1940 Vancouver, Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley
1940 BC Interior
1940 Vancouver Island
WEST KOOTENAYS
WEST KOOTENAY BASEBALL LEAGUE
REGULAR-SEASON GAMES (including in-season exhibition matches)
(May 12) Southpaw slinger Cliff Bogstie doled out only one hit as the youthful Trail Cardinals whitewashed the veteran Trail Indians 2 – 0 in the opening tussle of the 1940 WKBL campaign. Bogstie‘s mound performance included eleven punchouts and three free passes. The Tribe used a pair of chuckers, loser Carl Loblick and sixth-inning reliever Les Christensen. Mike Wolfe, with a triple and single, and Julie Bilesky, who laced a two-bagger and single, each recorded two of the eight Redbird safeties.
Bogstie (W) and Anselmo
Loblick (L), Christensen (6) and Petrunia
(May 19) Nelson came out on top 2 – 1 in a thrilling duel of portside heavers that featured Trail Cardinals’ Cliff Bogstie and Ray Humble of the Lakesiders. Bogstie allowed nine Nelson hits and whiffed ten batters while the Redbirds got to Humble, who fanned nine, for six safeties. The Cards opened the scoring with a singleton in their first at bat. Nelson pulled even in the third and plated the winner in the fifth frame. A single by catcher Gord Richardson drove in Carl Locatelli with the deciding counter. Nelson’s Steve Smith, with a brace of one-baggers, was the lone multi-hit swatter in the contest.
Bogstie (L) and Anselmo, Simpson
Humble (W) and Richardson
(May 24) Riche’s of Spokane’s Independent Twilight Baseball League outswatted the visiting Trail Cardinals by a 12 to 7 margin in handing the Cards a 7 – 2 defeat in an exhibition fixture played at Harmon Field in the Lilac City.
Guzzi (L), Demore and Anselmo
Miller (W), Molitor and Lassell
(May 26) In a hard-fought offensive battle at Nelson’s Recreation Grounds, the invading Trail Indians squeezed out a 12 – 11 victory over their Lakeside hosts. The teams combined for a total of 30 bingles with each side manufacturing 15 safeties. Bill Fisher and “Red” Tulloch of the Tribe as well as Nelson’s Ernie Beland and Ray Humble each rapped out a trio of base knocks.
Tulloch (W), Christensen, Loblick and xxx
Howard (L), Smith, Humble and xxx
(May 26) Behind the six-hit flinging of portsider Cliff Bogstie, the Trail Cardinals breezed to a 7 – 2 win over the Hillyard Boosters of Spokane in an exhibition contest at Butler Park. The Redbirds nicked losing hurler, big George Melveld, for ten base blows and backed up Bogstie with a fine defensive performance. “Smokey” Harrison‘s timely stickwork in the sixth and eighth innings drove in a pair of runs for the Smelter City squad.
Melveld (L) and xxx
Bogstie (W) and xxx
(June 2) A successful squeeze bunt by pint-sized catcher “Mushy” Anselmo in the bottom-of-the-ninth frame plated speedy Andy Bilesky from third base with the winning counter as the Trail Cardinals nosed out invading Nelson 5 – 4 in a thrilling WKBL match at Butler Park. Anselmo had two other safeties in the fracas for a three-hit output. Teammates Cliff Bogstie and Sammy Saprunoff added bases-empty homers. Ray Humble poked two doubles and a one-bagger for the Lakeside City nine while backstop Gord Richardson lit up winning heaver Bogstie for a two-run four-bagger.
Mydansky, Humble (L) (6) and Richardson
Bogstie (W) and Anselmo
(June 2) In exhibition action, the Trail Indians of the WKBL journeyed to Kettle Falls WA and came away with a 6 – 3 conquest of the homestanding Americans. Tribe sluggers collected nine hits including triples by Johnny Cameron, “Tick” Hall and “Red” Tulloch. Les Christensen and Carl Loblick split mound chores for the victorious Trailites.
