Home were winless.
In June, the Modesto Hawks battled Oakdale, being
victorious in a 6 to 5 victory, behind the bat of Louis Podesto and
the pitching arm of his brother Dave. It was a close contest, but the
win kept Modesto in first place, just ahead of the Ceres Merchants.
Valley Home was simply outclassed in league play, losing to a
barrage of 27 hits by Ceres, in a 23 to 9 blowout. Santos was on the
hill for Ceres, who belted three hits himself. In mid-June, the Modesto
Hawks faced Valley Home winning, 9 to 1, at Modesto’s Aviation
Field, thereby clinching the first half-season pennant of the Don
Pedro League. But Ceres was a proven powerhouse, having
defeated La Grange 12 to 5, bashing 22 hits in the victory. The
standings were: Modesto 8-1; Ceres 8-2; Oakdale 5-5; Riverbank 55; La Grange 1-6; and Valley Home 1-8. Valley Home gave up
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World Series Issue
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the ghost and folded for the second half-season, being replaced by
the winter league team, Modesto’s Yellow Jackets.
In July, the Oakdale Merchants and the Modesto Hawks
grappled to a 5 to 4 score, in a pitcher’s duel between Hawks’ Joe
Monges and Merchants’ Hauser. Riverbank’s San Patricio Club
crushed the La Grange Gold Diggers, 10 to 5, at Riverbank, with the
home club being undefeated. In August, two undefeated teams
met, with the Modesto Hawks blanking its Riverbank opponent, 9
to 0, with brothers Mel and Lowell Nicholson collecting a number
of hits in the game, while Modesto’s pitcher, Boyd, was simply
incredible on the hill. The next week, the Hawks again shutout its
opponent in an 11 to 0 victory over its Modesto rival, Yellow Jackets,
at Enslen Park. The Hawks were ruling the roost, but Riverbank was
a game behind in league play, winning against Oakdale in a 6 to 5
nip-and-tuck battle. The Hawks won the first half-season and now
it took the second half season; therefore, the club was the 1932
Don Pedro League champion. League standings for the second
half-season were: Hawks 9-1; Riverbank 7-3; Oakdale 6-3; La Grange
4-6; Ceres 2-7; and Yellowjackets 1-10.
The 1932 Sierra League would have five teams: Turlock,
Merced, Waterford, Ripon, and Modesto’s J.C. Penney, the 1931
league champion. Massera was once again J.C. Penney’s Hawks’
manager. He and the other managers met in Modesto at Weeks
Sport Shop in late February to discuss the new season. In preseason
play, J.C. Penney faced the Corda Independents, downing that
nine, 12 to 7, with Modesto’s starting pitcher, Lee, having an
enormous day as a batter, clubbing four hits. Also, in exhibition
baseball in late March, Ripon faced the Hawks, in a practice contest
on its home diamond, defeating the visiting Modestans in the
tenth inning, 6 to 5.
In its first league game, J.C. Penney, in a close match, was
victorious over Merced, 4 to 3, with Enos on the mound for
Modesto. If it hadn’t been for uncut weeds, the score might have
been different according to The News-Herald: “A fluke home run
was made by Rhode of Modesto. He rapped one into the outfield
that was lost in the tall grass. Before the ball was recovered, Rhode
had scored.” That same Sunday in mid-April, Waterford beat its
San Joaquin County neighbor Ripon, 5 to 1, behind the pitching
arm of Honeycutt. The Turlock Amblers beat Waterford in late
April, 11 to 9, with the Amblers remaining undefeated. The next
week, J.C. Penney broke Amblers’ streak, winning, 6 to 4, scoring
three runs in the ninth inning. The Modesto club was on a roll,
being victorious on Sunday, May 15th, against Waterford, 7 to 5.
J.C. Penney accrued six errors in the contest but bashed 17 hits.
J.C. Penney was leading the Sierra League with five wins and zero
losses. In other league competition, the Turlock Amblers faced
Ripon, losing to its foe in Ripon, 5 to 4. Pope was on the mound for
Ripon opposing Carlstrom of Turlock. The Amblers played errorless
baseball.
Modesto’s J.C. Penney Hawks continued its winning
ways. In June, it was victorious over rival Turlock Amblers, 14 to 5,
at the Modesto Junior College field. Cornett hurled for the Amblers,
giving up 16 hits, while his supporting offense could only
manufacture five of its own. On June 12th, J.C. Penney defeated
Ripon winning the first half-season pennant. The Sierra League
standings were: Modesto 8-0; Merced 6-2; Turlock 2-6; Ripon
2-6; and Waterford 2-6.
For the second half-season, Modesto’s Velvet Ice Cream
joined the Sierra League, receiving a good licking in its first game
against Ripon, losing 13 to 1. In late July, J.C. Penney’s pitcher, Phil
Cozad, hurled a 7 to 0 victory over the Turlock Amblers, giving up
five hits in the outing. In other league action, the Ripon Bears had
its first defeat in six games, with Waterford winning that contest, 9
to 6. Bears’ hurlers, Enos and Pope, allowed 18 hits in the contest.
J.C. Penney traveled to Merced facing the Merced Moose in league
play, losing to the home team, 11 to 10, at Bear Creek Park. On
August 28th, Waterford defeated J.C. Penney, 7 to 5, while the Ripon
Bears clawed the Turlock Amblers, with the Bears winning, 18 to 12.
It was a slugfest with a total of 30 hits in the game. The victory gave
the Bears the second half-season title. The final standings were:
Ripon 8-1; Waterford 6-3; J.C. Penney 5-4; Turlock 3-5; Merced 3-6;
and Velvet Ice Cream 1-7.
Modesto’s J.C. Penney and the Ripon Bears were in the
1932 championship series, with Modesto winning two straight games,
thereby taking the Sierra League title for two years running. In the
final contest, J.C. Penney’s pitcher, Cozad, allowed four hits and
Modesto Bee
September 12, 1933
Fishers Beaten in League Game
At Valley Home
Modesto Baseball Nine Trounced
By 15 to 10 Score
Too much power? That was the story told at Valley Home Sunday,
when the Valley Home baseball team knocked the Modesto Fishers
out of the running of the last half championship of the Central
California League by giving them a 15 to 10 trouncing. By virtue of
this win, Valley Home earned the right to meet the Modesto Rose
Brothers next Sunday for the championship of the second half.
Pounding two pitchers for seventeen safe hits, the Valley Home
aggregation went right out to win by scoring seven runs in the first
inning. Otherwise, the game was void of thrills, except for the fine
showing of Lowell Nicholson as a hitter. In six times to the plate he
pounded out four hits, one of which was a three-base clout. Entering
the game as a relief pitcher, Phil Mobley played the role and did a
fine job of it. This game marks his third straight victory over the
Modesto nine. Dick Mason, who started the game for the Fishers,
had one of his best days at the plate, getting three hits in five tries.
One of these smashes was a home run. Volkman also hit a fourbagger in the fifth inning.
one run from his opponents, at the Ripon field. The field was rough,
having high weeds in the outfield, allowing a home run in one
instance for Modesto. The News-Herald commented: “The ball
burrowed itself in the weeds so far it could not be found.”
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1933
As the nation looked to its new president, Franklin
Roosevelt, for answers to its severe economic problems, plans for
the 1933 county baseball season were being discussed. On Monday,
March 18th, Don Pedro and Sierra leagues’ managers met at
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Weeks Sport Shop to discuss the coming season and to see which
clubs had an interest in league play. The Don Pedro League would
organize, while the Sierra League would not, but two new leagues
would be formed by others: Central California League and the
Northern San Joaquin Valley League.
The Don Pedro League opened its season on Sunday,
April 3rd, with a roster of five teams: La Grange, Oakdale, Hughson,
Empire and the Modesto Hawks. Modesto visited the La Grange
Gold Diggers, losing to the mountain club, 7 to 3, because a fourrun eighth inning. The following week La Grange was victorious
once again in a lopsided 12 to 3 contest, belting 15 hits off Hughson’s
hurler, Snell, in the win. Also that weekend, the Oakdale Merchants
faced Empire, winning 6 to 2, with a combined 19 strikeouts by both
sides. In the subsequent weekend, Empire played La Grange,
defeating the Gold Diggers, 6 to 2. On April 17th, Oakdale and La
Grange fought to a 13 to 12 score, with La Grange nosing out its
opponent in the tenth inning. It was a wild affair having 39 hits and
11 errors. By the end of May, the league’s standings were: La Grange
5-2; Oakdale 4-2; Hawks 3-3; Empire 3-4; and Hughson 1-5. Oakdale
and La Grange battled each other in June, and again it was a close
score, 4 to 3, with the Gold Diggers on top. Mobley pitched for
Oakdale, allowing more hits than his counterpart Keeler for La
Grange. The victory was decisive though, with La Grange taking
the first half-season pennant.
In the second half-season, the Modesto Hawks soared to
five straight wins, being just one game ahead of La Grange in the
standings. The concluding contest came on Sunday, September 4th,
with both clubs tied, 7 wins and one loss. It was all Gold Diggers
who pawed 12 hits and 14 runs off Hawks’ pitcher, Lopez, winning
14 to 5. The Hawks had nine errors. This victory handed La Grange
the second half-season pennant as well. Since the Gold Diggers
had won the first half-season, there would be no playoff, with La
Grange being the outright champs of the 1933 Don Pedro League.
The Central California League was alive in the 1933 season,
but there was sparse reporting in local newspapers. The teams on
the league’s roster were: Valley Home, Ceres, Stockton, Lodi, and
two clubs from Modesto, the Fishers and the Rose Brothers. The
first half-season began in July, which saw the two Modesto clubs
battling each other, in a contest that went 14 innings, with Fishers’
pitcher, Joe Monges, sacrificing in the winning run, being victorious,
6 to 5, over the Rose Brothers. That same afternoon, Ceres
Merchants’ batter C. Colbert hit a home run to defeat Valley Home,
10 to 9. Modesto’s Rose Brothers won the first half-season.
The second half-season was exciting with a number of
teams vying for the pennant. Valley Home defeated Ceres 12 to 6,
accruing 12 hits and 0 errors, with Mobley on the mound for the
victors. Lodi dropped from the league, being replaced by TracyBanta. By the fifth week, the Central California League standings
were: Fishers 4-1; Valley Home 4-1; Rose Brothers 4-1; Stockton 23; Ceres 1-4; and Tracy-Banta 0-5. The three clubs in first place
played each other in September to determine the winner of the
second half-season. In the first contest on Sunday, September 11th,
Valley Home was too strong for its opponent, Modesto’s Rose
Brothers, winning that bout, 15 to 10. Mobley pitched for the victors,
while Monges and Mason threw for Modesto, allowing a combined
17 hits. The next weekend, Valley Home once again was the
vanquisher, defeating the Rose Brothers, 6 to 2, thereby capturing
the second half-season.
In an interesting twist of fate, Valley Home and the Rose
Brothers would now meet in the championship series. Mobley had
a decent outing for Valley Home but lost the first contest, 5 to 3, to
the Rose Brothers. The second game was played at Enslen Park,
ending in a lopsided score, 17 to 2, with the Rose Brothers lambasting
Valley Home and claiming the 1933 Central California League title.
The Modesto Bee reported games played by the Westport
Farmers, a member of the 1933 Northern San Joaquin Valley League.
The league featured teams from San Joaquin, Merced, and Madera
counties. In an April contest, Westport was defeated by the Native
Sons of Stockton, 7 to 1. In May, Westport was victorious over
Linden in a 6 to 3 contest, at Westport, but in June, Madera
annihilated the club, 22-0. In a later game, Westport overcame Madera
Modesto Bee
July 3, 1934
Bees Defeat Reds in Game
Featured by a Triple Play
Final Score Is 4-2; Poor Base Running in Fifth Is Responsible
For Three Modesto Men Being Tagged Out; Cuio Is Made Goat
A unique triple play was entered in the record books here Sunday
when the San Jose Bees ended the Modesto Reds’ winning streak
by pounding out a 4-2 victory in the California State League baseball
game. But for that triple out, the Reds might have registered their
second state league victory in the last-half race. The score was tied
1-1, when the unusual play occurred in the fifth inning. It came about
in this way. Pickering was on first and Jacobsen was planted on
second, and there were no outs when Bert Cuio – “Unlucky Bert,” as
the boys call him – came to bat for Modesto.
