Rainier Beach Athletic Club Ramblers (1947-49)

Seattle Ramblers (1950-64)

Years of Operation: 1947 - 1964

Overall Record: 107-46-3

First Game: 1948 Sand Point Naval Air Station

First Win: 1948 Sand Point Naval Station

Final Game: 1964 @ Portland Thunderbirds

League Affiliation:

160lb Northwest League (1947)

175lb Northwest League (1948-1949)

Independent (1950-1953-1962)

North Pacific Football League (1963-64)

Team Headquarters: Queen Anne Hill

Colors: Black and White (1947)

Owner: Ted Gatz (1947) Don Sprinkle (1948-1963); Seattle Junior Chamber of Commerce (1964)

President: J.B. Parker (1948)

Sponsor: Rainier Beach Athletic Club (1947)

General Manager: Larry Christian (1948-54); Pat Lui (1952-56)

Coaches: Ed Lynch (HC 1947); Don Sprinkle (1948-62); JB Parker (OL 1948-53); Jim Foster (OL 1952-58); Lowell Wardien (RB 1953-57); Ken Roskie (DC 1957-63); Norland King (OL 1958); Dick Sharp (Line 1959-63); Bill Castrow (HC 1963; Line 1960-62); Arnie Weinmeister (Line 1962); John Whitney (Back 1963); Sam Buckley (DL 1963-64); Nat Davis (OL 1964); Bob Hughes (DB 1964); Marshall Dallas (HC 1964)

Home Field(s): Emerson Field, Howe Field (Queen Anne Hill); Catholic Memorial Stadium; West Seattle Stadium

Titles Claimed:

1948 Northwest 175lb Co-Champions

1949 Northwest 175lb Champions

1951 Northwest Independent Champions

1952 Northwest Independent Champions

1953-Co-Northwest Independent Champions

1957 North Pacific League Champions

1958 North Pacific League Champions

1959 North Pacific League Champions

1960 North Pacific League Champions

1961 North Pacific League Champions

1947 Schedule/Results (0-2):

Hall of Fame

Honors

Lloyd McBride, 1948 Ramblers Inspirational Award

Lloyd McBride, 1949 Ramblers Inspirational Award

Lowell Wardien, 1950 Inspirational Award

Dale Lamb, 1951 Inspirational Award

Don Sprinkle, 1952 Charles E. Sullivan Award

Herb Johnson, 1952 Inspirational Award

Tom Gibbons, 1953 Inspirational Award

Dick Sharp, 1954 Inspirational Award

Jim Brinson, 1955 Sportsmanship Award

Jim Harris, 1955 Inspirational Award

George Foster, 1956 Inspirational Award

Don Ridge, 1956 Sportsmanship Award

Phil Sprang, 1957 Inspirational Award

George Argelan, 1957 Sportsmanship Award

Nat Davis, 1958 Best Offensive Lineman Award

Len Randall, 1958 Best Defensive Player Award

Royal Dotson, 1958 Best Offensive Back Award

Don Larking, 1958 Best Offensive Back Award

Don Larking 1958, Inspirational Award

Bill Castrow 1959, Best Offensive Lineman Award

Gene Pedersen 1959, Best Offensive Lineman Award

Ron Thoresom, 1959 Best Defensive Lineman Award

Kent Chisman, 1959 Best Defensive Lineman Award

Al Ferguson, 1959 Best Offensive Back Award

Dick Rew, 1959 Sportsmanship Award

Bill Castrow, 1959 Inspirational Award

Sam Buckley, 1960 Defensive Lineman Award

John Whitney, 1960 Ramblers MVP

Joe Kominski, 1960 Sportsmanship Award

Gene Pedersen, 1960 Inspirational Award

Kent Chisman, 1961 Best Defensive Lineman Award

Duane Carver, 1961 Best Offensive Lineman Award

Paul Mitchell, 1961 Best Defensive Back Award

Tony Softli, 1961 Sportsmanship Award

Len Randall, 1961 Inspirational Award

Ray Jackson, 1962 Best Offensive Player Award

Sam Buckley, 1962 Best Defensive Player Award

John Whitney, 1962 Team Man Award

Tony Softli, 1963 Inspirational Award

Don Sprinkle (1940)

Ted Gatz, playing for the Nettleton-Baldwin Lumber Company team in the 1946 160lb League convinced the Rainier Beach Athletic Club to support forming a team for the 1947 season. At 21-years old, Ted raised $800, bought 11 helmets and orderd uniforms from Vancouver, B.C. The Ramblers were entered into the 160lb league and the ground work for the Seattle Ramblers was laid.

