The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-09-21
CHAMPION TEAM
OF EARLY DAYS


If hasehsll none of the modern games |
can ever approach in interest those
carly Games that we used TO play. |
whom Hood River was but a village |
and the surrounding valley ior ,he
greater part virgin forest, sara
member Of Hood Rivers hrst cham
pionship baseball team. a man with
gray hairs, who is past middle age:
According to the pioneer residents OF
the valley and city. the hsrdest fought
and most interesting exhibition OF the
national game ever played here was
fought out on July 4. 1878. between
the local nine and an aggregation from
The Dalles. A bitter rivalry prevailed
between the two communities and the
game was of the one great events OF
the early days. Practically every resi-
dent of the Hood River Valley, at the
time a community sparsely settled,
was ON the field TO lend support to the
home team. The Dalles sent down by
boat-it was before the days OF the
railroad more than 200 rooters. The
contest was held on the property OF j.
N. Teal about mile and half south
west Of the city and but short dis
tance from the Columbia park, where
the baseball games of today are played.
II was before the day of curves, and
the intricacies of "spit balls, +" ''in,
"outs" and ''drops" had not been de-
veloped. The best pitcher vas he who
could hurl the hardest, swiftest ball.
A man to stand behind the bat. with
out mitt, mask or breastplate and
catch barehanded the horsehide sphere
coming with bullet-like rapidity must
| necessarily nave been of extraordinary
courage and capable OF enduring a
great deal of punishment. :.
While the pioneer baseball rams nave
forgotten for the most part the details
of the game, they recall with enthusi-
asm the general features Of the event.
The exact score has not been recorded.
However above all things it.is remem-
bered that Hood River won, by an
overwhelming figure, and the eyes Of
the old time players still sparkle when
they recall the elation over the vic
tory. when they we're declared the
champions of the Mid-Columbia,
1t Is interesting to note the personnel
of the team. Every member OF the
aggregation has become prominent in
the states business or professional
circles. The team was composed OF =
]. La France, Harry Valentine, Will
liam Hydran, Judge John LELAND Hen
derson, Prot. l, ;, Henderson, J
Avery, ]. r. Stoddard, Newton Clark,
and Henry Coe, Only two OF them arr
dead, s. ]. La France and ]. II. stod
dard. The former at the time OF hi
demise was prominent business maj
of this city, while Mr.. Stoddard wa
an esteemed member of the Portlan,
bar. After an educational career Prof
J Henderson has again made bis hqme il
the valley. He fetired year or tw
ago from. the faculty of the stat
University OF Idaho, where NO was Q
the head Of the Department OF botany
Newton Clark at the last encampmen
of the Oregon department Of the Gram
Army of the Republic was electe
president of the organization. Henr
! Coe, whose father homesteaded tn
site of HOOD River, is now q resIden
: of Portland. Judge john Leland Hen
derson is Portland attorney and ha
: interests in this city. Judge Henders0
y has been one Of Hood Rivers versatlI
!. athletes. He used TO swim the colun
bia, which Is about mile and tent
< wide here's with perfect ease. Nj
u Avery Is a prominent hardware mel
l. chant in Portland. MIR. Hudson, VIII
at the time of the game resided on tn
Il plaee at present owned by j. H.. Shoe
" maker, is now a resident OF CalifoFnla
The game was pitched by Judg
e Henderson, who had O phenominall
swift underhand ball. Although it
said that he did not exert himself yer
\ much his speed was marvellous. MI
La France caught for the Hood Rive
: team. Unless he was behind the bat
the early fans never felt confident
His hands we're SMALL for those Of
man and smooth as those of woman
However he never failed to take.th
speediest ball, although no protectio
whatever was used. SO deftly did D
receive the balls that he was neye
known to suffer the slightest bruise
Mr.. Clark before coming to 0regc
from Sioux Falls, North Dakota, WI
known as one of the huskiest athlete
in the section, where he was a chan
piOn wrestler.
Chagrined at the defeat, The Dale
boys serted that Hood River mig
be able to trounce them on Ho'
River field, but challenged the loo
aggregation to play them a retul
game at The Dalles. The challeni
We was met and in few weeks with
hundred or more supporters boat WI
chartered and the local team proceeds
to The DalIes to call the bluff. HOY
80 ever, the return game was nev
us played, The residents of The Dali
RS asserted that with but few exceptio
IS all of their players were away in Il
,a- harvest fields. The Hood River peoE
re-embarked on the boat and returnii
III down the river spent the remainder
ne the day on Memaloose Island, the
dian burying ground so rich in t
,,,tk ,l,,,,, ovd Iaoands of the redskiT