1947-48 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)

1947-48 VANCOUVER HORNETS
PACIFIC COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Finished: 
First Half: 16-15 .516, 4th place
Second Half: 13-7 .650, 2nd place

• Head Coach: Porky Andrews (September 18, 1917 - May 26, 1999) 

PLAYERS: 

• Norm Baker (February 17, 1923 - April 23, 1989)

Biography

• Arthur Chapman (October 28, 1912 - February 3, 1986)

Biography

• Ken Lawn (June 26, 1920 - October 19, 2012)

Biography

• Ritchie Nichol (December 15, 1921 - December 26, 2008)

Biography

• Stretch Osterhaus (November 12, 1917 - November 28, 1997)

Biography

• Doug Peden (April 18, 1916 - April 11, 2005)

Biography

• Dave Teyama (March 18, 1923 - September 18, 2013)

Biography

• Jack Vaughn (July 5, 1923 - June 25, 2000)

Biography

• Dean White (May 30, 1923 - June 24, 1992)

Biography

• Rube Wirkkunen (April 13, 1924 - September 24, 1974)

Biography

1947-48 Tacoma Mountaineers (PCBL)

1947-48 TACOMA MOUNTAINEERS
PACIFIC COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Finished: 
First Half: 16-13 .552, 3rd place
Second Half: 5-11 .312, 5th place

• Head Coach: Tom Werner (May 29, 1911 - June 11, 1988) Also played. See below

PLAYERS: 

• Tom Cross (September 16, 1920 - December 2003)

Biography

• Ernie Endress (September 25, 1919 - November 29, 1992)

Biography

• Bob Graf (April 13, 1918 - September 19, 2014)

Biography

• Marv Harshman (October 4, 1917 - April 12, 2003)

Biography

• John Katica (November 5, 1918 - May 5, 2000)

Biography

• Irv Leifer (February 2, 1923 - February 26, 2016)

Biography

• Jack Roffler (October 7, 1924 - August 14, 2014)

Biography

• Sig Sigurdson (November 27, 1918 - December 2, 2006)

Biography

• Hank Vallee (April 24, 1917 - October 8, 1994)

Biography

• Bob Voelcker (September 18, 1918 - May 1982)

Biography

• Jack Voelcker (May 12, 1914 - January 4, 1998)

Biography

• Tom Werner (May 29, 1911 - June 11, 1988)

Biography

1947-48 Seattle Athletics (PCBL)

1947-48 SEATTLE ATHLETICS
PACIFIC COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Finished: 
First Half: 22-10 .688, 1st place
Second Half: 8-10 .444, 3rd place

Playoffs:
Advanced to finals when Bellingham withdrew
Lost to Portland, 3-1

• Head Coach: Al Brightman (September 22, 1923 - June 10, 1992)  Also played. See below.

PLAYERS:

• Al Brightman (September 22, 1923 - June 10, 1992)

Biography

• Norm Dalthorp (August 11, 1919 - April 7, 1974)

Biography

• Ernie Endress (September 25, 1919 - November 29, 1992)

Biography

• Elmer Gainer (November 22, 1918 - September 29, 1970)

Biography 

• Boody Gilbertson (July 3, 1922 - May 23, 2015)

Biography 

• George Glavin (October 17, 1921 - May 18, 1991)

Biography

• John Katica (November 5, 1918 - May 5, 2000)

Biography

• Hal Kottman (August 22, 1922 - November 30, 2004)

Biography

• Wally Leask (April 30, 1921 - July 21, 2004)

Biography

• Bernie Price (September 20, 1915 - January 24, 2002)

Biography

• Ken Suesens (October 23, 1916 - May 29, 1992)

Biography

• Jack Watkins (October 27, 1923 - May 22, 1998)

Biography

• Frankie Watson (September 1, 1918 - July 3, 2007)

Biography

• Dean White (May 30, 1923 - June 24, 1992)

Biography

1947-48 Portland Indians (PCBL)

1947-48 PORTLAND INDIANS
PACIFIC COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Finished: 
First Half: 7-26 .212, 6th place
Second Half: 9-14 .391, 4th place

Playoffs -Finished 4-2, in round-robin to see who would join Seattle and Bellingham in the playoffs. They advanced, to play the winner of the Seattle - Bellingham best-of-5 series. Bellingham withdrew from the playoffs, leaving Portland to play Seattle for the title.
Portland defeated Seattle, 3-1.

• Head Coaches:  

Johnny Bianco  (February 20, 1920 - January 14, 1977) Coached thru Dec 16. Also played. See below.
Roy Pflugrad (December 18, 1916 - January 4, 2012) Coached through Jan 2. Also played. See below.
Swede Roos (August 8, 1913 - January 30, 1979) Took over Jan 3 when the team was 2-17. Also played. See below.

