Three separate senior level baseball leagues operated in Regina during the summer of 1915: (1) the City League, considered the strongest of the trio, had a semi-pro designation although most of the players received no remuneration for their services; (2) the Commercial League and (3) the Northside League, both of which were strictly for senior amateur baseballers. Teams from both the City and Commercial circuits plied their trade at Dominion Park where the Regina Red Sox of the 1914 Western Canada Baseball League had played their home games. Several players suited up for teams in more than one league.
The City League, a three-team operation, had the lengthiest schedule which began the first week in May. By mid-July, however, the weakest sister within the circuit, the Victorias, disbanded and their better players were then absorbed by the remaining two franchises. Prior to their folding, however, the Victorias had engaged in an exhibition game with a touring female professional team and had been ostracized by the Amateur Athletic Union for doing so. Furthermore, the AAU threatened to impose the same penalty upon members of other City League teams by the lifting of their amateur status for engaging in any game with the Victorias. This virtually sealed the fate of every player in the circuit as far as participation within Saskatchewan senior amateur playoffs was concerned. In order to maintain fan interest, the surviving teams, the Commercial Club and the Leaders, shifted their focus to playing more inter-city competition, sometimes an an all-star aggregation and other times at the club level. When the dust settled after the schedule concluded in August, the Leader team claimed the league pennant by a comfortable margin over the Commercial Club.
The Commercial League was composed of four entries and got underway in mid-May. A tight pennant race ensued between the Y.M.C.A. and Cockshutt Internationals with the “Y” aggregation finally emerging as regular season champions and recipients of the Wood Cup.
A neophyte loop, the Northside League, was the last of the three to get into official action, beginning operations on June 21 with four teams. The late start of the four entries in this loop was somewhat deceptive, however, in terms of their readiness as one of the teams, the Rovers, was known to have played sixteen exhibition games prior to their first league action. Any player who had ever played professionally was barred from performing in this association. Games within this circuit were all played at a renovated facility called McInnis Park. Record crowds of enthusiasts turned out witness action in this newly-formed loop as two of the member clubs, the Fleetfoots and the Whirlwinds battled tooth-and-nail into mid-September, finishing in a deadlock for top spot. A sudden-death playoff victory over the Fleetfoots on September 20 allowed the Whirlwinds to claim Northside supremacy.
From the content of the game reports published in the Regina Morning Leader, the offensive style of baseball played in these 1915 loops can best be described as “station-to-station” small-ball. Speed, daring base running and place hitting were the order of the day. Bunting was a real weapon and was used extensively not only to advance runners but as a means of reaching base. The long ball was virtually extinct and it wasn’t until a City League game of August 9 that a home run was finally hit at Dominion Park.
The situation in southern Saskatchewan’s other most populous community, Moose Jaw, somewhat approximated that which occurred in Queen City senior baseball circles. Like the provincial capital, the Mill City had adjusted to professional baseball as played in the Western Canada Baseball League which, in 1915, had been put on hold following the onset of the Great European War.
A City League, composed of three squads. which was tabbed as being of semi-pro status plus a Commercial League, encompassing four member teams of strictly senior amateur players, both got off the ground during the spring. Exhibition Park was the venue used by both circuits for their tussles. Not unlike Regina’s City League, Moose Jaw’s top circuit experienced the sting of the provincial AAU. Following two exhibition appearances by a group of select players from the Moose Jaw City League against so-called teams of professionals from Caron and Mortlach, the Saskatchewan Amateur Athletic Union suspended the group of players from participating in any further amateur play. Further to that penalty, any team or group of players who played in a league or exhibition game with these suspended players would also be painted with the same brush and would have their amateur status revoked. So, in essence, the most talented diamondeers from both Regina and Moose Jaw had been disqualified from seeking any provincial laurels. Like their City League counterparts in Regina, the Moose Jaw City Leaguers continued in-house play with all participants now being tarnished as professionals by the Saskatchewan AAU. As well, all-star squads from both City Leagues intermittently met up with other so-called professional selects. The Kent & Browns team finished the schedule with the best record in league play.
Moose Jaw’s Commercial League played a very light schedule with the C.P.R. and Robin Hood squads performing the best.
The May first, 1915, edition of the Regina Morning Leader carried an advertisement for the Johnny Evers baseball glove (Model 10X for $1.50, the No. 25 for $3.00).
In 1915, Evers played second base for the Boston Braves but his legacy was cemented as part of the Chicago Cubs great double play combination with Joe Tinker and Frank Chance which was immortalized as “Tinker to Evers to Chance”.
The glove was distributed by Goldsmith Sporting Goods and sold in Regina by Canada Drug and Book Co.
The Saskatoon Young Liberals captured the Saskatchewan amateur championship downing Prince Albert
(August 29) Scoring all six runs in the 3rd inning, Saskatoon Young Liberals downed Prince Albert 6-1 in the opening game of a best-of-three series for the provincial amateur championship. Lyle hurled a four-hitter for the victory. Saskatoon combined two doubles, two singles, two hit batsmen and a walk for their six run outburst. Houlding and Freer each knocked in a pair of runs. Lyle and Skinner drove in the others. All the damage came against Prince Albert starter Thompson. Warren, who relieved in the 4th, allowed just one hit and no runs in his five innings of work.
