Phil Shinnick set a world record of 27-4 in the long jump May 25, 1963, then spent 40 years attempting to prove the truth of what happened that day. His extraordinary story..
Author: David Eskenazi
David Eskenazi
Many of the historic images on Sports Press Northwest are provided by resident Northwest sports history aficionado, David Eskenazi. A Seattle native, David has amassed an extensive archive of Seattle, Northwest, and West Coast historic sports photographs, artifacts and ephemera. We draw from this archive to illustrate stories in The Vault, and our weekly Rotation feature, The Wayback Machine. Youll see many unique and evocative representations of our sporting past, many of which have never been seen publicly. You are in for a treat! David enjoys sharing his collection and zeal for Northwest sports history. His historical showcase activities have included displays at numerous museums, historical societies, and community events, including an annual Northwest baseball history display at Mariners FanFest, and working on baseball-themed fund raising events for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Since the early 1990s, The Seattle Mariners have enlisted David to help recognize and illustrate Seattle and the Northwests 120-year baseball legacy. This collaboration has produced historical displays at Safeco Field, including seven 35-foot long historical storyboards surrounding the Safeco Field main concourse, Fred Hutchinson seat end stanchions, and classic early photographs on the suite level, all created for the opening of Safeco Field in 1999. From its opening in 2007 to the present day, David has provided thematic ideas, design elements, images, and scores of original historic Northwest baseball artifacts for the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest at Safeco Field. David also contributed visual materials, historical consultation and on-screen interviews for documentaries on The Seattle Rainiers, The Spokane Indians, and the Seattle Pilots, and provided images and other inputs for a multitude of books, magazines, web-sites and other media focusing on Seattle, Northwest and West Coast sports history. Recent books he contributed to extensively include SABRs Rain Check: Baseball in the Pacific Northwest, and Dan Raleys Pitchers of Beer: The Seattle Rainiers Story. David has a keen ongoing interest in sharing stories, expanding and enhancing his collection, and broadening his knowledge and archive of Northwest sports history and memorabilia. If you have questions, memories to share, stories to suggest, or would like to talk to him about selling or trading Seattle and Northwest sports artifacts, please contact him at (206) 441-1900, or at seattlesportshistory@gmail.com
No one personified perseverance more than Brian Sternberg, who maintained a positive attitude throughout his life despite the tragic accident that left him a quadriplegic.
One of the most remarkable days in Seattle sports history was May 25, 1963 when two Washington track and field athletes set world records one hour apart.
Paul Strand came out of tiny Carbonado, in Pierce County, and developed into one of the greatest minor league hitters of all time. He had a record 325 hits in 1923.
K Chorlton (no period after K) came out of Roosevelt High School as a “shooting star” with major league potential. But one missed fly ball changed the course of his promising career.
Golfer Fred Couples is just the latest state native inducted into a major sports Hall of Fame, joining a long list of Washington athletes from a variety of sports.
The Cheney Studs made their first trip to the AABC nationals in 1954, returned in 1955 and won the championship in 1960. The Studs were Ben Cheney’s main amateur team.
Ben Cheney made his fortune in the lumber industry and spent the rest of his life donating to worthwhile causes, including the sponsorships of hundreds of amateur sports teams.
Dewey Soriano was the toast of the town when he and brother Max brought major league baseball to Seattle. The Sorianos were burned in effigy when the Pilots left.
Dewey Soriano, Franklin High grad, friend of Fred Hutchinson, player, GM, club owner and executive, was one of the most influential figures in Seattle baseball history.