(June 9) The homestanding Nelson seniors rocked two Silver City moundsmen for 14 base knocks in a one-sided 8 – 2 verdict over the Trail Cardinals. Seven of the Nelson blows came in the third spasm when the Lakesiders pushed across six tallies. Starter “Lefty” Mydansky copped the hillock triumph while youthful Joe Monaldi, making his inaugural appearance of the season, was tagged with the loss. Keystone sacker Roy Anderson of the winners clipped the horsehide for a brace of doubles.
Monaldi (L), Bogstie and xxx
Mydansky (W), Humble and xxx
(June 16) A four-run outburst in the sixth spasm carried the hosting Trail Indians to a 6 – 5 come-from-behind conquest of the Nelson senior baseballers. “Red” Tulloch went the route on the bump for the victors, surrendering nine safeties, three of which were garnered by Syd Chodorcoff. Losing heaver Steve Smith also went the distance and was nicked for a dozen base knocks. The Nelson portsider recorded eight whiffs while Tulloch punched out six of the Lakesiders. Neither twirler issued a free pass although the Trail righthander hit one batter. “Tick” Hall drilled two doubles for the Tribe while clubmate Rico Martin was credited with a two-bagger and a single, the latter rap coming on an apparent home run when Martin was called out for failing to touch the keystone sack when circling the bases.
Smith (L) and McInnes
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia
STANDINGS Indians 2 – 1 .667 Cardinals 2 – 2 .500 Nelson 2 – 3 .400
(June 16) The Trail Cardinals of the WKBL clobbered the homestanding Cranbrook nine 16 – 9 in an exhibition encounter. Third baseman Ken Stanton of the Smelter City aggregation lit up losing chucker Johnny Mather for a seventh-stanza four-ply clout.
(June 23) Silver City rivals, the Indians and the Cardinals locked horns at Butler Park in a battle for top spot in the WKBL. After ten torrid innings of play, the more-experienced nine eked out a 4 – 3 triumph over the Cardinals, overcoming an early three-run deficit in the process. Les Christensen gained the slab verdict over portsider Cliff Bogstie in the hard-fought affair. The Tribe cuffed Bogstie, who breezed 14, for ten hits while the Cards picked up five bingles from the offerings of Christensen. Indians’ playing-manager George Petrunia doubled home Rico Martin with the deciding tally in the overtime session. Flychaser Bill Fisher topped the winners offensively with a home run and double while “Red” Tulloch swatted a brace of two-baggers. Julie Bilesky‘s pair of doubles drove in all three of the Redbird counters.
Bogstie (L) and Anselmo
Christensen (W) and Petrunia
(July 1) The reinforced Trail Cardinals, with two of their intra-city rival Trail Indian players in the lineup, captured top prize money in the Kimberley Dominion Day tournament by defeating the hosting Kimberley diamondeers 4 - 3 in the tourney final. Cliff Bogstie hurled the Trail invaders to victory, annexing the knoll decision over George Kolborn (recently signed by the Dynamiters hockey club as a goaltender, was on the mound for Kimberley). Pick-up first baseman “Casey” Jones belted a couple of round-trippers for the Cards in the four-team event which also featured clubs from Cranbrook and Kellogg ID.
(July 7) In an argument-laced diamond joust between truculent Silver City foes, the Trail Cardinals stung the league-leading Trail Indians with a 6 - 4 loss. Newly-recruited righthander Maurice Duffy, formerly with the Rosthern Wheat Kings of Saskatchewan’s Northern Baseball League, pitched six innings for the Cards in earning the knoll victory over “Red” Tulloch. A solo four-bagger in the sixth stanza by Andy Bilesky provided an insurance tally that sealed the deal for the Redbirds. Leadoff hitter “Tick” Hall doubled twice for the vanquished Braves.
Tulloch (L) and Petrunia
Duffy(W), Demore (6), Bogstie (8) and Anselmo
(July 12) A two-out, three-run rally in the eighth episode gave the touring African Zulu Giants from Detroit a 4 – 3 triumph over the Trail Cardinals in an entertaining exhibition tilt at Butler Park. With the first two batters retired in the next-to-last frame and in arrears by two runs, the Zulus got to losing twirler Cliff Bogstie for four hits and a walk in registering the come-from-behind win. The Redbirds, who had an 8 to 5 advantage in base hits, were led at the plate by catcher George Petrunia, on loan from the Trail Indians, who blasted a round-tripper and a double. Leadoff swatter Sammy Saprunoff followed with a trio of one-baggers.
