Western Canada Baseball

Links
19481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964

          Western Canada to the Major Leagues (3) 
 

  
Tug McGrawFrank (Tug) McGraw, Lethbridge 1963  The madcap Met.  Once asked if he preferred grass or artificial turf, and he said, “I don't know, I never smoked artificial turf."

His most remembered line, "You gotta believe", was the rallying cry for the Mets in their 1973 championship season.  

In his book Screwball, McGraw says he got a call from the St. Louis organization in the Spring of 1963 asking if he wanted to play ball on a Cardinal sponsored team in Canada.
 
  

 

" ... So, off I went, up to the Canadian summer league for my first paycheck in baseball. It was a team coached by Ray Young, who was the freshman coach at Stanford ...  I noticed that most of the guys were from Stanford, too ... We played for the Lethbridge team, and the Cardinals sponsored us--"paid" us might be too strong a term. We traveled to towns like Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, and Moose Jaw. They gave us little side jobs to keep us from being pros officially, but we got $300 a month ...  We had twenty-three guys on the club, most of them from the Bay area, and we'd travel around on a bus, which is a lot of traveling when you're in Western Canada, maybe 500 or 600 miles at a clip. It was my first time away from home and I really didn't know anything. We'd be on a bus trip going from Lethbridge to Calgary or Edmonton and they'd stop the bus and say, you want a beer. Everybody else did, so I did. I'd order a six-pack, because that's what all the guys ordered and I figured it was the thing to do. But I didn't realize that there was a big difference in the alcohol content between Canadian beer and U.S. beer, and sometimes I wound up getting slightly smashed between bus stops ... I used to crawl up on the luggage rack, I was so small. I'd bring a blanket from the hotel, climb up on the rack, and snooze away ... I still managed to pitch well enough to finish among the top pitchers in the league."  (McGraw, Tug & Durso, Joseph. Screwball. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974)
 

                                W  L  SV  ERA
1963  Lethbridge, WCBL          N/A
1964  Cocoa Mets, Cocoa Rookie  5  2      1.53
      Auburn, NY-PA             1  2      1.89
1965  New York, NL              2  7      3.32
1966  Jacksonville, IL          2  2      4.22
      New York, NL              2  9      5.34
1967  Jacksonville, IL         10  9      1.99
      New York, NL              0  3      7.79
1968  Jacksonville, IL          9  9      3.42
1969  New York, NL              9  3  12  2.24
1970  New York, NL              4  6  10  3.26
1971  New York, NL             11  4   8  1.70
1972  New York, NL              8  6  27  1.70
1973  New York, NL              5  6  25  3.87
1974  New York, NL              6 11   3  4.15
1975  Philadelphia, NL          9  6  14  2.97
1976  Philadelphia, NL          7  6  11  2.51
1977  Philadelphia, NL          7  3   9  2.62
1978  Philadelphia, NL          8  7   9  3.20
1979  Philadelphia, NL          4  3  16  5.14
1980  Philadelphia, NL          5  4  20  1.47
1981  Philadelphia, NL          2  4  10  2.66
1982  Philadelphia, NL          3  3   5  4.27
1983  Philadelphia, NL          2  1   0  3.54
1984  Philadelphia, NL          2  0   0  3.79
 


Larry Miller, 1965
Larry Miller
 Moose Jaw, 1957

The left-hander, then just 19, was a standout in his only season in Canada when he went 7-2, 3.03 with Moose Jaw in 1957. His sparkling play included an 18 strikeout performance which tied the league's single-game record. The previous season, Miller was the ace of the Topeka semi-pro club which won a berth in the National Baseball Congress tournament. He won a pair of games for the D-X Oilers.  The Kansas product once fanned 21 in a 7-inning contest.  In 57-58 he compiled a 3.36 ERA over 134 innings for the University of Kansas and was voted to the All Big-Eight team in '58.  Miller pitched professionally over 9 seasons, including major league time with the Dodgers and the Mets.  His best season came in the Texas League in '64 when he went 8-0, 1.68.
 


                              W  L   ERA
1957  Moose Jaw, WCBL          7  2   3.03
1958  N/A
1959  Spokane, PCL             0  0   2.00
      Macon, South Atl.        2  2   3.00
1960  Macon, South Atl.        3  8   5.32
1961  Atlanta, SA              3  3   6.89
      Greenville, South Atl.   7  6   2.87
1962  (Military Service)
1963  (Military Service)
1964  Los Angeles, NL          4  8   4.18
      Albuquerque, Texas       8  0   1.68
1965  Buffalo, IL              6  1   2.59
      New York, NL             1  4   5.02
1966  Jacksonville, IL        10 12   3.08
      New York, NL             0  2   7.56
1967  Jacksonville, IL         1  2   2.72
      Phoenix, PCL             3  7   3.49
1968  Phoenix, PCL             9  8   3.30
1969  Phoenix, PCL             6  2   3.68
  

 


Dee MooreDee Moore

Winnipeg 1953
Brandon 1954
Williston 1955, 1956
Brandon 1957
Williston 1958

The versatile Moore played for 22 different teams over a career which spanned 24 seasons, including 100 games over 4 years in the majors (where he logged time as a catcher, third baseman, first baseman, outfielder and pitcher).  He finished with a .232 average in the majors and an ERA of 0.00 (in 7 innings). 

His best over-all season may have come in 1936 when he hit .335 with 18 homers and 107 RBI AND won 4 games on the hill, including a no-hitter.  Moore led the South Atlantic League in homers, was 3rd in batting, 3rd in RBI, and 2nd in stolen bases with 42. He was judged the best all-around player in the league.

At 44,  Moore wrapped up his career with Williston of the Western Canada League.  He had played and managed in the ManDak League from 1953 to 1957. He died in 1997 at the age of 83.

   
                          BA  HR RBI  W  L ERA
1933 Los Angeles, PCL    .500  0
1934 LA/Portland, PCL    .240  0
1934 Ponca City, WAssoc  .333  6  29
1935 Indianapolis, AA    .167  O   1
1935 Ponca City, WAssoc  .310  6  74 12-3  3.33
1936 Cincinnati, NL      .400  0   1  0-0  0.00
1936 Macon, South Atl    .335 18 107  4-2  2.25
1937 Syracuse, IL        .264  1  28
1937 Cincinnati, NL      .077  0   0
1937 Nashville, SA       .303  0   8
1938 Syracuse, IL        .278 12  59
1939 Indianapolis, AA    .235  3  26
1940 Indianapolis, AA    .313  0   4
1940 Birmingham, SA      .258  1  25  2-2  4.14
1941 Birmingham, SA     1.000  0   1  0-1 13.50
1941 Anniston, SEastern  .337 20 103  1-3
1942 New Orleans, SA     .304  2  19  2-2  3.86
1942 Anniston. SEastern  .348 13  63  0-1
1943 Brook1yn/Phi, NL    .245  1  20
1944 {Military Service)
1945 (Military Service)
1946 Philadelphia, NL    .077  0   1
1947 Sacramento, PCL     .301  0  13  1-0  3.27
1948 Sacramento, PCL     .309  4  43
1949 Sacramento/SD, PCL  .311 11  54
1950 San Diego, PCL      .281  1  35
1951 San Diego, PCL      .077  0   0
1951 Mexicali, SW Int    .297  6  41
1952 Ogden, Pioneer      .326  5  41  4-0  5.93
1953 Winnipeg, ManDak    .281  0  15
1954 Brandon, ManDak     .259  3  19 
1955 Visalia, California .323  6  52  1-0
1955 Williston, ManDak   
1956 Williston, ManDak   .250  0   3
1957 Brandon, ManDak     .268  0   8  1-0  1.10
1958 Williston, WCBL     .161  0   5  0-1  6.92
 


Jerry NymanGerry Nyman, Edmonton 

Spent parts of three seasons in the majors after a stint with Edmonton. The little lefty (5-10, 165) from Brigham Young University pitched in 30 MLB games, primarily with the Chicago White Sox.  Nyman was 25 when he made his debut in the majors in 1968.  In his first start in 1969, Nyman tossed a one-hitter and belted a bases-loaded double as the White Sox downed Washington 6-0.