Cuio hit a long, high fly to the right field fence. Pickering and Jacobsen
waited on the sacks as it appeared the ball might be caught. But
Landucci missed it. Meanwhile, Cuio was rounding first, right on
Pickering’s heels as he started down to second. Pickering tried to
wave Cuio back. So Pickering ran. However, instead of stopping at
second and thus forcing Cuio out, Pickering started on, forcing
Jacobsen off third. Then Cuio was put out, Landucci to White. Next
Jacobsen was tagged out between home and third base. In the
meantime, Pickering left third in an attempt to return to second, and
he, too, was tagged, making the third out. For a moment, the big
crowd was too surprised – nay, stunned – to utter a word. Then the
fans let out howls.
in the ninth inning, with home runs by Al Silva and George Ferrini,
to win 9 to 8. “Seeds” Hayworth was on the mound for the Farmers.
The Stockton Amblers faced Westport on September 11th, defeating
the Farmers in a close 4 to 3 contest, capturing the Northern San
Joaquin Valley League title.
Modesto’s Rose Brothers, winners of the Central California
League, challenged Westport to a series of games to determine the
best club in Stanislaus County for 1933. On Sunday, October 9th,
Westport’s Cozad pitched well, defeating the Rose Brothers, 5 to 1.
In the subsequent contest, Cozad was again victorious,
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defeating the Rose Brothers, 17 to 5. In the game, Westport lambasted
Modesto’s hurlers, Honeycutt and Enos, for 23 hits. Westport was
the Stanislaus County baseball champs for 1933.
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For the 1934 season, the Modesto Reds suited up,
becoming members of the semi-pro California State League, along
with MJB Koffee Kids, Stockton, San Mateo, San Jose, San Leandro,
Burlingame, and Verdi. In late February, 33 potential Reds’ players
met at the Modesto High School field. Reds’ manager, Stanley
Sanders, cut the team back to 18 after the first workout. There were
over 100 spectators watching the tryouts. League president, Al
Eric, visited Modesto’s new Roosevelt Field, declaring it “one of
the best in the state.” He was particularly pleased with the covered
grandstand, stating that “in his opinion it is one of the outstanding
features of the field,” reported the Modesto Bee.
The Reds opened the season by losing its first two April
contests. In the second loss, San Leandro defeated Modesto by a
score of 7 to 4, accruing 12 hits off the pitching performances of
Reds’ hurlers, Botto and Arbelbide. There were more than 500
spectators at Roosevelt Field, witnessing the contest. But the Reds
bounced back and won its next three matches, waxing the San Jose
Bees, 11 to 3, in its May 6th engagement. Modesto bats were hot in
the contest, while Reds’ pitcher, Bill Phebus, quieted the swarming
Bees in his debut on the mound. By the end of the fifth week, the
California State League standings were: MJB Koffee Kids 5-0;
Modesto 3-2; Stockton 3-2; San Mateo 3-2; San Jose 2-3; San
Leandro 2-3; Burlingame 1-4; and Verdi Club 0-5. In June, the Reds
blanked the Stockton Amblers, 3 to 0, in Stockton, thereby tying
the Amblers for second place. Phebus threw for the Reds, allowing
six Ambler hits, hitting a double himself, scoring one Modesto run.
MJB Koffee Kids captured the first half-season, with a record of
nine wins and one loss.
In early July, the San Jose Bees stung the Reds, 4 to 2,
pounding 11 hits off of Phebus, with the Bees’ fielding producing a
triple play in the fifth inning. Reds’ right fielder, “Unlucky” Bert, hit
a fly ball to the outfield, but the Bees’ outfielder missed the ball.
This caught Modesto’s runners by surprise, with all of them being
thrown out. The Modesto Bee described the bizarre play: “San Jose
Bees swarmed around on that triple play so thickly they had the
scorekeepers dizzy trying to record the assists. Five men were given
credit for aiding, but no one seems to know just how many others
may have been in on the passes.”
During the season, the Reds switched managers. Comer
Lee, who also played outfield, replaced Sanders, but Lee raised the
ire of the fans by his unsteady performance in the outfield, quitting
after Modesto’s 7 to 6 loss to the MJB Koffee Kids. Urbane Pickering
became the Reds’ next manager. In that same contest, Reds’ hurler,
Phebus, played mind games with the Koffee Kids’ batter, Ed Anti,
by threatening to dust him off with his pitches. Evidently, Anti had
already hit a double and a triple off Phebus in the game, not pleasing
the pitcher. There was another reason for Phebus’ antics. Three
weeks prior, Anti had been hit in the head by a pitched ball and was
unconscious for 20 minutes, “and since then has had a very healthy
respect for the danger from pitchers,” noted the Bee. Phebus
simply backed Anti off the plate, fanning him twice.
In mid-July, the Reds signed a new relief pitcher, Eldon
Hamilton, a College of the Pacific standout, to replace relief hurler,
Fagundes. Both Phebus and Fagundes had poor performances,
keeping the Reds in fourth place in the standings. By mid-August,
Modesto was just one game from first place in league standings. It
defeated the San Jose Bees, 13 to 3, on August 19th, and beat the
league leader, Koffee Kids, 9 to 4, a week later. There were four
home runs in the Koffee Kids’ contest, two each for the clubs.
Benchwarmer, Cam Best, played for the Reds, making a series of
terrific catches in the outfield, saving the win for his ball club. The
final standings of the California State League for the second halfseason were: San Mateo 8-2; Modesto 7-3; MJB Koffee Kids 7-3;
San Leandro 4-4; Verdi 3-5; Stockton 3-6; San Jose 3-7; and
Burlingame 2-7. The Koffe Kids played San Mateo in the league’s
championship series, winning two of the three games, thereby
becoming the champs of the 1934 California State League.
The Don Pedro League began its 1934 season on Sunday,
April 8th, with teams from La Grange, Empire, Riverbank, Hughson,
Turlock, and the Modesto Hawks. All eyes were on La Grange, the
1933 champion. In its first contest, the La Grange Gold Diggers
grounded the Modesto Hawks, 7 to 5, at Enslen Park, while the
Empire Bees stung the Hughson Highlanders badly in their match,
27 to 4. But the Highlanders did some bruising itself in May,
defeating the Turlock Amblers, 14 to 4, in a contest that saw 23 hits
and 11 errors combined for both clubs. Turlock hurlers, Reed and
Dodd, allowed 16 hits off the bats of Highlanders’ batters. Turlock’s
Howell Reed struck out 14, and single-handedly won the game in
the ninth inning, by smacking a home run, breaking a 4 to 4 tie.
On May 22nd, the Modesto Hawks faced rival Riverbank
Merchants, handing its opponent its first league loss, by a score of
8 to 6. Shaw and Monges pitched for Modesto, allowing just six
hits. In May, the Empire Bees buzzed past the stumbling Turlock
Amblers in the 11th inning, winning 9 to 6, but the Turlock was
victorious in its contest against Hughson, 7 to 6, behind the arm of
Reed and a home run by John Garcia. Modesto Hawks also handed
the Highlanders a loss in a June 6th contest, 7 to 3, at Enslen Park,
blasting eight hits off Hughson pitching. The Modestans were one
game behind the league leading Riverbank Merchants, but the
Merchants were to prevail as league champs in a slugfest against
the Gold Diggers, winning 15 to 10, in a game that saw 27 combined
hits, with La Grange committing eight errors. Riverbank Merchants
seized the first half-season, with the Don Pedro League standings
being: Riverbank 9-1; Modesto 6-4; Empire 6-4; Turlock 3-7; La
Grange 3-7; and Hughson 3-7.
Riverbank was out the gate quickly for the second halfseason by winning its first four contests. Hilmar had replaced
Turlock as a contender in the league, performing no better, losing
its first four bouts. The Modesto Hawks weren’t faring well either,
playing the dominating Riverbank Merchants in August, being shot
out of the sky in a 14 to 1 shellacking. Hawks’ hurler allowed ten
hits in the disastrous outing, while the powerhouse Merchants’
pitcher, W. Adams, was near perfect, conceding just two hits. In
another Don Pedro League clash, the lowly Hilmar club swung its
bats just as hard as the Riverbank Merchants for a combine total of
36 hits, but Riverbank was on the winning side, 23 to 18. In its
final second half-season game, Hughson Highlanders defeated
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the uninspired Modesto Hawks, 6 to 2, with Hughson gathering
the pennant.
The final Don Pedro League standings for the second half
season were: Hughson 8-2; La Grange 7-3; Riverbank 6-4; Empire 55; Hilmar 3-7; and Modesto 1-9. The top five league batters according
to league secretary, Ehake Rosen, were: Rhodes (Hughson), having
a .500 batting average; Hinkley (Hughson), .435; Mason (Riverbank),
.421; Nicholson (Riverbank), .377; and McGee (Hughson), .373.
These five batters came from the Riverbank and Hughson clubs,
the winners of the 1934 half-seasons, with them meeting to
determine the champions of the 1934 Don Pedro League. The
Riverbank Merchants simply crushed the Hughson Highlanders in
two games, 15 to 2 and 9 to 0, winning the crown.
Both Modesto and Turlock had industrial leagues for the
1934 summer, while softball was gaining in popularity. County towns
were forming their own softball teams and leagues. Softball rules
for Turlock stated: “Under no condition will players be paid [and
no] traveling or other expenses be paid to players,” as noted in the
Turlock Tribune. The games were played at night, starting at 8
o’clock. Turlock’s softball league consisted of these clubs: TID,
Gratton, Y.M.I. Swedes, Hilmar, 20-30 Club, Kappas, Legion, and
Co. A. The Oakdale softball league featured these contenders: Circle
R, Pacific Packers, Riverbank, Masons, Valley Home, Firemen;
Legion, and Ramblers. Modesto carried two softball leagues: Class
A and Class B. The Class A league had these teams: Rams, Safeway,
Barium, Bankers, PSEA, and Bordens. Class B league clubs were:
Merry Gardens, Harry Windus, Gibson Motor, Red Men, 20-30 Club,
and Velvet Ice Cream.
As has been seen, American ethnicities were wellrepresented on the ball field. Playing for the softball club, Gratton
Whizzbangs, was “Little Bill” Noda, a Japanese-American player,
while Domecq, of Basque heritage, was the team’s pitcher. The
Whizzbangs faced the TID Pomonas in a playoff game for the first
half-season at Legion Field in Turlock, winning 3 to 1, “before a
spirited crowd of several thousand fans,” as noted by the Tribune.
Indeed, softball provided communities with action-packed
entertainment during the Great Depression years. On Saturday night,
June 16th, an all-star team of Turlock softballers played an exhibition
game against the Colored Ghosts of Sioux City, Iowa, a softball club
that was touring the Pacific Coast. After the game a dance was held
as noted in the newspaper: “These dances are more popular than
ever this year, and are drawing huge but pleasant crowds.”
The Gratton Whizzbangs went on to contend for the 1934
Turlock softball league title against the Y.M.I. Swedes, but the giant
Scandinavians were too good for the Gratton bunch, defeating
them in two shutout contests, 3 to 0 and 2 to 0, capturing the
softball title for the season. The contests featured Domecq pitching
against Swedish-American, “Red” Ellman, while in the first bout,
Olson launched a homer for the Swedes, with Larson and Erickson
on the bags, and as the Tribune chortled, “brought home the bacon.”
A “dutch lunch” was held at the Legion Hall to celebrate the champs.
A week later at the same hall, a “Donkey World Series” was played,
featuring 12-and-half donkeys in donkey softball, where humans
were the pitchers and batters. The half donkey was Maggie’s
youngest daughter, Maggie Junior, who helped her longeared mother play third base. This summertime entertainment
in Turlock kept folks happy and somewhat removed from the tough
times.
1935
The Modesto Reds were members of the California State
League again in 1935. Though the MJB Koffee Kids and San
Mateo had been league leaders, the Reds became a chief
contender. The Great Depression caused the league to cut its
roster to just six teams, which were: MJB Koffee Kids, San
Mateo, Modesto Reds, Roma Wineries, Flying A’s, and Stockton.
