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1933 Roster:

T - Francis Miller

E - D. Watkins

E - Petersen

E - J. Watkins

T - Knoernschild, Paul

G - Castagno, Merve

G - Leaf, Art

G -Castagno, Frank

C - Banfill

QB - Castagno, Bill

HB - Reini, George

HB - Pedigan, Merle

HB - Hagar

FB - Yourglich, Martin

 

1934 Roster:

LHB Stonebridge, Harold
L End Darst, Andrew
Marenokos, Jim
Center Fury, Wayne
R End Johnson, Gene
LHB Reini, George
RHB Pedigan, Merle
QB Castagno, Bill
FB Yourglich, Martin
Hagar, Charles
L T Castagno, Frank
LG Castagno, Merve
RG Leaf, Art
RT Knoernschild, Paul
QB Anderson, Albert
End Ward, Bob
Shew, Linn
Monti, Silvio
Brolio, Silvio
Jarvinen, Bill
Nikko, Toino
 

 

 

 

 

1949 Players

LE - Dick Brundage

LT - J. Bakamus

LG - Jack Confer

C - Tom Hickman

RG - R. Crossley

RT - Nick Bakamus

RS - Bartlett

QB - Larry Totten

LH - Pete Bakamus

RH - Bill Erspamer

FB - Charlie Bachman

QB - Art Wallace

DL - Dave Chevalier

DL - Jack Evans

 - Barker

DL - Bobby Alma

 - Holmes

 - Pepsidero

 - Chalfa

 - Ley

 - Saulsman

QB - George Parks

C - James Hailstone

LE - Robertson

 - Klinkenberg

PK - Ledo Malmassari

 

 

 

  

Issaquah Firemen (1934 - 1937) "Alpines" (1938 - 1952) Town Team (1956; 1961)

Years of Operation: 1934 -1941

 

Overall Record: 62-4-9

 

First Game: 1933 Capitol Hill AC

 

First Win: 1933 Capitol Hill AC

 

Final Game:

 

League Affiliation:  

Puget Sound 160 pound "B" League (1934-1941)**

Northwest 175 lb Conference (1947-1949)

 

**Also known as the "Commercial League"

 

Team Headquarters:

Issaquah, Washington

 

Team Colors: Purple and Gold (1947)

Sponsor:

Issaquah Fire Department (1933-1937)

Alpine Dairy (1938-1950)

Issaquah Athletic Club (1952; 1956; 1961) 

 

General Manager: Edward "Ted"  Stonebridge (1934-1950)

President:  Remo Castagno (1949)

 

Coaches: Doc Hobbs (1934-1940), Oscar Shobert (Asst); Bill Castagno (1941); Roy Eddie Parker (1946-1949) Tim Davidson (1949 - Interim), Chuck Fallstrom (1952), Dan Coyle (1952)

 

Home Field(s): Memorial Field

Titles Won

1933 South End Champions

1933 Commercial League Champions

1934 Commercial League Champions

1935 Commercial League Champions

1936 Commercial League Champions

1937 Commercial League Champions

1940 Commercial League Champions

1941 Commercial League Champions

1947 Northwest 160lb Champions

1948 Northwest 175lb Co-Champions

 

 

 

 

The Issaquah Volunteer Fire Department entered their first team in the 1933 160 lb League, which went by a number of names:  Seattle "B" League, Puget Sound "B" League, and Commercial League.  Players only weighing under 160-pounds were allowed to play in the league

 

In that first year, the Firefighters went undefeated and unscored upon beating Crown Hill for the 1933 Title.  Merle Pedigan rumbled into the endzone against the Taiyo's while Reini added the extra point for a 7-0 win with games remaining against Interbay and Atlantic Street, one win would claim the South End title.

 

Their legend was just beginning.  Ed Stonebridge knew he had a scrappy bunch of players, but he had no idea they would go nearly six years before being defeated in league play winning 44-straight league games. 

 

1934 was another unbeaten season with Crown Hill finally crossing the goal in the Dec 23 Championship.  The teams tied and by virtue of their unbeaten season, won the league title.

 

1935 was another unbeaten 5-0 season and league crown, and it wasn't until an exhibition game with the Wenatchee Rainbows on Oct 11, 1936 that the Firemen tasted defeat on the gridiron.  The 12-7 loss was due in large part to being outsized as many on the Wenatchee squad were well over the 160-pound weight limit the Firemen played by.  No one would cross the Fighting Firemen's goal line the remainder of the year as they won their fourth straight title.