PLAYERS: 

• Erland Anderson (March 25, 1923 - June 11, 1981)

Biography 

• Johnny Bianco (February 20, 1920 - January 14, 1977)

Biography 

• Ron Bowen  (November 16, 1925 - November 24, 2011)

Biography

• Bill Dwyer 

Biography

• Jackie Goldsmith (January 21, 1921 - February 15, 1968)

Biography

• Mel Good  

Biography

• Ken Hashhagen (April 6, 1913 - November 30, 1980)

Biography

• Noble Jorgensen (May 18, 1925 - November 2, 1982)

Biography

• Otto Kerber (May 20, 1922 - August 18, 1988)

Biography

• Ty Lovelace (April 12, 1928 - March 8, 2022)

Biography 

• Bill Magruder (January 10, 1924 - February 24, 2007)

Biography 

• Roy Pflugrad (December 18, 1916 - January 4, 2012)

Biography

• Al Popick (January 14, 1924 - September 30, 2009)

Biography

• Abel Rodrigues (January 16, 1922 - July 17, 2010)

Biography

• Swede Roos (August 8, 1913 - January 30, 1979)

Biography

• Frank Smith (July 14, 1918 - October 5, 1984)

Biography 

• Lyle "Tom" Smith (September 29, 1923 - October 31, 2021)

Biography 

• Don Stitt (June 9, 1915 - June 18, 2007)

Biography

• Suds Sutherland (March 27, 1923 - June 3, 1999)

Biography

• Bill Taitt (August 24, 1923 - September 1, 2004)

Biography 

• Dave Teyema (March 18, 1923 - September 18, 2013)

Biography

• Stan Williamson  (October 12, 1923 - March 31, 1973)

Biography

1947-48 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

1947-48 BELLINGHAM FIRCRESTS
PACIFIC COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Finished: 
First Half: 21-10 .677, 2nd place
Second Half: 14-7 .667, 1st place

Playoffs - Forfeited to Seattle

The team with the best overall record in the PCBL in 1947-48, Bellingham added Vancouver's Norm Baker to the roster for the playoffs. Bellingham defeated Seattle in the opening game, 84-77. Don Baker, Seattle's owner, protested the acquisition of Baker, and the League President Ray Clark (also part-owner of Portland) declared the game a forfeit. Bellingham appealed, threatening to withdraw from the playoffs if the decision. It stood, and Bellingham walked away.

• Head Coach: Gale Bishop (June 4, 1922 - December 26, 2003) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS: 

• Al Akins (June 13, 1921 - August 29, 1995)

Biography 

• Jack Baker (August 31, 1923 - November 14, 1994)

Biography

• Norm Baker (February 17, 1923 - April 23, 1989) **

Biography

• Gale Bishop (June 4, 1922 - December 26, 2003)

Biography

• Hank Chamberlin (March 17, 1919 - November 7, 2009)

Biography

• Bobby Dorr (May 17, 1917 - July 28, 2005)

Biography

• Cliff Gaffney (December 30, 1920 - June 13, 2014)

Biography 

• Elmer Gainer (November 22, 1918 - September 29, 1970)

Biography

• Ken Hays (September 29, 1924 - July 20, 2006)

Biography 
 

• Irv Leifer (February 2, 1923 - February 26, 2016)

Biography

• Al Maul (November 27, 1923 - September 30, 1997)

Biography

• Chuck Patterson (August 2, 1914 - October 1, 1988)

Biography

• Ted Thompson (April 26, 1920 - January 3, 1993)

Biography

• Roy Wark (July 10, 1922 - June 6, 2005)

Biography

** Once the 1947-48 regular season was over, Vancouver was eliminated and Baker signed with Bellingham for the playoffs. He played in the first playoff game against Seattle. Seattle filed a protest, saying that Baker was not properly signed by Bellingham per the league rules. The 84-77 Bellingham win was revered to a Seattle victory by forfeit. In protest, Bellingham quit the league. So in short, Baker appeared in one game for Bellingham where the results didn't don't count.

1947-48 Astoria Royal Chinooks (PCBL)

1947-48 ASTORIA ROYAL CHINOOKS
PACIFIC COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Finished: 
First Half: 11-19 .367, 5th place
Second Half: withdrew

The Astoria team withdrew from the league after the first half, on February 2, 1948. "We have come to the conclusion that the limited population of Astoria and surrounding communities will not support major league professional basketball." - William C Palmberg, manager

• Head Coach: Wally Palmberg (March 7, 1912 - February 12, 2006) Also played. See below.