San Jose wanted to join the league, but its field was in dismal
condition, not being approved by the league. Under the
management of Stanley Sanders, the Reds faced the previous
year’s champs, Koffee Kids, in its first contest on Sunday, April
21st. The Koffee Kids demonstrated its mettle, bombarding the
Reds in a 23 to 6 victory, at Roosevelt Field. Modesto had its four
pitchers throw everything at the MJB in the onslaught, but the
ferocious Koffee Kids would not be denied. According to the
Modesto Bee: “Modesto led 5-2 at the end of the fourth [but]
during three wild innings, the Koffee Kids went to bat nineteen
times, got three walks, and scored nineteen runs.” The Reds
fared better in an early May battle against the Stockton Ports,
being victorious, 5 to 3, at Roosevelt Field. Reds’ hurler, Egliht,
kept the Ports to six hits, while his teammates blasted ten hits off
Modesto Bee
June 25, 1935
Reds Trounce San Mateo
8-4, in Title Contest
Milt Steengrafe Limits Blues to Two Hits Until Sixth Inning
Then Relaxes; Joe Smith Shines in Batting for Victors
Welcome to the champions! An 8-4 victory of the San Mateo Blues
on the Blues’ home field Sunday gave the California State League
pennant for the first half to the Modesto Reds baseball team. The
Reds, in winning the championship, hung up their sixth consecutive
victory. They lost three of their first four games and fans gave up
hopes, thinking they would do no more than flounder around at the
bottom of the league heap. Then the team suddenly came to life
and started on a concentrated hitting splurge which lifted it rapidly
toward the top. There was no doubt as to the outcome Sunday
from the time Joe Guerrero first came to bat until the last ball was
pitched to the final San Mateo hitter. Guerrero, leadoff man for
Modesto, pounded out a two-bagger and three more hits were
added during the first inning to give Modesto a four-run advantage.
Milt Steengrafe, on the hill top for Modesto, more than made up for
his let down against the Flying A’s on the previous Sunday. He held
the Blues to two puny hits until the sixth inning, then with a six-run
lead, he allowed the San Mateo outfit seven hits and four runs in
two frames. Pudgy Gould started on the mound for the Blues, but
gave way in the sixth for a pinch hitter.
the Ports’ pitcher. Modesto’s first baseman, Larry Perrina, played
with an injured leg but was instrumental in knocking down a linedrive, saving the game.
In mid-May, the Reds’ performance was lackluster,
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causing former Reds’ captain, A.S. “Pic” Pickering, to call for
community support in the Bee, saying “the Reds need the fans help
if they are to produce wins.” His request brought a torrent of runs
for the Reds in its May 19th contest against San Mateo, at Roosevelt
Park. Modesto bombed the Bay Area club, 28 to 9, with Modesto
exploding for 26 hits in the contest, leaving the club one game
behind first place. The home club did it again on June 25th, defeating
San Mateo, 8 to 4, to capture the first half-season, in a streak of six
wins. University of California’s offensive dynamo, Joe Smith, joined
the Reds, contributing heavily towards Modesto’s success.
In the 1934 season, Koffee Kids’ Ed Anti had been hit in
the head by a pitched ball, but fortunately, he was not seriously
injured. Most likely, it was retaliation for giving opposing pitchers
fits with his great hitting. His brother, Jack, played third base for
the Reds and was even a better hitter than his brother. Jack won the
batting crown for the first half-season with a batting average of
.583; however, brother Ed, being a slugger as well, launched four
home runs in his team’s victory over the Reds, 14 to 7, with three of
them coming in succession off Modesto’s hapless pitcher, “Big”
Milt Steengrafe.
In its northern California tour, the Oakland Black Sox club
stopped at Roosevelt Field for an exhibition match against the Reds.
The Black Sox had been performing for three years and was “rated
as one of the fastest outfits in the Bay region,” according to the
newspaper. Unfortunately, the contest was never reported. The
Flying A’s of Avon were in Modesto on Sunday, August 25th, being
victorious over the Reds, 11 to 6, in a contest where the crowd was
raucously loud, being led by Modesto’s player, Bobby Jones. The
next week, the San Mateo Blues pounded the Reds in a 15 to 4
winning performance, taking the second half-season. The Blues
and the Reds would now play in a championship series.
After two contests, Modesto Reds and San Mateo Blues
each won a game in the series. The Reds traveled to San Mateo for
the third and deciding contest. Modesto’s hurler, Dick Elling,
pitched a four-hit shutout, capturing the victory, 4 to 0, and securing
the 1935 California State League championship for the Modesto
Reds. According to the Modesto Bee: “Elling had almost perfect
control, especially after the opening innings. He worked the corners
constantly, with his hooks, breaking nicely and his change of pace
kept the Blues wondering.” The Reds sent two balls into the outfield
trees, both being ruled doubles, or else the margin of victory might
have been larger. After years of trying, the Modesto Reds had met
its destiny, a semi-pro league crown.
Besides the Modesto Reds, county newspapers had very
little coverage of county baseball for the 1935 season. No leagues
were formed, with interest centering on softball. The Modesto Bee
carried only three baseball articles, and those were about the
Modesto Hawks. On Sunday, May 19th, Gustine faced the Modesto
Hawks at Roosevelt Field, defeating the Modestans 8 to 7, “in a
free-hitting exhibition.” Modesto used three pitchers in the contest:
Thompson, Shaw, and Bell. In a September 1st battle, the Hawks
pummeled the Salida Tigers, 16 to 7, lambasting 20 hits in the victory
off the opponent’s pitcher, Geist. Two weeks later, the Livingston
Cubs played the Modesto Hawks at Enslen Park, winning that
contest, 8 to 4. Even though “Johnny Bradley twirled fair ball,”
according to the Bee, it was five fielding errors that
contributed to Modesto’s loss.
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1936
Expectations were high in 1936 for the Modesto Reds. It
joined the California State League, having these clubs: Fresno, San
Mateo, Santa Cruz, Daly City, Orinda, and Modesto. On Sunday,
March 8th, the Reds played an exhibition match with a combined
club of New York Yankees’ recruits and Oakland Oaks of the Pacific
Coast League. In the contest, Andy Ferriolo hurled for Modesto at
Roosevelt Park, winning 5 to 4, with his opponents scoring only in
the ninth inning. The next week, the San Francisco Mission Reds of
the Pacific Coast League engaged the Modesto Reds in an exhibition
game at Roosevelt Field, but the results weren’t reported in the
newspaper. Excitement was at fever pitch when Daly City came to
Modesto to face the Reds in the league opener, April 5th. Modesto’s
mayor, J.H. King, was on hand to direct the opening ceremonies,
featuring Modesto High School’s band, under the directorship of
Frank Mancini. The mayor tossed the first ball to City Engineer
Frank Rossi, with Chief of Police Lee Smith umpiring. The Reds lost
the contest, 7 to 4, because of some unfortunate errors, but Reds’
pitcher, Elling, hurled a five-hitter through six innings.
By mid-May, the California State League standings were:
Fresno 7-0; San Mateo 6-1; Santa Cruz 2-4; Modesto 2-4; Daly City
2-5; and Orinda 0-5. Reds’ manager, Sanders, searched for new
talent, adding to the lineup Jimmy Zinn, a former San Francisco
Seals’ standout. In an impressive showing on May 24th, Modesto
was victorious over undefeated Fresno Tigers, 7 to 4, behind the
pitching of Dewey Brown, who allowed seven hits in the outing.
Fresno, usually steady defensively, accrued six errors in the loss.
Modesto again defeated Fresno on June 7th, by the score of 5 to 0,
with the Reds now ranked third in league standings Again, Brown
was successful on the mound for Modesto, allowing seven hits in
the shutout. Because of the Reds’ victories over the Fresno Tigers,
San Mateo captured the first half-season pennant of the California
State League. The final standings were: San Mateo 8-2; Fresno 7-3;
Modesto 5-4; Santa Cruz 5-5; Daly City 4-6; Orinda 0-9.
On July 5th, Modesto overwhelmed the Fresno Tigers once
again, barraging its pitcher with 18 hits, winning the contest, 15 to
11, but Fresno was also busy with the bat, claiming 15 hits of its
own. There were errors galore in the contest, with both clubs playing
poor defense. In early August, the Orinda Reds were in town battling
the Modesto Reds, winning the contest, 11 to 8. It was another
slugfest with Orinda clubbing 17 hits, while Modesto had 16 hits of
its own. Fielding errors were kept to a minimum, with two per team.
The hometown Reds used three pitchers in the game: Elling, Ferriolo,
and Brown. The California State League standings were: San Mateo
5-2; Modesto 4-3; Daly City 4-3; Fresno 3-2; and Orinda 3-3. The
win-loss record reveals that the clubs were equally talented. The
Reds grappled with the league-leading San Mateo Blues in a contest
on August 16th, losing to the visitors, 9 to 5, allowing the Blues to
take the second half-season pennant. Modesto’s hurlers, Brown
and Elling, were a fright on the hill, allowing 17 hits between them.
Since San Mateo had captured both half-seasons, no playoff series
was needed. The Reds’ season was mediocre, mostly because of
poor pitching.
There were no county leagues in 1936, while the
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Modesto Bee reported on just five Modesto Hawks’ games,
in independent play, four with Stockton teams and one against
Livingston. There was a contest on June 7th in which the Hawks
shellacked Stockton’s Liberty Market, 9 to 1. Modesto’s hurler,
George Costa, allowed just two hits in the victory, while his teammate
Modesto Bee
May 25, 1936
Reds Flash Old Form to
Defeat Fresnans, 7 to 4
Modesto, Behind Good Pitching of Brown,
Shows Hefty Hitting Power
Whatever might have happened in the past to give the supporters
of the Modesto Reds a doubtful feeling about the club’s baseball
ability may now be forgotten. The Reds, living up to their reputation
as a great finishing team came through with a well-earned 7-4
victory over the previously undefeated Tigers here yesterday.
Manager Stanley Sanders’ outfit stormed onto the Fresno diamond
and before the cocky Tigers had time to rub the sleep out of their
eyes, pushed over three runs – the margin of victory – in the first
two frames. Two Modestans – Joe Corbelli and Mel Petterson –
were brilliant at the plate. Mel got a double and a brace of singles
in four trips to the pack. . . . Joe “Doc” Smith , first up for Modesto,
in the second, hit the ball out of the park for the only four-ply swat
of the contest.
Podesto was four for five at the plate. Costa would be a standout in
Modesto baseball for a number of years. On August 2nd, Modesto
defeated the Stockton Firemen, 5 to 1, behind the arm of Podesto,
who gave up eight hits, while his teammates hammered out ten.
At Enslen Park on August 16th, Stockton’s Golden Glow
faced the Hawks, losing to Modesto, 9 to 4. Modesto Junior College
baseball star, Lloyd Hinkley, performed magnificently with the bat,
driving in most of the Reds’ runs. Podesto was again on the hill for
the home team, allowing ten hits. A week later, Hinkley was again a
hero, accruing four hits for the Hawks, winning the contest against
the Livingston Cubs, 7 to 6. Hawks’ Podesto and Harris allowed 17
hits, while the Reds’ defense was error free. On September 13th, in
the final Modesto Hawks’ contest reported in the Bee for 1936,
Stockton’s Kraft Cheese was victorious, 4 to 1, over the Modesto,
at Enslen Park. Podesto allowed 13 hits. The past two seasons had
seen a serious declined in county league baseball, with community
baseball interest centering more on men’s and women’s softball.
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The 1937 season of Stanislaus County baseball began
with “Baseball Day,” March 17th, at a Roosevelt Field luncheon,
with Pacific Coast League president in attendance, along with
representatives from area baseball. Schools adjourned early,
allowing youngsters to attend the community event and watch an
exhibition contest between the Pacific Coast League’s San Francisco
Seals and Oakland Oaks. This celebrated encounter showcased
Modesto’s eternal desire to become a center of professional
baseball. The Modesto Reds joined the Central California
League for the 1937 season, which featured teams from Merced,
Lodi, Stockton, Jackson, Sonora, and Modesto. On Sunday, March
18th, the Reds traveled to Stockton to play the Stockton Amblers in
an exhibition contest at Oak Park, losing by an embarrassing 7 to 1
score. The battle was lost in the first inning when Reds’ starting
pitcher, “Big Pete” Nasciemento, allowed a number of runs. He was
relieved by Thompson, who was replaced by Pagano. Modesto
had three fielding errors, where the Amblers were errorless.
