SAMUEL WILLIAM BEAN

One of the most remarkable California chess players in history!

   Sam Bean was a truly remarkable person - remarkable for his success in business as well as in chess; remarkable in his overcoming the double handicap of deafness and blindness; remarkable in his philosophy of life, summed up in his own words: "The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, and the way to be happy is to make others so."  It had been Emil's special privilege to have known Sam and to have played against him. From him we learned a great deal, not about just chess, but life. His jest for living has made his life a pattern for all of us who knew him. Sam was born in Redwood City, California, March 5, 1896. As told by Sam himself, his affliction came about as follows: "I was watching some boys on a playground when I was thirteen. One of the boys picked up a rock and threw it, only playing. It hit me on the head, causing intense inflammation and destroyed the optic and auditory nerves." After his accident his family enrolled Sam at the California School for the Deaf and Blind in Berkeley. It was there that he met his future wife and to whom two sons, Samuel, Jr. and Earl Ray, were born.                                                                            Sam became a salesman and with his wife traveled extensively all over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He was also skilled in cabinet-making, stringing tennis rackets, and other skills. He could speak well and read Braille. Others communicated with him by tracing their message in the palm of his hand or by employing the manual alphabet with his hand. Among his achievements is a little volume of poetry, "Light in Darkness," which expresses his philosophy of life. At chess Sam became an expert player and won club and county championships. He also played in North vs. South matches and in tournaments for the blind of the world. Naturally he used a specially constructed board so that he could feel the pieces. Since he had to play slowly, his opponent usually set up another board for his own use while Sam was busy wandering all over his own board. Sam won most of his games and was quick to congratulate anyone who defeated him. Many of Sam's games and poems have been translated into Braille by his good friend, H.S. Lansing. Since Sam did not keep scores of his games, we were able to obtain some from Mr. Lansing for publication in this book. Sam passed away in 1952 at the age of fifty-six after living forty-three years of his life in darkness and soundlessness with never a discouraging word nor without a smile. Hail to thee, Sir Samuel Bean, Valiant Knight! Thou art above effacement in death as thou wert above reproach in life. (This excerpt is from the book  'Silent Knights of the Chessboard', written by Juan F. Font and Emil S. Ladner in 1979.)

Oakland Chess Club (2nd floor , Thayer Building, 577 14th Street, Oakland circa 1930)

 

The North-South Match for May 15, 1938 was held at San Luis Obispo. Sam lost on board 16. (American Chess Bulletin, July-August, 1938)

 

1)  Adolph J. Fink                   1           D. Woliston         0

2)  William P. Barlow             0           I. Spero                1

3)  E. J. Clarke                       .5           R. N. Travers      .5 

4)  C. J. Bergman                    1           R. Harari              0

5)  N. Vedensky                      1           MacBride             0

6)  D. M. Belmont                  0            E. P. Elliott          1

7)  A. B. Stamer                     1            Chern                   0

8)  R. Willson                         1            E. W. Grabill       0

9)  W. H. Smith                      0            B. Dobsevage      1

10) C. Howland                      0            Banner                 1

11) William Guthrie McClain  1          N. J. Goldberg     0

12) Carroll Capps                   1            A. V. Taylor        0

13)  L. Boyette                        0           Wolff                   1

14) William Taber                  0            Freed                   1

15) G. L. Lewis                       1            Dr. Sawyer          0

16) Sam Bean                         0            L. R. Johnson      1

17) Fred N. Christensen          1            M. Medove          0

18) Carl Ekoos                        0            R. D. Smith          1

19) V. J. Smolakov                .5            C. H. Whipple     .5

20) W. Hendricks                    1           G. Dobsevage       0

21) D. A. Amneus                   1           Welsberg               0

22) Al E. Loera                       1            Cooper                  0

23) L. Tomasini                     .5            J. B. Holt              .5

24) P. B. Boone                      1            Meehan                 0

25) Paul H. Traum                  0            Schirm                  1

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       Northern CA                   14.5        Southern CA        10   .5

 

 

Sam Bean was a longtime member of  the Oakland Chess Club (2nd floor of the Thayer Building) and later a member of  the Pittsburg Chess Club. Around 1940, Curtis Wilson took his young son, Ernie, to visit the Oakland Chess Club to meet Sam Bean, the blind and deaf chess expert. Ernie played his moves against Mr. Bean by "writing" them onto Sam's hand; Sam won the game.

 

 

 

Sam Bean with cane near Oakland Chess Club

Sam Bean with cane

 

'American Chess Bulletin' for July-August 1947 gave the results for the North-South Team Match held at Atascadero as 17-5. Surprisingly there was also a secondary match that the North won by 10-9. Sam played on board four in the secondary match and scored one loss and one win. They also explained that as a blind player he used a specially made board (pieces pegged into board) and feels the position of pieces, move by move.

 

 

The annual 1948 Northern vs Southern California Team Match was held on Memorial Day, May 30, 1948 at Atascadero.