PLAYERS: 

• Erland Anderson (March 25, 1923 - June 11, 1981)

Biography 

• Swede Andersen (September 13, 1914 - November 26, 1978)

Biography 

• Baker  

Biography

• Ken Hays (September 29, 1924 - July 20, 2006)

Biography 

• Dave Howard  (February 26, 1921 - June 15, 1995)

Biography

• Ty Lovelace (April 12, 1928 - March 8, 2022)

Biography 

• Bill Magruder (January 10, 1924 - February 24, 2007)

Biography 

• Wally Palmberg (March 7, 1912 - February 12, 2006)

Biography 

• Frank Smith (July 14, 1918 - October 5, 1984)

Biography 

• Jim Vernon (May 5, 1921 - October 9, 2000)

Biography
 

• Bob Warren 

Biography 

• Rube Wirkkunen (April 13, 1924 - September 24, 1974)

Biography

Len Yandle

Leonard Hoyt Yandle


Born:
February 6, 1911
Tigris, MO

Died:
January 16, 2001
Mesa, AZ


Career
1928-29 Molalla High School - Oregon (High School)
1929-30 Molalla High School - Oregon (High School)
1932-33 Southern Oregon Normal (College)
1934-35 Gonzaga University (College)
1935-36 Gonzaga University (College)
1943-44 Fees Music Makers (Independent)  Head coach / player
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL) Head coach / player

1946-47 Spokane Orphans (PCBL)
1946-47 Seattle University (College) Head coach
1947-48 Seattle University (College) Head coach
1955-56 College of Idaho (College)

One of seven children born to John and Minnie Yandle, He served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. He returned from the war to coach basketball and baseball at Seattle University, as well as being named player / coach for the Salem Trailblazers. He resigned from the school in August of 1948 and moved east to go into business. He returned years later to coach at Idaho


Source:
Medford Mail Tribune, August 6, 1948

Frankie Watson

Frank John Watson


Born:
September 1, 1918
Seattle, WA

Died:
July 3, 2007
Seattle, WA


Career
1936-37 O'Dea High School - Seattle (High School)
1938-39 Gonzaga University (College)
1939-40 Gonzaga University (College)
1940-41 Gonzaga University (College) 
1946-47 Seattle Blue Devils (PCBL)
1947-48 Seattle Athletics (PCBL)

A three-sport star at Gonzaga (football, baseball and basketball), Watson entered the USMC after graduating and served in the South Pacific during World War 2. After a couple years of professional basketball, he owned and opearted a business that sold athletic equipment to high schools around the state of Washington. He retired in 1980 and moved to Florida, but returned to Seattle in his later years, where he passed away in 2007.

He married Helen Sullivan in 1946 and they had three sons and a daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Seattle Times, July 7, 2007
Seattle PI Obituary

Roy Wark

Roy Larson Wark


Born:
July 10, 1922
Harrison, ID

Died:
June 6, 2005
Bellingham, WA


Career
1944-45 Western Washington (College)
1945-46 Western Washington (College)
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)
1947-48 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

Roy married Gertrude Starkenburg in 1953

Source:

Jim Vernon

James D. Vernon


Born:
May 5, 1921
Hill City, MN

Died:
October 9, 2000
Reno, NV


Career
1945-46 Central Washington College (College)
1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)
1947-48 Astoria Royal Chinooks (PCBL) 

Born in Minnesota to Steven and Anna Vernon, the family moved to Ellensburg, Washington, before Jim's 10th birthday. After playing basketball at CW, he played two seasons in the Pacific Coast Basketball League. He moved to Medford, and in 1957 moved to Reno, Nevada. He served as a councilman for Sparks City, Nevada, from 1967 to 1975.



Source:
Medford Mail Tribune, November 26, 1947

Jack Vaughn

John Franklin "Jack" Vaughn


Born:
July 5, 1923
Portland, OR

Died:
June 25, 2000
Portland, OR


Career
1939-40 Bend High School - Portland (High School)
Grant High School - Portland, Oregon (High School)
1942-43 Williamette College - Oregon (College)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL)

1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)
1946-47 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)

1947-48 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)

A native of Portland, Vaughn played at Williamette before entering the USMC. After the war, he played pro basketball with Salem and Vancouver.


Source:

Sid Van Sinderen

Sidney Van Sinderen, Jr.


Born:
July 26, 1923
Big Lake, WA

Died:
February 12, 2017
Bellingham, WA


Career
Bellingham High School - Washington (High School)
Western Washington College (College)
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

Born in Big Lake, Washington, Sidney's family moved to Bellingham in 1926. He entered the USMC after high school, and after the war entered Western Washington. He played basketball professionally for the Fircrests in 1946 after playing pro baseball for the Vancouver Capilanos of the Western International League. He would later work for many years as a teacher and an immigration officer.


Sidney married Jettie McClane in 1946 and they had a son and two daughters.


