Saturday, August 29, 1953

W L Pct. GB
Lewiston .... 37 24 .607 —
Spokane ..... 39 27 .591 ½
Salem ....... 35 27 .566 2½
Edmonton .... 31 30 .508 5
Yakima ...... 31 30 .508 5
Vancouver ... 32 33 .492 7
Calgary ..... 28 32 .467 8½
Tri-City .... 28 35 .444 10
Wenatchee ... 25 35 .417 11½
Victoria .... 27 38 .415 12

VICTORIA [Doug Peden, Colonist, Aug. 30]—John Marshall might never win a popularity poll among Victoria’s baseball fans but the veteran righthander with the thinning locks is one of the big reasons the Lewiston Broncs are leading the Western International League pack down the home stretch in the second-half schedule.
GETS NO. 21
Big John, starting the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Royal Athletic Park amid a chorus of jeers from many of the 650 paying customers, had the last laugh again. He blanked the Victoria Tyees on four hits and ambled off the field with his second win of the four-game series and his 21st of the season, after the Broncs had pounded out 11 hits for a 5-0 victory.
The Tyees had scored their only win of the series as they edged the Broncs, 5-4, in an 11-inning thriller during the afternoon. Bill Prior, who relieved starter Bill Bottler in the eighth, batted in the wining run to pick up his 14th win in 27 decisions, and hand manager Bill Brenner his 10th loss instead of his 20th victory.
WALK STARTS IT
Granny Gladstone started the winning rally in the 11th by drawing a base on balls. Dwane Helbig beat out a bunt for his third hit of the game and moved to second as Gladstone was cut down at third on Davis’ attempted sacrifice. Milt Martin skies out because Prior broke up the game with a liner to right centre.
Only two Tyees reached third base against Marshall in the night game, Bob Moniz getting that far in the first inning and Don Pries making it when the Tyees loaded the bases in the seventh. Davis had two of the four Victoria hits with Helbig and Pries each picking up one.
Kenny Richardson, Clint Cameron, Artie Wilson and Al Heist each connected for two hits against Earl Dollins, who went all the way for the Tyees, as he took his 12th loss. Richson and Cameron each batted in two runs while Heist had the only extra-base hit of the game—a double.
BEARS MONDAY
Yakima Bears move in at Athletic Park Monday night for the first game in a three-game series. A feature of Monday’s program will be the appearance of the 32-piece Western Command Air Force Band, which will be flown over from Vancouver to present a program between 7 and 8 p.m.
First Game
Lewiston ........... 000 001 030 00—4 5 1
Victoria ............. 012 010 000 01—5 13 2
Brenner and Garay; Bottler, Prior (8) and Martin.
Second Game
Lewiston .......... 102 000 002—5 11 0
Victoria ............ 000 000 000—0 4 2
Marshall and Garay; Dollins and Martin.

SPOKANE — Calgary, apparently liking the daylight, whalloped Spokane 9-2 Saturday afternoon for its first Western International League win in three starts against the Indians.
Calgary ............ 041 021 010—9 15 2
Spokane ........... 001 000 001—2 7 0
Levenson and Bricker; Franks, New (2), Romero (5) and Sheets.

WENATCHEE — Tri-City rammed across three runs in the ninth inning to defeat Wenatchee, 6-5, here Saturday night. It was the second game in a row that the Braves came through for a ninth-inning victory.
Jess Dobernic made his 44th mound appearance of the year for Tri-City and protected Dan Robertson's 13th victory.
Tri-City .............. 010 101 003—6 11 1
Wenatchee ......... 020 000 300—5 11 3
Robertson, Dobernic (9) and Warren; Botelho, Monroe (9), De Carolis (9) and Bartolomei.

SALEM — Salem Manager Hugh Luby squeezed in the winning run with a bunt in the eleventh inning as the Senators defeated Vancouver 3-2 in the second game of Saturday night's Western International League doubleheader here.
Salem won the opener 8-2.
First Game
Vancouver ......... 000 002 0—2 6 2
Salem ............... 310 031 x—8 11 0
Marshall, Barrett (2), Thomason (6) and Duretto, Leavitt (6); Roenspie and Nelson.
Second Game
Vancouver......... 000 010 000 01—2 4 0
Salem .............. 000 000 001 02—3 10 3
Myers, Robertson (11) and Duretto; Borst and Masterson.

YAKIMA — Yakima spotted Edmonton three runs in the first inning then went on to win a free-hitting Western International League baseball game, 11-8.
The Canadians had only a short-lived advantage; Yakima scored five times in its half of the first LeRoy Johnson started it when he walked the bases full and Bob Wellman cleaned them off with a double. It was the first of three doubles scored by Wellman.
Edmonton ............. 300 013 100— 8 9 8
Yakima ................. 530 110 01x—11 15 1
Johnson, Manier (1), Tisnerat (8) and St. George; Blank, Rial (5), Carter (6) and Albini.

Calgary Stampeders Face Loss
CALGARY [TSN]—The Calgary Stampeders, with total attendance of only about 30,000, will wind up $72,000 in the red this season, according to reports.
Receipts will be $44,000 short of meeting operating expenses, it was estimated, and in addition the club spent $28,000 for players before the year started.

