Artifact of the Month: June 2017

Play Ball!

Baseball has always been a favorite activity in Ketchikan from the early years when it was played on the tide flats at Thomas Basin to high school games hosted at Norman Walker Field. As a child growing up in Ketchikan, Eric Tietjen loved playing baseball. Eric was a member of the "Eagles," the 1958 Little League Championship team. Each team member received a ball and belt buckle to commemorate the successful season. Recently, Eric donated his little league baseball champion belt buckle that he wore in the 1958 photo. Reflecting on that special event, Eric said it was one of the highlights of his young life. As an adult, Eric worked as a commercial fisherman and is an avid salmon can label collector.

Ketchikan Museums, KM 2016.2.29.15 (buckle) and KM 2014.2.18.3 (image)