Minor League Baseball Stats:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vansin001sid

Source:
Bellingham Herald Obituary, February 17, 2017
Obituary

Earl Torgeson

Clifford Earl Torgeson


Born:
January 1, 1924
Snohomish, WA

Died:
November 8, 1990
Everett, WA


Career
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

Born to Melvin and Helen Torgeson, Earl Torgeson was a baseball star around Snohimish. He signed with the Seattle Raniers in 1941. With unusually good speed for a guy his size, Torgeson played well for the Raniers before entering the U.S. Army after the 1942 season. After the war, where he received a Purple Heart in the Battle of the Bulge, Torgeson returned to the Raniers in 1946, and after a soild season was sold to the Boston Braves of the National League. In that off-season, he signed with the Bellingham Fircrests of the Pacific Coast Basketball League, but was released around December 20, 1946.
Off to Boston in 1947, Torgeson began what would be a 15-year career as a Major League first baseman, with stops in Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago and New York after Boston. Earl was a tough ballplayer with no fear of throwing a punch. He worked in the front office of the Seattle Pilots in 1969, and in 1972, was elected Snohomish County Commissioner. He was charged with defrauding the county, but was found not guilty. Unable to get re-elected, he later worked as the county's director of emergency management. He was 66 when he died from leukemia in 1990.

He and his wife, Molly, had three sons and a daughter.

Major League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/torgeea01.shtml

Source:
SABR Biography
Seattle Times Obituary
Chicago Tirbune, November 11, 1990

Dave Teyema

David H. Teyema


Born:
March 18, 1923
Portland, OR

Died:
September 18, 2013
Gresham, OR


Career
1941-42 Roosevelt High School - Portland (High School)
1942-43 Roosevelt High School - Portland (High School)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL)
1947-48 Portland Indians (PCBL)
1947-48 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)

Teyema was one of the more skilled athletes in Portland in the 40's and 50's, playing football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball and basketball on the professional level, with two years in the PCBL and three years of minor league baseball. He also served in the military in World War 2.

He married Marilyn Dodge in 1954 and they had two sons.

Minor League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=teyema001dav

Source:

Bill Taitt

William Kenneth Taitt


Born:
August 24, 1923
Portland, OR

Died:
September 1, 2004
Portland, OR


Career
1939-40 Roosevelt High School - Portland, OR (High School)
1940-41 Roosevelt High School - Portland, OR (High School)
1941-42 Roosevelt High School - Portland, OR (High School)
1942-43 Oregon State College (College)
1946-47 Portland Indians (PCBL)
1947-48 Portland Indians (PCBL)

Taitt, a talented baseball player, attended Oregon State for one year, playing baseball and basketball, before entering the U.S. Navy. After serving in World War 2, he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. After being released, he signed with the Tyler club in the Texas League, playing for his uncle, former Major League player Doug Taitt. Taitt was sold after the 1946 season to the Red Sox, and in the off-season, played basketball with the Portland Indians. He played minor league baseball for another couple years, through 1948, never rising above Class B.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=taitt-001wil


Source:
News-Review (Roseburg, Oregon), December 7, 1946

Gordy Sykes

Gordon George Sykes


Born:
November 8, 1923
Los Angeles. CA

Died:
March 6, 1986
Merritt, BC


Career
1942-43 University of British Columbia (College) Freshmen
1945-46 University of British Columbia (College)
1945-46 Laurie's Pie-Rates (Independent)
1946-47 Ted Milton's Arrows - British Columbia (Independent)
1946-47 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)
1949-50 Alberni Athletics - British Columbia (Independent)
1950-51 Alberni Athletics - British Columbia (Independent)
1951-52 Arctic Polar Bears - Vancouver (Independent) Head coach / player

World War 2 veteran

Sykes enrolled at the University of British Columbia but left after his freshmen year to serve in World War 2. He returned to UBC after the war, but left UBC in January of 1946. He was a popular basketball player around Vancouver, playing for the Vancouver Hornets as well as other independent teams. He worked for many years in the lumber industry, and died suddenly in March of 1985 at the age of 62.

Source:
The UByssey, January 29, 1946 

Vancouver Sun, March 11, 1986

Vince Stroyan

Vincent Blaze Stroyan

Born:
January 26, 1916
Valley, WA

Died:
April 9, 1988
Spokane, WA


Career
1937-38 Gonzaga University (College)
1938-39 Gonzaga University (College)
1939-40 Gonzaga University (College)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazer (PCBL)
1946-47 Spokane Orphans (PCBL)

Transferred from Salem to Spokane on January 3, 1947.