 


                               W  L    ERA
1963 Edmonton, WCBL
1964 Edmonton, WCBL
1965 Sarasota, Florida St.    16 11   2.81
1966 Lynchburg, Carolina       2  4   2.89
     Winter Haven, Florida St. 2  4   2.30
     Fox Cities, Midwest       2  3   1.97
1967 Evansville, Southern      7  4   2.76
1968 Chicago, AL               2  1   2.01
     Hawaii, PCL               7  5   3.09
1969 Chicago, AL               4  4   5.29
     Tucson, PCL               2  3   2.74
1970 San Diego, NL             0  2  16.20
     Salt Lake City, PCL       9 13   4.09
1971 Evansville, AA            0  2   2.25
     Lodi, California          1  5   4.77
     Hawaii, PCL               1  2   4.88
  

 


Bill OsterBill Oster

Minot 1956, 1957

The 6'3" lefty got into eight major league games as a 21-year-old in 1954.  Pitched for Minot in both 1956 & 1957. A key performer in the '56 playoffs for the Mallards.  Signed by the A's after 10 straight semi-pro wins, including a no-hitter.

 

  
                             W L  ERA
1954 Philadelphia, AL        0-1  6.32
1955 Savannah, South Atl.    1-1
1956 Columbia, South Atl.    0-1
1956 Minot, ManDak           1-2  5.86
1957 Abilene, Big State      0-2
1957 Columbia, South Atl.    0-1
1957 Minot, ManDak           9-5  4.27
 
 

   
Dave PaganDave Pagan

Snowden 1964-1965
Nipawin & Prince Albert 1966
Prince Albert & Eston 1967-1968
Snowden & Eston 1969

The Nipawin, Saskatchewan native was just 14 when he began pitching in the Highway 55 League in the Prince Albert area.  After an 8-0 season at Bellevue (WA) Community College in 1970, Pagan was signed by the Yankees.  He had a 10-year pro career which included parts of five seasons in the major leagues with the Yankees, Seattle, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
 

 
                               W  L  ERA
1970 Johnson City, APPY        1  1  5.04
1970 Oneonta, NYP              4  3  2.95
1971 Fort Lauderdale, FSL      9 10  4.12
1972 Kinston, CAR             14  9  2.53
1973 West Haven, EL            6  2  1.86
1973 Syracuse, INT             2  3  2.41
1973 New York, AL              0  0  2.84
1974 Syracuse, INT             1  2  2.89
1974 New York, AL              1  3  5.14
1975 New York, AL              0  0  4.06
1975 Syracuse, INT             5  1  2.25
1976 NY-BAL, AL                2  5  4.73
1977 Seattle, AL               1  1  6.14
1977 Columbus, INT             2  1  3.79
1977 Pittsburgh, NL            0  0  0.00
1977 Spokane, PCL              0  3  7.56
1978 Columbus, INT             6  8  4.27
1979 Portland, PCL             2  0  5.57
1979 Mexico City, MEX          2  3  3.55
 


Satchel PaigeLeroy Satchel Paige
Minot 1950

"Satch" was not only one of baseball's best players, but an engaging entertainer and character who filled the stands in ball parks across North American over a career which spanned more than 40 seasons.  He made his mark early in the Negro Leagues and on barnstorming tours -- with a side trip to Bismarck, North Dakota in 1935 when he led the integrated club to the National Baseball Congress championship. The lanky, righthander later led the Kansas City Monarchs to four straight Negro American League pennants.  Paige was 42 when he made his major league debut with Cleveland in 1948.  He was 6-1, 2.47 in his "rookie" season and pitched in 179 games in the majors  (which included a one-game appearance in 1965 at the age of 49).  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971, the first Negro League player to be so honoured.  Just a few years previous, the veteran barnstormer was still looking for pitching jobs "

" ... he has just about decided he'll have to go back to Canada to pitch.  "I've been checking with some people, but it doesn't look like there's anything for me in the States," Satch said. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to go back to Canada, but if I can't find anything else, that's what I'll do. It's an awful long way up there and it gets pretty cold. You see bear and moose around everywhere. You've got to be a little careful about those bears." (The Sporting News, June 12, 1955)

Paige may have been best-known for his decades-long barnstorming tours,  including match-ups against major league all-star teams (the Bob Feller All-Stars among them).   He's believed to have tossed his final pro ball pitch in the Carolina League in 1966 at age 60.

A renown storyteller, Paige left behind some classic lines :

"Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter."

"Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?"

Paige died in 1982.
 

  
                               W  L  ERA
1924  Mobile 
1925
1926  Chattanooga 
1926  New Orleans
1927  Birmingham, NNL          8  3
1928  Birmingham, NNL         12  4
1929  Birmingham, NNL         11 11
29-30 Santa Clara, CWL         6  5
1930  Birm/Baltimore, NNL     11  4
1931  Cleveland/Pit, NNL       5  5
1932  Pittsburgh, EWL         14  8
1933  Pittsburgh, NNL          5  7
1933  Bismarck                 7  0
1934  Pittsburgh, NNL         13  3
1935  Pittsburgh/KC            0  0
1935  Bismarck *              30  2
1936  Pittsburgh/KC            7  2
1937  Ciudad Trujillo, DOML    8  2
1937  St. Louis, NAL           1  2
1938  Agrario, Mexican         1  1  5.12
1939 
39-40 Guayama, PRWL           19  3  1.93
1940  Kansas City, NAL         1  1
1941  Kansas City, NAL         7  1
1942  Kansas City, NAL         8  5
1943  KC/Memphis, NAL          9 10
1944  Kansas City, NAL         5  5  1.27
1945  Kansas City, NAL         3  5
1946  Phil/KC                  5  1
1947  Kansas City, NAL         1  1
47-48 Santurce, PRWL           0  3  2.48
1948  Cleveland, AL            6  1  2.47
1949  Cleveland, AL            4  7  3.04
1950  Minot, ManDak 
1950  KC/Phi, NAL              1  2  5.19
1951  Chicago, NAL
1951  St. Louis, AL            3  4  4.79
1952  St. Louis, AL           12 10  3.07
1953  St. Louis, AL            3  9  3.53
1954 
1955  Kansas City, NAL
1956  Miami, IL               11  4  1.86
1957  Miami, IL               10  8  2.42
1958  Miami, IL               10 10  2.95
1959 
1960 
1961  Portland, PCL            0  0  2.88
1962 
1963 
1964 
1965  Kansas City, AL          0  0  0.00
1966  Peninsula, Carolina      0  0  9.00
* Paige led Bismarck to the 1935 National Baseball Congress title winning four games (60 Ks, 5 BB) and capturing the MVP Award.

