* (The bulk of the stats shown are from Old Time Data, a great resource for pro ball stats.)
   
Jerry Adair  Williston 1957-1958

There's no record of an MVP having been chosen for the 1958 season, but had there been,  21-year-old Jerry Adair would have been an easy choice.  

Adair led the loop in hitting at .409, tied for the lead in homers with 10, and finished just behind the RBI leader. Also, he was the top fielding shortstop.   On the hill, Adair made three starts -- all complete game victories.  In the playoffs, he was even better. Adair hit .444 in 14 playoff games with four homers and six doubles. 

In late August, 1958 he helped Williston wrap up the Canadian American League title in the final series over Lloydminster then signed on with the Baltimore Orioles and was in the O's lineup three days later.  

Adair played in the majors over 13 seasons. (Rookie card above.)  He set three major league fielding records for a second baseman -- highest fielding average and fewest errors in a season, and consecutive errorless games (89 games, 458 chances).  Ironically, he's in the Oklahoma State record book for just one "accomplishment" -- tied for most errors in a game -- 4, against Wichita State in 1957.  In his junior year at OSU, Adair led the team in hitting at .438 and made the All Big Eight team and All-American second team.

He was also a star on the basketball court at Oklahoma State -- the second-leading scorer on the OSU team which reached the 1958 Midwest Regional final.  Adair was one of the starting guards on the '57 team which defeated the No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks and Wilt Chamberlain.  In Oklahoma it is still referred to as "The Game".

He died in 1987 at age 50.
                                 BA   HR RBI
  1957 Huron, Basin             .294   4  11
  1957 Williston, Mandak        .356   0   8  (1-0, 0.00)
  1958 Williston, WCBL          .409  10  52  (3-0, 2.67)
  1958 Baltimore, AL            .105   0   0
  1959 Baltimore, AL            .314   0   2
       Amarillo, Texas          .309   6  73
  1960 Baltimore, AL            .200   1   1
       Miami, IL                .266   6  35
  1961 Baltimore, AL            .264   9  37
  1962 Baltimore, AL            .284  11  48
  1963 Baltimore, AL            .228   6  30
  1964 Baltimore, AL            .248   9  47
  1965 Baltimore, AL            .259   7  66
  1966 Baltimore/Chicago, AL    .249   4  39
  1967 Chicago/Boston, AL       .271   3  35
  1968 Boston, AL               .216   2  12
  1969 Kansas City, AL          .250   5  48
  1970 Tulsa, AA                .299   0   7
       Kansas City, AL          .148   0   1
  1971 Hankyu, Japan            .300   7  36
  

Ed Albosta 
Minot 1952-1953, Carman 1954

Made his major league debut at age 22 with the '41 Brooklyn Dodgers.  Pitched in parts of two seasons in the majors, losing all eight of his decisions. Came to the Mandak League at age 33.  Was a playing-manager in '53 & '54.  Died in 2003 at age 84.
 

   
                                 W  L  ERA
1938 Beckley, Mountain St      
1939 Hot Springs, Cotton St     10 10  5.53
1940 Dayton, Mid-Atl             9 11  3.21
1941 Durham, Piedmont           15  5  1.73
1941 Brooklyn, NL                0  2  6.23
1942 Montreal, IL                9  7  3.53
1943 (Military Service)
1944 (Military Service)
1945 (Military Service)
1946 Pittsburgh, NL              0  6  6.13
1947 Indianapolis, AA          
1947 Hollywood, PCL             11  6  3.47
1948 Hollywood, PCL              4  9  5.85
1949 Toledo, AA                  1  2 12.00
1949 St. Joseph Auscos*
1950 Saginaw, Central           10 13  4.11
1951 Saginaw, Central           19 11  4.28
1952 Minot, Mandak               1  6
1953 Minot, Mandak               8  2
1954 Carman, Mandak              4  2
* Michigan-Indiana semi-pro

 
Tom Alston   Began his career in the Negro Leagues with the Goshen / Greensboro (NC) Red Wings and later suited up with the Jacksonville Eagles, a touring club which was hired in 1950 to play in Canada as the Indian Head Rockets.  After two seasons with the Rockets (1950-1951) Alston signed a pro contract and moved up to San Diego of the Pacific Coast League in his first pro season, 1952.  In 1954 he became the first black to suit up with the St. Louis Cardinals (Len Tucker had been the first black signed by the Cards and Eloyd Robinson the third).  In his initial season of pro ball, Alston must have thought he'd never left Canada -- at least eight of his teammates with Porterville had played on the prairies (including Jesse Blackman, Walt Tyler, Chet Brewer and Les Witherspoon).  