Thursday, August 27, 1953

W L Pct. GB
Lewiston .... 35 23 .603 —
Spokane ..... 37 26 .587 ½
Salem ....... 33 27 .569 3
Edmonton .... 31 28 .525 4½
Vancouver ... 32 31 .508 5½
Yakima ...... 29 30 .492 6½
Calgary ..... 27 30 .474 7½
Wenatchee ... 25 33 .431 10
Tri-City .... 26 35 .426 10½
Victoria .... 26 36 .419 11
AP has different standings for Vic

VICTORIA — Lewiston Broncs pushed over two runs in the ninth inning to edge Victoria Tyees 9-7 in a series-opening Western International League baseball game here Friday night.
The victory, coupled with Spokane's defeat by Yakima, again put the Broncs in first place Broncs facing Victoria pitching which had blanked Vancouver Capilanos in three successive games, ended Tyees streak of scoreless innings at 20 by scoring three runs in the first inning. They took a 7-2 lead at one time but Tyees finally got to Manny Perez and tied it with two runs in the eighth.
Doubles by Al Heist and Artie Wilson around a single by Ken Richardson produced the winning runs. Larry Barton was the most productive Lewiston hitter, getting four singles in four trips.
The victory went to John Marshall, third of three Lewiston pitchers. Marshall put out the Victoria rally in the eighth and had no trouble holding the Tyees in the ninth.
Lewiston ........... 300 310 002—9 14 2
Victoria ............. 200 020 120—7 12 1
Perez, Klein (8) Marshall (8) and Garay; Prior, Bottler (9) and Harford.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakima unlumbered its big sticks Thursday night to break a five game losing streak, defeating Spokane 5-1 in a Western International League baseball game.
Don Carter spaced out six hits for the win, breaking his own six game losing streak and making his 1953 record 9-9.
Spokane started the scoring with one run in the fourth when Stan Palys doubled and eventually came home on Carl Bush's bunt.
The Bears evened it in their half of the inning when John Albini homered over the centrefield fence. They added the clinchers in the sixth when Herman Lewis homered over the same fence with Albini aboard. The homers were Albini's 10th and Lewis' 16th of the season.
Spokane ........... 000 100 000—1 6 2
Yakima ............. 000 102 20x—5 8 1
Giovannoni, Romero (7) and Sheets; Carter and Albini.

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Bob Snyder pitched a six-hit shutout, his second shutout of the season, as Tri-City defeated Calgary 4-0 in a Western International League baseball game Thursday night.
Tri-City's first run was unearned coming when Len Tran walked and then came home on Jack Warren's single that was mishandled in the field to permit Tran to come home.
The Braves added three more in the seventh on five singles and a double.
Edo Vanni, Tri-City manager, was booted from the game when he protested an umpire's ruling in the first inning.
Calgary .... 000 000 000—0 6 3
Tri-City .... 000 001 30x—4 9 0
Hittner, Stites (8) and Bricker; Snyder and Warren.

SALEM, Ore. — Home runs gave Edmonton a sweep of a Western International League double header from Salem, 6-3 and 3-1, here Thursday night.
Andy Skurski's three-run homer in the fifth inning of the second game decided a pitching duel between Edmonton's Pat Utley and Salem's Joe Nicholas who lost his sixth of the season against 21 victories.
Utley, who allowed only two hits to Nicholas' four, had yielded a run in the first inning when Gene Tanselli stole home. The Detroit sandlot player signed by the New York Yankees struck out 11.
Sam Kanelos' three run homer in the third inning started Eskimos to their win in the seven-inning opener.
Skurski and Clint Weaver finished the winners' scoring with consecutive homers in the fifth.
First Game
Edmonton ........ 004 020 0—6 8 2
Salem ............. 000 201 0—3 7 0
Tisnerat, McNulty (7) and Morgan; Hemphill, Borst (6) and Masterson.
Second Game
Edmonton ........ 000 030 000—3 4 3
Salem ............. 100 000 000—1 2 1
Utley and Morgan; Nicholas and Nelson.

No other games scheduled.

Calgary to test Sunday Pro Ball
CALGARY, Alta., Aug. 27 — Sunday professional baseball will be tested here the first time Sept. 6 as the Stampeders play the Edmonton Eskimos in a Western International League night game. A recent Sunday game in Edmonton drew 3,500 fans and a silver collection of $1,700. Vancouver also has tried a WIL Game on the Sabbath.
The planned contest was originally part of a doubleheader scheduled for Labour Day, Sept. 7. Now, only one game will be played that day.

Friday, June 19, 1953

W L PCT GB
Lewiston .... 31 16 .660 —
Vancouver ... 30 20 .600 2½
Salem ....... 26 21 .553 5
Edmonton .... 30 25 .545 5
Victoria .... 24 27 .471 9
Spokane ..... 23 26 .469 9
Wenatchee ... 23 28 .451 10
Tri-City .... 21 27 .433 10½
Calgary ..... 22 29 .431 11
Yakima ...... 22 34 .393 13½

VANCOUVER — Vancouver Capilanos had a shutout going until the ninth inning Friday night as they defeated Calgary Stampeders 3-1 in the second game of a Western International League baseball doubleheader.
Caps edged the Calgarians 3-2 in the opener, the third time in as many nights that they won in extra innings. They've now won four straight, three in a row over the Stamps.
Carl Gunnarson's hopes of a shutout were ended in the ninth when pinch-hitter Don Bricker singled to centre and Bob Bonebrake followed up with a triple.
First Game
Calgary ............ 000 200 00—2 4 1
Vancouver ........ 000 110 01—3 8 1
Stites and Lillard; Roberts and Lundberg.
Second Game
Calgary ............... 000 000 001—1 5 1
Vancouver .......... 000 210 00x—3 5 0
Hittner and Lillard; Gunnarson and Lundberg.

VICTORIA — Bill Prior cooled off Edmonton Eskimos here Friday night as he pitched Victoria Tyees to a 2-1 Western International League triumph and handed rookie Pat Utley his first defeat in WIL play.
Utley struck out 10 men in the first four innings and allowed but four hits in the six innings he pitched. However, the 19-year-old righthander, who had scored shutout victories in both his previous starts, got away to a rocky start as he yielded a base on balls and three singles after two were out in the first inning to give Tyees both their tallies.
Edmonton threatened again in the ninth with two men on but Prior whiffed Whitey Thompson for the fourth time to end the game.
After the game, Eskimos manager Bob Sturgeon launched a protest against Umpire John Luksik.
First, he protested the decision of Luksik for not allowing pinch hitter Bob Aprea sufficient time to get in the batter's box in the seventh inning.
He also complained that the umpire failed to inform the official scorekeeper that the remainder of the game was being played under protest.
Prior threw two strikes before Aprea got in the box.
Edmonton .... 010 000 000—1 7 0
Victoria ....... 200 000 00x—2 6 1
Utley, Tisnerat (7) and Morgan; Prior and Martin.

KENNEWICK — Jess Dobernic struck out 11 men, four of them in the seventh inning, and limited Yakima to five hits as Tri-City won a Western International League baseball game, 5-2.
Dobernic's four strikeouts in one inning were necessary when Nick Pesut, Tri-City catcher, dropped the ball on the third strike, slipped on the grass in attempting to recover it and never got the toss away.
Yakima .......... 000 010 001—2 5 1
Tri-City ......... 000 020 21x—5 9 2
Flinn, Schaening (7), Young (8) and Weatherwax; Dobernic and Pesut.

Wenatchee at Spokane, postponed, rain.
Salem at Lewiston, postponed, rain.

Stampeders Around $12,000 in Hole
CALGARY, June 19— Harold Cundal, vice-president of Calgary Stampeders, said Thursday the Western International League baseball club is "in the neighborhood of $12,000 in the hole on operating costs."
Cundal blamed inclement weather for the majority of the club's difficulties in its first WIL season and said the team could finish the season in the black with any kind of break.

today’s fanfare
It’s a Lonesome Old Town When Joe Phan’s Not Around
By Eric Whitehead
[Vancouver Province, June 20, 1953]
The local firm of Soriano, Storey and Company, Baseball Retailers, est. 1953, is having a rough ride.
This was to have been a banner opening year for the firm that replaced R.P. Brown, Inc., just this spring. Soriano, the senior partner, had gone so far as to predict a modest dividend for the shareholders.
So on Thursday, the staggering total of 204 paid customers huddled forlornly in the vast solitude of the stadium to register the last ultimate thud in the steady skid down the attendance ladder. Never before had the peanut and hot dog vendors and assorted park hirelings felt such a dangerous sense of power; for the first time in local ball history, they almost out-numbered the fans.
One careless snarl from a customer biting into a cold hot dog (?) might have resulted in a bloody massacre.
What’s wrong here? Who threw the overalls in Mr. Soriano’s chowder?
As one self-appointed seer now employed by a local publishing house put it the other night, following the 12-0 debacle against Edmonton: “Yah. It’s a lousy ball club.”
A large gentleman within earshot of this inspired analysis reddened visibly around the collar and gently addressed the critic.
But Who Stays Up There?
”You, sir,” murmured Mr. Soriano, with all the polite restraint of a gentleman who is well-versed in the importance of press relations, “are a front-runner.”
And Mr. S. had a point.
On two occasions, Opening Day, (Now known as T—for Tragic—Day) and that recent Edmonton affair, the Caps have looked horrendous. On either of those two nights, a quiz-master would have been hard to describe them as either animal, vegetable or mineral.
But in between—the lads have served up an efficient, oft-brilliant brand of ball at least good enough to keep them consistently in the top three of a ten-team league.
A Case of Stage Fright
As the fates would have it, the locals have played of their finest games in front of their smallest audiences. The minute a fair-and-warmer crowd ambles in off Little Mountain, somebody tilts the Storey machine and errors light up all over the landscape. This of course is an exaggeration of fact, but the point is that most of the hard-luck losses have come before the biggest crowds.
One thing we notice and like about the Caps front office. Never any alibis. Soriano is frankly hoping to improve his ball club. At the same time, we can name about five other teams in the league that would very much like to improve their outfits to the current Capilanos level.
Manager Storey, who runs the club afield, and Soriano, who runs it from the front office, have been twin victims of that annual springtime imponderable: What’ll he hit this year, I hope?
The ‘he’ of course applies to any and every ballplayer who is supposed to hit for a living.
Hot Days Our Happy Days
On past record, which is the only semi-reliable gauge of a ballplayer’s talents, fellows like Jim Wert, K Chorlton and Don Lundberg should be clicking merrily along at a combined net of about 300 points above their current marks.
That difference alone would probably be enough to shoot our club to the top of the WIL.
But as it is—we’re just three and a half games behind Bill Brenner’s front-running Lewiston, which in itself is a pretty solid indication of the soundness of the local club, despite the absence of consistent clutch hitting.
If this club is “lousy” as quoth the seer of this poor man’s Fleet Street, then whither, prithee, shall we go for adjectives to describe the eight bottom-most members of the circuit?
We’ll still go along with the Caps as 1953 pennant-winners who will, like the crowds, improve with the weather, which is the real culprit in the Strange Case of the Forsaken Box Office.
Even the Yankees can’t beat the weatherman.

Pre-Season, Calgary

Pro Ball Dream in Calgary Realized After Long Wait
(This is one in a series on the prospects of teams in the Western International baseball league.)
By RAY GUAY
Calgary Herald Sports Writer
CALGARY, Alta., April 15 — A dream of many years’ standing came true not long ago when Calgary was admitted into the Class A Western International Baseball League.
Baseball boosters kept the game in Calgary by operating semi-pro and amateur leagues and now feel that Calgary is ready to step into organized baseball.
The winter months were taken up with organizing the club and boosting the park’s seating capacity by at least 1,000. The park will accommodate some 4,500 fans when the first home game gets under way May 12.
Lacey Is Prexy
First president of the new club is Norman (Bus) Lacey, a former baseball player in these parts who is now in the oil business.
Shortly after his appointment, Lacey hired Walter Brock of New York, formerly with the Boston Braves, as business manager. Then came the hiring of Gene Lillard as playing-manager. Gene has been playing baseball for 18 years and has spent the last few years as playing-manager of several minor league clubs.
While the Stampeders—a name also claimed by the Calgary hockey and football clubs—have no working agreement with any higher-classification clubs, they have been promised help by several.
When training season opened at Porterville, Calif., March 30, Lillard had in camp Pitchers Bob Roberts, acquired from Spokane Indians; Bill Francis, purchased from Pocatello, Ida., of the Pioneer League; and Rookies Al Lobato of Miami, Ariz., and Gale Pennington of Exeter, California.
Lillard Versatile
Lillard, who can handle any infield position and has started out as the club’s catcher, has Jerry Cruger, formerly of Santa Barbara of the California State League, at first base; Bob Bonebrake, out of Great Falls and the Pioneer League, at second; Al Cowan, formerly of Wichita, at shortstop; and Joe Tedesco, purchased from Elmira, N.Y., of the Eastern League, at third base.
His outfielders include Charlie Mead, ex-New York Giant purchased from Lewiston; Haif Lavery, a native of Toronto, Ont., on option from the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League; Gus Stathos of Santa Barbara; and Glen Hittner, who may join the club on option from Jacksonville, Fla.
Dick Bishop, another pitcher acquired from Spokane, has asked to be placed on the voluntary retired list. Expected to join the club are Ray Jacobo [sic], a rookie outfielder from Tulare, Calif., and Gus Kyle of Calgary, a catcher-outfielder who plays defense with the hockey Stampeders and had a two-year stint in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.
Bright Newcomers
In addition, the Stampeders expect Joe Orrell, former Detroit Tiger pitcher who had a 21-3 record while with Tijuana, Mex., of the Southwestern League last season, and Bill Carpenter, the batting champion in the Big State League in 1951 with a .365 record. Carpenter was out of baseball last season.
Joe Hopper, a rookie catcher who was recently discharged from the U.S. Marines, has also turned up in the Calgary camp and has impressed Lillard with his speed and batting power.
The Stampeders, like most other clubs, had their contract troubles earlier, but things are gradually straightening out.
“We're in a worse position than the other clubs,” said Brock. “We haven't last year’s material to fall back on But we’re getting along okay and we'll be ready to go when the season opens.”

1953 Spring Training Sites

Calgary Will Train In Porterville
McClatchy Newspapers Service
PORTERVILLE, Tulare Co., Jan. 26— The Calgary, Alberta, baseball team, a new member of the class A Western International League, will conduct its Spring training in Porterville.
Confirmation of the deal was contained in a telegram received here by Arnold Bremler from Gene Lillard, a former Pacific Coast League player and California League manager, who is piloting the Calgary entry.
Bremler said the Lewiston, Ida., Broncs, originally scheduled to return to Porterville for Spring training, will work out at home as an economy measure.
Bremler and Harry Britton are attempting to arrange for the Edmonton team from Canada to train in Wasco. The Wenatchee Wash., team of the Western International League will train in Lindsay.

Four WIL Teams To Train At Pacific Northwest Sites
LEWISTON, Idaho, Jan. 28 — The Lewiston Broncs of the Western International Baseball League will hold spring training at home this year, President James B. McMonigle announced Wednesday.
He said he now has 20 men on the tentative Bronc roster and expects about 30 by the time spring drills begin March 25.
Lewiston's usually favorable spring weather that often sends tha temperature up into the 70's in March and April, was a big factor in the decision, McMonigle said. Last year the Broncs trained in California.
The Yakima and Tri-City teams also have announced they will train in their own backyards this year.
McMonigle said Lewiston expects to schdule exhibitition games with those teams and with Washington State College and the University of Idaho.

SPOKANE, Jan. 28 — If spring brings fair weather, the Spokane Indians of the Western International Baseball League will practice at home this year. If not, they will go to Lewiston, Owner Roy Hotchkiss said Wednesday.
He said it will be less expensive than going to California as the team has in past years and also will give the local players a chance to break into baseball for the few openings that may come up.
“The only real object in going South is to get near the big camps where we can pick up some players. We don't need them this year,” said Hotchkiss.
This will be Spokane's first year under a new working agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies which may be expected to provide some players.
Pitchers will be asked to report the last week in March, Hotchkiss said, and the others a short time later.

How About Stampeders?

Calgary Ball Club to Be Known As Stamps, Natch!
CALGARY, Jan. 8—(CP)—A brand new herd of Stampeders has been added to the fold.
Norman (Bus) Lacey, president of the Calgary club in the Class A Western International Baseball League, has announced that club officials had decided to name their club the Stampeders.
“The hockey and football Stampeders have made Calgary famous in past years and we thought it only right to carry the name into our baseball enterprises,” said Lacey.
The club president added that the name had a certain advertising value in parts of the United States where the baseball club will be playing next summer.
“We thought the name would also be of value to our annual Stampede because so many people from Oregon and other adjoining states came to Calgary in force at that time of the year.”

Calgary Gets Player Help

Dodges, Tribe, Aid Calgary
CALGARY, Dec. 13, 1952—Calgary’s new entry in the class A Western International Baseball League next season will have a working arrangement with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns.
Norman Bus Lacey, club president who made the announcement on his return from the major-minor league meetings at Phoenix, Ariz., said Calgary had lines on six players in the Brooklyn organization, four from St. Louis and a couple from the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League.
“We are now completing a deal for the outright purchase of two pitchers who were with the Spokane Indians of the WIL last year,” Lacey said. “We had an opportunity to form a working association with the New York Yankees but they wanted the pick of our team at the end of the season. We couldn’t think too much of that idea.”
Edmonton Baseball Promoter John Ducey announced earlier this week that his WIL club will have a working association with the Yankees.

Does Calgary Have a Manager?

Calgary Entry in WIL May Sign Zach Taylor
CALGARY, Dec. 5—Zach Taylor, former manager of St. Louis Browns, is being considered for the managerial job of Calgary’s baseball entry in the professional Western International League, it was learned here,
He has been contacted by Calgary club officials at the major-minor league meetings in Phoenix, Ariz. Calgary interests are also reported considering another man who was an active player in the Pacific Coast League last year.

WIL Expands to Alberta

Unanimous Approval Given For Alberta W.I.L. Clubs
[Victoria Colonist, Oct. 24, 1952]
Calgary and Edmonton will be part of a 10-team Western International Baseball League next year.
The expected announcement was made from Tacoma yesterday by league president Robert B. Abel, who stated that the election of the two Alberta cities was unanimous and that they had accepted league membership.
Tentative plans were laid at a league meeting in Seattle last week when league officials met with John Ducey and Sam Timmins, representing Edmonton and Calgary, respectively. Final arrangements were made at that time but only Vancouver, Yakima and Victoria delegates had the power to consent to the addition of Calgary and Edmonton. The other five clubs promised their definite answer before yesterday’s deadline. All voted yes.
Enlargement of the W.I.L. brings added schedule and travel problems and efforts are being made to draw up a schedule in time to present it to the annual league meeting, scheduled November 10 in Yakima.
Abel said yesterday that the schedule should start on or about Friday, April 24 and end on Labor Day with approximately 140 games for each club. If it can be done, a balanced schedule will be used. It is the plan to start the season in the southern half of the circuit—Lewiston, Spokane, Wenatchee, Yakima and Tri-City—and move after about 10 days when weather in the northern cities is a bit more stable. Calgary and Edmonton will likely play two weeks on the road, opening at home around May 10.
FAVOR PLAYOFF
“I am also going to recommend that the league play a split season with the winners of the two halves meeting in a post-season series for the championship,” Abel stated. And it is altogether likely that this proposal will be accepted by the clubs, who are now said to be favoring some kind of a league play-off.
This will be the first appearance of Calgary and Edmonton clubs in class “A” baseball. However, both have been in class “B” and “C” leagues in previous years.

PRAIRIES IN WIL
Bob Brown Wins Out
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Oct. 24, 1952]
When Edmonton and Calgary were accepted into the Western International League Thursday, it successfully climaxed a two-year personal crusade by Vancouver’s Bob Brown, who usually gets what he wants, eventually, in his own baseball orbit.
Brown’s plans to include the two prairie cities were received coldly in the spring of 1951, with no only league members but also Edmonton’s John Ducey vetoing the suggestion.
But a combination of circumstances this fall changed the picture, and Ruby Robert pressed his advantage,
Shaky franchises at Tri-City and Wenatchee left the league facing a six-team seup, an unwelcome prospect; a consideration drop in over-all attendance left the teams open to suggestions of new blood; and a clamor in the two Alberta cities by fans and the press for a better class of baseball clinched it.
• • •
Including of the two new clubs makes the Class A WIL the largest league in organized baseball, and Thursday brought a suggestion from President Robert Abel that isn’t new to baseball bur would be novel here.
He said that he will suggest at the Nov. 10 meeting in Yakima that the league play a split schedule, with the first half winners meeting the second half winners at the season’s end. Season would start April 24 and end Labor Day, he said.
This suggestion may end up as just that, though. Facing WIL directors now is a more difficult task: whipping up a schedule for four Canadian teams who don’t play Sunday and six U.S. teams who do, along with such other difficulties as how to get from Salem to Calgary inside 24 hours.
• • •
But these are just a few of the problems facing Sam Timmins and Co. at Calgary and Ducey and his Edmonton associates. They’ve also got to get a couple of ball clubs, and prairie fans aren’t likely to stand still for mediocre teams.
But Brown says Timmins and Ducey have already been in contact with eastern baseball interests.

IT BEATS ME
By Jim Tang
[Victoria Colonist, Oct. 24, 1952]

Prairie cities are becoming increasingly important on the Coast sports scene. Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton may not exactly have “saved” the Pacific Coast Hockey League by becoming members of what is now more aptly known as the Western Hockey League, but there was no future in a five-team Coast league comprised of Victoria, Vancouver, New Westminster, Seattle and Tacoma. The addition of the three prairie centres may the W.H.L. what is recognized as pro hockey’s second league and made it possible not to worry about probably defection at Tacoma and, perhaps, Seattle.
Now, Edmonton and Calgary will try and do the same for the shaky Western International Baseball League and the chances are that the two Alberta cities will eventually make for a far more solid W.I.L.
The first season is hardly likely to be any rousing success. Baseball has proven time and again that 10 teams make for an unwieldy league and the W.I.L. is faced with grave transportation and schedule problems, not to say anything about graver financial situations in most of its eight holdover franchises, with particular emphasis on Tri-City and Wenatchee.
However, there was no other action that could be taken. It was only to be expected that Calgary and Edmonton would have to be given franchises. And when all other eight clubs stated they planned to play at least another season, it had to be 10 teams. The main item was to get the two Alberta cities into the league before they went elsewhere. Both are ripe for professional baseball and both are valuable baseball territories.
But it is not at all likely that the 10-team arrangement will last for more than one season. The situation in several of the smaller W.I.L. centres is not at all good and owners are only hanging on in the hope of something approaching a miracle. Wenatchee and Tri-City and, perhaps, Salem and Lewiston, are just not big enough to support Class “A” baseball and sooner or later two or three will have to recognize that inexorable fact. When that happens, the W.I.L. can become a truly international league with four Canadian and four American teams—but only because it accepted Calgary and Edmonton for next season. It won’t be much longer, probably by 1954, before it will again be an eight-team league. Two of the American teams will likely be Spokane and Yakima. Tacoma is a good bet to be back, perhaps even for the 1953 season. The other American club could be Lewiston or Salem—or Bremerton. Until it happens, the W.I.L. will never really be a sound league. As it is, spread over British Columbia, Alberta, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, it is obvious that changes won’t be long in coming.
Random Harvest
Wenatchee and Lewiston delegates came to the W.I.L. meeting last week with instructions to vote against inclusion of Calgary and Edmonton. They weren’t long in changing their minds. At the same time, Edmonton’s John Ducey had to be persuaded that it had to be a 10-team league, for one season at least...Look for a new manager for the Vancouver Capilanos for next season. It is almost certain that Edo Vanni, who proved no better than Bill Schuster, won’t be back. It’ll be a “name” or, perhaps, Don Osborn, who piloted Spokane Indians last year…Philadelphia Athletics have cut their farm system by four teams. Out is their working agreement with the Tri-City Braves…There is a good chance that the Tri-City franchise may wind up in Tacoma, little chance than it will be moved to Eugene, which could hardly hope to be more than a one-season proposition.

Alberta Closer to Having WIL Teams

WIL President Okays Prairie Ball Entries
TACOMA, Oct. 10, 1952—Western International Baseball League president Robert B. Abel said here today that Calgary and Edmonton, Alta., interests are “ready, willing and clearly able” to enter the class A diamond circuit.
Abel said the two Canadian prairie cities could gain admission to the league by one or two methods, (1) acquisition of existing franchise, or (2) persuading the league directors to expand to 10 teams.
Both Edmonton and Calgary have “baseball populations” i.e.—populations within 10 miles of city limits in excess of 200,000, Abel declared. In that connection, only Vancouver, Victoria and Spokane of the present league alignment have regular potential drawing power.
Consideration of the Calgary and Edmonton bids at an early date was a prime factor in the scheduling of a league meeting for Oct. 17 in Seattle.

PRAIRIE CITIES WANT IN
Travel, Schedule Problems in WIL Bid
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Oct. 17, 1952]
A pair of prairie men, seeking to bring culture—in the form of the Western International League baseball—to Edmonton and Calgary, visited Vancouver briefly Thursday en route to Seattle, where they meet with WIL directors tonight.
The duo, Sam Timmins of Calgary, and Edmonton’s John Ducey, huddled with Bob Brown, Vancouver’s Mr. Baseball and the No. 1 supporter of their pro bid, in an effort to put the boots to what Brown describes as their two main stumbling blocks—1. Transportation; 2. Schedule.
How successful they were should be known later tonight. This much is certain: The WIL and the prairie cities need each other.
• • •
The Class A pro league of which our Capilanos are members has two weak sisters, Wenatchee and Tri-City, both of which are out of their depth.
Edmonton and Calgary are, as Ducey put it, “bustling their britches” as cities and are anxious for something better than the inter-city, you-play-me-I’ll-play-you semi-pro rivalry they’ve had for some years now.
There seems no doubt that the two Alberta centre can hold their own attendance-wise. Not only are there the examples or pro football and pro hockey, but the figures Timmins and Ducey quote for baseball itself are impressive enough.
Keeping in mind that the people are seeing the same faces all the time—just Edmonton vs. Calgary—you can’t argue with these statistics: Calgary, seating just 2700 in Buffalo Park—but with unlimited standing room—drew 186,000 in their best recent season; Edmonton, with 4350 seats in Renfrew Park, pulled in 155,000 cash customers.
They have other figures such as this supplied by Timmins, who was known as “Sad Sam” when he performed capably as a hockey goalie: Box seats—at $100 a throw—are at a premium, with 156 of ‘em being snapped up pronto.
• • •
And there’s no worry about the financial setup, apparently, with some 10 oilmen ready to back the Calgary team, and a similar setup at Edmonton.
That leaves transportation—which Timmins said they haven’t investigated—and the schedule, unwieldy for a 10-team setup, assuming that the WIL’s weak sisters hang on.
With a league stretching from Salem, Ore., to Alberta, it’s obvious Bob Brown and Co. are owners of a king-sized headache.
They’ll be trying to come up with a monarch-size aspiring tonight.

WIL Favors New Entries, Decide Thursday
SEATTLE, Oct. 17—It will be known by next Thursday whether the Class A Western International Baseball League will be expanded to 10 teams to make room for the Canadian prairie cities of Calgary and Edmonton.
League Directors and club representatives decided at an all-day meeting here Friday to leave it up to local directors of the eight current WIL teams whether two more clubs shall be added.
The deadline for action by the local boards is Oct. 23.
Robert B. Abel, league president, said all those in attendance at the Friday meeting reported they would recommend approval by their local directors.

Edmonton, Calgary Clubs Certain in Enlarged W.I.L.
[Victoria Colonist, Oct. 18, 1952]
It’s as certain as anything in baseball can possible be at this stage of the season—Edmonton and Calgary are to become members of an enlarged 10-team Western International Baseball League for the 1953 season.
League officials met with John Ducey and Sam Timmins, representing Edmonton and Calgary interests respectively, at Seattle yesterday in an all-day conference. Only the fact that four clubs could not make a decision until their directorates had voted on the matter prevented a definite announcement that Edmonton and Calgary were “in” last night.
However, there is no doubt but that the Alberta cities will be admitted. Representatives of the four clubs in question—Lewiston, Wenatchee, Tri-City and Salem—were all in favor of the enlarged league and approval of their directorates is considered only a matter of form. Only two more favourable votes are needed in any event with Victoria, Vancouver, Spokane and Yakima already on record as supporting the Edmonton and Calgary entries.
Face with the almost positive assurance that they will have 10 teams, league officials are already laying plans for next season, and striving to find means to combat added schedule and transportation difficulties.
BALANCED SCHEDULE
Tentatively, they decided yesterday on a season opening on or about April 26 and closing on Labor Day with approximately 140-145 games for each club. It is their hope to arrange a balanced schedule, which would have every club playing two four-game series in each of the nine other cities. This would make for a 144-game schedule with 72 home games for each team, almost ideal.
However, with no Sunday baseball in Canada and the lengthy distances between such cities as Salem and Edmonton, to say nothing of getting the most out of holiday fixtures, the schedule presents quite a problem. The league will pay $300 or more to anyone who can frame a suitable schedule any anyone who wants to give it a try is welcome to do so. Just mail your entries to the Victoria Baseball Club, who will see that they get to the proper official
TRAVEL BY AIR
Club officials at the meeting were surprised at the cost of transporting their players to Alberta by air. A representative of Trans-Canada Airlines was at the meeting and it seems almost certain that the clubs, particularly those situated on the Pacific Coast, will do considerable travelling by air next season. Needless to state, this will help with the balky scheduling problem.
Some system of play-off is certain for next season. Both the Shaughnessy play-off plan and the split season have been under discussion and it appears that the league will go for the divided season in 1953 with the two winners meeting in a playoff for the league championship.
WEATHER NO PROBLEM
All clubs were favourably impressed with the possibilities at Edmonton and Calgary. Ducey and Timmins stated that it was possible for start their home seasons on or about May 10 and that there was no cold weather problem until late in September. The Alberta entries will play on the road for the first two weeks of the season.
Edmonton’s Renfrew Park and Buffalo Park at Calgary were said to be equipped with suitable lighting. Renfrew Park will seat 4,250 while Buffalo Park has a capacity of 2,800. Both Ducey and Timmins stated that extra seats will be installed if needed. Timmins stated there should be no trouble filling Buffalo Park for every game and has previously initimated the would favor keeping the park at its present capacity on the theory that a shortage of seats would help keep the park full.

