Western Canada Baseball

One of the Top 100 in Canadian Baseball, December, 2010

Jay-Dell Mah - The respected broadcaster and reporter has one of the most complete and oldest -- 16 years -- historical web sites going . . . For his tireless efforts this summer the Nakusp, B.C. resident was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame. He co-authoured Black Baseball Players in Canada, a Biographical Dictionary, 1881-1960 along with Barry Swanton and Tom Hawthorn. He fell in love with the game in the 1950s as bat boy for the Lloydminster Meridians in his home town. (Bob Elliott, Toronto Sun)

From About.Com, Baseball :

"I get a lot of questions from people about the history of the minor leagues. I found one that's a real gem. Jay-Dell Mah has put together an outstanding web site dealing with baseball history in Western Canada. He's got team photos, rosters, stats and other info from western Canadian teams in the 1950s -1960s era. I can't even fathom how much work it took to round up all the stuff he's got here--check it out:"

07 May, 2021

Western Canada Baseball may always be a work in progress. Ironic isn't it? There's always something new to uncover about the past. Over time, the site has evolved into more of a Canada / Northwest USA site, but we'll keep the original title for ... old times' sake.

The aim is pretty basic -- an attempt to rediscover the joys of baseball back in those much simpler (and many would say, better) times. A look back at a tumultuous period in North America.

It's a tip of the cap to some extraordinary people who filled out those tattered uniforms at Sportsman's Park and other dusty fields across the prairies and elsewhere across the country.

Much remains to be done. There's a wealth of information to be uncovered. But, it's a start. Enjoy.

Why it's worthwhile:

" ... Thank you for recording my small scratch in the sand of baseball history. It's true that I wasn't very good, but I had the opportunity to enjoy all the pleasures that this wonderful game has to offer.

I will always treasure that, and if nothing else, through your site I'll be able to verify to my grandchildren that people really did come to see me play."

Greg Seastrom (From Fresno State University to the Vulcan Elks for the summers of 1955 & 1956)

" ... My father played for Edmonton in 1958 after winning a National Championship at SC ... Today my father is 64 years old and ... the Internet is a little above his head. None the less, I showed him and my friends and family your site. My father was amazed, along with the rest of us.

Great site ... My father's face was unforgettable when he saw his picture and all his old friends. I grew up hearing stories about my father playing here or there so it was nice to actually see what it was all about.

I commend you and your site. Your site is a perfect example of all the good the internet has to offer. The enjoyment my dad got from seeing his old friends and teammates was priceless. Keep up the good work. Impressed and thankful."

Don Biasotti Jr. (Don Biasotti Sr. played for the Edmonton Eskimos in 1958, one of the dozens of players who came to Canada from the University of Southern California.)

"Those were marvelous times ... if I had to relive any three weeks in my life ... I'd probably pick three weeks in '47 and '48 when certain tournaments were on and go back and play ball. It was just marvelous, and you know I've been to Moscow three times and Japan 14 times on business, and lived in New York, lived in Los Angeles, lived in Miami, lived in Venezuela 12 years, all those were good times but none of them compared to playing semi-pro ball in rural Saskatchewan."

Bill Gatenby (Sceptre, 40's early 50's) A former President of Texaco Canada and President, CEO of Cameco, once the world's largest uranium mining company.

Today's WCBL, the WMBL

Have information about baseball from the early 1900s through to the 1970s? Western Canada leagues, ManDak League, Basin League, Intercounty League, Okanagan League ? Please drop a line:

Jay-Dell Mah, Box # 952, Nakusp, BC, V0G 1R0