I S S U E N U m b E r 2 • A P r IL 2 0 2 0 The team poses for a portrait on the Alameda Taiiku Kai ballfield (known as the ATK Diamond) located at Clement Avenue and Walnut Street. They proudly display the ATK diamond logo on their jerseys. Japanese men built the field and in the spring they would gather to trim weeds to prepare for the upcoming season. Masted ships and wooden towers can be seen along the estuary. Images: John Towata, Jr. he island of alameda commerce with close to 900 first and Mas (Fred) Nakano, who played for Thas been home to many second generation Japanese Americans. the Alameda Taiiku Kai (ATK) team amazing and famous people through- This area was pridefully referred to for many years. Mr. Nakano explained out its long and storied history. One as Japantown. that Alameda Taiiku translated to of the most important and influential Two integral landmarks in “J-town” “Alameda Athletic Club.” groups of people has been the were the Buddhist Temple and Alameda “The roots of the ATK baseball Japanese American community Methodist South Church; two different team go back to 1913, when a team whose culture, dedication, and denominations, but one dynamic was founded by a group of Issei (first resiliency have been truly inspiring. culture who would come together generation) who brought their love In the early part of the 20th century, for “America’s pastime”...baseball! of baseball from Japan. These players Alameda was home to a unique and One of the Alameda baseball eventually formed the nucleus of flourishing region of culture and pioneers was Pacific Avenue resident Continued on page 2 . A la m ed A Mus SEU m Q ua r t E r L y • I ss ue N U m b E r 2 • A P r IL 2 0 2 0 A Proud People. .Continued from page 1 at Clement Avenue. The land was owned by James Rolph, then mayor the Alameda Young Men’s Buddhist of San Francisco, who “allowed the Association (YMBA) Baseball Club in ATK team to use the land rent free, 1916” (Nakagawa). after their field at McKinley Park Soon after, the YMBA baseball started being used for new tennis team changed its name to the Alameda courts” (Wikipedia). Taiiku Kai (ATK) baseball club, in It wasn’t just historic parks such order to include both Methodist and as Lincoln and Washington that Buddhist Japanese Americans. created a great heritage of local Takurisu Morita, ATK manager, baseball history; it was also the ATK led many legendary players including “Diamond” and its many talented Sai (Dick) Towata, Kiyo Nogami, Mas players. The all-dirt field was bordered and Mike Nakano, Shizuto Kawamura, by the Baxter Lumber Company, Tad Hayashi, Shug Madokoro, Taro where telephone poles were treated Takeda, and John Hanamura to and stored, and batters would hit numerous victories against other toward the estuary. northern California Japanese American A real slugger at the plate, he played for The ATK team would pay expenses ball clubs. Alameda High’s varsity squad. Dick played by passing the hat and by various “Sai Towata led his famous Otto for the ATK and later toured Japan with the fundraisers. Tad Hayashi has noted Rittler-coached team to a northern Kono All-Stars; major league potential but never signed to a professional baseball that the large Japanese community California high school championship” contract. Image: John Towata, Jr. extending from Foley Street to while at Alameda High (Nakagawa). Walnut and from Santa Clara Avenue On Sai’s team were future major was never signed to play for a major to the estuary supported the team league players Dick Bartell and league team. and filled the stands for each game. Johnny Vergez. Both teammates The ATK baseball field was on the Former ATK player Shug Madokoro were offered pro contracts, but even northwest corner of Walnut Street recalled that the first team wore a big though Towata was the team MVP, he Continued on page 3. Rolph was born in San Francisco in 1869. After establishing himself as a successful businessman, he became the Mayor of San Francisco from 1912 until his resignation to become Governor of California in 1931. Rolph held property along the estuary in Alameda, home to Rolph Shipbuilding. This property became the playing field for the ATK baseball team. Image: Wikipedia.com 32 A la m ed A Mus SEU m Q ua r t E r L y • I ss ue N U m b E r 2 • A P r IL 2 0 2 0 A Proud People . .Continued from page 2 for the ATK club starting in 1934 at the age of 18. Sam Rokutani was another tremendous player for Alameda Taiiku Kai from 1935–1941. Sam also played on the UC Berkeley baseball team; his team claimed two championships and over 100 wins! Taro