Negro League stats from The Negro Leagues Book. Stats from Paige's Bismarck stint from Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe.
 

 

 
Charles PeeteCharles "Mule" Peete  Brandon, 1950

As a 21-year-old, Peete suited up with the Brandon Greys in 1950 for the inaugural season of the ManDak League.  In 1956,  after leading the American Association with a .350 average he won a short major league stint with St. Louis.  Hampered by a thumb injury he struggled in his few at bats and planned to hone his skills playing winter ball in Venezuela.  In November, 1956, Peete, his wife Nettie and their three children were killed in a plane crash near Caracas.  He was just 27.  

 


                            BA  HR RBI 
1950 Brandon, ManDak       .220  2  14
1950 Indianapolis, NAL     .214  2   8
1951
1952
1953 Portsmouth, Piedmont  .275  4  56
1954 Lynchburg, Piedmont   .311 17  79
1955 Omaha, AA             .317  9  63
1955 Rochester, IL         .280  0   8
1955-56 Cienfuegos, CWL    .128  0   3
1956 Omaha, AA             .350 16  63
1956 St. Louis, NL         .192  0   6
 

 
Ron Perranoski 1961Ron Perranoski    
Lloydminster, 1956

He came to the Meridians from Michigan State U. where he pitched from 1956 to 1958.   Perranoski won 5 games at MSU in '56, went 8-2 in '57, then 8-1 in '58.  He was voted a spot on the All Big Ten team in '57 and '58. The lefthander, holds the MSU career strikeout record of 223.

Perranoski joined Lloydminster at the end of the 1956 season (after going 10-1 with Watertown in the Basin League).  In his 1st playoff start, struck out 15 as the Meridians dumped Edmonton. 

Signed by the Cubs, he moved to the Dodgers' chain and joined the big league club in 1961 (rookie card above) and a year later racked up 20 saves. In 1963 he went 16-3 with 21 saves and a 1.67 ERA.   With the Twins in 1969, Perranoski fashioned a 31-save, 2.11 ERA campaign and followed with a 34 save season.  In later years, he served as pitching coach of the Dodgers and Giants and moved into the front office in San Francisco.  

 

  
                           W  L  SV  ERA
1956 Watertown, Basin     N/A
     Lloydminster, WCBL   N/A
1957 N/A
1958 Burlington, I.I.I.   5  9      6.43
     Ft. Worth, Texas     0  0      9.00
1959 San Antonio, Texas  11 10      3.12
1960 St. Pau1, AA         3  3      1.58
     Montreal, IL         9  8      2.87
1961 Los Angeles, NL      7  5   6  2.65
1962 Los Angeles, NL      6  6  20  2.85
1963 Los Angeles, NL     16  3  21  1.67
1964 Los Angeles, NL      5  7  14  3.09
1965 Los Angeles, NL      6  6  17  2.29
1966 Los Angeles, NL      6  7   7  3.18
1967 Los Angeles, NL      6  7  16  2.45
1968 Minnesota, AL        8  7   6  3.10
1969 Minnesota, AL        9 10  31  2.11
1970 Minnesota, AL        7  8  34  2.43
1971 Minn-Detroit, AL     1  5   7  5.49
1972 Detroit, AL          0  1   0  7.58
     Los Angeles, NL      2  0   0  2.65
1973 California,  AL      0  2   0  4.09
 

 
Bobby PrescottBobby Prescott
Sceptre,
Indian Head 1951

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 BA  HR RBI 
1951 Indian Head/Sceptre, IND    N/A
1951-52 Chesterfield, Panama
1952 Hutchinson, Western Assn   .350 12  92
     Denver, Western            .231  0   4
1952-53 Chesterfield, Panama
1953 Denver, Western            .316 16  85
1953-54 Chesterfield, Panama
1954 Denver, Western            .311 23 121
1954-55 Chesterfield, Panama
1955 Hollywood, Pacific Coast   .276  9  57
1955-56 Chesterfield, Panama
1956 Dallas, Texas              .268  4  17
1956-57 Chesterfield, Panama
1957 Dallas, Texas              .188  0   1
     Springfield, Eastern       .319 10  35
     Minneapolis, American Assn .278  8  31
1957-58 Chesterfield, Panama
1958 Phoenix, Pacific Coast     .309 24  96
1958-59 Marlboro, Panama
1959 Phoenix, Pacific Coast     .306 21  79
1959-60 Azucareros, Panama
1960 Tacoma, Pacific Coast      .272 12  78
1960-61 Marlboro, Panama
1961 Honolulu, Pacific Coast    .301 32 100
     Kansas City, American      .083  0   0
1961-62 Marlboro, Panama
1962 Spokane, Pacific Coast     .235 13  51
1962-63 Colon, Panama
1963 Poza Rica, Mexican         .307 18  54
1963-64 Cerveza Balboa, Panama
1964 Poza Rica, Mexican         .291 37 123
1964_65 Cerveza Balboa, Panama
1965 Poza Rica, Mexican         .279 39 106
1965-66 Marlboro, Panama
1966 Poza Rica, Mexican         .306 41 122
1966-67 Marlboro, Panama
1967 Poza Rica, Mexican         .284 32 108
1967-68 Marlboro, Panama
1968 Poza Rica, Mexican         .280 26  84
     Minatitlan, Mexican SE     .429  1   2
1969 Campeche, Mexican SE       .289 14  54
     Mexico City Reds, Mexican  .243  1   4
1970 Poza Rica, Mexican         .271  5  27
 
 

   
Frank Reberger
Saskatoon, 1964

 
                             W  L  ERA
1964 Calgary, WCBL       
1966 Treasure Valley, PIO    6  5  2.91
1967 Lodi, California        5 10  4.10
1967 Dallas-Ft Worth, Texas  4  2  2.60
1968 Chicago, NL             0  1  4.50
1968 Tacoma, PCL             7  5  3.79
1969 San Diego, NL           1  2  3.58
1970 San Francisco, NL       7  8  5.57
1971 San Francisco, NL       3  0  3.89
1971 Phoenix, PCL            0  2  5.79
1972 San Francisco, NL       3  4  4.00
1972 Phoenix, PCL            6  4  4.29
1973 Phoenix, PCL            1  1  5.40
1974 Phoenix, PCL            0  0 13.50
 
 


Mickey Rocco

Mickey Rocco
Winnipeg, Minot 1953

Rocco played in 440 games over a  four-year major league career, 1943-1946.  The lefty-swinging outfielder had his best season in '44 hitting .265 with 13 home runs and led the majors in at bats with 653. From 1947 to 1950 he was one of the most feared sluggers in the Pacific Coast League.  At age 37, Rocco suited up with Winnipeg and Minot in the ManDak League.  He died in 1997 at the age of 81.