 

1)  George Koltanowski   .5           Herman Steiner       .5

2)  Adolph J. Fink             1           Sven Almgren          0

3)  John H. Barlow            0           Harry Borochow      1 

4)  C. J. Bergman              1           Hyman Gordon        0

5)  Vladimir Pafnutieff     .5           D. Cross                  .5

6)  E. J. Clarke                  .5          G. S. G. Patterson    .5

7)  Dr. H. J. Ralston          1           George E. Croy         0

8)  E. O. Fawcett               0           W. H. Steckel           1

9)  N. Preo                        .5           A. Bazael                 .5

10) Jay B. Gee                  1           Morris Gordon           0

11)  Henry Gross              .5           S. Finklestein           .5

12) M. O. Meyer               1           A. Seidman                0

13)  W. Guthrie McClain  0           Philip D. Smith         1

14) R. Willson                   0           Arthur R. Spiller       1

15) Wade A. Hendricks    .5           Fred S. Hazard         .5

16) Charles Svalberg        1            R. Selana                   0

17) Ralph Hultgren           0            R. W. Banner            1

18) Howard Donnelly       .5           C. J. Gibbs                .5

19) Charles Sedlack          0            J. P. Quillan              1

20) S. Abrahams               1            E. W. Grabill             0

21) F. Pelouze                   0            E. P. Elliott                1

22) Earl Pruner                  0            R. Smith                    1

23) M. Jackson                 1             A. Bisno                    0

24) Sam Bean                  1             Leroy Johnson           0

25) W. Leeds                    1             E. Carlson                  0

26) W. H. Smith              .5             Herbert T. Abel        .5

27) Fred N. Christensen  .5            George W. Chase      .5

28) S. Kondrashoff           0             P. Petersen                 1

29) F. Byron                     .5            V. Asher                    .5

30) M. Lowenthal             0             Ray Martin                1

31) M. Eudey                    0             S. Wolff                     1

32) Joseph Nedham          1             George A. Steven       0

33) M. Shimkin                0             E. Everett                   1

34) Kurt Bendit                0             Carl L. Budd               1

35) C. Stamer                   .5            M. Foor                       .5

36) Neil T. Austin            1             Nancy Roos                0

37) Francis Crofut            0             L. Millstein                 1

38) Paul Lynch                 1             F. Hufnagel                 0

39) E. Dana                      .5            R. Aronson                  .5

40) S. Drake                     0             O. Pollycove                1

41) P. Boone                    1             Charles E. Henderson  0

42) F. Jackson                  1             M. Cook                       0

43) S. Van Gelder            .5            P. Harmat                    .5

44) O. Rothe                    0             F. Jorgensen                 1

45) George Oakes           .5             G. Eisgrau                   .5

46) W. Bird                     1             E. Northridge                0

47) R. Maxwell              1              Mrs. M. Harmat            0

48) F. Clark                    1              J. Greenberg                 0

49) S. M. Poulsen           0             Dr. S. Luban                  1

50) R. Wyman                1             D. Eddy                         0

51) A. Cattell                 .5             F. Goetze                      .5

52) R. Vaughn                0             E. Yavorski                   1

53) G. F. Mills                0             H. Zander                      1

54) C. J. Smith               0              M. Melworm                1

55) J. Berry                    1              S. Cawker                     0

56) J. E. Orr                   0              M. Altura                      1

57) Dr. C. Magee           1              W. Steel                        0       

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      Northern CA           28.5           Southern CA             28.5

 

 

The annual 1949 Northern vs Southern California Team Match was held on Memorial Day, May 30, 1949, at Atascadero.

 

1)  George Koltanowski  .5          Herman Steiner        .5

2)  Vladimir Pafnutieff    1           Jim Cross                 0

3)  Earl Pruner                 1           Harry Borochow      0 

4)  Dr. H. J. Ralston         1           Irving Rivise            0

5)  John H. Barlow           0           J. P. Quillen             1

6)  Henry Gross                0           Raymond J. Martin  1

7)  Adolph J. Fink            .5           A. Seidman             .5

8)  Preobrajensky             0            George E. Croy        1

9)  W. Guthrie McClain   1            Arthur R. Spiller      0

10) Leslie Boyette            .5           Hyman Gordon        .5

11) M. O. Meyer              .5            Morris Gordon        .5

12) Jay B. Gee                  0            Eugene Levin           1

13) M. Jackson                 0            Ivan Frank                1

14) Charles Svalberg        0            R. W. Banner           1

15) Howard Donnelly       1            Adolph Weiss          0

16) R. P. Willson             .5            C. J. Gibbs              .5

17) Charles Sedlack          0            Fred S. Hazard        1

18) D. M. Belmont            0            H. T. Abel               1

19) Wade A. Hendricks    1            Gilutin                     0

20) Sam Bean                   1            D. A. Amneus         0

21) P. V. Prokoodin          1            Cooke                      0

22) F. N. Christensen        1            Grabill                     0

23) William T. Adams      1            George W. Chase    0

24) Paul Lynch                   0           George A. Steven    1

25) Neil T. Austin              0            Steele                      1

26) E. C. Jonas                  1            Paul Harmat             0

27) Nicolai Russ                0            C. Carlson               1

28) Larry Ledgerwood       1            Peterson                   0

29) Robert R. Trenberth    0            Samuel Geller          1

30) David Nieder               1            Millstein                  0

31) Wilber Leeds              .5            Zes                          .5

32) Francis Crofut             0            Nancy Roos             1

33) Kurt Bendit                 0             P. Wrangell             1

34) Jack Gonzales             0            Carl L. Budd            1

35) E. H. Mueller              1            Hunney                    0

36) Frank B. Jackson        0            A. P. Junod              1

37) S. H. Van Gelder        0            S. Eisgrau                1

38) Theodore Wyman       0            Bang                        1

39) Druke                          0            Fred Goetze             1

40) Raymond J. Cuneo     1            Mrs. M. Harmat       0

41) Dr. J. M. Malig           1            M. Cook                   0

42) Jim Willows               1             Fred Johnson           0

43) George B. Oakes        0             Caverly                    1

44) L. Kerfoot                  1             Bristow                    0

45) Maxwell                     1             E. Rosenkjar            0

46) Foster Clark                1            Leroy Johnson          0

47) Frank Olvera              0            Armois                      1

48) Detweiler                   1            Mrs. Parker                0

49) B. Johnson                 1            H. Lynch                    0

50) Van Hooser                0            Hungerford                1

51) Godfrey Lutz              0            Keller                        1

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Northern CA                   24.5        Southern CA             26.5

