The Corvallis American Legion baseball program has been fortunate to have outstanding sponsorship from the Corvallis community for decades. One could stand in front of the Richey's Market freezer case on Circle Boulevard, gaze upward, and see trophy after trophy that was won under the sponsorship of Richey’s Market. The hardware represented six state titles, three regional championships, a pair of third-place national finishes, a fifth-place finish, five state runner-up finishes, and uncounted tournament victories.

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When Jack and Vera Richey retired and Richey’s Market closed in September, 2010, it marked the end of an incredible run of support by the family and the store. Corvallis American Legion Baseball remains grateful for the long relationship. For 42 seasons, the Richey family helped provide not only on-field opportunities for young ballplayers, but a summer diversion for local families and a passion for other baseball fans. Richey’s Market was first the sole sponsor of the American Legion baseball team in Corvallis in 1970 and the Marketmen responded by winning the program’s first-ever state title.

 

On May 27, 1970, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported that the Richey’s Market team would begin practice under head coach Bob Clark. The Marketmen opened the season at Hansen Stadium at Taylor Field on June 2, being swept by Newport; they picked up their first win a day later at Hillsboro. In the ensuing decades, Richey’s Market was honored several times as Oregon’s Sponsor of the Year for American Legion baseball; that included the 2009 season, when the Marketmen won their sixth state title.

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In 2011, the Gerding Builders, took up the mantle of title sponsorship, continuing a proud baseball tradition in Corvallis. With Gerding's generous support of the baseball program, the Marketmen tradition will remain strong for years to come and continue providing opportunities for young men in our community to compete at a high level and learn life skills.