 

  
                            BA HR RBI
1935 Portsmouth, Mid-Atl. .340 11  79
1936 St. Paul, AA         .333  0  1
1936 Portsmouth, Mid-Atl. .251  8  50
1936 Knoxville, SA        .036  0   1
1937 St. Paul, AA         .150  0   3
1937 Dallas, Texas        .259  3  57
1938 Anniston, SEastern   .244  9  69
1939 Anniston, SEastern   .318 18  87
1940 Nashville, SA        .305 21 101
1941 Buffalo, IL          .284 21  79
1942 Buffa1o, IL          .297 23  82
1943 Cleveland, AL        .240  5  46
1943 Buffalo, IL          .243  2  18
1944 Cleveland, AL        .266 13  70
1945 Cleveland, AL        .264 10  56
1946 Cleveland, AL        .245  2  14
1946 Nashville, SA        .294  2  21
1947 Seattle, PCL         .300 18  99
1948 San Francisco, PCL   .300 27 149
1949 San Francisco, PCL   .276 25 114
1950 Portland, PCL        .258 26 108
1951 KC/St. Paul, AA      .234  7  27
1951 Portland, PCL        .177  0  6
1952 St. Paul, AA         .231  1  9
1952 Springfie1d, IL      .258  4  38
1953 Wpg/Minot, ManDak    .296 12
 
 

  
Gene Butch RounsavilleGene Butch Rounsaville

Saskatoon, 1964


                               W  L  ERA
1964 Saskatoon, WCBL       
1965 Miami, Flo State          0  2  4.09
1965 Spartanburg, W Carolinas  9 11  3.68
1966 Bakersfield, CAL         12 10  3.84
1967 Reading, Eastern          9  8  2.93
1968 Reading, Eastern         14  5  1.76
1968 San Diego, PCL            0  1  3.75
1969 Eugene, PCL              10  7  3.48
1970 Chicago, AL               0  1 10.50
1970 Tucson, PCL               3  5  3.26
 
 


Tom SatrianoTom Satriano Edmonton Eskimos 1958-1959

The University of Southern California  product was a semi-pro star with Edmonton and Drain, Oregon before turning pro with the Angles in 1961.  Satriano was just 18 when he finished second in the batting race in the WCBL in 1959 with a .350 average after hitting .307 the previous year with Edmonton.  As a utility man, he spent ten seasons in the majors, finishing his pro career in 1971 in the Pacific Coast League.
 


                               BA   HR RBI
1958 Edmonton, WCBL           .307   4  34
1959 Edmonton, WCBL           .350   5  46
1960 Drain, SW Oregon
1961 Los Angeles, AL          .198   1   8
1962 Los Angeles, AL          .421   2   6
     Hawaii, PCL              .266  21  74
1963 Los Angeles, AL          .180   0   2
     Hawaii, PCL              .219   5  28
     Nashville, South Atl.    .265   2  22
1964 Los Angeles, AL          .200   1  17
1965 California, AL           .165   1   4
     Seattle, PCL             .173   5   9
1966 California, AL           .239   0  24
1967 California, AL           .224   4  21
1968 California, AL           .253   8  35
1969 California - Boston, AL  .221   1  27
1970 Boston, AL               .236   3  13
1971 Hawaii, PCL              .271   4  18

 


Harold Schacker

Minot 1951

The right-hander pitched in six games with the Boston Braves in 1945, having made his major league debut just a month after turning 20. Schacker later turned in a 20-win season in the Florida International League. He was just 26 when he suited up with Minot in the ManDak League in 1951.

 

  
                               W L  ERA
1943 Hartford, Eastern         0-0 10.80
1944 Hartford, Eastern        18-7  2.97
1945 Hartford, Eastern         6-3  2.22
1945 Indianapolis, AA          0-2  5.73
1945 Boston, NL                0-1  5.28
1946 Hartford, Eastern         5-2  3.88
1946 Pawtucket, New Eng1and    5-1  0.84
1947 
1948 St. Petersburg, FLO Int  20-7  2.93
1948 Anniston, Southeastern    No Rec
1949 West Palm Beach, FLO Int  9-9  2.75
1950 St. Hyacinthe Provincial  9-3  3.95
1951 Minot, ManDak             4-4
 
 


Dan SchneiderDan Schneider, Saskatoon 1961

The lean lefty (6-3, 170) pitched in 117 games over a 5 year major league career after signing a $100,000 contract with Milwaukee.  The Braves came calling after Schneider's All-Star season in 1961, as an 18-year-old with Saskatoon, and an All-American, 13-1 college campaign in 1962 with the University of Arizona. 

 


                               W-L    ERA
1961 Saskatoon, WCBL           8-1   2.19
1962 Louisville, AA            5-6   4.40
1963 Toronto, IL               2-2   3.44
     Milwaukee, NL             1-0   3.09
     Denver, PCL               2-1   4.24
1964 Milwaukee, NL             1-2   5.45
     Denver, PCL               3-0   4.62
1965 Atlanta, IL              10-7   3.03
1966 Richmond, IL              6-2   2.91
     Atlanta, NL               0-0   3.42
1967 Houston, NL               0-2   4.96
1968 Columbus, IL              7-2   3.42
1969 Okla City - Tulsa, AA     4-8   4.04
     Houston, NL               0-1  14.14
1970 Tulsa, AA                 3-7   5.22
    

 

  
Bert ShepardBert Shepard

Williston 1947

The left-hander made just one appearance in the majors, a 5 1/3 inning stint in 1945 (just 3 hits, 1 run).  It may not seem like much, but Shepard did so pitching with an artificial leg.   He had been a minor league pitcher of little distinction before serving as a fighter pilot in the Second World War. When his plane crashed in Germany, doctors amputated his right leg. While in a POW camp, Shepard, with a crude artificial leg, learned to walk and pitch. Back in the US in 1945, he suited up as pitching coach of the Washington Senators and pitched in batting practice and in some exhibition games. In a remarkable achievement, he took the mound on August 5th, 1945 in a regular season game against Boston. He pitched for another ten seasons in pro and semi-pro ranks including tournament appearances on the Canadian prairies and in the ManDak League. 
 

  
                                 W-L   ERA
1939 Jeanerette, Evangeline
1940 Mount Airy, Bi-State
1940 Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc St   3-2   6.06
1941 Bisbee, Arz-Texas           3-5   8.25
1941 Anaheim, California         0-1
1942 Military Service
1943 Military Service
1944 Military Service
1945 Washington, AL              0-0   1.69
1946 Chattanooga, SA             2-2   7.45
1947 Williston, Ind
1948
1949 Waterbury, Colonial         5-6   6.16
1950 
1951
1952 Paris, Big State            0-0  12.60
1952 Hot Springs, Cotton St      1-3
1952 St. Augustine, Flo St       2-2
1952 Corpus Christi, Gulf Coast  0-0
1953 Tampa, Flo Int              0-0
1954 Williston, ManDak
1955 Modesto, California         1-1  12.54
 
 


Bill SlackBill Slack
London Majors 1951

Slack, who grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, rode an 9-3, 1.38 season with the London Majors of the Ontario Intercounty league in 1951 to a contract with the Boston Red Sox.  It was the beginning of a journey which would include a career in professional baseball lasting more than 55 years. 

