1923 SASKATOON CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Columbus Club
C.N.R
C.P.R.
Vanscoy
Y.M.C.A.
FIRST-HALF
(May 16) A three-run rally with two down in the last-of-the-ninth inning enabled the C.N.R. to successfully launch its campaign for a third pennant in the Saskatoon City League by edging the C.P.R. 12 to 11 at Cairns Field. The Nationals trailed 11 to 9 when they came to bat for the final time. Back-to-back doubles by Roy Forsythe and Joe Brown reduced the deficit to one run. Winning tosser Merrill Falby walked but was forced out at the keystone station on a fielder’s choice as Brown moved to third and Andy Aitkenhead became the runner at first. Brown was out at the plate when he tried to score on “Lefty” Fairbairn’s ground ball. Then Hobb Wilson delivered the goods by driving in Aitkenhead and Fairbairn with the tying and winning tallies.
Cummings (L) and Harris
Atcheson, Falby (W) (9) and Brown
(May 18) Two new entries locked horns in a City League fracas at Cairns Field with the Columbus Club, the older aggregation of baseballers, defeating the youthful Y.M.C.A. nine 9 to 4. Winning heaver Frank Lyle fanned 11, walked six but rationed the “Y” gang to just two hits. Bill Rooney led the Clubbers at the dish, slamming three hits off losing twirler Wes Weeks who was combed for eight safeties while walking four and whiffing an equal number.
Weeks (L) and Talbot
Lyle (W) and Alexander
(May 19) C.N.R. hitters had a field day at Vanscoy, slashing out 27 hits en route to a 23 to 8 thrashing of the home team. The Villagers, although thoroughly outclassed in almost all categories, showed that they can hit, stepping into winning twirler Merrill Falby for 14 safeties. It was virtually all over after the Railroaders plated an eight-spot in the opening panel and added four more in the second spasm. Ray Watkins clubbed a home run and four singles for the Nationals while Roy Forsythe belted a triple, double and two singles and Wally Taylor added four singles.
Falby (W) and Brown
Thompson (L), C. Shockey (3) and F. Shockey
(May 21) Held on even terms for the first five frames, the Columbus Club diamond pastimers came to life in the final four sessions, scoring nine times, for an 11 to 3 conquest of the C.P.R. Frank Lyle, with a seven-hitter, earned the complete-game knoll verdict over Cee Pee starter Oliver L’Ami. Lyle was backed up with a 16-hit offense supplied by his mates. Roy Allan, Norm Aiken and Lyle all banged out three safe swats for the Clubbers with a two-bagger as part of Lyle’s total. Hugh Goggins doubled twice for the Columbians while Mel Kerr launched a solo homer.
Lyle (W) and Andreen
L’Ami (L), Reid (8) and Harris
(May 24) Snappy baseball was the order for the Victoria Day holiday twin-bill staged at Cairns Field with the C.N.R taking a close game from the Y.M.C.A. 5 to 2 and the C.P.R. nine clipping Vanscoy 11 to 6.
Lawson Atcheson, star twirler with the C.N.R., faced ex-Fifth Battalion heaver Pitman in the early joust. The Nationals plated a trey in the eighth episode to break a 2 – 2 tie and come out on top. Atcheson fanned 12, walked none and yielded five hits in copping the decision while Pitman walked one, fanned 11 and gave up nine base raps. Shortpatcher Ray Watkins of the Trainmen topped all batters with a double and single.
Atcheson (W) and Brown
Pitman (L) and Talbot
Vanscoy got off to a good start in the second fixture, scoring three markers in the initial round, but the margin was short-lived as the Cee Pees began to rip into the offerings of losing flinger Thompson for 15 base blows. Winning twirler Alex Reid was nicked for nine safeties including a home run by George Kelly. The Pacifics had three round-trippers, two off the bat of Frank Langford and one by “Bunny” Clouston. Langford also swatted a triple while teammate Clarence Robinson delivered a brace of doubles and a one-bagger.
