History Lesson 4- Was there a pro baseball team in San Clemente? I had to do some digging to get details because I’ve heard rumors. The answer is yes! Ole Hanson, who was from Seattle, was a big baseball fan…So big, that in the 1920’s he had a baseball field constructed in North Beach where the current doll houses are now off of Calle Las Bolas (balls). This field became the spring training grounds for the Seattle Indians from the Pacific Coast League. San Clemente later got it’s very own team in 1927. Bob Meusal of the New York Yankees said that San Clemente field was the best in America! During this time the Chicago Cubs use to have their Spring Training on Catalina Island. Rumor has it, the Wrigley family who owned the Cubs, would bring them to San Clemente first to play in exhibition games and the whole town would come out. I’m assuming once the war started the team fizzled out but one thing is for sure…If you build it, they will come!
