Western Canadian Baseball League
{{Short description|Collegiate summer baseball league in Canada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Western Canadian Baseball League
| logo = Western Canadian Baseball League logo.png
| caption =
| sport = Baseball
| founded = 1931
| teams = 12
| country = Canada
| headquarters = Lethbridge, Alberta
| champion = Okotoks Dawgs
| most_champs = Okotoks Dawgs (8 titles)
| folded =
| website = {{official URL}}
}}
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.
History
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.{{cite web |title=Western Canada Baseball 1975 |url=http://www.attheplate.com/wcbl/1975_1.html |website=attheplate.com |access-date=February 23, 2012}}{{cite book |last1=Hack |first1=Paul |last2=Shury |first2=David William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kPLHPAAACAAJ |title=Wheat Province Diamonds: a Story of Saskatchewan Baseball |author3=Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame |date=1997 |publisher=Saskatchewan Baseball Association |location=Regina |isbn=9780968196502}}
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.{{cite web |title=New for 2019: WCBL |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/07/25/new-for-2019-wcbl/ |website=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |access-date=July 26, 2018 |date=July 25, 2018}}
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.{{Cite news |title=Regina Red Sox scrub 2021 season due to COVID-19 |url=https://www.ckom.com/2021/03/25/red-sox-scrub-2021-season-due-to-covid-19/ |date=March 25, 2021 |access-date=2022-05-30 |work=CKOM |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Saskatchewan teams opt out of 2021 Western Canadian Baseball League season |url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/baseball/saskatchewan-teams-opt-out-of-2021-western-canadian-baseball-league-season |date=March 25, 2021 |access-date=2022-05-30 |newspaper=Regina Leader-Post |language=en-CA}}
Teams
{{As of|2024}}, 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.
{{OSM Location map
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| label1 = Berries
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| label2 = Red Sox
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| label4 = 57's
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= Current teams =
| class="wikitable" |
| Division
!Team !City !Stadium !Founded !Seating !2024 record !Finish |
|---|
| rowspan="6" | West
|2015 | style="text-align:center;" | 681 | style="text-align:center;" | 20–36 | style="text-align:center;" | 4th |
| Energy City Cactus Rats
|2005 | style="text-align:center;" | 3,470 | style="text-align:center;" | 12-44 | style="text-align:center;" | 6th |
| Fort McMurray Giants
|2016 | style="text-align:center;" | 1,725 | style="text-align:center;" | 20–36 | style="text-align:center;" | 5th |
| Lethbridge Bulls
|1999 | style="text-align:center;" | 3,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 36-20 | style="text-align:center;" | 3rd |
| Okotoks Dawgs
|2003 | style="text-align:center;" | 2,500 | style="text-align:center;" | 42-14 | style="text-align:center;" | 2nd |
| Sylvan Lake Gulls
|2021 | style="text-align:center;" | 1,384 | style="text-align:center;" | 44-12 | style="text-align:center;" | 1st |
| rowspan="6" "border:5px ridge red;" | East
|2003 | style="text-align:center;" | 2,200 | style="text-align:center;" | 33-23 | style="text-align:center;" | 2nd |
| Moose Jaw Miller Express
| Ross Wells Ball Park |2002 | style="text-align:center;" | 750 | style="text-align:center;" | 26-30 | style="text-align:center;" | 4th |
| Regina Red Sox
| Currie Field |1946 | style="text-align:center;" | 2,000 | style="text-align:center;" | 38-18 | style="text-align:center;" | 1st |
| Saskatoon Berries
|2023 | style="text-align:center;" | 2,200 | style="text-align:center;" | 31–25 | style="text-align:center;" | 3rd |
| Swift Current 57's
| Mitchell Field |1959 | style="text-align:center;" | 550 | style="text-align:center;" | 16-40 | style="text-align:center;" | 6th |
| Weyburn Beavers
|— | style="text-align:center;" | 600 | style="text-align:center;" | 17-39 | style="text-align:center;" | 5th |
= Former teams =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Team !City !Final year |
| Eston Ramblers
|1993 |
| Hazlet Elks
|1993 |
| Kindersley Royals
|Kindersley, Saskatchewan | |
| Melville Millionaires
|2019 |
| Moose Jaw Devons
|Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | |
| Oyen Pronghorns
|Oyen, Alberta |1997 |
| Red Deer Generals
|2005 |
| Saskatoon Liners
|Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |1984 |
| Saskatoon Nationals
|Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | |
| Saskatoon Yellow Jackets
|Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |2014 |
| Sherwood Park Dukes
|Sherwood Park, Alberta |2008 |
| Unity Cardinals
| |
| Yorkton Cardinals
|Yorkton, Saskatchewan |2019 |
= Expansion =
Cranbrook, British Columbia, was granted an expansion team, the Eds, in 2011 conditional on building a new stadium.{{cite web |title=The Eds' Proposed New Home |url=https://ballparkbiz.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/the-eds-proposed-new-home/ |website=Ballpark Business (ballparkbiz.com) |publisher=Alan D. Poff |access-date=July 30, 2018 |date=February 10, 2011}}{{cite web |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=New ballpark pitched for Cranbrook |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/201102093540/college-baseball/news/new-ballpark-pitched-for-cranbrook |website=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |access-date=July 30, 2018 |date=February 9, 2011}} However, the plans failed to come to fruition.
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.{{cite news |date=1 November 2019 |title=Sylvan Lake WCBL Team to Launch in 2021 |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/11/01/sylvan-lake-wcbl-team-to-launch-in-2021/ |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications}} Branding as the Sylvan Lake Gulls was announced in March 2020.{{cite news |last1=Spedden |first1=Zach |date=16 March 2020 |title=New for 2021: Sylvan Lake Gulls |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/03/16/new-for-2021-sylvan-lake-gulls/ |access-date=16 March 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications}} Saskatoon was awarded the most recent expansion team, in 2023.{{Cite web |title=The Western Canada Baseball League is back: New franchise lands in Saskatoon for 2024 |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/baseball/the-western-canada-baseball-league-is-back-new-franchise-lands-in-saskatoon-for-2024 |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=thestarphoenix |language=en-CA}} In July 2023, the team unveiled that it would be called the Saskatoon Berries.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Kevin |date=2023-07-14 |title=They have a name and a coach; now, the Saskatoon Berries wait for the 2024 baseball season |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/they-have-a-name-and-a-coach-now-the-saskatoon-berries-wait-for-the-2024-baseball-season |access-date=2023-07-18}}
Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy
File:Harry Hallis Memorial.JPG
Saskatchewan Territorial (1895–1905) and Provincial (1906–present) champions have been decided by an annual tournament. In 1967 the first major division was added to the tournament,{{cite web |title=1967 Southern League Game Reports |url=http://www.attheplate.com/wcbl/1967_50i.html |website=attheplate.com |access-date=March 5, 2012}} 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
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)
- 2024: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2023: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2022: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2021: Lethbridge Bulls{{efn|Shortened season. Some teams did not compete.}}
- 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
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
{{div col end}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Championships (WCBL/WMBL) | ||
| style="text-align:center; background:#cccc;"
! scope=col | Team !! scope=col | Wins !! scope=col | Seasons | ||
| style="text-align:center;" | 8 | 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 6 | 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2017 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 3 | 2003, 2014, 2018 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2 | 2015, 2021 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2 | 2011, 2012 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 | 2002 |
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 | 2013 |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}