"Lefty O'Doul, the San Diego baseball manager, claims that Tom Alston, former Indian Head first-baseman, will rattle the ball off big league fences before long ... Alston had 14 homers in seven weeks with the San Diego club in the Pacific Coast League ... O'Doul says 'He's one of the greatest prospects I've ever seen. Here's a kid who wants to learn and is willing to listen and work like a beaver to get places.  I don't see how he can really miss developing into a great hitter.' ... Alston, a 22-year-old lefthanded batter, is making San Diego fans forget the exploits of Luke Easter, Harry Simpson and Orestos Minoso. ... O'Doul is one of the greatest managers in the game and gave Joe DiMaggio his start."  (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 5, 1953)

                              BA   HR  RBI
1950 Indian Head, IND         N/A
1951 Indian Head, WCBL        N/A
1952 San Diego, PCL          .244   2   26
     Porterville, Southwest  .353  12   69
1953 San Diego, PCL          .297  23  101
1954 Rochester, IL           .297   7   42
     St. Louis, NL           .246   4   34
1955 Omaha, AA               .274   6   59
     St. Louis, NL           .125   0    0
1956 Omaha, AA               .306  21   80
     St. Louis, NL           .000   0    0
1957 St. Louis, NL           .294   0    2
    

John Andre
Minot 1957

A 20-game winner four times in his pro career, Andre pitched in 22 games with the Cubs in 1955.  (In one tilt, Andre managed to retire the side with one pitch as Roy Campanella hit into a triple play.) The right-hander had been named the Pitcher of the Year in the Texas League the previous season (beating Dodger phenom Karl Spooner).

The 6-4, 200 pounder was expected to be a mainstay of the Minot staff in 1957 and started with a bang winning his first three games, two by shutouts, but the 34-year-old came down with arm woes and was dropped from the roster. He died in 1976 at age 53.
 

   
                                   W  L  ERA   
1946  Danville, Carolina           1  2
1946  W'mington/Trenton, Inter St  6  6  5.14
1947  Seaford, Eastern Shore      15  6  3.27
1948  Seaford, Eastern Shore      21 12  3.35
1949  Rehoboth Beach, E' Shore    17 11  2.74
1950  Granby, Provincial          13  7  4.10
1951  Granby, Provincial          20 11  2.97
1952  Austin, Big State           25 14  3.65
1953  Shreveport, Texas            6  5  4.19
1954  Shreveport, Texas           21  9  3.04
54-55 Navojoa, Mexican
1955  Chicago, NL                  0  1  5.80
1955  Shreveport, Texas            4  4  2.41
1956  Los Angeles, PCL             0  1
1956  Tulsa, Texas                 0  4  5.43
1956  Des Moines, Western          6  2  3.88
1957  Minot, Mandak                3  3  5.37

                                   BA  HR RBI
1947  Seaford, Eastern Shore      .282  1  14 
1948  Seaford, Eastern Shore      .229  2  29 
1952  Austin, Big State           .228  2  21 

Norm Angelini
Kindersley 1966-67
Drummondville 1968-69

As an 18-year-old Angelini was among the top pitchers in the North Saskatchewan League in 1966.  He followed with a solid mound season in 1967 and surprised by winning the batting title with a .400 mark after compiling a .194 average the previous summer. The left-hander had a solid pro career highlighted by a 28-game stint in the majors with Kansas City Royals in 1972-73.  . 

