Legion state tourney celebrates anniversary

Legion baseball is 100 years old across America, and 95 in Oregon

^{Members of the 1969 Madison Contractors, Inc., World Series champion team were on hand for the first day of the state tournament Saturday.}

‍

Oregon's top American Legion baseball clubs opened play in the annual state tournament at Joe Etzel Field on the campus of the University of Portland Saturday, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the overall organization in the process.

Legion baseball has been played across the nation since 1925, and established a state tournament in Oregon in 1930.

The double-elimination state tournament held at UP began with eight teams, with plans to conclude Wednesday.

Saturday's games featured:

Game 1: Portland Hillsdale Merchants (Area 2 No. 1) vs. Roseburg Clint Newell Dr. Stewart’s (Area 4 No. 2), 10 a.m.

Game 2: Corvallis Gerding Builders Marketmen (Area 3 No. 1) vs. Hillsboro Baseballism Wet Sox (Area 2 No. 2), 1 p.m.

Game 3: Medford Rogue Credit Union Mustangs (Area 4 No. 1) vs. Stayton Post 58 Canyon Crushers (Area 3 No. 2), 4 p.m.

Game 4: Portland Post 158 Barbers (host) vs. Eugene Challengers (Area 4 No. 3), 7 p.m.

Eugene is the defending champion.

Silverton won the first state title in 1930.

Only one Oregon team, the Madison Contractors, Inc. side from East Portland, has won the national title - in 1969. Nine members of the team, including coach Dick McClain, were on hand for the first pitch of the evening game Saturday.

‍

HISTORY OF THE '69 CONTRACTORS, Inc.

Playing with the same Madison High roster that won the state title in spring (outscoring three playoff opponents 22-0) the 1969 Contractors, Inc. squad won the American Legion state, regional and then World Series championship, becoming the only team from Oregon to do so.

The team featured pitcher Jim Officer, who passed on signing with the Washington Senators early in the season, coaching legend Dick McClain, who led Madison to another title in ‘70, and a season in which they traveled to Hawaii - a year after having travelled through the Rockies in order to face expected challengers.

The Contractors, who were managed and sponsored by local general contractor Leo Wynans, faced the three-time defending state champion Klamath Falls Falcons to win the state Legion title series three games to one.

After winning state, the Contractors returned to Klamath Falls for the regional tournament, then advanced to Hastings, Neb., for the World Series, eventually going 4-1 in the double-elimination event. They beat Towson, Md., in 12 innings in the second game of the tournament, then 4-0 in the final game. The final featured Jack Flitcraft breaking an 0-for-17 batting streak with a two-run double for the first runs of the game, and Doug Oja and Tom Wise, whose brother Rick was pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies at the time, combining for a shutout. Oja was the surprise having not pitched since the state playoffs, but then starting and striking out 11 batters.

Madison went 32-5 during the high school season, and the Contractors finished 41-14 during the Legion season. The legion tournament featured what is still referred to as a record 6.5 inches of rain.

Manager: Leo Wynans

Coach: Dick McClain

Players

Bud Baynard

Don Bozich

Dan Callantine

Howard Collins

Dave Dangler

Jack Flitcraft

Mike Clauson

Dave Gasser

Dan Hegg