1921 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1921 BC Interior
1921 Vancouver Island
WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL
WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL LEAGUE
A tentative four-team West Kootenay loop for 1921 did not materialize as one of the proposed entrants, Kaslo, decided to withdraw their application for membership when, following a severe trimming by Nelson on Dominion Day, it became obvious they would not be sufficiently competitive. That left a three-team inter-city senior circuit, comprising teams from Nelson, Rossland and Trail, which was operational during the summer of 1921.
Nelson
Rossland
Trail
PRE-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES
(May 22) Before the large gathering of Silver City fans, the Trail senior diamondeers lambasted the visitors from Rossland 14 to 7 in an exhibition clash. Although the contest was loosely played, it was full of excitement. The Smeltermen lit up Golden City chucker Clyde Michaely for 14 base blows including three each by outfielder Mike Butorac and shortstop Thom. Rossland flychaser C. Petrie connected for a trio of safe swats as well. Winning flinger Patton surrendered eight safeties and whiffed an equal number of batters.
Michaely (L) and Johnson
Patton (W) and R. Morgan
(May 24) A Victoria Day crowd at Recreation Park in Rossland was treated to a competitive match in which the invaders from Trail annexed a 5 to 2 win over the Mining Town nine. The homesters went ahead 2 to 0 in the first stanza on a two-run homer by Ray Stephens. The Smoke Eaters responded with a three-spot in the second panel on run-scoring hits by Mike Butorac and winning tosser Fred Morrish. They added a fourth marker in the third when D. Morgan reached first on an error, moved around to third on Ray Maze’s two-bagger and touched home following a wild pitch. Maze the added a fifth tally for the Smeltermen by drilling a bases-empty round-tripper in the eighth.
Morrish (W) and R. Morgan
Michaely (L), Crerar and Johnson
(May 24) Nelson edged past Kaslo 2 to 1 in a classy display of exhibition baseball before an ardent Victoria Day crowd in the Lake City. The Nelsonites opened the scoring in the second panel when outfielder C. Hoskins received a one-out walk, moved to third on a double by shortstop R. Desireau and touched home on an infield groundout. Kaslo evened the score in the sixth when flychaser H. Abey nailed a ground-rule double and came round to touch home on an infield overthrow to first base. The Queen City nine plated the winner in the eighth on a two-bagger by initial sacker J. Curran which drove in Desireau.
Bey (W) and Lindstrom
Cockle (L) and Garland
(June 3) It took ten innings for the Nelson seniors to squeeze past the visiting Trail squad in a highly-contested exhibition encounter. The hosts had a 10 to 7 edge in base hits as winning pitcher H. Bey of the Lakesiders led all swatsmiths with a triad of safeties. Both Bey and losing flinger Fred Morrish went the route and each fanned nine. Ray Maze stroked a brace of two-baggers for the Smokies. In the bottom-half of the overtime session, after two-outs had been recorded, first sacker D. Moddrell of the Queen City nine reached base on an error and eventually moved around to plate the decider on a single by catcher F. Lindstrom.
Morrish (L) and Morgan
Bey (W) and Lindstrom
(June 5) In what was described as the best exhibition of baseball seen on the local grounds all season, the hosting Trail senior Smoke Eaters dumped the Rossland diamond pastimers 9 to 4. The game was more competitive than the final score would indicate. Charley Scanlan, slabster for the Silver City nine, was in control all the way. Losing flinger Clyde Michaely received rather ragged support from his mates in the pinches. Mike Butorac’s running catch in left field was one of the features of the game and brought the crowd in the grandstand to their feet.
Michaely (L) and xxx
Scanlan (W) and xxx
(June 12) Rossland nosed out the Northport WA nine 3 to 3 in an exhibition tilt hosted by the Rosslanders. The Golden City gang was strengthened by the addition of a new battery combination, W. S. Waldo and H. J. Pollin, who recently arrived from the coast.