Thompson (L) and Weldon
Reid (W) and Harris
(May 26) Vanscoy failed to withstand the heavy-hitting barrage of the invading Y.M.C.A. nine and lost a City League contest on their home turf by a tally of 12 to 6. The peculiar delivery of winning slabster Orville Peasley had the Villagers baffled for most of the game. The “Y” willow wielders hammered out 20 hits but two players from the vanquished nine, Thompson and Ray Doane, connected for home runs.
Peasley (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
(May 28) Y.M.C.A. pitchers proved no match for the C.P.R. swatsmiths and were raked for 16 safeties as the Railroaders ploughed their way to a one-sided 19 to 3 win at Cairns Field. Winning pitcher Jerry Cummings of the Cee Pees, who yielded eight hits, had his hummer working well as he blew third strikes past 16 “Y” batters. Every player in the lineup for the Pacifics had at least one base knock as Earl Fuller and “Bunny” Clouston led the way with three-hit performances. Catcher Alex Harris followed with a double and one-bagger. For the Y’s-men, outfielder “Spuds” Murphy came through with three base knocks, one of which was a two-bagger.
Cummings (W) and Harris
Weeks (L), Peasley (1), Malette (8) and Talbot
(May 30) With a host of new talent in their lineup, the Vanscoy contingent of baseballers put up a strong fight but, in the end, fell 4 to 3 to the Columbus Club at Cairns Field. The contest developed into a tight mound affair with the pitching of the Cee Cee’s Alf Bennett and workhorse Thompson of the Villagers holding the fate of the verdict in their respective sinewy wings. After both teams opened with treys in the initial round of play, the duel for supremacy developed as nothing but goose eggs adorned the scoreboard over the nest four panels. In the sixth with the score still deadlocked at 3 – 3, the Columbians came through with the deciding tally after Frank Lyle singled, stole second base and waltzed home when Joe McCulloch punched the horsehide into the right garden for a one-base rap. In the ninth, the visitors pushed hard for the tying counter. Successive one-out singles off Bennett ended his evening on the knoll as Lyle was called upon to quell the potential fire and, that he did with a strikeout and a ground out to end the game. Bill Rooney led the Clubbers offensively with a double and two singles while Mel Kerr delivered a home run and single. Ray Doane doubled and singled for Vanscoy.
Thompson (L) and Currie
Bennett (W), Lyle (9) and Goggins
(June 2) The Columbus Club invaded Vanscoy, wobbled around for seven innings, and then stepped on the gas in the final two frames to beat the hosting Goose Lakers 9 to 4 in City League action. With winning tosser Frank Lyle far from being in top form and his fielders making a series of bad bobbles, the Villagers gained an edge in the fourth frame of the contest but were unable to hold it. In front by one run entering the eighth episode, the Columbians whacked losing chucker Thompson for three hits, two of them for extra-bases, which increased their margin to three. In the ninth, the visitors salted things away with a trey. Vanscoy played every bit as good as the Cee Cees but lacked the finish of their foes. Bill Rooney of the Clubbers posted a double and three singles with the hickory while shortpatcher George Bentley of the vanquished nine crashed four safeties off Lyle.
Lyle (W) and Goggins
Thompson (L) and Currie
(June 5) Brilliant pitching in the pinches by left-hander Frank Lyle enabled the Columbus Club to double the C.N.R. 8 to 4 and maintain its unbeaten record atop the City League standings with a 5 – 0 record. Despite being outhit 8 to 5, the Columbians made the most of Lyle’s 14-strikeout mound performance and were successful in sending the Railroaders and opposing moundsman Merrill Falby down to their first setback of the campaign. Joe McCulloch singled twice for the Clubbers while Roy Forsythe led the Nats offensively with a double and one-bagger.
