pnwlumberyard
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Pacific Northwest African American baseball history (1844-1946).
Jimmy Claxton 300 wins or bust tally: 195
Jimmy Claxton 300 wins or bust tally: 195
Thanksgiving Week. I’d like to thank the Kittitas County Historical Museum and Museum Director Sadie Thayer for their dedication to the preservation of local history. Today, donated this ca. 1962 Cle Elum Warriors Igni Kuzminski letterman’s sweater to the Museum.
November 26, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Thanksgiving Week. I’d like to thank the Kittitas County Historical Museum and Museum Director Sadie Thayer for their dedication to the preservation of local history. Today, donated this ca. 1962 Cle Elum Warriors Igni Kuzminski letterman’s sweater to the Museum.
Did you know?
Jimi Hendrix father, Al Hendrix, played semipro baseball for the Victoria Brown Bombers in 1940. This excerpt from Victoria Times Colonist, 21 August 1999, page 34.
Jimi Hendrix father, Al Hendrix, played semipro baseball for the Victoria Brown Bombers in 1940. This excerpt from Victoria Times Colonist, 21 August 1999, page 34.
October 4, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Did you know?
Jimi Hendrix father, Al Hendrix, played semipro baseball for the Victoria Brown Bombers in 1940. This excerpt from Victoria Times Colonist, 21 August 1999, page 34.
Jimi Hendrix father, Al Hendrix, played semipro baseball for the Victoria Brown Bombers in 1940. This excerpt from Victoria Times Colonist, 21 August 1999, page 34.
My favorite Mariners fan factoid about Cal Raleigh:
“Babe Ruth never hit it to the rightfield upper deck at TMobile Park.”
It was claimed that Babe Ruth hit it out of Spokane’s Natatorium Park, and over the Spokane River while barnstorming in 1924.
“Babe Ruth never hit it to the rightfield upper deck at TMobile Park.”
It was claimed that Babe Ruth hit it out of Spokane’s Natatorium Park, and over the Spokane River while barnstorming in 1924.
September 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
My favorite Mariners fan factoid about Cal Raleigh:
“Babe Ruth never hit it to the rightfield upper deck at TMobile Park.”
It was claimed that Babe Ruth hit it out of Spokane’s Natatorium Park, and over the Spokane River while barnstorming in 1924.
“Babe Ruth never hit it to the rightfield upper deck at TMobile Park.”
It was claimed that Babe Ruth hit it out of Spokane’s Natatorium Park, and over the Spokane River while barnstorming in 1924.
Fresh off the patio make salsa day!
August 12, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Fresh off the patio make salsa day!
100 years ago, Grand Wizard DC Stephenson was arrested for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer. His 1925 conviction was the end of a populist movement of bigotry and xenophobia known as the 2nd KKK.
Today, MAGA faces their Stephenson moment. Convicted felon and suspected pedophile OR finish the circus.
Today, MAGA faces their Stephenson moment. Convicted felon and suspected pedophile OR finish the circus.
July 23, 2025 at 1:36 AM
100 years ago, Grand Wizard DC Stephenson was arrested for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer. His 1925 conviction was the end of a populist movement of bigotry and xenophobia known as the 2nd KKK.
Today, MAGA faces their Stephenson moment. Convicted felon and suspected pedophile OR finish the circus.
Today, MAGA faces their Stephenson moment. Convicted felon and suspected pedophile OR finish the circus.
A horticulture joke:
The difference between a determinate and indeterminate tomato.
The difference between a determinate and indeterminate tomato.
July 23, 2025 at 1:26 AM
A horticulture joke:
The difference between a determinate and indeterminate tomato.
The difference between a determinate and indeterminate tomato.
Lorenzo “Piper” Davis (1917-1997) packed his bat and glove to play baseball in the PNW for the semipro 1938 Washington Browns in Yakima.
This is his 1952 Mother’s Cookies baseball card with the PCL Oakland Oaks.
This is his 1952 Mother’s Cookies baseball card with the PCL Oakland Oaks.
July 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Lorenzo “Piper” Davis (1917-1997) packed his bat and glove to play baseball in the PNW for the semipro 1938 Washington Browns in Yakima.
This is his 1952 Mother’s Cookies baseball card with the PCL Oakland Oaks.
This is his 1952 Mother’s Cookies baseball card with the PCL Oakland Oaks.
The Lucy Breckenridge Diary and transcription will be at, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture exhibit, “Black Families in Spokane”.
Lucy Breckenridge was the mother-in-law of baseball pioneer, Charles Allen (1894-1946).
Lucy Breckenridge was the mother-in-law of baseball pioneer, Charles Allen (1894-1946).