Curt Barclay   The 19-year-old Chicago-born right-hander joined Pete Beiden's Medicine Hat / California Mohawks in 1951.  After four minor league seasons (including a 19-11 campaign), Barclay reached the majors with the New York Giants and won nine games in his rookie season.  He closed out his pro career in 1960 in the Pacific Coast League.  In 1961, Barclay again showed up in Western Canada at the Lethbridge tournament pitching for the Missoula, Montana, Highlanders.  He died March 25, 1985 in Missoula.

                              W  L    ERA 
1951 Medicine Hat, WCL        N/A
1952 Knoxville, Tri-St.       4  4   2.93
1953 (Military Service)
1954 Danville, Carolina      19 11   3.16
1955 Dallas, Texas            0  0  13.50
     Sioux City, Western     16 11   3.95
1956 Minneapolis, AA         15 11   4.11
1957 New York, NL             9  9   3.44
1958 San Francisco, NL        1  0   2.81
     Phoenix, PCL            14 11   3.67
1959 San Francisco, NL        0  0  54.00
     Phoenix, PCL             8 16   5.51
1960 Tacoma - Vancouver, PCL  2  4   4.71
    

 
Clyde S. Bud Bloomfield
Saskatoon 1956  

 A 20-year-old shortstop for the Saskatoon Gems in 1956. Had an eight-game stint in the majors over the 63 & 64 seasons.  He was the first player from the University of Tulsa to reach the majors (he also played at Arkansas).  Bloomfield was the shortstop for the semi-pro Wichita Dreamliners in 1965 when they captured the National Baseball Congress title.
 

                               BA   HR  RBI
1956 Saskatoon, WCBL          .286   0   18
1957 Decatur, Midwest         .233   2   45
1958 Keokuk, Midwest          .333   2   50
1959 Winston-Salem, Carolina  .188   3   27
1960 Winston-Salem, Carolina  .252   2   47
1961 Tulsa, Texas             .196   1    7
1962 Tulsa, Texas             .287   4   36
1963 St. Louis, NL            .000   0    0
     Tulsa, Texas             .260   5   36
1964 Minnesota, AL            .143   0    0
     Atlanta, IL              .217   0   10
1965 Wichita Dreamliners, IND
    

John Boccabella  With Saskatoon in 1961, the 20-year-old first baseman finished second in the batting race with a .340 average, was second in homers and led the loop in runs batted in.  He was an unanimous choice for the all-star team.  A second team All-American in 1962 with Santa Clara. With Pocatello of the Pioneer League in 1963, Boccabella had an explosive start to his pro career belting 30 homers and knocking in 92 runs to go along with a .365 average.   Converted to catcher during his major league stint, Boccabella was a crowd favourite in Montreal in the early years of the Expo franchise.  Born in San Francisco, Boccabella came to the Saskatoon Commodores via Santa Clara University (2nd team All-American, 1962).

                              BA   HR  RBI
1961 Saskatoon, WCBL         .340  13   63
1962 N/A
1963 Chicago, NL             .189   1    5
     Pocatello, Pioneer      .365  30   92
1964 Chicago, NL             .391   0    6
     Salt Lake City, PCL     .226  23   78
1965 Chicago, NL             .333   2    4
     Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas .232  20   94
1966 Chicago, NL             .228   6   25
1967 Chicago, NL             .171   0    8
     Tacoma, PCL             .281   8   31
1968 Chicago, NL             .071   0    1
     Tacoma, PCL             .269  16   43
1969 Montreal, NL            .105   1    6
1970 Montreal, NL            .269   5   17
1971 Montreal, NL            .220   3   15
1972 Montreal, NL            .227   1   10
1973 Montreal, NL            .233   7   46
1974 San Francisco, NL       .138   0    5
  

Ted Bowsfield 
Trail 1952

The Vernon, BC product was just 17-years-old when he pitched Trail Smokeaters into the final of the Lethbridge tournament in 1952.  With four seasons of minor league ball under his belt, Bowsfield advanced to the majors in 1958 with Boston and spent seven seasons in the major leagues. 
    

