The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league. The league is home to teams based in the Canadian Prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and has roots dating back to 1931 in Saskatchewan's Southern Baseball League. In 1975, the province's southern and northern leagues merged, creating the foundation for the WCBL. Today, the league boasts seven teams in Alberta and five in Saskatchewan.
 | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country | Canada |
| Headquarters | Lethbridge, Alberta |
| Most recent champion(s) | Okotoks Dawgs |
| Most titles | Okotoks Dawgs (7 titles) |
| Official website | westerncanadianbaseballleague |
History
edit
The league can trace its roots back to 1931, via its predecessors, the Southern Baseball League (1931 to 1974) and the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League (1959 to 1974). The Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) was formed in 1975 through a merger of the Southern and Northern leagues. Three teams from each former league entered the new loop—the Eston Ramblers, Saskatoon Royals, and Unity Cardinals from the north, and the Moose Jaw Devons, Regina Red Sox, and Swift Current Indians from the south.[1][2]
The league was renamed the Western Major Baseball League in 2000 to reflect teams based in Alberta, along with the possibility of future expansion to British Columbia. In June 2018, it was announced that the league would be renamed the Western Canadian Baseball League.[3]
The 2020 season was cancelled 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.[4][5]
Teams
editAs of 2024[update], WCBL membership consists of 12 teams in two divisions. The West Division is made up of six Albertan teams, while the East Division is made up of all five teams from Saskatchewan, plus the easternmost Albertan team from Medicine Hat. The top four teams in each division qualify for the post-season.
Current teams
edit| Division | Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Seating capacity | 2023 record | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | Brooks Bombers | Brooks, Alberta | Elks Stadium | 2015 | 681 | 17–39 | 5th |
| Edmonton Prospects | Sherwood Park, Alberta | Centennial Field | 2005 | — | — | ||
| Fort McMurray Giants | Fort McMurray, Alberta | Legacy Dodge Field | 2016 | 1,725 | 30–26 | 4th | |
| Lethbridge Bulls | Lethbridge, Alberta | Spitz Stadium | 1999 | 3,000 | 31-25 | 3rd | |
| Okotoks Dawgs | Okotoks, Alberta | Seaman Stadium | 2003 | 2,500 | 40-16 | 1st | |
| Sylvan Lake Gulls | Sylvan Lake, Alberta | Pogadl Park | 2021 | 1,384 | 38-18 | 2nd | |
| East | Medicine Hat Mavericks | Medicine Hat, Alberta | Athletic Park | 2003 | 2,200 | 30-26 | 2nd |
| Moose Jaw Miller Express | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | Ross Wells Ball Park | 2002 | 750 | 38-18 | 1st | |
| Regina Red Sox | Regina, Saskatchewan | Currie Field | 1946 | 2,000 | 23-33 | 3rd | |
| Saskatoon Berries | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Cairns Field | 2023 | 2,200 | — | — | |
| Swift Current 57's | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | Mitchell Field | 1959 | 550 | 19-37 | 4th | |
| Weyburn Beavers | Weyburn, Saskatchewan | Pogadl Park | — | 600 | 14-42 | 5th |
Former teams
edit| Team | City | Final year |
|---|---|---|
| Eston Ramblers | Eston, Saskatchewan | 1993 |
| Hazlet Elks | Hazlet, Saskatchewan | 1993 |
| Kindersley Royals | Kindersley, Saskatchewan | |
| Melville Millionaires | Melville, Saskatchewan | 2021 |
| Moose Jaw Devons | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | |
| Oyen Pronghorns | Oyen, Alberta | |
| Red Deer Generals | Red Deer, Alberta | 2005 |
| Saskatoon Liners | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 1984 |
| Saskatoon Nationals | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | |
| Saskatoon Yellow Jackets | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 2014 |
| Sherwood Park Dunes | Sherwood Park, Alberta | 2008 |
| Unity Cardinals | Unity, Saskatchewan | |
| Yorkton Cardinals | Yorkton, Saskatchewan | 2021 |
Expansion
editCranbrook, British Columbia, was granted an expansion team, the Eds, in 2011 conditional on building a new stadium.[6][7] However, the plans failed to come to fruition.
In May 2020, the Edmonton Prospects confirmed that the team would be leaving Edmonton for Spruce Grove by 2022,[8] but due to construction delays at Myshak Metro Ballpark, those plans have been pushed back.[9][10]
The two most recent additions to the league are in Sylvan Lake and Saskatoon. Plans for a 2021 launch of the Sylvan Lake team were announced November 1, 2019.[11] Branding as the Sylvan Lake Gulls was announced in March 2020.[12] Saskatoon was awarded the most recent expansion team, in 2023.[13] In July 2023, the team unveiled that it would be called the Saskatoon Berries.[14]
Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy
edit
Saskatchewan Territorial (1895–1905) and Provincial (1906–present) champions have been decided by an annual tournament.[2] In 1967 the first major division was added to the tournament,[15] 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
editWestern Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)
- 2023: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2022: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2021: Lethbridge Bulls[a]
- 2020: Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019: Okotoks Dawgs
Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)
- 2018: Medicine Hat Mavericks
- 2017: Swift Current 57's
- 2016: Swift Current Indians
- 2015: Lethbridge Bulls
- 2014: Medicine Hat Mavericks
- 2013: Melville Millionaires
- 2012: Regina Red Sox
- 2011: Regina Red Sox
- 2010: Swift Current Indians
- 2009: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2008: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2007: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2006: Swift Current Indians
- 2005: Swift Current Indians
- 2004: Calgary Dawgs
- 2003: Medicine Hat Mavericks
- 2002: Moose Jaw Miller Express
- 2001: Swift Current Indians
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[2]
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[2]
| Team | Wins | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Okotoks Dawgs | 7 | 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Swift Current 57's | 6 | 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2017 |
| 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 |
Notes
edit- ^ Shortened season. Some teams did not compete.
References
edit- ^ "Western Canada Baseball 1975". attheplate.com. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Hack, Paul; Shury, David William; Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (1997). Wheat Province Diamonds: a Story of Saskatchewan Baseball. Regina: Saskatchewan Baseball Association. ISBN 9780968196502.
- ^ "New for 2019: WCBL". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ "Regina Red Sox scrub 2021 season due to COVID-19". CKOM. March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ "Saskatchewan teams opt out of 2021 Western Canadian Baseball League season". Regina Leader-Post. March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ "The Eds' Proposed New Home". Ballpark Business (ballparkbiz.com). Alan D. Poff. February 10, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 9, 2011). "New ballpark pitched for Cranbrook". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ Moddejonge, Gerry (May 23, 2020). "Edmonton Prospects heading west to Spruce Grove after losing lease on ball park". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "'2022 is just not possible': Edmonton Prospects' new ball field delayed". November 10, 2021.
- ^ "No 2023 season for Edmonton Prospects | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "Sylvan Lake WCBL Team to Launch in 2021". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. November 1, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ Spedden, Zach (March 16, 2020). "New for 2021: Sylvan Lake Gulls". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ "The Western Canada Baseball League is back: New franchise lands in Saskatoon for 2024". thestarphoenix. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Kevin (July 14, 2023). "They have a name and a coach; now, the Saskatoon Berries wait for the 2024 baseball season". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ "1967 Southern League Game Reports". attheplate.com. Retrieved March 5, 2012.