June 25, 2025 at 4:27 AM
The Lucy Breckenridge Diary and transcription will be at, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture exhibit, “Black Families in Spokane”.
Lucy Breckenridge was the mother-in-law of baseball pioneer, Charles Allen (1894-1946).
Lucy Breckenridge was the mother-in-law of baseball pioneer, Charles Allen (1894-1946).
The pollinators love my neighbors lavender plants.
June 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The pollinators love my neighbors lavender plants.
Food voodoo to arrest this Mariners offensive tailspin. For those unfamiliar; the Seattle Dog is brat, cream cheese, carmalized onions, sauerkraut, and spicy brown mustard on a Hoagie Bun. For those too familiar, management continues to waste the best rotation in PNW baseball history. Yet, Go M’s!
May 31, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Food voodoo to arrest this Mariners offensive tailspin. For those unfamiliar; the Seattle Dog is brat, cream cheese, carmalized onions, sauerkraut, and spicy brown mustard on a Hoagie Bun. For those too familiar, management continues to waste the best rotation in PNW baseball history. Yet, Go M’s!
Loving this autobiography of Carver Clark Gayton; star athlete at Garfield HS & UW on the gridiron, Boeing engineer, and co-founder of the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle. He even signed it. If you enjoy PNW history, he lived and made it. I very highly recommend it.
April 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Loving this autobiography of Carver Clark Gayton; star athlete at Garfield HS & UW on the gridiron, Boeing engineer, and co-founder of the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle. He even signed it. If you enjoy PNW history, he lived and made it. I very highly recommend it.
Found these two action photos of Ellensburg vs. Yakima HS football six years ago, ca. 1913-16. Found this 1914 Ellensburg HS Football Cabinet Photo last week. I love historical confirmation.
March 20, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Found these two action photos of Ellensburg vs. Yakima HS football six years ago, ca. 1913-16. Found this 1914 Ellensburg HS Football Cabinet Photo last week. I love historical confirmation.
Steve McQueen on the set of “The Great Escape “(1963), looks ready for Spring Training.
March 7, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Steve McQueen on the set of “The Great Escape “(1963), looks ready for Spring Training.
Ready for the upcoming post-apocalyptic baseball season…
February 19, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Ready for the upcoming post-apocalyptic baseball season…
In 1920, Charley Allen (1894-1946) integrated Barney’s of the Missoula City League. He hit .491 (25-51) with 5 HR’s and 7 stolen bases. He also had 9 wins 3 losses with 191 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched with a 2.04 ERA. He played for 18 seasons in Spokane and Western Montana semipro baseball.
February 14, 2025 at 4:47 PM
In 1920, Charley Allen (1894-1946) integrated Barney’s of the Missoula City League. He hit .491 (25-51) with 5 HR’s and 7 stolen bases. He also had 9 wins 3 losses with 191 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched with a 2.04 ERA. He played for 18 seasons in Spokane and Western Montana semipro baseball.
The 1934 Butte Colored Giants were led by the Spearman brothers. There were five who also played in the Negro Leagues; Codie, “Lefty”, “Stack”, Jake”, and Willie. There was a pipeline of 16 players (including the Spearmans) from Arkadelphia to Butte, Montana, 1917-36.
February 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The 1934 Butte Colored Giants were led by the Spearman brothers. There were five who also played in the Negro Leagues; Codie, “Lefty”, “Stack”, Jake”, and Willie. There was a pipeline of 16 players (including the Spearmans) from Arkadelphia to Butte, Montana, 1917-36.
Who am I?
Pitched for Scobey and Plentywood, Montana. Barnstormed the PNW with the Colored House of David. Rumored to have won more than 400 games and struck out more than 5,000. Last year received half of the Early Baseball Era Committee votes for induction into the Hall of Fame.
Pitched for Scobey and Plentywood, Montana. Barnstormed the PNW with the Colored House of David. Rumored to have won more than 400 games and struck out more than 5,000. Last year received half of the Early Baseball Era Committee votes for induction into the Hall of Fame.
February 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Who am I?
Pitched for Scobey and Plentywood, Montana. Barnstormed the PNW with the Colored House of David. Rumored to have won more than 400 games and struck out more than 5,000. Last year received half of the Early Baseball Era Committee votes for induction into the Hall of Fame.
Pitched for Scobey and Plentywood, Montana. Barnstormed the PNW with the Colored House of David. Rumored to have won more than 400 games and struck out more than 5,000. Last year received half of the Early Baseball Era Committee votes for induction into the Hall of Fame.