Thompson (L), Warren (4) and Taylor
Lyle (W) and Andreen
(September 2) Prince Albert shaded Saskatoon 7-6 to even the best of three series at a game each in a game in which the Young Liberals blew a 4-0 lead. McNab and Clark each knocked in a pair of runs in the 1st inning to give Saskatoon the early advantage. But the northerners bounced back with four in the third as Neubaur drove in two and McEwen and Leitch each knocked in one. Prince Alberta took the lead with three in the 6th. Two scored on Brennan's safety and another came home on Oliver's single. Saskatoon rallied in the 9th with runs on McNab's second double and a hit by Doug Brown. Warren, who had 13 strikeouts, then fanned McKeller and Clark to end the game.
Warren (2) and Taylor
J. Brown (L) and Jones
(September 6) A three-run 7th inning carried the Saskatoon Young Liberals to a 7-5 win over Prince Albert and the Saskatchewan amateur baseball championship. It was the deciding game in the best of three series. Behind 5-4, Brown opened the frame with a double to left and scored the tying run on a single by Hunter who came around to notch the winning run on Pete Houlding's base hit. Houlding scored an insurance run on a steal of home.
After Prince Albert had taken a 3-0 lead, Saskatoon roared by with four markers in the 3rd inning. They loaded the bases on a hit batsman and two walks. Houlding singled in a pair and another two scored on errors.
Thompson, Warren (L) (3) and Taylor
Lyle (W) and Andreen
YORKTON TOWN LEAGUE
Only two senior-level teams graced the diamonds of Yorkton in their 1915 Town League as enlistment into the military thinned playing personnel. The two teams were evenly matched as evidenced by the number of tie games that they played. A picked team of selects from the two clubs represented Yorkton in exhibition and tournament play.
Cubs
I.H.C.
(June 29) Churchbridge Tournament
HUMBOLDT LEAGUE
A three-team amateur baseball league was organized in Humboldt for the 1915 season. The Athletics prevailed as league champions.
Athletics
Quakers
Tigers
SOO LINE LEAGUE
Plans for a 1915 Soo Line Baseball league encompassing teams from Milestone, Lang, Wilcox and Yellow Grass were abandoned as Milestone preferred not to be saddled down by league commitments and, instead, opted for exhibition games utilizing players, for the most part, from their three-team City League.
Teams in the 1915 Milestone City Baseball League
Giants
Red Birds
Tigers
* Giants were the 1915 Milestone City League pennant winners
Northern Soo Line area exhibition game reports
(May 24) Milestone edged Corinne 2 to 1 in a tightly-contested Empire Day exhibition clash in Milestone. The joust featured a duel between slab artists Lafoy and Ford. Winning chucker Ford limited the invaders to just two hits while Lafoy was touched for five. Corinne scored their only tally in the second frame when they went ahead 1 to 0. The score remained that way until the bottom of the eighth chapter. While at bat in the seventh panel, losing hurler Lafoy had the misfortune of having his pitching hand nicked by a pitched ball. This doubtless weakened his delivery and, in the fateful eighth canto, he walked shortpatcher Glenn who promptly pilfered second base and touched home on a single by backstop Cramolin. A muffed fly ball in the middle pasture then allowed Cramolin to scurry around the sacks with the go-ahead and winning tally. Keystone sacker Houghtailing of the victorious nine, with two safeties, was the lone swatter on either side to achieve plural hit totals.
Lafoy (L) and C. Collins
Ford (W) and Cramolin
(May 31) Playing with heavy gusts of wind blowing across the diamond, the Gray baseballers nudged past Milestone 9 to 7 in exhibition action. Gray compiled a 12 to 10 advantage in base hits and led from the third inning on. First baseman M. Kalina led the winners at the dish, slamming a triple and double. Infielder Hendrickson paced the vanquished nine offensively with a home run and a one-bagger.
W. Lafoy (W) and Rakeshaw
Ford (L) and Cramolin
(June 2) Milestone laid an 11 to 2 trimming on the visiting Wilcox diamondeers in an exhibition Soo Line encounter. Winning pitcher Ford punched out 17 Wilcox batters while limiting the invaders to four bingles. Milestone hammered a pair of Wilcox flingers for 15 base blows. Batting honors went to outfielder Keith of the victors who slapped out four singles. First baseman Hendrickson had two safeties including a home run, his second dinger of the campaign.
Harper (L), Jesse (7) and Hock
Ford (W) and Cramolin
(June 3) Yellow Grass decisioned hosting Lang 5 to 1 in exhibition Soo Line play. Catcher Clark’s three-base hit drove in the lone Lang marker.
Jones (W) and Cooper
E. Ranson (L) and Clarke
(June 7) Playing on their home turf, Lang squeezed past Milestone 7 to 6 in a Soo Line exhibition fracas.
Hersberger (L), McManus and Cramolin
E. Ranson (W) and Clarke
(June 11) Milestone travelled to Wilcox and dusted off the homesters 10 to 6. Catcher Cramolin was the mighty willow wielder for the Milestone machine, creaming the orb for two doubles, a triple and a single. Second sacker Moy Metz, with a brace of two-baggers, was best with the baton for Wilcox.