 

Sam lost his game on board 7 of the San Francisco vs East Bay team match; he was on the East Bay team. (Chess Digest V3N5, May 1950)

 

 

1)  Adolph J. Fink            .5          Larry Ledgerwood     .5

2)  Wilber Leeds               0          Wade A. Hendricks     1

3)  A. B. Stamer                0          Carroll M. Capps        1

4)  Vladimir Pafnutieff     .5         Jay B. Gee                   .5

5)  Leslie Boyette             .5         Dan Neilson                .5

6)  Boris B. Popoff           .5         M. O. Meyer               .5

7)  M. W. Nathans             1         Sam Bean                   0

8)  R. P. Willson                1        Paul Lynch                   0

9)  P. V. Prokoodin            1        Neil T. Austin              0

10) Ray L. Richards          1         Prof. Ralph Hultgren   0

11) S. Kondrashoff            1         Raymond J. Cuneo      0

12) Frank Morsman Jr.      0         Curtis R. Wilson          1

13) V. Blomquist              .5         Russell A. Freeman     .5

14) H. Dasteel Sr.              1         R. Goudswaard Sr.       0

15) Dr. H. J. Ralston         .5        W. Guthrie McClain    .5

------------------------------------------------------------------------

      San Francisco              9         East Bay                       6

 

 

Sam won his game on board 14 against Gordon; he was playing for the North in the May 28, 1950 N-S match, held at the Recreation Center in San Luis Obispo. The North won. (Chess Digest V3N5, May 1950) 17th match (Southern California had whites on the odd-numbered boards.)

 

1)   Vladimir Pafnutieff     0          IM Herman Steiner    1

2)   Neil Falconer               1         George E. Croy           0

3)   Dr. H. J. Ralston          0         Raymond J. Martin     1

4)   Vedensky                     0         James B. Cross           1

5)   Larry Ledgerwood       0         Harry Borochow        1

6)   John H. Barlow            1         J. P. Quillen                0

7)   W. Guthrie McClain    0         W. H. Steckel              1

8)   Jay B. Gee                    0         Masner                        1

9)   Henry Gross                 1         Robert Solana              0

10) Wade A. Hendricks      0         R. P. Smith                  1

11) Joseph Nedham            0         Sven Almgren             1

12) M. O. Meyer                 0         Arthur R. Spiller         1

13) R. P. Willson                0         P. Elliott                      1

14) Sam Bean                    1         Gordon                         0

15) A. Loera                       1         R. W. Banner               0

16) Lewis                            1        Gordon                         0

17) Dr. F. C. Ruys              1         D. A. Amneus              0

18) William T. Adams        1        George A. Steven         0

19) Dr. M. W. Eudey          1         Leonard Standers         0

20) S. Kondrashoff             1         Leroy (?) Johnson        0

21) F. N. Christensen          0        Larry Woronzoff          1

22) Dan Neilson                  1        Samuel Geller               0

23) Nicolai Russ                 0        C. J. Gibbs                    1

24) Wilber Leeds                1        George W. Chase          0

25) David Obstfeld             0         H. T. Abel                    1

26) Neil T. Austin               1         Peter Peterson              0

27) Arthur Stobbe               .5        Caverley                      .5

28) George W. Flynn          .5        K. Chambers               .5

29) Prof. L. H. Daugherty   0         McDermott                  1

30) Henry King                   1         S. Eisgrau                     0

31) Maxwell                        1         George Hunnex            0  

32) Kerfoot                          1         Mrs. Nancy Roos         0

33) Earl Waters                    0        Charles E. Kodil           1

34) S. H. Van Gelder           1        Espinosa                        0  

35) George B. Oakes           0        Rosatti                           1

36) L. Wolfson                    1         Cook                             0

37) Rothe                             1         Mueller                         0

38) Foster Clark                   0         Morrow                        1

39) Berry                              1         Schimmel                     0

40) Frank Olvera                  0        Pinkus                           1

41) Cattell                             0       C. Carson                       1

42) Krogness                        .5        J. Carson                      .5

43) Frank Morsman Jr.         1        Taber                             0

44) Taylor                             1        Lynch                            0

45) Van Hooser                     1        Bushueff                       0   

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________________________________

       Northern CA                   24      Southern CA                 21

 

 

 

Sam Bean was listed as an Expert in Northern California Chess Ratings as of May 1, 1951. (SCN V2N5, May 25, 1951)

 

On May 19, 1951, Sam lost on board 12 for the Bay Area team in the San Francisco-Bay Area team match; held at the Mechanics' Institute. (CCR July 1951)

 

 

1)  Charles Bagby                    .5          Neil E. Falconer                      .5

2)  Adolph J. Fink (2211)        .5          W. Guthrie McClain                .5

3)  Robert Konkel (2004)         0          William T. Adams (2025)        1

4)  Vladimir Pafnutieff (2079) 1          Larry Ledgerwood                   0

5)  Earl Pruner  (2253)             1          Robert R. Trenberth                 0

6)  Dr. H. J. Ralston                 .5         Dr. M. W. Eudey                     .5

7)  A. B. Stamer                       .5         Jay B. Gee (2000)                    .5

8)  Henry Gross                        1          Czapski                                    0

9)  James N. Schmitt                1          Prof. Ralph Hultgren                0

10) Vitaley Radaiken Jr. (1750)  0       Charles Sedlack                       1

11) Boris B. Popoff                   1         Wade A. Hendricks (2179)      0

12) Fred Byron Jr.                     1          Sam Bean                               0