Stites (L) and Allen
Waldo (W) and Pollin
(June 19) Eleven bases on balls and seven fielding miscues doomed the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters as they went down to a 16 to 1 shellacking at the hands of the Rossland seniors. Clyde Michaely dazzled the invaders by spinning a five-hitter for the complete-game win. His mates helped him out with a pair of double plays, one of which he initiated. First sacker Don MacKenzie was potent with the baton for the victors, smashing a double and three singles. In addition, he had larceny in his heart to which his legs responded as he swiped no less than four sacks. Rossland keystone sacker Drew delivered the longest blow of the skirmish when he cranked out a solo four-ply circuit jack.
Morrish (L), Scanlan and R. Morgan
Michaely (W) and McPeak
(June 26) Slabman W. S. Waldo whiffed a dozen batters and stymied Trail on four hits in pitching the Rossland diamond pastimers to a 5 to 2 decision over the Smoke Eaters. The Golden City squad raked the offerings of losing flinger Fred Morrish for ten safeties. First baseman Don MacKenzie sparkled both with the lumber and in the field for the winners.
Waldo (W) and Pollin
Morrish (L) and R. Morgan
(June 29) Negotiations over the last few days have resulted in the formation of the West Kootenay Baseball League with four clubs, Nelson, Kaslo, Rossland and Trail. Trail has yet to confirm its participation. Each of the clubs will play a home and home series with the other entries. The opening game is set for Friday morning, between Kaslo and Nelson, as part of the Dominion Day celebration.
(July 1) Playing on a greasy diamond under discouraging weather conditions, the invading Kaslo diamond gladiators were given a severe 18 to 0 Dominion Day thrashing by the Nelson seniors. The one-sided result put a damper on Kaslo’s resolve to enter the West Kootenay circuit. Nelson’s Ed Langill held the Kootenay Lake nine to only two hits in breezing to the shutout mound victory. He also contributed three base raps, an offensive production equalled by his teammate, first sacker D. Moddrell.
Cockle (L), Lingard (4) and Garland
Langill (W) and Lindstrom
REGULAR SEASON
(July 3) Rossland scored twice in the bottom-of-the-tenth inning to edge Nelson 8 to 7. The Lakesiders led 6 to 1 after six stanzas had been played but the Mining Towners knotted the count at 6 – 6 after eight frames. A scoreless ninth inning followed and, in the top of the overtime session, Nelson forged ahead once more with a singleton, setting the stage for the Rossland’s two-run winning splurge. Don MacKenzie, in a relief role, garnered the pitching win.
Cockle (L) and Lindstrom
Michaely, MacKenzie (W) and McPeak
(July 6) A somewhat cheesy inside-the-park two-run homer off the bat of third baseman J. Wolverton allowed the Nelson seniors to post a come-from-behind 8 to 6 triumph over the visiting nine from Trail. Ed Langill, with nine whiffs, took the hillock verdict from Trail’s Fred Morrish. Both clubs managed to bang out eight safeties in the ragged at times clash. Top dog with the baton in this fracas was Silver City infielder Joe Ranetta who was credited with three safeties.
Morrish (L) and Lauriente
Langill (W) and Buchanan
(July 13) The Nelson aggregation of balltossers came from behind twice to nose out the visiting Rossland nine 6 to 5. The winning run was scored in the bottom-of-the-ninth panel when Nelson’s J. Wolverton singled and moved all the way to the hot corner station on an overthrow to second while he was in the process of stealing the keystone sack. He then crossed the plate on E. Hunt’s sacrifice. Wolverton had earlier doubled in the seventh inning and plated the tying counter on a one-bagger by Dick Whitehead. The Mining Towners held an 11 to 8 edge in safeties although the game’s leading willow wielder was Nelson’s Ed Langill who came through with two doubles and a single.
