On this date 98 years ago today — Aug. 15, 1928 — Illinois baseball coach Carl Lundgren, co-captains Dick Finn and Ira Sweeney, captain-elect Don Andrews and a dozen other players embarked on a nearly 6,000-mile ocean journey from America’s west coast to Minato, Tokyo.
Japan’s Keio University, which had traveled to the United States the previous spring to play Illinois and other American teams, extended the Illini a return invitation to traverse the Pacific Ocean aboard the S.S. Shinyo Maru of the Nippon Yusen Kabushiki line and compete in Japan.
During their cross-country railroad trip across the great northwest, the Illini began playing games on July 30 in St. Paul, Minn., then in Jamestown, N.D., Helena and Missoula, Mont., Vancouver, B.C., four stops in Washington, and two games apiece in Oregon and California.
After departing San Francisco’s port on the Aug. 15, the Illinois traveling party practiced daily on the ship’s top deck, then ran nine laps around the “B” deck. It was reported that a total of 45 baseballs flew into the ocean during their excursion.
The Illini spent one day on Honolulu soil, touring the island and riding surf boards at Waikiki Beach. They re-boarded the ship the next morning, arriving 10 days later at Yokohama.
Dozens of Japanese photographers took photos of their guests before the group was transported by electric train to Tokyo, where they headquartered at the Imperial Hotel. At their first meal, everyone checked their shoes at the door, then dined on floor mats to a meal of beef sukiyaki, citron water, watermelon and ice cream.
The next day, still a bit wobbly from their journey and suffering from the fierce heat and humidity, the Illini were warmly applauded at the opening game on Sept. 1 by the crowd of 16,000 that were in attendance at the 25,000-seat Tokyo stadium.
Following a ceremonious march around the diamond to the tune of “Illinois Loyalty,” Keio University’s President Hayasaki presented the guests with a large wreath of flowers. That was Illinois’ highlight for the day, unfortunately, as its hosts won the game, 6-2.
Nearly two weeks later, the Illini departed Japan with an 11-game record of 7-3-1 against university teams from Keio, Waseda, Meiji and Daimai. They arrived back on the North American shore at Vancouver on Sept. 29.
Lundgren and his men said that the Japanese treated them hospitably and were exceptional sportsmen.
“Boy, they treated us too fine,” Illini outfielder H.B. “Tillie” Walker said with a smile. “We were about worn out from all of the receptions and banquets they gave us. They did everything they could to make us feel at home. It was a great trip. I surely wouldn’t have missed it.”
Illini birthdaysSaturday:Jon Beutjer, football (46)Sunday:Ed Kral, swimming (85)Monday:Andrej Stojakovic, basketball (22)Tuesday:Brandon Hansen, football (20)Wednesday:Lon Kruger, basketball coach (74)Thursday:Don Hansen, football (82)Friday:Jocelynn Birks, volleyball
By Mike Pearson, author of Illinois Legends, Lists & Lore (Third Edition available online). Get more Illini birthdays, trivia and historical tidbits daily on “X” at IlliniLegends, on Facebook at SportsLegendsListsLore, and on LinkedIn. His website is www.SportsLLL.com.