 

In 1937, the Seattle teams decided it was time to unseat the small town boys.  The Kent Red Raiders would become the Firefighters nemesis, but could only manage to tie Issaquah as the Firemen won the league championship with a 7-0-2 record giving up only 12 points on the season.

 

The Red Raiders of Kent became the Purple Raiders and finally broke through taking the league title from Issaquah when the now named Alpine Dairy Products team stumbled against Rainier District in their first league loss in team history.  The streak halted at 44, the "Alpines" exacted some revenge on Dec 4, with a 14-0 rout of the Rainiers.

 

Hans Forester of Alpine Dairy Products was convinced by Ted Stonebridge to purchase new uniforms and equipment for the purple and gold, with the teams helmets painted to match Alpines colors.  This prompted the team to become the Issaquah Alpine Dairy Products football team...later shortened to Alpines.

 

Fullback Johnny Castagno was becoming a force with his 2nd straight season scoring 7 TD's in a season.

 

The 1939 Alpines were enjoying their most productive season to date ripping off 11-straight victories before losing the Championship game to the Enumclaw Wolverines, a new team that finished 10-0. Castagno finished the season with 15 touchdowns under the direction of new head coach Roy Hall, a prominent Broadway High and Centralia coach.  The season opener was a game with Grays Harbor dedicating the new stadium opening in Aberdeen.  The normal weight limit of 160 was not used by the Harbor who had a 265-pound tackle and a 235-pound running back in former University of Washington player Tony Gasparovich.  Issaquah came away with the 7-0 victory nonetheless.

 

1940 brought another undefeated Championship season to Issaquah rolling to a 7-0 season.

 

1941 was unusual as the Alpines stumbled against rival Enumclaw in the season opener losing 6-0.  Six straight wins later Issaquah and Enumclaw squared off for the season finale with Issaquah winning 27-6.  Their seventh league championship in nine years was secured.  Bill Castagno became the coach in 1941 after breaking his collar bone in 1939.  Johnny Castagno rejoined the team midway through the year and bolstered the teams lineup.  Johnny would finish as the top touchdown rusher in team history.

 

A week later the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor thrusting the United States into World War II and many of the leagues' outstanding athletes headed to war.

 

The Issaquah Firefighters/Alpines locked up their place as one of the nations most dominating football teams in semi-professional history winning 62 games, losing 4 and tying 9.  59 of those 75 games were shutouts, making the Issaquah defense one of the best ever over a 9-year span.

Jan 31, 1942 the Issaquah Kiwanis club hosted  a dinner-dance party for the football team, where each member was presented with a robe, many of whom would be leaving for the war soon after.  The team would be on hold until 1946 as men returned from World War II.

 

 

From 1946-49 James Hooker Hailstone played center for the Alpine Dairy team and the Seattle Cavaliers as a fill in tackle in the 50's.  His teammates included:

Jim, Nick and Pete Bakamus, Tommy Bevin, Dave and Harold Chevalier, Frank Crosly, Ellie Croston, Jack Evans, Al Pankey, Bill and Rex Seil, Mike Sernitch, Jack Shelfa, Larry Totten, Art Wallace.

 

1946:

Ellie Croston booted a 20-yard field goal in the closing minutes to secure a 3-0 win over Seattle's Nettleton & Baldwin Lumber team on Oct 20, 1946.

 

Players: Lewis Anderson, Brian Brown, Ellie Croston, Bob Corra, Nick Bakamus, Jim Bakamus, Pete Bakamus, Harold Chevalier, Dave Chevalier, Bob Lavik, Bill Phillips, Art Swanson, George Cooper, Mike Cernich, Dick Lortie, George Hausauer, Walk Seil, Stan Favini, Aito Scappini, Mack Gossett, Fern Anderson

 

1947:

Stan Favini bolted for 3 touchdowns in the Labor Day opener against Stanwood.  Art Wallace followed up with 3 of his own the next two games, Pete Backamus and Ellie Croston accounted for 2 each.  Croston was credited with 7 kick conversions in 3 games.

 

Croston was the hero of the 1947 season as he kicked a 33-yard "chinaman's chance" field goal with 35 seconds remaining in the game to win the title over Enumclaw.  The following week, the Alpines defeated the previously undefeated Port Angeles Commandos, champions of the Northwest Olympic Peninsula.

