Western Canada League
There have been at least three leagues to use the title Western Canada League.
One was a class D league that played only in 1907 and with just four teams.
Another ran from 1909 through 1914 and was also classified as a D league. In 1912, The Sporting News called it the "League of Uncertainties. Uncertain each year as to what cities shall comprise its circuit, for as yet no two years have we witnessed the same circuit; uncertainty on various occasions as to whether the organization could weather the storm and finish the season, and uncertainty on the part of the players in different cities, as to whether their pay check would be forthcoming." [1]
The third one began with four teams as a class C league in 1919 and expanded to six teams and advanced a grade to B in 1920. It only played two seasons as a B league before shutting down.
There was also an independent league named the "Western Canadian League" which operated in the late 1930s and 1940s.
Cities Represented - Teams and Statistics[edit]
1907[edit]
- Calgary, AB: Calgary Bronchos
- Edmonton, AB: Edmonton Grays
- Lethbridge, AB: Lethbridge Miners
- Medicine Hat, AB: Medicine Hat Hatters
1907 Western Canada League - schedule
President: Bruce L. Robinson
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Medicine Hat Hatters | 58 | 32 | .644 | - | Billy Hulen |
Edmonton Grays | 50 | 35 | .588 | 5.5 | Deacon White (Minors) |
Lethbridge Miners | 37 | 45 | .451 | 17 | Arthur O'Dea / John Morrison |
Calgary Bronchos | 26 | 59 | .306 | 29.5 | Bill Merritt / Alf Fidler |
No Playoffs Scheduled.
Attendance: Edmonton, 30,000; Calgary, 30,000
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arthur O'Dea | Lethbridge | BA | .339 | Ralph Works | Medicine Hat | W | 26 | |
Billy Hamilton | Medicine Hat | Runs | 72 | Ralph Works | Medicine Hat | SO | 217 | |
Arthur O'Dea | Lethbridge | Hits | 95 | Ralph Works | Medicine Hat | PCT | .703 26-11 |
Cities Represented - Teams and Statistics[edit]
1909, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14[edit]
- Bassano, AB: Bassano Boosters 1912
- Brandon, MB: Brandon Angels 1909-1911
- Calgary, AB: Calgary Cowboys 1909; Calgary Bronchos 1910-1914
- Edmonton, AB: Edmonton Eskimos 1909-1911; Edmonton Gray Birds 1912-1913; Edmonton Eskimos 1914
- Lethbridge, AB: Lethbridge Miners 1909-1910
- Medicine Hat, AB: Medicine Hat Hatters 1909-1910; Medicine Hat Hatters 1913-1914
- Moose Jaw, SK: Moose Jaw Robin Hoods 1909-1911; Moose Jaw Robin Hoods 1913-1914
- Red Deer, AB: Red Deer Eskimos 1912
- Regina, SK: Regina Bonepilers 1909-1910; Regina Red Sox 1913-1914
- Saskatoon, SK: Saskatoon Berrypickers 1910-1911; Saskatoon Quakers 1913-1914
- Winnipeg, MB: Winnipeg Maroons 1909-1911
1909 Western Canada League - schedule
President: James E. Fleming
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Medicine Hat Hatters | 68 | 33 | .673 | - | 11,696 | Billy Hamilton |
Winnipeg Maroons | 66 | 38 | .635 | 3.5 | 53,132 | Frank Lohr / J. Shuster / Larry Piper |
Calgary Cowboys | 56 | 44 | .560 | 11.5 | 25,379 | Charles Crist |
Lethbridge Miners | 51 | 46 | .526 | 15 | 13,192 | Jack Corrigan |
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods | 50 | 50 | .500 | 17.5 | 19,568 | M. O. Taylor |
Regina Bonepilers | 42 | 53 | .442 | 23 | 21,204 | Charles Blackburn / Gardner Katcher |
Brandon Angels | 37 | 67 | .356 | 32.5 | 23,428 | Charles Traeger |
Edmonton Eskimos | 28 | 67 | .295 | 37 | 18,808 | Dennis McGuire |
The far western clubs kept no player records and no averages were issued
1910 Western Canada League - schedule
President: C. J. Eckstrom
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary Bronchos | 68 | 29 | .701 | - | Bill Carney |
Edmonton Eskimos | 61 | 32 | .656 | 5 | Deacon White (minors) |
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods | 49 | 44 | .527 | 17 | M. O. Taylor / William Davis |
Winnipeg Maroons | 53 | 50 | .515 | 18 | Frank Lohr / W. Rowland |
Medicine Hat / Saskatoon # | 45 | 47 | .489 | 20.5 | Billy Hamilton |
Lethbridge Miners | 40 | 53 | .430 | 26 | Chester Cox |
Brandon Angels | 41 | 59 | .410 | 28.5 | Charles Traeger |
Regina Bone Pilers | 26 | 69 | .274 | 41 | Roxy Walters / Tom Letcher |
# Medicine Hat moved to Saskatoon July 23.
Playoffs:None. Calgary originally finished first in the second half. However, late decisions on protested games gave Edmonton the second half title. Calgary and Edmonton were declared co-champions.