Lulu (W) and Tom Tom
Bogstie (L), Ewing (9) and Petrunia
(July 14) The Trail Cardinals trimmed the Rossland Miners 10 – 2 in an exhibition scuffle staged in the Golden City. Louis Demore, on the mound for the Cards, marked up 16 strikeouts in the heavy-hitting affair in which the Trailites outswatted the Miners by a 15 to 10 margin. Rossland’s brace of tallies came on a two-run tater by Ross Jackson in the eighth chapter.
Demore (W) and Anselmo
Wynn (L) and Lefevre
(July 14) The short-handed Trail Indians consolidated their hold on top spot in the WKBL by slipping past the Nelson seniors 4 – 3 at Butler Park. Forced to fill their depleted roster with a pair of additions from the Trail Cardinals, the Redskins notched the win complements of a lucky three-run homer off the bat of Sam Saprunoff, one of the Redbird pickups, whose high fly ball was misplayed in the outer garden. Saprunoff also had a double and finished with four RBI’s. Steady slabster “Red” Tulloch surrendered seven Nelson safeties in garnering the mound triumph over hard-luck loser “Lefty” Mydansky. Steve Smith singled on three occasions for the vanquished Lakesiders.
Mydansky (L), Humble (8) and Richardson
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia
STANDINGS Indians 4 – 2 .667 Cardinals 3 – 3 .500 Nelson 2 – 4 .333
(July 21) The Trail Cardinals, current second-place club in the WKBL, hammered the Rossland Miners to the tune of 15 – 2 in an exhibition contest at Butler Park. The Cards bunched 11 hits and capitalized on seven fielding blunders by the Mountain Men. Joe Monaldi, Louis Demore and Mike Wolfe split the pitching chores for the victors.
(July 21) The WKBL pennant hopes of the Trail Indians were brighter than ever following their 4 – 3 win over the Nelson seniors. The Lakesiders outhit the Tribe 13 to 11 and had runners in scoring position time after time but failed to connect in crucial situations when bingles meant bacon. Newcomer Jack Carpenter, a policeman from Smithers, toiled on the elevated portion of the diamond for the Nelsonites while Trail’s “Pills” Purcello made his season’s debut on the bump. Carpenter fanned 13 and walked none while Purcello whiffed seven and issued one free pass. “Casey” Jones belted a double and a pair of singles for the winning Redskins.
Purcello (W) and Petrunia
Carpenter (L) and Richardson
(July 28) After four scoreless innings, the Trail Indians erupted for a trio of counters in the fifth frame as they went on to blank their city cousins, the Trail Cardinals, 5 – 0 at Butler Park. With the decisive triumph, the Redskins clinched the WKBL regular-season pennant for 1940. Winning pitcher Les Christensen tamed the Cards on five safeties, all singles. “Case"y Jones, “Tick” Hall and Don McIntyre each registered two hits for the Tribe off the slants of losing twirler Louis Demore. A double by Jones accounted for the lone extra-base swat of the encounter.
Demore (L) and Anselmo
Christensen (W) and Petrunia
(July 28) A scheduled exhibition game between Riche’s of Spokane and the hosting Nelson nine was rained out.
(August 4) The Trail Cardinals edged the visiting Nelson senior nine 3 – 2 as the West Kootenay Baseball League wrapped up its 1940 regular-season schedule. A timely single by “Mushy” Anselmo in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto drove in Cliff Bogstie with the winning run.