 

Hans Forester threw a party Dec 13 to celebrate the Alpines championship, and the fire department presented sports jackets to the players; purple and gold with leather sleeves.  The trophy room was being built in the city fire hall.  Nine years later, Hans Forester Jr. would be on the roster of the 1956 Town Team that would become the Issaquah Cavaliers under Hall of Famer Elmo Hudgens.

 

Ellie Croston (PK/QB), Art Wallace (QB/HB), Nick Bakamus (FB), Jim Bakamus (T), Rex Seil (HB), Bill Seil (E), Jack Chalfa (T), Cliff McGary (G), Harold Chevalier (C), Dave Chevalier (G), "Hooker" Hailstone (C), Stan Favini (HB), Larry Totten (HB) Bob Pankie (QB), Frank Crossley (T), Ellsworth Pickering (E), John Bushman (G), Dolan (B), Stan Favini (HB), John Buchanan (G), Gene Bryan (HB), Ed Hammond (L), Ray Dagomeyer (E)

 

1948:

 

Stan Favini starred in trouncing Kent, returning a kickoff 92-yards for a TD, and taking back a pick-six from 55-yards out.

 

Pete Bakamus scored twice and Ellie Croston kicked an extra point to lead the 15-0 win over White Center.  Both Bakamus scores came off of a fumble and a blocked punt.

 

The 1948 season came down to the undefeated Rainier Beach Athletic Club Ramblers (later to become the famous Seattle Ramblers), and the once beaten Alpines.  A win by the Alpines would force a tie for the 175lb League Championship.  A tie is what the Alpines got, only not for the title, but a scoreless tie in the game and a runner-up finish to the still undefeated Ramblers.  Both teams received a trophy as co-champions.

 

1948 Players: Ken Solid (RB), Mike Cernich (OL), Jim Bakamus (OL), Dave Chevalier (OL), Harold Chevalier (OL), Nick Bakamus (OL), Jack Evans (OL), Tom Hickman (OL), Pete Bakamus (RB), Bill Seils (HB), Stan Favini (HB), John Buchanan (L), Art Sandburg (L), Pally Pickering (E), Frank Crossley (L), Hooker Hailstone (L), Larry Totten (B), Tommie Bevens (HB), Ray Diegelmire (E), Ellie Croston (PK), Wakefield (HB)

1949 was a rough season for the Alpines just 2 seasons after a conference title.  A huge blowout to the Ramblers in the first game, prompted the Alpines to pull a fast one in the 4th quarter of a one TD game and were caught with illegal players in the second game.  Two ex-UW players who were over the 175 lb limit and unrostered, were spotted on the Alpine line and Dick Sprinkle pulled his Ramblers off the field in protest.  The umpire agreed and awarded the Ramblers a 1-0 forfeit victory.

When football was finished and the pads put away, many of the men played for the Athletic Club baseball team as well.

 

1952 Players

QB - Fred Henninger, QB - Jim Satterlee,  RE - Chuck Forsythe, RT - Ron Furrer, RG - Jack Confer,  RG - Lawrence Patrick,  C - Roger Hansen, C - Jack Kramer,  LG - Herb Sheda,  LG - Jim Darcy, LT - Roy McGinnis, LT - Jack Janus,  LE - Bob Ludwig,  RHB - Doug O'Bert, LHB - Floyd Hefferline, FB - Cliff Cowan, John Mayovsky, Doug Obert, Don Henninger, Jack Sell,

 

Elmo Hudgens proposed a Boys' Club team and Ed Hendrickson was selected to represent the Issaquah Athletic Club at future Boys' Club meetings (Dec 1, 1955)  

 

Feb 9, 1956, The Issaquah Press announced that Town Marshall Elmo Hudgens would organize a town team with 2 games with the University of British Columbia planned.  On Sep 1, 1956 the Town Team played against the Seattle Cavaliers losing a tight match 7-0.  After the game, Issaquah and Seattle merged to play the rest of the year as the Issaquah Cavaliers.

 

1956 Players:

Tim Young, Don Christiansen, Roger Kinnune, Doug Obert, Floyd Hefferline, Leon Cooke, Dick Janus, Terry Lofsvold, Chuck Kinnune, Jerry Coop, Jerry Chute, Hans Forester Jr., Jack Chalfa, Jack Janus, Ken Hampton, Terry Farrington, Warren O'Brien, Roger Hansen, James Hailstone and Jack Kramer.  Ron Furrer, Harris Lawrence, and Kenny Parks played for Seattle.