LeRoy "Lee" Gamble was a champion QB with Queen Anne (1947), at Centralia College, and again with the Seattle Ramblers.

Don Sprinkle became the 3rd recipient of the Charles E. Sullivan award for outstanding contributions to sports in the Seattle area in March, 1952. The Ramblers victory over Everett JC was the Trojans only loss of the season.

Ken Spooner's blocked punt was the difference in the Dec, 7, 1952 game with the College All-Stars.

A unique twist to the 1953 matchup with the Vancouver Cubs involved playing Canadian rules in the first half and US rules in the second half. Frank Mataya scored Seattle's lone TD and the conversion pass failed halting the Ramblers win streak at 13.

The Ramblers would share the Independent Northwest Circuit "title" with Fort Lewis on the heels of a tie in the Thanksgiving game. Seattle held a one-point victory earlier in the season, however the Vancouver Cubs scored a one-point win over the Ramblers after losing to the 4x4s completing a round-robin of wins and losses by the three teams.

Following the 1953 finale, the Ramblers entertained the idea of forming a league with Canadian teams in Victoria, Vancouver, Penticton, and Kamloops played under purely Canadian rules. Don Higgs, Oak Bay Whitney coach welcomed the idea being toyed with by Don Sprinkle and Victoria Navy team manager D.T. Dawson.

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Women Helping a Football Team With Tackling Practice

1954: Tackling practice definitely picked up in enjoyment when three local show girls paid a visit to a drill session of the Seattle Ramblers grid club. The girls, Vickie, Marvan and Zabuda (left to right), drew an enthusiastic response from the tacklers, who wanted to keep up the practice all day.

During the 1959 game with Humboldt State, a TD and extra point were scored after the final gun due to a penalty. Seattle lost 14-13.

In 1963 Marty Wyatt, Joe Jones, Jerry Cail and Ray Jackson carried most of the offensive load, especially in a 19-14 win over Portland.

1966 - Jim Morgan

Ramblers All-Time Scorers *

* Over 100 different players scored for the Ramblers over the course of the franchise history.

Rushing TDs

30 - Lowell Wardien

18 - Bob Hughes

16 - Don Mann

15 - Mel Davis

15 - Royal Dotson

Receiving TDs

25 - Don "Ace" Allen

12 - Don Mann

12 - Royal Dotson

Passing TDs

20 - Frank Bly

16 - Tom Hulett

16 - Mel McCain

15 - Bob Lydum

Return TDs

5 - Royal Dotson (4 KR 1 PR)

2 - Dan Wheatley (1 KR 1 PR)

Kicking

80 - John Whitney (71 PAT 3 FG)

35 - Jim Rosenzweig (35 PAT)

28 - Harlow Stevens (28 PAT)

18 - Bill Castrow (18 PAT)

Defensive TDs

3 - Tony Softli Sr. (3 INT)

3 - Sam Buckley (INT, FR, Block Punt Rec)