Waldo (L) and McPeak
Edwards (W) and Lindstrom
(July 17) The Trail diamond gladiators picked up their initial West Kootenay League victory by outpointing the visiting Nelson nine 9 to 5. Relieving slabman Patton grabbed the bump triumph, allowing only one Nelson counter during his stint on the rubber. Trailing for a good portion of the joust, the Smoke Eaters gained the lead for good in the seventh panel when they plated four markers, one of which resulted from second baseman Howard’s home run.
Edwards (L) and Lindstrom
Morrish, Patton (W) (3) and Hanley
(July 21) Sensational fielding and heavy hitting enabled the homestanding Nelson nine to batter the Trail senior baseballers 11 to 1 at the Recreation grounds. Winning moundsman Edwards held the Trailites in check, yielding just four hits while breezing five. Meanwhile, the Lakesiders racked up 13 base blows off losing chucker Patton. Catcher F. Lindstrom led the way with the baton, nailing the apple for two doubles and a pair of one-baggers. Fly chaser J. Notman also collected a quartet of safe swats, one two-bagger and three singles.
Patton (L) and H. Lauriente
Edwards (W) and Lindstrom
(July 24) In arrears by two runs as they came to bat in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto, the Rossland baseballers erupted for three runs to escape with a 6 to 5 verdict over the invading Nelson contingent. The Lakesiders had come from behind to run across four tallies in the eighth, highlighted by a three-run circuit-clout off the bat of infielder Desereau, in grabbing a 5 to 3 lead. A misjudged fly ball allowed Don MacKenzie to leadoff the Rossland ninth by reaching the initial sack. A comebacker by catcher Granger was juggled by Nelson chucker Len Cockle who recovered just in time to nip the runner at first as MacKenzie moved into scoring position. “Smokey” McPeak followed with a single. After Drew fanned, Clyde Michaely strolled to the plate and walloped a four-ply clout which won the game.
Cockle (L) and Lindstrom
Waldo, Michaely (W) (8) and Granger
(July 27) Nelson scored early and often in disposing of the visiting Trail squad 11 to 1. Catcher F. Lindstrom and outfielder J. Notman both shone at the dish in this rout, each collecting four base knocks with two doubles included in Lindstrom’s total and one in Notman’s sum of swats. Winning chucker Edwards rang up five punchouts in tossing a four-hitter.
Patton (L) and Lauriente
Edwards (W) and Lindstrom
Standings W L Pct.
Rossland 3 1 .750
Nelson 3 3 .500
Trail 1 3 .250
(July 31) Moundsman Larson, in his first appearance on the bump this season, was in fine form and pitched the Trail baseball club to a 5 to 2 win over Rossland. The Smoke Eater chucker held the Golden City aggregation to just three hits and fanned 11. The Smelter City Boys had eight safeties including two each by first baseman Tollackson and outfielder Mike Butorac. Middle pasture patroller Cliff Morgan of the Smokies had an outstanding defensive game, bringing the fans to their feet with cheers for his glove work.
Michaely (L) and Granger
Larson (W) and Maze
(August 3) A slugging bee of major proportions erupted at Recreation Park where the visiting Colville WA team bombarded the Nelson diamond contingent 21 to 11 in the first of back-to-back exhibition encounters. The teams combined for 31 base knocks with the Washingtonians collecting 18 of them. Nailing the horsehide for three base raps apiece were first baseman Wernli, keystone sacker J. Rogers and outfielder Hattrup of the Americans while catcher F. Lindstrom and flychaser Hugh O’Neil responded with equal outputs for the Lakesiders. Wernli’s sum of swats included a home run while J. Rogers and Lindstrom had a double as part of their triad.
Edwards (L) and Lindstrom
Hydorn (W), Stites (6) and Underwood
(August 4) A four-run opening canto propelled the Colville WA to another sterling offensive performance as they went on to triumph over Nelson 14 to 5 in an exhibition skirmish that ended after seven-and-a-half frames had been played. Both aggregations wound up with ten safeties but poor defensive play by the Lakesiders contributed to the one-sided result. Winning tosser W. Laird led the winners with the baton, stroking a double and a brace of one-baggers. Teammate Hattrup slugged a round-tripper in which the clouted sphere broke a bedroom window in a neighborhood residence. For the vanquished nine, shortpatcher Edwards ripped a pair of doubles.
