On Wednesday, April 18, 1945, the Tucson High baseball team traveled over 80 miles to Rivers, Arizona (a.k.a. the Gila River Relocation Center) to play Butte High. Coach Kenichi Zenimura and the Eagles knew the game against the reigning state champions was a special opportunity to prove to themselves and others just how good of a team they really were.
The Tucson Badgers were a strong team full of talent. Their line-up included Lowell Bailey, who in 1944 became just the fourth pitcher in U.S. high school history to finish a season with a perfect 0.00 ERA. Third-baseman Lee Carey won the first-ever "Louisville Slugger" trophy awarded by the Hillerich and Bradsby Company for leading American Legion national competition as the top batter in 1945. Carey and teammates Joe Tully and Bailey would eventually go on to play professional ball. Tucson was also graced with the leadership of legendary coach, Hanley “Hank” Slagle. Between 1942 and 1954, Slagle led the Badgers to a 52-game wining streak and 10 State Championships, more titles than any coach in Arizona high school baseball history.
The Butte High squad was a skilled and disciplined team as well, and fortune was with them on April 18, 1945. The Eagles won the exciting contest on a full-count, bases-loaded, two-out single down the third-base line hit by Zenimura’s son, Kenshi. Years later, Coach Zenimura called the game, "one of the most thrilling chapters in the history of Butte (Gila River) baseball.”
The Eagles win over the Badgers was an important and symbolic victory for all Japanese-American’s held behind barbed wire at Gila River. Perhaps more important than the outcome, the actions displayed and words shared afterwards demonstrated that there was no animosity at all between the two head coaches or their players. After the game both teams dined together, shared watermelon, and engaged in a cross-cultural exchange as the Tucson players were taught the finer points of sumo wrestling.
According to written correspondence between Slagle and Zenimura, the two attempted to schedule a rematch. Unfortunately, members of the Tucson community and school district were opposed the idea, citing the Japanese-American players as a potential security threat when leaving the Internment camp. Despite the fact that Internment teams in Arizona had previously received permission to travel as far as Montana and Colorado to play baseball, a second game in Tucson was denied.
Although the rematch on the field never happen, the highly competitive contest that did occur between the Badgers and Eagles has come to represent all that is good about the game of baseball. Time and time again we see how baseball transcends the barriers created by language, race, religion, and politics.
In a nation deeply divided by world war, this single baseball game was a significant, and much needed, gesture of American brotherhood and goodwill.
On and off the field, during and after the game, the conduct of the coaches and players demonstrated graciousness in winning and losing, and a healthy respect for others. In essence, this ballgame – and all those involved in it – embodied the true definition of sportsmanship.
With that, the Tucson High vs. Butte High game that occurred during World War II on a Japanese-American Internment Camp is an important moment in baseball, Arizona and U.S. history – one that should not be forgotten.
**
1945 Butte High Eagles
1945 Tucson High Badgers
**
Zenimura Comes Through to
Monday, April 23, 1945
by Ken
Zenimura
Sports Section, Page 3
Playing an errorless defensive game, the undefeated Butte High Eagles, coached by Ken Zenimura, blasted a terrific rally in the last of the tenth frame to inflict upon the state champs from Tucson High their first defeat in three years in a ten inning thrill-packed baseball game on the 28 ball field by the narrow margin of 11-10 last Wednesday afternoon.
A Thrilling Finish
What the several thousand
spectators witnessed in that decisive inning will be long remembered as one of
the most thrilling chapters in the history of Butte
In accomplishing the above
feat, the Eagles came from behind three times in the second, sixth, and eighth
innings before tying the score at 10-10 which continued throughout the ninth
and tenth.
Close-up on the 10th
Then came the decisive
inning. Lowell Bailey who hurled
masterfully for Tucson
Receiving excellent support,
Tets Furukawa, though touched for 19 safeties on his mound debut, took his
fifth straight victory.
Fukai and Ushiro hit 3 for 5
apiece for the Eagles while Lopez, Carey, and Weinstein did likewise for the visitors.
Box Score
Inning
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
|
H
|
R
|
E
|
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
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19
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10
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6
|
||
0
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4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
0
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1
|
0
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1
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13
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11
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0
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