13) Charles Svalberg (1899)     1          M. O. Meyer                            0

14) R. P. Willson                       1          Kalnins                                    0

15) Wilber Leeds                       0          Dr. F. C. Ruys                         1

16) Loewy                                  1          Neil T. Austin                         0

17) C. Federoff                           0          Russell A. Freeman                1

18) Robert G. Currie (1887)       1          Raymond J. Cuneo                 0

19) A. Palmin                             .5         George A. Kirby Jr.                .5

20) Maxwell                                1         Francis Crofut (1972)             0

21) Herbert Rosenbaum              1          D. E. Davis                             0

22) Harold Edelstein                   0          Dr. J. M. Malig (1809)           1

23) Linklater                                1          M. E. Mattingly                     0

24) Arvidson                                1          Jim Fredgren                          0

25) Nicolai Russ                          1          Polhammer                             0

26) A. V. Tomakoff                     0          Dr. G. Wood                          1

27) N. Schaller (1822)                .5          E. Hoffer                                .5

28) Sloan                                      1          A. King                                  0

29) Henry King (1703)                0          Frank Olvera                          1

30) Bergtraun                               0          Stagg                                      1

31) Ehrlich                                   0          Wohn                                      1

______________________________________________________________

       San Francisco                       19.5      East Bay                                11.5       

 

 

 

Sam drew Captain L. Johnson on the 25th board for the Northern side in the 1951 North-South Match. The North won. Played in San Luis Obispo on June 3, 1951. (CCR July 1951) As of 1951, Sam had played in 6 of the N-S Team matches and scored a .700% winning average.

 

Northern California had White on the odd-numbered boards. C.J. Bergman captained the North during the play.

 

1)   Adolph J. Fink (2211)            0          IM Isaac Kashdan (2494)       1

2)   Henry Gross                           1          Raymond J. Martin (2210)     0

3)   Neil Falconer  (2108)             1         Arthur R. Spiller (2154)          0

4)   W. Guthrie McClain              1          Steckel (2125)                        0

5)   H. J. Ralston                          .5         George E. Croy (2284)          .5

6)   Earl Pruner (2253)                  1         Harry Borochow (2374)         0

7)   William T. Adams (2025)     .5         R. Travers                              .5

8)   James N. Schmitt                    0        Sven Almgren (2218)             1                     

9)   Jay B. Gee (2000)                  1         I. Spero                                   0

10) G. Rasmussen                         0         Hyman Gordon (2106)          1

11) William D. Barlow                1          Robert Solana (2184)            0

12) A. Loera                                 1         C. J. Gibbs                             0

13) E. Czapski                             1          Robert M. Jacobs (2356*)     0

14)  A. B. Stamer                         0         E. P. Elliott                            1

15) G. Lewis                               1          Bernard Madrid                     0

16) Charles Sedlack                    0          R. W. Banner                         1

17) M. O. Meyer                         0         Morris Gordon (2069)            1

18) Charles Svalberg (1899)        0        George A. Hunnex (2080)      1

19) Dan Neilson                          .5        C. Fuglie                                 .5

20) Wade A. Hendricks (2179)   1         George A. Steven (2007)        0

21) Dr. F. C. Ruys                       1         Larry Woronzoff (1716)         0

22) Fred Byron Jr.                       1         Peter Peterson (1822)             0

23) Prof. Ralph Hultgren            1         H. T. Abel (2006)                    0

24) E. H. Mueller (2084)            0         Samuel Geller (2006)              1

25) Sam Bean                           .5          Leroy Johnson (1858)            .5

26) Russell A. Freeman              1         W. T. Pinney (1537)               0

27) Neil T. Austin                      1         W. Caverley                   0

28) Dr. M. W. Eudey                 1         Nancy Roos (1800)        0

29) Robert R. Trenberth            1         G. Mitchell                     0

30) R. P. Willson                       1         Jack Freed                      0

31) Arthur J. Stobbe                  0         William Wheeler           1 

32) H. Branton                          1          W. Steel                         0

33) Wilber Leeds                      1          C. Marko                        0

34) Robert G. Currie (1887)    .5          Jacqueline Piatigorsky  .5  

35) Curtis R. Wilson                1          K. Chambers (1783)       0

36) Raymond J. Cuneo (1537) 1         N. Negley                        0

37) E. Hoffer                            0         A. P. Junod Sr.                1

38) F. N. Christensen               1         Charles E. Kodil (2135)  0

39) Francis Crofut (1972)        1         M. Cook                           0

40) S. S. Kozen                        0        A. Buckman                      1

41) George A. Kirby Jr.           1        H. F. Wingfield                 0

42) Prof. Lyman H. Daugherty (1817) 1  Helen Lunday  (1410)  0

43) Herbert Rosenbaum           0        N. N. Snyder                      1

44) R. Sasuly                           1        A. Junod Jr.                        0

45) S. H. Van Gelder               1        E. V. Espinosa                    0   

46) T. Sloan                             1        W. Buscheuff                     0

47) George B. Oakes (1888)    1          Dr. E. Meyer                    0

48) E. T. Dana (1895)               0          D. Fidlow (1994)            1

49) R. Stagg                              1          N. N. Bradley                  0

50) Frank Olvera                       1          O. M. Davis                    0

51) Henry S. King (1703)         0          Kyle Forrest                    1

52) O. Rothe                              0          F. Weinberg                    1

53) C. Norcia                             0          Fred Johnson                  1

54) Janis Kalnins                       1           N. N. Chesney               0

55) H. Wood                              0          J. Berry                           1

56) A. Lukavich                        1           H. S. Lansing                  0

57) R. Taylor                             1           L. Legler                        0

58) M. O. Johnson                     0          Michael Hailparn           1

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________________________________________________

       Northern CA                       38.5     Southern CA                 19.5

 

 

(SCN V2N11, Nov 10, 1951)

 

 

Central California Chess League (Results of matches player Sunday, Oct. 7, 1951, at Oakdale.

