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Honoring The Games That Never Happened At State Baseball Finals

Honoring The Games That Never Happened At State Baseball Finals

Imagine how you would feel if half a Century passed and you never had a chance to know if you were a Champion?  In 1962 the boys of the State of Oregon's best Baseball teams never got a chance to find out nor to ever answer that question.  The OSAA had big plans for a big showdown at the Multnomah Stadium (Now Jeld-Wen Field) in 1962 but a severe rain storm caused not only a delay but a cancelation.  

When the smoke cleared 6 teams that were all ramped up with the excitement of a State Championship run had to go home empty handed.

Hillsboro was 22-3 and were to have played South Eugene (16-1) for the A1 State Crown.   Drain was 18-6 and were going to play North Catholic  (15-5) for the A2 Title.  And 20-0 Coburg was going to play 12-0 Condon for the B Championships.

The OSAA named the teams Co-Champions but questions of course always remained.  Questions about who would have won and reigned supreme and more.  Questions that have never been answered and never will be.  But 50 years has passed and some of these great athletes decided to bring back the teams and celebrate baseball and life and the 1962 season they enjoyed.

"It was an idea a few of us had at the same time," said Hillsboro Catcher Art Larrance.  "The boys down in Condon had apparently inquired with Peter Weber at the OSAA about the same time I did.  Things took off from there and now we have 120 or so of us heading to the OSAA State Baseball  Championships this Saturday for a BBQ and to watch the games too.  This is going to be a day for all of us to celebrate and remember."

What a day it will be indeed.  Larrance is the owner of Beaverton's Raccoon Lodge Restaurant and has been a big part of getting this together.  And it will be fitting for the stories and memories to be shared all around.  

"I know this will be great.  Just getting to know the guys from Condon has already answered a question that has always been on my mind.   You see we always thought we could have played; especially our game which was at night.  But the Condon team had come to Portland the day before and were hanging around the field and confirmed to me that it was a lake out there and that no baseball could have been played at all.  That helped for me to hear that," said Art.  "Just meeting all these players and their families is going to be an unforgettable experience."

People have forgotten about this and Art says the event will help bring come closure for all of them.

"It was good to get this going.  This was a story that needed an ending and now we will have it.  That I guess will be the greatest part of this."

There will be a BBQ at Noon (No-Host) and introduction of the 6 teams at about 4:30 just before the 6A Final.  The flyer to the event is embedded below and the group has a Facebook Page which you can access and "Like" anytime to support the teams and players.  We will be there to cover this event and will have interviews and pictures for you as well.

Support The 1962 Oregon Baseball Championship Group On Facebook

 

 

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