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Western
Canada's participation in organized ball goes back to 1907 when four
Alberta clubs -- Edmonton Grays, Calgary Bronchos, Lethbridge Miners and
Medicine Hat Hatters -- formed the Western Canada League.
The loop
lasted just one season but returned in 1909 with eight teams, expanding
to Saskatchewan with the Regina Bone Pilers and Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
and Manitoba for the Winnipeg Maroons and Brandon Angels.
This basic model continued for three summers, with Saskatoon replacing
Medicine Hat in 1910 and Lethbridge and Regina dropping out in 1911.
Only a
four-team Alberta league survived in 1912 before a resumption of the
Western Canada circuit in 1913-1914.
The First
World War put baseball on hold until 1919 when four franchises - Moose
Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg - competed. The Alberta teams,
Calgary and Edmonton, were back in 1920 to make it a six-team loop.
It last just two seasons.
1922
marked another attempt with the two Alberta clubs joining Vancouver and
Tacoma, Washington, in the Western International League. It
collapsed after just one season.
 
GOUCHEE WAS HIT BY STERLING
SHORTY WATCHED IT PASS
WESTERN CANADA BASEBALL LEAGUE
NEW ORGANIZATION IS FORMED IN ALBERTA
Four Club Circuit Composed of Lethbridge, Edmonton,
Medicine Hat and Calgary Will Mark the Initial Season of the
League--Baseball enthusiasm Running High In All Four Towns
LETHBRIDGE. Nov. 8 -- The Western Canada Baseball league was organized at
Lethbridge on Tuesday with Medicine Hat, Calgary, Lethbridge and Edmonton as
the circuit. At the organization meeting representatives were present from:
Medicine Hat, Williams Cousins; Calgary, A. Fidler; Edmonton, Deacon White;
Lethbridge, a score or more in all.
Enthusiasm is unbounded at Lethbridge and the league will be composed of the
above mentioned cities. Such a circuit is undoubtedly the best available for
a first venture in professional league baseball.
Lethbridge is able to raise some $4,000 to finance their club, which is amply
sufficient, and really considerably more than will be needed. But it
goes to show the spirit with which this new movement is being taken up; a
spirit that is very typical of the west in everything that is attempted.
Calgary after manager
League baseball is all the talk at Calgary. The situation looks flattering for
a compact, snug little circuit, composed of Medicine Hat, Lethbridge,
Calgary and Edmonton. Calgary is already negotiating for players and
the management is in communication with Sam LaRouke of the San Antonio South
Texas league for playing manager. It will be necessary for Calgary to
to buy his release, but they are sparing neither pains nor money here to get
together the pennant winning team for next year's Western Canada Baseball
league. Catcher Ford was presented with a diamond ring the other day by
Calgary enthusiasts when they heard that Edmonton was trying to secure the
star receiver.
Bill Hanrahan for Lethbridge
Medicine Hat is stirring up a cloud of dust in its efforts to get in a winning
team. Jim Fleming of that city has undertaken to get the celebrated player,
Bill Harris, in shape for next season by sending him to Winnipeg to take the
Keely cure. Harris is a noted player of whom booze is getting the best of.
Lethbridge is figuring on Bill Hanrahan for playing manager. he played left
field for Winnipeg Maroons. (The Morning Telegram,
Winnipeg, September 18, 1906, p.14)
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Photo Gallery
1909 Swift Current
1911 Swfit Current
1919 Swift Current
1922 Swift Current
1907
Edmonton Grays
Calgary Bronchos
Lethbridge Miners
Medicine Hat Hatters 1909
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
Regina Bone Pilers
Edmonton Eskimos
Calgary Cowboys
Lethbridge Miners
Winnipeg Maroons
Brandon Angels
Medicine Hat Mad Hatters 1910
Saskatoon Berrypickers*
Calgary Broncos
Edmonton Eskimos
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
Regina Bonepilers
Lethbridge Miners
Winnipeg Maroons
Brandon Angels
*Mid-season replacement for the
Medicine Hat Mad Hatters 1911
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
Saskatoon Berrypickers
Edmonton Eskimos
Calgary Bronchos
Winnipeg Maroons
Brandon Angels 1912* Alberta
League
Edmonton Gray Birds
Calgary Bronchos
Red Deer Eskimos
Bassano Boosters 1913
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
Regina Red Sox
Saskatoon Quakers
Medicine Hat Mad Hatters
Calgary Bronchos
Edmonton Gray Birds
Sask 1st half
MJ 2nd half 1914
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
Regina Red Sox
Saskatoon Quakers
Edmonton Eskimos
Calgary Bronchos
Medicine Hat Hatters 1919
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
Regina Senators
Saskatoon Quakers
Winnipeg Maroons 1920
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods
Regina Senators
Saskatoon Quakers
Calgary Bronchos
Winnipeg Maroons
Edmonton Eskimos 1921
1st Half
Calgary Bronchos 37 17 .685
Winnipeg Maroons 35 20 .636
Saskatoon Quakers 28 26 .519
Regina Senators 24 28 .462
Edmonton Eskimos 23 29 .442
Moose Jaw Millers 13 40 .245
2nd Half
Winnipeg Maroons 35 21 .625
Calgary Bronchos 32 21 .604
Saskatoon Quakers 25 32 .439
Edmonton Eskimos 22 30 .423
Calgary won the championship beating
Winnipeg 5 games to 3 (with a tie) in the best-of-nine final
playoff
1922
Western International League
Edmonton Eskimos
Calgary Bronchos
Vancouver Beavers
Tacoma Tigers
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