 

 

August 19, 1961 the Seattle Cavaliers defeated an Issaquah Town Team 7-0.

 

1933 Schedule/Results (5-0-3):  
Capitol Hill 13-0
Rainier Beach Athletic Club 0-0
Oct 7 - Youngstown Athletic Club 12-0
Oct 14 - Taiyo Athletic Club 7-0
Rainier Beach Athletic Club 0-0
Bryn Mawr (Atlantic Street) 12-0
Crown Hill (Interbay) 0-0
Crown Hill * 7-0
   *160 pound League Championship  
   

1934 Schedule/Results (6-0-3):

 
Sept 23 - Youngstown

W FFT

Sept 23 - "A's" vs "B's" Scrimmage 7-6
Sept 30 Crown Hill 7-0
Oct 7 Uptown Athletic Club 7-0
Oct 14 Woodland Heights 34-0
Oct 21 Crown Hill 8-0
Oct 28 Mount Baker 38-0
Nov 11 Rainier Beach Athletic Club 0-0*
Nov 18 Crown Hill 0-0
Dec 2 Seattle All-Stars 13-0
Dec 23 Crown Hill ** 6-6
   **160 lb League Championship  
* Protested: Rainier used illegal players  
   
1935 Schedule/Results (5-0-0):  
Oct 6 University Market 47-0
Oct 13 University District 20-0
Oct 20 Crown Hill 13-6
Oct 27 Capital Hill 13-6
Nov 10 Crown Hill * 6-0
   * 160 lb League Championship  
   
1936 Schedule/Results (6-1-0):  
Oct 8 Port Townsend 13-0
Oct 11 Wenatchee Rainbows Exhibition 7-12
Oct 18 National Guard "B" 31-0
Oct 25 White Center Hornets 14-0
Nov 3 Broadway 20-0
Nov 10 Georgetown 38-0
Nov 17 White Center Hornets * 18-0
   *160 lb League Championship  
   
1937 Schedule/Results (7-0-2):  
Oct 3 - Georgetown 9-0
Oct 10 - Broadway 14-6
Oct 17 - Snoqualmie 14-0
Oct 24 - Green Lake 33-0
Nov 7 - Kent Red Raiders 0-0
Nov 14 - Ballard 13-0
Nov 21 - World Of Woodmen's 69 13-0
Nov 28 - Greenwood 6-0
Dec 5 - Kent Red Raiders 6-6
   
1938 Schedule/Results (8-1-1):  
Sept 25 - Greenwood 19-0
Oct 2 - Eastside Athletic Club 14-6
Oct 9 - Snoqualmie All Stars 6-0
Oct 16 - Fremont 19-0
Oct 23 - Rainier District 7-14
Oct 30 - Green Lake 19-0
Nov 7 - Cleveland Athletic Club 21-0
Nov 14 @ Kent Purple Raiders 0-0
Nov 21 - White Center Hornets 14-6
Dec 4 - Rainier District 14-0
   
1939 Schedule/Results (11-1-0):  
Sept 24 @ Aberdeen 7-0
Sept 30 @ Everett Rams 7-0
Oct 8 - Eastside 22-0
Oct 15 - Eastlake 27-7
Oct 22 - Rainier District 19-0
Oct 29 - White Center 33-0
Nov 5 - Japanese Marmots 16-0
Nov 12 - Cleveland Athletic Club 53-0
Nov 19 - Green Lake 40-0
Nov 26 - Brown Bombers 45-0
Dec 3 - Kent Purple Raiders 13-0
Dec 10 - Enumclaw Wolverines 6-17
   
1940 Schedule/Results (7-0-0):  
Oct 6 - Eastside 7-0
Oct 13 - Cleveland Athletic Club 13-0
Oct 20 - Japanese Marmots 31-0
Oct 27 - Rainiers Athletic Club 28-0
Nov 3 - Green Lake 14-6
Nov 10 @ Kent Purple Raiders 7-0
Nov 17 @ Enumclaw Wolverines * 2-0
  * 160 lb League Championship  
   