 

Fresno                                                     Pittsburg

 

1) Philip D. Smith      0                          Sam Bean         1   

2) H. Kallman            0                          Frank Olvera     1

3) Michael Hailparn   0                          F. Weinberg      1

4) Kyle Forrest           1                          G. Garcia          0

5) Thomas Fries         0                          H. S. Lansing    1

6) L. Legler                1                          J. Garcia           0

 

 

 

Smith,Philip D - Bean,Sam [D45]

Fresno vs Pittsburg, Board 1 (1), 07.10.1951

 

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Nbd7 5.Qb3 c6 6.Nc3 Bd6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Re1 Qb6 11.Qc2 Nf8 12.h3 Bd7 13.Nh4 Bb4 14.Bd2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4 16.Rab1 Qc7 17.Bc1 Ng6 18.Nf3 Qc8 19.c4 Bxh3 20.gxh3 Qxh3 21.Nh2 Nh4 22.Bf1 Qf5 23.Rb2 Re6 24.Kh1 Nf3 25.Qe2 Rh6 26.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 27.Bg2 Qh5 28.Kg1 Qxh2+ 29.Kf1 Rf6 30.Bxe4 dxe4 31.f4 Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Qf3+ 33.Kd2 c5 34.d5 Rb6 35.Rc2 h5 36.Kc3 h4 37.Rh2 Rb1 38.Kc2 Rb4 39.Kc3 b5 40.cxb5 Rd8 41.a3 Rxb5 42.Kc4 Rb1 43.Reh1 Qh5 44.Rd2 Qf3 45.Rdh2 Rxc1+ 46.Rxc1 Qxe3 47.Rd1 Qxa3 48.d6 Qb4+ 49.Kd5 Qb3+ 0-1

 

(SCN V11N12, Dec16, 1951)

 

Dec. 9th

 

1) Roy E. Russell (2030*)     0             Sam Bean            1

2) Jay B. Gee (1977)             1             Frank Olvera        0

3) Neil T. Austin (1965*)      1             Frank Weinberg   0

4) M. O. Meyer (1892)          1             Salve Wilson        0

5) O. J. Celle                         1             G. Garcia              0

6) Dr. A. Janushkowsky        1             H. S. Lansing       0

7) B. Berger                          1              R. Tuson              0

8) S. Spaulding                     0              J. R. Glorer          1

9) James Hardy         0             Jess Garcia     1

---------------------------------------------------------

    Sacramento           6             Pittsburg         3

 

 "Here is the game in which Sam beat the Sacramento City Champion in a chess league match at Board One.", said Emil S. Ladner.

Russell,R. E - Bean,Sam [C96]

Chess League, Board 1, 29.05.2020

 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 Qc7 13.Nc3 Bb7 14.Bg5 Rac8 15.Rc1 Nc4 16.Qe2 Nxb2 17.Bb3 Nc4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 f6 20.Bh4 Bxd5 21.Nd2 Bf7 22.f4 Rfe8 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.Bg3 Bb4 25.Red1 Bxd2 26.Rxd2 Qb6 27.Qg4 Rc7 28.Rdc2 Rce7 29.Bf2 Qb7 30.dxe5 Rxe5 31.Qf3 Bd5 32.Bxc4 bxc4 33.Qg3 Rg5 0-1


"The end is magnificent! None of Sam's pieces are in enemy territory. His long range heavy artillery forces the Queen to flee." said H. S. Lansing.

 

 

 

(SCN V111N1, Jan 17, 1952)

 

Three new members on the Sacramento team were the deciding factor in winning from Pittsburg 6 to 3. Pittsburg seems to be handicapped in that they never can get all their strong players together at one time; when they do, they can beat anybody.

 

 

1) Sam Bean          1             Monte Jackson   0             

2) Frank Olvera      1             Lee Kerfoot        0

3) Frank Weinberg 0             E. L. Jeffers        1

4) G. Garcia            1             Herb Betker        0

5) J. R. Glover        0             L. E. Davis         1

6) H. S. Lansing     0             L. Krogness        1

7) S. Behrends        0             Herb Paul           1

8) S. J. Escobar       0             Don Thompson  1

_______________________________________

    Pittsburg             3              Modesto             5

 

 

 

 

 

(SCN v111n2, Mar 23, 1952) 4th round team matches

 

1) Monte Jackson     0             Sam Bean            1

2) Lee Kerfoot          0             Frank Olvera        1

3) E. L. Jeffers          1             Frank Weinberg   0

4) Herb Betker          0             G. Garcia              1

5) L. Davis                1             J. Glover               0

6) L. Krogness          1             H. S. Lansing        0

7) Herb Paul             1             S. Behrends           0

8) Don Thomson      1             S. Escobar             0

_________________________________________

    Modesto         5                   Pittsburg               3   

 

Round 5

 

1) William T. Adams (2025)               1             Sam Bean            0

2) E. H. Mueller (2084)                       1             Frank Olvera        0

3) George A. Kirby Jr.                         1             G. Garcia             0

4) Janis Kalnins                                   1             C. Schroth           0

5) Dr. J. M. David-Malig (1809)         1             H. Lansing           0

6) Francis Crofut (1972)                      1             R. Tuscon            0

7) H. Wood                                          1             D. Van Arsdale   .5

