This project is the product of the efforts and enthusiasm of so many. It would be difficult to print THANK YOU large enough to recognize the value of the contributions.
Western Canada Baseball would still be on the drawing board without the early contributions and support from former players such as Roy Taylor, Jack Altman, Jim Lester, Greg Seastrom and Chuck McGuigan who provided the backbone of the project with photos, clippings and mementoes of their times on the prairies. Lil Lowe, widow of the late Ian Lowe, former manager and star third baseman with Brandon, provided detailed information and photographs from the late forties and early fifties and provided the impetus for our Manitoba coverage.
Among those who followed and helped to make significant forward advances -- Jim Garrett, Reg Chopp, Don Stewart, Tedd Bogal, Gord Wesley, Bill Walasko, Brack Bailey, Roger Tomlinson, John Noce, Bud Watkins, Len Breckner, Ron Teasley, Joe Weremy, George Mahaffy, Dale Zeigler, Conrad Munatones, Marvin Ligon, , Tony Campos Jr., Metro Prystai, Vern Pachal and Mark Cameron. Lately, Tom Mulcahy has been of incredible assistance in providing photos and material of his time in both the Western Canada League (especially the 1954 Lloydminster material) and the ManDak League and Charlie Beene has been a crucial resource with his documentation, including pages of fabulous photos from the early 50s. Baseball historian Ray Nemec has provided invaluable assistance in tracking down details on specific players. Lyle K. Wilson has provided valuable insights into barnstorming clubs of the era.
Long-time fan, Lil McLean sent along a marvelous scrapbook on the WCBL and Jan Dewores was instrumental in retrieving information on the Kamsack Cyclones.
Much help has come from Dave Shury at the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Don Hilsendager at the North Battleford Hall of Fame, Gladwyn Scott at the Manitoba Hall of Fame and Ken McCabe at the Indian Head Hall of Fame. Mark Flynn, Arch Mullin, Bob Koroluk, Lorna Wilson and Bill Murray have provided a wealth of material on Manitoba baseball and Barry Swanton has been kind enough to share his work on the ManDak League. Neill Sanders, working on a book on the first minority players in the majors, was a major help in obtaining information on Len Tucker. Royse Parr, co-author of a book on Oklahoma baseball, provided material on the early days of Cliff Pemberton. Art Olyslager, a former farmhand on the Wesley ranch, dug out some marvelous photos. Bill Guenthner has been a huge help in digging up material from Minot and the ManDak League. Dennis Kelly took the time and effort to find information on Tug McGraw. Marlene Isnor and Gary Olafson provided key material on the Lacombe tournaments. Franklin Foster (of the Lloydminster Centennial project) has been a key contact in the old home town. Leola Brost found some terrific photos of Lloydminster players and was kind enough to forward them. Doug Culbreth has been a solid resource on Negro League baseball especially in the Philadelphia area. Kyle McNary has been gracious in sharing Negro League material including his research on Double Duty Radcliffe. Jeff Swick has dug out some outstanding photos from his dad's playing days in Saskatoon. Cesar Lopez has provided important information on Cuban baseball, including some baseball cards on Cubans who played in Canada. Jeff O'Brien, City of Saskatoon Archivist, was kind enough to send along government documents on the finances of the Saskatoon clubs and Eleanor Williams, Historian, Montgomery County, Clarksville, Tennessee has provided information on Steve Wylie including a students' publication on Wylie. Rob Porkka provided pictures from the late 40s and Karen Ball-Pyatt (Gary Ball's daughter) offered some interesting images from the mid 50s.
And, I've likely missed many too. I have been blessed with such magnificent cooperation. Please, don't be shy, if you note an omission, let me know.
Rich Necker of Regina ...
Books / Magazines :
Baseball America, http://www.baseballamerica.com
Berkow, Ira & Olderman, Murray. "An American Tragedy." Inside Sports, 19XX, 62-73.
Burke, Bob & Franks, K.A. & Parr, Royse. Glory days of summer: the history of baseball in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Heritage Association, 1999.