He had his accomplishments as a player but his claim to fame has been his work as a coach and manager.  In the Red Sox system for 15 seasons after his playing days, Slack won four titles and had a significant role in the development of players such as Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, Dwight Evans, Bill Lee, Fred Lynn, and Cy Young winner Jim Lonborg. Brought to the Atlanta organization in 1984, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz were among his pupils. In 2002 the former "bonus baby" was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. 

                     
                          W  L  ERA
1951 London, Intercounty  9  3  1.38
1952 Roanoke, Piedmont   15  8  3.14
1953 Albany, Easter       1  4  4.50
     Roanoke, Piedmont   15 10  2.99
1954 Albany, Eastern      9  7  2.22
1955 Louisville, AA       4  2  4.39
     Montgomery, S Atl    9  2  1.67
1956 San Francisco, PCL   1  2  4.29
     Oklahoma City, TEX   1  2
1957 Albany, Eastern     16  7  2.24
     Oklahoma City, TEX   0  1
1958 Memphis, SA         10 11  3.62
1959 Indianapolis, AA     0  0
     Memphis, SA          9  8  3.39
1960 Minneapolis, AA      1  2  5.46
1961 Johnstown, Eastern   0  2
     Seattle, PCL         0  0
1962 Pocatello, Pioneer   0  0  0.00
1963 Winston-Salem, CAR   0  0 12.60
1964-65 Inactive
1966 Winston-Salem, CAR   0  1 12.00

"Bill Slack, who won nine games and lost three and had an earned-run average of 1.38 for the London team of the independent Intercounty League, has been signed by Birmingham, Red Sox farm club of the Southern Association, and will report for training at Lakeland, Fla., March 4. In signing for $18,000, the 18-year-old righthander became Canada's first baseball "bonus baby." His strikeout mark and earned-run average were the best in the circuit last summer." (The Sporting News, February 6, 1952, p.22)
       

 


Sterling Slaughter 1965Sterling Slaughter
Lloydminster-North Battleford Combines and Calgary, 1960 Edmonton, 1961

At age 18, Slaughter was the ERA champ in the WCBL in 1960 (his 2.17 mark was nearly a run better than the runnerup). He was Arizona State's first All-American (1963) and was inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame. He established three school single-season records in 1963 (including 22 punchouts in a single game) when he led the nation in strikeouts.  A Texas League All-Star, Slaughter had just 20 games in the majors before arm woes cut short his career.
 


                                W-L   ERA
1960 Lloydminster/Calgary, WCBL 2-6   2.17
1961 Edmonton, WCBL             N/A
1962 N/A
1963 Amarillo, Texas           10-7   3.00
1964 Chicago, NL                2-4   5.75
1965 Salt Lake City, PCL        0-2   4.80
     Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas   15-8   2.87
1966 Tacoma, PCL                2-5   3.93
     Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas    2-8   3.91
1967 Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas    4-8   3.75

 


Ron StillwellRon Stillwell

Regina 1959

Ron, whose son Kurt would play nine seasons in the majors, had cups o' coffee with Washington in 1961 and 1962 after a starry career at the University of Southern California.  Stillwell suffered serious injuries (including eye damage) in an on-field collision and quit the game.
 


                               BA   HR RBI
1959 Regina, WCBL             .303   2  27
1960 N/A
1961 Washington, AL           .125   0   1
     Syracuse, IL             .175   0   4
1962 Washington, AL           .273   0   2
     Syracuse, IL             .220   3  29
     Charlotte, South Atl.    .170   0   2
1963 York, Eastern            .242   3  40
     Richmond, IL             .160   0   2
     Denver, PCL              .167   0   3
1964 York, Eastern            .237   6  38
1965 (Inactive)
1966 York, Eastern            .218   1  19
 

 


Dick StoneDick Stone

Moose Jaw 1951

The little lefty (5-9, 153 lbs) was a mainstay in semi-pro ball, one of the top winners in the annual tournament of the National Baseball Congress in which he competed over twelve seasons.  In 1945, he jumped from semi-pro ball right to the major leagues, with the Washington Senators.  In three games, covering five innings, he pitched shutout ball.  When he didn't make the Senators out of Spring Training in 1946, he went back to semi-pro ball. At age 39, Stone joined the Moose Jaw Canucks of the Western Canada League.  He was such an outstanding performer for the team that the fans held a "Dick Stone Night" and showered him with gifts.
 


                                W  L  ERA
1935 Shawnee OK, NBC
1936 Kilgore, East Texas        2-11 6.22
1936 Allentown, NYP             1-1
1936 Oklahoma City, Texas
1936 Davenport, Western         4-4  3.30
1937 Dayton, Mid-Atlantic       7-13 3.98
1938 Dayton, Mid-Atlantic
1938 Duncan OK, NBC
1939 Duncan OK, NBC
1940 Duncan OK, NBC
1941 Wichita (Solomon), NBC
1942 Wichita (Cessna), NBC
1943 Wichita (Cessna), NBC
1944 Wichita (Cessna), NBC
1945 Wichita (Cessna), NBC
1945 Washington, AL             0-0  0.00
1946 Wichita (Boeing), NBC
1947 St. Joseph MI, NBC
1948 Greenville, Big State      3-4  4.79
1949 Vermillion SD, NBC
1950 N/A
1951 Moose Jaw SK, WCBL
1952 Booneville ARK, NBC
 
 


Ed SudolEd Sudol

Minot 1951

After a 12-year-minor league career Sudol turned to umpiring and went on to a 20-year career in the majors. In the pictures of Hank Aaron's historic 715th homer there's Sudol as the home plate umpire. He called Jim Bunning's perfect game and was active in three World Series.  He earned the title The Extra-Inning Umpire calling all the pitches in a 23-inning thriller between the Giants and Mets that lasted a NL record seven hours and 23 minutes. In '74, he was behind the plate when the Cards and Mets went 25 innings. And in 1976, Sudol was behind the dish as the Cards and Mets went 17 innings.  He died in 2004 at age 84.

 


                                   BA  HR RBI
1940 Pocomoke/C'bridge, E Shore   .201  4  20
1941 Tarboro, Coastal Plain       .311  2  63
1942 Wilkes-Barre, Eastern     
1942 Wilmington, InterState       .227  0   4
1942 Jacksonville, So Atlantic    .351  1  11
1943 Wilkes-Barre, Eastern        .338  0  20
1943 Baltimore, IL                .125  0   1
1944
1945 Wilkes-B/Hartford-S, Eastern .256  2  53
1946 Allentown, InterState        .343 28 132
1947 Stamford/P'keepsie, Colonial .296 12  87
1948 El Dorado, Cotton St.        .307  7  41
1948 Savannah, So. Atlantic       .244  1  19
1949 El Dorado, Cotton St.        .301  9  79
1950 Greenville, Cotton St.       .266  6  89
1951 Greenville, Cotton St.       .278  0  14
1951 Minot, ManDak                .251  4  34
1952 Pampa, W.Texas-NM            .293 21  85
1953 Charleston, So. Atlantic     .107  0   0
1953 Rock Hill, Tri-State         .263 11  46

 
 


Darrell SutherlandDarrell Sutherland Saskatoon 1961

The slim (6-4, 169) righthander pitched in 62 games over 4 seasons in the majors, mainly with the Mets. The Stanford U. product was a key member of the Saskatoon staff as a 19-year-old in 1961 (he was one of five members of the team to advance to the majors).