Frank Yamer was the owner of the Silver City Saloon and several Butte, Montana based baseball teams, 1908-1936. Most famously, the 1917-36 Butte Colored Giants (pictured). The “Y” on the unis stood for Yamer. He was a frontier hustler, who lost an eye in a knifing at his establishment in 1902.
February 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Frank Yamer was the owner of the Silver City Saloon and several Butte, Montana based baseball teams, 1908-1936. Most famously, the 1917-36 Butte Colored Giants (pictured). The “Y” on the unis stood for Yamer. He was a frontier hustler, who lost an eye in a knifing at his establishment in 1902.
The 1906 Helena Giants were a short lived segregated team in the state capital. Not only an ad for a game, but the entire roster. Central Park in West Helena was an amusement park, zoo, horse racing track, and baseball diamond among the many features. Pictured below in the early 1900’s.
February 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The 1906 Helena Giants were a short lived segregated team in the state capital. Not only an ad for a game, but the entire roster. Central Park in West Helena was an amusement park, zoo, horse racing track, and baseball diamond among the many features. Pictured below in the early 1900’s.
Owen “Bazz” Smaulding (1896-1961) was the first to integrate the University of Idaho baseball team in 1920. He also played for the 1921-24 Queen City All-Stars (Seattle). Originally from New Mexico, the gymnasium at Albuquerque HS is named after him.
www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sm...
www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sm...
February 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Owen “Bazz” Smaulding (1896-1961) was the first to integrate the University of Idaho baseball team in 1920. He also played for the 1921-24 Queen City All-Stars (Seattle). Originally from New Mexico, the gymnasium at Albuquerque HS is named after him.
www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sm...
www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sm...
One of the more bizarre places to find segregated PNW baseball history is Pocatello, Idaho. The 1920-21 Chaffee Athletics and 1923-26 Pocatello Bees were very competitive and loosely associated with the 1910-12 Salt Lake City Occidentals. A few boxscores and advertisements is what little remains.
February 8, 2025 at 7:21 PM
One of the more bizarre places to find segregated PNW baseball history is Pocatello, Idaho. The 1920-21 Chaffee Athletics and 1923-26 Pocatello Bees were very competitive and loosely associated with the 1910-12 Salt Lake City Occidentals. A few boxscores and advertisements is what little remains.
Charles Allen (1894-1946) played 22 years of semipro baseball for teams from Spokane to Butte, Montana. The pitcher/catcher hit .532 for Barney’s of Missoula in 1920. He was banned from the Spokane City League in May 1924, but integrated the 1925 White Pine & Sash Spokane Twilight League Champions.
February 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Charles Allen (1894-1946) played 22 years of semipro baseball for teams from Spokane to Butte, Montana. The pitcher/catcher hit .532 for Barney’s of Missoula in 1920. He was banned from the Spokane City League in May 1924, but integrated the 1925 White Pine & Sash Spokane Twilight League Champions.
Joseph Reed (1899-1918) was the son of Baptist minister Emmett Reed and a star pitcher for the Spokane Colored Giants. He and catcher Charlie Allen made for a formidable young duo. At just 19 years old, he was a victim of the Spanish Flu pandemic. At his funeral, Giants teammates were pallbearers.
February 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Joseph Reed (1899-1918) was the son of Baptist minister Emmett Reed and a star pitcher for the Spokane Colored Giants. He and catcher Charlie Allen made for a formidable young duo. At just 19 years old, he was a victim of the Spanish Flu pandemic. At his funeral, Giants teammates were pallbearers.
25th Infantry Sgt. Isaac “Ike” Ward (1884-?) was among the first African Americans to manage a white baseball team in our national pastime. 1913-15 Ward pitched for and managed the Colville, Washington nine. He was known as, “the pitcher that made the Fort George Wright black baseball team famous.”
February 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
25th Infantry Sgt. Isaac “Ike” Ward (1884-?) was among the first African Americans to manage a white baseball team in our national pastime. 1913-15 Ward pitched for and managed the Colville, Washington nine. He was known as, “the pitcher that made the Fort George Wright black baseball team famous.”
The 1944 Hanford Eagles won possibly the most Top Secret Pennant in baseball history. They captured the six-team Hanford Nuclear Reservation League championship during development of the atomic bomb. Led by hard-hitting catcher USMC Wilson “Ducktail” Alexander and pitcher Elmer “Fireman” Hester.
February 4, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The 1944 Hanford Eagles won possibly the most Top Secret Pennant in baseball history. They captured the six-team Hanford Nuclear Reservation League championship during development of the atomic bomb. Led by hard-hitting catcher USMC Wilson “Ducktail” Alexander and pitcher Elmer “Fireman” Hester.