Chadwick, Bruce. When the Game Was Black and White. Abbeville, 1992.
Clark, Dick & Lester, Larry. The Negro Leagues Book. Society for American Baseball Research, 1994.
Dixon, Phil & Hannigan, Pat. The Negro Baseball Leagues: A Photographic History. Amereon House, 1992.
Ducey, Brant E. The Rajah of Renfrew. University of Alberta Press, 1998.
"Fresno State Baseball 2000." California State University, Fresno, 2000.
John Garrity, "The College of Cardinals", Sports Illustrated, August 14, 1989,
Hack, Paul & Shury, Dave. Wheat Province Diamonds. Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, 1997.
Bill James. The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. Free Press; Revised edition (October 23, 2001)
Lloydminster Senior Citizens Society. 75 Years of Sport and Culture, Lloydminster Times, 1979.
Love, Currie. In The "Twilight League". Canada Monthly, May-October, 1912, 257-263
McGraw, Tug & Durso, Joseph. Screwball. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974.
McNary, Kyle. Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. McNary Publishing, Minneapolis, 1994.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1951 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1952 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1953 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1954 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1955 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1956 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1957 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
"Official Baseball Annual, 1958 Non-Pro." National Baseball Congress of America.
Peterson, Robert. Only The Ball Was White. Prentice-Hall, 1970.
Riley, James A. The Biographical Encyclopedia of The Negro Baseball Leagues. Carroll & Graf, 1994.
Rygelski, Jim. "Lightnin' Len." St. Louis Cardinals Game Magazine. June, 1997.
Selter, Ron. "Minor League Slugging Champions." The Baseball Research Journal, Society for American Baseball Research, Number 28, 1999, 101-104.
Shury, Dave. Batter-Up: The Story Qf the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League. North Battleford: Turner-Warwick Publications Inc., 1990.
Shury, Dave, ed. Saskatchewan Historical Baseball Review. Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Association, 1996.
Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, 1910. American Sports Publishing Company, New York.
Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, 1911. American Sports Publishing Company, New York.
Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, 1912. American Sports Publishing Company, New York.
Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, 1913. American Sports Publishing Company, New York.
Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, 1915. American Sports Publishing Company, New York.
Stroschein, Joan, ed. "Minot Mallard/Merchants Reunion Weekend, August 1, 2, &3, 1997."
Thorn, John & Palmer, Pete, eds. Total Baseball. Warner, 1989.
Newspapers :
Albany Evening News
Anaconda Standard
Baseball America
Battlefords Telegraph
Bismarck Tribune
Brandon Sun
Calgary Herald
Calgary News-Telegram
Camrose Canadian
Charleston Post and Courier
Chester (PA) Times
Chicago Tribune
Claresholm Local Press
Daily Huronite and Plainsman (Huron, SD)
Daily Herald (Calgary)
Daily Plainsman (Huron, SD)
Daily Republic (Mitchell, SD)