Total Points

207 Lowell Wardien (30 rush TD, 3 rec, 2 pass, 3 PAT)

192 Royal Dotson (15 rush TD, 12 rec, 5 returns)

186 Don Mann (16 rush TD, 12 rec, 1 pass, KR, FR)

172 Don Allen (25 rec TD, 2-2pt, 2 rush, 6 PAT)

148 Mel McCain (16 pass TD, 8 rush, 2-2pt)

145 Bob Hughes (18 rush TD, 5 rec, FR, PAT)

140 Frank Bly (20 pass TD, 3 rush, 1 - 2pt pass)

136 John Whitney (2 pass, 3 rush 4 rec, 80 kick, 1 - 2pt pass)

Sep 28 @ Enumclaw Silver Barons

Oct 5 @ Enumclaw Silver Barons

Oct 12 @ Issaquah Alpines

6-7

Oct 19 -

Nov 16 @ Issaquah Alpines

0-20

1948 Schedule/Results (9-0-1):

Sep 19 -Sand Point Naval Air Station

48-0

Sep 26 - Kent Athletic Club

38-0

Oct 3 -White Center Lions

18-0

Oct 9 - Issaquah Alpines

14-0

Oct 16 - Port Angeles Commandos

33-0

Oct 23 - Enumclaw Silver Barons

20-0

Oct 31 - Kent Athletic Club

12-0

Nov 7 - White Center Athletic Club

28-0

Nov 21 - Enumclaw Silver Barons

*W FFT

*Enumclaw won 13-6 but forfeited for playing illegal and over the weight limit players.

Nov 28 - Issaquah Alpines #

0-0

# 175lb Northwest League Championship

Jan 1, 1949 - Puyallup Valley Veterans (Raspberry Bowl)

27-0

1949 Schedule/Results (9-0-1)

Sep 25 - White Center Athletic Club

20-6

Oct 1 - Port Angeles Stags

12-0

Oct 8 - Seattle Associated Boys' Club

32-0

Oct 16 - Enumclaw Silver Barons

0-0

Oct 23 - Issaquah Alpines

51-0

Oct 30 - White Center Athletic Club

28-0

Nov 6 - Seattle Associated Boys' Club

24-6

Nov 13 - Enumclaw Silver Barons

36-0

Nov 20 - Port Angeles Stags

91-0

Nov 27 - Issaquah Alpines *

W FFT

Jan 2, 1950 Hawaii Alohas**

33-0

*Issaquah used illegal players

**Queen City Bowl

1950 Schedule/Results (4-4-0)

Oct 7 @ Bremerton Navy Yard Yellowjackets

12-13

Oct 15 Fort Lewis Rockets

12-29

Oct 22 @ Butte Buzzies

0-6

Nov 5 - Nisie Vets

19-0

Nov 12 @ Washington State Penn Steelers

19-7

Nov 17 - Bremerton Navy Yard Yellowjackets

19-6

Dec 3 - Butte Buzzies*

7-0

Dec 16 @ San Jose Packers**

0-20

*Queen City Bowl

**Salvation Army Charity Bowl Game

1951 Schedule/Results (7-2-0)

Sep 30 @ Fort Lewis Rockets

27-7

Oct 7 @ Washington State Penn Steelers

66-0

Oct 14 @ Butte Buzzies

Cancel

Oct 20 @ University of Washington JV

7-12

Nov 3 - Bremerton Navy Yellowjackets

39-6

Nov 10 @ Gray's Harbor Junior College

32-2

Nov 17 @ Bremerton Navy Yellowjackets

44-7

Nov 24 @ Olympic Junior College

28-14

Dec 2 - Fort Lawton Bulldogs *

Cancel

Dec 2 - San Jose (Packers) Wieland Brewers*

14-7

Dec 9 @ College All-Stars of Washington**

0-25

*Queen City Bowl

**March of Dimes Benefit Game

1952 Schedule/Results (10-0-0)

Sep 20 @ Olympic Junior College*

28-8

Oct 5 - Bremerton Navy Yard Yellowjackets

39-0

Oct 11 @ Everett Junior College

35-19

Oct 26 @ West Seattle All-Stars**

56-13

Nov 1 - Bremerton Navy Yard Yellowjackets

60-6

Nov 7 @ College of Puget Sound

19-0

Nov 22 @ Oak Harbor All Stars

20-6

Nov 27 - Fort Lewis Rockets

38-0

Dec 7 - Northwest College All-Stars#

2-0

Dec 14 @ Bellingham College All-Stars ##

41-7

*Shrine Football Classic

**Renton Hospital Guild Charity Game

# Queen City Bowl

## March of Dimes Benefit Game

1953 Schedule/Results (3-4-1)

Oct 3 Oregon Tech Owls

21-19

Oct 11 - Professional Wrestlers* (Lincoln) (Watch News Clip)

