WINNIPEG WESLEY SENIOR LEAGUE
Arenas
Columbus Club
Elks
Norwood
Tammany Tigers
FIRST SERIES
REGULAR SEASON
(May 16) Pat Cann’s three-run homer in the seventh inning wiped out a 2 – 0 deficit and lifted the defending-champion Arenas to a 4 to 2 decision over the Elks in the opening game of the 1927 Wesley Senior League season. Winning pitcher Dunc Irvine yielded five hits, including a solo homer to Gord Caslake, while fanning four and walking five. Except for the fateful sixth spasm, losing chucker “Red” Davison had the better of his hurling argument with Irvine and finished with a four-hitter. He whiffed five and walked two but allowed a second circuit-clout in the eighth episode, a bases-empty shot off the bat of Bill Knight that provided the Rinkmen with an insurance tally. George Rivers of the B.P.O.E. Bunch, with a brace of one-baggers, was the only multi-hit batter in the contest.
Davison (L) and G. Dakins
Irvine (W) and Bradley
(May 17) Playing under weather conditions more conducive to hockey than baseball, the youthful Columbus Club aggregation opened the season on a positive note, defeating the Tammany Tigers 9 to 5. The game was terminated after 6-1/2 innings of play with dark skies prevailing. Touched for eight safeties, including a home run by outfielder Jack Menzies, winning heaver Odie Lowe fanned nine Bengals in the abbreviated affair. Losing twirler Leo Johnson was battered off the bump in the second stanza and replaced by Sammy McCallum who did a creditable job for the remainder of the tilt. Keystone sacker Pat O’Brien picked up three hits, all singles, for the winners while teammate Marty Kokran went deep with a two-run homer in the opening canto. First baseman Harvey Kendall swatted a pair of doubles for the Jungle Cats.
Johnson (L), McCallum (2) and McLellan
Lowe (W) and Arnott
(May 18) Diminutive third sacker Camille Van Beneen clouted a grand-slam home run in the second stanza which paved the way for Norwood’s 9 to 5 victory over the Elks. It was the first showing of the campaign for the Suburbanites who were aided greatly by the wildness of three Wapiti twirlers. No less than eleven bases-on-balls and two hit batsmen by the trio of B.P.O.E. flingers figured in the scoring. The skirmish ended after six stanzas had been played as per a lack of illumination. Alex Hill scattered eight hits, including three singles by Gord Caslake, in securing the complete-game hillock triumph. Joe Rivers of the Antlered Tribe smashed a bases-empty four-bagger in leading off the game.
Hill (W) and A. Olien
Arnison (L), Wilson (2), O. Olien (5) and G. Dakins
(May 19) Former Arena player “Bunny” Warren, now managing the Tammany Tigers, broke a 5 – 5 tie with a two-run homer in the bottom-of-the-third inning to lead his new charges past the Rinkmen 8 to 6 in seven-spasm encounter at Wesley Park. Neither starting hurler finished the game in which the Arenas outhit the Bengals 10 to 6. The Ferocious Felines played smoother ball afield than their opponents and made their blows count in the pinches, home runs accounting for five of their eight tallies. In addition to Warren’s game-changing circuit-jack, Ward McVey launched a three-run round-tripper in the opening canto. Greig Warren, with a double and three singles, topped the hit parade for the losers.
Lawton, Ridgedale (L) (2) and Mobberly
McCallum (W), Crowe (4) and McLellan
(May 28) Courageous pitching by Alex Hill in the pinches stopped the Arenas at Wesley Park and gave Norwood a 3 to 1 victory. In the last three innings, the Rinkmen loaded the bases and, each time, Hill was able to blank them. Their only tally came in the sixth round when Pat Cann caught a high fastball on the nose for a solo circuit-jack. Cann faced Hill again in the ninth with the sacks full and this time Hill prevailed with a strikeout. The Arenas had an 8 to 5 edge in safeties, three of those coming from Bill Siddle, but played a poor defensive match, committing seven errors. All three runs by the Suburbanites crossed the pan in fourth frame and were charged against starter and loser Bob Beddome. Dunc Irvine replaced Beddome on the knoll after two had been retired and did a great job in relief over the remaining 5-1/3 innings, allowing only one scratch single.
Hill (W) and A, Olien
Beddome (L), Irvine (4) and Mobberly
(May 30) The Elks recorded their first victory of the season at Wesley Park by defeating the Columbus Club 6 to 4 in a darkness-abbreviated, seven-inning game which never lacked interest. Winning heaver Johnny “Red” Davison’s brilliant work in the clutch and two costly misplays by the Clubbers were the deciding factors. Davison was nicked for just four safeties, including a home run and two singles by shortstop McCush, but had control issues, walking ten batters and hitting two others. In the pinches, however, he racked up the majority of his eight strikeouts. Norman “Lefty” Malloy pitched a solid game for the Columbians, surrendering six hits, walking two batters and plunking one. Had it not been two crucial defensive lapses, each occurring with two outs, he could have very well escaped with a shutout. A muffed fly ball in the opening canto and a sixth-stanza soft fly behind second base that either of the middle infielders should have handled with ease, but instead bungled the play by both backing off, were the instigators for all the Wapiti counters. Joe Rivers singled twice for the winners while teammate Bob “Packy” McFarlane walloped a three-run homer.
N. Malloy (L) and Arnott
Davison (W) and G. Dakins
(May 31) The Elks picked up their second win in as many days, trouncing an erratic band of Tammany Tigers 8 to 1 in a seven-stanza engagement. “Lefty” Jansen, a youthful southpaw from the junior ranks, started on the hill for the Bengals but was pounded hard in the third and fourth innings for seven runs before exiting. Veteran Jack Hind hurled the complete-game pitching win, yielding but four hits including a solo home run and a single to outfielder Jack Menzies. For the second game in succession, Bob “Packey” McFarlane blasted a three-run round-tripper for the Antlered Tribe.
Jansen (L), Crowe (5), Smith (7) and McLellan
Hind (W) and G. Dakins
(June 1) Backing Bill Crowe’s four-hit pitching with perfect defensive support, the Tammany Tigers trounced Norwood 7 to 1 in a well-played contest. The setback for the Tammany Tribe was their first in three outings. Crowe walked just one and fanned five batters while “Lefty” Roberts, who toed the rubber for the Suburbanites, gave up eight safeties, issued five free passes and breezed an equal number. Initial sacker Harvey Kendall of the Bengals was the hitting star of the fracas, clouting a pair of homers, one of which came with a runner aboard.
Crowe (W) and Singbush
Roberts (L) and A. Olien
(June 2) In a spirited contest that was featured by brilliant hurling and snappy fielding, the defending-champion Arenas took the measure of the Columbus Club 4 to 2. The bright star of the Arenas’ triumph was portside twirler Dunc Irvine who held the Columbians to three scattered hit while whiffing 11 batters. Sharing honors with Irvine was hard-hitting first sacker Pat Cann who came through with a timely double in the third round with the bases loaded to put the Rinkmen in front 3 – 0. Odie Lowe pitched for the Clubbers, holding the winners to five hits, but got himself in big time trouble in the fateful third by doling out three free passes just prior to Cann’s bases-clearing two-bagger. Greig Warren of the winners, with a brace of one-baggers, was the only batter from either team to accrue plural hit totals.
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
Lowe (L) and Arnott
(June 4) Six runs in the sixth inning after two had been retired gave the Tammany Tigers a 6 to 0 victory over the Columbus Club at Wesley Park. The half-dozen tallies followed an error by Club second baseman Pat O’Brien. Winning hurler Bill Crowe and diminutive southpaw “Lefty” Deakin battled tooth-and-nail through five scoreless innings before the outburst which included a two-run double by Ron Singbush, a fluky inside-the-park homer by Crowe and a single by Jimmy Grant that produced a brace of RBI’s, all coming after two easy outs to begin the sixth. Crowe finished with a five-hitter while adding a double to his tainted four-bagger. Catcher Jimmy Arnott stroked a double and single for the losing Columbians.
