Salem Senators’ Triple Threat: the Girod Brothers

Originally from Indiana, the family came to Oregon the first time in 1891[iii] to help their grandparents Gustave and Sophie Girod homestead a large acreage located about six miles north of Salem, at the present address of 7501 35^th Avenue NE in what was called the Lake Labish area.  At the time Paul and Ida only had two sons, Milton Louis (1888-1960) and Homer August (1890-1988).[iv]  During the few short years the family remained in Oregon, two additional sons were born; Albert Paul (1891-1989) and Jesse C. (1892-1968).[v]  In the spring of 1896, his familial duty discharged, Paul returned with his small family to Adams County, Indiana and a job with the Meshberger stone quarry.[vi]  Here the family remained until 1915 when informed that grandfather Gustave’s health was failing.  They brought their youngest children with them back to Oregon, Edna B. (1898-1971), Ralph Adolph (1900-1986), Theodore Roosevelt “Ted” (1902-2000), Louis Leo (1905-1975), and Paul Elm “Zeke” (1907-1985)[vii] and built a home on a 33 acre farm next to Buena Crest School, six miles north of Salem on north River Road.[viii]

Here the three youngest boys, Ted, Louis and Zeke learned to play the Willamette Valley version of baseball at Buena Crest School.[ix]  Naturally gifted athletes, the year Ted graduated from 8th grade they led their school team to victory over Woodburn for the North County championship.  Woodburn came to Buena Crest without their star pitcher because they believed the little school would be a pushover; they were mistaken and Buena Crest won.  The principal of Woodburn, also head of the baseball tournament for Marion County, insisted that the game be played over again, this time on Woodburn’s home turf.  So it was, and Buena Crest won again.[x]

In 1917, following 8th grade graduation, Ted went to work and in his spare time continued to play ball, first for the city of Woodburn.  One fine Sunday afternoon his father came to watch him play.  Ted led his team to victory with a home run and a triple; three hits out of four times at bat. His father was so proud of him he bragged to all the neighbors and relatives and brought a huge crowd of them to Ted’s next game, including 11 Girod family members.  This time nerves kicked in and Ted played terribly.  The team lost, 3 – 0, because of an error Ted made.[xi]

Baseball continued to gain popularity across the country, hitting a fevered pitch in the 1920s and 30s.  Towns and schools formed teams, factories and mills sponsored teams, good players were recruited on all fronts.  The Girod brothers were in high demand.  By 1926 Ted, Louis and Zeke, according to Portland city directories, had moved to Portland, Oregon.  All three worked and played for the Grand Rapids Showcase Company, a Michigan-based manufacturer of furniture and equipment with a branch factory in Portland.[xii]  They also played for the Salem Senators in the Willamette Valley League.  The trio got a lot of publicity for their outstanding ability as fielders and hitters, earning them the nickname the “Poison brothers” in the local papers.[xiii]

The 1930s and Great Depression brought many changes to the family.  Ted moved back to the family farm in Quinaby, Marion, Oregon to help their widowed mother and brother Harvey run the farm, Zeke and Louis stayed in Portland during the week, but came home on the weekends when needed and to play ball.[xiv]  Ted was the first to marry on January 4, 1934, a neighbor’s daughter by the name of Ruby Jane Orey.[xv]  Zeke followed suit in 1935 with Ellen Ruth Moe[xvi], and Louis brought up the tail end when he married Pauline Limmeroth of Portland on September 5, 1936.  At that point their lives started to take off in new directions though they would continue to play ball together whenever offered the chance.

By the 1940 census, Zeke was living with his in-laws Elling and Pauline Moe in Portland, OR working as a truck driver for a fruit and produce company.[xvii] During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy.[xviii]  Louis also settled in the Portland area, eventually owning and operating grocery stores in both Vernonia and Tigard.[xix]  Ted remained in Marion County, and eventually took over his father-in-law’s successful hop ranch, later converting it to cannery crops.[xx] In later years, all three brothers continued their love of the game, switching from playing to managing local teams and coaching.  At his death, December 30, 1975, Louis was remembered for his years of service to the Tigard American Legion junior baseball team.[xxi] Ten years later on May 30, 1987 brother Zeke passed away and was buried in Junction City, Oregon.[xxii]  Ted lived until the age of 98, passing away on May 14, 2000.[xxiii]

This article was written by Kaylyn F. Mabey for the Statesman Journal where it was printed 14 June 2014. It is reproduced here for reference purposes.

References:

[i] Ken Burns: Baseball documentary

[ii] Ted Girod and Baseball in the ’20s and ’30s – Ann Lossner (Keizer Historical Series)

[iii] The Gustave Girod/Sophie Alexandrine Balmer Family – Pauline Louise Girod Lea

[iv] 1900 US Federal Census

[v] Ibid

[vi]  The Gustave Girod/Sophie Alexandrine Balmer Family – Pauline Louise Girod Lea

[vii] 1920 US Federal Census

[viii] Metsker Map – Polk County, P. 2 Mission Bottom, Lincoln, Quinaby

[ix]  Ted Girod and Baseball in the ’20s and ’30s – Ann Lossner (Keizer Historical Series)

[x]  Ted Girod and Baseball in the ’20s and ’30s – Ann Lossner (Keizer Historical Series)

[xi]  Ted Girod and Baseball in the ’20s and ’30s – Ann Lossner (Keizer Historical Series)

[xii] 1926-1929 Portland City Directories

[xiii] Oregonian (Portland, OR) 20 Sep 1925, p. 88

[xiv] 1930 US Federal Census

[xv] Ruby Orey & Ted Girod – Ann Lossner (Keizer Historical Series)

[xvi] Estimated marriage date taken from data 1930 and 1940 US Censuses.

[xvii] 1940 US Federal Census

[xviii] WWII US Navy Muster Rolls

[xix] Obituary – Oregonian (Portland, OR) 1 Jan 1976

[xx] Ruby Orey & Ted Girod – Ann Lossner (Keizer Historical Series)

[xxi] Obituary – Oregonian (Portland, OR) 1 Jan 1976

[xxii] Obituary – Oregonian (Portland, OR) 30 May 1985

[xxiii] Claggett Cemetery Records – Keizer, OR