FINAL STANDINGS Indians 6 – 2 .750 Cardinals 4 – 4 .500 Nelson 2 – 6 .250
PLAYOFFS
SEMI-FINALS (Nelson vs Trail Cardinals) best-of-three series
(August 11) In a burst of hitting might, the youthful Trail Cardinals cracked down on Nelson 8 – 5 at Butler Park as the WKBL semi-finals got underway. The Cards, bolstered by the addition of three recent playoff signees – Kenny Lawn, Ian Lowe and Roy Schappert – rolled out their heavy artillery in the eighth episode to sew up the victory. Cliff Bogstie was uncharacteristically clipped for 12 hits and issued six walks but managed to survive and claim the hillock triumph for the Redbirds. Trail batters acquired ten safeties, including home runs by Andy Bilesky, Schappert and Mike Wolfe, off a pair of Nelson hurlers. Ernie Beland went yard with a dinger for the Lakesiders. Schappert added a double and single to his four-bagger and drove in three runs for the winners. Beland, of the vanquished nine, singled twice to go along with his round-tripper.
Humble, Carpenter (L) (6) and Richardson
Bogstie (W) and Anselmo
(August 18) The second game of the WKBL semi-finals was put on hold indefinitely as Nelson manager Con Cummins continued protest proceedings against the use of three playoff imports by the Trail Cardinals.
(August 25) In a tune-up exhibition match prior to their second semi-final playoff start, the Trail Cardinals dropped an 8 – 6 decision to the powerful Riche’s squad of Spokane. The Washingtonians drilled three circuit-clouts in overpowering the Cards.
Wouters (W) and Hastings
Bogstie, McKinley (L) (3) and Anselmo
(September 1) With the Trail Cardinals’ ace hurler Cliff Bogstie sidelined with an arm injury, the hosting Nelson seniors evened the WKBL semi-finals at a game apiece with a decisive 10 – 6 conquest of the visiting Redbirds. The Lakeside City nine battered losing twirler Louis “Rube” Demore from the slab in the second inning and led in the contest throughout. Jack Carpenter pitched eight innings for the winners who had a 12 to 9 advantage in base hits. Catcher Gord Richardson drove in five runs for the Nelsonites while teammate Ernie Beland had three RBI’s. Richardson‘s three safeties, one of which was a double, led all hitters.
Demore (L). McGibney (2) and Anselmo
Carpenter (W). Mydansky (9) and Richardson
(September 8) Failing to show up at Trail’s Butler Park for the series’ rubber match, the Nelson senior baseballers forfeited the game and the semi-final showdown with the Trail Cardinals, providing the Redbirds with a free ticket to the best-of-five WKBL finals against the pennant-winning Trail Indians.
FINALS (Trail Cardinals vs Trail Indians) best-of-five series
(September 15) Riding the crest of an 11-hit offensive attack, the Trail Cardinals belted their intra-city rivals, the Trail Indians, into submission 9 – 2 at Butler Park in the opening tussle of the WKBL finals. Appearing rusty after a prolonged layoff, batters from the Tribe were not a serious threat to the Cards. Third baseman Ken Lawn singled three times, stole a brace of bases and drove in three runs for the Redbirds. Catcher “Mushy” Anselmo followed with a pair of doubles. Following several weeks on the sidelines with an injured elbow, lefthander Cliff Bogstie turned in a remarkable 16-strikeout performance on the bump for the winners, limiting the Redskins to three base raps.
Bogstie (W) and Anselmo
Christensen (L), Purcello (6) and Petrunia
(September 22) Striking for a pair of home runs in the top-of the eleventh session, the Trail Indians captured the crucial second game of the WKBL finals by taking a hard-fought 5 – 1 decision over the Trail Cardinals and, in the process, squaring the final series at a game each. A two-out rally in the second round of overtime carried the Tribe to victory. Outfielder Don McIntyre of the Braves broke a 1 – 1 stalemate with a three-run circuit-smash and clubmate Joe Benoit followed with a solo round-tripper to give the Redskins a four-run advantage. The Cards were retired in order in the bottom-half of the frame by winning tosser “Red” Tulloch. The Indians got to losing flinger Cliff Bogstie for seven hits, five of which went for extra bases. Tulloch was nicked for eight safeties including a bases-empty dinger by Roy Schappert and three singles by shortpatcher Julie Bilesky. Strikeouts were plentiful in the thrill-packed fracas as Bogstie fanned 17 while Tulloch punched out 11.