Deakin (L), N. Malloy (7) and Arnott
Crowe (W) and Singbush
(June 6) By doubling the Arenas 8 to 4 before a large turnout at Wesley Park, the Elks moved into a second-place tie in the Senior League standings. The win for the Bother Bills was their third in succession. Jack Hind was on the mound for the Horned Herd and hurled well in seven of the nine rounds against the Arenas who experienced an off night. Starter and loser Dunc Irvine pitched far below his usual form and was yanked from the hillock in the second chapter after giving up all eight tallies. Bill Siddle took over took over mound chores at that point and held the Elks scoreless the rest of the way. Top hitter in the contest was leadoff hitter Greig Warren of the Rinkmen who stroked three singles.
Irvine (L), Siddle (2) and Sinclair
Hind (W) and G. Dakins
(June 8) In a game that featured hard hitting and loose fielding by the losers, Norwood came from behind to defeat the Elks 9 to 8 to take over top spot in the standings. Twice during the scuffle the Antlered Tribe, who out-clubbed the victors 11 hits to 7, were out in front but the Suburbanites saved their final rally for the last-half of the sixth when they stepped out in front just a half-inning before the game was called on account of dark clouds descending upon Wesley Park. Although far from his usual consistent form, the pitching win went to Alex Hill, ace of the Norwood hurling stable. “Red” Davison started on the hillock for the Horned Herd but was unsteady and yielded to Jack Hind in the fateful sixth. Six errors played havoc with the Brother Bills’ chances. George Rivers and Gord Caslake of the vanquished nine both belted home run with Caslake’s clout sending in two runners ahead of him.
Davison, Hind (L) (6) and G. Dakins
Hill (W) and A. Olien
FIRST-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Norwood 3 1 .750
Tammany Tigers 3 2 .600
Elks 3 3 .500
Arenas 2 3 .400
Columbus Club 1 3 .250
(June 9) Battering the offerings of Sammy McCallum for 13 base blows, to go along with seven free passes, the Arenas stayed right in the running for the first-half honors in the Wesley Senior League by trimming the Tammany Tigers 11 to 5. It was a bad night for the hurlers on both sides as, all told, there were 22 hits including three circuit-clouts and as many doubles. On top of this, the heavers handed out 14 walks while three batters were beaned. After relinquishing a run in the top-of-the-first frame, the Rinkmen retaliated with a three-spot in their half and remained in front for the rest of the skirmish. Herb Fitch laced three singles for the victors while teammates Bill Siddle, Pat Cann and Bill Knight all delivered four-baggers with Siddle and Cann stroking singles as well. Ward McVey smashed a double and one-bagger for the Bengals.
McCallum (L) and Singbush
Lawton, Ridgedale (W) (5) and Sinclair
(June 11) Front-running Norwood pounded the pill hard in copping an 11 to 5 victory over the Columbus Club before 1,500 fans at Wesley Park. Six runs on a walk, four singles and a home run swat by Toddy May in the top-of-the-fifth frame paved the way for the Norwood victory. Johnny Reid and Bert Lloyd, a battery from the West End Intermediates, started for the winners but when the Clubbers rallied and came within one run of tying the count in the last-half of the fifth, ace slabster Alex Hill was summoned to the hill to extinguish the fire, holding the Columbians at bay for the remainder of the tilt. In addition to Mays’s four-bagger, teammate Bill Dunbar delivered a three-run circuit-clout for the victors in the ninth round.
Reid (W), Hill (5) and Lloyd
Mackie (L) and Arnott
(June 13) The Arenas took over sole position of second place in the Wesley Senior circuit after handing the cellar-dwelling Columbus Club nine an 8 to 6 setback. The Rinkmen led all the way after posting a three-spot in their first turn at bat but had to withstand a last-minute rally by the Columbians which netted them a trey and saw the potential tying marker stranded. Both hurlers of record, southpaws Chuck Ridgedale of the victors and the Clubbers’ Norm Malloy, experienced major control issues which slowed the pace of the game down considerably. Rosie Rosenstock led the winners at the dish, pounding a three-run homer to go along with a brace of one-baggers. Bill Davis, with a double and single, was best with the baton for the Cee Cees.
N. Malloy (L) and Arnott
Ridgedale (W), Siddle (7) and Sinclair
(June 14) Norwood baseballers made sure of at least a tie for top spot in the first-half pennant race by taking the lowly Columbus Club into camp 6 to 4. It was Norwood’s third consecutive victory and the sixth straight defeat for the Clubbers. A brace of tallies in the bottom-half of the sixth spasm sealed the deal for the Suburbanites. “Lefty” Roberts, with seventh-stanza assistance from Alex Hill, copped the mound decision over Intermediate League call-up Mel Stack who made a fine impression in his Senior League debut. Another Intermediate player, flychaser Carl Newman, sparkled for the losers, driving in all four of their runs with a home run and a single. Jack Seel of the winning nine also swatted a round-tripper and a single.
Stack (L) and Arnot
Roberts (W), Hill (7) and Lloyd
(June 15) Starting off shakily with some weak work on the basepaths, the Tammany Tigers suddenly came to life and trounced pace-setting Norwood 11 to 7 in an exciting slugging match at Wesley Park. The result moved the Bengals into a tie with the Arenas for the runner-up position in the standings, a full game behind the Suburbanites. What was expected to be a pitching-dominated affair between winning heaver Bill Crowe of the Jungle Cats and Norwood’s Alex Hill, turned out to be anything but with the foes managing 23 hits between them, a dozen of those bingles coming off the lumber of the losers. Off to a slow start, the Ferocious Felines didn’t assume the lead in the joust until the fifth frame when they ran across five counters, four of those coming on Ward McVey’s grand-slam home run. Harvey Kendall and Claire Livesley also tagged Hill for round-trippers, Kendall’s blow coming with one mate aboard while Livesley’s clout was a solo shot. Billy Dunbar, youthful Norwood shortstop, lead all swatsmiths in the affair, smashing a four-bagger, a double and two solid singles. Livesley wasn’t far behind, adding a triad of one-baggers to his goner.
Hill (L) and A. Olien
Crowe (W) and Singbush
FIRST-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Norwood 5 2 .714
Tammany Tigers 4 3 .571
Arenas 4 3 .571
Elks 3 3 .500
Columbus Club 1 6 .143
(June 16) A 5 to 3 victory by the Elks over the Columbus Club allowed the Brother Bills to enter a three-cornered tie for second place in the Wesley Senior loop with the Arenas and Tammany Tigers. “Red” Davison hurled the win for the Wapiti and, although he uncharacteristically doled out ten bases-on-balls, he was almost unhittable in the pinches, stranding 13 baserunners. He fanned nine and allowed only two singles. The Cee Cees’ “Lefty” Deakin was on the mound for six of the seven innings played in the darkness-shortened affair, fading in the fifth and sixth spasms when the Horned Herd scored all their runs. George Rivers and outfielder Anderson of the victors each had a double and a single while playing-manager Gordon Dakins slammed a bases-empty four-ply jack.
Davison (W) and G, Dakins
Deakin (L) Mackie (7) and Arnott
(June 18) The Elks came from behind three times to knot the count before finally succumbing 8 to 6 to the Tammany Tigers in an exciting 12-inning encounter before a large crowd at Wesley Park. With the win, the Tammany Troupe qualified for the first-series playoffs. Jack Hind of the Antlered Tribe and the Bengals’ Bill Crowe faced each other in the important clash with errors by his teammates and wildness on his part paving the way for Hind’s downfall. The Wapiti had a significant 15 to 9 edge in base hits but Hind negated that margin by walking nine batters while Crowe did not issue a single base-on-balls. Added to this, the Brother Bills were guilty of seven errors. In the bottom half of the eighth, ninth and eleventh rounds, the Horned Herd escaped defeat by tying the score on each occasion. However, the end came in the top-of-the-twelfth on clean hitting by the Bengals. Ken McKenzie and Harvey Kendall both ripped one-out singles with McKenzie winding up at third base. After Kendall swiped the keystone sack, Ward McVey delivered a clutch bingle up the middle to plate both runners and Crowe did his part by silencing the losers in the bottom-half of the third-overtime canto. Harvey Kendall drilled three singles for the Striped Cats while the Elks’ Gord Caslake and “Packey” McFarlane replicated the feat. Crowe helped his cause with a solo homer and a single, a batting effort duplicated by Ralph Dakins of the B.P.O.E. Brigade.