 


                               W-L    ERA
1961 Saskatoon, WCBL           N/A
1962 N/A
1963 Bakersfield, California   9-4    3.51
1964 Buffalo, IL              10-1    3.31
     New York, NL              0-3    7.76
1965 Buffalo, IL               8-8    3.99
     New York, NL              3-1    2.81
1966 Jacksonville, IL          3-8    3.23
     New York, NL              2-0    4.87
1967 Williamsport, Eastern     6-3    4.11
1968 Cleveland, AL             0-0    8.10
     Waterbury, Eastern        3-5    2.95
     Portland, PCL             5-2    4.57
1969 Portland, PCL             3-2    4.15
  

 

 
Gary Sutherland

Edmonton 1963

                              BA  HR RBI
1963 Edmonton                 N/A
1965 Chattanooga, Southern   .285  3  60
1966 Philadelphia, NL        .000  0   0
1966 San Diego, PCL          .254  4  54
1967 Philadelphia, NL        .247  1  19
1968 Philadelphia, NL        .275  0  15
1969 Montreal, NL            .239  4  45
1970 Montreal, NL            .206  3  26
1971 Montreal, NL            .257  4  26
1972 Oklahoma City, AA       .299  0  31
1972 Peninsula, IL           .285  3  13
1972 Houston, NL             .125  0   1
1973 Denver, AA              .294  3  80
1973 Houston, NL             .259  0   3
1974 Detroit, AL             .254  5  49
1975 Detroit, AL             .258  6  39
1976 Detroit-Milwaukee, AL   .211  1  15
1977 San Diego, NL           .243  1  11
1978 St.Louis, NL            .167  0   0
 
 


Jose TartabullJose Tartabull Davidson 1956
Regina 1957

Tartabull, a native of Cienfuegos, Cuba, was one of many Cubans to suit up for teams in Western Canada. He made his debut at age 17 with Davidson, Saskatchewan in 1956 and returned to Canada the following year to hit .301 with Regina (and finished among the leaders with 12 stolen bases).  The 5-11, 165 outfielder had 9 seasons in the majors with Kansas City, Boston and Oakland. Overall, he hit .261 with 81 stolen bases.  He played for 17 seasons before retiring after a season in Mexico in 1972.

 


                               BA   HR RBI
1956 Davidson, SK              N/A
1957 Regina, WCBL             .301   0  13
1958 Michigan City, Midwest   .264   4  24
     Hastings, Nebraska St.   .295   1  12
1959 Michigan City, Midwest   .305  17  61
1960 Eugene, Northwest        .344   6  52
1961 Rio Grande Valley-       .304   6  50
     Victoria, Texas
1962 Kansas City, AL          .277   0  22
1963 Kansas City, AL          .240   1  19
     Portland, PCL            .266   1  11
1964 Kansas City, AL          .200   0   3
1965 Kansas City, AL          .312   1  19
     Vancouver, PCL           .273   3  29
1966 KC - Boston, AL          .261   0  15
1967 Boston, AL               .223   0  10
     Pittsfield, Eastern      .333   0   3
1968 Boston, AL               .281   0   6
     Pittsfield, Eastern      .333   0   3
1969 Iowa, AA                 .258   1   3
     Oakland, AL              .267   0  11
     Louisville, IL           .216   0   4
1970 Iowa, AA                 .245   1   7
     Oakland, AL              .231   0   2
1971 Iowa, AA                 .296   2  20
1972 Yucatan, Mexican         .253   5  27
  

 


Harry TaylorHarry James Taylor

Winnipeg 1953, Williston 1954

After making his pro debut at 19, Taylor struggled for his first few seasons and was out of baseball for four years, three of them in the military. He bounced back to win 15 games with the Dodger's Triple-A club in St. Paul and win a late season audition with the Dodgers. He followed up in 1947 winning 10 games with 10 complete games and two shutouts. He was awarded a start in the World Series, but arm problems forced him out of the game after just four batters.  He finished his pro career with the Boston Red Sox. Taylor died in 2000 at age 81.  

   
                              W  L  ERA
1938 St. Paul, AA             2  3  4.93
1938 Tallahassee, Geo.-Fla.   
1939 St. Paul, AA             2  9  4.59
1939 Richmond, Piedmont       1  3
1940 St. Paul, AA             5 15  5.88
1941 (Inactive)               
1942 (Military Service}     
1943 (Military Service) 
1944 (Military Service) 
1945 (Military Service) 
1946 St. Paul, AA            15  7  3.33
1946 Brooklyn, NL             0  0  3.60
1947 Brooklyn, NL            10  5  3.11
1948 St. Paul, AA             3  4  3.95
1948 Brooklyn, NL             2  7  5.33
1949 St. Paul, AA            11  6  3.89
1950 St. Paul, AA            13  9  4.02
1950 Boston, AL               2  0  1.42
1951 Boston, AL               3  9  5.75
1952 Louisville, AA           9 10  4.32
1952 Boston, AL               1  0  1.80
1953 Winnipeg, ManDak
1954 Williston, ManDak        9  4
 
 


Joe TaylorJoe Cephus Taylor
Winnipeg Buffaloes 1950-1951 

Taylor spent much of his early career in Canada -- in the ManDak League in 1950-51, Quebec's Provincial League in 1951-52, Ottawa of the International League in 1953-54, and Toronto of the IL in 1955.  He was 28 when he first played in the majors with Philadelphia.  Overall, he was in the major leagues for 199 games over 4 seasons.  He was twice an All-Star in the Pacific Coast League where he played for parts of seven seasons. Taylor had joined Winnipeg in 1950 after beginning his career as a catcher with the Chicago American Giants of the Negro American League.


                             BA   HR RBI
1949 Chicago, NAL
1950 Chicago, NAL
1950 Winnipeg, ManDak       .237   3  15
1951 Chicago, NAL
1951 Winnipeg, ManDak        N/A
1951 Farnham, (Provincial   .360  10  29
1952 St. Hyacinthe, Prov    .308  25 112
1953 Williamsport, Eastern  .324  10  44
1953 Ottawa, IL             .313   7  45
1954 Philadelphia, AL       .224   1   8
1954 Ottawa, IL             .323  23  79
1955 Columbus-Toronto, IL   .286  12  38
1955 Portland, PCL          .295  10  55
1956 Seattle, PCL           .260  24  89
1957 Cincinnati, NL         .262   4   9
1957 Seattle PCL            .305  22  72
1958 Omaha, AA              .270  10  34
1958 Baltimore, AL          .273   2   9
1958 St. Louis, NL          .304   1   3
1959 Baltimore, AL          .156   1   2
1959 Vancouver, PCL         .292  23  77
1960 Seattle, PCL           .291  30  94
1961 San Diego, PCL         .268  26  74
1962 Hawaii-Vancouver, PCL  .246  13  37
1963 Puebla - Mexico City   .309  19  74
     Tigers, Mexican
  

 


Vernon Charles (Pete) Taylor

Minot 1956

Taylor's cup o' coffee in the majors lasted just one game, two innings with the St. Louis Browns in 1952.  He started his pro career at age 18 in 1945 and wrapped it up with Minot of the ManDak League where he won 8 games in 1956.

Taylor died at age 65 in 2003.

