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March 6, 2001
Overwhelmed
by material, I can't remember all the things I've updated in the last couple
of weeks! About fifty pages have been updated.
Lil
Lowe of Manitoba, the widow of Ian Lowe the former
playing-manager of Brandon, has provided a solid foundation for coverage of
the ManDak League with four scrapbooks (1948 to 1951). A wonderful
surprise from Mark Flynn, Winnipeg -- copies of the Carman
programs from the early 50s. And from ManDak expert Barry Swanton
in Vancouver, some critical material.
The 1950 ManDak section is looking pretty
good with most of the game-by-game reports now in, along with a photo
gallery and the final stats. There's also progress on most of the other
ManDak pages too.
Bill Walasko of Calgary
provided some more answers about Southern Alberta baseball (very impressive
memory -- Bill identified almost all of his former teammates in the1954 Carmangay picture). Hope to have a Willie Walasko page up within the
week. There's also another great photo of a Granum trio working at the
Wesley ranch. And, from Billings, Montana, a major surprise -- an
e-mail from Charlie Beene, former pitcher with
Saskatoon. While I haven't yet been able to process the material for
the site, there is some fascinating stuff, including pictures from 1951 and
an offer from the manager of the Jacksonville Eagles (in those days called a
"coloured touring team") for Beene (colour = white) to join the
squad. Len Breckner, Saskatoon, is rummaging through his
basement for some material on baseball in Colonsay and Saskatoon.
Tim
Novak, of the Saskatchewan Archives, has dug out some pictures from the
Regina Leader-Post, 1956. Check out the 1956 Photo Gallery for a few
of your favourites from the Regina Braves! Thanks to Mark
Cameron for helping to identify the photos. For some other
web sites of interest, check the new LINKS page. There are some
really interesting places to visit.
Classic.
Granum players work out in the shadows of the grain elevators.
1955. One of many lovely bits in material from Bill (Willie)
Walasko of Calgary. There's a few items scattered about the site
already with more to come. There's even the clause from the 1958 baseball
contract prohibiting "drinking or partying" for the entire
baseball season! I also discovered a 1956 letter from Howe News
Bureau, Chicago, which did the stats for the Western Canada League.
They responded to my claim that some of their numbers were incorrect !
As I begin to go through
interview tapes and attempt to read my notes, a little bit of anecdotal
material has begun to be scattered about the site including an explanation
of why Jim Lester's introduction to Canada including suiting up with the
wrong team!
I note the Fresno State Alumni
dropped a 7-6 decision to the 2001 FSU Bulldogs over the weekend. No
report yet on the Old Timers' Alumni game.
Many
thank you cards due for material flowing in to Western Canada
Baseball. Dave Shury's books on Saskatchewan baseball and
especially the Northern Saskatchewan League have been very helpful (even
found out some of my old high school buddies, such as Bud Rendell
played on the Lloydminster club in the early 60s). Brack Bailey
has sent along some nice stuff on Southern Alberta baseball in the late 50s.
Art Olyslager, a one-time farmhand on the Wesley ranch, has sent a
couple of lovely pictures of life at Bar 32 . Have managed to track down Al
Endriss (Medicine Hat 1951) and discover he not only played baseball,
but football, in Canada. Al is another of the Hall of Fame coaches who
had roots in Western Canada. Leola Brost of Lloydminster has
forwarded, through the Lloydminster Centennial Project, some nice photos of
Lloydminster players in the mid 50s. Thank you all, the material is
very much appreciated.
First
time the local library has failed me -- a Saskatchewan baseball book just
never seemed to make it so Dave Shury came through with a copy from
Battleford. Wheat Province Diamonds is a gem, covering the
baseball history of the province from the late 1800s on. That and a
companion book on the Northern Saskatchewan league ought to keep me busy for
awhile! And, still having a grand time reading through materials sent
from Mark Flynn in Winnipeg. Through Dave's books, I
finally figured out the last two years of Curly Williams'
career. Turned out Lloydminster had a club (the Green Caps) in 1962 and
1963 in the Northern Saskatchewan loop.
Started
some updates on the "major leaguers" pages along with updates on
the photo galleries in 1950 and 1959.
Brack
Bailey and Willie Walasko of the Southern Alberta leagues are
working on some materials, as is Mark Cameron of the Western Canada
League. Ron Teasley in Detroit , is considering putting
together some materials from the early days of the ManDak League and
 The
web page format (as opposed to a book) is working exceedingly well -- allowing me to skip and jump
all over the place without disturbing current information.