20-6

Oct 25 - Fort Lewis 4x4s

15-14

Oct 31 @ Whitworth College

13-14

Nov 7 - Lower Columbia JC

Cancel

Nov 14 @ Lewis & Clark College

0-19

Nov 22 @ Vancouver (CAN) Cubs

6-7

Nov 26 @ Fort Lewis 4x4s

6-6

Dec 6 - Fort Ord Warriors**

0-28

*Muscle Bowl Benefit Game

**Queen City Bowl

1954 Schedule/Results (6-4-0)

Sep 25 @ University of British Columbia

20-0

Oct 2 @ Oregon College of Education (Western)

20-0

Oct 9 Fort Lewis 4x4s

7-26

Oct 17 @ Washington State Penn Steelers

41-0

Oct 31 Professional Wrestlers*

39-13

Nov 6 @ College of Idaho

13-35

Nov 14 - Camp Hanford Atomeers

32-6

Nov 21 @ Camp Hanford Atomeers

37-0

Nov 26 @ Fort Lewis 4x4s

6-39

Dec 12 Fort Lewis 4x4s**

0-13

* Muscle Bowl Benefit Game

** Queen City Bowl

1955 Schedule/Results (5-1-0)

Sep 24 @ Oregon Tech

34-7

Oct 1 Camp Hanford Atomeers

Cancel

Oct 8 Vancouver (CAN) Cubs*

11-5

Oct 15 @ Linfield College

14-13

Oct 23 Fort Ord Warriors

13-59

Nov 5 @ Southern Oregon College

31-13

Nov 12 @ Portland State University

27-12

*Queen City Bowl (Canadian Rules)

1956 Schedule/Results (5-4-0)

Sep 15 @ Hamilton Air Force Base Defenders*

20-39

Sep 29 @ Oregon College of Education (Western)

26-25

Oct 7 @ Linfield College

7-13

Oct 13 @ Pacific University

7-27

Oct 20 @ Western Washington College JV**

45-7

Oct 28 @ Washington State Penn Steelers

68-12

Nov 3 @ Washington State Reformatory

31-7

Nov 10 @ University of British Columbia

19-0

Nov 17 @ Humboldt State

13-21

*Oyster Bowl

**Edmonds Lions Club Benefit Game

1957 Schedule/Results (9-1-0)

Sep 7 @ Surrey Rams*

47-0

Sep 14 @ Humboldt State

12-0

Sep 21 @ Oregon College of Education (Monmouth)

