The history of baseball in Tacoma is almost as old as the city itself. KBTC general manager David Hinman explored that history to produce “Invincible: Baseball In Tacoma” which first airs May 23 on Tacoma public television station KBTC.

The new 60-minute documentary highlights Tacoma’s professional and amateur baseball history dating back to 1874. The program’s title comes from Tacoma’s first baseball team, the 1874 Invincibles. They lasted all of twelve days, Hinman says.

“We tell the story in two parts,” says Hinman. “The amazing amateur game, then we trace the professional side. As these two paths of the game intertwine, Tacoma
has never been without exciting baseball.”
 
The documentary covers Babe Ruth’s visit to Tacoma, Satchel Paige and the Monarchs and the return of the Pacific Coast League with Cheney Stadium. Stories are told with photographs and film plus interviews with Brad Cheney; baseball historians Marc Blau and David Eskenazi; broadcasters Clay Huntington and Bob Robertson; and players Dick Greco, Joe Stortini, Vern Kohout and Doug McArthur.
 
“Invincible: Baseball In Tacoma airs” on KBTC 7 p.m. May 23, 8 p.m. May 24 and 8 a.m. May 27.
 
KBTC is a service of Bates Technical College in Tacoma. The public television station serves Western Washington with three transmitters and one translator.