Laird (W), Hattrup (4), Stites and Underwood
Langill (L) and Lindstrom
(August 7) Homestanding Rossland pulverized a complaining crew of Trail baseballers 12 to 0. Winning pitcher Don MacKenzie held the Smeltermen to four scattered hits while fanning eight in posting the shutout win. He also starred with the lumber, spanking the sphere for two doubles and a pair of singles. Teammate Bruce Forteath also had a hot hand with the baton, stroking a two-bagger and a brace of singles.
Larson (L) and Maze
MacKenzie (W) and Granger
(August 10) Rossland’s 5 to 2 conquest of Nelson in the Lakeside City assured the Montainmen the 1921 WKBL pennant. Infielder Desereau’s RBI two-bagger gave Nelson a 1 to 0 lead in the second frame. A single by Rossland’s H. Pollin drove in the tying counter in the fourth. “Smokey” McPeak crossed the plate with a second tally for the Golden City nine in the fifth on Don MacKenzie’s base hit. The victors added three insurance markers in the seventh on a run-scoring Texas Leaguer by Jimmy Coen, an infield squibbler off the bat of MacKenzie which allowed winning tosser Michaely to touch the pan and an infield ground out by shortpatcher Spoares that plated Jimmy Coen. F. Lindstrom’s double in the ninth drove in a second Nelson run to end the scoring.
Michaely (W) and Granger
Whitehead (L), Edwards (7) and Lindstrom
Standings W L Pct.
Rossland 5 2 .714
Nelson 3 4 .429
Trail 2 4 .333
(August 14) Rossland’s pennant-winning ballswatters travelled to Colville WA and came away with a 6 to 1 exhibition game victory over their Washington-state hosts. Winning flinger W. Waldo set the Americans down on four hits and did not allow a Colville runner to reach second base until the eighth spasm when the Stevens County nine plated their lone counter. At bat, the Rosslanders struck for ten safeties.
Waldo (W) and Granger
Hydorn (L) and Graham
(August 21) The Rossland squad of diamondeers, singled out by their bitter rivals as having three imported players in their lineup, got past Trail by a 5 to 3 count. The Mining Towners had an 8 to 5 cushion in base knocks and, in preparation for the upcoming $1,000 winner-take-all challenge match with Nelson, eased their pitchers by utilizing three of them. Trail catcher Pete McIntyre, last season’s backstop, was back in his old position and sparkled at the plate, registering a triple and double.
Michaely, Waldo, Mackenzie (W) and Granger
Patton (L) and McIntyre
POST-SEASON
(August 24) Approximately 200 enthusiastic Golden City rooters accompanied the pennant-winning Rossland seniors to Nelson for the $500-a-side challenge match, initiated by the WKBL runners-up. The game drew great interest throughout the district and roughly 1,800 fans viewed the contest in which the Mining Towners capitalized on a flock of Nelson errors to emerge as 11 to 6 victors.The wheels came off for the hosting Lakesiders in the sixth panel when the Mountainmen ran across a half dozen counters as the homesters became terribly disorganized. In contrast to their hosts, the invaders exhibited snappy fielding that brought applause from the Nelson fans. Outer pasture patroller Drew of the victors, with a double and single, emerged as the game’s leading hitter.
Waldo, Michaely (W) (4) and Granger
Edwards (L) and Lindstrom
(September 3) Labor Day baseball in Trail saw the Smoke Eater balltossers win a fast and friendly exhibition game 4 to 1 from a Colville WA team described by the Trail News as a “gentlemanly bunch of players in contrast to some seen on the diamond this summer”. The dig by the local press seems to have been directed at Rossland team members, in particular. Ironically, the Colville squad had picked up a couple of Golden City players for the game. Additionally, the large crowd attending the clash included a sizeable number of Rosslanders who came down to cheer on the visitors. The crisp diamond joust featured ten base hits, five from each team. Patton and McIntyre, the Trail battery, seemed to get the best of things though, limiting bingles by the Washingtonians to less-than-critical situations. The lone player in the contest to accumulate plural hit totals was Trail outfielder Cliff Morgan who bagged three safe swats.
