Remembering the '51 Capilanos

(Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - It has been nearly 60 years since the first Vancouver professional baseball franchise called Nat Bailey Stadium (Capilano Stadium) home.

Don Carlson of the Vancouver Province newspaper covered the 1951 Vancouver Capilanos and reviewed the first season for the team out at the new ballpark.

Enjoy an excerpt from his column dated September 1st, 1951.

And so, at last, the ball season's end is 80 hours away. Bill Schuster is on the eve of getting safely through his maiden year as manager. Bob Brown finishes his freshman year as boss of a real cement stadium.

And what about this season? What single feature about the 1951 Caps, or handful of features, do Brown and Schuster hold responsible for the club's great showing.

Brown puts it down to three items, four ballplayers, four names you have trouble guessing ahead of this typewriter.

"First, you've got to lay it to Schuster," Brown said, "By his great leadership by demonstration, he kept his boys fighting all season. His technique was 'Here, boys, here's what I have done. I'll do it first and you follow.' "Schuster learned plenty in this freshman season of his. Above everything, he learned what to discount in club management and what to put a premium on."

His Loss Cost 10 Games

"If we had not lost Schuster out of the regular lineup we could have won 10 or 12 more games.

"Secondly, we had a great offensive-defensive combination in Johnny Ritchie, behind the plate, and Dick Sinovic, in centre field.

"These two were reciprocal. I mean, when one hit a slump, the other hit a spurt. Sinovic also turned out to be a good leader for his team-mates. He, too, lead by demonstration. His spark and inspiration were vital to us. "Thirdly, there is Bob Snyder, our great veteran. His pitching steadiness kept the club's head up at all times." We asked Schuster for his impression of the season. He said he agreed with Brown on some of the names.

"But don't forget," he said, "what Mr. Brown did for this club. I have never seen a man who wanted a pennant more.

Brown Sought the Best

"Do you want proof of that? Look at the ball players he got for us. Men like Chorlton and Kindsfather. Those guys don't grow on trees."

Those of us who have grown to know Schuster have found in this man who came here with the reputation of a baseball clown rather a serious student of the game. He has learned the loneliness of high places. "It has been a rare lesson for me," he said.

A word must be reserved for the rest of the club. It was a tough season, the schedule probably the worst the WIL ever had.

On top of that, you had the record dry spell which cut out postponements. The newspapermen close to the club saw the ballplayers at times dead beat in the dugout before a game.

If the Caps think they weren't appreciated, there is one feature of the season to remind them: that attendance record. As Brown said back in April: "Give the public a good ball team, and they'll support you." They got a good club and they supported it.