Wenatchee Chiefs
Encyclopedia
The Wenatchee Chiefs were a minor league baseball
team based in Wenatchee, Washington
. The team was founded in 1937, and was a part of the Western International League
from its founding until 1954, although the team did not operate in 1941 and the entire league was suspended during World War II
, for the seasons from 1943 to 1945. The Chiefs were one of the seven founding members of the Northwest League
in 1955, where they remained until the team suspended operations after the 1965 season.
Future major league pitcher Bill Bevens
threw an 8-0 no-hitter
on September 21, 1939, against the Tacoma Tigers, with the only opponent reaching base on an error. The win gave the Chiefs its first playoff win in a series in which it had lost the first three games to Tacoma. Bevens would later throw 8⅔ innings of no-hit ball in a World Series
game known as The Cookie Game, in which Bevens and the New York Yankees lost by a score of 3-2 on a ninth inning, game-winning hit by Cookie Lavagetto
.
Frank Dasso
was a one-time major league pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
who finished his lengthy minor league career in Wenatchee, and took on a management role after retiring from on-field play. As general manager of the Chiefs, Dasso organized a promotion in July 1953 called "Bust Down the Fences Night" in a game against the Tri-City Braves, in which attendees at the game were told that you could "pay what you like; no regular admission". Gate receipts from the 3,200 in attendance at the game was $1,251, an average of 40 cents per fan, earning the team more in profit from that one game than any three games they had played in that season to-date.
from 1938 to 1940, the Cincinnati Redlegs
during the 1957 and 1958 seasons, and the Chicago Cubs
from 1961 until 1965. The team was affiliated with the Oakland Oaks
of the Pacific Coast League
in 1954.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team based in Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
. The team was founded in 1937, and was a part of the Western International League
Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937-42, and 1946-54. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season A loop under that name.The WIL consisted of...
from its founding until 1954, although the team did not operate in 1941 and the entire league was suspended during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, for the seasons from 1943 to 1945. The Chiefs were one of the seven founding members of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
in 1955, where they remained until the team suspended operations after the 1965 season.
History
The Chiefs were founded in 1937 as one of the inaugural teams in the Western International League by Canadians Gerald McClay and Art Nevinson. The team played a 144-game season, with its home field at Wenatchee's Recreation Park. In its early years, the team drew as many as 3,000 fans attending games, with ticket prices of 5 cents for the bleachers and 40 cents for grandstand seating for adults. With baseballs costing as much as $1.50 each, the team would pay children 50 cents per game to retrieve balls that went into the stands as foul balls or home runs so that they could be reused. The team was taken over by Charles C. Garland in 1938, who began an affiliation agreement with the New York Yankees, and the team won its first league pennant in 1939.Future major league pitcher Bill Bevens
Bill Bevens
Floyd Clifford "Bill" Bevens was a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He stood 6' 3" and weighed 210 lb. Bevens was signed by the New York Yankees at the age of 20 in , and spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, where he threw two no-hitters for the Wenatchee Chiefs...
threw an 8-0 no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
on September 21, 1939, against the Tacoma Tigers, with the only opponent reaching base on an error. The win gave the Chiefs its first playoff win in a series in which it had lost the first three games to Tacoma. Bevens would later throw 8⅔ innings of no-hit ball in a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
game known as The Cookie Game, in which Bevens and the New York Yankees lost by a score of 3-2 on a ninth inning, game-winning hit by Cookie Lavagetto
Cookie Lavagetto
Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto was a third baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter whose double ruined Bill Bevens' no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series and gave his Brooklyn Dodgers a breathtaking victory over the New...
.
Frank Dasso
Frank Dasso
Frank Joseph Nicholas Dasso was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1945 and 1946 seasons.-Early life:Dasso was born on August 31, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois...
was a one-time major league pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
who finished his lengthy minor league career in Wenatchee, and took on a management role after retiring from on-field play. As general manager of the Chiefs, Dasso organized a promotion in July 1953 called "Bust Down the Fences Night" in a game against the Tri-City Braves, in which attendees at the game were told that you could "pay what you like; no regular admission". Gate receipts from the 3,200 in attendance at the game was $1,251, an average of 40 cents per fan, earning the team more in profit from that one game than any three games they had played in that season to-date.
Affiliations
The team was a minor league affiliate of the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
from 1938 to 1940, the Cincinnati Redlegs
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
during the 1957 and 1958 seasons, and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
from 1961 until 1965. The team was affiliated with the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
in 1954.