Crowe (W) and Singush
Hind (L), Davison (12) and G. Dakins
(June 20) Norwood and the Tammany Tigers will battle it out for first-series honors in the Wesley Senior Baseball League. This was decided at Wesley Park when Norwood eliminated the Arenas by scoring a 7 to 2 victory. Alex Hill, the Suburbanites’ pitching ace, hurled a brilliant five-hitter and walked just two while whiffing seven as his mates provided an errorless defense. His two-run circuit-clout in the fourth frame gave his team a 3 – 1 lead. Losing flinger Wally Lawton was nicked for seven safeties and doled out seven free passes. He fanned three batters but five fielding miscues kept him in hot water. Bill Siddle cracked out three of the Arenas’ five safeties, one of which was a solo homer.
Lawton (L) and Bradley
Hill (W) and A. Olien
First Series final standings W L Pct.
Norwood 6 2 .750
Tammany Tigers 5 3 .625
Elks 4 4 .500
Arenas 4 4 .500
Columbus Club 1 7 .125
First-place Norwood and the runner-up Tammany Tigers qualified to meet in a best-of- three playoff for the First Series title.
First Series playoff game reports
(June 27) Three errors in the eighth inning paved the way for the Norwood 2 to 0 victory over the Tammany Tigers in the first of a best-of-three series for first-half Wesley Senior League honors. Bill Crowe and Alex Hill hooked up in a fine hurling dual, with Crowe being saddled with the defeat in spite of surrendering just two safeties, one of which was very scratchy. The Bengals collected seven scattered bingles off the slants of winning tosser Hill. Norwood was lucky to plate their deuce of unearned counters as the Tigers muffed three easy plays in a disastrous eighth. The Tammany battery of Crowe and catcher Singbush each had two hits.
Crowe (L) and Singbush
Hill (W) and Olien
(June 28) Coming through in the final innings to score four times, the Tammany Tigers evened up their First Series playoff round by squeezing past Norwood 4 to 3. Leo Johnston and Johnny Reid both went the route on the knoll as Norwood held a slight 5 to 4 advantage in base hits with fly chaser Todd May registering two of them. Ward McVey’s three-run homer in the sixth panel erased a 3 to 0 deficit and allowed the Bengals to draw even. They plated the winner in the eighth when Claire Livesley, who had singled and advanced on a walk and sacrifice to the hot corner, was safe at the dish on a poor throw during a fielder’s choice attempt.
Reid (L) and Olien
Johnston (W) and Singbush
(June 29) Norwood earned the First Series playoff crown by stopping the Tammany Tigers 8 to 4 in game three of their showdown at Wesley Park. The winners hammered loser Bill Crowe for a dozen base blows and essentially copped the game with a five-run outburst in the second round. Winning flinger Alex Hill fanned seven and yielded six hits. Second sacker Dundas and outfielder Toddy May both ripped a brace of two-baggers for Norwood while Claire Livesley smashed a round-tripper for the Tigers.
Hill (W) and Olien
Crowe (L) and Singbush
SECOND-SERIES
(July 4) Norwood, first-series champions, opened the second series with a 12 to 1 victory over the Tammany Tigers. After assuming a five-run lead in the opening stanza, the Suburbanites cruised to the win behind the superb two-hit pitching of Alex Hill. Losing flinger Leo Johnson never made it out of the first inning after surrendering a grand-slam home run to Bill Dundas. Sammy McCallum hurled the remained of the contest for the Bengals. Toddy May lit McCallum up for another Norwood four-bagger, with one aboard, in the seventh round.
Hill (W) and Lloyd
Johnson (L), McCallum (1) and Singbush
(July 6) After coming through with a clutch three-spot in the eighth episode to tie the score, the Elks added another trey in the tenth round to clip Norwood 7 to 4. Joe Rivers, elongated Wapiti shortpatcher, smashed a two-run round-tripper, his third hit in the fracas, in the top-half of the bonus round to provide the winners with all the tallies they would need but, just for good measure, Joe’s brother, Romeo Rivers, followed up with another four-bagger for added insurance. It was an uphill battle for the Brother Bills who never had the lead until the overtime session. Fifth-frame reliever “Red” Davison copped the hurling triumph while Alex Hill, nicked for 11 safeties, was stung with the defeat. Aside from the Rivers’ siblings, Gord Caslake also provided offensive ammunition for the Antlered Tribe, connecting for a two-run double and a one-bagger.
G. Belanger, Davison (W) (5) and G. Dakins
Hill (L) and A. Olien
(July 7) The Tammany Tigers clipped the Arenas 6 to 2 in a rapidly-played encounter at Wesley Park. The final verdict was virtually reached in the opening canto when the Bengals ran across four markers as a result of three hits, three walks and a hit batter. Leo Johnson, showing unusually good control, went the route on the hillock for the Jungle Cats, limiting the Rinkmen to only four base hits. After a horrendous first frame, the Arenas’ Wally Lawton hurled a reasonably good game. Jimmy Grant, with three solid swats including two doubles for the victors, was the hitting star of the game.
Johnson (W) and Singush
Lawton (L) and Sinclair
(July 8) After trailing for most of the game, the Arenas scored four times in the top-of-the-seventh and final frame to annex a ragged 11 to 9 victory over the Columbus Club. Bill Siddle, the third heaver used by the Rinkmen, earned the pitching win over young Mel Stack. The Arenas, outhit by a 12 to 9 margin, were fortunate to win, several unwarranted throws on the part of the Clubbers combined with some wild pitching, giving the Rinkmen their last-ditch chance. Siddle belted a two-run homer for the winners while flychaser Carl Newman of the Cee Cees also launched a four-bagger to go along with a single.
Beddome, Ridgedale (4), Siddle (W) (7) and Sinclair
Stack (L), Mackie (7) and Arnott
(July 9) The Elks scored their second straight win of the second series by defeating the lowly Columbus Club 9 to 3. Third-inning reliever Jack Hind of the Antlered Tribe, although wilder than usual, was tough in the pinches and took the pitching decision from Club starter “Lefty” Deakin. The result was virtually settled in the fourth frame when, with two out, the Brother Bills ran across a five-spot on the strength of a two-run single by Gord Caslake and a bases-loaded triple off the bat of Joe Rivers. Outfielder Anderson swatted a solo home run for the winners.
Deakin (L), Foster (8) and Arnott, McCorquodale (2)
Mitchell, Hind (W) (3) and G. Dakins
(July 11) Scoring 14 times in the first three innings, the Arenas went on to hammer Norwood 18 to 4. Pat Cann slugged a homer and two singles for the victors in support of winning chucker Wally Lawton. Catcher Len Sinclair also went deep with a four-bagger for the Rinkmen.
Reid (L), Hill (2) and Lloyd
Lawton (W), Woolner (8) and Sinclair
(July 13) Norwood emerged as 3 to 2 victors over the Columbus Club in the best-played game of the second series. Norwood’s Bill Stobie ascended the mound for the first time this season and turned in a solid game, holding the Clubbers to five safeties, one of which was a two-run homer by Carl Newman, while doling out five walks. Young Dave Mackie of the Cee Cees proved to be a formidable opponent, tossing a six-hitter with three free passes. With the score tied at 2 – 2, the winning marker came in the sixth stanza when Alex Olien drilled his second single of the game, driving in Toddy May. Rival catcher Jimmy Arnott also singled twice.
