The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
57°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

American Legion Memories

With the American Legion World Series coming to Spokane Aug. 13-17 at Avista Stadium, we asked readers to share some of their Legion memories. We have picked a few to run each week leading up to the World Series.

‹ Newer Older ›

Search

Sports

1940 season ended at regionals

In 1940 four teams from Spokane competed – Lewis and Clark, North Central, Rogers and Gonzaga High School. The Valley had two schools – West Valley and Central Valley. The Valley had three players who played with Gonzaga and were coached by Bill Frazier.
Sports

Great summer of 1939

Way back in 1939? Oh yeah, we played American Legion baseball in 1939. I was a member of the Washington state champion Sunnyside Junior Legion baseball team.
Sports

Lewiston team had quite a run

In the summer of 1939, the Idaho State American Legion baseball tournament was held in Boise. Lewiston was in that tournament and I was on the Lewiston team.
Sports

Pitcher hung in for 21 innings

The American Legion World Series in Spokane brings back memories of a 21-inning game in July 1951 between Kellogg and Bonners Ferry. I pitched all 21 innings for Kellogg and lost, 6-4.
Sports

Diamond success translated to life

Being members of the 1955 Rogers High School American Legion baseball team was such a special privilege with outstanding memories. Jim Forsyth, Rogers’ baseball coach, was also our American Legion coach.
Sports

But he had Tin Man’s heart

The year was 1966. I was playing Legion ball for Bonners Ferry as a seventh- grader because we did not have enough players. I was hanging around practice, knowing my day would come because of our shortage of players. Sure enough, we headed to Creston, British Columbia. In Creston at that time, you could play Legion until you were 19 or 20. We were facing Creston’s ace, Russ Nichols. So here I am batting against Nichols as a seventh-grader and he was 19.
Sports

Great treat for baseball fans

I moved to Spokane in 1984, after growing up in the Yakima area. From the mid 1970’s through the summer of 1984 one of my favorite things to do in the summer was to go to Parker Field and watch the Yakima Beetles American Legion Baseball team. A couple of co-workers and I would attend 35 to 40 games a year, along with 800 to 1,000 other fans. The Beetles hosted several state and regional championships during that span, and the quality of play was outstanding.
Sports

Golden times from Alaska

In 1955 the Sitka, Alaska, American Legion team won the Territorial playoffs. The tournament was played in Anchorage in early August. Alaska was, at the time, still a territory.
Sports

Watching dad umpire precious

American Legion Baseball was a special part of my childhood. After losing his right arm during World War II, my Dad, Bob Chilton, turned his baseball prowess into umpiring Legion baseball.
‹ Newer Older ›

Search