1941 Schedule/Results (7-1-0):  
Sept 28 @ Enumclaw Wolverines 0-6
Oct 5 - Peter's Palace 7-6
Oct 19 - Japanese Marmots 7-0
Oct 26 - Cleveland Athletic Club 7-0
Nov 2 - Green Lake 23-0
Nov 9 - Kent Red Raiders

20-0

Nov 16 @ Kent Red Raiders 6-2
Nov 30 - Enumclaw Wolverines * 27-6
   *160 lb League Championship  
   
1942-1945 World War II No Team  
   
   
1946 Schedule/Results (6-2):  
Oct 17 - Stanwood Town Team  2-0
Oct 20 - Nettleton & Baldwin 3-0
Oct 27 @ Kent Athletic Club  12-6
Nov 3 - Enumclaw Silver Barons 0-6
Nov 11 @ Bremerton Negro team 25-0
Nov 17 - Kent Athletic Club 0-6
Nov 24 @ Enumclaw Silver Barons PPD
Nov 28 @ Enumclaw Silver Barons 7-6
Dec 1 @ Nettleton & Baldwin Lumber 14-0
Dec 8 - Stanwood Town Team Rain Out
   
1947 Schedule/Results (10-0-1):  
Sep 1 - Stanwood Town Team 20-0
Sep 20 @ Victoria B.C. Mustangs 52-0
Sep 27 - Kent Athletic Club 13-6
Oct 5 @ Nettleton & Baldwin Lumber (Renton) 13-0
Oct 12 - Rainier Beach Ramblers 7-6
Oct 19 - Enumclaw Silver Barons 7-7
Nov 2 - Kent Athletic Club 19-0
Nov 9 - Nettleton & Baldwin Lumber 38-0
Nov 16 @ Rainier Beach Ramblers 20-0
Nov 23 - Enumclaw Silver Barons * 9-7
  * 160lb Northwest Championship   
Nov 30 - Port Angeles Commandos 13-0
   
1948 Schedule/Results (7-1-2):  
Sep 6 - Sand Point Naval Station 32-0 
Sep 12 - Port Angeles Commandos 22-12
Oct 2 - Enumclaw Silver Barons  
Oct 9 - Rainier Beach Ramblers 0-14
Oct 17 - White Center Lions 12-0
Oct 24 - Kent Athletic Club 20-0
Oct 31 @ Enumclaw Silver Barons 13-0
Nov 7 - Kent Athletic Club 32-2
Nov 14 @ Port Angeles Commandos 0-0
Nov 21 - White Center Lions 15-0
Nov 28 @ Rainier Beach Ramblers # 0-0
  # 175lb Northwest League Championship
   
1949 Schedule/Results (2-3-2):  
Sep 4 - Fort Lewis Soldiers 7-7
Sep 25 - Enumclaw Silver Barons 6-7
Oct 2 - White Center Lions 0-20
Oct 16 - Seattle Tigers 6-0
Oct 23 @ Rainier Beach Ramblers 0-51
Oct 30 - Enumclaw Silver Barons  
Nov 6 - Rainier Beach Ramblers * L FFT
Nov 13 - Seattle Tigers 2-0
Nov 20 - White Center Lions 0-0
  * Issaquah used 2 illegal players  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
1952 Schedule/Results (0-1):  
Aug 31 - Bremerton All-Stars 8-28
   
   
1956 Schedule/Results (0-1):  
Sep 1 - Seattle Cavaliers 0-7
 * Following the game, the Issaquah team merged with the Cavaliers and played as the Issaquah Cavaliers 
   
   
   
1961 Schedule/Results (0-1):  
Aug 19 - Seattle Cavaliers 0-7
   
   

 

Town Team players (1956) in Black jerseys


1947 Pacific Northwest 175-lb League Champions

(Back) Coach Eddie Parker, Art Wallace, N/A, N/A, Pete Backamus, Ellie Croston, Rex Seil, N/A, Larry Totten, N/A, Mike Cernich, Coach George Morgan (Front) Frank Crossley, David Chevalier, N?A, Bill Seil, Jimmy Backman, Hooker Hailstone, Harold Chevalier, Tommy Bervin, Nick Backamus, others on the team: Stan Favini, Dick Brundage, Jack Evans, Aido Scafini, Dale Wakefield, Jim Buchanan, John Buchanan, Tim Davidson (photo from Hailstone collection)

 

News Releases: The Issaquah Press

 
 
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