South Tacoma Tigers (1915)

The 1915 South Tacoma Tigers team is one of the few local squads to play for the national title. While records are understandably sparse for a team more than a century in the past, the Tigers won the City League crown and were billed as the Pacific Coast champions despite claims to the title that seem a little vague.

The National Amateur Baseball Association national championship series pitted the Tigers against the Cleveland White Autos in a three-game series at Emervyille Park in San Francisco. Tacoma claimed the first game 3-2 behind the pitching of southpaw Orville Eley, defeating Cleveland ace Louis Crowley, who was called the “Alexander of the sandlots.”

Cleveland came back in a big way to dominate the second game 8-0 as the Tacoma defense fell apart. The Tigers turned to their ace once more on short rest in hopes of claiming the rubber match, but the short time between starts rendered Eley ineffective. Cleveland again ran away with a big win, 15-5, and took the title on Oct. 26, 1915.

That South Tacoma squad, managed by Walt Holmberg, featured a pitching staff of Eley, Ocky Haugland, Chief Gus Davis, and Nick Dahl. Their catchers were Lester (Pat) Patterson, who went on to scout for the New York Yankees, and Jack Farrell. The other members of the team included shortstop Allan Browne, center fielder Julian Shager, third baseman Ocky Jensen first baseman Eddie McTighe right fielder Roy Wilkowski second baseman Paul Shager left fielder Hank Crowl, and center fielder Ob Woods. 2015 City League batting champion Roy Wilkowski joined the team for the championship series.