The Central California League’s opening day was April 4th,
finding the Modesto Reds losing by a narrow margin of 11 to 10 to
Lodi Roma Wines, visitors at Roosevelt Park. Modesto began the
contest sloppily, allowing five runs in the first inning, off the arm of
starting hurler, John (Tucker) Thompson, who was relieved by Big
Pete. Modesto tied and then was ahead for a time, but a tenthinning double by Lodi lost the contest. The Bee reported that a fairsized crowd was on hand.
On April 25th, the Jackson Miners buried the Reds with a
12-5 drubbing, which “was nothing short of humiliation to the Reds,
to Sanders and to the several hundred Modesto fans,” according
to the newspaper. Manager, Stanley Sanders, threatened to “shakeup
the Reds” with new personnel, which would mean forfeiting all of
its games for the first half-season, since 13-man rosters were already
approved by the league. Modesto’s next two matches were losses,
with ex-Reds’ pitcher, John Ferriolo, hurling a 9 to 4 victory for his
new team, Lodi Roma Wines. The Merced Merchants next defeated
the hapless Reds in the ninth inning, 3 to 2, off the bat of Merced’s
pitcher. It was another humiliating loss for the Modestans. On May
23rd, the Stockton Amblers trounced the Jackson Miners, 9 to 0,
capturing the first half-season pennant, with the final league
standings being: Amblers 7-1; Lodi 4-4; Jackson 4-4; Merced 4-4;
Modesto 3-5; and Sonora 2-6.
Beginning the second half-season, the Modesto Reds
faced the Jackson Miners on June 20th, and this time the results
were improved, with a 13 to 5 victory, featuring stocky Joe Noonan
on the hill for the Reds. The lineup for Modesto saw some changes
in the second half-season, with Hand playing catcher and G. Ferrini
in right field. A month later, Noonan battled Merced’s hurler in a
pitching duel, whereby the Merced Merchants blanked the Reds, 3
to 0, before a crowd of more than 400 in Modesto. The Reds played
errorless baseball in the 90-minute game. In August, Modesto
bombed Lodi with 17 hits off four pitchers, including Ferriolo,
winning by a resounding 15 to 4 score. Noonan was on the hill for
Modesto, allowing only five hits. The league’s standings were:
Modesto 7-2; Merced 6-3; Lodi 6-3; Stockton 5-4; Jackson 1-3; and
Sonora 1-8.
The Reds lost its final game to Merced, 7 to 6, before a
Modesto crowd of nearly 1,200, with “at least 200 of that number
from Merced, with sirens, cow bells and leather lungs, saw over
two hours of action,” as reported by the Bee. The local newspaper
criticized Reds’ pitcher for his lackluster performance and sense of
dedication: “Joe Noonan arrived at the ball park just in time to climb
into a suit and to work. But he never got down to serious business
at all.” It was a significant loss because now Modesto was in a
three-way tie for first place. Since Stockton had won the first halfseason, a tournament was created that would feature games among
four teams to determine which club would be the 1937 champ
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of the Central California League. In the first round, Modesto downed
the Merced Merchants, while Stockton grappled with Lodi Roma
Wines, being victorious in the contest. The results meant that the
Modesto Reds and the Stockton Amblers would meet in one final
battle at Roosevelt Park, on September 5th. In the contest, Reds’
starting pitcher, Harry Parks, couldn’t contain the Amblers and
neither could his reliever, Grogan, who together allowed 16 hits,
losing the championship game by a miserable 17 to 2 score. Parks
was literally knocked off the mound by a line drive in the fifth,
twisting his ankle, forcing him to the sidelines. He received the
game’s gate receipts for medical treatment thanks to the management
of both clubs. Along with Stockton’s enormous slugging
performance, Reds fielding was dismal, accruing seven errors,
causing the Bee to comment that the home club was “jittery.”
Stockton’s victory was conclusive, resounding, and deserving.
As in 1936, the Modesto Hawks played an independent
schedule in 1937. Harry Parks pitched a number of games for the
Hawks before joining the Reds. He was on the mound for the Hawks
in a May 16th contest against Stockton’s Power Builders at Enslen
Park, striking out 13 with his fast ball, while allowing just six hits.
His bat too excelled in the bout, clubbing three singles, but his
teammates’ field support was lacking, accumulating five errors. Parks
was not playing for the Hawks when the team failed miserably at
Palo Alto, facing that city’s Colored Giants that had won 16 straight
games. It was a massacre with the Hawks losing severely, 25 to 7.
Parks rejoined the Reds, forcing the Hawks to recruit Wayne De
Selms, who had hurled for the Modesto Junior Legionnaires, winning
the Twelfth District championship. In his first outing on July 11th,
De Selms pitched the Modesto Hawks to a 4 to 1 victory over
Stockton, at Enslen Park, holding his opponent to four hits. He was
not as dazzling against the Livingston Cubs. The Bee put it quaintly:
“Wayne De Selms flipper went haywire,” allowing 12 hits and 15
runs, losing the match 15 to 7. His teammates had six errors in the
defeat.
The Chowchilla Merchants were in Modesto on August
15th, defeating the Hawks, 3 to 0. It was a close one, with opposing
pitchers hurling fantastically, Lefty Moore for the Merchants and
“Wild Bill” Tillery for the Hawks. Fielding performance of both
clubs was impeccable. A contest was scheduled between the Reds
and the Hawks on September 12th, to determine which team would
be the champs of Modesto. It was a close one, with the Hawks
squeezing by the Reds, 6 to 5. In all fairness to the Reds, its lineup
was virtually devoid of any regular season players.
1938
For the 1938 season, the Central California League would
be known as the California State League, featuring the following
clubs: Modesto Reds, Merced Merchants, Stockton Red Men,
Stockton Amblers, Sacramento Roma Wines, and Lodi. Evidently,
the former “Lodi Roma Wines” became the “Sacramento Roma
Wines,” with another Lodi team being formed. The league’s
competition centered really on San Joaquin County, with other
contenders being Modesto and Merced. New York Yankees’ rookies,
who were in preseason training, appeared for an exhibition contest
at Modesto’s Municipal Baseball Park, on March 27th. The Yankees’
rookies defeated the Modesto Reds, 6 to 4, with the Reds
finally scoring in the ninth inning. Modesto’s Garrison and Ferrell
pitched decently, allowing only six hits in the fray, with the trouble
coming in the sixth when the New Yorkers scored five runs.
The next week was opening day at the Municipal Baseball
Park, with the Reds crushing the Stockton Red Men to the tune of
15 to 5. Stockton tried three hurlers in the contest, giving up 11 hits,
while Reds’ pitcher, Cozad, pitched eight innings, allowing eight
hits and three runs. He was relieved by Ferrell, who gave up three
hits and two runs in the ninth inning. Cozad had another decent
outing the following Sunday, pitching nine full innings, allowing
seven hits, winning, 8 to 4, behind his teammates’ bats, against
Roma Wines. In May, Cozad faced the Stockton Red Men, being
victorious in that outing, 8 to 4 again, at Roosevelt Field, even
though both clubs accumulated ten hits each. The Bee commented:
“Cozad, withholding his fast ball most of the game, got into difficulty
several times, but tightened up in the pinches.” It was his and the
Reds’ fifth straight victory.
In mid-June, the Merced Merchants were at Modesto,
defeating the Reds, 7 to 6, in a heartbreaking loss, throwing the
league into a three-way-tie for first place. The final standings for
the first half-season of the California State League were: Modesto
8-2; Merced 8-2; Red Men 8-2; Amblers 2-7; Lodi 2-8; and Roma
Wines 1-8. The Reds and the Red Men eventually grappled for the
title with Modesto losing, 5 to 4, at Municipal Baseball Park. Reds’
manager, Sanders, protested the game, because a Stockton Red
Men fan ran onto the playing field and patted Red Men’s Bill Lees
on the back while he trotted home, having just hit a home run. The
rules were clear in that no spectator could assistant any ballplayer
in his performance. The complaint fell on mute ears though.
Coverage in the Bee for the second half-season was
sporadic. Modesto vanquished the Merced Merchants, 11 to 1, on
August 21st, at Municipal Baseball Park. The Reds were financially
strapped because attendance was lacking. The newspaper
commented: “The small gate went to boost the ball cub out of its
financial difficulties.” Before the game, Reds’ manager presented
his pitching ace, Phil Cozad, with a trophy in recognition of his fine
performances. The Bee reported on September 5th: “Amblers wallop
Red Men, 10-2, to win league title [of the] California State League.”
The Modesto Hawks played independently in 1938, having
a number of victories. On Sunday, April 3rd, Modesto faced the
Atwater Packers in an exhibition contest, losing at the Atwater
diamond, 10 to 5, which saw both sides making four errors each.
The sixth inning was disastrous for the Hawks, with its opponent
circling the bases seven times. Stockton’s Nehi Bottlers visited
Modesto for a May game, losing to the Hawks, 4 to 3. Garrison and
Elkins hurled for Modesto, allowing eight combined hits. The victory
came from Verne Schrader’s double in the eleventh inning, driving
in the runs.
In July, Harry Parks was again on the mound for the
Modesto Hawks, holding the Fresno Colored Cubs to seven hits
and four runs, being victorious, 7 to 4. The Cubs had won 15 straight
before losing to Modesto. The Hawks claimed a victory again the
next week over the Stockton Medicos, 10 to 3. Modesto’s first
baseman, Al Lightner, clouted two home runs in the contest, while
his teammates accumulated 15 hits. Unfortunately, Hawks’ standout
Dave Podesto was injured in the game. The Hawks belted
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more home runs in its August match against Stockton’s Laterae
Club, winning that outing by a whopping 16 to 2. It was a field day
for the Modestans, hammering out 20 hits to its opponent’s six.
Fred Lindsey was huge at the plate, shredding opposition pitching.
The last game reported for the Modesto Hawks was a loss at home
to Stockton’s Power Builders, 9 to 8. Stockton scored five runs in
the fifth inning, mostly because of five Modesto errors.
The Central Valley League began its 1938 season in midMay, with clubs from Hughson, Riverbank, Turlock, LeGrand,
Modesto, and two teams from Atwater: Packers and Y.M.I. Modesto
was represented by the Shannon Rangers, and Turlock played its
games at the Hilmar diamond. By the third week of play, the Atwater
Packers and the Shannon Rangers were still undefeated. On Sunday,
June 12th, the Hughson Merchants handed the Rangers its first
defeat, 7 to 5, out hitting the Shannon Rangers with 12 blasts.
That same weekend, the Riverbank Merchants trounced
the Turlock All-Stars in a 9 to 3 contest, with Riverbank unleashing
a 16-hit attack. In its June 19th battle with Atwater’s Y.M.I., the
Turlock All-Stars were victorious in a close 9 to 8 contest, with
Lefty Groves on the mound for Turlock. The next Sunday, Modesto’s
Shannon Rangers visited the Turlock nine, taking home a win, 9 to
6, behind the throwing arm of Gordon Walden, who kept his
opponent to six hits. The Atwater Packers faced Hughson on the
July 4th weekend, defeating its opponent, 9 to 5, thereby winning its
sixth game with only one loss. Packers’ bats stung its rival with 11
hits in the competition. Wily old veteran, Lefty Borden, was on the
mound for LeGrand, allowing just three hits and three runs, which
were caused by four errors, winning the outing over the Turlock
All-Stars, 7 to 3, at the Turlock High School diamond. Turlock turned
tables on its opponent the next weekend, in a ten-inning contest,
being victorious by 10 to 9 over Hughson. In the last weekend of
league play in mid-August, Modesto’s Shannon Rangers battled
its contender the Turlock All-Stars at Municipal Baseball Park to a
7 to 7 deadlock, called at 11 innings, with a total of 25 hits.
The 1938 season of the Central Valley League ended with
four teams vying for the title: Atwater, Turlock, Hughson, and
Modesto’s Shannon Rangers. In the first round of the playoffs,
Modesto and Turlock were eliminated, leaving Atwater and
Hughson to compete in one final game for the title in early September.
Unfortunately, the outcome was not reported in the Modesto or
Turlock newspapers, so the champion of the Central Valley League
for 1938 is unknown.