                              W  L  ERA
1952  Trail, IND              N/A
1953  N/A
1954  San Jose, CAL           2  3  4.95
1955  San Jose, CAL           9  7  3.00
1956  San Francisco, PCL      0  3  3.80
1957  Oklahoma City, TEX      7 10  2.57
1958  Minneapolis, AA         8  4  2.62
1958  Boston, AL              4  2  3.84
1959  Minneapolis, AA        10  5  2.45
1959  Boston, AL              0  1 15.00
1960  Indianapolis, AA        0  5  5.03
1960  Boston/Cleveland, AL    4  6  5.11
1961  Los Angeles, AL        11  8  3.73
1962  Los Angeles, AL         9  8  4.40
1963  Kansas City, AL         5  7  4.45
1964  Kansas City, AL         4  7  4.10
1965  Jacksonville, IL        0  0  0.00
1965  Vancouver/Spokane, PCL  1  0  2.25
 

 
Nelson Briles  
Calgary 1963 

Briles, still a teenager, joined Calgary after his college season at Santa Clara.  He spent just one season in the minors  before making his major league debut at age 21.  Over a 14-year MLB career, Briles rang up 129 wins, including a 19-11, 2.31 season with the Cardinals.  He added two more wins in his three World Series appearances including a two-hit shutout while with the Pirates.  "Nellie" died in early 2005 at age 61.

                                W  L   ERA
1963  Calgary, WCBL             N/A
1964  Tulsa, Texas             11  6   2.79
1965  St. Louis, NL             3  3   3.50
1966  St. Louis, NL             4 15   3.21
1967  St. Louis, NL            14  5   2.43
1968  St. Louis, NL            19 11   2.31
1969  St. Louis, NL            15 13   3.51
1970  St. Louis, NL             6  7   6.22
1971  Pittsburgh, NL            8  4   3.04
1972  Pittsburgh, NL           14 11   3.08
1973  Pittsburgh, NL           14 13   2.84
1974  Kansas City, AL           5  7   4.02
1975  Kansas City, AL           6  6   4.26
1976  Texas, AL                11  9   3.26
1977  Texas - Baltimore, AL     6  4   4.34
1978  Baltimore, AL             4  4   4.67
  

Willard Brown  
Minot 1957

One of the premier players of the Negro Leagues in a career which spanned 24 years, 14 of them with the fabled Kansas City Monarchs.  Brown was 32 (or perhaps 36, his birth year is listed as either 1911 or 1915) when, in 1947, he followed Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby and Hank Thompson to the major leagues.  His stint with the St. Louis Browns lasted just 21 games and he returned to the  Monarchs. Brown led the Negro American League in homers seven times and captured three batting titles.  In winter ball in Puerto Rico he won three straight home run and batting titles (his 27 homers in 1947-48 came in just 60 games).  In the twilight of his career he returned to the minor leagues and had four extraordinary years in the Texas League.  He was 42 (or 46)  when he joined Minot in 1957.  Still he batted over .300 and added 9 homers. Brown died in 1989 in Houston.  In 2006, he was selected for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown.

Photo from Black Baseball in Kansas City
by Larry Lester and Sammy J. Miller

Negro League stats from The Negro Leagues Book
 

     
                                 BA  HR RBI
1934  Monroe, NSL
1935  Kansas City, NAL          .286  1
1936  Kansas City, NAL          .367  1   
1937  Kansas City, NAL          .371  8  
37-38 Marianao, CWL             .145  0   3  
1938  Kansas City, NAL          .356  6  
1939  Kansas City, NAL          .336  1  
1940  Kansas City, NAL          .000  0
1940  Nuevo Laredo, Mexican     .354  8  61
1941  Kansas City, NAL          .337  3
1941  Puebla, Mexican           .256  2  24
41-42 Humacao, PRWL             .410  4  26
1942  Kansas City, NAL          .365  7
1943  Kansas City, NAL          .345  6
1944  (Military Service)
1945  (Military Service)
1946  Kansas City, NAL          .348 13
46-47 Santurce, PRWL            .390  9  50
1947  Kansas City, NAL          .336
1947  St. Louis, AL             .179  1   6
47-48 Santurce, PRWL            .432 27  86
1948  Kansas City, NAL          .374 18  68
48-49 Santurce, PRWL            .323 18  69
1949  Kansas City, NAL          .371 12  83 
49-00 Santurce, PRWL            .353 16  97
1950  Ottawa, Border            .352  1  18
50-51 Santurce, PRWL            .325 14  76
1951  Escogido, DMSL            .253     17
1951  Jalisco/Nuevo Laredo, Mex .167  0   1
1951  Kansas City, NAL          .420  1  41
51-52 Santurce, PRWL            .295  4  20
1952  Escogido, DMSL            .301     28
52-53 Santurce, PRWL            .342  3  20
1953  Dallas, Texas             .310 23 108
53-54 Santurce, PRWL            .265  4  22
1954  Dallas/Houston, Texas     .314 35 120
1955  Houston, Texas            .301 19 104
1956  Austin/SA/Tulsa, Tex      .299 14  73
1956  Topeka, Western           .294  3  14
56-57 Santurce, PRWL            .261  2   5
1957  Minot, Mandak             .307  9  29
1958  Kansas City, NAL          .324  2  10