35-0

Oct 5 @ Pacific University

26-7

Oct 12 @ Whitman College

12-6

Oct 13 @ Washington State Penn Steelers

40-0

Oct 20 @ Surrey Rams**

52-1

Oct 26 @ Malmstrom Air Force Warriors

88-0

Nov 2 -Monroe Reformatory Tigers

Cancel

Nov 9 @ Southern Oregon College

21-25

Nov 16 @ Eastern Oregon College

52-0

*Kinsman Center Benefit Game

**International Footprint Benefit Game (Canadian Rules)

1958 Schedule/Results (8-2-0)

Sep 12 @ Victoria Drakes

27-10

Sep 20 @ Hamilton Air Force Defenders*

13-16

Sept 27 @ College of Puget Sound

27-7

Oct 4 @ University of British Columbia

27-25

Oct 11 @ Oak Bay Drakes**

41-0

Oct 18 @ Pacific Lutheran College

27-0

Oct 25 - Washington State Reformatory

46-6

Nov 1 @ Southern Oregon College***

16-12

Nov 15 Fort Lewis 47th Infantry Panthers^

19-13

Nov 30 - Northwest College All-Stars^^

14-19

*Oyster Bowl

**Edmonds Lions Benefit Game

***Myrtle Bowl

^Fraternal Order of Eagles Benefit Game

^^Shrine Charity Game

1959 Schedule/Results (7-2-0)

Sep 19 @ Hamilton Air Force Defenders*

0-13

Oct 3 @ Humboldt State

13-14

Oct 10 @ Fort Lewis Trains**

21-0

Oct 17 @ Victoria Drakes

33-7

Oct 24 Central Washington College

26-0

Oct 31 @ Lewis & Clark College

13-7

Nov 7 @ Linfield College

14-7

Nov 14 @ Fort Lewis All-Stars

27-0

Nov 21 @ Olympic Junior College

51-0

*Oyster Bowl

**Aberdeen Pioneer Park Benefit Game

1960 Schedule/Results (9-0-0)

Sep 18 @ Victoria Drakes

47-6

Sep 25 @ Hamilton Air Force Defenders*

21-0

Oct 1 @ McClellan Air Force Jets

22-21

Oct 9 @ Spokane Valley Olympics

41-6

Oct 15 @ Pacific University

28-13

Oct 22 @ University of British Columbia

19-7

Nov 7 @ Washington State Penn Steelers

63-6

Nov 13 - Spokane Valley Olympics

7-0

Nov 20 @ Victoria Drakes (Mt. Vernon)

21-6

*Kiddie Bowl

1961 Schedule/Results (9-2-0)

Sep 9 @ Victoria Drakes

27-0

Sep 17 @ Fort Lewis Rangers

29-14

Sep 24 Portland Pioneers

28-0

Oct 1 Spokane Rams

44-0

Oct 7 @ Hamilton Air Force Defenders

6-13

Oct 15 @ McClelland Air Force Jets*

46-14

Oct 21 University of British Columbia JV Chiefs

23-13

Oct 28 @ Portland Thunderbirds

13-7

Nov 5 @ Spokane Rams

40-6

Nov 11 @ University of Santa Clara

28-29

Nov 18 - Fort Lewis Rangers

23-21

*Kiddie Bowl

1962 Schedule/Results (2-5-0)

Sep 15 @ Oregon Tech

30-6

Sep 22 @ Portland Thunderbirds

27-20

Sep 30 @ College of Idaho

6-14

Oct 7 Tacoma Tyees*

13-20

Oct 15 @ Washington State Penn Steelers

6-31

Oct 28 Portland Thunderbirds

6-13

Nov 3 @ Tacoma Tyees

7-27

*Kiddie Bowl

1963 Schedule/Results (4-6-0)

Sep 7 @ Portland Thunderbirds

0-23

Sep 15 @ Edmonds Warriors

0-19

Sep 21 @ Oregon Tech

14-12

Sep 29 @ Tacoma Tyees*

12-34

Oct 6 @ Edmonds Warriors**

7-20

Oct 13 - Portland Thunderbirds

19-14

Oct 20 - Tacoma Tyees

6-10

Nov 3 @ Bellingham Bell-Jets

19-12

Nov 10 @ Edmonds Warriors

10-7

Nov 16 @ Portland State University

13-31

*Longview Football Festival

**Kiddie Bowl

1964 Schedule/Results (2-9-0)

Sep 13 @ Spokane Volunteers

14-0

Sept 19 @ Shoreline Community College

0-30

Sept 20 Bellingham Bell-Jets

14-7

Sept 27 @ Fort Lewis Rangers

0-39

Oct 3 - Portland Thunderbirds

6-19

Oct 10 @ Tacoma Tyee

0-40

Oct 17 @ Edmonds Warriors

6-20

Oct 25 - Fort Lewis Rangers

0-25

Nov 8 @ Spokane Volunteers

7-13

Nov 15 Tacoma Tyees

Nov 22 @ Portland Thunderbirds*

13-26

*JFK Memorial Library Benefit Game

1966: See: Seattle Rangers

Sources:

"Take a Lap" - Author Don Ridge

West Seattle Herald Newspaper (1946 - 1964)

1958 - Jim Harris (OG)

News Releases

Herb Johnson signed with the 1953 Saskatchewen Roughriders as an offensive and defensive back. He led the Western Conference with 72 punt returns for 634 yards and led with 25 kickoff returns. He also set a Western Conference record punt return of 109 yards for a touchdown. In 1954 he signed with the New York Giants

Dick Hard signed with the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League.

Jerry Person signed with the BC Lions in 1956 as a guard.