From the Great Depression, through the years of the Second World War, the post-war economic boom to the of the turbulent sixties to the beginning of the personal computer revolution, the Southern Baseball League was a staple in Saskatchewan.
From the 1931 champion Moose Jaw Cats to the 1974 titlists, the Moose Jaw Devons, the league brought high level competition to the communities of Southern Saskatchewan, 24 overall in the 43 years of the circuit (there was no regular league play in 1936).
Southern League ball thrilled fans from Estevan and Bienfait in the south, to Saskatoon in the north to Swift Current in the west and Broadview and Arcola in the East. Regina was there almost every year with the Red Sox, Rifles, Wood Hardware, Nationals, Army & Navy, Caps, Cardinals, Clippers, Commandos, Legion, Pontiacs, Senators, Shamrocks, Windsors, Young Liberals and Balmorals. Regina was represented every year (in the non-league year, the Nationals continued play exhibition and playoff games and won the Saskatchewan title, and in 1958-1959 the club temporarily located in Southey).
The Regina Nationals dominated senior baseball in Saskatchewan in the early years winning the provincial championship five consecutive seasons, 1932-1936. Moose Jaw (Devons & Regals) were the powerhouses in the later years, winning the league championship in six of the last nine years. Overall, Regina teams were the cream of the Southern crop with 18 pennant winning seasons and 16 playoff titles. The Red Sox took nine of those playoff titles.
Regina teams also fared as bad as any. Only four times over the 43 seasons did a team not win a single game. Three of those were from Regina. The Pontiacs went 0-19 in 1947, a little worse than the Red Sox of 1949, 0-17, and the 1931 Shamrocks, 0-16.
Two other key members of the loop were the College of Notre Dame Hounds (two pennants, no playoff titles) with 25 seasons in the league and Weyburn with 21 (six pennants, three championships).
The import-laden Broadview Buffaloes won the pennant in each of their two years in the loop (1937 & 1938) and were believed to be the first integrated team in the circuit. Among others, the Buffaloes had attracted Negro League hurler Gene Bremmer.
The surprise team of the league was the Regina Capitals of 1944. The team, composed mainly of retired veterans, was hastily put together more than half-way through the schedule.
In late July, when about two-thirds of the schedule had been wrapped up, one of the Army entrants, the Provost Corps, unexpectedly withdrew ... out of the blue stepped George Drew, a veteran of many baseball campaigns in southern Saskatchewan ... dating back to the early 1930's. Drew, who had been umpiring Southern League games in Regina, made an eleventh hour proposal to the league moguls. He had organized a number of former players who still had an itch for the game. Rather than re-adjust the remaining schedule, why not let his group of exiles simply take over for the Provost Corps but under a new name, the Regina Capitals? His pitch worked and, the very next evening, the Caps were on the diamond, taking it on the chin in their first league encounter. They eventually split the eight league games in which they played and went into the playoffs only as an afterthought.
Lo and behold, after losing the first two games of their semi-final series against the champions of 1942 and 1943, the Regina Red Sox, the Caps responded to the threat of elimination by roaring back to win three in a row, moving on to face the Notre Dame Hounds who had the Southern League's best regular-season record. As a decided underdog, no one gave them much of a chance to upset the pennant-winners but, after seven hard-fought games, this rag-tag group of faded veterans, rejects from other teams and untested newcomers including a 16 year old third baseman out of the high school ranks, prevailed as 1944 Southern League titlists, a Cinderella finish if there ever was one.
Along the way, fans have had an opportunity to watch a few outstanding athletes who managed to advance all the way to the major leagues, including Terry Puhl (right) not much older than a Little Leaguer in the first of his three summers with Melville. In the early 1960s, the Millionaires also had pitcher Daryl Patterson and Swift Current was blessed with top hurler Reggie Cleveland. In the very early days, Aldon "Lefty" Wilkie was a prized hurler for the Regina Nationals.
Over the years the league featured many local heroes and characters from Wilf "Lefty" Pennington (the top hurler the initial season -- both in the regular season and the playoffs -- who was still tossing them across the plate 20 years later) to Roy Rowley and Ned Andreoni who led Moose Jaw to yet another title in the final season of the Southern League.
Revere "Babe" Brossard, a star in province since the mid 1920s, won the batting championship the first year with a .487 mark. Only two players bettered that in the history of the league.
The early years featured at least five of the six Hogg brothers, with Ralph and Cliff the most prominent. Ralph Hogg (left), who first rates a mention in 1927 played for more than thirty years, mainly with Weyburn. Cliff Hogg was the batting champ in 1934 and 1935.