The Don Pedro League organized in 1938, having
contenders from Waterford, Salida, La Grange, Ripon, Keyes, and
Modesto’s Valley Tractors. In league action on Sunday, May 8th,
the Waterford Irrigators swamped the Valley Tractors, 5 to 1, bashing
11 hits off veteran hurler, Frank Enos. That same weekend, the
Salida Merchants annihilated the La Grange Gold Diggers, 23 to 6,
in a wacky slugfest of a combined 41 hits. On the mound for the
Gold Diggers was Stine, who was replaced by Vinci, while pitching
for the Merchants was R. Ichord. The first half-season of the Don
Pedro League ended on June 5th, with the Waterford Irrigators
capturing the pennant, after four straight victories. The dominant
Irrigators won its first contest of the second half-season against
the Keyes Packers, 8 to 0. In another match, Modesto’s Valley
Tractors and the Salida Merchants battled to a tie score, the
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game being called in the 12th inning. On July 3rd, the Valley Tractors
crushed the Keyes Packers in a 23 to 7 blowout, while Waterford
edged La Grange, 15 to 11, in another batting foray of 31 hits
combined for both clubs. Waterford’s hurler, R. Harriss, allowed 14
hits, while his counterpart, Ballard, was tagged for 17. Without
question, league pitching was disastrous.
Frank Enos of Modesto’s Valley Tractors fared better in a
mid-August match against the Gold Diggers, holding La Grange to
eight hits, winning the engagement, 13 to 3. Enos and teammate
Ray McKenna belted three hits each to provide the victory and to
take the second half-season pennant for the Valley Tractors. A
Modesto Bee
March 28, 1938
Yankee Recruits Defeat Modesto
By Score of 6-4
Rookies Tally 5 Runs in Sixth Inning
Eddie Goddard Hits Homer
Jimmy Zinn’s New York Yankee recruits staving off a ninth
inning rally by the Modesto Reds, tripped the California State
League entry here yesterday, 6 to 4, at the Municipal Baseball
Park. The Yankee rookies sewed up the contest with a five
run spree in the sixth inning after Eddie Goddard had lifted a
home run over the left field fence in the fifth stanza. The
Reds garnered all of their scores in the ninth inning when
they fell on Big Jack Daley, rookie relief pitcher, for two hits
and two bases on balls. Milo Canning, starting Yankee rookie
hurler, was given credit for the victory. Candini, who hurled
five innings, was nicked for only two hits. Manager Stanley
Sanders of the Reds used four pitchers against the rookies.
Phil Cozad, who is slated for regular duty with the Reds
during the coming season, pitched the first three innings,
striking out five and allowing no hits. . . . Goddard, the allAmerican quarterback at Washington State College in 1938,
turned in the outstanding fielding performance when he
caught Joe Guerrero’s long fly in deep left field and then
threw Harvey Hand, who had singled, out at first base for a
double play.
playoff match was scheduled between Waterford and Modesto to
determine the champions of the 1938 season. The Irrigators won, 8
to 5, behind the bat of Al Hinkley, who collected two singles and a
triple. Valley Tractor’s Enos did not pitch and was 0 for 5 at the
plate. The Waterford Irrigators claimed the Don Pedro
League title for 1938.
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Modesto’s mayor, James H. King, tossed the first pitch at
the municipal diamond on Sunday, April 2nd, commemorating the
opening of the 1939 California State League season for the Modesto
Reds, with 500 fans on hand. King tossed a wild one, causing
ceremonial catcher, Sheriff Grat Hogin, to miss the ball, while Fire
Chief George Wallace seized the errant pitch. The Stanislaus County
Boys Band entertained the crowd, only to watch the Reds go
down to defeat, 9 to 7, at the hands of the Fresno Brewers. Joining
World Series Issue
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the Reds in the state league were Stockton’s Red Men, Stockton
Amblers, Merced Bears, Atwater Packers, and Fresno Brewers. The
league had dropped the northern teams of Lodi and Roma Wines
from the last season in favor of two southern teams from Atwater
and Fresno. In its second contest, Modesto played an error-free
game, accruing nine hits and being victorious over the Atwater
Packers, 5 to 1, behind the management of Stanley Sanders. Reds’
publicity manager, Tony Magill, promised that if pitching was
needed, the Reds would seek out the best talent to bring home the
pennant. In a May bout, Modesto crushed the Fresno Brewers at
Fresno, 12 to 4, with Dewey Brown on the hill for the Reds, who
allowed ten hits.
Tied for first place in the first half-season were the Stockton
Amblers and the Modesto Reds. The concluding contest would
determine the pennant winner, which went to the Amblers, after
defeating Modesto, 5 to 2. Swope hurled for the Reds, allowing six
hits, while Modesto bashed ten in the losing outing. The Reds
ended the first half-season with a seven to four record on June 11th.
No action was reported in the Bee for the second half-season,
leading one to believe that the Reds had poor performances. On
September 4th, the newspaper noted that the Stockton Amblers and
Stockton Red Men faced one another for the 1939 California State
League title, with the Amblers taking two contests, thereby winning
the crown. In an exhibition contest at Municipal Baseball Park, the
Reds played a team composed of former Reds, loosing to the
aggregate, 6 to 4, before an audience of 100.
For the 1939 season, the usually independent Modesto
Hawks joined the Central Valley League, replacing Modesto’s
Shannon Rangers that decided to join the Don Pedro League. The
Bee’s coverage of the Hawks was limited throughout the season. In
its inaugural contest, the Hawks defeated the Manteca Merchants,
10 to 5, clubbing 11 hits, while accruing five fielding errors in the
outing. Elkins was on the hill for Modesto, allowing five hits in the
victory. In a June match, the Escalon Merchants smoked the Hawks,
17 to 3, at Enslen Park. The visitors racked up 14 hits, while the
Hawks booted the ball for 7 errors. Even though the Hawks
accumulated 11 hits, its overall play was lacking. It wasn’t any
better on August 6th, when Escalon again destroyed Modesto, 24
to 2, at Enslen Park. The Hawks used three pitchers: Volrath, Lightner,
and Selby, who allowed 22 hits, while Modesto’s fielding was dismal
as well with nine errors. The Bee’s coverage of the Hawks tapered
off at this point, undoubtedly because of the team’s poor playing.
Escalon captured the first half-season of the Central Valley League,
while Manteca took the second half-season. The two clubs from
San Joaquin County met on September 3rd for its first playoff game,
with Escalon winning, 5 to 3, at Escalon. The subsequent games
were never reported in county newspapers, so the champion for
1939 is unknown.
The Don Pedro League opened its 1939 season on Sunday,
April 2nd, with Modesto’s Shannon Rangers toppling the Hughson
Woodmen, 14 to 4, behind the pitching arm of Leventhal. The
previous season’s league champs, the Waterford Irrigators, took
their first contest by 6 to 4, over the La Grange Gold Diggers.
Hughson Woodmen were the victors on April 16th, punishing the
Riverbank Merchants by a score of 11 to 3. Hughson’s pitcher was
the best hitter for the day, with two singles and a double. The
Merchants lost because of its porous fielding, accumulating ten
errors in the contest. In May, the Hughson Woodmen edged the
Salida Merchants, 8 to 7, in a hit-filled match, with Woodmen pitcher,
Matthew, allowing 11 hits, while his opponent, Wesling, gave up
13. On the same weekend, the vastly improved Riverbank Merchants
defeated Ripon, 10 to 5. By June 11th, 1938 champs, Waterford
Irrigators, won the first half-season for 1939, with its win over La
Grange, 10 to 5. The Gold Diggers’ pitching allowed the champs 18
hits in the contest.
In July, the Hughson Woodmen defeated the Waterford
Irrigators, with both clubs tied for first place. Ripon and Salida met
Modesto Bee
June 12, 1939
Waterford Wins Don Pedro Title
Irrigators Defeat La Grange Gold Dredgers,
10-5, to Annex Crown
The Waterford Irrigators waxed the La Grange Gold Dredgers,
10 to 5, there yesterday to annex the first half championship
of the Don Pedro League. Waterford won nine out the ten
games played. Ballard, Waterford pitcher, struck out ten men
and did not issue a walk. He kept the Dredgers’ eleven hits
fairly well scattered. The Irrigators collected eighteen hits off
three La Grange twirlers. A. Hinkley, centerfielder, was the
star hitter for the winners, getting a triple and four singles in
five trips to the plate. Painter, second base, Farrell, first base,
C. Fager, shortstop, and Ballard, pitcher, all got three hits for
the Irrigators. Blodgett, first base and pitcher for La Grange,
hit two times in three chances to top the losers in batting.
that same Sunday, with Ripon edging its opposition, 11 to 9. Again,
there was plenty of hitting, with 26 total in this contest. Hughson’s
bats ripped Riverbank in a 19 to 2 win in August. The losing pitcher,
Pierce, was clubbed for 15 hits, while his defense had six errors. On
August 27th, the Waterford Irrigators downed the La Grange Gold
Diggers, 8 to 5, with the contest ending in a brawl on the field.
Waterford scorched the opposing hurler, Ming, with 17 blasts. The
victory found Waterford and Hughson in a tie for the second halfseason pennant. The Waterford Irrigators defeated Hughson in the
playoffs, 4 to 1, in errorless ball by both clubs, with 11 total hits in
the contest. Since Waterford had won both half-seasons, the
Irrigators became the outright champs of the 1939 season of the
Don Pedro League, now for two successive seasons, a washout.
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For the next few years, county baseball would see
intermittent activity, because of World War II. The Modesto Reds
joined the California State League for the 1940 season, hoping for
better results in the new season, with Stanley Sanders once was
again managing the club. Veteran star pitcher, Phil Cozad, returned
to the Reds’ lineup. The March 17th practice looked promising, with
Dipkel, Silva, and Shaw hitting the ball with power and finesse.
Seven hundred fans crowded into a soggy Municipal Baseball Park
on March 31st to watch the season opener between the Reds
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and Merced Merchants. Reds’ shortstop, Ralph Trost, was the
game’s hero, slapping a double in the ninth inning, driving home
the winning run, 4 to 3. The next Sunday, Modesto traveled to
Stockton and again was victorious, with Reds’ hurler, Bill Priest,
winning his own game with a double in the seventh, sending home
the only run in the 1 to 0 contest. He was also the baseball coach for
Modesto Junior College. Veteran Harvey Hand was behind the
plate, craftily orchestrating the game, from his catching position.
Trost’s bat was again busy in the Reds’ April 21st encounter
with the Atwater Packers, singling in a run in the 10th inning,
providing his club with a 5 to 4 victory and first place in the league.
Seven hundred fans were on hand to see the thrilling contest. In
May, Trost uncorked three hits to secure a Reds’ victory over the
Stockton Red Men, 5 to 0, at Municipal Baseball Park, with an
estimated 550 spectators viewing the match. On June 2nd, the Reds
wrapped up the first half-season as the league’s leader in a 7 to 5
win over Pittsburg. Combined hitting from Kenny Sanders, Al Silva,
and Ralph Trost won the day for the Reds.
In July, the Reds continued its dominance, with a victory
over Pittsburg, 5 to 3, this time behind the bat of center fielder, Cam
Best. Priest allowed ten hits, while his teammates had zero errors.
The Atwater Packers outplayed the Reds in the second half-season,
taking the pennant and now would battle Modesto for the 1940 title
of the California State League. The Reds took the first contest on
August 25th, 9 to 6, but the next Sunday, Atwater even the series
winning, 8 to 2, with a grand slam home run in the fifth inning off of
Reds’ pitcher, Heizenrader. He had been brilliant in the first four
innings, holding his opponent to only one hit. Modesto’s fielding
was once again error-free, but the Reds’ bats were silent, having
accrued only four hits and a defeat. The final contest in the series
was played on September 8th, in Modesto, before 1,200 fans. Every
member of the Reds’ team played stellar baseball, taking the game,
4 to 1, and the 1940 California State League championship. The
town was delirious over the Reds’ success. Grass Valley was the
winner of the Sacramento Valley League title, challenging the Reds
for the northern California semi-pro championship. It was a close
match, with Grass Valley overcoming the Reds, 5 to 3, to win bragging
rights as the northern California champs.
