MANITOBA BASEBALL
WINNIPEG SENIOR AMATEUR LEAGUE
(May 18) Under bright, clear skies, the 1913 version of the Winnipeg Senior Amateur Baseball League got underway with the Elmwood Giants knocking off the Arenas 9 to 5 to begin play while the Knights of Pythias dropped Norwood 9 to 7 in the final contest. Over 1,000 enthusiastic spectators viewed the season-opening double-bill notwithstanding the fact that the professional Class C Northern League Winnipeg Maroons and the Minneapolis Millers were, at the same time, squaring off in a counter attraction at River Park.
The Arenas squandered a 5 to 0 first-inning lead in the opener which saw the Giants finally grab the lead with a four-run output in the sixth stanza. Catcher Dunc McCorquodale and outfielder Bell both tripled and singled for the winners. Fly chaser Borland led the Arenas at the dish with a two-bagger and single.
Manson (L) and Shepherd
Smith (W), Shannon and McCorquodale
A four-run seventh frame allowed the Knights to overcome a 7 to 5 deficit and claim the victory in the late encounter. Both teams registered nine base raps. Shortstop Cuthbert and first sacker McNeil both singled twice for the KP’s. Middle pasture guardian L. Morton stroked a brace of triples for the vanquished nine while teammate Adamson had a double and one-bagger.
J. Morton (L) and Gladu, F. Morton
May (W) and Hysler
(May 21) The Knights of Pythias and the Elmwood Giants battled to a 2 – 2 stalemate in a highly-charged Senior Amateur League fracas. The game was marred by a fight between playing-manager Dan McLennan of the Giants and umpire Percy Keane. The pitchers were in command in this match. Only three hits, all singles, were garnered by the opposing nines, two by the Elmwood squad. Lost in the rowdyism of the moment was the fine 11-strikeout performance of pitcher Larson of the Knights. For his actions, McLennan was suspended and ultimately resigned his managerial position.
Larson and Hysler
Smith, Shannon and McCorquodale
(May 28) With first baseman Adamson and shortstop Morrin slugging home runs, the Norwood nine tripled the Arenas 9 to 3 at the Wesley College grounds. The victors teed off on losing chucker Holbrook for four first-inning counters and maintained the lead throughout. Winning tosser Ross pitched a four-hitter and whiffed four. Adamson had a single to go along with hid four-bagger while teammate Baker registered a double and one-bagger
Ross (W) and Gladu
Holbrook (L), Stack and Lloyd
(May 30) The Elmwood Giants plated a brace of counters in the seventh canto to earn a 4 – 4 tie with the Knights of Pythias in Senior Amateur Baseball League action. It was the second consecutive draw between the two combatants. Moundsman Larson of the Knights held the Giants to just one hit while fanning 15. Shortstop Cuthbert clubbed a home run in support of Larson’s knoll performance.
Larson and Hysler
Neville and Gates
(May 31) Two one-sided games were the result of a WSABL doubleheader staged at the Wesley College grounds. The Elmwood Giants rollicked to a 19 to 7 thrashing of Norwood in the curtain-raiser while the Knights of Pythias doubled the Arenas 14 to 7 in the final match.
An eight-run outburst in the fourth frame sealed the deal for Elmwood in the opener. Outfielder Bell and keystone sacker A. McLennan both ripped three safeties for the Giants with one of Bell’s blows being a round-tripper and a three-bagger included in McLennan’s sum of swats.
Shannon (W), Hessian and Gates, McCorquodale
J. Morton (L), L. Morton and Gladu, F. Morton
The Knights plated six big counters in the second panel of the late encounter and were never headed. First baseman McNeil led a 16-hit KP offensive thrust with a trio of bingles while teammate Cuthbert blasted two triples. For the Arenas, losing tosser Ross singled three times and middle pasture fly chaser Maxwell homered and singled.
May (W) and Hysler
Ross (L), Manson and Shepherd
(June 4) Overcoming an early 3 to 0 deficit, the Elmwood Giants roared back to defeat the Arenas 5 to 3 before a substantial crowd of spectators. Winning pitcher Shannon fanned seven while twirling a four-hitter. Outfielder Wilcox stroked three singles for the winners while third baseman Borland led the Arenas with the hickory, garnering a double and single.
Shannon (W) and Gates
Manson (L) and Thor
(June 7) The Elmwood Giants pounded the Knights of Pythias 17 to 11 and the Arenas crushed Norwood 10 to 4 in a sloppily-plated twin-bill WSABL action. Loose defensive play marred the matinee contest in which first-string catcher, Hysler, of the Knights was forced to leave the game in the opening canto after splitting a finger. Subsequent replacements experienced difficulty in handling the offerings of losing twirler Larson.