 

    
                              W  L   ERA
1945  Baltimore, IL            No Rec
1945  Batavia, PONY            4  5  4.34
1946  (Inactive) 
1947  Poughkeepsie, Colonial  11  3  3.38
1948  Wilkes-Barre, Eastern    8 18  3.46
1949  Baltimore, IL            5  8  4.20
1950  Baltimore, IL            1  4  7.00
1950  San Antonio, Texas       3  7  5.78
1951  Toronto, IL              0  0  7.50
1951  San Antonio, Texas       5  3  3.16
51-52 Magallanes, VZ
1952  St. Louis, AL            0  0 13.50
1952  San Antonio, Texas       8  9  3.33
1953  Baltimore, IL            0  0  6.00
1953  Oklahoma City, Texas     8 10  4.64
1954  Oklahoma City, Texas    10  7  4.78
1955  Little Rock, SA          6  8  4.71
1955  Oklahoma City, Texas     1  2  4.89
1956  Montgomery, SA           3  4  4.97
1956  Minot, ManDak            8  7
 

 
Ron TheobaldRon Theobald
Medicine Hat 1963


                              BA  HR RBI
1963 Medicine Hat, WCBL
1964 Wenatchee, Northwest    .277  6  26
1964 Ft. Worth, Texas        .218  3  16
1965 Charlotte, Southern     .233  1  27
1966 Charlotte, Southern     .269  2  38
1967 Denver, PCL             .279  3  42
1968 Denver, PCL             .253  0  25
1969 Denver, AA              .293  0  40
1970 Denver-Indianapolis, AA .309  0  28
1971 Milwaukee, AL           .276  1  23
1972 Milwaukee, AL           .220  1  19
1973 Hawaii, PCL             .221  0  11
 
 

Bob Thurman
Brantford, Intercounty

 

 
 


Thad Tillotson, 1967Thad Tillotson
, Medicine Hat  1959

In 1967, on the day Mickey Mantle was honoured for 500th homer, Tillotson picked up his first major league win, in relief.  He also hit a single on the first pitch of his first major league at bat and scored the winning run on a Mantle single in the 11th inning.  Next time out, the big (6'3", 210) right-hander tossed 8 2/3s shutout innings to gain his 2nd win and followed with a six-hit, complete game to go 3-0 before dropping nine in a row, three due to sloppy defense. Tough luck followed him through his career.  In his 2nd pro season, of his 11 loses, his team failed to score in five of them. He had spent seven years in the Dodger system, five at the Triple-A level, before a trade to the Yankees.  He was on the hill for 50 games over two seasons with New York and overall pitched for a dozens seasons (including time in Canada and Puerto Rico) before retiring in 1970.  He was often accused of throwing a spitter.  Tillotson  had begun his pro career at 19 leading the California League in wins, with 19. 

 


                                 W  L   ERA
1959  Medicine Hat, SABL         N/A
1960  Fresno City College       12  3
1960  Reno, California          19  6  3.18
      Macon, South Atl.          0  2   ----
1961  Atlanta, SA               12 11  4.03
1962  Spokane, PCL               6 13  3.82
1963  Spokane, PCL               0  2  6.00
      Albuquerque, Texas         7  5  4.22
1964  Spokane, PCL              10 14  3.21
1965  Spokane, PCL              11 10  3.26
65-66 Arecibo,, PR               7 10  2.42
1966  Spokane, PCL              12  8  3.47
66-67 Arecibo, PR
1967  New York, AL               3  9  4.03
67-68 Arecibo, PR
1968  Syracuse, IL              10  4  1.54    
      New York, AL               1  0  4.35
68-69 Arecibo, PR                4  7  2.49
1969  Syracuse, IL              10  8  3.43
69-70 Caguas, PR
1970  Syracuse, IL              11  9  4.44
1971  Nankai, Japan              3  4  6.40
  

 


Lou TostLou Tost

Brandon, Regina 1953

The lefthander got a major league opportunity at age 31 and took advantage finishing 10-10 in 22 starts for the Boston Braves in 1942.  He appeared in just four more games in the majors. After five seasons in the Pacific Coast League, Tost had brief stints with Brandon and Regina in the ManDak and Western Canada Leagues in 1953.

He was just 55 when he died in 1967.

Photo courtesy William Shubb, OaklandOaks

  
                          W  L  ERA
1934 Sacramento, PCL      0  0 18.00
1935 Mission, PCL         No Rec
1936 Muskogee, WAssoc     15 14 4.45 (.251 1 23)
1937 Mission, PCL          9  8 3.52
1938 Hollywood, PCL       11 16 3.48
1939 Hollywood, PCL        5 10 4.98
1940 Hollywood, PCL        4  6 4.07
1941 Hollywood, PCL       13 10 3.85
1942 Boston, NL           10 10 3.53
1943 Pittsburgh, NL        0  1 5.40
1944 (Military Service}   
1945 (Mi1itary Service} 
1946 Seattle, PCL         16 13 2.70
1947 Indianapolis, AA     11 12 4.35
1947 Pittsburgh, NL        0  0 9.00
1948 Sacramento/Oak, PCL  12 15 3.70
1949 Oakland, PCL         14  7 3.99
1950 Oakland, PCL          6  5 4.98
1951 Wenatchee, West Int  10  6 2.77
1952 San Jose, California  0  0
1953 Brandon, ManDak
1953 Regina, WCBL 
 


Bill UptonBill Upton

Minot 1957

Two games, five innings, a 1.80 ERA and, at 25, his major league career was over.  Upton won an opportunity after a 21-win season in the Tri-State League in 1952 and 10 wins with Indianapolis in Triple-A the following season.   The righthander finished his career in 1957 with Minot in the ManDak League winning 7 games.  His brother Tommy was a shortstop with the Browns in 1950-51. Upton died in 1987 at age 58.

 

   
                                 W  L  ERA
1948 Ada/Ardmore, Sooner St.     9 14  5.08
1949 Iola, KOM                  13  6  3.44
1949 Ardmore, Sooner St.         No Rec
1950 Spartanburg, Tri-St.        0  0
1951 (Inactive) 
1952 Spartanburg, Tri-St.       21  9  3.87
1953 Indianapolis, AA           10  6  3.23
1954 Philadelphia, AL            0  0  1.80
1954 Ottawa, IL                  1  3
1954 Oakland, PCL                0  3
1954 Tulsa, Texas                1  1
1955 Nashville, SA               3  1  5.57
1955 Columbia, South Atl.        8  3  1.51
1955 Oklahoma City, Texas        0  0
1956 Nashville, SA               0  1
1956 Savannah, South Atl.        3  1  1.69
1957 Jacksonville/Savannah SoAtl 1  1
1957 Minot, ManDak               7  6  3.96
 
 


Fred VaughnFred Vaughn

Williston, Bismarck 1955

A dumb move turned out to be a good break for the muscular second baseman. In 1943 in Indianapolis, his manager gave him the boot in a fit of rage after Vaughn had been picked off second base. Quickly signed by Minneapolis, Vaughn went on to lead the club in hitting in 1944 (and top all 2B in fielding). It earned him a trial with the Senators. He played in 110 major league games over two seasons. Vaughn had battled back from eye problems which forced him to sit out for two years.  In 1950 he led the Carolina league in homers and in 1955, while working in the oil fields near Williston, he suited up for one last season.  He died in 1964 at age 45.
 