A highlight of all the years of the Southern League was the 1933 
playoff performance of Regina Nationals hurler Hec McLeod. The club played 24 post-season games. McLeod pitched in 22 of them, 18 as a starter, each one of them a complete game. He kicked off the playoffs throwing complete games on three consecutive days. During the streak he had complete game double-headers on three separate days and ended the string of accomplishments pitching on three consecutive days the day AFTER throwing both games of a double-bill.
The thirties marked a golden age for barnstorming teams on the prairies. In just one summer, 1936, the following ten teams trekked to Southern Saskatchewan - Kansas City Monarchs, Houston Black Buffaloes, Acme Giants from Shreveport, Michigan Wolves, Mexican Aztecas, Cincinnati Tigers, Boston Royal Giants, House of David, Northgate, North Dakota, Bismarck Churchills.
In the early 1940s, Percy Booker, Regina right-hander, fashioned one of the best ever pitching summers in the Southern League tossing a pair of no-hitters and a 20-strikeout game.
Two Southern Leaguers were among the casualties in the Second World War. Bob Emerson was killed in 1943 and Vince Germann in 1945.
Vince's younger brother, Frank Germann, also a paratrooper, returned from service to become the face of the new league entry, the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox and the Metz brothers, Nick, Don and Bob were top performers on the diamond as well as the ice rink.
The first of the famous Indian Head tournaments, in 1947, drew an estimated 10,000 fans to the small prairie community.
Veteran hurler Gaylen Shupe, pitching for Weyburn in 1948 had a pitcher's dream, a perfect game.
Local fans got to see the premiere touring games.
"When bigger and better ball parks are built in Regina, the effervescent House of David and Kansas City Monarchs will probably fill them. They gave Taylor Field something to remember them by Tuesday night and brought back nostalgic memories of pre-war days as 3,500 customers (paying variety) stormed the gates, spewed over from the bleachers down the base lines and into deep centre field. It was almost a mob scene that greeted touring baseball's top-drawer clubs." (Regina Leader-Post, June 23, 1948)
In the year before defenceman Gus Kyle advanced to the National Hockey League, he set the league's all-time record taking the batting crown with a .552 average while handling catching duties for the Regina Caps.
It was a big story in 1949, Moose Jaw's signing of former Major League pitcher Mort Cooper who had teamed with his brother Walker in the St. Louis Cardinals' World Series titles of 1942 and 1944.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE BATTING 1931 Average Babe Brossard RBA .481 Runs Dave Clayton MLS 31 Hits Ted Schwindt MLS 36 Home Runs Four tied 1 Stolen Bases Dave Clayton MLS 16
1932 Average Bill Clayton MLS .365
Runs Dave Clayton MLS 13
Hits Dave Clayton MLS 24
Stolen Bases Dave Clayton MLS 15
1933 Average Cliff Boll RAN .338
Runs Eddie Scott MJ 25
Hits Cliff Boll RAN 46
Home Runs Duncan Porteous RAN 4
Stolen Bases Johnny Stoyand RGN 12
1934 Average Cliff Hogg RYL .357
Runs Joe Trapp RGN 21
Webb Bird RYL 21
Hits Joe Haberman RGN 37
Home Runs Four tied 2
Stolen Bases Joe Trapp RGN 18
1935 Average Cliff Hogg RGN .430
1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 Average Elmer Ekdahl WY .460
Runs Bill Roney LIB 23
Hits Bill Roney LIB 33