 
Don Buford  Centrefielder for the Lloydminster-North Battleford Combines and, for the playoffs, Edmonton Eskimos in 1959.  He led the Canadian-American League in triples and stolen bases and his defense drew raves throughout the circuit.  Buford began his pro career the following season, 1960, and was in the majors with the White Sox in 1963.  The USC baseball and football star was a major leaguer for ten seasons, split between the White Sox and Baltimore.  

 
                               BA   HR RBI
1959 Lloydminster, WCBL       .284   3  29
1960 Lincoln, I.I.I.          .289   7  53
     San Diego, PCL           .268   0   5
1961 Charleston South, Atl.   .236   7  27
1962 Indianapolis, AA         .111   0   1
     Savannah South, Atl.     .323   6  43
1963 Chicago, AL              .286   0   5
     Indianapolis, IL         .336   9  53
1964 Chicago, AL              .262   4  30
1965 Chicago, AL              .283  10  47
1966 Chicago, AL              .244   8  52
1967 Chicago, AL              .241   4  32
1968 Baltimore, AL            .282  15  46
1969 Baltimore, AL            .291  11  64
1970 Baltimore, AL            .272  17  66
1971 Baltimore, AL            .290  19  54
1972 Baltimore, AL            .206   5  22
1973 Taiheiyo, Japan         .242  20  60  
1974 Taiheiyo, Japan         .330  14  43
1975 Taiheiyo, Japan         .276  21  67
1976 Nankai, Japan           .239  10  43
 

    
Tom Burgess
London 1945, 49-51

The London, Ontario native had a 15-year pro career which included stops in the majors with the Cardinals and the Angels.  Burgess, who turned pro after the 1945 season with the London Majors of the Intercounty League, came back to Majors for three seasons, 1949 to 1951, before resuming his career south of the border.  His minor league stay included eight strong seasons in Triple-A.  After his playing days, Burgess stayed in baseball as a manager, coach and instructor with  St. Louis, Mets, Texas, Detroit, Kansas City and Baseball Canada. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
 

Al Cihocki
Bismarck 1955-1956

After just one pro season and two years in the military, Cihocki suited up for 92 games with Cleveland in 1945 seeing time at shortstop, second and third.  In his early 30s, he came to Bismarck as playing manager in 1955.
 

  
                                 BA  HR RBI
1942 Batavia, PONY              .342  7  64
1943 (Military Service)
1944 (Military Service)
1945 Cleveland, AL              .212  0  24
1946 Baltimore, IL              .240  4  58
1947 Baltimore, IL              .254 10  45
1948 Baltimore, IL              .258 12  54
1949 Ba1timore, IL              .267 11  43
1950 Baltimore, IL              .280 15  50
1951 Baltimore, IL              .235  8  35
1952 Baltimore, IL              .255  6  32
1953 San Antonio, Texas         .258  3  32
1954 Wilkes-Barre, Eastern      .250  0   1
1955 Bismarck, Mandak           .288 11  36
1956 Bismarck, Mandak           .306  5  51
1957 Albuquerque, Western       .294  0  40
1958 Allentown, Eastern         .200  1   3

Reggie Cleveland
Swift Current 1964-65

Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Cleveland was signed at age 17 after impressing St. Louis scouts. He had pitched for the Swift Current Indians of the Southern League in Saskatchewan, leading the club to the pennant in 1965. The right-hander went on to a 13-year career in the major leagues with four teams, the Cardinals, Boston, Texas and Milwaukee.  He won 105 games with an ERA of 4.01.  In 1971, The Sporting News named Cleveland as the National League's Rookie of the Year.  He's been selected for induction into the Canadian and Saskatchewan Halls of Fame.