Lyle (W) and Goggins
Falby (L) and Brown
(June 6) A slow-moving troupe of Y.M.C.A. balltossers were bowled over by the front-running Columbus Club aggregation 11 to 1 in an uninteresting City League tilt at Cairns Field. Alf Bennett, the young heaver recently promoted from the Third Avenue Eagles of the senior Rotary League, had his stuff working perfectly on the clay heap for the the Clubbers and won going away as the Y’s-men aided and abetted the one-sided result by booting the ball six times. Mel Kerr swatted a triple and one-bagger for the undefeated Cee Cees while Frank Lyle came through with a double and one-bagger. Infielders Tait and Bobby Bowman bagged two safeties apiece for the “Y” but their efforts did not do much damage.
Bennett (W) and Goggins
Pittman (L), Lawson (9) and Talbot
(June 7) Taking advantage of some mental lapses by the Y.M.C.A. balltossers, the C.N.R. staged a bottom-of-the-ninth inning rally to nip the Y’s-men 10 to 9. Trailing by one run and with runners parked at second and first base as a result of a walk and an error, the Railroaders were gifted with the tying and winning runs when Jimmy Hall tapped a dainty fly back of shortstop which should have been an easy out but was allowed to fall in safely and roll unmolested while the baserunners were in high gear. Ninth-inning reliever Merrill Falby was credited with the win over complete-game loser Bev Lawson who deserved a better fate. Top hitter in the contest was catcher Joe Brown of the Railroaders who slashed a double and two singles. First sacker Bobby Bowman laced a two-bagger and one-base rap for the losers.
Lawson (L) and Talbot
Atcheson, Falby (W) (9) and Brown
(June 8) Columbus Club diamond pastimers suffered their first defeat of the season with the second-place C.N.R. nine being on the winning end of an exciting 2 to 1 decision at Cairns Field. Both winning tosser Merrill Falby and Frank Lyle of the Cee Cees went the route and each was touched for ten hits. The Trackmen tallied both of their markers in the sixth spasm on a wild pitch and an RBI-single off the bat by Roy Forsythe. Dick Dickenson drove in the lone counter for the Clubbers in the seventh with a sharp single. Abe Schraeder, Hugh Goggins and “Peck” O’Donnell, all of the losing Columbians, topped the willow wielders with a double and single each.
Falby (W) and Brown
Lyle (L) and Goggins
(June 9) The C.N.R. moved into a first-place tie with the Columbus Club by defeating their old-time railway rivals, the C.P.R., 10 to 8 in a prolific-hitting affair at Cairns Field. “Lefty” Fairbairn, a regular outfielder for the Nationals, came out of his garden position to grace the mound for his team. Although slugged hard and often for 11 hits, he weathered the full nine innings, walking two and fanning five. The Cee Pees used two hurlers, including starter and loser Moote, a bespectacled curveball artist, who was bounced from the bump in the fourth after giving up nine hits and five runs. It was not until the seventh stanza that the C.N.R. squad put a bow on things by plating a four-spot off reliever Oliver L’Ami. Roy Forsythe poled out four hits, including a double, for the orange-and-black clad Nats. Earl Fuller of the Pacifics matched Forsythe’s offensive output.
Fairbairn (W) and Brown
Moote (L), L’Ami (4) and Harris, Robinson
(June 11) The C.P.R. band of diamondeers banged out 17 base raps and waltzed to an overwhelming 18 to 6 bashing of the Y.M.C.A. in a listless City League tilt that was called after eight innings at Cairns Field. Grant Murray came out of retirement to heave for the Cee Pees and held the Y’s-men in check with an eight-hitter. Losing chucker Orville Peasley was driven from the clay heap after surrendering five runs on five hits in two rounds of play. His successor, Pitman, fared no better and was raked for a dozen base blows. Catcher Clarence Robinson smashed a triple and three singles for the winners. Teammates “Bunny” Clouston and Jerry Cummings each delivered a trio of one-baggers.