Red Haley LIB 33
Home Runs Six tied 2
Stolen Bases Frank Mark RGR 7
Ken Charlton RGR 7
1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947
1948 Average Gus Kyle RGC .552
Runs Gus Kyle RGC 23
Hits Gus Kyle RGC 37
1949 Average Clint Squires WX .368
Runs Tony Righetti RGC 23
Hits Tony Righetti RGC 29
Home Runs Gayle Shupe WY 4
1950 Average Claude Williams RGC .413
Runs Barry Wolstencroft M 28
Hits Claude Williams RGC 45
Home Runs Barry Wolstencroft M 3
Lincoln Boyd RGC 3
Stolen Bases Norm Brown ND 18
1951
1952 Average Doug Hingley RGC .333
Hits Frank Mayor WY 25
1953 Average Jim Burge WY .437
Runs Bob Turner RGR 21
Hits Jim Burge WY 31
1954 Average Bob Chapman MJL .373
Hits Bob Chapman MJL 41
1955 Average Denny Cochrane RGR .398
Runs Denny Cochrane RGR 31
Hits Denny Cochrane RGR 35
Home Runs Ed Bearss ND 4
1956 Average Ed Heidt RC .435
Runs Murray Smail MJL 30
Hits Herb Lovett MJL 34
Mel Hennefent MJL 34
Home Runs Nasie Schnell ES 3
1957 Average Bearss Ed ND/MJL .436
Hits Bearss Ed ND/MJL 41
1958 Average Morris McNabb SRS .388
Runs Lionel Ruhr SRS 27
Hits Lionel Ruhr SRS 35
1959 Average George Hunchuk MJL .383
Runs Wally Blaisdell MJL 38
Hits Wally Blaisdell MJL 46
Home Runs Wally Blaisdell MJL 10
1960 Average Ron McKechney ES .474
Runs Lionel Ruhr RGR 46
Hits Buzz Bent WY 48
Home Runs Gord Johnson SC 10
1961 Average Lionel Ruhr RGR .415
Runs Lionel Ruhr RGR 43
Hits Lionel Ruhr RGR 49
Home Runs Jerry Walker BA 4
1962 Average Ed Stefureak RGR .390
Runs Larry Bachiu RGR 47
Hits Ed Stefureak RGR 55
Home Runs Ed Stefureak RGR 8
1963 Average Wally Blaisdell MJR .373
Runs Luke Moser RGR 33
Hits Bob Lewis SC 35
George Pirie MM 35
Home Runs Ed Stefureak RGR 5
Jerry Walker MM 5
1964 Average Ed Stefureak RGR .389
Runs Larry Bachiu RGR 29
Hits Ed Stefureak RGR 37
Larry Bachiu RGR 37
Home Runs Ed Stefureak RGR 6
Don Laube MM 6
1965 Average Ron McKechney SC .403
Runs Terry Burns SC 25
Hits Ron McKechney SC 31
Home Runs Bobby Lewis SC 8
1966 Average Bev Hickie MM .372
Runs Bev Hickie MM 24
Hits Bev Hickie MM 45
Home Runs Dan Roach MM 5
1967 Average Larry Bachiu RGR .466
Runs Dennis Williams SC 25
Hits Ed Stefureak YK 36
Home Runs Ed Stefureak YK 7
1968 Average Roy Rowley MJR .366
Runs Ned Andreoni MJR 20
1969 Average Ned Andreoni MJR .380
Runs Barrie Day MJR 26
Hits Ned Andreoni MJR 38
Home Runs Ned Andreoni MJR 6
Wayne Commordore SC 6
1970 Average Ned Andreoni MJR .417
Runs Ned Andreoni MJR 35
Home Runs Ed Stefureak YK 7
Stolen Bases Bev Hickie MM 10
1971 Average Don Simon RGR .413
Runs Ned Andreoni MJR 23
Hits
Home Runs Gord Johnson SC 5
Stolen Bases Randy Munch SK 11
1972* Average Tim Alcantar SK .380
Runs Ned Andreoni MJR 22
Home Runs Ned Andreoni MJR 5
1973 Average Doug Simon RGR .493
Runs Doug Simon RGR 32
Hits Doug Simon RGR 33
Home Runs Dave Dupree MJ 5
Andy Logan RGR 5
1974 Average Jim Baba MJ .379
Runs Doug Simon RGR 30
Hits Jim Baba MJ 33
Home Runs Larry Tollefson MJ 7
Doug Simon RGR 7
Stolen Bases Doug Senyk MM 16
* Incomplete
PITCHING
1931 Games Wilf Pennington MJ 16
Innings Pitched Floyd White MLS 124
Strikeouts Wilf Pennington MJ 139
ERA Wilf Pennington MJ 1.72
1932 Games Wilf Pennington MJ 14
Complete Games Wilf Pennington MJ 9
Wins Wilf Pennington MJ 7
1933 Games Hec McLeod RGN 18
Complete Games Hec McLeod RGN 11
Winston Bates RAN 11
Wins Winston Bates RAN 11
1934 Games Lawrence Steiner RGW 17
Complete Games Ralph Hogg WY 15
Wins Lawrence Steiner RGW 12
