PRACTICE IN PARADISE: The 1946 Seals in Hawaii

Many Mainlanders don't realize that Hawaii is haven to large numbers of seals, especially of the Monk family, often seen resting on secluded beaches. In spring, 1946, this population was increased by the arrival of over 40 quite different Seals--the San Francisco ball-playing variety.

Club owners Charles Graham and Paul Fagan, known for first-class management, including major league-level salaries and air travel, made the intriguing decision to spring train in Honolulu. Fagan was the driving force behind this adventure; he had a home and various business interests in the Islands, then a US Territory.

Following the arrival of the owners in mid-February, the players began to appear, individually and in small groups. By March, Manager Lefty O'Doul had set up shop in old Honolulu Stadium. After several days of fundamentals and loosening up, O'Doul split the team into two groups, the White and the Maroons, and a series of intrasquad games began.

The accessible and affable O'Doul was immediately popular with the fans and reporters. He wore flower leis on the field, chatted with anyone, umpired the bases, encouraged autograph sessions, and occasionally even set aside his beloved green outfits in favor of florid aloha shirts. During one batting practice, he wandered about, cradling a large, ripe pineapple.

Lefty endeared himself even further to the locals when he told a reporter, "I've never seen a club round into shape so fast in a week." He probably caused a stir back home when he went on to say, "This place has it all over California for training"

Several players jumped off to quick starts. Future two-time AL batting champ Ferris Fain and slugger Sal Taormina rattled the fences for the Maroons. Third baseman-outfield Don White socked homers for the Whites, aided by slap-hitting Del Young. Maroon shortstop Roy Nicely was also admired. The hitting was potent enough to cause O'Doul to wonder out loud if the balls, some of which came from nearby downsizing military bases, were a bit too lively.

The pitchers were behind at the beginning, but there were some good arms on display. Al Lien was a workhorse, young southpaw Bill Werle showed big league potential, old Cliff Melton was solid, and 25-year-old Larry Jansen was on the threshold of a 30-win year. The Seals took their shows to other fields, too: 3,500 assembled at Navy Marine Field near Peal Harbor. Other games were played on high school and community park diamonds. The games were usually followed by fanfare, food and fun. The Seals were a big deal on an island without significant professional baseball. Little kids wanted to touch them, adults wanted to talk, and the players certainly gave as much as they got.

There were some interesting injuries. One young hurler developed a sore arm from too much canoeing. SF News writer Bucky Walter was hit in the face with a foul, which shattered his glasses and left a prominent bruise.

These little setbacks were shrugged off; everyone was having a wonderful time, highlighted by O'Doul's 49th birthday at a huge party at Trader Vic's. Visiting writers enjoyed that bash, but were already far ahead on the party circuit, visiting various watering holes and ethnic eateries.

For the rest of the stay, the Seals' main tasks were to hone their skills for the opener against the Seattle Rainiers and to decide which players to keep. "We have 40 fine Triple-A caliber people here," Graham told the papers, "but only 25 can make the club."

Opposition was provided by an all-star squad of local amateurs and semipros, augmented by major leaguers who were still mustering out of wartime service. Among these were NY Giants slugger Willard Marshall, Yankee pitcher Mel Queen, late's-30's spot starter Boots Poffenberger, and Cardinal prospect Nippy Jones.

Although Marshall lit up the Seals staff and Queen and Poffenberger pitched well, the Bay Area visitors dominated, 11 games to six. As the series dwindled down to the final games, the Seals began to leave for the Coast in small packs; post-war travel was still limited in scope and number.

And so Practice in Paradise ended, but it was a blessing, because the Seals won the 1946 PCL pennant handily and drew a minor league record 670,000 fans. The club took home a check for $15,000, surely much less than it spent and hardly the kind of money which would tempt most owners to return. But Fagan was not a conventional owner. He was wealthy, yet also endowed with both vision and boldness. This led to another engagement, in the spring of '47, at the tiny, picturesque town of Hana, on Maui's east coast. That remarkable island is now primarily an international tourist destination, but 50 years ago it was a quiet plantation community.

In both years, the Seals left a legacy of good baseball and even better feelings. Their visits, coupled with the birth of the football 49ers, created legions of Hawaiian fans devoted to the fortunes of San Francisco teams.