Mackie (L) and Arnott
Stobie (W) and A. Olien
(July 14) Displaying one of the best slugging exhibitions of the season, the Elks administered a 14 to 1 drubbing to the Arenas. The Wapiti blasted the offerings of loser Wally Woolner and reliever “Lefty” Ridgedale for 13 hits which included five doubles, a triple and two home runs. The Rinkmen opened the scoring in the top-of-the-first frame, plating their one and only run when Bill Knight stole home. After that, winning heaver “Red” Davison, who was unsteady when it didn’t matter but tightened up in the pinches, shut them down. A four-spot in the third round, followed by five more counters in the fourth session, iced the victory for the Antlered Tribe. Outfielder Anderson stroked three safeties, including a double, for the winners. George Rivers and Lawrie Cuthbert checked in with round-trippers with Rivers adding a two-bagger to his homer and Cuthbert a single. “Packey” McFarlane followed with a brace of doubles.
Woolner (L), Ridgedale (5) and Sinclair
Davison (W) and G. Dakins
(July 15) The Elks maintained their unblemished record in second-series action when they won an uphill battle from the Tammany Tigers 5 to 3. Trailing from the outset, the Horned Herd managed to tie the score in the sixth stanza and then went ahead to stay in the eighth episode when they plated a deuce on the strength of some solid hitting by flychaser Anderson who doubled, sending both the winning and insurance tallies across the dish. Sixth-inning reliever Jack Hind earned the hurling verdict over Sammy McCallum. Romeo Rivers led the balanced eight-hit offense of the winners with a double and one-base hit. Jimmy Grant smashed a solo home run for the Bengals while “Bunny” Warren picked up a double and single.
Arnason, Hind (W) (6) and G. Dakins
McCallum (L) and Singbush
(July 16) Unleashing a rally in the seventh and eighth innings that netted five runs, the Columbus Club balltossers turned in their just their second victory of the season, and their first in the second series, by upending the Tammany Tigers 9 to 6. Mel Stack of the Clubbers and the Bengals’ Leo Johnson squared off in the hillock joust in which the Cee Cees had a slight 8 to 7 margin in base hits. Both heavers were a trifle wild and erratic fielding placed each of them in several bad holes. Pat O’Brien and first baseman Bill Pridham each singled twice for the Colombians while outfielder Cel Molloy cracked a two-run circuit-clout. Ward McVey poled a solo home run to go along with a single for the Jungle Cats.
Johnson (L) and McKenzie
Stack (W) and Arnott
(July 18) Hurling nine innings of shutout ball after taking over mound chores in the first inning, Odie Lowe blanked the Tammany Tigers as the Columbus Club once gain prevailed over the Bengals, this time by an 8 to 4 count. The final score in no way tells just what a fine game Lowe pitched as he does get credit for a shutout. He entered the game after starter “Lefty” Deakin failed to record an out in the opening panel and had surrendered a grand-slam home run to Ward McVey. He went on to record all 27 outs, whitewash-style, while limiting the Tabbies to just three hits. Larry Wilson, formerly of the Elks, did the flinging for the Jungle Cats. He showed the effects of his long layoff by walking ten batters. Heading the hit parade for the winning Columbians was second baseman Pat O’Brien who stroked three singles. McVey picked up a single for the Bengals in addition to his four-ply clout.
Deakin, Lowe (W) (1) and Arnott
Wilson (L) and G. McKenzie
(July 20) First-series pennant-winning Norwood put a stop to the miniature winning streak of the youthful Columbus Club nine, taking the long end of a narrow 2 to 1 decision in a seven-inning, darkness-shortened tilt. Winning chucker Alex Hill pitched brilliantly for the Suburbanites, stifling the Cee Cees on one hit, a ringing double by outfielder S. Malloy in the fourth frame. A bases-empty home run by Tod May in the sixth session broke a 1 – 1 tie and provided the deciding marker. Losing heaver Mel Stack was touched for just five hits including a double and single by Jack Seel.
Hill (W) and A. Olien
Stack (L) and Arnott
(July 21) After reeling off four straight win to start the second series, the Elks finally tasted defeat when they were bounced 12 to 7 by the Tammany Tigers. The Bengals ripped into the offerings of losing hurler Jack Hind for two homers, a double and five singles in less than three innings which, mingled with several walks, accounted for ten early runs. “Rookie” Arnison finished the outing on the hill for the vanquished nine. Bill Crowe, in his first heaving assignment of the second series, toed the slab for the Jungle Cats and came up with a performance which was generally below his usual mark yet good enough to win. Jimmy Grant and Ward McVey were the top swatsmiths for the Tabbies with three base knocks apiece. McVey’s sum of swats included a home run and a double. Harvey Kendall added a second round-tripper for the victors with a single thrown in. Romeo Rivers nailed a four-bagger for the Antlered Tribe.
Crowe (W) and Singbush
Hind (L), Arnison (3) and G. Dakins, Arnison (2), Caslake (3)
(July 22) The Elks put the boots to a patched-up Arena team at Wesley Park, bludgeoning the Rinkmen 16 to 3 in a tilt that ended after six rounds because of darkness. The Wapiti belted starter Bert Stainsby’s shoots for 19 base blows and all 16 runs before he was mercifully removed from the knoll after five frames. Winning twirler “Red” Davison held the Arenas to four safeties, all singles. Joe Rivers and Lawrie Cuthbert whaled the apple for back-to-back homers for the victors in the second spasm. Teammate “Packy” McFarlane led the hit list for the Horned Herd, spanking the spheroid for a triple and three singles. Davison and Gord Caslake each added a triad of bingles with a two-bagger included in Caslake’s sum of swats.
Davison (W) and Arnison
Stainsby (L), Ridgedale (6) and Lawton
(July 25) The vastly improved Columbus Club diamondeers, a smooth-working group of youngsters, took a richly-deserved 8 to 5 verdict from the pace-setting Elks’ aggregation. The Clubbers drove Antlered Tribe ace slabster “Red” Davison from the knoll in the fourth frame with a barrage of solid wallops combined with a patience to exploit his atypical lack of command. “Rookie” Arnison, who followed Davison on the bump, held the Cee Cees in check for the balance of the eight-inning tussle. Young Odie Lowe, hurling for the Columbians, was tight in the pinches and, at bat, poled out two safeties, a double and a single, which were responsible for driving in four runs. Teammate Cel Molloy was also productive at the dish, collecting three RBI’s with a triple and single. Romeo Rivers paced the Brother Bills with the willow, clouting a home run and a single.
Davison (L), Arnison (4) and Arnison, G. Dakins (4)
Lowe (W) and Arnott
(July 26) The Tammany Tigers came from behind to take the Norwood team down a notch when they took the long end of a 7 to 4 decision. Fred Stobie, a new addition to the ranks of the winning Ferocious Felines, was steady on the hillock, holding the Suburbanites to five scattered hits, walking just one and yielding only two earned runs. Losing chucker Alex Hill spun an eight-hitter which included a three-run homer in the fifth frame by Ward McVey which pushed the Bengals in front for the first time. Jimmy Grant doubled and singled for the Jungle Cats while Toddy May led the Suburbanites offensively with a solo four-bagger and single.
F. Stobie (W) and G. McKenzie
Hill (L) and Lloyd
SECOND-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Elks 5 2 .714
Norwood 3 3 .500
Columbus Club 3 4 .429
Tammany Tigers 3 4 .429
Arenas 2 3 .400
(July 27) After sailing along as a dangerous threat recently, the Columbus Club baseballers fell apart defensively and were slapped down by the Arenas 16 to 5 in a wild and ragged seven-stanza affair at Wesley Park. A six-spot in the second spasm followed by seven more in the third round put the Rinkmen in a commanding lead. “Lefty” Ridgedale, who had major control issues, pitched the first five frames for the Arenas and was credited with the win. Cee Cee starter Dave Mackie, bounced to the showers in the second stanza, was tagged with the loss. There was some hard hitting in the engagement as Rosy Rosenstock clubbed a home run and triple for the victors. Teammate Bill Siddle also smashed a four-bagger as did Carl Newman of the losing Columbians.