Decatur Review
Detroit News
Drumheller Mail
Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton Journal
Estevan Mercury
Fairview Post
Fergus Falls Daily Journal
Fresno Bee
Hartford Courant
Huronite and Daily Plainsman (Huron, SD)
Indian Head News
Kamsack Times
Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman
KGW.com
Kokomo Perspective
Lacombe Globe
La Crosse Tribune And Leader-Press
Lethbridge Daily Herald
Lethbridge Herald
Lima (Ohio) News
Lincoln Daily Star
Logansport Morning Press
Lloydminster Times
Los Angeles Times
Manitoba Free Press
Medicine Hat News
Melville Advance
Minot Daily News
Moose Jaw Times-Herald
Morning Albertan (Calgary)
Morning Bulletin
(Edmonton)
Morning Telegram (Winnipeg)
Nanton News
Newark. Ohio, Daily Advocate
New York Times
North Battleford News-Optimist
Oakland Tribune
Ogden Standard-Examiner
Olds Gazette
Peace River Record
Ponoka Herald
Poughkeepsie New Yorker
Prince Albert Herald
Red Deer Advocate
Regina Leader-Post
Regina Morning Leader
Reno Evening Gazette
Salt Lake Tribune
San Antonio Evening News
San Antonio Express
San Francisco Call
Sarasota Herald Tribute
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Sexsmith Sentinel
Spokane Daily Chronicle
Stavely Standard
Sunday Herald (Syracuse, NY)
Swan River Star Times
Swift Current Sun
The Globe (Toronto)
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
The Olympian
The Sporting News
Toronto World
Tri-City Herald
Washington Post
Waterloo Daily Courier
Waterloo Evening Courier and Reporter
Weyburn Review
Winnipeg Evening Tribune
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Tribune
Woodland (CA) Daily Democrat
Yorkton Enterprise
Player Interviews :
Jack Altman
Charlie Beene
Bev Bentley
Bob Bennett
Tedd Bogal
Bob Bolingbroke
Stan Busch
Reg Chopp
Al Endriss
Don Fleming
Johnny Ford
Emile Francis
Pat Gillick
Arley Kangas
Jim Lester
Bentley MacEwen
Chuck McGuigan
Cliff Pemberton
Lou Pisani
Modie Risher
Roy Rowley
Steve Schott
Greg Seastom
Sterling Slaughter
Don Stewart
Roy Taylor
Len Tucker
Willie Walasko
Ray Washburn
Marv Weekly
Max Weekly
Gord Wesley
Curly Williams
Dewey Williams
Kirby Wyllie
Clarence Yanosik
Roberto Zayas
John Zeeben
Interviews :
Lorne Cooper
Don Fleming
Don Hillsendager
Ken McCabe
Lil McLean
Rod McLean
Arch Mullin
Spero Leakos
Don Pilling
Ned Powers
Gladwyn Scott
Dave Shury
Barry Swanton
Game Programs :
1951 Saskatoon 55s
1951 Kamsack Tournament
1953 Winnipeg Royals
1959 Lethbridge White Sox
1960 Lethbridge White Sox
1960 Calgary Buffaloes
1960 Saskatoon Commodores
1960 Lacombe Tournament
1960 Lloydminster Meridians
1961 Lethbridge White Sox
Photographs :
Introduction : Pat Gillick, Bruce Gardner (The Rajah of Renfrew, Brant E. Ducey)
Introduction : Don Buford (The Sporting News)
Introduction : Scotty McNeill (75 Years of Sport & Culture)
Introduction & 1957 : Modie Risher (Charleston Post and Courier)
California Mohawks : Don Barnett -- Cal Mohawks (Jack Altman)
California Mohawks : Bob Donkersley and Roy Taylor (Edmonton Bulletin)
Negro Leagues : Lloyd Pepper Bassett, Lyman Bostock, Ray Dandridge, WIlmer Fields, Cowan Hyde from When the Game Was Black and White
Negro Leagues :Barney Brown (1936 &1944), Spoon Carter, Alonzo Perry from The Negro Leagues Book
Negro Leagues : Paige, Brown et al (When the Game Was Black and White, Bruce Chadwick)