Ah,
the wonders of the 'net -- you never know just what you'll discover.
This one -- Greg Seastrom, 1948 -- turned up on what I assume is the
web site of a former classmate.
My Toronto winter (more snow and colder than
usual) is more bearable knowing the California Seastroms spent Christmas in
Chicago ! Then again, Jack Altman enjoyed the holidays in Hawaii !
A
major update of the Players' List has been posted. There are
dozens and dozens of additional names since the last update (many from the
ManDak League) along with revisions (thanks mainly to eagle-eyed Jack
Altman).
The list is far from complete. Even trying to determine correction
spellings has been, at times difficult.
So far, there are about 2-thousand names listed. Yes, some names
appear more than once as I try and determine if there were two different
players by the same name or the same player on two different
teams. If you notice errors or omissions, even minor ones,
please send me a note.
Wow. A package of goodies
from Mark Flynn in Winnipeg. Just a treasure of information on
baseball in Manitoba. Thank you Mark! (If you played ball in the
province in the 50's you likely came across the Fort Whyte tournament team.
Mark was a big part of that gang.)
The first ManDak photo
galleries are up -- not a lot so far but hoping to expand that greatly in
the months ahead.
The
1959 Southern Alberta report is just about complete, including the
game-by-game reports. The updated and revised 1959 pages are now
on-line.
There's
also a smattering of updated material on the ManDak League and the 1953
Western Canada loop.
Lots
of little changes have been made throughout the site, including the
elimination of many typos (if you run across any errors or omissions
in your site travels, please let me know).
Happy
to have discovered a fascinating book on Negro League baseball -- Phil
Dixon's The Negro Baseball Leagues -- A Photographic History.
In fact, I've redone the Negro Leagues section in anticipation of receiving
permission to use some of the photos from the book.
Also
pleased to have made some contacts in Manitoba as I search for information
on the ManDak League and the Manitoba-Saskatchewan League.
Gladwyn Scott and Mark Flynn have provided much good
information. And, Don Hillsendager, at the North Battleford
Sports Museum and Hall of Fame, just might have a line on long-missing stats
for the Western Canada League. Willie Walasko of Calgary
had been kind enough to begin digging through his archives for missing
information on Southern Alberta baseball.
Looks
to be a busy time in the New Year.
Updated : December 09, 2000
Almost missed an All-American
-- both in football and baseball no less. It's in the 1954 section, of
which the Western Canada League information is just about complete. Larry
Isbell, manager of Moose Jaw Mallards in 1954 was an All-American
quarterback and catcher at Baylor. A first round draft pick of the
Washington Redskins (finished 7th in the Heisman voting) he turned to
baseball and began in AAA, but came back to football with Regina
Roughriders.
Lots of little bits added here
and there along with a significant start on the ManDak League and the
Manitoba-Saskatchewan League. I've got a pile of material, but been slowed down a bit by
shoulder/neck problems. Might not be ready for Spring Training!
Congratulations
to Reg Chopp and the Bowsman Maroons -- to be inducted
into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame (ceremonies on June 9, 2001 in
Neepawa). In addition to his other sporting achievements, Chopp was a
key member of the 1954 Moose Jaw Mallards of the Western Canada League. He
batted .321 (5th best) and drove in 40 runs. The Maroons were a powerful club
in the late 40's and early 50's in both league and tournament play. Arch
Mullin a prominent force in getting recognition for Chopp and Bowsman.
Greg Seastrom reports a
good time had by all at the Fresno gathering which, among other things,
celebrated the induction of Jim Garrett and Terry Banderas
into the Hall of Fame.
There's been a major update on
the Rosters pages and several new pictures added here and there (Reg Chopp,
Percy Trimont, Percy Howard, Leonard Pigg, and more). The
sitemap
has been revamped to include plans for information on the Manitoba. Southern
Saskatchewan and Basin Leagues. There's a new profile up too (not completed
yet, but the basics are there) on Don Stewart, a Saskatchewan boy who
just might have made the majors, but had a girl and a job waiting back in
Canada.
A start made on the Manitoba
section with some bits added on the ManDak League (including the 1950
playoff report, game-by-game) and the
Manitoba-Saskatchewan League (including the team picture of the 1953 Bowsman
Maroons). Thanks to Arch Mullin for keeping the posties
busy with his packages from Winnipeg. Lots of contacts made with folks
who have information on semi-pro ball in Manitoba.