Takeda was another great player for the ATK team who was an outstanding hitter. Kiyo Nogami was an outstanding shortstop for ATK who also played at UC Berkeley. Another dynamic player for ATK was catcher Tut Iwahashi. Both these men were selected to play on the 1937 Alameda Kono All-Stars squad, a team comprised of central and northern California Nisei all-stars. The team was led by Alameda businessman Alameda’s “Old Star” team circa 1915. Front left to right: Unknown, Toshio Nakata, Harry Kono and coaches Kenichi Seichiro Nogami, Shichi Kadonaga. Back left to right Sahei Tokoshima, Sasima Ito, Unknown, Zenimura and Kenso Nushida. Unknown, Unknown, Reiji Nakaso. (Nushida became the first Japanese American professional baseball letter “A” on its uniform. “The ATK baseman for the Alameda Taiiku club. player in 1932 when he debuted came later,” stated Shug, “I guess we His brother John, later a member in the Pacific Coast League for the were just called the Alameda ball of the Alameda Recreation and Sacramento Senators.) club then.” Parks Commission, played for other By the late 1930s, ATK games had Tad Hayashi remembered that baseball teams. been moved to Lincoln Park, as their every spring all the men would go Mike Nakano was a powerful first field was being relegated to other down to the field to cut down the baseman and long ball hitter who uses. Sadly, world events a few years weeds. Tad recalled that when he played for ATK from 1921–1933. later would deal a devastating blow was 5 or 6 years old, his dad would Nakano became known as the “Babe to Japanese American communities have him out playing catch everyday. Ruth of Alameda.” K. Nobusada was near and far as more than 120,000 Tad would play on the Alameda High a fine second baseman who played School team during the week, play Continued on page 4. American Legion ball on Saturdays, and play for the ATK team on Sundays. Shizuto Kawamura, one of the ATK pioneers and a former resident of Pacific Avenue who was born in 1906, played third base and pitched for the Taiiku club. Ben Tanizawa was a fast-balling left handed pitcher who kept ATK opponents’ runs to a minimum. Sai “Dick” Towata was an outstanding shortstop and third Catcher Shug Madokoro is in position behind homeplate. Spectators viewed the game from wooden bleachers along the first baseline. In the background is the mill building that still stands on the Oakland side of the estuary. 3 A la m ed A Mus SEU m Q ua r t E r L y • I ss ue N U m b E r 2 • A P r IL 2 0 2 0 A Proud People. .Continued from page 3 and 11-year-old boys of Japanese descent, won the championship in Americans of Japanese descent were 1956 and 1957. Most of the players relocated to detention camps after the were Alameda kids from the Buena United States entered World War II. Vista United Methodist Church and Despite the traumatic adversity the Alameda Buddhist Temple. Players the relocated Americans endured, included Jeffery Yamashta, Kent Takeda, “later in the year, when detainees David Takeda, John Towata, Jr., were assigned to permanent camps, Eugine Tomine, and Tommy Yamamoto. the first thing they did was build The kids “lived” and honed their baseball diamonds and formed teams” skills at McKinley Park, with the (Nakagawa). John Towata, Sr. was help of Ray Luce, among others. one of the leaders in the organizing of Dick Towata was one of the baseball teams, as he was called the “Kenesaw coaches (bridging the Alameda Taiiku Mountain Landis” of the camps. Kai with the East Bay Indians) as well (In reference to the longtime Major as Sam Narahara and Bill Takeda. League Baseball commissioner of the In 1961, John Towata Flowers and early 20th century.) Frank Ogawa Nursery, among others, After the War ended, many sponsored an Alameda team to play families returned to Alameda and did Yamashta was a dynamic person and player in the “Japanese American Citizens’ their best to thrive in the post-war who led by example. He was one of the top players and people in the Alameda-Oakland League (JACL)”. Many East Bay Bay Area. Church and baseball once Athletic Club in the 1960s and 70s. Indian players “moved up” to this again became pillars of the Japanese baseball club. Shig Futagaki and American culture. In the decades that George Yamaguchi were the first followed, teams would be born in the The East Bay Indians baseball Alameda JACL coaches. lineage and shadow of the historic team was formed in 1956 to partici- Shig Futagaki formed the Alameda- Alameda Taiiku Kai teams of days pate in the Golden Gate Optimist Oakland Athletic Club (AOAC) in the gone by.