Mackie (L), Lowe (2) and Arnott
Ridgedale (W), Siddle (6) and Mobberly
(July 28) The Elks increased their lead in the second-series standings when they disposed of Norwood 7 to 5 in an eight-inning encounter. The Suburbanites gave the Wapiti all they could handle and seriously threatened in the final stanza when they had the bases loaded but could not reduce the deficit before the final out was made and the game was called because of darkness. The Horned Herd played sounder afield behind winning chucker John “Red” Davidson as losing twirler Johnny Reid was plagued with some control issues. Both squads registered nine safeties. Outfielder Anderson led the Brother Bills with the bat, swatting a double and a thundering home run while Norwood’s Alex Olien clipped Davidson’s offering for three singles.
Reid (L) and Lloyd
Davison (W) and G. Dakins
(August 2) The Arenas and Elks battled to a 5 – 5 tie in a hotly-contested seven-inning battle at Wesley Park. The Antlered Tribe grabbed a three-run lead at the start but the Rinkmen knotted the count in the third round then went ahead with a deuce in the sixth only to have the B.P.O.E. Boys plate singletons in each of the final two frames of the seven-stanza encounter to create a sawoff. The Horned Herd outswatted the Arenas 9 to 4 but let eight baserunners stranded. Bill Siddle, with a home run and single, had half of the bingle total generated by the Rinkmen. Lawrie Cuthbert picked up a double and a single for the Brother Bills while flychaser Anderson connected for a bases-empty round-tripper.
Ridgedale and Mobberly
Hind, Arneson (7) and G. Dakins
(August 3) In spite of having a decided 7 to 1 advantage in base hits, the best the Columbus Club diamond troopers could do was to muster up a 2 – 2 tie with first-series champion Norwood. Even then, it took an eighth and final inning counter to salvage the come-from-behind draw in the darkness-abbreviated affair. Infielder Otto McCush of the Clubbers was the batting star of the game with a double and single, driving in both of the Cee Cee counters.
Stack, Lowe (6) and Arnott
Hill and Lloyd
(August 4) Cashing in on an opening-canto five-spot, the Tammany Tigers ran roughshod over the Arenas to the tune of 11 to 3. With a 14 to 8 margin in base hits, the Bengals never trailed in the eight-inning tilt. Larry Wilson whiffed six and walked a pair of batters in claiming the hillock triumph. Ward McVey slugged a home run and a brace of one-baggers for the Tabbies. Teammate Jimmy Grant followed with a triad of singles. Bill Knight and Greig Warren each collected three safeties for the Rinkmen with Knight’s trio of swats coming on a four-bagger and a pair of doubles.
Wilson (W) and Singbush
Lawton (L). Ridgedale (1), Beddome (8) and Bradley
(August 5) Pounding the horsehide viciously and receiving steady twirling from veteran Bill Siddle, the Arenas looked more like champions of old in lacing the Norwood nine 11 to 4. Siddle went the distance in the eight-episode engagement and received more-than-ample offensive support from his mates that included three home runs and four doubles. Norwood starter and loser Johnny Reid failed to survive the opening inning as left-hander Maurice Menlove was seconded to douse an early fire. Art Frick was the big noise with the lumber for the Rinkmen, swatting a pair of four-ply clouts. Rosy Rosenstock also shone with the willow, smashing a round-tripper, double and single. “Doc” Burns added a double and two one-baggers for the victors. Second baseman J. Dundas paced the Suburbanites with a pair of stinging two-baggers and a single.
Siddle (W) and Mobberly
Reid (L), Menlove (1) and A. Olien
(August 6) The Elks and Columbus Club emerged as victors in doubleheader action at Wesley Park. In the first game, the Wapiti took a 9 to 6 decision from Norwood in a contest that was replete with solid hitting, a few outstanding defensive plays and plenty of excitement. The late contest had the Columbus Club laying claim to a 17 to 7 conquest of an inept batch of Tammany Tigers.
After four scoreless innings to begin the opener, the Brother Bills jumped out to a 7 – 0 lead yet, when they entered the ninth, the Suburbanites had clawed back to make the score 7 – 6. Determined to put the result on ice, the B.P.O.E. Boys then plated a deuce to sew up a scintillating performance. Both aggregations lambasted the horsehide with authority, the Antlered Tribe holding a 16 to 14 edge in bingles. Gord Caslake of the Horned Herd pounded the pill for a double and a pair of one-base hits while George Rivers singled three times and Romeo Rivers clouted a two-bagger plus a home run. For the vanquished nine, Camille Van Beneen checked in with a double and two singles while Tod May and Con Puhan ripped three singles each.
Arnison (W), Davison (8) and G. Dakins
Hill (L) and A. Olien
The late engagement was all Columbus Club as the Bengals failed to show up defensively, booting the ball on nine different occasions. The Cee Cees ran across eight unearned runs off losing twirler Bill Crowe in the first two frames. Fred Stobie took over hillock duties for the Jungle Cats part way through the third chapter but the bleeding continued. Odie Lowe went the route on the clay throne for the victory despite giving up ten safe swats, including three singles to Gord McKenzie and a pair of doubles to Ward McVey. Bob Dalziel and Cel Molloy each stroked a triad of one-baggers in pacing the 15-hit offensive surge of the victorious Columbians. Tommy Shannon added a four-ply clout.
Crowe (L), F. Stobie (3) and Singbush
Lowe (W) and Arnott
SECOND-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Elks 7 2 .778
Arenas 4 4 .500
Tammany Tigers 4 5 .444
Columbus Club 4 5 .444
Norwood 3 6 .333
(August 8) Staging the greatest comeback of the season at Wesley Park, the Columbus Club shocked the Arenas with a 12 to 9 triumph. The Arenas had a comfortable 7 – 0 margin at the close of the second round but the Clubbers persevered by plating five in the third, two in the sixth and then came through with another five-spot in the seventh to sew up the result. Columbian reliever Dave Mackie, who took over slab duties from “Lefty” Deakin in the third round, notched the heaving triumph by holding the Rinkmen in check for the remainder of the contest. Versatile “Snake” Siddle of the Arenas, stung for a two-run four-bagger by middle infielder Otto McKush and a brace of one-baggers off the bat of Dunc McCorquodale, went all the way on the hill and was tagged with the defeat. Playing-manager Art Frick went deep with a bases-empty round-tripper for the losers.
Siddle (L) and Mobberly
Deakin, Mackie (W) (3) and Arnott
(August 9) Alex Hill gave one of the best pitching performances of the second series at Wesley Park as Norwood defeated the Tammany Tigers 3 to 1 in a well-played affair that went eight full rounds before darkness intervened. Hill yielded only three hits, one of which was a mighty four-bagger by Jimmy Grant while the other two were dinky infield rollers. Larry Wilson, on the mound for the Bengals, also pitched a fine game. He was touched for nine safeties but, with the exception of the third round, he was master in the pinches. The verdict was decided in the third session when an RBI-single by Tony LeGoff, a run-scoring double off the bat of Jack Seel and Alex Olien’s long sacrifice fly produced all the counters that the Suburbanites would need. Seel ripped a single in addition to his two-bagger.
Hill (W) and A. Olien
Wilson (L) and Singbush
(August 10) The Elks came from behind three times at Wesley Park and finally defeated the Columbus Club 7 to 6 in an exciting encounter reduced to seven chapters because of darkness. Two tallies in the seventh and final round brought victory to the second-series leaders after trailing throughout. The game had a dramatic ending which saw “Red” Davison sliding into the plate with the winning marker on Gord Dakins’ bouncer to shortstop with runners at the corners. The throw to the plate had Davison beaten but Cee Cee catcher Jimmy Arnott experienced brain freeze and touched the plate instead of tagging the runner. Earlier in the frame, Joe Rivers had plated the tying counter on an RBI-single by Lawrie Cuthbert. The Brother Bills had a decided 11 to 3 edge in base hits but that advantage was nullified as “Rookie” Arnison, on the hill for the front-runners, walked ten batters and hit another one. Odie Lowe went the route on the bump for the losers. “Packey” McFarlane stroked three singles for the victors.
