Dr. Stewart's baseball team doing fine in ill economy

American Legion baseball as Roseburg knows it was born out of the Great Depression, survived through World War II and the local timber recession. And during the recent economic downturn, Dr. Stewart's baseball appears to be doing just fine.

Approximately 80 percent of funding for the AAA club comes from ticket sales and advertising, which are as steady as ever Legion commissioner Tom Donagan said.

“We're getting similar ticket sales this year as the last few years — a lot of the same people come back year after year,” Donagan said. “That's the first thing we look at, and we're getting a similar amount on advertising, so we've been pretty lucky in that regard.”

The Docs have played only four of their 18 games this summer in Roseburg, but the team begins a stretch of 14 home games in a 12-day stretch on Monday.

“We find that slow economic times can help us in a way,” Donagan said. “If people want baseball but are looking to stay closer to home, we're a pretty cheap way to get family entertainment.”

Last season, a well-attended state playoff against Richey's Market of Corvallis pushed the program over its goal for ticket sales, Donagan said.

The other 20 percent of funds come from steadier sources — 18 percent is provided through the Dr. Earl B. Stewart, Noble Goettel and Phil Harth trusts and the other two comes from player registration fees.

On the plus side of the ledger, Dr. Stewart's has benefitted from lower gas prices compared to last summer in their numerous van trips around the region.

“We just about hit the peak last summer at $4.50,” Donagan said. “Now we're back down to $2.75, which to me is high but better than it was. Everytime you go out it creeps up a little.”

The team cut short its traditional Northern California trip (500 miles round-trip) to one night. The Docs make their longest trip of the season on Sunday against the Columbia Gorge Hustlers in The Dalles (520 miles round-trip).

BASEBALL ON THE HALFSHELL

Two of the biggest summer attractions in Douglas County are Dr. Stewart's baseball games and Music on the Halfshell. Those events collide each of the next two Tuesdays.

The Docs host the Grants Pass Nuggets in an Area 4 doubleheader Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Legion Field while Acoustic Alchemy visits the halfshell stage at adjacent Stewart Park at 7 p.m.

On July 14, the Klamath Falls Falcons come to Roseburg, the same night as Vieux Farka Toure.

“It's not the first time this has occurred and it can be kind of a parking issue,” Halfshell president Bobb Cotterell said. “Folks just seem to figure it out — they walk, ride the shuttle bus in.”

The Docs were able to avoid Tuesday games last season, but because of the cyclical nature of league schedules, it was unavoidable this summer.

“Both events are good for the community and we really try to accomodate,” Donagan said. “Everybody wants their home games on a Saturday, and you have to be willing to owe a team a Saturday road game in exchange for a Tuesday home game every once in a while.”

League schedules are drafted at winter meetings.

Shuttle busses run between the Downtown parking garage to Stewart Park from 5:15 to 7 p.m. and return trips will be made as necessary at the end of the concert.

VETERAN PRESENCE OFF THE BENCH

Jim Marr, 89, didn't make the starting lineup in the Dr. Stewart's Alumni Game on June 20, but no former Docs player received a bigger round of applause in introductions at Legion Field.

Marr, a member of the 1936 Lockwood Motors team, showed up aided only by a cane.

“I thought it was tremendous he knew that the game was going on and wanted to be a part of it,” said Helen Lesh, Legion commissioner and alumni game organizer. “He was first in line on the basepaths.”

Marr is a decorated World War II veteran who lost his wife Virginia after 63 years of marriage in May.

• You can reach sports reporter Rob McCallum by e-mail at rmccallum@nrtoday.com, or by phone at 957-4221.