The Modesto Bee covered only the first half-season of
the 1940 Central California League. In its first contest on March
17th, the Hughson Woodmen won an exhibition match against
Modesto’s Shannon Rangers, 7 to 2. The Rangers had 12 hits to its
opponent’s 9, but still lost the game. In April, Stockton’s Sunnyside
Inn defeated the Shannon Rangers, 7 to 4, with Modesto having
more hits. In June, at Municipal Baseball Park, Gordon Walden was
on the hill for the Rangers, keeping his opponent to seven hits and
four runs, while his teammates hammered 13 hits, producing nine
runs in the victory. On July 14th, Manteca Merchants scored 11
runs off 11 hits, to win the contest, 11 to 5, against Modesto. Again,
the Shannon Rangers out hit its foe with 14 hits. This was the last
Central California League game reported by the Bee for 1940.
Would the Waterford Irrigators win its third straight Don
Pedro League championship in 1940? Some thought the club would,
but its first outing was a defeat, 5 to 3, on April 7th, to the Hughson
Woodmen. Waterford matched Hughson with 11 hits, but
there were seven Irrigators’ errors. At Ripon in league play,
Ripon’s Olvera hurled a no-hitter against the Turlock Merchants,
winning 1 to 0. His teammates played errorless baseball. Merchants’
pitcher, Bungard, allowed seven hits in the loss but only one run
crossed the plate. The following weekend, Ripon again was
victorious in an 8 to 7 outing against the Modesto Hawks. Hughson
nosed out the La Grange Gold Dredgers, 8 to 6, even though its
opponent accumulated 13 hits to its 8, but seven errors by the Gold
Dredgers were costly.
In a May contest, the Gold Dredgers grounded the
Modesto Hawks, 6 to 3, with steady hitting by second baseman
McMahon. Hawks’ pitcher, Thompson, allowed ten La Grange hits
in his outing. On the same Sunday, the Waterford Irrigators battled
its chief contender Hughson to a 6 to 4 win, behind the pitching
arm of Ballad, who held the Woodmen to seven hits. Longtime
rivals, Modesto and Turlock, faced each other in league competition
on June 2nd, at Enslen Park, with the Turlock Merchants shutting
out the Modesto Hawks, 6 to 0. Hurling for the Merchants was
Bundgard, who fanned nine, giving up just four hits. Modesto’s
fielding was truly awful with eight boots, causing their pitcher Ray
Marxmiller to work in desperation throughout the bout. In other
league play, La Grange and Waterford met in a slugging contest
with each team garnering 16 hits in a 14 to 13 victory by the Gold
Dredgers.
Going into the final Sunday of the first half-season, the
Turlock Merchants were leading the league with a seven and two
record, while the Waterford Irrigators were a game behind. The
clubs faced one another, with Turlock flooding its opponent, the
Irrigators, by a score of 7 to 1. Bundgard was once again brilliant on
the hill, allowing just five hits, while his opponent was clipped for
15. The victory would give Turlock the first half-season pennant,
but the match was protested by Waterford, with the league ruling a
replay of the game. The two clubs battled at the Turlock diamond
to a close score of 8 to 7, with the Irrigators winning the contest,
throwing the first half-season championship into a tie.
In second half-season play, the Modesto Hawks slipped
by the La Grange Gold Dredgers, 8 to 6, with B. Johnson on the
mound for the Hawks, allowing eight La Grange hits. The Hawks in
July was no match for the Waterford Irrigators, losing to the champs
by a resounding 10 to 1. Two former Ceres High School athletes
produced eight hits off Hawks’ hurlers Lindsey, Levaggi, and
Pifferini. That same Sunday, the Hughson Woodmen chopped
Turlock Merchants’ pitching, with 14 hits, winning the lopsided
contest, 13 to 4. In early August the reigning two-year champs of
the Don Pedro League, Waterford Irrigators, grabbed the second
half-season crown. Since Waterford and Turlock had tied for the
first half-season flag, this meant that the same clubs would now
meet to decide the championship of the 1940 season. Ballard was
brilliant in the playoffs as he had been all season for the Irrigators.
In the first encounter, Waterford played superb baseball, defeating
Turlock by a crushing 19 to 3 score. On August 25th, the results
were no different, with Waterford winning, 6 to 4, taking its third
straight Don Pedro League championship, 1938, 1939, and 1940, a
“threepeat.”
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Four teams joined the California State League in 1941:
Atwater, Turlock, Pittsburg, and the Modesto Reds, the 1940
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league champs. Pitcher Bill Priest would return to the Reds, along
with veteran catcher, Harvey Hand, and speedy Al Silva, a slugger
and terrific infielder. On Sunday, April 4th, Pittsburg’s Community
Club faced the Modesto Reds on opening day, at Modesto’s
Municipal Baseball Park. In pregame ceremonies, Mayor Carl
Shannon tossed the first pitch, which was caught by Sheriff Grat
Hogin, with Modesto Police Chief Elmer Arlington acting as umpire.
The Bee commented that the 1941 Reds was “using mostly local
talent, played smooth ball and displayed more hustle than Reds’
teams in past years.” Pitcher Bill Priest was the only Reds’ player
that was not from the local area. He hurled a superb game against
Pittsburg, keeping his opponents to only one run in the 4 to 1
victory.
But success was only brief, when the Reds visited the
Pittsburg diamond the next weekend, when it lost to the Community
Club, 8 to 2. The Bee claimed the grounds were “soaked by heavy
rains and then baked dry on top by the sun, was plenty rough and
gave Modesto’s infielders a bad time on ground balls.” There were
also “several questionable decisions made by umpires.” Priest was
drilled for ten hits, while his teammates accumulated five fielding
errors, in a dismal showing. In May, the Turlock Turks were
triumphant over the Reds, 5 to 1, at Turlock, behind the pitching of
Tommy Conlan. The Turks’ bats were hot, scattering 11 hits in the
outing, against Reds’ hurler, Daoust.
By May 12th, the California State League standings were:
Atwater 6-0; Modesto 2-4; Turlock 2-4; and Pittsburg 2-4. On May
29th, Pittsburg battled the Turlock Turks, at Turlock’s Legion Field,
for 14 innings, with the home club being the victors in a pitcher’s
duel between Conlan and Pittsburg’s Pappas. On June 1st, 350 fans
were on hand at the Municipal Baseball Park to watch the Turks
and the Reds square off once again. Conlan and Priest faced each
other, with Modesto’s hurler Priest out pitching Conlan in a 5 to 2
victory. Catcher Hand provided the batting power to secure the
win. Atwater Packers played Pittsburg the same weekend, with the
Packers losing in 12 innings, 3 to 2, but Atwater still captured the
first half-season pennant, with three clubs tied for second place.
The Reds began the second half-season no better, losing to
Pittsburg in a squeaker, 7 to 6, in 13 innings. The local newspaper
summed it up: “There was good fielding and bad, good pitching
and bad and some heavy hitting.” In July, Atwater Packers drubbed
the Reds with two losses, 13 to 2 and 7 to 5. Modesto’s attendance
dropped, crippling the club financially. That was the last Bee report
on the Reds for the 1941 season, with the club not reorganizing
until the 1945.
The California State League was never a conference
representing the entire state in semi-professional baseball. The
California State League was too regional, and often its baseball
talent was of the amateur level. The Bee reported briefly on another
state league in 1941 that was known as the “California Baseball
League,” which consisted of clubs from Santa Barbara, Fresno,
Anaheim, Bakersfield, Stockton, and Merced. By August 4th, those
teams had played 35 games apiece. It would appear that this league
was a better representative of an all-California semi-pro conference,
in terms of representation and the multitude of games played.
In other Stanislaus County baseball action for 1941, a few
local clubs played in independent contests, until the Sierra
League was formed in June. Modesto fielded three teams in the
spring: Green Hornets, Modesto Builders Exchange, and Shannon
Rangers. On April 13th, the Riverbank Merchants met the Green
Hornets at home, winning, 9 to 4. Green Hornets’ pitcher, Finch,
was raked with 13 hits, while Riverbank’s hurler, Jiminez, allowed
seven, fanning 14 batters in the outing. Curiously, the game was
completely errorless. In May, the Green Hornets played its hometown
rival, Modesto’s Builders Exchange, at Enslen Park, defeating the
Builders, 11 to 5. Also in May, “smokeball artist” De Selms of the
Shannon Rangers, who had 30 strikeouts in his past three outings,
was smoked himself by a 16 to 2 devastation from the bats of the
Hughson Woodmen. Ten runs alone were scored in the third inning,
forcing De Selms off the hill in favor of Glen Bundgard, who went
on to shut the opposition down, in a losing effort. In early June, the
Woodmen narrowly defeated Riverbank, 3 to 1, being Hughson’s
Modesto Bee
June 2, 1941
Reds Top Turlock by 5 to 2
Catcher Harvey Hand Drives in Two Runs in Sixth
To Clinch Modesto Win
A timely single by catcher Harvey Hand yesterday gave the
Modesto Reds a 5 to 2 victory over the Turlock Turks in a California
State League contest played at the Municipal Park. Approximately
350 fans attended. Hand’s single drove in a pair of runs and
earned Modesto a first half tie for second position with Turlock
and Pittsburgh. Each team ended first half play with four wins
and five losses. Atwater won the pennant, winning six of nine
games. Tommy Conlan and Bill Priest hooked up in a pitching
duel as expected. Conlan, while he was a little wild, gave up just
six hits. Hand’s single in the sixth caused the trouble. Priest also
allowed six, but spread them thin. He had a four hitter in sight
until the ninth, allowing a pair of singles. Yesterday’s game was
exceptionally fast with umpires Harold Holman and Art Rhode
getting the proceedings over in one hour and 35 minutes.
fifth straight victory. It was a well-played game, with a small number
of hits and errors. Woodmen’s Pagano faced Riverbank’s Clark.
The next weekend, Riverbank downed the Builders
Exchange in a whopping 16 to 0 catastrophe, in which the Builders
had difficulty handling the ball, accruing nine fielding errors. Estell
“Lefty” Jimenez kept his opponents to just two hits in the vastly
lopsided contest. That same Sunday, the Escalon Merchants battled
the Green Hornets to a 12 to 11 win, despite Modesto’s hurler’s batwork, clubbing four singles in four times at the plate. Pitcher Lyle
Willet, a Modesto Junior College standout, held Escalon to seven
hits. The Hornets had plenty of hits in the effort, with 15, but six
fielding errors played havoc in the outing.
On Sunday, June 22nd, the Sierra League opened its season
with a contest between Modesto’s Builders Exchange and the
Hughson Woodmen at Enslen Park. Again, the Woodmen’s swift
bats clubbed 18 hits off Builders’ pitchers, Baker and Finch, in a 15
to 8 blowout. Hughson’s Tommy Hayes alone hit five for five in the
attack. In other Sierra League play that Sunday, Modesto’s
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Shannon Rangers edged the Riverbank Merchants, 7 to 6, behind
the pitching of Rosinger.
In July, Modesto’s Green Hornets stung the Escalon
Merchants in a 5 to 1 victory, clubbing 12 hits, with George Ferrini
hitting four for five. In the July 6th contest at Riverbank, the
Riverbank Merchants out dueled its visitor, Modesto’s Builders
Exchange, in a tight 6 to 5 contest, in ten innings. Both Baker for the
Builders and Jiminez for the winning Merchants struck out 14 batters
each in the bout, but Riverbank’s fielding was ugly, accumulating
seven errors. The next Sunday, Riverbank was once again victorious
over its league contender Escalon, winning that contest, 13 to 8.
Jiminez was on the hill for visiting Riverbank. Green Hornets’ bats
buzzed with 15 hits against its Modesto rival, the Builders Exchange,
in a winning effort, downing the Builders, 15 to 9. Brothers, B.
Johnson and C. Johnson, shared the pitching load for the swarming
Hornets.
In July, the Builders visited Waterford, being swamped by
the Irrigators in a 10 to 7 loss, even though it out hit its opponent,
11 to 9, but Modesto had six costly errors. At Riverbank, on July
27th, the Riverbank Merchants faced the Merced Mexico Club in an
independent contest, losing to the visitors, 6 to 2. Merced’s bats
were hot in the contest, slamming Riverbank pitching with 12 hits
to the hometown’s three.
In the final weekend of Sierra League play, Riverbank’s
hurler, Lefty Jiminez, was dominant as usual against the Waterford
Irrigators, allowing only five hits and two runs, while striking out
14, in a gem of a performance. In Modesto, the Green Hornets and
the Builders Exchange battled each other to a 2 to 1 score, with the
Hornets winning. It was a peach of a pitching match, with Hornets’
Thornton Honeycutt striking out 19, while his hurling counterpart,
Gordon Waldon, for the Rangers, fanned 13, but the eight hits he
allowed were the cause of the defeat. This win clinched the 1941
Sierra League title for Modesto’s Green Hornets.