Hydorn (L) and Pollin
Patton (W) and McIntyre
TRAIL CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE
Trail had a short-season City League in 1921 composed of four entries. It was not an uncommon occurrence for players within this league to suit up for more than one team. From within the ranks of those playing in the City League, the Smelter City drew players for their representative in the senior-level West Kootenay Baseball League. The roster of players selected varied from game to game.
As well, another group of players from the same loop were designated as Trail’s intermediate team. In preparation for upcoming challenges, the senior and intermediate squads occasionally duked it out against each other in warm-up games.
East Trail
Gulch Giants
Tadanac *
Trail City
* Tadanac held first-place according to the last league standings published in the Trail News
SLOCAN-ARROW LAKES BASEBALL
(June 10) The baseball game on Friday evening between New Denver and the hosting Slocan City nine was well contested, both teams entering the field sure of defeating the other. However, the final result favored the home team, the score being 7 to 3.
R. Harris (L) and A. Harris
Graham (W) and Hufty
EAST KOOTENAY BASEBALL
EAST KOOTENAY BASEBALL LEAGUE
A six-team inter-city senior-level league was operational in 1921 within the East Kootenays.
Cranbrook
Fernie
Waldo
Wardner
White Spruce
Wycliffe
REGULAR-SEASON
(May 8) Wycliffe – 9 Cranbrook - 4
Musser (W) and McTeer
Bamford (L) and Kay
(May 8) Waldo - 13 Wardner - 3
Todhunter (W) and Ferko
Thompson (L) and Taylor
(May 15) Wycliffe – 4 Fernie – 1
Musser (W) and McTeer
Callahan (L) and Ruschal
(May 15) Waldo – 8 White Spruce – 4
Todhunter (W) and Ferko
Bishop (L) and Dunlap
(May 15) Cranbrook – 8 Wardner – 5
Armstrong (W), Bamford and Kay
Thompson (L) and Jones
(May 29) Wycliffe – 3 Waldo – 1
Musser (W) and McTeer
Basiren (L) and Ferko
(May 29) Fernie – 12 Cranbrook – 5
Callahan (W) and Ruschal
Bamford (L) and Adamson
(May 29) Wardner – 14 White Spruce – 9
Thompson (W) and Garrison
Bishop (L) and Dunlap
Standings W L Pct.
Wycliffe 3 0 1.000
Waldo 2 1 .667
Fernie 2 1 .667
Cranbrook 1 2 .333
Wardner 1 2 .333
White Spruce 0 3 .000
(June 5) Cranbrook 17 White Spruce – 3
Sofko (L), Bishop and Dunlap
Armstrong (W) and Adamson
(June 5) Wycliffe – 9 Wardner – 7
Musser (W), Crerer and McTeer
Thompson (L) and Garrison
(June 5) Fernie – 6 Waldo – 1
Todhunter (L) and Ferko
Callahan (W) and Ruschal
(June 12) Wycliffe – 4 White Spruce – 3
Peters (L) and Dunlap
Musser (W) and McTeer
(June 12) Waldo – 15 Cranbrook – 5
Armstrong (L), Bamford and Adamson
Basiren (W) and Ferko
(June 12) Fernie – 17 Wardner – 4
Thompson (L) and Garrison
Callahan (W) and Ruschal
(June 19) Wycliffe – 9 Wardner – 6
Thompson (L) and Garrison
Musser (W) and McTeer
(June 19) Waldo – 6 Fernie – 4
Callahan (L) and xxx
Neisling (W) and xxx
(June 19) White Spruce – 8 Cranbrook – 4
Bamford (L) and Argue
Peters (W) and O’Hara, Dunlap
(June 26) Fernie – 9 Wardner – 6 (11 innings)
Callahan (W) and Ruschal
Thompson (L) and Garrison
(June 26) Waldo – 13 Cranbrook – 5
Basiren (W), Neisling and Barger
Spence (L) and Adamson
(June 26) Wycliffe – 8 White Spruce – 6
Musser (W) and McTeer
Peters (L) and Dunlap, Costa
(July 10) Waldo – 4 Wycliffe - 0
(July 10) Cranbrook – 12 Fernie - 8
(July 10) White Spruce – 6 Wardner - 1
Thompson (L) and Garrison
Peters (W) and Costa, Dunlap
Standings W L Pct.
