Goals, Home runs, Match sets, and Touchdowns in Rainier Valley Community Sports

Founded in 1908, by a group of sports enthusiasts, Rainier Valley Athletic Club organized, sports teams for all ages. They competed against teams from other districts of Seattle, including baseball, football, basketball, boxing, and wrestling. In addition to the Athletic Club Teams, there were a mix of school teams and those sponsored by local small businesses and churches.

This photo essay showcases a variety of teams from the early years of Rainier Valley development.

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Columbia Congregational Church sponsored this 1914 girls' basketball team.

The Rainier Valley Athletic Club was founded in 1908, so this would've been one of their first baseball teams. Sidenote: the date may only represent when the team was founded and not the actual image date.

The Rainier Valley Athletic Club football team. They won the 1910 Seattle football championship.

The Whitworth School Boys Baseball Team, which won the city Championship in 1911.

Photo of player Fred Hutchinson (middle) in the Rainiers Baseball team uniform. Hutchinson would go on to play for the Detroit Tigers and coach for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. His brother Dr. William Hutchinson, founded the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and named it in his honor.

Hawthorne School Soccer Team Circa 1917

A group of football players forms a line of scrimmage in 1920. Pierre Weiss, a Columbia Pioneer, is second from the left.

1924 Basketball Team sponsored by Columbia Congregational Church

Harry Cole playing tennis at Seward Tennis Club, 1931. The courts were located near 39th and Angeline. The club was started by a group of tennis enthusiasts in the Columbia City area. They entered and won city-wide tournaments, and Cole won the club championship three times. The original Bethlehem Lutheran Church is visible in the background.

Columbia City Softball Team 1934

Seattle Baseball Club official scorecard.