Photograph courtesy of George Chrisman Jr.

Los Gatos baseball players, such as this unidentified slugger, had a much easier time playing the game when donkeys were not involved.

Picture from the Past

Donkeys brought a new twist to town baseball

By John S. Baggerly

Donkey baseball? Yes, and it arrived here in Los Gatos in the 1930s, not long after Rev. Myron Cole came here from Southern California and ascended the pulpit at Christian Church on Lyndon Avenue--today W. Main Street.

Word got out that Cole was an exceptional amateur pitcher and that he knew a man in the Los Angeles area who rented his donkeys for use in fun baseball games.

Soon Cole found himself pitching here against out-of-town teams.

But first a word about today's photograph, loaned by George Chrisman Jr., a lifelong sports writer and editor living in Phoenix, Ariz. Chrisman's address is 1409 W. San Miguel Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 95013-1750.

Chrisman's photograph of an unidentified player was taken from the third base (home) bench and includes Los Gatos High School's two-story gymnasium for boys and girls. The player at right is posed in front of an announcer's booth. Chrisman's photo that ran in this space in the July 25 issue was looking from behind home plate to New York Avenue and homes that were later incorporated to accommodate parking for Helm Field--used for home football games and track and field events.

Today, in the distance is a huge slab of blacktop accommodating three tennis courts and basketball hoops. Now industrial arts classes occupy that space and swimming pools have taken part of this baseball diamond.

Another Chrisman photo shows a group of grammar school-age boys with their coach George Argall. Included in this group are Eldon O'Brien, Pete Denevi, Mitch Robrovich and Bud Weeks. This was long before present-day Little League and Pony League baseball for boys. After an athletic career at San Jose State University, Denevi became football and baseball coach at Los Gatos High. Argall's son Clifford, a 1935 LGHS grad, was a runner in track and a varsity baseball player.

Now for Donkey Baseball. As mentioned above, Rev. Cole knew a keeper of donkeys, and he was urged to bring his animals to Los Gatos for a game. A game? More like a Roman holiday with spectators enjoying the sight of friends and relatives put through torture induced by single-minded animals.

For example, a pitcher with his donkey at his side would pitch to a batter with his donkey nearby. All players in the field had a donkey at their side and had to mount to go for a ball. If the pitcher had to field a bunt he had to mount his animal. Upon hitting the ball, the batter would mount his animal and attempt to ride to first base.

But wait a minute! If a given donkey felt an itch on his rump and turned to the backstop to rub away the unpleasantness, he might accidentally crush his rider's leg against the green painted planks. Free of the backstop, the rider would attempt to rein his animal toward first base, while Señor Donkey might prefer to visit his cousin at third base. Spectators loved the donkeys. Riders didn't.

Besides donkeys, Cole brought Los Gatos a fine pitching arm, but was out of town the day Saratoga's team scouted the locals in a poor showing. Thus the visitors repaired to George Vlamis' bar and grill to place bets on the game. Cole returned for the Saratoga game and the visitors were in for an out-of-pocket surprise.

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John Baggerly came out of semi-retirement to write this column for the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.

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