Western Canadian Baseball League

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Western Canadian Baseball League
200px
Western Canadian Baseball League logo
Sport Baseball
Founded 1931
No. of teams 11
Country Canada
Headquarters Lethbridge, Alberta
Most recent champion(s) Okotoks Dawgs
Most titles Swift Current 57's (6 titles)[1] Okotoks Dawgs (6 titles)
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The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league based in Saskatchewan and Alberta that descends from leagues dating to 1931.

History

The league can trace its roots back to 1931, via its predecessors. The Southern Baseball League existed from 1931 to 1974. The Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League existed from 1959 to 1974. The Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) was formed in 1975 as a combination of the two predecessors. Three teams from each former league entered the new loop — the Eston Ramblers, Saskatoon Royals, and Unity Cardinals from the north and Moose Jaw Devons, Regina Red Sox, and Swift Current Indians from the south.[2][3]

The league was renamed the Western Major Baseball League in 2000 to reflect more teams playing in Alberta, as well as future expansion to British Columbia. In June 2018 it was announced that the league would be renamed to the Western Canadian Baseball League in 2019.[4]

The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and logistics, the 2021 season was played with only five Alberta-based teams and Canadian players only.[5][6]

Member teams

As of 2022, WCBL membership consists of 11 teams in two divisions. The top four teams in each division qualify for the post-season.

East Division
Team City Stadium 2022 Record Finish
Medicine Hat Mavericks Medicine Hat, Alberta Athletic Park 18-38 4th
Moose Jaw Miller Express Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Ross Wells Park 33-23 2nd
Regina Red Sox Regina, Saskatchewan Currie Field 34-22 1st
Swift Current 57's Swift Current, Saskatchewan Mitchell Field 29-27 3rd
Weyburn Beavers Weyburn, Saskatchewan Tom Laing Park 14-42 5th
West Division
Team City Stadium 2022 Record Finish
Brooks Bombers Brooks, Alberta Elks Stadium 26–30 4th
Fort McMurray Giants Fort McMurray, Alberta Legacy Dodge Field 27–29 3rd
Lethbridge Bulls Lethbridge, Alberta Spitz Stadium 26-30 5th
Okotoks Dawgs Okotoks, Alberta Seaman Stadium 43-13 1st
Sylvan Lake Gulls Sylvan Lake, Alberta Pogadl Park 38-18 2nd

The Edmonton Prospects will not participate in the 2023 season due to construction delays at Myshak Metro Ballpark, and an expansion team in Saskatoon will begin playing at Cairns Field in 2024.[7]

Former teams

Former teams include the Melville Millionaires (2021), Yorkton Cardinals (2021), Saskatoon Yellow Jackets (2014), Sherwood Park Dukes (2008), St. Albert Prospects (2007), Red Deer Generals (2005), Moose Jaw Devons, Oyen Pronghorns, Kindersley Royals, Eston Ramblers (1993), Saskatoon Liners, Saskatoon Nationals, Hazlet Elks (1993), and Unity Cardinals.

Expansion

Cranbrook, British Columbia, was granted a conditional expansion team in 2011 and was to begin play after building a new stadium.[8][9] As of 2018, these plans appear to have stalled.

Sylvan Lake was working towards a WCBL team in September 2019. Under the concept, a 2,200-seat ballpark would be built as part of Sylvan Lake's Pogadl Park development and house a WCBL expansion team backed by the ownership group Hard 4 Sports and Entertainment. The earliest that the ballpark would be completed is 2021, with the WCBL squad potentially beginning play that season as part of a 25-year lease agreement.[10] Plans for a 2021 launch were officially announced November 1, 2019.[11] Branding as the Sylvan Lake Gulls was announced in March 2020.[12]

Spruce Grove is constructing a ballpark.[13] In May 2020, the Edmonton Prospects confirmed that the team would be leaving Edmonton for Spruce Grove by 2022,[14] but due to construction delays Myshak Metro Ballpark is (as of November 2022) scheduled to open no earlier than 2024.[15][16] An expansion team in Saskatoon is set for play in 2024 at Cairns Field, where the Yellow Jackets played until 2014.

Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy

File:Harry Hallis Memorial.JPG
Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy

Saskatchewan Territorial (1895–1905) and Provincial (1906–present) champions have been decided by an annual tournament.[3] In 1967 the first major division was added to the tournament,[17] and the award was named in memory of Harry Hallis. From 1967 until 1974 the name of this provincial champion was added to the trophy. In 1975 when the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League was formed, this trophy continued to be awarded to the SMBL champions, and now the WCBL champions.

League champions

File:WMBLlogo.jpg
Former logo as the Western Major Baseball League

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Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)

Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)

Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) Champions:

  • 2000: Swift Current Indians
  • 1999: Moose Jaw Miller Express
  • 1998: Swift Current Indians
  • 1997: Swift Current Indians
  • 1996: Swift Current Indians
  • 1995: Oyen Pronghorns
  • 1994: Swift Current Indians
  • 1993: Eston Ramblers
  • 1992: Swift Current Indians
  • 1991: Kindersley Royals
  • 1990: Kindersley Royals
  • 1989: Hazlet Elks
  • 1988: Hazlet Elks
  • 1987: Hazlet Elks
  • 1986: Eston Ramblers
  • 1985: Kindersley Royals
  • 1984: Kindersley Royals
  • 1983: Eston Ramblers
  • 1982: Eston Ramblers
  • 1981: Saskatoon Patrick-Liners
  • 1980: Saskatoon Patrick-Liners
  • 1979: Saskatoon Patrick-Liners
  • 1978: Eston Ramblers
  • 1977: Regina Red Sox
  • 1976: Regina Red Sox
  • 1975: Eston Ramblers

Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League Champions:

  • 1974: Saskatoon Royals
  • 1973: Saskatoon Commodores
  • 1972: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1971: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1970: Unity Cardinals
  • 1969: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1968: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1967: Unity Cardinals
  • 1966: Unity Cardinals
  • 1965: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1964: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1963: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1962: North Battleford Beavers
  • 1961: Neilburg Monarchs
  • 1960: Kindersley Klippers
  • 1959: Spruce Home[3]

The Southern Baseball League (SBL) Champions: (J.T.M. Anderson Trophy)

  • 1974: Moose Jaw Devons
  • 1973: Moose Jaw Devons
  • 1972: Swift Current Indians
  • 1971: Moose Jaw Regals
  • 1970: Moose Jaw Regals
  • 1969: Regina Red Sox
  • 1968: Moose Jaw Regals
  • 1967: Yorkton Cardinals
  • 1966: Moose Jaw Regals
  • 1965: Swift Current Indians
  • 1964: Regina Red Sox
  • 1963: Swift Current Indians
  • 1962: Moose Jaw Steelers
  • 1961: Moose Jaw Steelers
  • 1960: Regina Red Sox
  • 1959: Swift Current Indians
  • 1958: Southey Red Sox
  • 1957: Southey Red Sox
  • 1956: Estevan Maple Leafs
  • 1955: Regina Red Sox
  • 1954: Moose Jaw Lakers
  • 1953: Regina Red Sox
  • 1952: Regina Royal Caps
  • 1951: Weyburn Beavers
  • 1950: Estevan Maple Leafs
  • 1949: Moose Jaw Canucks
  • 1948: Weyburn Beavers
  • 1947: Weyburn Beavers
  • 1946: Regina Clippers
  • 1945: Weyburn Beavers
  • 1944: Regina Royal Caps
  • 1943: (No champion—World War II)
  • 1942: Regina Red Sox
  • 1941: Weyburn Beavers
  • 1940: Weyburn Beavers
  • 1939: (No champion—World War II)
  • 1938: Broadview Buffalos
  • 1937: Weyburn Beavers
  • 1936: Regina Nationals
  • 1935: Regina Nationals
  • 1934: Regina Nationals
  • 1933: Regina Nationals
  • 1932: Regina Nationals
  • 1931: Moose Jaw Canucks[3]


Championships (WCBL/WMBL)
Team Wins Seasons
Swift Current 57's 6 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2017
Okotoks Dawgs 6 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2022
Medicine Hat Mavericks 3 2003, 2014, 2018
Lethbridge Bulls 2 2015, 2021
Regina Red Sox 2 2011, 2012
Moose Jaw Miller Express 1 2002
Melville Millionaires 1 2013

References

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  18. ↑ Shortened season. Some teams did not compete.

External links

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