Tulloch (W) and Petrunia
Bogstie (L) and Anselmo
(September 29) Scoring a pair of markers in their final turn at bat, the Trail Indians shaded their city cousins, the Trail Cardinals, 2 – 1 at Butler Park in the third clash of the WKBL finals. For 8-2/3 innings, portsider Cliff Bogstie of the Redbirds dazzled the Tribe hitters effectively but, after two had been retired in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto, things began to unravel for the Cards and their ace southpaw. Catcher “Mushy” Anselmo failed to hold on to a third strike which allowed Joe Benoit of the Redskins to reach first base on the ensuing late throw. Rico Martin prolonged the game with a single and then playing-manager George Petrunia delivered a two-base blow that plated Benoit with the tying counter. Martin crossed the dish with the winning tally when Don McIntyre dropped a short fly just over second base that fell in for the game’s decisive safety. “Red” Tulloch, who took over mound cores in the ninth inning from Indians’ starter “Pills” Purcello, was credited with the hillock triumph. All three of the Cardinal hits were garnered off the slants of Purcello. Working in his customary effective fashion, Bogstie had 16 strikeouts to his credit and was backed up by faultless defensive play.
Bogstie (L) and Anselmo
Purcello, Tulloch (W) (9) and Petrunia
(October 6) Outfielder Sammy Saprunoff clouted a two-run round-tripper in the top-of-the-eighth-episode which propelled the Trail Indians to a second consecutive 2 – 1 win over the Trail Cardinals and the 1940 championship of the West Kootenay Baseball League. The diminutive flychaser’s blast chased in winning pitcher Les Christensen, who had reached first base on an error, ahead of him. Christensen and losing moundsman “Buzz” McGibney each went the route in the exciting finale. Both chuckers gave up just four hits. The Redbirds scored their only run in the fourth frame when second sacker Roy Schappert went yard with a solo four-ply clout. The smooth-fielding Schappert added two singles to his homer and emerged as the hitting star for the losers.
EAST KOOTENAYS
(May 24) Kimberley won a three-way Empire day tournament held in Cranbrook, defeating Fernie 8 to 0 in the afternoon and Cranbrook 11 to 6 in the evening game. Against Cranbrook, Kimberley scored six runs in the first two innings before being silenced by the smart pitching of Stan Young who didn’t allow a hit the next five innings.
(June 16) The Trail Cardinals of the WKBL clobbered the homestanding Cranbrook nine 16 – 9 in an exhibition encounter. Third baseman Ken Stanton of the Smelter City aggregation lit up losing chucker Johnny Mather for a seventh-stanza four-ply clout.
(June 23) The Cranbrook senior baseball team defeated Bonners Ferry ID 6 to 2 as winning pitcher Jack Mather recorded 13 strikeouts.
(July 1) The Trail senior baseball club won the Kimberley Sports Day tournament by defeating Kimberley 4 to 3 in the final game. Cranbrook and Kellogg, ID, teams also took part in the tournament. Cliff Bogstie pitched the Trail nine to victory while Georgie Kolburn, recently signed by the Dynamiters hockey club as a goaltender, was on the mound for Kimberley.
(July 11) Cranbrook pitcher Art Guthrie held the visiting Kimberley baseball team down on four hits as the Cranbrookers prevailed 3 to 2. Overcoming a first-inning 2 to 0 deficit, the hosts replied with a pair of runs in their half of the frame to knot matters and then, after nipping a Kimberley threat in the fourth with a double play, pushed across another run to take the game.
(July 14) The Cranbrook baseball team rallied after the sixth inning and chalked up an 8 to 4 victory over Libby, MT. A projected double play by the invading Montanans was declared incomplete in the bottom of the sixth after the teams were tied 4 – 4. Libby chucker Derster had held Cranbrook to four hits until the time of the disputed play. Jack Mather pitched for Cranbrook.
(August 26) Cranbrook and the Natal Buffaloes split a doubleheader played in Cranbrook. Natal won the first game 7 to 3 while the hosts took the second encounter 7 to 6. The Pass invaders led throughout the early tussle after racking up six runs in the second frame.