Negro Leagues : Ted Richardson (Baseball game program for Kansas City Monarchs and Indianapolis Clowns, 1954; Library of Congress; lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/jrhtml/jr1900s.html)
Barnstorming : Satchel Paige, Quincy Troupe, Cool Papa Bell (When the Game Was Black and White, Bruce Chadwick)
Barnstorming : Toni Stone (The Oakland Museum of California)
Barnstorming : Kansas City Monarchs in Canada, 1930s (Black Archives of Mid-America, www.blackarchives.org )
Barnstorming, Doc Talley (House of David, www.maryscityofdavid.org/html/baseball.html)
Barnstorming : Advertisement (Winnipeg Tribune)
College Connection : Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett (Fresno Bee)
College Connection : Larry Koentopp, Keith Gustin, and Tom Mulcahy (Gonzaga University)
FSU : Fresno State Connection (Fresno State University)
Major Leaguers : Ron Fairly (Sports Illustrated)
News : Roberto Zayas (Moose Jaw Times-Herald)
1907-1922 : Various player photos (Rich Necker/Brian Morrison)
1912 : Player photos from Canada Monthly
1938 : Moosomin Team picture (Lil Lowe)
1939 : Saskatoon Lions (Lil Lowe)
1946 : Sceptre Team picture (Great Sandhills Historical Society, Sceptre)
1946 : Calgary Purity 99 Team picture (Lil Lowe)
1947 : Winnipeg Reos (Manitoba Baseball Hall Of Fame)
1948 : Snapshots of Ernie and Roy Porkka (Rob Porkka)
1948 : Brandon Greys (Lil Lowe)
1948 : Ligon All-Stars (Wheat Province Diamonds)
1948 : Gilbert Plains (Lorna Wilson and Bill Murray)
1948 : Bowsman Maroons (Arch Mullin)
1948 : Minot Merchants (Bill Guenthner))
1948 : Delisle Gems (Wheat Province Diamonds)
1949 : Introduction, Ian Lowe, Brandon game action (Lil Lowe)
1949 : Colonsay Monarchs (Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame)
1949 : St. Louis Black Cardinals (Wayne "Wimpy" Stephenson)
1949 : ManDak Snapshots (Lil Lowe, Winnipeg Tribune, Minot Daily News)
1949 : Brandon Greys (Lil Lowe)
1949 : Carman Cardinals (Ron Teasley)
1949 : Man-Sask Snapshots (Bill Murray)
1950 : Cairns Field, Saskatoon, 1950 (A Saskatoon Star Phoenix photo, Archives, City of Saskatoon)
1950 : Hal Price, Fergie Shields. (Great Sandhills Historical Society, Sceptre)
1950: Madge Lake (Saskatchewan Archives Board H-123)
1950 : Bentleys of Delisle (Wheat Province Diamonds)
1950 : North Battleford Beavers (Saskatoon Public Library)
1950 : California Mohawks (Roy Taylor)
1950 : Cal's Edmonton Dodgers (Don Stewart)
1950 : Sceptre (Great Sandhills Historical Society, Sceptre)
1950 : Ligon All-Stars (Marvin Ligon)
1950 : ManDak Snapshots (Lil Lowe, Minot Daily News, Lorna Wilson)
1950 : Carman Cardinals (Ron Teasley)
1950 : Minot Mallards (Minot Mallard/Merchants Reunion Weekend)
1950 : Winnipeg Buffaloes (Winnipeg Free Press)
1951 : Introduction Program (Roy Taylor)
1951 : WCBL Snapshots (Charlie Beene, Saskatoon Star Phoenix)
1951 : Saskatoon 55s (Roy Taylor, Charlie Beene)
1951 : Sceptre (National Baseball Congress, 1952 Annual & Great Sandhills Historical Society, Sceptre)
1951 : Indian Head Rockets (National Baseball Congress, 1952 Annual)
1951 : Medicine Hat California Mohawks ((National Baseball Congress, 1952 Annual)
1951 : Colonsay Monarchs (Len Breckner)
1952 : Photo Gallery (Len Breckner, Bill Murray, Wheat Province Diamonds, Bill Shubb)
1952 : North Battleford Beavers (Saskatchewan Historical Review, 1996)
1952 : Kamsack Cyclones (Roy Taylor)
1952 : Grandview Maroons (Lorna Wilson)
1952 : Gilbert Plains (Bill Murray)
