Western Canada Baseball

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1963 ... A rebirth of  the WCBL, the end of the line for Lloydminster

 


The Western Canada League was back for an encore, while the Green Caps tied for first in Lloydminster's final season in semi-pro ball.

And, Satch just kept rolling. 

The legendary Satchel Paige continued on the barnstorming circuit with a visit to Williston, two days after his 57th birthday (if, in fact, he was born in 1906 as thought.)  The story in The Herald said Satchel and his son Satchel Jr. combined to handle the mound work. 

It was not the end of the line.  Paige would make an appearance in the major leagues with Kansas City in 1965 and toss a few innings in the minors in '66. It's believed 1967 was his final season. 

John CarbrayClark RexTwo former Pepperdine University colleagues - Clark Rex (left) and John Carbray (right) -- were the driving forces behind the revival of the Western Canada League.  Rex, the Edmonton playing-manager in 1961, had brought Carbray up to play with the Eskimos and to suit up with Rex's winter league team in California. They transformed the circuit into mainly a development league for college players.  The Philadelphia Phillies were to supply the entire 17-man roster for the Saskatoon Commodores while the Edmonton Oilers arranged an affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The St. Louis Cardinals provided players for Lethbridge and Calgary relied on the San Francisco Giants.   Midway through the season, the Saskatoon franchise shifted to Medicine Hat.

Rex and Carbray, in Edmonton and Calgary, were one-man bands in their respective cities juggling ownership, general-manager and field-manager duties.  With George Wesley in Lethbridge not willing to continue his baseball sponsorship in the area, Rex turned to Dan Royer to run the Cardinals' franchise as general manager with Ralph Young, 27-year-old baseball coach from Stanford University, as the team's playing-manager.  Spero Leakos headed the Saskatoon entry, with Lyle Olsen back as the playing manager.

The circuit attracted the best of college talent from the California schools including the California All-Star Righty Walt Petersonpitching combo of righthander Walt Peterson from the University of Southern California and lefty Tom Pederson from UCLA.  Peterson was fresh off a 17-win season in leading the Trojans to the College World Series title. Other first team & honourable Lefty Tom Pedersonmentions to suit up in the WCBL included second baseman George Thatcher of Stanford, shortstop Gary Malvini of Santa Clara, catchers Bud Hollowell and Marty Piscovich of USC, third baseman Tim Cullen of Santa Clara and first baseman Bob Cox of Stanford.

Nelson BrilesQuite a number of the 1963 competitors graduated to the major leagues, including such Western Canada stars as Tug McGraw, Nelson Briles (left) Tim Cullen, Gary Sutherland, Jan Dukes, Ray Lamb, Larry Loughlin, Paul Edmondson and Rene Lacheman. Among the Canadian stars was outfielder Fergie Olver, later to become recognizable across Canada for his work on Blue Jays' telecasts.

 


1963 Stats
1963 Rosters
1963 Tournaments
 

WESTERN CANADA LEAGUE
Medicine Hat   42 26
Edmonton       33 35  9.0
Lethbridge     33 38 10.5
Calgary        31 40 12.5
1963 Game reports 
1963 Photo Gallery 
1963 Snapshots 

NORTHERN SASK LEAGUE
N Battleford   19 11 
Lloydminster   19 11
Kindersley     19 11
Neilburg       17 13  2.0
Unity          15 15  4.0
Biggar          1 29 18.0
1963 Photo Gallery
1963 North Battleford Beavers

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Moose Jaw      19 11
Swift Current  16 10  1.0
Melville       17 13  2.0
Regina         16 14  3.0
Notre Dame      9 16  7.5
Fort Qu'Appelle 8 21 10.5 
1963 Game Reports 

NORTHEASTERN SK LEAGUE
NESBL History

BASIN LEAGUE
Winner        30  18
Valentine     29  19  1
Pierre        25  23  5
Sturgis       19  29 11
Rapid City    17  31 13

Valentine Hearts downed Sturgis
in the playoffs to win the
Basin championship.
1963 Game/Playoff Reports  
1963 Photo Gallery 

In September, 1963 the St. Louis Cardinals inked two former Western Canada stars on the same day.  Dave Dowling, California, (Lethbridge 1961) and Nelson Briles, Santa Clara (Calgary 1963) were assigned to the the Cards' farm team in Atlanta.


           The Sporting News, October 24, 1964

A sign of the times.  George Wesley, who built powerhouse teams for Granum beginning in the early 50s, marked the demise of his efforts by putting all the baseball gear up for sale.  "All professional type equipment in first class condition."

   
 

 

   
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