Krall (W), Weaver and xxx
Guthrie (L), Mather and xxx
Hurler Stan Young of the homesters persevered on the hill in the late joust as his mates rescued him from an eighth-inning 6 to 4 deficit to pull the game out of the fire.
Peters (L) and xxx
Young (W) and xxx
CARIBOO BASEBALL
With a wartime recruiting program underway, civilian baseball clubs in the Cariboo area of British Columbia found it challenging to maintain a stable of available players. Early in the season, the Quesnel team was forced to discontinue play altogether as four of their regular players jointly enlisted in the military. No league was ever formed and only a handful of exhibition matches took place.
Giscome : Dunn B. OF, Ekblad H. SS, Ekblad M. 1B, Farenhurst 2B, Gobi OF, Granley C, McLaren OF, McMillan OF/SS, Meadows 3B/P, Neff 1B, Neil OF, Scott C, Spurr 1B, Struthers P/OF
Prince George Merchants : Bracy C/OF, Buckle 2B, Cary C, Cleland Bob P, Duckworth Rocky P (also Quesnel), Fleming Bill 1B, Gabrielle SS, Goodwin OF, Meuka 3B, Moffatt OF, Peckham #1 OF, Peckham #2 OF, Swanky P, Wilson OF, Withiam Bert 3B/P
Quesnel : Chisholm Bob C, Duckworth Rocky 2B/P (also Prince George), Healy 1B, Howlett OF, Magnuson SS, Marsh John OF, Marsh R., Powell OF/P/2B, Tingley Rufus 3B, Woods P/OF
(June 9) A rousing seventh-inning rally gave the Prince George Merchants an 8 to 5 win over Quesnel in the opening inter-city game of the season. Prince George first baseman Bill Fleming was the hitting star of the game, bagging four hits including two doubles. Losing pitcher Woods had eleven strikeouts.
Woods (L), Powell, Duckworth and Chisholm
Cleland (W) and Bracy
(June 16) Giscome edged the Prince George Merchants 6 to 5 in a ten-inning thriller. Unfortunately for the hosting Merchants, wild pitches and errors at crucial moments in the overtime session cost them the game. Both teams had seven hits but fielding on both sides was loose. Meadows, the Giscome third baseman, was outstanding in both defensive play and baserunning. He also collected a pair of hits for the winners as did keystone sacker Farenhurst. Gabrielle, Bracy and Cary of Prince George each had a pair of safeties.
Struthers (W) and Scott
Cleland (L) and Cary
(June 30) The high-flying Giscome ball tossers and the Prince George Merchants split a sloppily-played double-bill in Prince George. The Merchants grabbed the afternoon contest 13 to 6 while the invaders took the nightcap 10 to 8. Despite allowing six runs, winning pitcher Rocky Duckworth gave up just one base hit in the early event. Only Giscome catcher Granley, with a sharp seventh-inning single, was able to dent the armour of Duckworth, picked up by the Merchants after the Quesnel team was ripped apart by military defections. Duckworth also did well with the hickory, belting a triple in the fifth frame which drove in a pair of runs. Teammates Bert Withiam, Cary and Peck each picked up two hits with one of Withiam’s being a towering double.
Struthers (L), Meadows and Granley
Duckworth (W) and Cary
Giscome jumped out of the gate with four runs to take an early lead in the late tussle. Prince George battled back and finally tied the score at 8 – 8 but a two-run error on a routine ground ball in the seventh opened the door for the visitors’ triumph. The Merchants beat themselves in this contest, booting the horsehide on seven occasions. Granley had a pair of hard-hit singles for the victors. Rocky Duckworth of Prince George, with a triple and double, took the batting honours for the night while teammate Bert Withiam drilled a double and single.
Meadows (W) and Granley
Swanky (L) and xxx
CROW'S NEST PASS
(June 19) The Michel-Natal Buffaloes, behind the four-hit pitching of Halko, chalked up their fourth straight win in the Crow’s Nest Pass Baseball League when they defeated the Coleman Pucksters 5 to 2. The win boosted the Buffaloes into first place while the Coleman loss dropped them into third place.