  
                              BA  HR RBI
1936 Hutchinson, WAssoc      .229  4  31
1937 Hutchinson, WAssoc      .349 15 123
1938 Binghamton, Eastern     .282 17  99
1939 Indianapolis, AA        .322  2  21
1940 Birmingham, SA          .283  3   6
1941
1942
1943 Indianapolis/Minn AA    .239  9  53
1944 Minneapolis, AA         .321 17  62
1944 Washington, AL          .257  1  21
1945 Washington, AL          .235  1  25
1946 
1947 Hollywood, PCL          .300 12  56
1948 NOrleans/Nashville, SA  .272  5  55
1949 Greensboro, Carolina    .289 22  85
1950 Greensboro, Carolina    .320 27  88
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955 Bismarck, ManDak        .293  7  31
  
 


Ray WashburnRay
Washburn, Lethbridge 1959. 

A key member of the Lethbridge White Sox championship team in 1959, Washburn had a no-hitter among his Western Canadian accomplishments.  He won 72 games over a 10 year major league career and finished with a 3.53 ERA in 239 games. See the December, 1999 profile from the Tri-City Herald.  

 

 


                                W  L   ERA
1958  Bellingham                N/A
1959  Lethbridge, SABL          7  2   N/A
1960  Rochester, IL             5  4   4.45
1961  Charleston, IL           16  9   2.34
      St. Louis, NL             1  1   1.77
1962  St. Louis, NL            12  9   4.10
1963  St. Louis, NL             5  3   3.08
      Tulsa, Texas              1  1   7.80
1964  Jacksonville, IL          1  0   1.13
      St. Louis, NL             3  4   4.05
1965  St. Louis, NL             9 11   3.62
1966  St. Louis, NL            11  9   3.76
1967  St. Louis, NL            10  7   3.53
1968  St. Louis, NL            14  8   2.26
1969  St. Louis, NL             3  8   3.07
1970  Cincinnati, NL            4  4   6.95
  

 


Roy WeatherlyRoy Stormy Weatherly
Williston 1954, 1955
Williston, Bismarck 1956
Williston 1957

As a rookie in 1936 (one of the majors' youngest players at age 21) he had one of the best debuts in MLB history.  Weatherly joined the Cleveland roster in late June and in the month of July he belted out 56 hits. He finished the year batting .335.

Just 5'-6 1/2", 170, he played ten years in the majors compiling an average of .286.  In 1940, Weatherly hit .303 with 35 doubles, 11 triples and 12 homers.  He fanned just 26 times in 578 at bats.

Traded to the Yankees in 1943, he patrolled centre field, as the replacement for legend Joe DiMaggio and wore Babe Ruth's No. 3.  Twice that season he'd make ten outfield putouts in a single game to set a major league record.

At 39, Weatherly joined Williston in 1954 and played four years in the ManDak League.  He won the batting crown in 1954 with a .412 mark and finished 2nd in homers with 14.  The following year he'd win both titles batting .371 and belting 21 homers.  He died in 1990 at age 75.
 

   
                              BA  HR RBI
1934 Opelousas, Evangeline   .396  8  62
1935 New Orleans, SA         .314  7  56
1936 New Orleans, SA         .368  5  20
1936 Cleveland, AL           .335  8  53
1937 Cleveland, AL           .201  5  13
1937 New Orleans, SA         .238  4  15
1938 Cleveland, AL           .262  2  18
1939 Cleveland, AL           .310  1  32
1940 Cleveland, AL           .303 12  59
1941 Cleveland, AL           .289  3  37
1942 Cleve1and, AL           .258  5  39
1943 New York, AL            .264  7  28
1944 (Military Service}
1945 (Military Service)
1946 Indianapolis. AA        .285  1  17
1946 New York, AL            .500  0   0
1947 Indianapolis, AA        .304 14  81
1948 Indianapo1is, AA        .303  4  30
1949 Indianapolis, AA        .279  1  10
1949 New Orleans, SA         .304  5  29
1950 New York, NL            .261  0  11
1950 Oakland, PCL            .350  5  14
1951 Minneapolis, AA         .198  3  7
1951 Oakland, PCL            .339  8  60
1952 Baltimore, IL           .283 26  73
1953 Baltimore, IL           .268 17  58
1954 Richmond, IL            .375  0   0
1954 Williston, ManDak       .412 14  58
1955 Williston, ManDak       .371 21  61
1956 W'ston/Bismarck, ManDak .324  9  39
1956 Bismarck, ManDak 
1957 Williston, ManDak       .262  2   9
1958 San Antonio, Texas      .000  0   0
 
 


John WerhasJohn Werhas
Williston 1958 Edmonton 1959

An All-American third baseman in 1959 (hitting .419 for USC) Werhas  played in 89 games over three seasons for the Dodgers and Angels. Most of his career was spent in the Pacific Coast League where he belted 141 homers in parts of 10 seasons.  He played in Japan in 1971, then returned to the PCL the next season following  the first trade between Japanese and American teams (Werhas to Hawaii, Clete Boyer to Taiyo, Japan).

 

 


                               BA   HR RBI
1958 Williston, WCBL          .267   0   7
1959 Edmonton, WCBL           .298   5  52
1960 Green Bay, I.I.I.        .206   2  12
     Atlanta, SA              .212   0  11
     Macon, South Atl.        .267   0   4
1961 Greenville, South Atl.   .249   8  43
1962 Spokane, PCL             .258  16  57
1963 Spokane, PCL             .295  17  96
1964 Los Angeles, NL          .193   0   8
     Spokane, PCL             .309   9  51
1965 Los Angeles, NL          .000   0   0
     Spokane, PCL             .281  20  75
1966 Spokane, PCL             .306  15  80
1967 California, AL           .160   2   6
     Los Angeles, NL          .143   0   0
1968 San Diego, PCL           .286   8  65
1969 Hawaii, PCL              .298  15  90
1970 Hawaii, PCL              .283  12  62
1971 Taiyo, Japan             .214   8  26
1972 Hawaii, PCL              .286  19  74
1973 Hawaii - Eugene, PCL     .248  10  40

  

 


Bob Whitcher
Minot 1953

The little lefty (5-8, 165) pitched in 6 games, including 3 starts, for the Boston Braves in 1945 (2.87 ERA).  Already 28, it would be the last major league action for Whitcher who finished his career in 1953 with Minot in the ManDak League.  He died in 1997 at age 80.

 

  
                               W  L  ERA
1945 Lynn Frasers, New England
1945 Boston, NL                0  2  2.87
1946 Hartford, Eastern         No Rec
1946 Evansville, III           4  1  2.72
1946 Pawtucket, New England    3  5  6.48
1947 Evansville, III          13 11  2.94
1948 Evansville, III          14 11  2.98
1949 Saginaw, Centra1         13 13  4.26
1950 Brantford, InterCounty   
1951 Rochester, So. Minny      5  5
1952 
1953 Minot, ManDak             2  3
 
 


Charlie White

Charlie White  Winnipeg Buffaloes 1951

After a season in the Negro Leagues, the 22-year-old third baseman suited up with Winnipeg of the  ManDak League in 1951, but after 26 games he was on the way to