Source:

Don Stitt

Donald Virgil Stitt


Born:
June 9, 1915
La Grande, OR

Died:
June 18, 2007
Woodburn, OR


Career
1933-34 La Grande High School - (High School)
1934-35 La Grande High School - (High School)
1937-38 Signal Oil - Portland (Independent)
1938-39 Oregon State College (College)
1939-40 Oregon State College (College)
1940-41 Oregon State College (College)
1944-45 Airbrake Bearcats (Military)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL)
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

1946-47 Spokane Orphans (PCBL)
1947-48 Portland Indians (PCBL)

Born to Charles and Annie Stitt, Don played basketball, football and ran track in high school before heading off to Oregon State. He played basketball while stationed in England during World War 2, and played in the Pacific Coast Basketball League after returning after the war. Initially signing with Salem, he was sold to the Bellingham Fircrests on December 22, 1946. He played for Portland in the next season, the last season of the league.
Don continued competing in athletic endeavors, picking up tennis and still competing in track events into his golden years.

Don's brother Al Stitt also played in the Pacific League. Sadly, Donald, Al, and a third brother, Daniel, all died within a few months of each other in 2007.

Source:
Statesman Journal, June 23, 2007

Al Stitt

Alvin Wayne Stitt


Born:
July 1, 1917
La Grande, OR

Died:
October 1, 2007
Portland, OR


Career
1934-35 La Grande High School - (High School)
1935-36 La Grande High School - (High School)
1936-37 La Grande High School - (High School)
Eastern Oregon (College) ??
1939-40 Portland M.I.A. (Independent)
1940-41 Signal Oil - Portland (Independent)
1945-46 Northwest Insulators - Portland (Independent)
1946-47 Spokane Orphans (PCBL)

Born to Charles and Annie Stitt. Al served in the U.S. Army during World War 2, serving in Bruma, North Africa and India. He later became a baker.

Al's brother Don also played pro basketball.

He married Hilda in 1950.


Source:
Obituary

Don Sorenson

Donald Kenneth Sorenson

Born:
May 17, 1919
Ellensburg, WA

Died:
July 16, 2007
Ellensburg, WA


Career
1939-40 Central Washington College (College)

1940-41 Central Washington College (College)

1946-47 Central Washington College (College)

1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)

Sorenson, a 6'3, 200-pound player from Ellenburg, Washington, was selected All-Conference at Central Washington in 1941 before World War 2 popped up. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Corps in June of 1941. He returned to school after World War 2 to finish his education, but was declared academically ineligible weeks into the 1946-47 season He signed on to play with the Yakima Ramblers in late December of 1946.


Source:

Tom Smith

Lyle Thomas "Tom" Smith


Born:
September 29, 1923
Burns, OR

Died:
October 31, 2021



Career
1942-43 Eastern Washington (College)
1943-44 Eastern Washington (College) 
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

1946-47 Yamika Ramblers (PCBL)
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)
1946-47 Portland Indians (PCBL)

1947-48 Portland Indians (PCBL)
1949-50 Waitsburg High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1950-51 Waitsburg High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1967-68 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1968-69 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach
1969-70 Chehalis High School - Washington (High School) Head coach  

After playing for a couple seasons in the Pacific Coast League, Smith was the long-time basketball coach for W.F. West in Chehalis, Washington. He was eventually elected to the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame.

His brother, Bob, also played briefly with Yakima Ramblers in the 1946-47 season, but they were not on the team at the same time.


Source:

Arky Simon

Harold "Arky" Simon


Born:



Died:




Career
James Madison High School - Brooklyn (High School)

1944-45 New York University (College)
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

(There was a Lou Simon who played many years but he is NOT the Bellingham player. Lou was playing with Jersey City in the ABL at the same time as this Simon's time here in the Pacific Northwest)

Simon served in the U.S. Army during World War 2, playing GI basketball while stationed in Europe with Earl Torgeson. Referred to as a "half-pint," Simon was discharged from the U.S. Air Cotps in October of 1944.

Source:

Moose Schlicting

Harold Richard "Moose" Schlicting


Born:
July 21, 1917
Davenport, WA

Died:
September 29, 2002
Neskowin, OR


Career
1938-39 University of Washington (College)
1939-40 University of Washington (College)
1940-41 University of Washington (College)
1941-42 Seattle Motors (AAU)
1942-43 Lohrer's Sports Shop - Seattle (Independent)
1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)

Schlicting starred at UW before playing pro and semi-pro around Seattle. He played for Yakima in the PCBL, and died one afternoon in 2002 while watching the Seattle Seahawks on TV.


