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A Crook County Historical Moment
| Prineville’s First Baseball Team |
Baseball was a serious sport in rural America near the
turn of the century. It was a game that could be
played almost anywhere and frontier towns took great
pride in supporting their teams. Prineville was one of
the first communities to establish a baseball team in
Eastern Oregon in 1890.
Several new members of the community had played
baseball in the eastern part of the country prior to
coming to Prineville and decided to form a local
baseball team to play other emerging communities in
Central Oregon.
turn of the century. It was a game that could be
played almost anywhere and frontier towns took great
pride in supporting their teams. Prineville was one of
the first communities to establish a baseball team in
Eastern Oregon in 1890.
Several new members of the community had played
baseball in the eastern part of the country prior to
coming to Prineville and decided to form a local
baseball team to play other emerging communities in
Central Oregon.
Many businesses would close their doors when a game was being played. Strong rivalries
developed among local teams and a game was a major event covered closely by local newspapers.
People would come from miles around to cheer on their team. Before and after games general
celebrating occurred with social gatherings that included picnics and merriment. The early “wagon
gate” parties were fun for all.
The Prineville “nine” played for community pride and wagers amongst fans was common.
Surprisingly many small towns had teams including Antelope and Shaniko. Later Lamonta, Powell
Butte, Madras, Bend and Redmond had teams. After the turn of the century Prineville boasted of
having players that had played college baseball back east, including Hal McCall, the father of later
Oregon Governor Tom McCall. Players were well respected members of the community and viewed
as local heroes.
Baseball and horse racing were the major sporting activities in frontier Central Oregon until football
was introduced in 1911. Shevlin-Hixson and Brooks-Scanlon sawmills in Bend sponsored baseball
teams and railroad construction crews also sponsored teams. It was exhilarating for local fans
when their team defeated rivals and devastating when they lost.
Community teams began to fade in popularity as the twenties arrived and as high school
competition began to emerge.
developed among local teams and a game was a major event covered closely by local newspapers.
People would come from miles around to cheer on their team. Before and after games general
celebrating occurred with social gatherings that included picnics and merriment. The early “wagon
gate” parties were fun for all.
The Prineville “nine” played for community pride and wagers amongst fans was common.
Surprisingly many small towns had teams including Antelope and Shaniko. Later Lamonta, Powell
Butte, Madras, Bend and Redmond had teams. After the turn of the century Prineville boasted of
having players that had played college baseball back east, including Hal McCall, the father of later
Oregon Governor Tom McCall. Players were well respected members of the community and viewed
as local heroes.
Baseball and horse racing were the major sporting activities in frontier Central Oregon until football
was introduced in 1911. Shevlin-Hixson and Brooks-Scanlon sawmills in Bend sponsored baseball
teams and railroad construction crews also sponsored teams. It was exhilarating for local fans
when their team defeated rivals and devastating when they lost.
Community teams began to fade in popularity as the twenties arrived and as high school
competition began to emerge.
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A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
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See the drop
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
down menu at
the top of the
page for more
local stories
of Prineville's
colorful past.
Use the drop down menu for more local stories of Prineville's colorful past.