Truman 'Tex' Clevenger    The right-hander pitched for Regina Caps in the 1950 season and returned in 1952.  At Fresno State in 1953, Clevenger led the Bulldogs with an 11-3 won-lost record and sparkling 1.49 ERA.  He also led the team in hitting with a .451 average.  That summer he began his pro career with a splash in the California League -- 16-2, 1.51.  Including his college and pro marks, the Visalia CA product finished the season with 27 wins and 5 losses! At age 22, Clevenger earned a promotion to the major leagues with the Red Sox.  He  logged eight years in the majors with Boston, Washington, Los Angeles and New York.

                                 W  L   ERA
 1950  Regina, So Sask           N/A
 1951  N/A
 1952  Regina, SBL               N/A
 1953  San Jose, California     16  2   1.51
 1954  Boston, AL                2  4   4.79
 1955  Louisville, AA            9 13   3.77
 1956  Louisville, AA            2 11   5.94
       Washington, AL            0  0   5.40
 1957  Washington, AL            7  6   4.19
 1958  Washington, AL            9  9   4.35
 1959  Washington, AL            8  5   3.91
 1960  Washington, AL            5 11   4.20
 1961  Los Angeles - NY, AL      3  2   3.78
 1962  New York, AL              2  0   2.84
       Richmond, IL              1  1   1.80
 1963  Richmond, IL              4  9   3.09
  

Mort Cooper
Moose Jaw 1949

The older brother of battery mate Walker Cooper.  Over three seasons in the early 40s, the best pitcher in the majors.  Led the majors in wins, shutouts (10) and ERA in 1942 and in wins in 1943. NL's MVP in 1942.  After three straight 20-win seasons, he hurt his arm early in the 1945 season.  Pitched in three World Series.  Died in 1958.  He was just 45.

Photo courtesy TheDeadballEra.com

  
                                   W  L  ERA
1933 Des Moines/Muskogee, Western  7  5
1934 Columbus, AA                  0  1  5.73
1934 Elmira, NY-P                 10 12  4.43
1935 Columbus, AA                  6  7  3.65
1936 Columbus, AA                  5  7  4.76
1936 Asheville, Piedmont           
1937 Columbus, AA                 13 13  4.10
1938 St Louis, NL                  2  1  3.04
1938 Houston, Texas               13 10  2.34
1939 St Louis, NL                 12  6  3.25
1940 St Louis, NL                 11 12  3.63
1941 St Louis, NL                 13  9  3.91
1942 St Louis, NL                 22  7  1.78
1943 St Louis, NL                 21  8  2.30
1944 St Louis, NL                 22  7  2.46
1945 St Louis/Boston NL            9  4  2.92
1946 Boston, NL                   13 11  3.12
1947 Boston/New York, NL           3 10  5.40
1949 Chicago, NL                   0  0  0.00
1949 Moose Jaw, So Sask

Tim Cullen
Saskatoon 1961
Calgary 1963

A star in both basketball and baseball in high school and college.

An All-Star third baseman at age 19 with Saskatoon in 1961.  In tournament play that season Cullen had a baseball rarity, consecutive grand slam homers (in consecutive innings)! After college (Santa Clara, 2nd team All-American, 1964) Cullen was in the majors two years later. 