Source:

Sig Sigurdson

Sigurd Frederick Sigurdson


Born:
November 27, 1918
Seattle, WA

Died:
December 2, 2006
Seattle, WA


Career
1935-36 Ballard High School - Seattle (High School)
1936-37 Ballard High School - Seattle (High School)
1937-38 Pacific Lutheran - Tacoma (College)
1938-39 Pacific Lutheran - Tacoma (College)
1939-40 Pacific Lutheran - Tacoma (College)
1940-41 Pacific Lutheran - Tacoma (College)
Los Angeles (Independent)
1946-47 Seattle Blue Devils (PCBL)
1947-48 Tacoma Mountaineers (PCBL)

Born in Washington, Sigurdson was a natural athlete who lettered in four sports at Pacific Lutheran (baseball, football, basketball and track.) A very talented basketball player, he played some semi-pro basketball in Seattle while also playing at Ballard. This ruse was discovered due to a photo in the newspaper. Sigurdson's father did not allow Sig to play football in high school, so when he went to college, he took to the sport and became on of the best ends in the Pacific Northwest. He worked in the shipyards in California during World War 2, before joining the Marines. He returned to Seattle after the war.

Sigurdson signed with the Seattle Blue Devils of the Pacific Coast Basketball League in 1946, and in 1947 played 8 games for the Baltimore Colts in the All-American Football Conference. The Blue Devils sold him September 30, 1947, to Tacoma. Done with professional sports, he managed some bowling alleys around Seattle and also worked as a longshoreman

AAFC Stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SiguSi20.htm

Source:
Seattle PI, October 24, 2006

Ted Sarpola

Theodore Henry Sarpola


Born:
July 28, 1916
Astoria, OR

Died:
February 11, 1986
Astoria, OR



Career
1934-35 Astoria High School - Oregon (High School)
1935-36 Astoria High School - Oregon (High School)
1938-39 University of Oregon (College)
1939-40 University of Oregon (College)
1940-41 University of Oregon (College)
1946-47 Portland Indians (PCBL)
1948-49 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1949-50 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1950-51 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1951-52 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1952-53 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1953-54 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1954-55 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1955-56 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1956-57 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1957-58 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1955-59 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach
1959-60 The Dalles High School - Oregon (High School) Head coach

Ted went to Oregon, where he was a member of their legendary "Tall Firs" team that won the NCAA title. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War 2. Ted played briefly for the Portland Indians before embarking on a long career in education.

Ted married Clara Achord in 1941.

Middle name is Harvey or Henry.

Source:
Astoria High School Hall of Fame
Statesman Journal, February 13, 1986

Don Sanders

William Donald "Don" Sanders


Born:
December 2, 1916
Gunnison, UT

Died:
June 27, 1990
Seattle, WA


Career
1933-34 Ellensburg High School - Washington (High School)
1934-35 Ellensburg High School - Washington (High School)
1937-38 Central Washington College of Education (College)
1938-39 Central Washington College of Education (College)
1939-40 Central Washington College of Education (College)
1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)

Born in Utah, his family moved to Washington in the last 1920's.

He sometimes appears as "Bill Sanders" or "Sandors" in newspaper articles.


Source:

Jack Riggin

Jack Richard Riggin

Born:
December 5, 1922
Toppenish, WA

Died:
June 18, 1998
Olympia, WA


Career
1938-39 Olympia High School - Washington (High School)

1939-40 Olympia High School - Washington (High School)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL)

Riggin, a 5'11 143 pound athlete from Olympia, attended Olympia HIgh School (also known a WW Miller HS) and then served in the USMC during World War 2. He served in the invading forces of Saipan, Tarawa and Tinian in the Pacific Theater and wa also a member of the occupying force  in post-war Nagasaki. Returning to the States, he signed with the Salem Trailblazers of the PCBL on February 4, 1947. 


Source:

The Olympian (Olympia, WA), June 22, 1998

Roy Pflugrad

Roy David Pflugrad


Born:
December 18, 1916
Corvallis, OR

Died:
January 4, 2012
Springfield, OR


Career
1933-34 Corvallis High School (High School)
1934-35 Corvallis High School (High School)
1935-36 Corvallis High School (High School)
1936-37 Oregon State College (College) Freshmen
1937-38 Oregon State College (College)
1938-39 Oregon State College (College)
1939-40 Signal Oil - Portland, Oregon (Independent)
1940-41 Signal Oil - Portland, Oregon (Independent)
1942-43 Portland Boilermakers (Independent)
1946-47 Portland Indians (PCBL)
1947-48 Portland Indians (PCBL) Player / head coach

Born to David and Ophelia Pglugrad, Roy lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track in high school. He went to Oregon State, and later played professionally around the Portland area, including two years with the Portland Indians where he was named head coach during the 1947-48 season. Moving to Eugene, Oregon, Pflugrad owned and operated his own vending company before retiring.

He was named head coach of the Indians partly into the 1947-48 season.

He married Donna Bunn (1919-2012) in 1940 and they had four children.

