Western Canada League

From BR Bullpen

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]


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 Statistics
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]



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 Statistics
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 Statistics
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 Statistics
Player 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 Statistics
Player 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 Statistics
Player 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]


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 Statistics
Player 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 Statistics
Player 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 Statistics
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.

  1. ↑ Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow by Dave Heller, pg. 21
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