A recent Tribune Flashback had an article from the year 1956. It said the new lease on Bengal Field from the Lewiston School District to the professional baseball team, the Lewiston Broncs, would last five more years.
People born after 1974 never saw minor league baseball played at Bengal Field, but the Lewiston Broncs of the Western International and then the Northwest League played there from 1952-74. Lewiston also had minor league teams there in 1937 and 1939.
I played four years of football and baseball for the LHS Bengals, and all of our home games were at Bengal Field. I also had a letter in track, and our home meets were at Bengal Field. The dashes were held on the west side of the field, and the longer distance contestants ran around the field at various distances. The broad jump (now called long jump) was held in the southwest corner, the high jump and pole vault in the northwest corner, and the shot put, discus and javelin were in the center of the field.
High school and summer American Legion baseball teams now play at Church and Harris Fields, but until 1985, baseball was played at Bengal Field. Track meets were held at Bengal Field until Vollmer Bowl was developed. Lewiston High School has played their home football games at Bengal Field since 1934. Some of the most exciting games were against the Clarkston Bantams, played on Thanksgiving with the games starting before noon. The last Thanksgiving Day game played at Bengal Field was in 1951, and the very last Turkey Dan tussle was in Clarkston in 1952.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Bantams won 19 total games and the Bengals 16, starting in 1917.
The land for Bengal Field was purchased by the school district in 1926 for $3,800, but was only used for practice until 1934, when an additional half block to the south was purchased for $1,375. Until 1948, the distance to the fence along the right field foul line was only a little longer than 250 feet, but because of so many home runs, it was moved back to 315 feet in 1948.
The property was named Bengal Field as a result of a contest at the high school in 1923, but the first use of the word for the LHS athletic teams was in 1926. In 1937, individuals and businesses donated money and labor to build a grandstand and lights. The LHS Bengals are still playing home football games at Bengal Field, but a new football field will soon be built in the Orchards by the new high school.
Ah, memories of Benal Field still linger in the minds of all who played and watched games there.
Riggs, 90, is a lifelong Lewistonian. He’s an avid Warriors fan, a retired educator, coach and school superintendent and volunteers his time at the Nez Perce County Historical Society. He can be reached at bdriggo@gmail.com.