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hap Morse | Edmonton | BA | .340 | Dell Manning | Calgary | W | 26 | |
Theodore Smith | Calgary | Runs | 81 | Phil Lezie | Lethbridge | SO | 191 | |
Jack Clynes | Calgary | Hits | 125 | Phil Dellers | Edmonton | PCT | .856 22-6 | |
Theodore Smith | Calgary | HR | 10 |
1911 Western Canada League - schedule
President: C. J. Eckstrom
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods | 83 | 28 | .748 | - | William Hurley |
Calgary Bronchos | 64 | 36 | .640 | 13.5 | Matt Stanley |
Edmonton Eskimos | 52 | 51 | .505 | 27 | Deacon White (minors) / Johnny Mackin |
Winnipeg Maroons # | 51 | 52 | .495 | 28 | |
Saskatoon Berrypickers | 37 | 71 | .343 | 44.5 | Frank Miley / James Allen |
Brandon Angels # | 25 | 74 | .253 | 52 | Charles Traeger / Joe Custer / Kid Ford |
# Winnipeg and Brandon disbanded August 21.
No Playoffs Scheduled.
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Fournier | Moose Jaw | BA | .377 | Al Naverson | Moose Jaw | W | 25 | |
Jack Fournier | Moose Jaw | Runs | 106 | Dell Manning | Calgary | SO | 179 | |
Jack Fournier | Moose Jaw | Hits | 149 | Al Naverson | Moose Jaw | PCT | .758 25-8 | |
Joseph Collins | Moose Jaw | HR | 10 |
1912 Western Canada League - schedule
President: Fred Johnson / John Dewar
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary Bronchos | 59 | 34 | .634 | - | John Streib |
Bassano Boosters | 45 | 46 | .495 | 13 | Chester Cox |
Red Deer Eskimos | 48 | 52 | .480 | 14.5 | William Hurley |
Edmonton Gray Birds | 40 | 60 | .400 | 22.5 | Johnny Mackin |
Playoff: Calgary 4 games, Red Deer 2.
Player StatisticsPlayer | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chester Cox | Bassano | BA | .348 | Pete Standridge | Calgary | W | 21 | |
Bill Daniels | Red Deer | Runs | 99 | Ferdy Manning | Red Deer | W | 21 | |
Bill Daniels | Red Deer | Hits | 118 | Ferdy Manning | Red Deer | SO | 144 | |
Harry Raymond | Bassano | Hits | 118 | W.F. Barenkamp | Calgary | PCT | .800 12-3 | |
Roy Dudley | Edmonton | Hits | 118 | |||||
Jim Flanagan | Calgary | HR | 5 |
1913 Western Canada League - schedule
President: Frank M. Gray
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods | 68 | 35 | .660 | - | Jim Brown / Fred Weed |
Saskatoon Quakers | 63 | 37 | .630 | 3.5 | William Hurley |
Medicine Hat Hatters | 59 | 46 | .562 | 10 | Bert Dunn |
Calgary Bronchos | 51 | 56 | .477 | 19 | Jules Streib |
Edmonton Gray Birds | 39 | 57 | .406 | 25.5 | Ray Whisman |
Regina Red Sox | 29 | 78 | .271 | 41 | Billy Hulen |
Playoff: Moose Jaw 4 games, Saskatoon 2. On September 8, a replay of the last playoff game was ordered by the league president, but Moose Jaw had already disbanded for the season. Both teams were declared co-champions.
Player StatisticsPlayer | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roy Mills | Saskatoon | BA | .362 | Walter Frink | Calgary | W | 21 | |
Fred Weed | Moose Jaw | Runs | 90 | Robert Steele | Moose Jaw | SO | 190 | |
Fred Weed | Moose Jaw | Hits | 146 | James Concannon | Moose Jaw | PCT | .813 13-3 | |
Brad Hollis | Calgary | HR | 13 |
1914 Western Canada League - schedule
President: James M. Fleming
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saskatoon Quakers | 71 | 52 | .577 | - | William Hurley |
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods | 63 | 52 | .548 | 4 | Fred Weed |
Regina Red Sox | 67 | 57 | .540 | 4.5 | Charley Stis |
Medicine Hat Hatters | 61 | 53 | .535 | 5.5 | Bert Dunn |
Edmonton Eskimos | 53 | 57 | .482 | 11.5 | Lou Nordyke / Deacon White (minors) |
Calgary Bronchos | 37 | 81 | .313 | 31.5 | William "Brick" Devereaux / Jules Streib |
Playoff: None Scheduled.