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948 Games Elmer Torgerson M99 10
Aubrey Downton WX 10
Complete Games Five tied 6
Wins Elmer Torgerson M99 5
1949 Games Cliff Harrison RGC 12
Complete Games Cliff Harrison RGC 7
Wins Cliff Harrison RGC 7
1950 Games Ron Larter LU 17
Complete Games Mike Mellis MJC 8
Hugo Dombowsky ND 8
Wins Mike Mellis MJC 7
Gord Campbell AV 7
Innings Pitched Ron Larter LU 91
Strikeouts Mel Torgenrud ES 67
1951 Games Harold Cope RGR 17
Complete Games Cliff Harrison RGC 8
Wins Lionel L'Heureux ND 5
1952 Games Lionel L'Heureux ND 13
Complete Games Gordon Campbell AV 6
Wins Garnet Campbell AV 5
1953 Games Gordon Campbell AV 13
Complete Games Lionel L'Heureux ND 8
Gordon Campbell AV 8
Wins Lionel L'Heureux ND 6
1954 Games Tom Leverick RGR 19
Al Erfle AS 19
Complete Games Al Erfle AS 10
Wins Orval Verpe ES 7
Hugo Dombowsky ND/ES 7
1955 Games Paul Pearson AS 14
Phil Resch ND 14
Complete Games Paul Pearson AS 11
Wins Vic Wall RGR 7
Hugh Carr/Dombowsky ND 7
Paul Pearson AS 7
1956 Games Phil Resch ND 15
Complete Games Gary McKechney ES 10
Wins Gary McKechney ES 9
1957 Games Gary McKechney ES 15
Phil Resch ND 15
Complete Games Gary McKechney ES 8
Dave Hoff WY 8
Wins Gary McKechney ES 7
Gord McDonald ES 7
1958 Games Phil Resch ND 16
Complete Games Phil Resch ND 10
Wins Phil Resch ND 11
1959 Games Art Obey BA, 19
Phil Resch ND 19
Complete Games Merv Sanderson ES 12
Wins Merv Sanderson ES 11
1960 Games Ray Nutzhorn RW 15
Complete Games Merv Sanderson ES 10
Wins Merv Sanderson ES 7
Wayne LeBere MJS 7
Dick Mandzuk MJS 7
Jackie McLeod SC 7
1961 Games Harvey Peterson SC 18
Complete Games Merv Sanderson ES, 6
Doug Modrell BA 6
Wins Arnie Floyd RGR 6
Denny Weston SC 6
1962 Games Al Ash RGR 16
Complete Games Wayne Deines FQ 7
Wayne LeBere MJR 7
Wins Al Ash RGR 9
1963 Games Al Ash RGR 14
Complete Games Lorne Houk FQ 8
Wins Al Ash RGR 7
Wayne LeBere MJR 7
Innings Pitched Lorne Houk FQ 93
1964 Games Cliff Mein MM 15
Tommy Taylor MM 15
Bob Wright FQ 15
Complete Games Doug Modrell YK 9
Wins Merv Sanderson SC 8
1965 Complete Games Wayne LeBere MJR 7
Wins Doug Modrell SC 7
Innings Pitched Cliff Mein MM 71
Strikeouts Cliff Mein MM 66
1966 Complete Games Wayne LeBere MJR 8
Wins Wayne LeBere MJR 9
Innings Pitched Wayne LeBere MJR 94
Strikeouts Wayne LeBere MJR 93
1967 Wins Wayne LeBere MJR 6
Innings Pitched Les Wall SC 74
Strikeouts Howard Terry MM 54
1968 Games Mike Harkness YK 13
Dave Mello MM 13
Complete Games Mike Harkness YK 11
Wins Don Krick YK 9
1969 Games Gary Brunetti YK 12
Complete Games Gary Brunetti YK 9
Wins Dale Hogg MJR 6
Innings Pitched Gary Brunetti YK 92
Strikeouts Gary Brunetti YK 60
ERA Les Wall SC 2.12
1970 Games Don Krick YK 16
Complete Games Ross Stone MM 10
Wins Don Cardwell MJR 7
ERA Don Cardwell MJR 1.57
1971 Games Edd Tabashniuk SK 16
Complete Games Craig Bromann YK 10
Terry Buck MM/SC 10
Wins Gary DeBenedetti MJR 9
Innings Pitched Randy Sawa RGR 95
Strikeouts Randy Sawa RGR 88
ERA Gary DeBenedetti MJR 0.95
1972 Games Mike Girazian YK 15
Terry Buck SC 15
Complete Games Mike Girazian YK 12
Wins Terry Buck SC 10
Innings Pitched Paul Nelson MJ 95
Strikeouts Paul Nelson MJ 140
ERA Randy Sawa RGR 1.08
1973 Games Wayne Pusch SC 11
Complete Games Wayne Pusch SC 10
Wins Terry Buck SC 5
Roy Rowley MJ 5
Lyle Johnson RGR 5
Wayne Pusch SC 5
ERA Wayne Pusch SC 1.42
1974 Games Lyle Johnson RGR 13
Complete Games Wayne Pusch SC 9
Wins Wayne Pusch SC 6
Warren Mertens MJ 6