With the worldwide Depression in full swing in 1934 , Winnipeg was void of senior baseball after the long 20-year run of the Senior Amateur League. A shortage of players of the calibre required to maintain a competitive league was the reason most often articulated for the failure of the circuit to continue. A few of the veteran players drifted into the local intermediate loop.
The return of the professional Maroons to the Northern League a year previous compounded the senior-level problem. Money was tight as per the financial situation of the day. Despite the fact that the Maroons were in a Class D League, the lowest level of minor professional baseball, they were covered extensively by the newspapers and well supported by the public, leaving potential fans with little or nothing to spend on admission for senior amateur ball.
A new game referred to in the newspapers of the day as “diamond ball” (fastball) became popular in this era and attracted many of the younger players that would have normally progressed from the junior to senior baseball ranks. As well, some old-time baseball people like “Bunny” Warren, Jack Hind, “Casey” Jones and Gordon Caslake would show up on various diamond ball rosters as players and coaches.
All the aforementioned factors (depression, Maroons, diamond ball) probably resulted in the demise of the Winnipeg Wesley Senior Baseball League after 1933. The Elks, the Tigers and the legendary Arenas were gone after 1933. Norwood, however, was able to resurface in the Winnipeg & District Intermediate League in 1934 and, by 1935, a new senior league was in operation.
WINNIPEG & DISTRICT INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
C.U.A.C.
Elmwood
Norwood
St. Boniface
St. Vital
Transcona
PLAYOFFS
(September 15-16) St. Boniface won both ends of a playoff doubleheader over the weekend, decisioning the Norwood nine 3 -1 and 4 – 3 to capture the 1934 Winnipeg & District Intermediate Baseball title in four straight games. The double card attracted more than 7,000 fans. Len Knight gained the mound decision over Norwood’s Tommy Found in the opener.
Found (L) and Campbell
Knight (W) and McDonald
The fourth and final game produced a thrilling finish in which Norwood all but turned defeat into victory. The Saints sported a 4 – 0 cushion heading into the bottom-of-the-ninth inning and Norwood put on a spirited rally which fell just one tally short. Vance Cancilla clouted a homer with one mate aboard to reduce the deficit to a brace while a third counter crossed the dish on a force out. With the bases loaded and two retired, St. Boniface flychaser Chuck Ridgedale pulled off a fantastic catch on losing twirler Nels Avery’s drive into the middle pasture. Starter Art Millard, with ninth-canto relief assistance from Knight, copped the hillock verdict.
Avery (L) and McDonald
Millard (W), Knight (9) and Campbell
NORTHERN AMATEUR BASEBALL LEAGUE
A short-season (May & June) senior amateur league consisting of four Manitoba teams from Brandon & environs was hastily formed in May 1934.
Brandon and Rapid City, the two top teams in the standings with two losses each, appeared headed for a playoff showdown for league supremacy when coverage vanished from the Brandon Sun, suggesting play within the loop ended prematurely.
TEAMS
Brandon
Pettapiece
Rapid City
Rivers
(June 25)
STANDINGS
Rapid City 6 – 2 .750
Brandon 5 – 2 .714
Pettapiece 4 – 3 .571
Rivers 0 – 8 .000