Lowe (L) and Arnott
Arnison (W) and G. Dakins
(August 11) Wally Lawton and “Doc” Burns combined their talents in leading the Arenas to a 4 to 0 win over Norwood. Lawton and Finlay Fairfield of the Suburbanites locked horns in a mound joust that was scoreless for the initial six spasms. In the last-half of the seventh stanza, Burns stepped to the dish, with a runner aboard, and promptly greeted Fairfield with a two-run homer. The Rinkmen added two more insurance counters in the same frame while Lawton continued to blank the opposition, finishing with a four-hitter and six strikeouts. Bill Knight had a productive evening with the lumber for the winners, belting an RBI-triple as well as a two-bagger and a single. Burns added a one-base hit to this game-deciding round-tripper.
Fairfield (L) and Lloyd
Lawton (W) and Bradley
(August 12) Pounding the offerings of portsider Chuck Ridgedale and Bill Siddle for a dozen base blows, the Tammany Tigers walloped the Arenas 13 to 4 to create a three-cornered tie for second place in the Wesley Senior circuit. Winning tosser Bill Crowe turned in a solid performance for the Bengals, holding the Rinkmen to six safeties, two of which were garnered by Siddle, during the seven rounds that were played amidst light rain. Starter and loser Ridgedale was exiled to the showers under a barrage of Tammany bingles in the third canto as the winners piled up a 9 – 2 lead. Siddle, his replacement, fared no better as each chucker was nailed for six safeties. First baseman Harvey Kendall was the leading willow wielder for the winning Jungle Cats, clubbing a two-run homer and an RBI-double. Teammate Jimmy Grant added a two-bagger and a single.
Ridgedale (L), Siddle (3) and Bradley
Crowe (W) and Singbush
(August 13) A crowd of 1,500 was provided with one very good tilt and one very wretched affair during a two-game set that was run off at Wesley Park. The matinee feature saw the Elks defeat the Tammany Tigers 6 to 1 after ten innings of fine baseball in which the Bengals had a splendid chance to win 1 – 0. The late contest was a wild effort with Norwood trouncing the Columbus Club 20 to 8 in a comedy of errors.
Jack Hind, the veteran speedball hurler of the Wapiti and Tammany twirler Fred Stobie hooked up in an exciting opening-game mound duel. The B.P.O.E. Boys got a run in the opening panel which was a gift while the Jungle Cats bunched three hits for their lone marker in the second stanza. Thereafter, not a run was scored until the tenth when Stobie lost his touch and Romeo Rivers of the Antlered Tribe lit him up for grand-slam homer. The winners added another tally when Gord Dakins greeted reliever Larry Wilson with a second four-bagger, a solo shot. The sultry afternoon suited Hind perfectly as he blew third strikes past eight Tiger batters while walking just one. Only four hits were garnered off his deliveries, a double and single by Harvey Kendall leading the way. Rivers and Dakins both had a brace of singles in addition to their overtime round-trippers.
Hind (W) and G. Dakins
F. Stobie (L), Wilson (10) and Singbush
The windup game found the Columbus Clubbers at their worst. While the first-series champion Norwood nine were pounding Mel Stack and Dave Mackie for 16 safe swats, the Columbians helped their foes immensely by committing eleven fielding miscues. Winning slabster Alex Hill set the Cee Cees down on eight hits but did not appear to be at his best. Jack Seel stroked four singles for the winning Suburbanites while Alex Olien added three. Otto McCush swatted a home run and a one-bagger for the losers.
Stack (L), Mackie (4) and Arnott
Hill (W) and Lloyd, A. Olien
(August 22) Three-RBI performances by outfielder Anderson and Joe Rivers proved to be too much for the Tammany Tigers as the Elks romped off with their tenth victory of the second series by dumping the Bengals 7 to 3. Winning chucker “Rookie” Arnison whiffed seven, walked just one and kept eight hits well scattered. Losing tosser Larry Wilson had a bad first inning in which the Antlered Tribe bunched four hits to score as may runs, never losing the lead. He hurled well thereafter and finished with a nine-hitter. Three of those bingles, a solo home run and a pair of one-baggers, were bagged by Rivers while Anderson clipped the apple for a brace of doubles. “Bunny” Warren led the Ferocious Feline offensively, swatting a bases-empty four-bagger and a single.
Wilson (L) and G. McKenzie
Arnison (W) and G. Dakins
SECOND-HALF STANDINGS W L Pct.
Elks 10 2 .833
Arenas 5 6 .455
Norwood 5 7 .417
Columbus Club 5 7 .417
Tammany Tigers 5 8 .385
(August 23) With Dunc Irvine, the eccentric and talented southpaw, back in the saddle, the defending-champion Arenas trounced the Columbus Club 8 to 2 at Wesley Park. Irvine held the Clubbers at his mercy, yielding just four singles, two of which were of the scratchy variety, in the seven stanzas that diminishing illumination allowed the teams to play. The Rinkmen pounded starting slabster Odie Lowe for five hits and an equal number of runs before he was driven to the showers in the third round. Catcher Len Sinclair led the 11-hit attack of the victors with a double and a brace of one-base hits. Bill Knight added a pair of doubles.
Lowe (L), Mackie (3) and Arnott
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
(August 24) Norwood clipped the Tammany Tigers 5 to 1 to virtually knock the Bengals out of the running for the last playoff berth in the second series. The Suburbanites trotted out newcomer Orville Caldwell, a southpaw, to the mound and the rookie impressed in his debut, holding the Striped Cats to four widely-scattered hits. Fred Stobie hurled for the Tammany Troupe and after a poor first frame, in which Norwood picked up a trey with two of those tallies coming on Con Puhan’s homer with one aboard, he pitched well. The only run plated by the Tabbies came on a solo circuit-clout by Harvey Kendall. Both Caldwell and first sacker Tony LeGoff whacked the pill for a double and single.
F. Stobie (L) and McLellan
Caldwell (W) and A. Olien
(August 29) Staging a keen battle to gain a place in the second-series playoffs, the Arenas and Norwood both reeled off wins at different playing venues. The Arenas blanked the pennant-winning Elks 3 to 0 at Wesley Park while, over at Norwood, the hosts trimmed the Columbus Club 9 to 1. Brilliant pitching defined both encounters.
Arena southpaw Dunc Irvine hurled a six-stanza no-hit, no-run game against the B.P.O.E. Brigade at Wesley Park to strengthen their late run at second place. Although touched for just four safeties, losing flinger Olie Olien, who has most recently been heaving for Transcona of the Intermediate circuit, was wild in his 3-2/3 inning stint on the knoll, resulting in all four counters by the Rinkmen. Bill Knight of the winners, with a pair of doubles, was the only hitter in the contest with more than one base rap.
O. Olien (L), Arnison (4) and G. Dakins
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
The home team’s Alex Hill and Bill Stobie combined to check the Clubbers on one hit at Norwood Park. Only nine batters faced Hill in the abbreviated six-inning tilt before he turned the horsehide over to Stobie after three hitless chapters sporting a healthy 5 – 0 lead. Losing twirler Dave Mackie was roughed up for five hits and as many tallies before departing in the third session. Shortpatcher Bill Dunbar had a two-run double and an infield single for the winning Suburbanites while teammate Jimmy Keedian also stroked a two-bagger and a one-base hit.
Mackie (L), Lowe (3) and Arnott
Hill (W), B. Stobie (4) and Lloyd, A. Olien
(August 30) The Arenas will fight it out with Norwood for the right to meet the Elks in the second-series finals after securing a victory in one of two Wesley Senior League scuffles staged during the final week of regular-season action. The Rinkmen rallied in the ninth inning to trim the Tammany Tigers 4 to 2 at Norwood Park while the Columbus Club doubled the Elks 6 to 3 at Wesley Park in the other meaningless tilt.