Larson (L), Miller (8) and Hysler, Hanson (1), Samson (7)
Shannon (W) and xxx
Despite scoring ten tallies in the follow-up fracas, the Arenas were blanked in the earned run department as the Norwood infield continuously booted the ball. Norwood first baseman Adamson was the leading hitter in the contest, stroking the sphere for a trio of safeties. The result of the game was protested by Norwood and ultimately awarded to them as the Arenas were found guilty of using an unregistered player, Elliott.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(June 11) Over a 1,000 spectators turned out at the Wesley College grounds to witness a 9 to 6 triumph by the Knights of Pythias baseballers over the Norwood nine. With the score knotted at 4 – 4 , the KP’s surged ahead to stay with a five-run explosion in the seventh stanza. Catcher Samson tripled and doubled for the victors while teammates Mowbray and McNeil doubled and singled.
Larson (W) and Samson
J. Morton (L) and F. Morton
(June 14) Lopsided results were the order of the day at the Wesley College grounds as the Elmwood Giants overwhelmed Norwood 17 to 8 and the Knights of Pythias clobbered the Arenas 17 to 9 in a pair of WSABL games.
xxx (L) and Irvine
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and Lloyd
xxx (W) and xxx
(June 18) Rain shortened a WSABL game to five innings in which the Elmwood Giants conquered the Norwood nine 5 to 1. Jimmy Shannon earned the mound decision over Lou Morton in the abbreviated scuffle. The Giants went ahead in the top of the second canto when they plated a trio of counters, which proved more than sufficient for the win. A run-scoring single by Wessels followed by a two-run double off the bat of Shannon got things going for Elmwood.
Shannon (W) and xxx
L. Morton (L) and Irvine
(June 21) With a half-dozen runners crossing the plate in the sixth panel, the Norwood nine blasted the Arenas 12 to 5. Third sacker Bradley’s bases-loaded two-bagger got the fireworks going for the Suburbanites in the fateful sixth. Winning flinger Smith recorded six strikeouts while Thompson, the losing tosser, punched out nine.
Smith (W) and xxx
Thompson (L) and xxx
(June 25) The Knights of Pythias went to town offensively in the fourth and fifth innings en route to an 8 to 4 whipping of the Arenas. The KP’s chalked up a slight 6 to 4 advantage in base hits as Larson copped the knoll verdict over D. Cantwell. First baseman Finkill of the Arenas was the only swatter in the contest to amass two base knocks, with one of his blows being a two-bagger.
Larson (W) and Samson
Cantwell (L) and Thor
(July 4) The Elmwood Giants defeated the Knights of Pythias 5 to 4 in a fast-paced game at the Wesley College grounds to maintain their leadership atop the WSABL standings. The Knights out hit the winners by an 8 to 4 margin but were unable to cash in on their opportunities. A two-run homer by outfielder Irvin in the second inning gave Elmwood the lead which they never surrendered. A dropped third strike by substitute catcher McNeil, following another injury to starting backstop Hysler, resulted in an unearned run for the Giants which padded their lead.
Larson (L) and Hysler, McNeil
xxx (W) and xxx
Standings W L Pct.
Elmwood Giants 7 1 .875
Knights of Pythias 5 2 .714
Norwood 4 5 .444
Arenas 0 8 .000
(July 5) A pair of interesting baseball clashes at the Wesley College grounds saw the Knights of Pythias squeeze past the Elmwood Giants 4 to 3 while the Arenas took a 9 to 8 verdict from Norwood.
The result of the first contest, featuring the league’s top two clubs, was in doubt right up to the end. Solid defensive play by the Knights, who were out hit 9 to 7, saved their bacon. Losing flinger Neville topped the hit parade with a double and two singles. Jim Congalton homered for the KP’s while teammate and fellow fly chaser Walsh pasted a triple to go along with a one-bagger.
Neville (L), J. Morton and McCorquodale
Wilcox (W) and Samson
The Arenas appeared to be weakening but held on for a victory in the concluding fracas as winning pitcher Patterson struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth canto. Norwood held a decisive 12 to 5 advantage in bingles. Both pitchers of record fanned eight. Norwood’s F. Morton topped the willow wielders with a triple and single.
Patterson (W) and Thompson
Smith (L) and Irvine
(July 14) Following a week of wet weather conditions, the WSABL got back on track at the Norwood diamond where the Elmwood Giants doubled the Arenas 4 to 2. Winning chucker Jimmy Shannon held the basement-dwelling Arenas to just two hits. A newcomer, Oleson, toed the rubber for the Arenas who backed him up with errorless ball.