8) Prof. Lyman H.  Daugherty (1817) 1             E. Anton              0

__________________________________________________

    San Jose                                   7.5                  Pittsburg             .5  

 

 

 

 

 

Round 6

 

1) Sam Bean          1             J. C. Smith    0             

2) Frank Olvera      1             Ned Parker    0

3) Frank Weinberg 0             Niardeson      0

4) G. Garcia            1             W. Maxey     0

5) D. Van Arsdale  1             V. Smith        0

6) H. Lansing         1             A. Buerer       0

7) E. Anton            1             S. Sampson    0

8) S. J. Escobar      1            D. Dorrch       0

9) J. Garcia            1            T. Mackan      0

______________________________________________

    Pittsburg             9           Oakdale          0

 

 

Round 7

 

1)   L. C. Woolfe                 0               Sam Bean            1

2)   Meredith E. Mattingly  0               Frank Olvera        1

3)   P. Hubbard Sr.              1               Frank Weinberg   0

4)   W. Le Deux                  1               G. Garcia              0

5)   Marion A. Sanders       0               S. Wilson              1

6)   Robert Leigh                1               D. Van Arsdale     0

7)   A. D. Stubbs                 1               H. Lansing            0  

8)   A. C. Saxon                  0               E. Anton               1

9)   E. Neustadt                  .5               J. Glover              .5

10) N. Ellenberg                 1               J. Garcia                0

________________________________________________

      Stockton                       5.5            Pittsburg               4.5  

 

Woolfe,C - Bean,Sam [C30]

 

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 h6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Be7 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 11.h3 b5 12.Bd5 c5 13.Qd2 Rb8 14.e5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Be6 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Qd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 a5 20.Bxc5 Rfc8 21.Be3 Bxa2 22.Rhd1 Bb3 23.R1d2 a4 24.Kd1 Be6 25.Bb6 Kh7 26.Ba5 Ra8 27.Bb4 Rc4 28.c3 Re4 29.Re2 Rxe2 30.Kxe2 Re8 31.Kf3 Bc4 32.Kf4 g5+ 33.Ke4 Bf1 34.Rd2 Kg6 35.Rf2 f5+ 36.Kd5 Bc4+ 37.Kd6 Re6+ 38.Kc7 Rxe5 39.Bd6 Re4 40.Bc5 h5 41.Bd6 f4 42.Bc5 Re2 43.Rxe2 Bxe2 44.g3 f3 45.Bd4 Kf5 46.Bf2 Ke4 47.Kb6 Bc4 48.Kc6 Kd3 49.Kc5 Ke2 50.Bd4 f2 51.Bxf2 Kxf2 0-1

After this game Sam was heard to chuckle, "I skinned the wolf." Woolfe was one of the best players in Northern California, according to Emil S. Ladner.

Sam missed becoming the Central California Chess League Champion; Phil Smith scored more on 1st board.

1)   Philip D. Smith (Fresno)                      5.5-.5

2)   Sam Bean (Pittsburg)                          4-2

3)   William T. Adams (2025) (San Jose)  3-2

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHESS LEAGUE

"A" DIVISION

1/12/52

1) Dr. H. J. Ralston (2154*)     .5          Charles Sedlack                    .5

2) Henry Gross                          1           J. Demos                               0

3) Robert Konkel (2004)           1          Robert R. Trenberth              0

4) Robert G. Currie (1887)       .5         Curtis R. Wilson                    .5

5) J. Meyers                              .5         Chester Stamer                      .5

6) Dr. M. Zeligs                         1         Raymond J. Cuneo (1537)     0

7) A. Johnson                            .5         Sam Bean                             .5

_________________________________________________________

    Golden Gate                           5         Oakland                                  2

2/23/52

1) D. Poliakoff                       1          Charles Sedlack        0

2) N. Preo                               0          Chester Stamer         1

3) Boris B. Popoff                  1          Curtis R. Wilson       0

4) Vitaley Radaikin Jr.           1          J. Demos                   0

5) A. Palmin                           0          Robert R. Trenberth  1

6) Charles Svalberg (1899)   .5          Russell A. Freeman   .5

7) A. Sienkievich                   0          Sam Bean                  1

_________________________________________________

    Russians                             3.5       Oakland                    3.5 

3/22/52

1) Chester Stamer                    .5         Dr. H. J. Ralston              .5

2) Sam Bean                            0          Robert G. Currie (2049)  1

3) Charles Sedlack                   0          Henry Gross                     1

4) Curtis R. Wilson                  0          J. C. Myers                       1

5) Russell A. Freeman             .5         A. Johnson                       .5

6) Robert R. Trenberth            .5         Dr. M. Zeligs                   .5

7) Raymond J. Cuneo (1537)   1         H. Dasteel Jr.                    0 

_____________________________________________________

    Oakland                               2.5       Golden Gate                    4.5 

 

 

 

 

5/3/52

1) R. Smook                              0          D. Poliakoff                      1

2) Chester Stamer                     0          Boris B. Popoff                 1

3) Charles Sedlack                   .5          Charles Svalberg (1899)  .5

4) Sam Bean                            1           N. Preo                              0

5) J. Fredgren                           .5          A. Palmin                         .5

6) Raymond J. Cuneo (1537)   .5          S. Kondrashoff                 .5

7) Russell A. Freeman              1          P. Prokoodin                      0 

_______________________________________________________

    Oakland                              3.5         Russians                            3.5 

 

 

 

"A" Division standings with one match yet to play (Golden Gate vs. Mechanics' Institute): Mechanics' Institute 7-0, Castle 3.5-4.5, Russians 3-5, Golden Gate 3-4, Oakland 2.5-5.5. The Mechanics' powerhouse wins the title regardless of the postponed match with Golden Gate, and the other four clubs scramble for second place.