Also, my quest for information
on South Dakota's Basin League has led to contact with Dave Kemp,
a noted baseball researcher, who, it is hoped, can help me begin the process
of adding some details on that loop. Through Dave, I have learned of Phil
Dixon's work, especially his research on the Negro Leagues. Thank
goodness my local library has a copy (at least they say they have a copy for
me).
Thanks to Kathy Conn at the
Lethbridge Library (for digging up a few tidbits from the Lethbridge
Herald), the 1961 game-by-game section is pretty well complete -- including
the story of the day Jim Lester tackled boss man George Wesley.
With a few minor omissions (the batteries for a few games) the section is
... in the books.
The more I go through the
game-by-game reports the more I discover the newspapers were notorious for
publishing incorrect standings. The 1953 season, which included an
interlocking schedule with the ManDak League, is proving quite
troublesome. Ah, one day perhaps I will get the wins and losses to add
up!
Recognition
-- Gary Reed's About.com baseball site chose Western Canada Baseball as the Site
of the Week:
"I
get a lot of questions from people about the history of the minor leagues. I
found one that's a real gem. Jay-Dell Mah has put together an outstanding
website dealing with baseball history in Western Canada. He's got team
photos, rosters, stats and other info from western Canadian teams in the
1950s-1960s era. I can't even fathom how much work it took to round up all
the stuff he's got here--check it out:"
More
news is on the way! Arch Mullin of Winnipeg is sending
material on the old Manitoba-Saskatchewan League. Bill Guenthner
of Hockessin, Delaware has sent information on the Minot Mallards of the
ManDak League. Mark Cameron of Fresno, California has
helped out with information and pictures from the 1956 Regina
club.
A
former Western Canada star is to be on the agenda of a baseball conference
in Tucson, AZ in March. NINE, a "journal of baseball history and
social policy perspectives", has accepted a proposal from Royse Parr
and me for a presentation on Cliff Pemberton. The 'ol Redhead
passed away in September. Parr is the co-author of Glory days of summer:
the history of baseball in Oklahoma and is soon to have another book
out, this one on Allie Reynolds. We'll work together on the piece
(although Royse seems to have a bit of trouble as his -- American --
spell-checker seems to have hiccups with words, such as colour)! Royse
will be on hand to make the presentation in Tucson. I suspect I'll be
tied up with a (probable) move to British Columbia.
Some
overdue thanks to ...
Bill
Shubb, who has a lovely site on the old Oakland Oaks, was kind enough to
let me use the Lou Tost photo ... Pat Lewis of Bismarck, ND has been
in touch and is searching out materials on the old South Minny League ... Johnny
Serpa made contact from Idaho looking for information on Lindy Serpa
... Lyle Wilson of Mill Creek, WA is looking for
material on the Harlem Clowns softball team (he found the reference here to
their entry in Lloydminster's first tournament) ... Thanks to Marlene
Isnor for sending material on the famous Lacombe tournament ... Neill
Sanders of Rochester, NY for items on Len Tucker ... Don
Biasotti for helping to identify players in the 1958 USC team photo
... Barry Swanton of Surrey, BC for his wonderful work on the
ManDak League ... Terry Bertolino of the House of David
project (the book's now out) ... Dennis Kelly for information
on Tug McGraw ... Franklin Foster, of the Lloydminster
Centennial project, for pictures and information from the old home town and
the continuing assistance of former players, such as Roy Taylor, Jack
Altman and Jim Lester who have been instrumental in the
compilation of materials for the site.
It
took 39 years but the Lloydminster/Medicine Hat Meridians moved a half-game
closer to the Saskatoon Commodores! The final standings have been
adjusted to reflect the 1961 game-by-game reports which are now
posted. The 1961 home page has been updated to include the new
material (or, more precisely, the recently discovered, old
material). I believe the game reports are complete with the
exception of one game (which I hope to track down some day).
Along
with the game-by-game reports for Western Canada League regular season,
playoff and tournament matches there's the beginning of the summaries for
the Northern Saskatchewan League and the 1961 rosters page.
There
are also significant updates of several other sections.
 
* A grand day coming for Jim Garrett (left) and Terry Banderas
(right). The former Fresno and Western Canada stars are to be
inducted into the Fresno State Hall of Fame, November 15th.