Oleson (W) and xxx
Shannon (W) and xxx
(July 15) The Norwood nine put a further crimp in the pennant aspirations of the Knights of Pythias, downing the KP’s 3 to 1 in a snappy contest. Both squads played errorless afield. Winning flinger S. May was touched for four safeties while fanning five Norwood batters. Lou Morton pitched well in defeat, yielding five safeties while ringing up 11 strikeouts. Outfielder Ross doubled and singled for the winners while teammate while his teammate, third baseman Bradley, walloped a bases-empty homer. Fly chaser Walsh tripled and singled for the Knights.
May (L) and Carl
L. Morton (W) and Smith
(July 16) Before 2,500 enthusiastic onlookers at the Wesley College grounds, the cellar-dwelling Arenas surprised the league-leading Elmwood Giants and walked away with an 8 to 6 decision over the Gargantuans. Outswatting their opponents by a 9 to 6 margin, the Arenas displayed a balanced batting attack. With the exception of the pitcher’s spot, every batter in the winners’ lineup had at least one safe blow. Third baseman Siddle of the Elmwood nine doubled twice to lead all hitters. Winning flinger Manson did a nice job on the hill after the Giants had driven starter Stack to the showers in the opening chapter.
Stack, Manson (W) (1) and Thompson
J. Morton (L), Shannon (5) and McCorquodale
(July 26) The Elmwood Giants disposed of the revamped Norwood nine to the tune of 5 to 2 while the Knights of Columbus took the Arenas into camp 11 to 10 in a merry-go-round scuffle.
Jimmy Shannon pitched a five-hitter in recording the opening-game mound victory for the Giants. A. McLennan doubled and singled for the winners while first baseman Ross Edgecombe drilled a pair of one-baggers.
Ross (L), Berbenik and Moorefield, Smith
Shannon (W) and Gates
The Arenas made things interesting in the top of the final canto of the late match when they came from well behind, scoring seven times, to assume a 10 to 9 lead. Not to be outdone, the Knights rallied with a brace of markers in the bottom of the round to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Arenas filed a protest after one of their runners was ordered back to third base after apparently scoring during their ninth-inning outburst. Winning hurler Larson recorded three hits for the KP’s while outfielder Walsh ripped a triple and double and shortstop Cuthbert a triple and single. Losing flinger Manson and first baseman Kinkill both singled twice for the Arenas.
Manson (L), Ross and Raymond
May, Larson (W) (9) and Hysler, Samson
(July 30) The Arenas defeated Norwood 3 to 0 in an exhibition game from which the proceeds were set aside for players injured during the campaign.
Manson (W), Ross (3), Stack (5) and Lloyd
Smith (L) and Gladu
(August 2) The two teams heading the Winnipeg Senior Amateur Baseball League both came out victorious in doubleheader play. The Elmwood Giants beat the Arenas 7 to 1 and the Knights of Pythias outdistanced Norwood 16 to 13.
Winning pitcher Jake Morton held the Arenas to six hits in the opener. Leading the winners’ 12-hit barrage were outfielder Irvin and catcher Gates who both drilled three hits. Included in Irvin’s sum of swats was a triple while Gates had a pair of doubles in his total.
Manson (L) and Lloyd
Morton (W) and Gates
Heavy hitting was the feature in the late encounter. An eight-run third inning pushed the Knights in front to stay. Shortstop A. Ross and third baseman Bradley slugged round-trippers for the Norwood nine who out hit the victors by a 16 to 10 margin. Outfielder Jim Congalton paced the Knights offensively, banging out a triple plus two one-baggers. Norwood backstop Kennedy also had a three-bagger to go along with a brace of doubles.
L. Morton (L), Berbenik and Kennedy
McLeod (W), May and Samson
(August 9) The Norwood aggregation upset the Elmwood Giants 6 to 5 in the matinee match of a WSABL double-dip. The concluding contest was a loosely played affair in which the Knights of Pythias came out on top of the Arenas by an 11 to 8 count.
Trailing 5 to 2, Norwood plated four markers in the fifth canto to register a comeback win in the opener. Staked to the one-run lead, winning flinger Smith blanked the Giants for the remaining four frames. Norwood catcher Kennedy belted a four-bagger.
Bell (L), Shannon (5) and Gates
Smith (W) and Kennedy
The Knights picked up five counters in their first turn at bat and led from start to finish in the owl encounter. S. May went the distance on the knoll for the hillock triumph.
May (W) and Hysler
Ross (L) and Tomlinson, Borland
(August 16) In the curtain raiser of a WSABL twin-bill, the Elmwood Giants moved into a first-place tie by defeating the Knights of Pythias 4 to 2. The second game featured a 5 to 3 Norwood triumph over the Arenas.
The Giants jumped into a first-inning lead in the opener and were never headed. Loose defensive play by the KP’s was a significant factor in their demise. Relief pitcher Jimmy Shannon sparkled for the winners, denying the Knights a hit after entering the game in the fifth panel.
