1947 marked the inaugural of what would become one of the highlights of a prairie summer.  The small community of Indian Head had held a tournament in July with 29 teams competing in junior and amateur categories. The weather was perfect. More than 10-thousand people turned out.  With that success, organizers decided to try promoting another tourney, with higher-level competition, to be held in August.  And, with prize money -- $2,000.  

The two-day event drew an estimated 15-thousand fans with George Ligon's Colored All-Stars "from California, or some other spot south of the snowline" walking away with the title. They whipped the Wilcox Cardinals 13-0 in the final. The inaugural tournament featured a no-hitter by Jack Devine of Marquis. 

One of the featured performers in the 1947 event was Bert Shepard, a minor league pitcher before serving in the Second World War.  When his fighter plane crashed in Germany, doctors amputated his right leg.  While in a POW camp, Shepard, with an artificial leg, learned to walk and pitch. Back home in 1945, he suited up as pitching coach of the Washington Senators. In a remarkable achievement, Shepard took the mound on August 5th, 1945 against Boston.  He pitched five and one third innings (three hits, one walk, two strikeouts, 1.69).  At Indian Head, Shepard, lined up with Williston, North Dakota,  pitched a three-hitter against the Ligon's, but lost 1-0. 

MANITOBA SENIOR LEAGUE  
1947 Game Reports   
1947 Photo Gallery 
1947 Winnipeg Reos 
1947 CUAC Blues  

SASKATOON & DISTRICT LEAGUE  
Delisle Commodores   14   3 .824
N-Battleford Beavers 12   7 .632
Colonsay Monarchs    12   7 .632
Saskatoon Cubs       11   8 .570
Saskatoon Legion      6  12 .333
Saskatoon A N & AF    2  17 .105
1947 Game Reports  
1947 Photo Gallery 
1947 North Battleford Beavers  

SOUTHERN LEAGUE 
South Division      W  L  PCT
Wilcox Cardinals   16  3 .842
Regina Clippers    13  6 .684
Weyburn Beavers    12  6 .667
Regina Pontiacs     0 19 .000

North Division*     W  L  PCT
Long Lake Eagles   10  9 .526
Notre Dame Hounds  10 11 .476
Moose Jaw Canucks   9 12 .429
Regina Red Sox      8 12 .400
* North Division standings includes
2nd place tie-breaker
1947 Game Reports   
1947 Photo Gallery  
1947 Weyburn Beavers 
1947 Moose Jaw Canucks 

NORTHEASTERN SK LEAGUE  
NESL History

BIG FOUR LEAGUE  
Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Cubs
Calgary Purity 99
Calgary Buffaloes
1947 Game Reports  
1947 Alberta Photo Gallery  

FOOTHILLS LEAGUE  
Claresholm, Stavely, Parkland, High River

INTERCOUNTY LEAGUE
Brantford Red Sox, Galt Terriers, Guelph Maple Leafs, Hamilton Thurstons, Kitchener Panthers, London Majors, Stratford Nationals, Waterloo Tigers

 
Mac McGladdery, Lloydminster Oilers' classy one-armed pitcher, only allowed one hit in nine innings and only two Lashburn runners reached third base as the Oilers whipped Lashburn 16-0 in a Battle River Baseball League game here recently.

The Oilers hit B. Mohr freely in the first three innings to run up a 12-0 lead. Brother Robert rook over the mound duties late in the third inning and only allowed one man to cross the plate in the next three innings.  Tellier took over the pitching duties in the seventh and was hit freely, allowing three runs, but held the heavy hitting Oilers scoreless in the eighth.  (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 30, 1947)

Later, a real asset in so many ways came along in the one armed pitcher, Andy McGladdery. He was teaching school in Kitscoty - very handy and very versatile. Andy lost his left hand in a saw accident when 15 years old. The fact that this didn't stop him from playing baseball showed the mettle he's made of. Even hitting with one hand didn't make him a weak hitter. I've seen him plaster a pitch pretty good on several occasions. Pitching was a very interesting procedure. Of course his glove had to be transferred to his left arm while making a pitch, but as he followed through he had a smooth transfer of his glove back to his pitching hand, ready to field a ball from the bat.  I've seen him take a drive somewhere on the body, but I have never seen him back up or flinch.  He also had management qualities which were overlooked until too late.  Kitscoty people were very fortunate to have Andy amongst their young people, for besides being a good teacher, he could make a gymnasium hum smoothly with activity.  (Alf Lampitt, Reflections of Baseball, 75 Years of Sport and Culture in Lloydminster)