By Donna Swagerty Shreve
The Swagerty family has been known for athletics throughout the generations: football, basketball, waterpolo, swimming and, also baseball.
Christmas Day in 1930s included a baseball game between the older and younger generations until the younger generation won. They switched to horseshoes.
1942 the Hughson High School’s baseball team won the area championship. Cousin Everett Aldrich was on the team and his grandfather Aldrich, our great grandfather, was a great fan. After the championship game Everett gave his grandfather the team baseball signed by all players. It is currently being displayed by a great great grandson in a Hughson home.
Wilbur and Elmer Swagerty, father of Floyd, were quite the battery with Elmer catching and Wilbur able to pitch effectively with either arm. They were scouted by the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Wilbur had found religion and refused to play on Sundays. The deal was off.
In 1962 Floyd Swagerty took the whole family of 6 to Candlestick Park May 26th to watch the first year of the expansion team of the New York Mets. Willie Mays hit a home run and so many of the famously known Giant players were on that team. There is a story there but this is a quick history.
Aaron Shreve escorted our mother Melva Swagerty to several games of Spring Training in Arizona. Her last baseball game was July 4th, 2006 in San Diego where she was visiting her son Brian.
Melva and then Aaron and me went to several opening days at now Oracle Park along with Rodger and Linda Gray. In 2002 Aaron and I got to attend a World Series game between the Giants and the L.A. Angels. We also attended the World Series parades celebrations. Now Aaron and his son Michael are certified umpires and keep quite busy during the baseball season in the Santa Rosa area.
Grant, our brother, was a baseball player on the Lincoln High School team. Shannon and his son Jackson now are in possession of his mitt. Jane, our sister, honors his memory with a yearly scholarship to Lincoln High baseball players. Our family, like many American families, has had many baseball memories
Melva and Floyd Swagerty’s children were a part of the history of Lincoln Unified also. Donna was in the first class at the Senior Elementary now Sierra Middle School and was the last graduating class at the old campus, while Brian’s graduating class was the first to attend all four years at the new campus. He also was on the first water polo team and was undefeated for a few years. Jane graduated from Lincoln High after a year away for the 1968 Olympics. Grant attended part of his freshman year. Bradford Shreve continued the tradition in the next generation graduating from Lincoln in 1995.
When you see the Swagerty sign on the baseball field I hope you realize our father’s real contribution to Lincoln Unified started in 1954 when he became the high school principal on the U.O.P. campus. He was responsible for getting the campus moved to this present site. He then help design the current campus with its unique design that was ahead of its time when it was built. He retired in 1979. His wife Melva should be remembered for the two libraries in the district she started from scratch. We are honored that our family is being recognized and thank you so much for this legacy.
580 words
5/25/2026
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