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(Brandon Sun headline, August 26, 1948)
Brandon (Manitoba) Greys emerged as the power on the prairies,
while the London, Ontario, Majors beat the American champions to take
the North American "sandlot" title.
In the
city's return to semi-professional baseball, Brandon captured the pennant in the
newly formed Manitoba Senior League and went on to defeat the Winnipeg Reos
in the playoffs. In the biggest tournament in
the west, Greys beat a tough Sceptre squad to take first prize at Indian Head,
Saskatchewan.
 With a core of imported players, the Greys led the way in
providing a home for former Negro leaguers who began to find fewer
opportunities across the border as Jackie Robinson's integration
of the major leagues, in 1947, marked the beginning of the end of
the Negro leagues.
 "Five imported Negro stars, Coney
Williams (above), Bus Quinn, Thad Christopher,
Raphael Cabrera (right) and Steve Wylie proved
a sound investment for the backers of the Greys as they turned a
"good" club into a "dream team".
(Brandon
Sun, December 30, 1948)
 The Greys, who opened the season with three loses, romped to 58 wins in their
75 game schedule. They finished 28-5-1 in league play. A 17-game winning
streak was just one of the highlights. Wylie (12-1), Quinn
(10-1) and Jack Sinclair (10-5) won 32 games. Christopher
finished second to Elmwood's Terry Sawchuk (above) in the batting
race. Quinn came third. Sawchuk batted .376 to take the
crown. |
1948 Stats
1948
Rosters
1948 Tournaments
1948
Ligon All-Stars
1948 Minot Merchants
MANITOBA SENIOR LEAGUE *
Brandon Greys 25 8
Winnipeg Reos 15 15 8.5
Elmwood Giants 12 17 11.0
Winnipeg Vets 7 19 14.5
*
Brandon Sun, Aug 9, 1948
(Brandon defeated Winnipeg Reos in the playoff final to capture
the Manitoba Senior League title.)
1948 Game Reports/Playoffs
1948 Photo Gallery
1948 Snapshots
1948 Brandon Greys
1948 Bowsman
1948 Gilbert Plains
SASKATOON & DISTRICT
LEAGUE
1948
Delisle Gems
SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Regina Caps 13 3
.813
Weyburn Beavers 13 7 .650
Notre Dame Hounds 10 6 .625
Moose Jaw Oilmen 9 8 .529
Wilcox Cardinals 8 8 .500
Liberty Eagles 8 9 .471
Moose Jaw Canucks 4 13 .235
Regina Red Sox 2 13 .133
1948 Game
Reports
NORTHEASTERN SK LEAGUE
NESBL
History
BIG FOUR LEAGUE
Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Cubs
Calgary Purity 99
Calgary Buffaloes ALBERTA
1948 Snapshots
ONTARIO, INTERCOUNTY
1948 Game Reports
1948 London Majors
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Sawchuck
would go on to a Hall of Fame career as a goaltender in the National
Hockey League. The Winnipeg native captured NHL Rookie of the Year honours in 1951 and was named the league's best goalie four times.
Winnipeg Tribune's 1948 Manitoba Senior League All-Star team -- Catcher: Gus Merlevede, Reos,
First base: Hugh Gustafson, Elmwood,
Second base: Jack Raleigh, ANAF,
Third base: Ian Lowe, Brandon,
Shortstop: Coney Williams, Brandon,
Left field: Jack Vicars ANAF,
Centre field: Ed Leier, Elmwood,
Right field: Bill Antoniak, Reos,
Utility: Terry Sawchuk, Elmwood,
Pitcher: Johnny McManus, Reos,
Manager: Jack Hind
(Winnipeg Tribune, August 19,
1948)
Eddie
Morris guided the Edmonton Eskimos to the title in the Alberta Big
Four Intercity League. Esks downed Calgary Buffaloes in the final
series. The
Muskogee Cardinals were among the barnstorming teams to hit the
prairies after the war years. The Cardinals played in Camrose,
Alberta in 1948, beating the locals 9-8.
The Camrose Canadian of July 21st carried a little information about
the Cardinals :
"The
Cardinals, a darky club, were the champions of the Southwest from 1934 to
1947. It remains to be seen whether they will be champions for 1948 or not.
They are highly publicized but are reported to be one of the best teams of
their kind. Those who have seem them play report they put on the best show
any touring ball club has ever shown. They play to win, but add enough
comedy to the game to give you your money's worth."
 The
paper also mentioned an upcoming series with another barnstorming team, the Oakland
Beavers. Among the other touring teams were the Ligon's
All-Stars, House of David, Kansas City
Monarchs, San Francisco Cubs, Birmingham
Stars and San Francisco Sea Lions.
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