Wally Lawton, on the hill for the Rinkmen in the Norwood Park event, pitched effectively throughout and was accorded gilt-edge support from his mates. Bengal slabster Larry Wilson had the Arenas puzzled with his slow hooks until the ninth canto when they put together a belated rally to plate a trey and annex the decision. “Doc” Burns proved to be the hero of the game, smashing a two-run single to the middle garden that plated both the tying and lead runs.
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
Wilson (L) and Singbush
Norman “Lefty” Molloy was the whole show in the Clubbers’ triumph over the Wapiti in the Wesley Park engagement. Besides hurling a splendid game in which he blanked the Horned Herd in all but one session, he crashed a three-run homer in the second stanza and, in his next two trips to the plate, lashed out singles. Jack Hind, toeing the rubber for the listless Elks, was not as effective as usual.
Hind (L) and Arneson
N. Molloy (W) and Arnott
(August 31) Norwood stayed on the heels of the Arenas in their battle for second-place in the second series by trimming the league-leading Elks 9 to 2 at Wesley Park while, at Norwood Park, the Columbus Club blanked the Tammany Tigers 2 to 0 in a clash of tail-enders.
The second-series pennant winners did not look very good in their tilt against Norwood at Wesley Park. Losing hurler George Belanger was very wild, walking ten batters. The Suburbanites had an easy time of it and used their entire four-man pitching rotation as winner Bill Stobie started and held the Antlered Tribe scoreless for his three-stanza stint on the clay heap. Joe Rivers was the lone bright spot for the Wapiti, drilling three singles.
B. Stobie, Caldwell (4), Reid (6), Hill (9) and A, Olien, Lloyd
G. Belanger (L), Hind (7) and G. Dakins
Fred Stobie twirled a fine game for the Bengals in the Norwood Park encounter and was unfortunate in losing the heaving decision. He whiffed nine and held the Cee Cees to five scattered hits. Winning flinger “Lefty” Deakin was touched for seven bingles. The Clubbers plated their initial tally, an unearned run, in the second spasm on Bill Pridham’s sacrifice fly. They added an insurance tally in the eighth episode when Pat O’Brien’s hit to the right pasture went for a tainted inside-the-park round-tripper when the horsehide was not located in the uncut grass in time to make a play. Jimmy Grant of the losers was the big noise with the willow in this event, cracking out a double and two singles.
Deakin (W) and Arnott
F. Stobie (L) and Mitchell
(September 2) Closing out the second-series schedule with a 5 to 4 victory over Norwood, the Arenas earned the right to meet the Elks in the second series playoffs. Bill “Snake” Siddle was the man of the hour for the Rinkmen, pitching and slugging the defending champions to the narrow triumph. The Suburbanites put up a game fight but the Arenas, although outhit by a 7 to 6 margin, deserved to win the errorless contest. Alex Hill, the outstanding slab artist of the first-series winners, was not in his usual good form, walking eight batters and hitting one. With the score knotted at 2 – 2, the Rinkmen sewed up the verdict in the fifth frame on a three-run homer by Siddle. A solo four-bagger by Tod May in the seventh reduced the Norwood deficit to a pair and, in the eighth and final round, a last-ditch rally netted the losers one more counter but then Siddle ended things by striking out out J. Dundas.
Siddle (W) and Sinclair
Hill (L) and A. Olien
Second Series final standings W L Pct.
Elks 10 5 .667
Arenas 9 6 .600
Norwood 8 8 .500
Columbus Club 7 9 .438
Tammany Tigers 5 11 .313
The top-place Elks and second-spot Arenas earned the right to meet in a best-two-of-three showdown for the Second Series crown.
Second Series playoff
(September 3) The Arenas drew first blood in the playoff round for the Second Series tiara, defeating the Elks 7 to 2 at Wesley Park. The game was closer than the final score indicates as, with both teams banging out eight safeties during the course of the match, the winners had only a 2 to 1 edge after seven rounds. The final two chapters, however, became one-sided when the Antlered Herd began to make mental mistakes while the Arenas were bunching their hits. Dunc Irvine mounted the bump for the victors, ringing up five strikeouts. Arena first baseman Pat Cann creamed the orb for a circuit-jack and a one-bagger. Teammate Bill “Snake” Siddle also launched a four-bagger.
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
Arnason/Arneson/Arnison (L) and G. Dakins
(September 5) Taking both ends of a Labor Day twin-bill from the Arenas, the Elks annexed the Second Series honors and qualified to meet First Series’ champion Norwood for the Wesley Senior Baseball League championship. The Antlered nine nosed out a 5 to 4 victory in the morning and followed it up by clouting out an 11 to 2 triumph in the afternoon match. Johnny “Red” Davidson, the speedball king of the Wesley circuit, proved to be the hero of the series. Not only did he hurl brilliantly in both games, but he came through with a couple of timely bingles that helped greatly in the double whammy delivered by the Wapiti. Davidson mowed the Arenas down of five hits in the matinee game while his mates were lighting up three Arena chuckers for eleven safeties. Trailing for a good part of the tussle, the Elks forged ahead for good by posting a four-spot in the eighth canto with Davidson registering a single, his second one-bagger of the skirmish, and crossing the platter with the tying tally. Gordie Caslake and George Rivers both poked a double and single for the Antlered Tribe while Arenas’ starting pitcher Chuck Ridgedale lit up Davidson for a solo four-bagger in the fifth frame.
Davidson (W) and Arnason/Arneson/Arnison, G. Dakins
Ridgedale, Irvine (L) (8), Lawton (9) and Sinclair
The Wapiti Herd pretty well cinched things by banging out five hits, good for six counters, in the opening panel of the finale. Overall, they amassed 17 safeties in the one-sided clincher. Davidson, again, toed the rubber for the entirety of the fracas, yielding eight base knocks, one of which was a bases-empty dinger by Pat Cann. Outfielder Anderson ripped four base swats for the winners, including a three-bagger, while teammates Romeo Rivers and Olie Olien both stung the pill for a triad of safeties.
Ridgedale (L), Lawton (1), Siddle (5) and Sinclair
Davidson (W) and G. Dakins
Overall 1927 Wesley Senior Baseball League championship series
Elks vs Norwood (best-of-five series)
(September 6) A fifth-inning uprising which netted them three runs was sufficient to carry the Elks to a 3 to 1 decision over Norwood in the opener of the Wesley Senior League finals. Out-swatted by a 7 to 6 margin, the Antlered Gang was able to bunch three of their base raps off losing chucker Alex Hill, aided by a brace of Norwood fielding miscues, into the fateful fifth. Gord Caslake’s two-run single was the key blow for the winners in that stanza. Winning flinger Jack Hind, in contrast to Hill, pitched tighter ball in the pinches. Top lumber wielder in the contest was Norwood first sacker Tony LeGoff who clipped the orb for a trio of base knocks.
Hill (L) and Olien
Hind (W) and G. Dakins
(September 7) Taking advantage of the control problems experienced by the first two Elks’ hurlers and assisted by a brain cramp of the part of the third flinger, Norwood evened their final series by coming from behind to nose out a 3 to 2 victory over the Wapiti Herd. It was a loosely-played game and not one of the five runs scored were earned. John “Red” Davidson, the last of the trio of chuckers trotted out by the Antlered Tribe, allowed the winning run to cross the plate when, with two retired in the seventh canto, he fielded a comebacker and threw late to the plate in an attempt to catch a runner from third instead of going for the sure out at first base. Orville “Lefty” Caldwell mounted the bump for the victors and surrendered five safeties. Norwood manufactured just three hits throughout the battle but made the best of them.
Hind, Arnason/Arneson/Arnison (L) (2), Davidson (6) and G. Dakins
Caldwell (W) and Olien
(September 8) Staging a sensational rally in their final turn at bat, Norwood took a two games to one lead in the Wesley Senior League finals, doubling the Elks 4 to 2 in an eight-inning joust ended by darkness. In arrears by a 2 to 1 score as they came to bat in the eighth and final stanza, Norwood was given a boost when outfielder Jack Seel ripped a two-out, solo homer to tie things up. Fly chaser Keedian then duplicated Seel’s achievement by swatting the very next pitch delivered by losing twirler “Red” Davidson out of the premises. The insurance counter resulted after Alex Olien doubled and was driven home on Connie Puhan’s one-bagger. Bill Stobie pitched airtight ball in the pinches for the winners, digging himself out of a number of difficult holes.