* Finally, the reunion
page is up after a struggle trying to salvage pictures from the
Lethbridge gathering. (I had used a video camera, rather than a still
camera, for the reunion. A mistake! Most of the pictures turned
out very dark but the acquisition of a new graphics editing program appears
to have saved the day.) I seem to have missed a few of the
participants, but hope to overcome that soon by getting some of the still
photos people took at the event.
*
Lots of updates, especially of the Southern Alberta leagues and a bit on the
ManDak League. Pictures too.
*
Have incorporated a search
engine (there's a link on the top of each page).
*
And, just had to
incorporate the grain elevators into a logo!
Cheers,
Jay
News from the Fresno guys of a proposal for a
fund-raising campaign for a statue of legend Pete Beiden. Tom Sommers
(tsommers@ft.newyorklife.com)
is the contact.
Lots of pictures added,
including many from the Jack Altman Collection -- the one
incorporated in the home page logo is a classic of the landmark grain elevators in Vulcan.
Ted
Bogal, catcher with Granum in 1955 and 1956 is still playing! Ted,
still in London, Ontario, admits it's now "huff and puff" leagues,
but it's not only baseball but hockey! Thanks to Ted for pictures and
clippings from 1955 to 1957.
Sad news from Oklahoma. Cliff
Pemberton passed away September 4th. The feisty, colourful redhead was
a fixture in Western Canada from 1954 through 1961. A three-time
batting champion.
And, North Battleford
baseball legend Les Dean passed away on August 21st. Les, along with
brothers Elton and Roy, were fixtures with the Beavers from the mid 40s
through the mid 50s. Les played through the 1957 season.
Lyle
Olsen, Saskatoon manager in 1961, was a player, coach and manager for
the Alaska Goldpanners from 1966 through 1970. Olsen, who had a distinguished
career as a college English teacher at San Diego State and Eastern Tennessee State,
died earlier this year.
Fascinating
facts -- Dave Dowling, ace with the league champion Lethbridge
White Sox in 1961, made a stop in Alaska before a brief major league
stint. 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.
A chance encounter (by phone) has resulted in
a treasure chest of material from Lil McLean in Moose Jaw.
The widow of Joseph A. McLean (noted prairie lawyer who had his office
around the corner from my dad's restaurant and, for decades, was a leading
community figure in Lloydminster), Lil followed the Meridians from the beginning. Thankfully,
she documented the travails of our home club in scrap books.
Special thanks to
Roy Taylor, Jack Altman, Jim Garrett, Chuck
McGuigan (and wife, Jean), Jim Lester, Gord
Wesley, Royse Paar, Ted Bogal and Lil McLean for fabulous material!
Roberto Zayas, veteran of the Western Canada
Baseball League and the South
Saskatchewan loop, was among the dignitaries involved in the Moose Jaw leg
of the Legends of the Road tour. Left - Zayas, July, 2000. Right
- Zayas, Lloydminster Meridians, 1954. (2000
photo from Moose Jaw Times-Herald, July 13, 2000; 1954 photo courtesy
Lloydminster 2003, www.lloydminster.net )
Sad news from Fresno. Pete
Beiden passed away on March 6th.. He was 92.
 Beiden
was a legend in US collegiate coaching ranks, directing the Fresno State
Bulldogs for more than 20 years. A collegiate Hall of Famer, Beiden
was a key figure in the influx of college players to baseball on the
prairies. He and Roy Taylor brought the California Mohawks, a college
team, on barnstorming trips to the prairies in the early 50s. Both
Beiden and Taylor would return to Canada as coaches bringing dozens of
college players along the way. They also provided opportunities for Canadian kids to
play ball at their
California schools -- Fresno State and Sequoias. Dick Doepker,
Dave Kosteniuk, John Zeeben, and Bob
Holowaty were among the Saskatchewan kids to suit up with
the California college teams.
Beiden retired as Fresno coach
in 1969. The Bulldogs' stadium is named after him.
His successor as head coach was
Bob Bennett a catcher with Taylor's Kamsack and Saskatoon teams. He's
completed his 32nd season.
In early June, friends and
colleagues had a ball in marking the retirement of Art Shahzade from
a celebrated career in education.
And,
Jim Lester reports the '59 Fresno reunion went very well (I keep adding
names to the Fresno list -- a LOT of Fresno players suited up in
Canada). If we would have known at the time, we'd have called the
prairies San Joaquin North. It's even forced me to add a
special section on Fresno.
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