SAN FRANCISCO-BAY AREA TEAM MATCH The annual team match between San Francisco and the rest of the bay area was played at the Mechanics' Institute, May 10. This match is a tune-up for the North-South match. San Francisco won by a score of 11-10, as reported last month, and was extremely lucky to do so!

 

1)   M. O. Meyer (1892) (Sacramento)               .5          Henry Gross                   .5

2)   Neil T. Austin (1865*) (Sacramento)            0          Adolph J. Fink (2235)    1

3)   Carl J. Bergman (Berkeley)                           0          Charles Bagby (2203)     1  

4)   L. C. Woolfe (Stockton)                                0          D. Poliakoff                     1

5)   Wade A. Hendricks (2102) (Castro Valley)  0          Robert G. Currie (2049)  1

6)   Sam Bean (Oakland)                                     1          R. P. Willson                   0

7)   Charles Sedlack (Oakland)                            1          O. Wreden                        0 

8)   F. N. Christensen (Oakland)                          0          Charles Svalberg (1899)  1 

9)   Russell A. Freeman (Oakland)                       0          Earl Pruner (2253)           1 

10) R. E. Burger (Lafayette)                                 1          R. Maxwell                      0 

11) Robert R. Trenberth (Oakland)                       1         A. Johnson                        0

12) Emil S. Ladner (Berkeley)                             .5         Herbert Rosenbaum          .5

13) Jim Fredgren (Oakland)                                  1         R. Mathews                       0   

14) O. J. Celle (Sacramento)                                 1         P. V. Prokoodin                 0 

15) Raymond J. Cuneo (1537) (Oakland)             .5        Wilber Leeds                     .5 

16) Ray L. Richards (Sacramento)                        1         D. J. Shishkin                     0

17) N. Hultgren (Berkeley)                                   .5        James M. Schmitt (2100)   .5 

18) L. Kerfoot (Modesto)                                      0         A. Palmin                            1

19) E. A. Yaeger (Berkeley)                                  0         Carl Huneke                        1 

20) E. L. Jeffers (Modesto)                                    0         Henry S. King (1703)         1

21) Frank Olvera (Pittsburg)                                  1         Joseph Hill                          0 

______________________________________________________________________

      Bay Area                                                          10       San Francisco                      11

 

 

 

(CCR v11n1, June52))

 

Sam played board 34, for the North in the N-S match, and lost against T. Baraquet. The North won on May 31, 1952 in San Luis Obispo. (CCR V2N1, June 1952) Sam played 7 x with a .583% average.

 

1)   Vladimir Pafnutieff  (2079)     0         IM Herman Steiner (2427)  1

2)   Carroll M. Capps  (2278)         0         Arthur R. Spiller (2154)      1

3)   Henry Gross                             1         L. Joyner (2099)                   0 

4)   Adolph J. Fink (2235)             .5         Irving Rivise (2335)            .5 

5)   Philip D. Smith                        .5        Raymond J. Martin (2270)   .5  

6)   M. O. Meyer (1892)                 0         Morris Gordon (2069)          1  

7)   Dr. H. J. Ralston (2154*)        .5         Steven Mazner                     .5

8)   James N. Schmitt (2100)         1          Sven Almgren (2218)           0

9)   W. Guthrie McClain (2200*)  1          Hyman Gordon (2106)          0

10) Jay B. Gee  (1977)                  1          George E. Croy  (2284)         0    

11) William T. Adams (2188)       1          Samuel Geller (2006)            0   

12) W. P. Barlow                          .5          L. Erwin                                .5 

13) Robert G. Currie (2049)         .5          R. W. Banner                        .5  

14) A. B. Stamer                           .5          G. Van Deene                       .5

15) Fred Byron Jr.                         1           C. Fuglie                               0 

16) Wade A. Hendricks (2179)     0           E. P. Elliott                            1

17) A. Loera                                  0           Charles Wallace                    1 

18) Ray L. Richards                     .5           R. Aronson                            .5   

19) Neil T. Austin (1965*)           0            Leroy Johnson (1858)           1 

20) Charles Svalberg (1899)       .5            C. J. Gibbs                             .5

21) R. E. Burger                           1            George W. Chase (2042)       0

22) Prof. Ralph Hultgren              1            Kyle Forrest                          0 

23) George A. Kirby                    .5            George A. Steven (2007)     .5

24) Michael Hailparn                   .5           Bernard Madrid                    .5  

25) Charles Sedlack                     .5            John Keckhut (1952)           .5

26) Curtis R. Wilson                    0            W. S. Carr                              1  

27) N. Hultgren                            0            George Hunnex (2080)          1  

28) R. Freeman                             1            Larry Woronzoff  (1716)       0

29) F. N. Christensen                   .5           L. Fielding                             .5

30) Robert R. Trenberth               1            L. Millstein                             0

31) Wilber Leeds                          0            Peter Petersen (1822)             1

32) S. Abrahams                           1            Charles E. Kodil (2034)          0

33) Dr. M. W. Eudey                    .5           T. McDermott                        .5 

34) Sam Bean                               0           T. A. Baraquet                         1   

35) L. Davis                                   0           C. Ulrich                                  1

36) Arthur Stobbe                          0           Mark Eucher                            1  

37) L. A. Beliavsky                       1            A. Yavorsky                             0

38) Prof. L. H. Daugherty (1832)  1           Nancy Roos (1764)                   0 

39) S. Kondrashoff                        1            Jacqueline Piatigorsky (1840)  0

40) Nicolai Russ                            0            John H. Barlow (1818)            1 

41) Frank Olvera                           0            William Wheeler                      1

