Western Canada Baseball 1964

1964 Stats
  
1964 Rosters
1964 Tournaments

     
WESTERN CANADA LEAGUE
Edmonton Oilers 37 23  
Calgary Giants 33 27 4.0
Saskatoon Blues 29 30 7.5
Lethbridge Cardinals 20 39 16.5
1964 Game reports 
1964 Photo Gallery 
1964 Snapshots  
1964 Edmonton Oilers  
1964 Calgary Giants  
1964 Lethbridge Cardinals 
1964 Saskatoon Blues

SASKATCHEWAN
NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN LEAGUE
North Battleford Beavers 21 8  
Neilburg Monarchs 20 9 1.0
Kindersley Klippers 15 15 6.5
Unity Cardinals 15 15 6.5
Saskatoon Commodores 11 19 10.5
Biggar Nationals 7 23 14.5
1964 Game Reports  
1964 Photo Gallery  
1964 Snapshots  
1964 North Battleford Beavers 

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Melville Millionaires 18 10  
Moose Jaw Regals 16 11 1.5
Regina Red Sox 15 12 2.5
Swift Current Indians 13 14 4.5
Fort Qu'Appelle Sioux Indians 10 17 7.5
Yorkton Elks 9 17 8.0
1964 Game Reports  
1964 Photo Gallery  
1964 Snapshots
       
NORTHEASTERN SK LEAGUE
NESBL History
       
ALBERTA
EDMONTON METROPOLITAN LEAGUE

Army & Navy Cardinals, Blue Willow Angels, Fort Saskatchewan Red Sox, Safeway Seals, North Edmonton Colts
       
ROSEBUD BASEBALL LEAGUE
Bowden, Bowden Institute, Carstairs Buffaloes, Didsbury, Innisfail Buckaroos, Lacombe Red Sox, Olds, Red Deer Eskimos
 
WHEAT BELT BASEBALL LEAGUE
Beaverlodge Royals, Dawson Creek Cardinals, Fairview Outlaws, Fort St. John Huskies, Grande Prairie Eskimos, Sexsmith Rainiers : 
 
SUNBURST BASEBALL LEAGUE
Beverly Crest Motor Hotel,  Edmonton City Police Athletics, Safeway Skylarks, Winterburn Tomahawks
 
NORTH PEACE LEAGUE
Peace River Stampeders, Falher Leths, Donnelly Cubs, 
 
OILFIELD BASEBALL LEAGUE
Breton Eagles, ,  Calmar Cubs, Devon Legionnaires, Leduc Oilers, Thorsby Canucks, Warburg Buffaloes
 
SOUTHERN IRRIGATION BASEBALL LEAGUE
Bow Island Combines, Coaldale Juniors, Foremost Braves, Irvine Mercuries, Medicine Hat Juniors, Redcliff Red Sox
 
FOOTHILLS BASEBALL LEAGUE
Nanton, Ogden Nomads
 
CENTRAL ALBERTA LEAGUE
Bentley, Erskine, Great Bend, Nebraska, Stettler
 
BOW VALLEY INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE
Calgary Angels, Rockyford, Strathmore

1964 Allberta Game Reports       
1964 Alberta Photo Gallery
1964 Alberta Snapshots       
1964 Red Deer Eskimos     
1964 Peace River Stampeders         
1964 Sexsmith Rainiers       
       
MANITOBA
MANITOBA SENIOR LEAGUE 
     
Hamiota Red Sox  15 8  
Brandon Cloverleafs 13 11 2.5
Riverside Blues 13 11 2.5
St. Lazare Athletics 13 11 2.5
Souris Cardinals 11 13 4.5
Virden Oilers  10 13 5.0
Dauphin Red Birds 8 16 7.5
* Hamiota beat St. Lazare in the playoff final
to capture its 3rd straight title.
 
WINNIPEG METRO SENIOR LEAGUE 
Balmoral Orioles, Carman Cubs, Precious Blood, RCAF, Transcona Atomics, Vita Mallards
 
SOUTH-CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Belmont, Boissevain Border Kings, Brandon Canucks, Elgin, Glenboro, Oakland Braves, Rivers Comets, Treesbank
 
NORTH-WESTERN BASEBALL LEAGUE
Angusville, Elphinstone, Erickson, Foxwarren, Rossburn, Russell, Shoal Lake, Strathclair
 
NEEPAWA & DISTRICT BASEBALL LEAGUE
Arden, Birnie Braves, Eden, Neepawa Cubs, Neepawa Farmers
 
POLAR LEAGUE
Bowsman Valley All-Stars, Flin Flon Cardinals, Flin Flon Stylers, The Pas TeePees
1964 Game Reports  
1964 Photo Gallery  
1964 Snapshots  
1964 St. Lazare Athletics  
1964 Virden Oilers  
1964 Elphinstone    
       
BRITISH COLUMBIA
VANCOUVER INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE

Astoria, Boilermakers, CYO, Longshoremen, North Vancouver
       
PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE
Bellingham, Columbias, Coquitlam-Maillardville, Haney-Hammond, New Westminster, OKs, Port Moody
       
OKANAGAN MAINLINE LEAGUE   
Kamloops Lelands, Kelowna Labatts, Merritt Luckies, Penticton Red Sox, Vernon Luckies
 
NORTH OKANAGAN LEAGUE   
Celista, Enderby, Falkland, Golden, Grindrod, Revelstoke, Westwold 
 
VICTORIA SENIOR AMATEUR LEAGUE
Greave’s Movers, Independents, McLaren Construction, Transport Workers
 
MID-ISLAND BASEBALL LEAGUE
Chemainus Red Sox, Courtenay Luckies, Ladysmith Eagles, Lake Cowichan Indians
 
SLOCAN-ARROW LAKES SENIOR LEAGUE  Nakusp, New Denver-Silverton, Slocan City, Winlaw
 
CAN-AM TWILIGHT INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE 
NORTHERN DIVISION Cranbrook Canucks, Kimberley Dynamos, Nelson Braves, Trail Smoke Eaters
SOUTHERN DIVISION Coeur d’Alene ID Lakesiders- Kellogg ID Metalworkers, Spokane Orphans, Spokane Palmer’s Dairy- Spokane Valley Indians, St. John WA Indians
 
WEST KOOTENAY JUNIOR LEAGUE
Creston Maroons, Fruitvale, Rossland Capilanos, East Trail Pirates
1964 BC Photo Gallery    
1964 BC Snapshots    
1964 Vancouver-Lower Mainland Reports   
1964 Vancouver Island Game Reports    
1964 BC Interior Game Reports
 
ONTARIO      
INTERCOUNTY LEAGUE      
London Pontiacs * 19 13  
Galt Terriers 18 14 1.0
Guelph C-Joys  17 15 2.0
Stratford Chiefs 16 14 2.0
K-Waterloo Panthers 12 18 6.0
Brantford Red Sox 11 19 7.0
* Playoff for 1st
1964 Game Reports  
1964 Photo Gallery  
 
MARITIME BASEBALL
 
SOUTH DAKOTA      
BASIN LEAGUE      
Sturgis Titans 31 19  
Pierre Cowboys 27 23 4.0
Sioux Falls Packers 26 24 5.0
Valentine Hearts 25 25 6.0
Rapid City Chiefs 21 28 9.5
Winner Pheasants 19 30 11.5
Sioux Falls defeated Valentine in the playoffs to win the Basin League championship.
1964 Game/Playoff Reports
1964 Photo Gallery  
1964 Snapshots  
       
MINNESOTA      
SOUTHERN MINNY LEAGUE
Austin Packers *
13
7
Mason City Braves
13
7
Albert Lea Colonels
11
9
2.0
Bloomington Athletics
11
9
2.0
Owatonna Aces
8
12
5.0
Mankato Merchants
4
16
9.0
* won playoff for first place, pennant   
1964 So.Minny Game Reports      
1964 Minnesota Photo Gallery
       
       
       
       

 


Lyle Olsen The Western Canada Baseball League returned, with Saskatoon back in the loop to rejoin Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge. 

Clark Rex and John Carbray returned to head up league operations (Rex as league president) and run their clubs in Edmonton and Calgary. Dan Royer guided the Lethbridge franchise with Howard Lowder as manager.  The Saskatoon franchise was run by the league with Lyle Olsen (above) back as field manager.

The league decided to try out some new rules intended to speedup the game.

1)  Pitchers will warm up on the sidelines during an inning, then proceed to the mound and be ready to start the next inning without throwing additional warm ups.

2)  With two men out in an inning, a special pinch runner will be allowed to run for either a pitcher or catcher who is on base.  The special runner, however, must not be one of the other sever players in the game at that time.

3)  Pitchers will be allowed only 20 seconds between pitches.  The base umpire will time the pitcher.

4)  Teams will not be allowed to throw the ball around the infield after an out.  (Lethbridge Herald, May 25, 1954)

Louis SmithThe Edmonton Oilers were the class of the circuit winning the pennant and besting Calgary in the playoff final. 

The Oilers Louis Smith (left) captured the Gail Hopkinsbatting title with a .344 mark, shading veteran Lyle Olsen, of Saskatoon, who finished at .341.  Gail Hopkins (right), also of Edmonton, was third, at .337. 

Larry McWhirter of Calgary led the league in homers, with 9, and doubles, 16.  Ted Bridges of Edmonton had the most runs batted in, 52.  Katsu Shitanashi of the Oilers had 33 stolen bases to top the loop. 

John PearceGeorge FowlkesOilers had two of the top moundsmen.  John Pearce (left) led the league with 10 wins (he lost 6).  George Fowlkes (right) finished at 8-4.  Phil Capka of Saskatoon was second in wins with a 9-3 won/lost mark.  Rich Johnson and Willie Walasko of Calgary each won 7 as did Gary Johnson of Lethbridge.