Player StatisticsPlayer | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hap Morse | Regina | BA | .344 | Jess Buckles | Medicine Hat | W | 25 | |
Bill Daniels | Medicine Hat | Runs | 91 | Jess Buckles | Medicine Hat | SO | 196 | |
Les Wilson | Saskatoon | Hits | 157 | Sam Beer | Saskatoon | PCT | .767 23-7 | |
Ken Williams | Edmonton | HR | 12 |
Cities Represented - Teams and Statistics[edit]
1919, '20, '21[edit]
- Calgary, AB: Calgary Bronchos 1920-1921
- Edmonton, AB: Edmonton Eskimos 1920-1921
- Moose Jaw, SK: Moose Jaw Robin Hoods 1919-1920; Moose Jaw Millers 1921
- Regina, SK: Regina Senators 1919-1921
- Saskatoon, SK: Saskatoon Quakers 1919-1921
- Winnipeg, MB: Winnipeg Maroons 1919-1921
1919 Western Canada League - C - schedule
Presidents: F. Moll / Frank H. Miley
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saskatoon Quakers | 69 | 34 | .670 | - | George Brantigan |
Winnipeg Maroons | 54 | 47 | .535 | 14 | Jack Sheehan |
Regina Senators | 43 | 60 | .417 | 26 | Bill Speas |
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods | 38 | 63 | .376 | 30 | William Hurley |
Playoff: Saskatoon 5 games, Winnipeg 3.
Player StatisticsPlayer | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arthur Henning | Winnipeg | BA | .315 | Spencer Heath | Winnipeg | W | 18 | |
Bernie Neis | Saskatoon | Runs | 86 | C.M. Murphy | Moose Jaw/Winnipeg | SO | 122 | |
Arthur Henning | Winnipeg | Hits | 132 | Ed Williams | Saskatoon | PCT | .800 8-2 |
1920 Western Canada League - B - schedule
Presidents: Frank H. Miley
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary Bronchos | 73 | 37 | .664 | - | Joe Devine |
Regina Senators | 72 | 41 | .637 | 2.5 | Bill Speas |
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods | 56 | 57 | .496 | 18.5 | Nick Williams |
Winnipeg Maroons | 53 | 57 | .482 | 20 | Jack Sheehan |
Saskatoon Quakers | 44 | 72 | .379 | 32 | Joe Kernan / Sammy Beer |
Edmonton Eskimos | 39 | 73 | .348 | 35 | Pete Standridge |
Playoff: Calgary 4 games, Regina 3.
Player StatisticsPlayer | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicken Hawks | Calgary | BA | .359 | Charles Sweeney | Calgary | W | 19 | |
Cuckoo Christensen | Calgary | Runs | 104 | Charles Sweeney | Calgary | SO | 159 | |
Chicken Hawks | Calgary | Hits | 161 | Evan "Rube" Evans | Regina | ERA | 1.42 | |
Tex Vache | Regina | RBI | 80 | Al Zeiful (14-3) | Regina | PCT | .824 14-3 |
1921 Western Canada League - B - schedule
President: Robert Pearson
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calgary Bronchos | 70 | 39 | .642 | - | Joe Devine |
Winnipeg Maroons | 72 | 42 | .632 | .5 | George Brantigan |
Saskatoon Quakers | 57 | 59 | .491 | 16.5 | John Hummel |
Edmonton Eskimos | 51 | 60 | .459 | 20 | Gus Gleichman |
Regina Senators # | 37 | 43 | .463 | NA | Bill Speas |
Moose Jaw Millers # | 21 | 65 | .244 | NA | Nick Williams / Elmer Leifer |
# Regina and Moose Jaw disbanded August 10.
Playoff: Calgary 5 games, Winnipeg 2, one tie.
Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
---|---|---|---|
Frank Jude | Saskatoon | BA | .355 |
Babe Herman | Edmonton | Hits | 135 |
Phil Apperson | Edmonton | Runs | 111 |
Heinie Manush | Edmonton | HR | 9 |
League Records 1907-1921[edit]
Batting | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | |
Les Wilson | Saskatoon | GA | 131 | 14 | Tom Herriott | Regina | GA | 131 | 14 | |
Jack Fournier | Moose Jaw | BA | .377 | 11 | Jack Smith | Regina | AB | 503 | 14 | |
Phil Apperson | Edmonton | Runs | 111 | 21 | Chicken Hawks | Calgary | Hits | 161 | 20 | |
Tex Vache | Regina | Rbi | 80 | 20 | Babe Herman | Edmonton | 2B | 30 | 21 | |
Jack Smith | Regina | 3B | 19 | 14 | Jack Fournier | Moose Jaw | 3B | 19 | 14 | |
Brad Hollis | Calgary | HR | 13 | 13 | Jack Fournier | Moose Jaw | EBH | 52 | 11 | |
Jack Fournier | Moose Jaw | TB | 230 | 11 | A. Henry | Regina | Sac | 42 | 14 | |
Hap Morse | Edmonton | SB | 72 | 10 |
Pitching | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | |
Jess Buckles | Medicine Hat | GA | 44 | 14 | Dell Manning | Calgary | W | 26 | 10 | |
Ralph Works | Medicine Hat | W | 26 | 07 | A. Sheridan | Saskatoon | L | 19 | 11 | |
Ralph Works | Medicine Hat | SO | 217 | 07 | Evan "Rube" Evans | Regina | Era | 1.42 | 20 | |
Jess Buckles | Medicine Hat | IP | 334 | 14 | Phil Dellers (22-6) | Edmonton | Pct | .856 | 10 | |
Ralph Works | Medicine Hat | BB | 129 | 07 |
Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]
Sources[edit]
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second and Third Editions.
- ↑ Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow by Dave Heller, pg. 21
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