                              BA   HR  RBI
1961 Saskatoon, WCBL         
1962 N/A
1963 Calgary, WCBL
1964 Seattle, PCL            .254   2   20
1965 Hawaii, PCL             .221   6   39
1966 Washington, AL          .235   0    0
     Hawaii, PCL             .295   2   41
1967 Washington, AL          .236   2   31
1968 Chicago - Wash, AL      .230   3   29
1969 Washington, AL          .209   1   15
1970 Washington, AL          .214   1   18
1971 Washington, AL          .191   2   26
1972 Iowa, AA                .266   2   15
     Oakland, AL             .261   0   15
  

Hal Doc Daugherty
Brandon 1954
Minot 1956
Basin League 1957

Had one of the shortest major league careers -- one at bat, a strikeout -- for the 1951 Detroit Tigers.  After four seasons in Triple-A, the 29-year-old Daughterty joined the Mandak League in 1954.  He was playing manager for Minot in 1956. 
 

    
                                 BA  HR RBI
1948 Williamsport, Eastern      .255  9  54
1949 Williamsport, Eastern      .203  7  29
1950 Little Rock, SA            .251  5  27
1951 Toledo, AA                 .271  2  17
1951 Detroit, AL                .000  0   0
1951 Little Rock, SA            .185  1   3
1952 Buffalo, IL                .225  6  33
1953 Charleston, AA             .257  1   9
1953 Buffalo/Springfield, IL    .206  3  40
1954 Brandon, Mandak            .257 11  45
1955
1956 Minot, Mandak              .320 12  56
1957 TBA, Basin League

Dave Dowling   A key member of the Lethbridge White Sox championship team of 1961, the 19-year-old lefty twice recorded 18 strikeout games (one of them the final game of the playoffs).  Before launching a pro career, Dowling pitched with the legendary Alaska Goldpanners in 1963 and had some eye-popping numbers.  He went 11-3 and set team records for his 0.85 ERA, seven complete games and 217 strikeouts in just 116 innings. In one game, he fanned 16 straight and 24 in total.  He had two other games where he fanned 22.  He had a stretch of 36 scoreless innings.  Dowling was the pitching star at the 1963 NBC Championships where he was named to the All-American team and chosen as the top pitcher in the tournament.  He pitched in just two games in the major leagues.  (Photo courtesy, goldpanners.com)
 
                               W  L   ERA
 1961 Lethbridge, WCBL         N/A
 1962 N/A
 1963 Alaska, ABL             11  3  0.85
 1964 Tulsa, Texas             7  1  2.59
      Jacksonville, IL         3  3  4.69
      St. Louis, NL            0  0  0.00 
 1965 Dallas-Ft Worth, Texas  14  7  2.77
 1966 Chicago, NL              1  0  2.00
      Tacoma, PCL             10  8  3.42
 1967 Phoenix, PCL             7 10  3.51
 1968 Tacoma - Tulsa, PCL      0  0  3.27
      Arkansas, Texas          1  1  3.33
  

  
Sammy Drake 
Carman, 1954

The younger brother of Solly Drake (below), Sammy was 19 when he batted .305 with the Carman Cardinals of the Mandak League in 1954. He turned pro a year later and eventually made the major leagues with the Cubs in 1960.  He saw limited action in 1961 with Chicago and 1962 with the Mets.  Sammy and Solly were the first Afro-American brothers to play in the majors.
 

 
Solly Drake
Elmwood, 1948-49-50  

Joined the Elmwood Giants as an 17-year-old outfielder in 1948 and returned for two more seasons in Manitoba.  He suited up with the Giants in 1950 for the inaugural season of the Mandak League.  A .300 hitter with Elmwood in 1950, Drake began his pro career in 1951 as an all-star with Topeka.  After two years lost to military service, Drake put in two more seasons in the minors before his debut, at age 25,  with the Cubs in April, 1956.  
                             