42) Peter Dahl                               .5           W. Caverly                              .5  

43) Dr. E. Kupka (1885)                0           W. Holmes                                1

44) L. Kerfoot                                0           Charles E. Henderson (1920)    1   

45) A. Palmin                                1            D. E. Benge                               0    

46) E. Hoffer                                 1            D. Karpilowsky (1745)             0 

47) K. Draughon                           1            R. Zeller                                    0

48) Francis Crofut (1972)             1            M. Templer                               0   

49) F. Fries                                    1            L. Domanski                             0

50) Godfrey Lutz (1905*)             0            Don E. Maron                           1

51) S. H. Van Gelder                     1            R. Gross                                    0 

52) Henry S. King (1703)              1            H. Mager                                  0

53) R. Taylor                                 0            H. C. Dudley                            1   

54) E. L. Jeffers                             1            H. Wingfield                            0

55) L. Krogness                             1            P. C. McKenna                         0

56) Alan D. Chappell                   1             M. Cook                                    0

57) S. J. Escobar                           1            H. L. Calkins                             0

58) W. Stamer                               0            B. Busheuff                               1   

59) M. Cook                                  0            F. E. Sleep                                1

_____________________________________________________________

      Northern CA                           32           Southern CA                           27

 

The South had White on the odd-numbered boards.    

 

According to the August 1955 issue of 'California Chess Reporter', the Alameda Chess Club's strongest player, Sam Bean, died in 1952.

 

A TRIBUTE TO SAM BEAN

R. E. Burger

 

     The death of Sam Bean was a sudden and unexpected loss to all who knew him. Any attempt to express that loss would be unnecessary for his close friends and futile for those who never met him. It might be more fitting for one who knew him for only a short time to pay tribute to the man in the roll I know him best, as a chessplayer.

     Sam's record on top-board for Pittsburg would be enough to recommend any player; add to this his achievements in the Bay Area matches with the Oakland team and you know why his ability was so respected. In these serious encounters, however, Sam's "chess-side" manner was never seen. It was all too formal and business-like for him, but he maintained such dignity and calm that many thought that was his personality - self-conscious, timid, unsociable. Just the opposite was the true case; he liked to meet and talk with anyone, and see what kind of chess he played, especially. When he played off-hand games at the Pittsburg club he was the center of attraction, not because of his handicap or the way he overcame it, but because of his lively sense of humor and happy spirit. The type of character he was especially fond of laughing at was the player who tried to "catch" Sam in a sneak mate, hoping Sam wouldn't "see" it. Sam wasn't a combinational genius, but woe to the player who thought he could put something over on him!

     Positional chess was Sam's forte. Simple openings, sound middle game maneuvering, straight-forward endings. Rarely was he beaten in the later stages of the game: a King-side attack usually characterized his losses. A curious thing I noticed in my games with him was that several times he "overlooked" the effect of a discovery or pin on a long diagonal, perhaps because that particular arrangement is the hardest to imagine by only feeling the pieces. Remember that Sam wasn't strictly a "blindfold" player, but in order to speed up the game he handled the pieces, this assuming the distraction of the ordinary player - (if we are to believe those who claim that playing blindfold gives a clearer picture of the game.) In any event, Sam's type of game seldom led to brilliancies, but to hard-fought, close games.

     There are many anecdotes to be told about Sam's exploits over the board, or about his ability to overcome his unbelievable handicaps of sight and sound. And in discussing such things it is easy to go overboard and proclaim the man faultless with the most back-bending superlatives. As far as his chess-playing goes, though, I don't  think there is anyone with a greater will to win and yet a more gracious willingness to admit defeat. At the North-South match last year, which was the occasion of Sam's last serious game, Sam had been ill on the way down (with the rest of us from the Pittsburg area), and played his game under a great strain. All of us were waiting for Loera to finish his game so we could head for home. On and on it dragged, and Al was fading fast. Finally we brought the report to Mr. Bean that Al looked hopelessly lost but was still going to play on. Said Sam, "Tell Leora to die like a man."

     It's a tribute to the game of chess that it could interest and brighten so much the life of a deaf and blind man. That he could meet and influence so many people through such a game is an even greater tribute to Sam Bean. (From 'Sacramento Chess News' Vol.3 No. 8, September 22, 1952)

 

 

Samuel W. Bean

 

     It is with the deepest regret that we must record the death, early in August, 1952, of Samuel W. Bean, long one of the leading players of the Oakland Chess Club.

     Mr. Bean lost his sight and hearing when a youth. In spite of this handicap, however, he was always a most dangerous antagonist. In the last series of team matches of the Central California Chess League he had defeated R. E. Russell of Sacramento, M. C. Jackson of Modesto, C. J. Smith of Oakdale and L. C. Woolfe of Stockton. He had also recently won the championship of the Oakland Chess Club.

     We are informed that at the time of his death, Mr. Bean was on the verge of winning the World Championship among blind players. (California Chess Reporter, Vol.2 No. 3, September 1952)

 

SAMUEL W. BEAN (1896-1952):

 When he was thirteen, an accident destroyed his optic and auditory nerves. Despite this handicap, he became a chess expert who won club and county championships. He also played in the North vs. South matches. Naturally he used a specially constructed board so that he could feel the pieces. Since he had to play slowly, his opponent usually set up another board for his own use while Sam was busy wandering all over his own board. Sam won most of his games and was quick to congratulate anyone who defeated him. He won the Berkeley Chess Club of the Deaf Championship eight times and was one of the leading members and past champion of the Oakland Chess Club. At the time of his death, he "was on the verge of winning the World Championship among blind players." (By Juan F. Font & Emil S. Ladner 1979 SILENT KNIGHTS OF THE PAST)