1942
In 1942, with the country at war, Stanislaus County baseball
was limited. In fact, the Bee reported only four county games, with
all four being played by the Modesto Peppers, in a lineup featuring
three Costa brothers: George, Dave, and Fred. In its June 14th outing,
the Peppers faced the Modesto Aces, defeating the Aces, 11 to 1.
Peppers’ shortstop, Austin, led his club at the plate with four hits,
while his club was errorless on the playing field. The Linden
Merchants were in Modesto for a July 5th match against the Peppers
at Enslen Park, but went home with a 13 to 3 drubbing. The Costa
brothers had seven of the 17 Peppers’ hits, while hurler, George
Costa, allowed only four Linden hits in the lopsided contest. In
August, George Costa was again on the mound against the Stockton
Latin American Nine, at Stockton’s Stribley Park. Costa allowed
eight hits, but the Peppers won the contest, 8 to 3, with nine of its
own. The Latin American club was errorless in the outing. On August
17th, the Tracy Bingos came to Enslen Park for a competition against
the Peppers, with Modesto winning, 4 to 3. It was a tight, mostly
errorless contest that saw brothers George and Fred Costa on the
hill for the Peppers, allowing eight hits collectively. This was the
final report on baseball in the local newspaper for 1942.
1943
The Modesto Peppers was virtually the only county team
playing in 1943. The club changed its name to the Federal Peppers,
derived from its sponsor, the Federal Outfitting Company. The two
Costa brothers, George and Dave, continued their baseball prowess
for the Modesto club. In a May 24th competition, with the Merced
Pilots, the Peppers were victorious, 8 to 4. Bungard was on the hill
for the Peppers, allowing seven hits, while his teammates had 19.
Modesto’s American Legion junior baseball club edged the more
mature Federal Peppers, 6 to 5, at Municipal Baseball Park. The
Legion boys had just five hits off Bungard, while the Peppers out
hit them with nine of their own. In early June, the Robinson Seed
Company faced the Peppers at Enslen Park, losing that contest 14
to 6, with the Peppers’ batters stroking 17 hits. Peppers’ Bungard
allowed 11 hits. Robinson’s fielding was to blame for much of its
demise, having six errors, and an uncommon triple play by the
Peppers, clinched the win. The U.S. Army opened its Hammond
General Hospital in Modesto, a facility for army wounded. Its staff
formed a baseball club in June, playing Modesto’s American Legion
junior baseball club. It took ten innings for Hammond to surpass its
younger opponent, winning 3 to 1. Hammond featured players from
all sections of the U.S., with Alabaman Connie Jones doing the
hurling in this particular match.
Stockton’s American Legion junior baseball club whipped
the Peppers solidly at Oak Park in Stockton, by a score of 11 to 1.
The Legion belted Bungard for 13 hits, but errors were many on
both sides, with the Peppers accruing six in its losing performance,
even though the Bee reported “D. Costa playing for Modesto,
made two circus catches in the seventh inning.” The next Sunday,
the Peppers met Hammond Hospital at Enslen Park in an error-filled
contest, winning narrowly by 5 to 4, when George Costa touched
home plate in the final inning. In a July competition, it took 11
innings for the Peppers to beat the hosting Hospitalers by a final
score of 13 to 6, with 19 hits and behind the pitching arm of Bungard.
On Sunday, July 17th, the Peppers played a doubleheader
against two different clubs, defeating both at Enslen Park. In the
first contest, it shutout Hammond in a close battle, 2 to 0, because
of the exceptional pitching by Bungard, who held his opponent to
just two hits. In the second game of the day, the Peppers slipped by
Robinson Seed Company, 5 to 4. A week later, another Army team
was at Enslen Park. This time it was the 497th Engineers from the
Lathrop Army base. The Peppers bashed ten hits to defeat the
Engineers, 4 to 3, behind the pitching arm of Bungard, who allowed
six hits in the affair. In August, Robinson defeated the Engineers in
another close contest, 5 to 3, at Enslen Park. But a week later, the
army boys turned the tables on the Seeders, being victorious, 9 to
6, in a hit-filled game.
In yet another bout with Hammond, the Peppers outclassed
their competition, with Brown throwing a one-hitter for the Peppers,
being victorious, 4 to 1. In its last game of August, the Peppers
faced the Patterson Townies, at Enslen Park, clubbing 14 hits to win
6 to 2. The Peppers were also the victors against the Robinson
Seed Company, 9 to 4, with Brown on the mound, confining the
opposition to just four hits, while his team clubbed 13. In early
September, an all African-American club, the Mather Field Bombers
of Sacramento, was in Modesto at Enslen Park, nosing out
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the Peppers in a low-hitting contest, 3 to 2. The Peppers fielding
was the major cause of the defeat with six errors. Next the Peppers
played Hammond Hospital, winning 15 to 7, and in its second contest
on that same Sunday, it played the Ceres Rohde Dairy nine, ending
in a tie score of 7 to 7 in 11 innings, when the game was called. The
final game reported for 1943 was on September 26th, when the Peppers
battled the Modesto All-Stars, losing 2 to 0, at Enslen Park. The
Peppers had eight hits in the contest, but couldn’t score.
Modesto Bee
July 3, 1943
Peppers Defeat Hospital Nine
It required 11 innings for the Modesto Peppers to defeat the
47th Hammond General Hospital baseball team here Sunday
afternoon by a score of 13 to 6. The teams were deadlocked at
6-6 when the Peppers went to bat in their half of the eleventh.
Before it was over seven runs had crossed. Phillips, 47th
pitcher, weakened in that inning, and the Peppers went on a
batting spree, producing their seven runs. Brown, left fielder
for the winners, was the game’s star. He drove in six runs on
two hits. Bungard, hurling for the Peppers, allowed eight hits in
the 11 innings and fanned 13.
1944
on July 23rd, trouncing the Merced Airmen, 14 to 7, in a massive
display of hitting by both sides. There were 36 hits in the ragged
match, with Peppers’ George Costa belting four hits, his brother
Dave stroking two, while relative Enos whacked three. Brother
pitchers, George and Fred Costa, hurled in the slugfest for the
Peppers.
The two Modesto clubs met at Enslen Park on August
13th, ending in a close contest of 3 to 2, with Peppers’ Nordell scoring
in the eighth inning off the bat of Vollrath, beating Robinson in the
match. Hurlers, Tamo and Bennett for the Peppers allowed just four
Robinson’s hits. In September, Robinson fought another close battle,
losing 4 to 3, but this time to the Mather Field Bombers. Each club
was held to six hits in the pitching duel. Robinson and the Peppers
formed an All-Star team on September 17th to play the Hughson
Woodmen in a doubleheader. The first contest was reasonably
close, 4 to 2, with Hughson on top, but the next game was a blowout
with the Woodmen smoking the All-Stars, 18 to 1. Murrell and Fred
Costa pitched the first bout for the losing All-Stars, with Fred Costa
being lambasted in the second outing with 17 hits. The final two
games that the Bee reported in 1944 were held on September 24th,
with one featuring the Mather Field Bombers against the Modesto
Peppers, while the other found Hughson facing Folsom Eagles.
The Mather club defeated the Peppers at Sacramento, 3 to 0, in a
low-hitting contest, while Hughson was victorious over Folsom, 4
to 3, at Folsom.
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As in 1943, no county baseball leagues were formed in
Stanislaus County for 1944, with the Bee reporting on the Peppers’
contests. On May 7th, the Merced Army Medics out hit the Peppers,
12 to 10, but lost the match, 8 to 6, to Modesto. The next Sunday,
the Peppers played a doubleheader, losing both competitions. In
the first contest, the Red Sox, sponsored by the Federal Outfitting
Company, hit the Peppers solidly, winning 9 to 2, while the Robinson
Seed Company drilled the Peppers, 6 to 1, in the afternoon contest.
On May 21st, the Livingston Cubs traveled to Modesto to
face the Robinson club at Enslen Park. The visitors were peerless in
its 12 to 8 victory, slamming Robinson pitching for 18 hits, while
going errorless on the field. Hughson Woodmen hosted a contest
with Modesto’s Red Sox, winning the hit-filled outing, 12 to 3. Dean
hurled for the Sox, being shellacked for 15 hits. The Modesto Legion
junior baseball club began its winning ways again by crushing the
Modesto Peppers, 14 to 4. The next weekend, the Peppers had
better luck, being victorious over the Hughson Woodmen, 4 to 2. In
the meantime, Robinson grappled with the Merced Pilots, edging
its opponent, 1 to 0. Robinson’s pitcher, Murrell, held the flyboys
to just two hits.
The Pilots were not successful in early June either,
launching only four hits in its 6 to 4 defeat, at the hands of the
Modesto Peppers. That same Sunday, the Livingston Cubs downed
Robinson, 10 to 6, with the loser’s pitchers, Murrell and De Mott,
being blasted for 13 hits. In July, Hughson faced the Oakland
Monarchs, an African-American team, losing to the visitors, 4 to 3.
Hitting and fielding suffered on both sides in the close contest.
Hughson next met the Peppers at Enslen Park, taking the contest,
10 to 7, with barrage of 16 hits. But the Peppers found revenge
62
The Modesto Reds organized in 1945. In an exhibition
contest on Sunday, April 1st, the Reds exploded with 21 hits and 19
runs to hand its opponent, Oakland’s Pierce Colored Giants, a 19 to
3 defeat, at the Municipal Baseball Park. The Giants were all thumbs
as they fumbled the ball for 11 errors, while ex-Boston Red Sox’s
pitcher, Emmett O’Neil, proved his worth on the hill for the Reds,
holding the visitors to three runs. The Reds joined the 1945
California State League facing clubs from Merced, Fresno, Atwater,
Stockton, and Gustine. On opening day, April 15th, the Reds went
down to defeat at the hands of an old rival, Merced, 7 to 3. Merced
pitched former San Francisco ace, Art Stagnero, who kept the
Modestans to four hits until the ninth inning, when the Reds, before
a capacity home crowd, opened up its offense some, scoring three
runs. On Sunday, April 22nd, the Reds traveled to the West Side to
engage the Gustine Ducks, downing the home team, 17 to 11, in a
“wild, free swinging ball game,” according to the Bee. At home the
next Sunday, the Reds entertained the visiting Red Men from
Stockton, blanking them, 7 to 0, with Modesto’s hurler, Jimmie
Munoz, being impressive on the mound. Before a capacity crowd,
the Red Men had eight hits to the Reds ten, with Stockton unable
to drive in any runs. On the same Sunday, two Packers’ teams faced
each other, with the Atwater Packers being victorious over the
Merced Packers, 6 to 2, in its first seasonal win.
In early May, the Reds traveled to Fresno to face the Roma
Vintners. Fresno played Nino Bongiovanni, a former Cincinnati Reds
outfielder, with Harry Gooravian, another ex-major leaguer, playing
shortstop. This contest centered on Modesto’s pitching ace,
Munoz, a spitball artist, now in an era where spitballs were illegal.
The two ex-major leaguers complained to umpire John Telegan
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through the first six innings that Munoz was throwing spitters,
which prompted Telegan to warn Munoz several times about the
illegal pitch. In the seventh inning, when Modesto was ahead 7 to
4, the Vintners had the bases loaded, with Bonogiovanni at the
plate and two strikes, when he asked the umpire to inspect the ball.
Without question, there was spit on it, forcing Telegan to take the
ball out of the game. This infuriated Modesto’s third baseman,
Jimmie Arnerich, who flung a ball, hitting the umpire, requiring
Telegan to eject Arnerich from the game. Arguments ensued for a
few minutes, before the contest resumed, which saw Bongiovanni
clubbing a grand slam on the next pitch, putting Fresno ahead, 8 to
7, which was the winning score. League’s president, Leland Kessel,
0, behind the pitching arm of McDonald. In Atwater in early August,
knuckleballer Munoz pitched against the league leading Atwater
Packers, holding the hometown club to eight hits, winning the
contest, 4 to 2. In the contest, Munoz faced ex-Washington Senators’
hurler, Everett Scott, competing evenly with the ex-major leaguer.