1952 : Minot Mallards (Bill Guenthner)
1952 : Saskatoon Gems (Len Breckner)
1953 : Introduction Kamsack Crest (
1953 : Snapshots (Arch Mullin, Lorna Wilson)
1953 : Indian Head Rockets (National Baseball Congress, 1954 Annual)
1953 : Saskatoon Gems (National Baseball Congress, 1954 Annual)
1953 : Kamsack Cyclones (Roy Taylor)
1953 : Bowsman Maroons (Arch Mullin)
1953 : Kansas City Monarchs (Kenneth Spencer Research Library, The University of Kansas, Thomas Y. Baird Collection RH MS-P 414:37)
1953 : Beverly (Edmonton) Drakes (Joe Weremy)
1953 : Foremost Braves (Rob Porkka)
1954 : Introduction (Lloydminster Crest - Tom Mulcahy, Larry Isbell - )
1954 : Photo Gallery (Jack Altman, Bill Walasko)
1954 : Snapshots (Jack Altman)
1954 : Lloydminster Meridians (Tom Mulcahy)
1954 : Snapshots (Charlie Beene, Tom Mulcahy)
1954 : Lloydminster Meridians Team pictures (Chuck McGuigan, Tom Mulcahy)
1954 : Roberto Zayas (Lloydminster 2003, www.lloydminster.net )
1954: Roberto Zayas and teammates (Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A16662)
1954 : Carmangay Eagles (Bill Walasko)
1954 : Yorkton Cardinals (Vern Pachal)
1954 : Saskatoon Gems (Len Breckner)
1954 : Edmonton Drakes (Joe Weremy)
1954 : ManDak Snapshots (Tony Campos Jr., Bill Guenthner, Don Stewart)
1954 - 1960 : Fort Whyte (Mark Flynn)
1954 : Minot Mallards (Bill Guenthner)
1954 : Man-Sask Snapshots (Metro Prystai)
1955 : Introduction (Chuck McGuigan, Bill Walasko)
1955 : Alberta Snapshots (Jack Altman)
1955 : WCBL Snapshots (Chuck McGuigan, Leola Brost)
1955 : Edmonton Eskimos (National Baseball Congress, 1956 Annual)
1955 : Saskatoon Gems (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, September 15, 1955)
1955 : Vulcan Elks (Jack Altman)
1955 : Granum White Sox (Jack Altman)
1955 : Canada, Global World Series (Len Breckner)
1955 : Edmonton Drakes (Joe Weremy)
1955 : Williston Oilers (Tom Mulcahy)
1955 : ManDak Snapshots (Tom Mulcahy, Bill Guenthner!)
1956 : Alberta Snapshots (Bill Walasko, Jack Altman, Jim Lester, Tedd Bogal)
1956 : WCBL Snapshots (Dale Zeigler, Mark Cameron, Karen Ball-Pyatt)
1956 : North Battleford Beavers (National Baseball Congress, 1957 Annual)
1956 : Granum White Sox (Gord Wesley)
1956 : Moose Jaw Mallards (Roy Taylor)
1956 : Edmonton Eskimos (Dale Zeigler)
1957 : Modie Risher (The Post and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina)
1957 : WCBL Snapshots (Charlie Beene, Jim Garrett)
1957 : Edmonton Eskimos (Dale Zeigler, The Rajah of Renfrew, Brant E. Ducey)
1957 : Photo Gallery : Marty Stillman (University of Wisconsin)
1957 : Riot at Renfrew (Edmonton Journal)
1958 : Alberta Snapshots (Art Olyslager, Brack Bailey, Jack Altman)
1958 : Vulcan Elks (Jack Altman)
1958 : Medicine Hat Superiors (National Baseball Congress, 1959 Annual)
1958 : USC Team Photo (University of Southern California)
1958 : Edmonton Eskimos (Roger Tomlinson)
1959 : WCBL Snapshots (Jim Garrett)
1959 : Lethbridge White Sox (Jim Lester)
1959 : Edmonton Eskimos (Edmonton Journal)
1959 : Stenen (Bob Koroluk)
1959 : Peace River Stadium (Joe Weremy)
1960 : Stenen (Bob Koroluk)
1961 : Lethbridge White Sox (Jim Lester)
1963 : Peace River Stampeders (Joe Weremy)
1963 : North Battleford Beavers (Wheat Province Diamonds)
1964 : Peace River Stampeders (Joe Weremy)
Statistics :
The Professional Baseball Player Database from Old-Time Data Inc.
Baseball-Reference.com