Community & Entertainment THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012 5

In 1902 Harry Winegar, part­ kins when the real grind and fight ner in the Livermore Commercial for the pennant begins." Manager Company, purchased four acres Sharpe and his Oaks won the along the north side of Fourth pennant in Street, extending from Holmes 1912. Livermore rejoiced with to R Street. On the western edge them. he laid out a baseball diamond By Anne Homan Because of a continuing and planted shade trees. Six years problem with malaria, Sharp later, he commissioned a two-sto­ Livermore and the Pacific Coast retired, and his replacement for . ry concrete house for his family . 1913 was Carl Mitze. The new that stiII remains at 1342 Fourth League Baseball Team manager asked fot some changes Street. In the same year he had an to the ballgrounds. Winegar built enclosed swimming tank (some­ ren.amed themselves the Tigers. to check out the accommoda­ managed in 1912 by Mirkovich a 14 x 26 enclosed room for the times called a "plunge"), 30 x 70 In March 1912 and 1913 the tions. He especially liked the and consisted of Chas. Hust, trainer's use and put benches all feet, built to the west side of the city of Livermore hosted spring Livermore soil, which dried catcher; Frank Yates, pitcher; around the room for the players. house. The tank was surrounded training headquarters for the out rapidly after rain showers. Ervin Waggoner, first base; A high window the full length of by dressing rooms except for the Oaks, the Oakland baseball team "Conditions in Livermore are Willard Barber and Ed Schutte, the room on the side toward the west end, where there was an in the Coast League. For rainy ideal for a spring training camp," second base; M. McDonough, swimming tank gave light and office and seats for spectators. days the Oaks were offered the Sharpe said, "The people of the shortstop; Thos. Ebarrando, third ventilation. The shower baths The 1O,000-gallon pool was in first floor of the Sweeney Opera town have extended themselves base; Jos. Callaghan, left field; were enclosed. These changes use from 1908 until.about 1924. House, which included a basket­ to provide every necessity. The Arthur Holm, center field; Frank were to ensure that the players When the Chamber of Commerce ball court, handball court, and boys will work out every day Hubbel, right field. would be warm, even in a spring decided to persuade the Oakland gymnasium apparatus. The opera with the Livermore nine and will In 1912 two excursion trains cold spell. Mitze also changed Oaks to have their spring training house was at the comer of First take to the armory [opera house] came from Oakland to watch the the schedule to six weeks of in Livermore, Winegar's fine ball and McLeod Streets. In order in wet weather. Give us good Oaks play the Livermore nine. training. park and the swimming accom­ to accommodate the 36-mem­ weather andwewill be ready for The first train, a Southern Pacific, All members of the team were modations probably weighed ber team, the players stayed in the tap of the gong. The boys will brought 250 fans; the second, married, and their wives accom­ heavily in livermore's favor. two two-story frame Livermore have to do some lively work to a Western Pacific, 350. Sharpe panied them to Livermore. In At first the minor baseball hotels- Malley's Hotel on the get back their wind and take the loaned three of his players to 1913, most of the team and their league in California was called southeast comer of First and L springs out of their joints." The the Livermore team each time wives stayed at the Valley Hotel, the , but in Streets, where the Donut Wheel Herald noted, "Manager Sharp to keep the competition even. but everyone had meals at Mal­ 1903 the Indians and · is now, and the Valley Hotel is well pleased with the diamond Admission to the games was,25 ly's. Livermore catcher Charles the joined the across the street on the south­ and ... especially with the cents for adults and ten cents for Hust was signed by the Oaks for California teams. The result­ west comer. The Sporting Life showers and the plunge," which . children. Sports writer Bert Low­ the season. The spring training of ing new league was named the . newspaper commented, "It will are generally not found in most ry of the Oakland Tribune said of 1913 went well, but the Oaks did Pacific Coast [Minor] League. probably be necessary to divide country towns. the first exhibition game in liver­ not win the season. In 1914 and The California teams were the the players between two hotels, The team arrived in early more': "There was enough pepper 1915 they held spring training San Francisco Seals, the Oak­ which, however, are so close March, and during the four and vinegar at the workout to in Pleasanton. Harry Winegar land Oaks, and the Los Ange­ together as to make it virtually weeks of training played games give him [Sharpe] a line on how changed the baseball diamond les Angels. Another team, the one home for the men." with the Livermore nine in Liver~ . the boys will behave." After the into a chicken farm. ­ Sacramento Senators, moved to The Oaks' manager and first more and then rode the train into second game, he noted, "Sharpe's (Readers can reach me at Tacoma, in 1903 and' baseman, Bud Sharpe, visited Oakland to play exhibition games men went in to show the fans that [email protected].) later moved down to Venice; they Livermore in early February there. The Livermore team was they are going to be some pump­