Stobie (W) and Olien
Davidson (L) and G. Dakins
(September 9) The Elks came on strong in the final three frames to wipe out Norwood 7 to 0 and square the Wesley Senior finals at two games each. Hurler “Rookie” Arnason/Arneson/Arnison proved to be the bright star in the Elks’ triumph. Displaying practically perfect control, he set the Norwood nine down on four scattered safeties. He was also credited with a three-run, inside-the-park homer in the sixth frame which broke the game open. His batterymate, playing-manager Gordon Dakins and Johnny “Red” Davidson, in the lineup as an outer pasture fly chaser, both stroked a brace of bingles in support of his mound effort. Norwood operated far below the form that has characterized their play in the series, especially on a defensive level.
Arnason/Arneson/Arnison (W) and G. Dakins
Hill (L), Stobie (7) and Olien
(September 10) Staging a great uphill battle, Norwood overcame a seven-run deficit to defeat the Elks 11 to 9 in the fifth and deciding game for the Wesley Senior League honors of 1927. Two-thirds of the way through the final match, the Antlered Tribe had a commanding 9 to 2 lead and appeared well on their way to the championship. With reliever Bill Stobie slamming the door on any further damage, pitching hitless and runless ball over the final four rounds, Norwood caught fire offensively and went to work with a six-spot in the seventh frame to narrow the gap to a single counter. Peppery third sacker Camille Van Beneen then went yard with a two-run circuit-dinger in the eighth to push the ultimate winners into the lead for the first time. Connie Puhan’s infield hit, Dick Marinelli’s double and an error provided Norwood with a ninth-inning insurance marker. Van Beneen and shortstop Bill Dunbar, each with a four-bagger to his credit, both spanked the sphere for four base knocks to lead Norwood’s potent 17-hit assault. John “Red” Davidson and Olie Olien cranked out round-trippers for the Wapiti Herd.
Caldwell, Stobie (W) (5) and Olien
Davidson, Arnason/Arneson/Arnison (L) (7) and G. Dakins
MANITOBA SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Norwood was unable to continue in the playoffs and the Elks were selected to represent the Manitoba Senior League. It appears travel and/or the playoff schedule made it too difficult for the club to proceed to the provincial finals.
(September 13) Portage La Prairie downed the Winnipeg Elks 6-0 Tuesday in the opening game of the Manitoba senior baseball championship at Wesley Park in Winnipeg. Lefty Jordan baffled the Elks tossing the shutout allowing just six hits. He helped win his own game blasting a three-run homer in the sixth inning.
Jordan (W) and Metcalfe
Hind (L), O.Olien (4) and Dakins
(September 16) Winnipeg Elks evened the Manitoba senior championship series at a game apiece Friday trouncing Portage 12-0, in a game shortened to seven innings. Arneson pitched a splendid two-hitter for the winners while the Elks racked up 11 hits, including doubles by Joe Rivers and Olien. A three-run first inning set the Elks on the road to victory.
Arneson (W) and Dakins
Dalzell (L), Jordan (2) and Metcalfe
(September 17) Winnipeg Elks, who reached the playoff final because the City League champion Norwood nine was forced to drop out, dumped Portage 8-0 Saturday afternoon to capture the Manitoba senior baseball championship. In the third shutout of the three-game series, Davidson blanked Portage on five singles as the Elks got off to a quick start with two runs in the first inning on a bases-loaded error. Elks launched a 10-hit attack including a home run by Anderson, a triple and two singles by Romeo Rivers and two hits and two runs from Gordon Caslake.
Dalzell (L) and Metcalfe
Davidson (W) and Dakins
OTHER MANITOBA LEAGUES/TEAMS/ROSTERS
WINNIPEG INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Grain Exchange
St. Boniface *
St. Vital
Sterlings
Transcona **
West End
* first-series champion
** second-series winner
GAME REPORTS
FIRST-SERIES
(July 6) Unbeaten St. Boniface captured first-series honors in the Intermediate League by defeating their closest rival, runner-up West End, 5 to 3 in the final game. The West Enders lost only twice in the first series, both defeats coming at the hands of the Saints.
Unsworth (W) and Marius
Ridgedale (L) and Shannon
SECOND-SERIES
(August 10) Transcona qualified to play St. Boniface in the Intermediate Baseball League championship finals by defeating St. Vital 9 to 7 to clinch the second-series pennant. Johnson and Olie Olien toiled on the hillock for the ‘Sconas while Klingbell did the catching.
FINALS St. Boniface vs Transcona (best-of-three series)
(August 17) Transcona nosed out St. Boniface 6 to 5 in the opener of the Intermediate League finals.
(August 19) Transcona annexed the Intermediate Baseball League championship by defeating St. Boniface 2 to 1 in the second game of the best-of-three final series. Catcher Klingbell’s RBI-hit in the eighth episode delivered the winning marker. Winning slabster Olie Olien whiffed 14 batters and set the Saints down on one solitary hit. Losing hurler Belanger was nicked for seven safeties.
Belanger (L) and Marius
Olien (W) and Klingbell
CENTRAL MANITOBA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Carman
Morden
Portage La Prairie
Sperling
Roland
GAME REPORT
PLAYOFF FINALS
(August 30) In the final game of the Central Manitoba League playoffs, hosting Portage la Prairie beat Roland 6 to 1 to win the 1927 championship. Winning tosser F. Dalziel allowed only three scattered hits, one of which was a solo home run by opposing pitcher Stephenson. After falling behind 1 – 0 in the fourth frame, the Plainsmen connected for a three-spot in the fifth and added another three runs in the next two innings. Alec Bell and Bullard led the nine-hit offense of victorious Portage, each stroking two safeties with a double included in Bullard’s total.
Stephenson (L), Matheson (8) and xxx
F. Dalziel (W) and xxx
SPRINGFIELD BASEBALL LEAGUE
Dugald
Meadowvale
Oakbank
SOUTH CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Miami
Manitou
M.A.S. BASEBALL LEAGUE
Austin
MacGregor
Sydney
NORTHERN BASEBALL LEAGUE
Holland
Indianford
Matchetville
Notre Dame de Lourdes
Rathwell
Treherne
NORTH CYPRESS BASEBALL LEAGUE
Carberry
Gregg
Harte
Stinson
Summerville
Wellwood
WINNIPEG JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Columbus Club
C.U.A.C.
Elmwood Giants *
Norwood
Pilgrims
West End
* first and second-series winner
FIRST-SERIES
(July 20) The unbeaten Elmwood Giants, by virtue of their 9 to 6 victory over the fast-stepping C.U.A.C. squad, annexed the first-series pennant in the Winnipeg junior circuit. M. Jackson and Alex Turk formed the winning battery.
SECOND SERIES
(August 25) With a narrow 2 to 1 victory over the Pilgrims, the Elmwood Giants clinched the second-series pennant and the overall championship of the 1927 Winnipeg Junior Baseball League. The win brought the Giants’ sensational string of victories for the season to 21. The tussle featured a real pitcher’s battle between Elmwood’s Sid Bissett and Wally Smith of the Pilgrims. The victors had only two safeties off Smith while Bissett, who was solid in the pinches, was nicked for four safeties. The Giants scored both their tallies in the opening canto when P. Buddick pounded out a two-run double. The vanquished Pilgrims made a real fight of things and loaded the bases with one out in the bottom-of-the-ninth. However, a force out at home preceded a passed ball by catcher Alex Turk which allowed Rutherford to score the Pilgrims’ lone counter from third base. Bissett then fanned McQuade to end the threat and the game.
Bissett (W) and Turk
Smith (L) and Paluk
BRANDON JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Columbus Club
Tigers