His name is often misspelled "Pflugard."

Source:
Obituarym The Oregonian, January 9, 2012

Doug Peden

James Douglas "Doug" Peden


Born:
April 18, 1916
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Died:
April 11, 2005
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada


Career
1934-35 Victoria Blue Ribbons (Independent)
1936 Canadian National Team (Olympics)
1940-41 Buffalo Bisons (Independent)
1945-46 Victoria Dominoes (Independent)
1946-47 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)
1947-48 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)

Peden was a baseball and basketball player from Vancouver, representing his country in the 1936 Olympics. He played for a few seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, and also played two seasons of pro basketball with the Hornets. He and his brother Torchy were also well-known Canadian cyclists.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=peden-001jam

Source:
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame

Chuck Patterson

Charles I. "Pat" Patterson


Born:
August 2, 1914
Vancouver, WA

Died:
October 1, 1988
Portland, OR


Career
1935-36 University of Oregon (College)
1938-39 Signal Oil - Portland, Oregon (Independent)
1939-40 Signal Oil - Portland, Oregon (Independent)
1940-41 Signal Oil - Portland, Oregon (Independent)
1942-43 Portland Boilermakers (Independent)
1944-45 Fees Music Maker - Portland, Oregon (Independent)
1945-46 Fees Rollerdome - Portland, Oregon (Independent)
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)
1947-48 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

He married Audrey Bushnell in 1938 and their son, Charles Jr, who was a star basketball player at Benson Technical High School in Portland.



Source:

Harry Parrish

Harry Foxx Parrish, Jr.

Born:
July 2, 1921    
Augusta, GA

Died:
December 18, 1993
Clarkston, GA


Career
1937-38 Richmond Academy - Augusta, GA (High School)

1942-43 Presbyterian College - South Carolina (College)
1946-47 Portland Indians (PCBL)
1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)

1948-49 Bearing Parks - Augusta, GA (Independent)

1949-50 Bearing Parks - Augusta, GA (Independent)

Released by Portland, Parrish signed with Yakima on January 4, 1947.

The 6'3 forward was from Augusta, Georgia. After graduating from Presbyterian College, he worked as the principal at the Abbeville Grade School, but resigned to head west to play basketball. He would return to work in Newman, Georgia, before returning to Augusta.

Source:

Stretch Osterhaus

Wilfred Vallery "Bill" "Stretch" Osterhaus

Born:
November 12, 1917
Miller, SD

Died:
November 28, 1997
Vancouver, WA


Career
1938-39 Northern College - Aberdeen, South Dakota (College)
1939-40 Northern College - Aberdeen, South Dakota (College)
1940-41 Northern College - Aberdeen, South Dakota (College)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL)
1943-47 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)

1947-48 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)


He married Katherine in 1954, and remarried to Sara Meade in 1969.

Source:

Bud Olson

Robert W. "Bud" Olson


Born:
May 23, 1918
Columbus, ND

Died:
March 19, 2006
Seattle, WA



Career
1935-36 Everett High School - Washington (High School)
1936-37 Everett High School - Washington (High School)
1937-38 Washington State College (College) Freshmen
1938-39 Washington State College (College)
1939-40 Washington State College (College)
1946-47 Spokane Orphans (PCBL)
1946-47 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

A graduate of Everett HS, Olson was a scoring whiz for WSC before quitting school prior to the start of his senior season. He joined the U.S. Army in 1943 and after being honorably discharged, he got married and moved to Seattle where he worked a long career in sales.


He married Eunice (1919-2015) in 1946 and they had two sons. His grandson, Bryce Olson, played basketball for Central Washington University.

Basketball encyclopedias have two different Olsons listed in the PCBL in 1946-47: Bud Olson as playing with Spokane, and Bob Olson as playing with Bellingham. However, newspaper articles mention each Olson played for Washington State. I only found one Olson at WSC at that time. It turns out Bud and Bob are the same player.

Source:
Obituary, Seattle Times, March 21, 2006

Gay O'Brink

Gaylord LeRoy O'Brink


Born:
May 13, 1917
Mason City, IA

Died:
September 8, 2008
Las Vegas, NV


Career
Iowa State Teachers College (College)
1940-41 Schukel Motors - Waterloo, Iowa (Independent)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL)

O'Brink was born and raised in Iowa, where he played football, basketball and softball. After World War 2, he signed with the Salem Trailblazers.


Source:
Daily Capital Journal (Salem, OR), November 16, 1946

Dick Oberstaller

Richard William Oberstaller


Born:
February 16, 1926
Portland, OR

Died:
May 6, 2002
Myrtle Creek, OR


Career
1941-42 Milwaukie High School - Oregon (High School)
1942-43 Milwaukie High School - Oregon (High School)
1943-44 Milwaukie High School - Oregon (High School)
1946-47 Spokane Orphans (PCBL)

Born to William and Margaret Oberstaller, Dick was an all-State football player at Milwaukie where he was also a guard on the school basketball team.