May (L) and xxx
Nevilles (W), Shannon (5) and xxx
The Norwood nine picked up a pair of tallies in the second round and led throughout the sunset event.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
Standings W L Pct.
Elmwood Giants 11 5 .688
Knights of Pythias 11 5 .688
Norwood 7 10 .412
Arenas 4 13 .235
(August 23) As the WSABL entrants completed the regular schedule with a brace of games at the Wesley College grounds, the Elmwood Giants and Knights of Pythias remained in a tie for top spot in the circuit. The Giants disposed of a reinforced Arenas nine 5 to 1 to begin the day’s action. In the wind-up tussle, the KP’s crushed Norwood 13 to 1.
Shannon (W) and McCorquodale
Manson (L) and Lloyd
Larson (W) and Hysler
Ross (L), Smith and Kennedy
PLAYOFF FINAL
(September 6) The Knights of Pythias doubled the short-handed Elmwood Giants 10 to 5 at River Park to lay claim to the 1913 WSABL championship in a somewhat disappointing final. The Giants had a weakened line-up as some of their players refused to participate owing to the action of the amateur body in suspending them. A crude umpire Bert Warren calling balls and strikes as well as a complete meltdown by the Elmwood defense were also factors in the let down of play. Winning heaver Larson punched out 11 Giant batters. The KP’s had a 10 to 7 advantage in base knocks. Hot corner custodian Mowbray and shortpatcher Cuthbert stroked three hit apiece for the Knights with a three-bagger included in Mowbray’s total of raps. Fly chaser Nevilles singled on three occasions for the conquered nine.
Larson (W) and Samson
Sharman (L) and McCorquodale
THE SEMI-PRO LEAGUE
Dauphin, Gilbert Plains and Grandview participated in a three-team semi-pro league during the 1913 season. Within editions of the 1913 Dauphin Herald and Grandview Exponent, the loop was simply referred to as the Semi-Pro League and nothing was ever found in print to indicate that the circuit had a name.
The league began play in the first week of June and came to an abrupt end following a meeting in Grandview on July 18 in which the first-place Dauphin club refused to release certain players from their roster who the Gilbert Plains team wanted banned from the circuit.
Game Results
(June 2) Gilbert Plains 4, Dauphin 3
Clemens (L) and Skelly
Thrall (W) and Wallace
(June 4) Grandview 9, Gilbert Plains 8
McGregor (L), Thrall and Wallace
Cameron (W) and Pedley
(June 6) Dauphin 11, Grandview 10
Clemens (Dauphin) – 11 strikeouts and 3 base hits
Charles McLean (Grandview) – home run
Cameron (L), Ladoceur and Midgley
Clemens (W) and Skelly
(June 9) Dauphin 8, Gilbert Plains 7
Thrall (L) and Wallace
Clemens (W) and Skelly
(June 11) Gilbert Plains 5, Grandview 3
(June 13) Grandview 6, Dauphin 4
George Hume (Grandview) and A. Buie (Dauphin) – 3 hits apiece
Clemens (L) and Skelly
Cameron (W)and Midgley
(June 16) Dauphin 12, Grandview 0
Evans (Dauphin) – 3 base hits
Cameron (L) and Midgley
Clemens (W) and Skelly
(June 20) Gilbert Plains 13, Grandview 6
(June 23) Dauphin 6, Gilbert Plains 2
Clemens (Dauphin) – 10 strikeouts
Ross (L) and Wallace
Clemens (W) and Skelly
(June 25) Grandview – Gilbert Plains (postponed – rain)
Standings W L Pct.
Dauphin 6 2 .750
Gilbert Plains 3 4 .429
Grandview 2 5 .286
(July 7) Dauphin 12, Gilbert Plains 4
Whittaker (L), I. Greenaway (4) and Nother
James (W) and Skelly
(July 9) Grandview 4, Gilbert Plains 3
(July 11) Gilbert Plains 11, Dauphin 10
Clemens (L) and Skelly
Thrall (W) and Wallace
(July 18) A disagreement between representatives of the Dauphin and Gilbert Plains entries at a league meeting held in Grandview resulted in the sudden termination of the three-team semi-pro circuit.
(August 6) A visiting squad from Tyndall and Garson pulled off an 11-10 victory over Selkirk in a contest at Red River Park. Tyndall received good production up and down their lineup with all but one scoring at least one run. In a game which saw errors all over the diamond, Yolton managed to go the route for the winners on the mound, besting R. Peers and Anderson for the home team. Selkirk's McLeod and Knox were the top scorers in the game, each with three runs. Friday, Selkirk travels to Gimli for a contest with the local squad and next Monday they visit Garson and on Wednesday are expected to play at home against a team from Winnipeg.
Yolton (W) and Angus
R.Peers, Anderson and xxx