10/23/2026
Nevada Department of Native American Affairs
Throwback Thursday
Now that the 2026 World Series is about to start, we repeat a favorite Throwback Thursday on baseball history in the Mono Basin area. An article from the Bridgeport Chronicle Union of June 27, 1925 extolls the talents of the Mono Lake team.
“Well! Our baseball team cleaned up on the Bridgeport and Gardnerville teams last Sunday at Bridgeport. The score stood as follows: Mono Lake, 19; Bridgeport 7. In the other game, Mono Lake scored 25; Gardnerville, 14. Our boys are hard to beat. A Los Angeles baseball fan, who witnessed the game said that the Mono Lake team was the best amateur team he had met up with outside the cities.”
The late August “Augie” Hess, born in 1914, recalled a baseball team called, “the Mono Lake Indians” in his book, “The Kid From Mono Mills."
“They played against teams from Bodie, Bridgeport, Yerington, Smith Valley, and Schurz. This Mono Lake team was quite a team. Their main pitcher was Paiute Charlie, an uncle of mine, and another uncle, Henry Charlie, was on first base. Bridgeport was the big rival.”
Hess became pitcher and manager of the Lee Vining town baseball team from 1948-1953. A team photo shows first row, from left, are: Richie Dondero, second base; Ray Washington, right field; Ted Williams, bat boy; Ernie Mike, center field; and Earl Hess, left field. Second row, from left: John Dondero, Jr., shortstop; Stan Hess, catcher, August Hess; Roy Dondero, third base; Mike Kellelher, first base; and Brick Wilcox, umpire and help coach. (Not shown in photo: Larry Hess, Morris Jack and Joe Sam.)
Photo courtesy of the Mono Basin Historical Society.