Source:

Ritchie Nichol

Richard James Nichol


Born:
December 15, 1921
Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Died:
December 26, 2008
Surrey, BC, Canada


Career
1940-41 Harlem Globetrotters
1941-42 Vancouver Dominoes (Independent)
1945-46 University of British Columbia (College)
1946-47 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)
1947-48 Vancouver Hornets (PCBL)

Nichol was a very popular player in British Columbia in the 1940's, and the first white player on the Globetrotters. Aside from his basketball exploits on around Vancouver, which was interrupted by his time in World War 2, he was also a notable baseball player.


Source:
http://tomhawthorn.blogspot.com/2009/02/ritchie-nichol-basketballer-1921-2008.html

Al McRae

Allen Angus McRae


Born:
July 18, 1921
El Reno, OK

Died:
December 5, 2014
Keizer, OR


Career
1937-38 Salem High School - Oregon (High School)
1938-39 Salem High School - Oregon (High School)
1945-46 Williamette College (College)
1945-46 Salem Page-Woolens (AAU)
1946-47 Williamette College (College)
1946-47 Spokane Blazers (PCBL)
1946-47 Salem Page-Woolens (AAU) 
1947-48 Salem Page-Woolens (AAU) 

Born in Oklahoma to David and Cleo McRae, the family moved to Salem around 1925. McRae was a star center for the Salem HS basketball team, and during World War 2 served in the Army Air Corps, stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. After the war, he entered Williamette college and played basketball there and also with local AAU teams. McRae, whose name is sometimes listed as either "Alan" or "Allen," was rumored to join the Spokane Blazers on February 7, after the merger of the Spokane Orphans and the Salem Blazers. I am NOT sure if he ever played, though. "Big Al" was a pilot and fight instructor for many years, as well as being an insurance salesman until he retired in 1982.

Al married Margaret Schifferer in 1942


Source:
Statesman Journal, December 14, 2014

Jack Mayne

John Ernest "Jack" Mayne


Born:
April 18, 1918
American Fork. UT

Died:
June 22, 2001
Ontario, CA


Career
1936-37 American Fork High School - Utah (High School)
1940-41 Utah State (College)
1942-43 Division Headquarters (Military)
1946-47 Spokane Orphans (PCBL)

Born in Utah to George (1888-1958) and Lillian Mayne. Jack attended American Fork HS before enrolling at Utah State. His education was interrupted by World War 2.

Source:

Al Maul

Allan Frederick Maul


Born:
November 27, 1923
Seattle, WA

Died:
September 30, 1997
Tacoma, WA


Career
1946-47 Seattle Blue Devils (PCBL)
1947-48 Bellingham Fircrests (PCBL)

Seattle native Al Maul enjoyed a lengthy minor league baseball career and played pro basketball in the 1946 and 1947 off-season.

Allan married Myrna Dambly in 1947 and they had one son.


Minor League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=maul--001all

Source:

Joe Matanich

Joseph H. Matanich


Born:
February 12, 1922
Roslyn, WA

Died:
May 13, 1986
Roslyn, WA


Career
Cle Elem HS - Roslyn, Washington (High School)
1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)

Brother of fellow Ramblers player John Matanich, Joe was a World War 2 veteran


Source:

John Matanich

John S. Matanich


Born:
May 6, 1923
Roslyn, WA

Died:
November 22, 1998



Career
Cle Elem High School - Roslyn Washington (High School)
1946-47 Yakima Ramblers (PCBL)

Born to Yugoslavian immigrant father Matthew (1888-1963) and mother Katherine A World War 2 veteran, John and his brother Joe both played for the Yakima Ramblers in the Pacific Coast Basketball League. John also played some minor league baseball for Great Falls in the Pioneer League in 1948.

Minor League Baseball Stats
http://www.baseball-reference.com:8080/register/player.fcgi?id=matani001joh

Source:

Ernie Maskovich

Ernest Phillip Maskovich


Born:
January 22, 1922
Sacramento, CA

Died:
November 27, 2004
Carmichael, CA


Career
1938-39 McClatchey High School - Sacramento (High School)
1939-40 McClatchey High School - Sacramento (High School)
1946-47 Salem Trailblazers (PCBL)
1946-47 Seattle Blue Devils (PCBL)

A high school on the court and on the diamond, Maskovitch played both sports briefly on the professional level, playing pro basketball in the Pacific League, and minor league baseball for the Cubs organization in the California league in 1946.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=maskov001ern

Source: