16 December, 2024
Western Canada Baseball may always be a work in progress. Ironic isn't it? There's always something new to uncover about the past.
Over time, the site has evolved into more of a Canada / Northwest USA site, but we'll keep the original title for ... old times' sake.
The aim is pretty basic -- an attempt to rediscover the joys of baseball back in those much simpler (and many would say, better) times. A look back at a tumultuous period in North America.
It's a tip of the cap to some extraordinary people who filled out those tattered uniforms at Sportsman's Park and other dusty fields across the prairies and elsewhere across the country.
We've been so pleased over these nearly 25 years to have received such incredible responses to our work.
What a delight to publicize the diamond exploits, previous unknown, of so many fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers. Family histories now more complete.
Enjoy.
Why it's worthwhile:
Greg Seastrom (From Fresno State University to the Vulcan Elks for the summers of 1955 & 1956)
" ... Thank you for recording my small scratch in the sand of baseball history. It's true that I wasn't very good, but I had the opportunity to enjoy all the pleasures that this wonderful game has to offer. I will always treasure that, and if nothing else, through your site I'll be able to verify to my grandchildren that people really did come to see me play." |
Don Biasotti Jr. (Don Biasotti Sr. played for the Edmonton Eskimos in 1958, one of the dozens of players who came to Canada from the University of Southern California.)
" ... My father played for Edmonton in 1958 after winning a National Championship at SC ... Today my father is 64 years old and ... the Internet is a little above his head. None the less, I showed him and my friends and family your site. My father was amazed, along with the rest of us. Great site ... My father's face was unforgettable when he saw his picture and all his old friends. I grew up hearing stories about my father playing here or there so it was nice to actually see what it was all about. I commend you and your site. Your site is a perfect example of all the good the internet has to offer. The enjoyment my dad got from seeing his old friends and teammates was priceless. Keep up the good work. Impressed and thankful." |
Bill Gatenby (Sceptre, 40's early 50's) A former President of Texaco Canada and President, CEO of Cameco, once the world's largest uranium mining company.
| "Those were marvelous times ... if I had to relive any three weeks in my life ... I'd probably pick three weeks in '47 and '48 when certain tournaments were on and go back and play ball. It was just marvelous, and you know I've been to Moscow three times and Japan 14 times on business, and lived in New York, lived in Los Angeles, lived in Miami, lived in Venezuela 12 years, all those were good times but none of them compared to playing semi-pro ball in rural Saskatchewan." |
Jim Sims (the left-hander was among dozens of top college stars in the Untied States to hone their skills in Western Canada, Sims, Arizona State, with the Edmonton Eskimos in the summer of 1959)
"My memories have faded so it was fun to go back and learn the truth of what actually happened as opposed to what I remembered."
My name is Nichelle Scott. I want to personally thank you for introducing me to my grandfather ... Leopoldo Reyes. Unfortunately, I never got the privilege of meeting my grandfather due to his deportation back to Cuba. Before today my family only had 1 picture of my grandfather … my family has searched for information ... but we were unsuccessful.
Today my cousin decided to google the name Leopoldo Reyes and your great website www.attheplate.com came up. It was truly mind blowing to see so many pictures of him and to be able to read the game reports from his games ... your website enlightened us on his talent for the game. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.