Hersberger (W) and Cramolin
Jesse (L), Kuehl and Stinson
(June 19) The visiting Milestone pastimers knocked off the much-heralded Gray nine 6 to 4 in an entertaining exhibition of baseball. The invaders had a 10 to 6 edge in base hits as winning tosser Ford rang up six strikeouts. Shortstop Hersberger and fly chaser McDole of the triumphant squad nicked the horsehide for two safeties each.
Ford (W) and Cramolin
W. Lafoy (L) and Rakeshaw
(June 22) Milestone grabbed a 7 to 5 verdict from Lang in an evenly-contested exhibition clash. Both sides racked up seven base knocks. Winning pitcher Ford was visibly tired but endured in going the route. He breezed six while losing tosser E. Ranson punched out four. Ford, along with battery mate Cramolin and fly chaser McManus, had a pair of safe swats each for the victors. E. Ranson and hot corner guardian Campbell stroked a brace of bingles apiece for Lang.
E. Ranson (L) and Clarke
Ford (W) and Cramolin
(June 25) The short-handed Dummer squad of baseballers, reinforced with three players from Corinne, were no match for the hosting Milestone nine who soundly whipped them 13 to 3. A ten-run Milestone outburst in the opening panel pretty well settled the issue. Dummer managed just four safeties off the slants of winning flinger Ford, one of them being a four-ply clout by shortstop Squires, one of the Corinne pickups. The losing nine played a very ragged game defensively, committing a dozen errors. Second baseman Houghtailing had two base hits for the winners.
Knutson (L) and Bahr
Ford (W) and Cramolin
(July 9) Rouleau suffered their first defeat of the season when they dropped a 6 to 2 decision to hosting Milestone. Outhit by a 6 to 4 margin, the Rouleau ball-tossers also hurt their chances by bobbling the apple on five occasions. Winning pitcher Ford and third sacker Cottingham of the winners as well as hot corner counterpart Dickson of Rouleau each managed to acquire two base hits. One of Heywood’s blows was a double while a triple was included in Dickson’s sum of swats.
Heywood (L) and Plank
Ford (W) and Cramolin
(July 20) Hosting Lang soundly trimmed the invading Corinne baseballers 13 to 4 in exhibition action.
Gilchrist (L), Squires (6) and Bahr
E. Ranson (W) and Clarke
(July 23) Corinne walloped Milestone 7 to 3 in a rather free-hitting display of baseball. The two contingents combined for 25 base blows with Milestone gathering 14 of them. Other than the second inning when the Milestone nine was consistently fumble fingered, the game was much more even than the final score would indicate. Milestone third baseman Cole led all baton swingers, hammering the apple for a quartet of safe swats.
Lafoy (W) and Kirkpatrick
Ford (L) and Cramolin
(August 2) The Lang diamond pastimers journeyed to Yellow Grass and were beaten 14 to 11 in a free-swinging exhibition fracas.
E. Ranson (L) and xxx
Jones (W) and Cooper
(August 5) Wilcox Sport’s Day Tournament
(August 13) Minus four of their regular players including ace chucker “Slim” Jones, the Yellow Grass diamondeers journeyed to Lang and absorbed a 12 to 7 setback at the hands of their hosts.
Brown (L), Cooper and Cooper, xxx
E. Ranson (W) and Clarke
LONG LAKE LEAGUE
Holdfast captured the 1915 Long Lake Baseball League championship, overcoming challenges from Imperial and Liberty.
Teams in the 1915 Long Lake Baseball League
Holdfast *
Imperial
Liberty
* 1915 Long Lake Baseball League champion
SWIFT CURRENT CITY LEAGUE
The Boosters edged out the Elks and High School team to emerge as champions of the 1915 Swift Current City Baseball League.
Swift Current City League
Pennant-clinching game report
(August 13) The Boosters crushed the High School nine 12 to 2 to clinch the 1915 pennant and the championship of the Swift Current City Baseball League. With the victory came possession of the Mayor West trophy. The game was tucked away in the very fist spasm when the Boosters tallied five counters off the slants of losing flinger Warren Kite. Although touched freely at times by the Collegians, winning moundsman “Spike” Ross twirled a dandy game, receiving solid defensive support by his mates.
W. Kite (L), Greenblat (5) and xxx
S. Ross (W) and xxx
MELFORT TOWN LEAGUE
Melfort organized a three-team Town League in 1915 from which players were chosen to play for their all-star team in inter-city exhibition play against opposition from various Carrot River Valley teams.
Teams in the 1915 Melfort Town Baseball League
Independents
Mechanics
Merchants
Carrot River Valley
(May 24) Melfort blanked Star City 5 to 0 in a Victoria Day baseball encounter. Winning pitcher Dunc Stewart set the Star City nine down on one hit, a single by second baseman Ab Montgomery, while fanning ten. Third baseman Motz and outfielder Gillespie had two hits apiece for the winners.
C. Radloff (L) and F. Garrison
Stewart (W) and Liepert