Wycliffe 7 1 .875
Waldo 6 2 .750
Fernie 5 3 .675
Cranbrook 3 5 .325
White Spruce 2 6 .250
Wardner 1 7 .125
(July 17) White Spruce – 3 Waldo – 0
Peters (W) and O’Hara
Neisling (L) and Barger
(July 17) Wycliffe – 3 Fernie – 0
Musser (W) and McTeer
Callahan (L) and Ruschal
(July 17) Cranbrook – 21 Wardner – 11
Thompson (L) and Garrison
Bamford (W) and Adamson
HR – Bert Sang (Cranbrook)
(July 24) Cranbrook – 9 Wycliffe - 7
Bamford (W), Spence and Adamson
Musser (L) and McTeer
(July 24) Waldo – 11 Wardner – 0
(July 24) Fernie – 7 White Spruce – 2
Final Standings W L Pct.
Wycliffe 8 2 .800
Waldo 7 3 .700
Fernie 6 4 .600
Cranbrook 5 5 .500
White Spruce 3 7 .300
Wardner 1 9 .100
The 1921 East Kootenay Baseball League did not hold intra-league playoffs. The regular-season pennant-winning Wycliffe squad was declared as league champion.
(August 1) Fernie Dominion Day tournament - Waldo defeated White Spruce 10 to 8 to capture top money in the long-delayed final game in the Fernie Dominion Day tournament. Originally billed for July 1, the game had been put on hold for a month after poor weather conditions forced a postponement. Gamblers were evident throughout the large crowd and it is estimated that upwards of $3,000 changed hands over the result.
Peters (L) and O’Hara
Neisling (W) and Barger
HR – Basiren (Waldo)
POST-SEASON EXHIBITION GAMES
(August 7) A two-out, bottom-of-the-thirteenth theft of home by first baseman Noel gave the Fernie team from the East Kootenay Baseball League a 7 to 6 walkoff win over Hillcrest of the Crow’s Nest Pass League in an exhibition game. Both teams stroked nine hits in the evenly-contested clash. Pendergast fanned 16 while Callahan whiffed eight.
Pendergast (L) and Clark
Callahan (W) and Hovan
(August 14) Fernie – 8 White Spruce – 2
Bishop (L) and Barger
Neitzling (W) and Hovan
CRESTON VALLEY BASEBALL LEAGUE
Copeland IDCreston
Erickson
Wynndell
Yahk
1921 GAME RESULTS
(May 15) Creston – 13 Copeland ID - 8
(May 19) Creston – 10 Erickson – 9
E. Craigle (L) and Telford
Taylor (W) and H. Gobbett
(May 22) Creston – 9 Wynndel – 7
Taylor (W) and Telford
Ogilvie (L) and Gobbett
(May 29) Copeland ID – 13 Creston – 5
Bear (W) and Ellis
Taylor (L), Avis and Telford
(June 5) Creston – 18 Wyndell – 11
Ogilvie (L) and Wilcox
Bruce (W) and Telford
HR – Taylor (Creston)
(June 12) Yahk – 9 Creston – 7
Avis (L) and Telford
Spring (W) and Baum
(June 26) Creston – 22 Yahk – 15
Young (L), Woodhouse and Baum
Bruce, Avis (W), Bey (8) and Telford
HR – Hall (Creston)