Western Canadian Baseball League
The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league based in Saskatchewan and Alberta that descends from leagues dating to 1931.
 Western Canadian Baseball League logo | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 13 (11 active) |
| Country | Canada |
| Headquarters | Lethbridge, Alberta |
| Most recent champion(s) | Okotoks Dawgs[1] |
| Most titles | Swift Current 57's (6 titles)[2] |
| Official website | Official wesbsite |
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.[3][4] The name was changed to 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 adopt its current name for 2019 and beyond.[5]
Member teams
As of 2020, WCBL Membership consists of 11 teams in two divisions. The top four teams in each division qualify for the post-season.
| Team | City | Stadium | 2019 Record | Finish |
| East Division | ||||
| Medicine Hat Mavericks | Medicine Hat, Alberta | Athletic Park | 30–26 | 3rd (West) |
| Moose Jaw Miller Express | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | Ross Wells Park | 26–30 | 4th |
| Regina Red Sox | Regina, Saskatchewan | Currie Field | 41-15 | 1st |
| Swift Current 57's | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | Mitchell Field | 38–18 | 2nd |
| Weyburn Beavers | Weyburn, Saskatchewan | Tom Laing Park | 33-22 | 3rd |
| West Division | ||||
| Brooks Bombers | Brooks, Alberta | Elks Stadium | 16–40 | 6th |
| Edmonton Prospects | Edmonton, Alberta | Traveling team | 29–27 | 4th |
| Fort McMurray Giants | Fort McMurray, Alberta | Legacy Dodge Field | 28–28 | 5th |
| Lethbridge Bulls | Lethbridge, Alberta | Spitz Stadium | 31–25 | 2nd |
| Okotoks Dawgs | Okotoks, Alberta | Seaman Stadium | 40–15 | 1st |
| Sylvan Lake Gulls | Sylvan Lake, Alberta | Pogadl Park | - | - |
The Yorkton Cardinals and Melville Millionaires took a leave of absence for the 2020 season.[6] However, like other leagues worldwide, the 2020 season was not played due to coronavirus. These two teams are not schduled to participate in the 2021 season.[7]
Former teams
Former teams include the 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 current 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 also in preliminary stages of ballpark construction. The city could be the site of a new team, or the relocation of the Edmonton Prospects.[13] In May 2020, Prospects ownership confirmed that the team would be leaving Edmonton for Spruce Grove by 2022.[14]
Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy
Saskatchewan Territorial (1895–1905) and Provincial (1906–present) champions have been decided by an annual tournament.[4] 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
Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)
- 2020: (No champion or season—Global 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[4]
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[4]
References
- Saracini, Dustin. "Dawgs Ride Leadership to 2019 Championship". Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- Heidenreich, Phil (August 17, 2017). "Edmonton Prospects lose 4-0 to Swift Current in WMBL championship game". Global Edmonton. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
- "Western Canada Baseball 1975". attheplate.com. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
- 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.
- James, Eric (October 29, 2019). "Yorkton, Melville Not Fielding Teams for 2020 WCBL Season". Swift Current Online. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- http://westerncanadianbaseballleague.ca/news/2021-western-canadian-baseball-league-schedule-released/
- "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.
- Spedden, Zach (September 13, 2019). "Sylvan Lake WCBL Team in the Works". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- "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.
- ABDugoutStories [@ABDugoutStories] (November 12, 2019). "ABDugoutStories on Twitter: "Spruce Grove is being eyed as a potential landing spot for a @wcbleague franchise by @EdmProspects owner @capacity23, according to a press release from Gold Sports & Entertainment Group ..." / Twitter" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Moddejonge, Gerry (May 23, 2020). "Edmonton Prospects heading west to Spruce Grove after losing lease on ball park". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- "1967 Southern League Game Reports". attheplate.com. Retrieved March 5, 2012.