Three key members of the 1955 Lloydminster Meridians. Above left - shortstop / third baseman Willie "Curly" Williams in his first of his nine seasons with the Meridians.
Williams had experience in both the Negro Leagues and pro ball (in the White Sox system) before heading north to continue his career. He had played with Carman, Manitoba, in the ManDak League in 1953 before a season of winter ball in the Dominican and a final season in Negro ball with the Birmingham Black Barons.
Above right - veteran Barney Brown had a Negro League career which stretched back to 1931. The left-hander was 47 when he first joined the Meridians in 1954. He had a superb season, making 11 starts, all complete games while finishing with an earned run average of less than 3.00.
Left - Slugger Collins Jones. Robbed of the batting crowd in 1954 (when qualification was set on games played rather than at bats), Jones was traded from Moose Jaw to Lloydminster. The Meridians gave up their top hurler, Max Weekly, to get Jones who hit .331 and led the league in doubles and runs batted in.
(Photos courtesy Leola Brost)
Below - Regina catcher Bill Schulz at Taylor Field, Regina, 1955. Schulz, from Fresno State University, had earlier played in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba, and Kamsack, Saskatchewan.
Below - Bill Schulz in the on deck circle - 1955, Regina.
Above left - Catcher Bill Schulz. (Photos courtesy of Bill Schulz)
Right - Tom Higa of the Moose Jaw Mallards.
Below - three of the 1955 Moose Jaw Mallards (left to right) Bill Sheffield, Roy Arnold and Rich Rubio.