On August 19th, Munoz was less effective, allowing a number of
hits, going down in defeat, 9 to 8, against the Gustine Ducks at the
Municipal Baseball Park. Lanky Tom Smith from San Francisco kept
the hometown Reds to five hits, but Modesto utilized its baseball
savvy to eke out eight runs in the unfortunate loss.
Modesto Bee
September 10, 1945
Atwater Defeats Reds, 5-2
Wins Second Half
Modesto Bee
June 18, 1945
Modesto Beats Atwater
Fresno, Stockton Win
By defeating the Modesto Reds here yesterday afternoon, 5 to
2, in 10 innings, the Atwater Packers annexed the second half
championship of the California State League and the right to
meet the Fresno Vintners in a three game playoff series.
The Modesto Reds went on a hitting spree yesterday afternoon
to defeat the Atwater Packers, 14 to 7, in a California State
League game and thus finished the first half of play in second
place with six victories and four defeats. The Fresno Vintners
are claiming the first half championship by virtue of their defeat
last night of the Merced Merchants by a score of 13 to 6.
However, the matter of ineligibility of a Fresno player still must
be declared. Fresno is charged with using Troy Rider, a pitcher,
without having sent in his application to the league secretary,
Judge E.L. Walter of Atwater. In the Modesto-Atwater game,
Jimmie Munoz went the route for Modesto, allowing nine hits,
two of them home runs by Bill Jackson and Ralph Trost. Howard
Blethen, Reds’ right fielder, also hit for the circuit. Blethen and
Swede Anderson, first baseman, were the Reds’ hitting stars,
getting three each. Teddy Caldera, second baseman, got two
singles. Jimmie Arnerich, ill with a cold, played only four innings
for the Reds, with Glen Hamilton finishing at the hot corner.
was present and observed the histrionics, ruling that the umpire
had taken the correct action.
In May, Modesto locked horns with the Merced
Merchants, with Munoz on the mound for the Reds. This time he
was throwing knuckleballs. He allowed 12 hits, but he had runsupport, winning, 7 to 6, over the hometown Merchants. On June
10th, the Reds played Fresno at the Municipal Baseball Park, “before
the largest crowd of the season.” The Reds won in the ninth inning,
6 to 5, toppling league leading Fresno from first place. The following
Sunday, the final contests for the first half-season were played.
The Reds bashed the Atwater Packers in a slugfest, 14 to 7, ending
up in second place. First place Fresno won its match, collecting the
first half-season pennant. The final standings were: Fresno 7-3;
Modesto 6-4; Atwater 5-5; Stockton 5-5; Merced 4-6; and Gustine
3-7.
There was an exhibition game on Sunday, July 22nd, at the
Municipal Baseball Park, between Modesto’s Home Towners and
the Reds, with the picked Towners shutting out the Reds, 2 to
In the final weekend of the second half-season, the Reds
played the first place Atwater Packers at home, losing the battle, 5
to 2, but a protest was filed by Modesto. In the fifth inning, there
was a shoestring catch by the Packers’ center fielder, who tumbled,
with the Reds contending that he dropped the ball in the process.
Umpire Joe Carvaho called it a catch. On September 12th, California
State League’s president, Leland Kessel, ruled in favor of the Reds.
Even so the Reds were still in third place, while the Packers won the
second half-season. This meant that the first half-season winners,
Fresno’s Roma Vintners, would meet the Atwater Packers for the
1945 championship, but unfortunately, the Bee never carried the
results of the playoff series.
The Bee reported only on two county baseball games for
the 1945 season. On Sunday, July 8th, Robinson Seed Company
played the Patterson Townies, at Enslen Park, winning the
engagement, 7 to 6. Robinson’s hurler, Dave Costa, gave up eight
hits, but went two for three at the plate, bashing a triple and a home
run. Third baseman and brother, George Costa, was two for three.
On August 5th, Robinson edged the Mather Field Bombers, 8 to 7, at
Enslen Park. Dave Costa swung a lethal bat, clubbing three hits to
secure the victory.
Stanislaus County baseball had come a long way since
1871, from those primitive days of a pioneering environment. At the
turn of the century, irrigation brought a larger population, which
caused local baseball to blossom into a fiercely competitive sport.
Before long, league play came about, drawing teams from outside
the county into action against local clubs. There were stars, and
there were teams that excelled. A player could be a hero one week
and a goat the next. Beginning in 1946, county baseball saw major
changes that would bring its demise, but county residents would
long remember the heyday of the Newman Lambs, Waterford
Irrigators, Hughson Highlanders, Modesto Reds, and the many
Merchants’ teams of county baseball.
Written by Robert LeRoy Santos
63
World Series Issue
Part 2
Var
ious Lineups of S
tanislaus County T
eams
arious
St
Teams
Modesto Reds – 1930
Codiga, lf; Rohde, ss; Borden, rf; Lee, cf; Darling, c; Richards, 2b;
Pickering, 1b; Arata, 3b; and Enos, p.
Hughson Highlanders – 1930
Marquis, 3b; A. Matthew, ss; McGee, cf; M. Owen, 1b; Serpa, lf;
Wright, c; Michael, rf; L. Matthew, 2b; and Matthew, p.
Keyes Blues – 1931
H. Hamlow, lf; Nunes, 2b; B. Sperry, rf; C. Colbert, ss; T. Colbert 3b;
C. Sperry, cf; Bello, 1b; Cecil, c; and A. Hamlow, p.
Ceres – 1931
H. Jasper, lf; Al Rohde, 3b; Art Rohde, ss; Gondring, 2b; Smith, c;
Rushton, rf; W. Jasper, cf; Wilson, 1b; and Santos
Modesto Merchants – 1932
Davis, 2b; Hawley, ss; C. Johansen, p; Bassett, 1b; Armenstrout,
3b; Mann, cf; Bracco, lf; P. Johansen, c; and Fairfield, rf.
Valley Home -1932
Bolkman, ss; Oliveri, lf; H. Arnold, 2b; Jensen, 1b; Mobley, 3b;
Callenter, p; Studemnir, cf; W. Arnold, c; and Y. Hamilton, rf.
La Grange Gold Diggers – 1933
Mason, cf; Brescia, rf; Keeler, p; Smith, c; Farrell, 1b; McMahon,
ss; Fager, 2b; Christo, 3b; and Davis, lf.
Rose Brothers (Modesto) – 1933
Simla, lf; Wann, 3b; Jasper, cf; Enos, p; Armentrout, ss; Rosen, 1b;
P. Brubaker, rf; E. Brubaker, c; and Raffter, 2b.
Turlock Amblers – 1934
Ward, lf; Peaz, c; Lucus, cf; Ryan, ss; Mitchell, 1b; Garcia, 3b;
Paulson, rf; Pimentel, 2b; and Reed, p.
Riverbank Merchants – 1934
Crosby, ss; Panetto, 1b; Liberini, 3b; Meeks, c; Holbrook, cf;
Benich, rf; Gregory, lf; Teter, 2b; and Pierce, p.
Hughson Highlanders – 1934
Hinkley, cf; S. Rosen, 1b; Ludlow, lf; McGee, rf; Rhodes, 3b;
Fager, 2b; Stalker, c; Costa, ss; and Vorsinger, p.
Rohde, 2b; Murray, 3b; Cuio, rf; Pinasco, lf; Goslin, c; Harrison,
1b; Goldstein, cf; Silva, ss; and Botto, p.
Modesto Hawks – 1935
Sears, 2b; Ferrini, ss; Cordoza, rf; Sanders, lf; Hinkley, cf; Humphries,
3b; Seiber, 1b; Schiada, c; and Shaw, p.
Salida Tigers – 1935
Bracco, lf; M. H. Cardoza, rf; George Costa, ss; T. Cardoza, 3b;
Serretti, cf; Geist, p; Garber, 2b; M. Cardoza, 1b; and L.Costa, c.
Corbelli, rf; Jones, ss; Kane, 1b; Pickering, 2b; Best, lf; Smith, cf;
Strader, c; Rey, 3b; and Ferriolo, p.
Podesto, 3b; Horton, ss; Polidoro, cf; Jones, lf; Shaw, 1b; Ohland,
2b; Castleman, c; George Costa, p; and Leonard Costa, rf.
Sears, 2b; Hinkley, lf; Silva, ss; Rapp, 3b; A. Ferrini, cf; Sieber, 1b;
Lee, rf; Smith, c; and Nasciemento, p.
64
Carvalho, rf; Podesto, 3b; Finegold, 1b; Mason, cf; Ohland, lf;
Elkins, ss; Silveria, 2b; Smith, c; and Parks, p.
Turlock All-Stars – 1938
Rocha, lf; Tony Garcia, 2b; John Garcia, rf; Harold Johnson, 1b;
Edgard Hess, ss; Thornton, 3b; A. Allen, c; Bill Erdman, p; and
Gib Domecq, cf.
Hughson Merchants – 1938
Clark, lf; Hoog, ss; Amador, 2b; Richards, 1b; Amaral, cf; Bava, 3b;
Styles, p; Walker, c; and Rhodes, rf.
Waterford Irrigators – 1939
Painter, 2b; L. Fager, lf; Ludlow, rf; Hinkley, cf; Farrell, 1b; Kincannon,
c; Marconnet, 3b; C. Fager, ss; and Ballard, p.
Riverbank Merchants – 1938
J. Jackson, c; Benish, 2b; Feingold, 1b; DeSelms, ss; Ohland, lf;
Carvalho, cf; Pimentel, 3b; D. Waddy, rf; and Vanbiber, p.
La Grange Gold Dredgers – 1939
Varain, cf; E. Simi, c; McMahon, ss; Gad, 3b; Seventi, 2b;
Ghilarducci, rf; McDonald, 1b; and Levaggi, p.
Hughson Woodmen – 1940
Hogg, ss; Spurgeon, 2b; Richards, 1b; Leventhal, 3b; Nelson, c;
Thornberg, rf; Amaral, cf; Hinkley, lf; and Stevenson, p.
Shannon Rangers (Modesto) – 1940
Bauman, cf; Raper, ss; Griffith, 1b; Lightner, lf; Lourentzos, 2b;
Wilhite, 3b; Caulkins, rf; Weitl, c; and Lee, p.
Sears, 2b; Gillum, 3b; Silva, lf; Lees, 1b; Rainey, ss; Sayers, rf;
Leventini, cf; Hand, c; and Priest, p.
Green Hornets (Modesto) – 1941
Foletta, 3b; Warburton, ss; McBridge, c; Ponte, 2b; Eilertsen, cf;
Spears, lf; Dickens, 1b; Rackley, rf; and Finch, p.
Modesto Peppers – 1942
Fred Costa, cf; George Costa, p; Warburton, 3b; Bradley, c; Austin,
ss, Hannickle, lf; Pepils, 1b; Belcher, 2b; and Dave Costa, rf.
Patterson Townies – 1942
Johnson, 2b; Gordon, 3b; Arambel, 1b; V. Bondietti, ss; Knutsen, c;
Frunz, lf; M. Bondietti, rf; Relves, cf; and Carlson, p.
Robinson Seed Company (Modesto) – 1943
Francesketti, ss; Kline, 3b; Arbaugh, cf; Second, 2b; Burse, lf; Baade,
c; Finch, 1b; Ohland, rf; and Johnson, p.
Red Sox (Federal Outfitting Co., Modesto) – 1944
Nunes, ss; Landreth, 1b; Ossanoski, 3b; Doll, cf; Dickey, 2b;
Pugmyer, lf; Leonard Costa, c; Dean, p; and Fred Costa rf.
Modesto Peppers All-Stars – 1944
Dave Costa, cf; George Costa, 3b; Nordell, 1b; Vollrath, 2b; Kieth,
ss; Burse, c; Arbough, rf, c; Enos, lf; and Murrell, p.
Bauman, rf; Jones, 2b; Jesen, cf; Blethem, lf; Lake, ss; Morrish, 1b;
Foster, 3b; Hand, c; and O’Neil, p.
Modesto Hometowners – 1945
D. Costa, lf; Bauman rf; Richards 1b; Bondiett, cf; Lee, 3b; Pilosi,
ss; Bolzendahl, 2b; Stalker, c; and McDonald, p.

Vol. 4, World Series Issue, Part 2 [Stanislaus

Transcription

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