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
Western Canadian Baseball League logo
SportBaseball
Founded1931
No. of teams12
Country Canada
HeadquartersLethbridge, Alberta
Most recent
champion(s)		Okotoks Dawgs[1]
Most titlesSwift Current 57's (6 titles)[2]
Official websiteOfficial 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 2018, WCBL Membership consists of 12 teams in two divisions. The top four teams in each division qualify for the post-season.

The Yorkton and Melville franchises took a leave of absence for the 2020 season. [6] However, like other leagues worldwide, the 2020 season was not played due to coronavirus.

TeamCityStadium2019 RecordFinish
East Division
Melville MillionairesMelville, SaskatchewanPirie Field17-395th
Moose Jaw Miller ExpressMoose Jaw, SaskatchewanRoss Wells Park26–304th
Regina Red SoxRegina, SaskatchewanCurrie Field41-151st
Swift Current 57'sSwift Current, SaskatchewanMitchell Field38–182nd
Weyburn BeaversWeyburn, SaskatchewanTom Laing Park33-223rd
Yorkton CardinalsYorkton, SaskatchewanJubilee Park6–506th
West Division
Brooks BombersBrooks, AlbertaElks Stadium16–406th
Edmonton ProspectsEdmonton, AlbertaRE/MAX Field29–274th
Fort McMurray GiantsFort McMurray, AlbertaLegacy Dodge Field28–285th
Lethbridge BullsLethbridge, AlbertaSpitz Stadium31–252nd
Medicine Hat MavericksMedicine Hat, AlbertaAthletic Park30–263rd
Okotoks DawgsOkotoks, AlbertaSeaman Stadium40–151st

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.[7][8] 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.[9] Plans for a 2021 launch were officially announced November 1, 2019.[10] Branding as the Sylvan Lake Gulls was announced in March 2020.[11]

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.[12] In May 2020, Prospects ownership confirmed that the team would be leaving Edmonton for Spruce Grove by 2022.[13]

Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy
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,[14] 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
Former logo as the Western Major Baseball League

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:

SMBL Logo

Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League Champions:

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

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References
  1. Saracini, Dustin. "Dawgs Ride Leadership to 2019 Championship". Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  2. Heidenreich, Phil (August 17, 2017). "Edmonton Prospects lose 4-0 to Swift Current in WMBL championship game". Global Edmonton. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  3. "Western Canada Baseball 1975". attheplate.com. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  4. 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.
  5. "New for 2019: WCBL". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. https://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local-sports/yorkton-melville-not-fielding-teams-for-2020-wcbl-season
  7. "The Eds' Proposed New Home". Ballpark Business (ballparkbiz.com). Alan D. Poff. February 10, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  8. Reichard, Kevin (February 9, 2011). "New ballpark pitched for Cranbrook". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  9. Spedden, Zach (September 13, 2019). "Sylvan Lake WCBL Team in the Works". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  10. "Sylvan Lake WCBL Team to Launch in 2021". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. November 1, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  11. Spedden, Zach (March 16, 2020). "New for 2021: Sylvan Lake Gulls". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  12. 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.
  13. https://edmontonsun.com/sports/baseball/edmonton-prospects-heading-west-to-spruce-grove-after-losing-lease-on-ballpark
  14. "1967 Southern League Game Reports". attheplate.com. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
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