  
                               BA  HR RBI
1948  Elmwood, MBL             .160   
1949  Elmwood, MBL             
1950  Elmwood, Mandak          .300  2  21
1951  Topeka, West Assn        .324  6  50
1952  (Military Service)            
1953  (Military Service)
1954  Des Moines, Western      .282  7  32
1955  Los Angeles, PCL         .261  1  11
1956  St. Paul, AA             .333  9  27
1956  Chicago, NL              .256  2  15
1957  Portland, PCL            .290  4  41
1958  Montreal, IL             .301  9  68
1959  Los Angeles/Phi, NL      .157  0   3
1960  Buffalo, IL              .243  5  36
1961  Buffalo, IL              .233  0   2
1961  Portsmouth, South Atl    .274  9  33

 
Jan Dukes
Calgary 1963

Vallie Ennis (Joe, Chief) Eaves
Minot 1951

Eaves (left) and manager Pepper Martin,
The Sporting News, May 3, 1945

The Philadelphia A's plucked Eaves from the semi-pro ranks in 1935 after he starred in the inaugural National Semi-pro Tournament with Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was in the majors within weeks and tossed a complete game victory in his debut.  Part Cherokee, he was among few Native Americans to star on the diamonds in the decades after the First World War.  His talent was often overshadowed by his off-field activities:

" ... More than once firewater got him into trouble, but Eaves loved baseball and he could pitch ... his professional career which proved nerve-racking for every manager he played under.  Though he tried the patience of every boss under whom he served, none denied his great natural pitching ability." (The Sporting News, May 3, 1945)

In 1951, near the end of his 23-year career, Eaves made a couple of appearances for Minot. 
 

   
                                   W  L  ERA
1935 Shawnee, N/A
1935 Philadelphia, AL              1  2  5.14
1936 Galveston, Texas              0  0  3.00
1936 Bartlesville, West Assoc      0  2 10.42
1937 Mount Pleasant, N/A
1938 Texarkana, East Texas        15  4  3.47
1938 Shreveport, Texas             6  8  4.14
1939 Chicago, AL                   0  1  4.63
1939 Shreveport, Texas            21 10  2.77
1940 Chicago, AL                   0  2  6.75
1940 Toronto, IL                   5 14  4.74
1941 Milwaukee, AA                 4  6  2.95
1941 Toronto, IL                   2 12  5.52
1941 Chicago, NL                   3  3  3.53
1942 Milwaukee, AA                 4  5  5.46
1942 Chicago, NL                   0  0  9.00
1942 Nashville, SA                 6  6  5.02
1943 Minneapolis, AA               0  3  4.71
1943 Montgomery, SA                1  1  1.35
1944 
1945 San Diego, PCL               21 15  3.00
1946 Texarkana, East Texas        13  4  2.69
1946 San Diego, PCL                1  3
1946 Oklahoma City, Texas          2  4  3.17
1947 Texarkana, Big State         25  5  4.45
1948 Texarkana, Big State          7  5  4.54
1948 Gladewater, Lone Star         9  7  4.06
1949 Borger/Abilene, W.Texas-NM    7 11  6.50
1950 Leesville, Gulf Coast        26 10  3.15
1951 Texarkana, Big State          0  2  3.21
1951 Greenville, Cotton St         0  3
1951 Lake Charles, Gulf Coast      0  1 36.00
1951 Minot, Mandak                 1  1
1951 Slayton, Minnesota
1952 Meridian, Cotton St           6  1  3.00
1952 Port Arthur, Gulf Coast      13  6  3.52
1953 Brownsville, Gulf Coast      19 11  2.61
1954 Galveston/B-D-R, Big State   12 11  5.40
1954 WF/SWater/Roswell,Longhorn)   1  2  9.75
1957 Hobbs, Southwestern           1  0  4.50
   

He hung on to play long enough so he could suit up on the same team as his son Jerry.  In 1957, both pitched for Hobbs of the Southwestern League.  Vallie Eaves died three years later at the age of 48. 

 
Paul Edmondson
Saskatoon 1963

In  spite of the 1-6 record, Edmondson pitched well in his 1969 stint in the major leaguers. He was set to return in 1970 but was killed in an auto accident in California while on his way to Spring Training.  He was just 27 years old.
 

 
Larry Elliot (Lawrence Lee Elliot) 
Edmonton 1957

A 19-year-old outfielder - pitcher with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1957.  Elliot finished 6th in the batting race that season with a .339 mark.  He was among the leaders in homers and RBI.  Elliot went to the hill on six occasions. While he finished with an ERA of 2.50, control was a problem (37 walks in 36 innings.  One of many USC products to suit up in Western Canada, Elliot made his major league debut in 1962.