1957 Alberta Snap Shots

The Lethbridge Herald marked the kickoff of the 1957 season with a sketch depicting some of the prominent players -- Clarence Yanosik of Lethbridge, George Menzies Picture Butte, Willie Walasko Granum, Bud Syverson Medicine Hat, Marty Norman Vulcan and Hank Bassen Calgary.

       

Granum did it again -- Alberta Senior Baseball champions. The Lethbridge Herald responded with a "King George" sketch. Inscribed on the baseballs on the royal cape are the names of the Granum players.

Action at Calgary's Buffalo Stadium.  John Vaselenak is out at first on a sacrifice as Ken Mitchell (behind Vaselenak) throws to second baseman Glen Tuckett for the out.  Calgary pitcher Baz Nagle is on the far right while the catcher is Ken Heffel.

Ken Burns (left) and Jim Lester in earlier days as teammates on the Reedley JC nine.  They'd team up again on the 1957 Granum White Sox. (Photo courtesy Jim Lester)

Bobby Lee of Picture Butte won the batting crown with a .424 average.

Marty Hurd of Calgary was a two-sport start at the University of Arizona as an outfielder in baseball and a guard/centre on the football team. He was the leading hitter in major college ball in 1957 with a .473 batting average.  Hurd was the first black baseball player in the history of the university.

Jocko Tarnava thunders into third base in the opening game of the Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. Tarnava scored the first run of the game as the Lethbridge-Vulcan All-Stars whipped the Trail Smoke Eaters 11-0.  Grabbing the throw is Trail's Hugh McIntyre.
 

Calgary's Tom McIntosh had a no-hitter for 7 2/3s, settling for a one-hitter against Red Deer. 

Denny Totland (left) and Marty Hurd (right) show off the prized left arm of starter Don Kirk who recorded his second playoff win against Vulcan.

Top left - a trio of Medicine Hat Orphans (they became the Superiors later in the season) - Phil Risinger (left), Bill Davidson (centre) and John Adams (right).  Top right - the three amigos, Davidson (top), Risinger (middle), Adams (bottom).  Left - the team celebrates a victory in the Medicine Hat tournament.  Players identified in the photo are Bud Syverson, Mel Wilson, Vic Link, Bill Chacalias, Dace Tingley and Ron Murdoch.  At the right is the manager, Shorty Jeske.  Bottom right  - the kickoff of the Calgary Buffaloes Tournament.  Bottom left - Shortstop Phil Risinger of the Medicine Hat Orphan (later to be called, Superiors).  The 'Hat, which finished 3-27 in 1957 with mainly a roster of local players, made a stunning turnaround in 1958 winning the pennant and capturing the league championship.