John McLane an outfielder with the Lloydminster North Battleford Combines in 1958 was a 1959 bonus baby with the Cleveland Indians. McLane signed a $50,000 bonus contract with Cleveland. McLane hit .307 in 48 games with the Combines in '58.
During the 1959 season there would be more signings. Len Gabrielson of Edmonton was reported to have received "at least" $70,000 to sign with Milwaukee.
Miles McWilliams, a slugging first baseman with Williston, and Edmonton pitcher, Norm Forsythe also caught the attention of the scouts.
Left - Edmonton manager Stan Charnofsky offers greetings to umpire Lefty Mack after a called third strike on one of his players as the Eskimos downed Regina 3-1.
Above - Edmonton trio -- Smiles all around after the Eskimos beat Saskatoon 3-1. John Werhas, centre, with the Sharp-MacNeill Trophy as the club's MVP. Werhas led the Esks with a homer and double. Art Ersepke, left, drove in a pair with a double and Jim Sims, right, had a shutout for eight innings. (Edmonton Journal, September 2, 1959)
Above left - the Saskatoon Commodores program 1959.
Centre - Back in the saddle. Once more to the rescue of the Edmonton Eskimos-- Alberta rancher Ralph Whitey Vold. The right-hander, who pitched in the Dodger system before coming home to help out on the family ranch, suited up for parts of four seasons with the Eskimos.
Right - John Regoli, a late-season Regina recruit. Regoli was the leading hitter in both 1959 & 1960 at Arizona State.
Left - USC star John Werhas made a stop in Edmonton en route to a lengthy pro career, including parts of three seasons in the majors and a dozen summers at Triple-A. He was an All-American at USC
Left - Out at home. A great throw from right fielder Len Breckner to catcher Jim Garrett easily beat Edmonton's Joe Campise. The umpire is Johnny Lupul. (Edmonton Journal, August 10, 1959)
Right - Roger Kudron (Regina) was a star at Arizona State University.
Saskatoon's Pete Estrada connects for a double in a game at Cairns Field in
Saskatoon. Catcher is Regina's Steve Strother. Moe George is the umpire.
Gord Morgan, who had belted a two-run homer, Eloyd Robinson and pitcher
Gene Graves provide some support for their Commodore mates. Saskatoon
dropped a 10-6 decision to Regina.
Left - Lloydminster - North Battleford centre-fielder Monte Bond is helped off the field after suffering a hairline fracture of the ankle while stealing second base in action at Renfrew Park at Edmonton. The injury forced the Meridians to search out a new outfielder. It turned out to be future major leaguer Don Buford.
Above right - Second baseman Ron Stillwell of the Regina Senators is tagged out at third base by the Edmonton Eskimos' John Werhas.
Above left - Phil Oyler of the Regina Senators scores on a passed ball as Ray Boaz signals him to stand up
Above right - Roger Tomlinson of the Regina Senators receives the congratulations of teammate Phil Oyler as he crosses the plate after hitting a 7th inning home run against the Edmonton Eskimos.
Below - Pitchers at Arizona State. Front row (left to right) - Roger Barnson, Joe Kostyk, Jim Sims. Back row (left to right) - Ray Martinez, Jim Tipton, Jerry Hochevar, Dick Saunders, Roger Kudron. Along with Kudron, Sims and Barnson pitched in Western Canada.
Below right - Regina Senators' manager Wayne Tucker disputes an umpire's call as retired baserunner Ron Stillwell (#17) walks away.
Edmonton quartet - Mike Gillespie (left) displays the wood which beat Regina 3-1 in 11 innings. The admirers are Stan Charnofsky, whose two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th sent the playoff opener into extra innings, Don Buford, who turned in two sparkling plays in the outfield, and pitcher Norm Forsythe. (Edmonton Journal, September 8, 1959) Below left- Saskatoon lefty Lew Hobson. Below middle - Fresno State right-hander Harvey Casey who was supposed to suit up with Saskatoon, but was rerouted to the Basin League. Below right - Regina catcher Steve Strother.
Roy Taylor (kneeling), coach at the College of Sequoias at Visalia, California, with some of the members of his 1959 pitching staff.
Left to right - Gene Graves, Morris Yates, Bob Hydukewich (from Blaine Lake, SK), Paul Springer and Rusty Winfield. All would suit up for prairie teams.