Fergie OlverOne of the leading lights for the Saskatoon Blues was outfielder Fergie Olver (right) who, twenty years later, would be a television star as a broadcaster with the Toronto Blue Jays.

18-year-old Greg Conger put on quite a show.  When he arrived near the end of June, Conger put in a couple of long relief appearances then threw five straight complete games. Then, needed in relief, he pitched 11 innings of a 20-inning game with just  one day of rest.  He returned with another complete game five days later and in his followings start went ten innings before giving way to the 'pen. Conger finished with the best ERA, 2.46, and was second in innings pitched.

1964 marked the end of the Western Canada League and a style of baseball (especially with American college imports and former pros) not to be seen regularly on the prairies until Medicine Hat, Calgary and Lethbridge brought pro ball (Rookie level)  to the area in the mid 1970s and Edmonton and Calgary joined the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in the 1980s. 


Tommy TaylorCliff MeinMelville Millionaires rode the arms of Cliff Mein (left) and Tommy Taylor (right) to the pennant in the Southern League.  Each appeared in 15 games (to lead the league) .  Mein won 7, Taylor 6.  Taylor also provided some punch at the plate finishing 5th in the batting race, at .337.  

Wally BlaisdellHowever, the Millionaires were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs as the Regina Red Sox captured the crown behind the hurling of Wally Blaisdell (right) who registered four wins and a tie in five playoff encounters.

Ed Stefureak of the Red Sox won the batting title with a .389 mark and tied for the lead in home runs, with 6. Teammate Larry Bachiu was the runner-up at .385 with Lorne Humphreys of the Moose Jaw Regals third at .341.

Don Laube of the Melville Millionaires was selected as the league's Most Valuable Player.  Cliff Mein of Melville and Merv Sanderson of Swift Current tied for Pitcher of the Year while Bill Sobkow of Yorkton was named Rookie of the Year. 

Gord LyallIn the Manitoba Senior League, Hamiota Red Sox ran away with the pennant and a victory in the playoffs.  Hamiota had the loop's top hitter and top pitcher. Gord Lyall (right) topped the hitters with a .447 mark in 94 at bats besting Dave Pearson of St, Lazare, at .440.  Cliff Seafoot of Riverdale was third at .394.  Gerry Van Buskirk compiled a 7-1 won/lost record to lead the moundsmen, ahead of Lorne Lilley of Riverdale who finished at 6-2.

Sherman CottinghamThe North Battleford Beavers won their third straight title in the Northern Saskatchewan League.  Beavers edged Unity Cardinals 2-1 in a 12-inning thriller to take the crown.  Beavers had finished a game ahead of Neilburg during the regular season. 

Ken Hoyt of Kindersley put up a .500 average in 72 at bats to take the batting title.  Three Beavers followed - Roy Rowley, at .395, Ira McKnight, .385, and Johnny Ford, .366.  Sherman Cottingham (right) of North Battled led the pitchers with a 10-2 won/lost record.  Jim Arens of Neilburg was 9-1 and Ross Stone of Unity was unbeaten with a 7-0 mark.

Stenen won the Northeastern Saskatchewan League crown for the 8th straight season. Gust Koroluk again was key to victory. .

In Ontario's Intercounty League, the teams which met in a playoff to decide first place - London Pontiacs and Galt Terriers - each placed three players on the league's all-star team. London also added the all-star manager, Tom Burgess.

Outfielder Stan Anderson, third baseman Dave Lapthorne and right-handed pitcher Rolf Scheel were the London players while Galt placed second baseman Dick Krol, outfielder Roger Dewaele and outfielder Fred Thompson. Stratford had shortstop Rob Gilhooley and catcher Ken Plesha. Lefty pitcher Ron Stead represented Brantford and Walt Jefferies won the first base slot for Guelph.

Shaun FitzmauriceOutfielder Shaun Fitzmaurice, from the University of Notre Dame, led the Sturgis Titans to the Basin League pennant and was named the circuit's Most Valuable Player after a record-setting season.  Fitzmaurice set new standards for hits, runs batted in, total bases and triples.

Sioux Falls Packers, third during the regular season, downed Valentine in the playoff final to capture the league championship.

Future major leaguers Don Sutton, Clyde Wright and Chuck Dobson were among the pitching stars.

Reggie ClevelandDave PaganReggie Cleveland (left) of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, began to attract attention as a teenager pitching for his hometown team.  After leading the Swift Current Indians to the Southern League pennant in 1965 he signed with Cardinals and fashioned a 13-year career in the majors with St. Louis, Texas, Boston and Milwaukee. 

Up in the Prince Albert area of Saskatchewan, 14-year-old Dave Pagan (in his Yankee baseball card, right) began his climb to the majors pitching for teams in the Highway 55 League.  He went on to a 10-year career in professional baseball, including five in the major leagues with the Yankees, Seattle, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Gene Graves, the former Saskatoon and Calgary right-hander, signed on to be playing manager of Kindersley of the Northern Saskatchewan League