Abel's Alberta Trek

Abel and Brown to Scout Alberta WIL Expansion
CALGARY, Oct. 4, 1952—Baseball mogul Harold Cundal has announced he has received word that a delegation representing the Western International League will be in Calgary soon to discuss the possible entry of Calgary and Edmonton in the W.I.L.
The West Coast delegation will meet with Cundal and Sam Timmins of Calgary and John Ducey of Edmonton. It is then to report back to a W.I.L. meeting November 11.
Cundal said the delegation will include Robert Abel of Tacoma, Wash., president of the W.I.L., Reg Patterson, general manager of the Victoria club; and Bob Brown, president and general manager of the Vancouver Capilanos.
Cundal, Timmins and Ducey have been making enquiries for the last few months about the possibilities of Calgary and Edmonton obtaining W.I.L. franchises.
Queried about the report last night, Patterson stated that he knew nothing of the trip as far as he was concerned. He did admit, however, that Abel was planning to make the trip to discuss possibilities with Edmonton and Calgary baseball men and that it was probable he wished another league official to accompany him. Patterson stated that Brown would likely make the trip with Abel.

WIL To Open Arms To Edmonton, Calgary
[Vancouver Province, Oct. 9, 1952]
Chances of Edmonton and Calgary placing entries in the Western International League baseball setup for 1953 are stronger today than they’ve ever been.
WIL President Robert Abel met with representatives from the two prairie cities in Calgary Wednesday, and he reported “they’re very interested.”
Abel met with John Ducey of Edmonton and Harold Cundal and Sad Sam Timmins of Calgary. Vancouver’s Bob Brown, originally slated to make the “missionary” trip, declined when Abel decided to fly.
The WIL prexy reported that the prairie men tendered to him a proposition regarding a 10-team setup and agreed to go along with “any reasonable terms” Abel might suggest.
Abel also said he has contacted all league members about the possible inclusion of the two Alberta cities, in the hope that their entries can be finalized when the WIL meets at Yakima, Nov. 10.

Bob Brown on Alberta Expansion

Caps GM Says
Prairies Can Gain WIL Entry
[Vancouver Province, Sept. 30, 1952]
Calgary and Edmonton can gain entry to the Western International League at the annual meeting of that loop on November 10.
That is the opinion of local baseball boss Bob Brown, who returned Monday from a WIL end-of-season conference in Seattle.
“Acceptance of the two Alberta clubs was discussed informally,” said the general manager of the local Capilanos. “The feeling seemed to be in favor of them coming in.”
There was no thought of dropping any of the clubs presently in the WIL, Brown said. If certain clubs which had difficult seasons this year wanted to stay in they could do so. The thought was that the league would expand to 10 clubs if Calgary and Edmonton came in.
“There would have to be responsible backing for the prairie clubs,” he said “I believe they have that now. If they make proper representation at our November 10 meeting, nothing can stop them.
“Of course I’m only one vote, but that is my feeling about the situation.”

WIL October Meeting

W.I.L. Owners Just Talk Alberta Cities Want In
[Victoria Colonist, Sept. 27, 1952]
Faced with grave problems which must be settled long before the start of the next baseball season, officials of the Western International League accomplished little but preliminary discussions at yesterday’s meeting in Seattle.
About the only definite news to come out of the gathering was that plans of Dick Richards, majority stockholder in the Tri-City Braves, to sell his stock to the Tri-City Athletic Association were approved.
League-president Bob Abel stated that it was hoped that the transaction would be completed within 30 days. The association includes residents of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland, and owns the Tri-City ball park.
SET ANNUAL MEETING
The annual league meeting was scheduled for Yakima on November 10 and indications are that it will be a lengthy session.
Much of yesterday’s discussion centred around the possibility of including Calgary and Edmonton in the league for next season.
No announcement was made of league plans concerning Calgary and Edmonton, but a majority of owners are known to favor the inclusion of the two Alberta cities.
TWO TO GO?
Just what arrangements can be made remains a matter for conjecture. It is hardly likely that the W.I.L. will entertain the possibility of a 10-team league, so if Edmonton and Calgary come in it means that two of the present franchises will have ton be moved. The finger points right at Tri-City and Wenatchee, most of the other owners believing they are unable to support class “A” baseball. However, officials from both cities are determined to stay and are conducting all-out campaigns to raise the necessary finances.
READY TO GO
Meanwhile, there was cheering news from Alberta. Edmonton’s John Ducey and Calgary’s Sam Timmins, the former hockey goaltender who is representing Calgary interests, were quoted in a Canadian Press dispatch from Calgary as saying they are ready to enter teams in the W.I.L.
Ducey and Timmins met Wednesday and yesterday with other baseball men from the two cities and agreed that “the two cities are ready for class ‘A’ baseball and we’re all set to give it to them. “We’re certain we can attract anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 fans in the two cities with class ‘A’ ball,” Ducey said, pointing to the support accorded both hockey and Canadian football in the sports-mad Alberta centres.
“SAY THE WORD”
“All they have to do is say the word and we’re in,” Timmins added, stating that groups of oil-men in each cities are ready and able to give financial support.
Buoyed by this report, the W.I.L. is expected to send a representative to Alberta before the annual meeting to discuss possible arrangements.
There was no word from Seattle regarding the possibility of a full-time president, but it is believed that this will come up for discussions in Yakima. More and more, club owners are realizing the league’s biggest need is a full-time operative at the top. The only question now is whether or not they can find a suitable man.

Why Calgary & Edmonton Now?

IT BEATS ME
By Jim Tang

[Victoria Colonist, Sept. 21, 1952]
Like drowning clutching at straws, W.I.L. owners are buoyed up with the hope that Calgary and Edmonton will save them from going under. Faced with a situation so serious that there is nothing unreasonable in the belief that the league might not be able to operate next season, they are now almost unanimous in the opinion that the Alberta cities would make fine additions.
It’s an excellent idea. The only trouble is that the late converts saw the light about two seasons too late.
That Calgary and Edmonton would be fine additions despite geographical, weather and schedule difficulties seems obvious. That Calgary and Edmonton might want to join a league as shaky as the W.I.L. is today another thought.
Take a look at the record. It is doubtful if Tri-City and Wenatchee can raise enough money to pay their bills and have enough left over to start next season. The same situation exists in Victoria despite all the whistling in the park. Lewiston is ready for 1953 but no one can be certain that the Idaho city can stand another bad year.
That’s half the league in the extremely doubtful class and one wonders how much longer Yakima and Salem can go on taking financial setbacks. Vancouver and Spokane, the league’s two largest population centres, are also unable to show a profit. In fact, Spokane reported a $35,000 loss this season, Vancouver must have lost almost as much, if not more, after a 1951 season in which it is reported to have shown as $50,000 deficit.
Any way you look at it, it doesn’t look at all hopeful. Sure, Calgary and Edmonton would help, but they are in the driver’s seat and know it. The W.I.L., led by Vancouver’s Bob Brown and Spokane’s Roy Hotchkiss, both recent converts, though it a ridiculous idea when the Alberta centres approached the W.I.L. three years ago. Now the W.I.L. has to come with hat in hand and it will consider itself fortunate if it can give away two franchises. There is little hope that they can be sold.
Owners to Blame
Minor-league baseball at its best is a financial risk and it is true that the W.I.L. has its problems with an unbalanced league which has more than half the population centred in two cities but there is no good reason why matters should be as bad as they are. No reason except club owners themselves.
League-president Bob Abel has taken the brunt of the blame and he, it must be admitted, has shown no firm hand in guiding the league. But is must be remembered that he is only a part-time president getting a part-time salary and that the biggest reason he has held the job for so long is that the owners actually didn’t want anyone with convictions of his own.
For instance, two of the big problems in the W.I.L. are bad scheduling and bad umpiring. Both have been with the league ever since it was organized in 1946 and both are the fault of the owners.
The W.I.L. schedule is always a joke. This season, for instance, Spokane played 155 games, Vancouver played 141. This, too, is the fault of the owners. As soon as a scheule is accepted they get together to make private deals and rearrange everything. At least six games were added this season after the “official” schedule was mailed out because certain clubs thought they saw a chance to make a little extra by passing up an off day. Then when bad weather, which must always be expected, forced numerous postponements, these same owners, Victoria included, refused to try to make up these games. And they hollered that the schedule was too long—after lengthening it themselves.
Bad umpiring has cost a lot of fans but the only thing that club owners have done about it in six tears is to get on the telephone every time they think their cause has been hurt by a game official and raise merry cain with Abel. At least there is no evidence of any other move.
Public relations are bad in most cities, almost non-existent in some. Too many club officials have no idea of what constitutes public relations. And too many club officials could never have any. It’s the little things that count, which brings to mind a recent example of what is meant. A Victoria restaurant owner tossed a dinner for the Tyees near the end of the season. Only most of the players attended. Neither the field manager or the business manager was there. That does more harm than a losing season.
The W.I.L. can stay in business—but only if the club owners will go out and get someone to run their business for them. So far, they haven’t been able to do it themselves.

Ducey Says WIL Poses Problems

Prairie Cities Prepared to Enter W.I.L. Baseball
EDMONTON, Sept. 19—Edmonton and Calgary baseball moguls are interested in catching berths in the Western International Baseball League.
“Calgary and Edmonton are pretty well agreed the step we want to make is to the Western International,” said John Ducey, lessee of Renfrew Park and long-time aspirant for an Edmonton franchise in organized baseball.
“But first of all, certain geographical problems would have to be ironed out,” Ducey said. “If we can’t see our way clear to go into that league, then we’ll revive the old Calgary-Edmonton Big Four for one year. Eventually, though, it’s our intention to move into organized ball.”
DISTRICT LEAGUES
This year the two cities had their own district senior leagues, the winners playing off for the Alberta arc-light championship.
Yesterday, owner Roy Hotchkiss of the Spokane club of the W.I.L. predicted that Calgary and Edmonton would be members of the class “A” circuit next season.
The Spokane Chronicle said rumors are that Tri-City and Wenatchee may be dropped to make room for them. It is understood that Ducey means Tri.City, Wenatchee and Lewiston when he refers to “certain geographical problems.”
OTHER INTEREST
Ducey now is in Great Falls, Mont., to see some playoff games of the class “C” Pioneer League, in which he has also shown previous interest.
“Alberta certainly is prepared for class A baseball and it would be great for both Edmonton and Calgary, although I’m only speaking for the foothills city, to have an opportunity to play in the Western International League,” said Sam Timmins of Calgary’s Buffalo Park.
He pointed out that Alberta is ready to boost the standard of baseball for diamond supporters and it should give the game a tremendous following.

Calgary & Edmonton Closer

Spokes Owner Predicts Prairie Cities in WIL
SPOKANE, Sept. 18—The owner of the Spokane Indians baseball club predicted Thursday that Calgary and Edmonton will be members of the Class A Western International League next season.
Roy Hotchkiss said it is necessary to put league teams in the two Canadian cities if the WIL is to improve dropping attendance.
Hotchkiss’ announcement came as a complete surprise as he had been a leading opponant to previous attempt to give the Prairie cities franchises.
Victoria, Vancouver, Salem and Yakima are reported to be in favor of the new setup and Lewiston is not expected to voice an objection. Tri-City and Wenatchee, which suffered drastic financial losses this season, are rumored to be the clubs which will be replaced.
League directors will meet in Seattle a week from tomorrow to discuss possible changes.
If Edmonton and Calgary should replace Tri-City and Wenatchee, it would divide the W.I.L. into four territorial divisions—Victoria and Vancouver; Edmonton and Calgary; Spokane and Lewiston, and Salem and Yakima.
Hotchkiss reported a $35,000 loss at Spokane this year. The Indians, usual leaders at the gate, drew slightly more than 100,000—a drop of 40,000—this year.