Peasley (L) Pitman (3) and Talbot
Murray (W) and Robinson
FIRST-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Columbus Club 6 1 .857
C.N.R. 6 1 .857
C.P.R. 3 3 .500
Y.M.C.A. 1 6 .143
Vanscoy 0 5 .000
(June 14) Vanscoy received a thorough trouncing at the hands of the C.N.R. in a City League match, the final score being 15 to 3. Loose fielding by the Villagers enabled the Railroaders to capture the pastime without any trouble. The win nudged the Nationals slightly ahead of the Columbus Club in the first-half pennant race. Leonard Gray, southpaw pitcher from the Coues of the senior Rotary League, made his City League debut on the knoll for Vanscoy and, although he whiffed ten batters from the Nats, was given poor defensive support by his mates. He was nicked for a dozen base raps but only three of the runs scored against him were earned. The one thing that the Goose Lake nine do well is hit. They grabbed ten base knocks off winning twirler Lawson Atcheson but failed to deliver in the pinches. Roy Forsythe led the victors with the wand, spanking the horsehide for three safe swats, all singles. Andy Aitkenhead and second baseman Brownridge, a newcomer, cracked out a double and single apiece. The McCurdy boys, Jack and Jim, as well as first baseman Ray Doane, stroked a brace of one-baggers each for the losers.
Gray (L) and Ed Shockey
Atcheson (W) and Brown
(June 15) The Columbus Club troupe of diamond pastimers were fortunate to regain a share of top spot in the City League when they nosed out the C.P.R. nine 6 to 5 at Cairns Field. Significantly outhit by a 14 to 4 margin, the Clubbers had difficulty in solving the offerings of losing twirler Jerry Cummings, yet were aptly able to cash in on untimely Pacific errors. They managed to acquire a big lead in the early innings, thanks mainly to a four-run outburst in the fourth frame, and withstood a late charge by the Railroaders. Veteran Columbian chucker Frank Lyle was somehow able to pull himself out of several nasty holes by combining ten strikeouts with an uncanny ability to scatter the numerous base raps chalked up against him. The one batter from the Trackmen who had his number, Clarence Robinson, lit Lyle up for two triples and a pair of doubles, yet crossed the plate only once. The Trainmen lodged a protest which will be ruled upon at a later time.
Cummings (L) and Talbot
Lyle (W) and Goggins
(June 16) Vanscoy scored their first victory in the City League, defeating the visiting Y.M.C.A. 19 to 7. The youthful “Y” aggregation put up a good fight until the eighth episode when the Villagers ran across ten counters. Winning pitcher Thompson was clipped for eight hits while the hosting Goose Lakers slammed out 17 base blows off loser Pitman and eighth-inning reliever Orville Peasley. Pitman was given wretched support in the outer garden with many inexcusable bobbles and misjudged flies taking place. Shortstop George Kelly belted a two-run homer for the victors.
Pitman (L), Peasley (8) and Talbot
Thompson (W) and Ed Shockey
(June 25) After a layoff of nine days made necessary by the recent rains, City League baseball reappeared on the scene at City Park as the diamond at Cairns Field was still unplayable. Bruce McKenzie’s long triple in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto drove in Ted Preston with the winning run as the Y.M.C.A. chalked up a surprising but well-deserved win over the Columbus Club. The defeat for the Clubbers was a severe blow to their chances of ousting the C.N.R. for the first-half pennant. Bevan Lawson of the Y’s-men and the Cee Cees’ Alf Bennett, recent graduates from the Rotary senior loop, were the opposing moundsmen. After piling up a three-run lead in the seventh stanza behind Lawson, the Y.M.C.A. came within an ace of throwing away the contest. Two bad errors helped the Columbians to plate three tallies, enough to tie the score and only McKenzie’s timely swat in the ninth saved the situation. McKenzie had a pair of singles to go along with his three-bagger while teammate “Rube” Talbot punched out a double and a brace of one-baggers. Mel Kerr was by far the top dog with the baton for the vanquished nine, clubbing a triple and three singles.
Bennett (L) and Goggins
Lawson (W) and Talbot
(June 29) The Y.M.C.A. balltossers hammered their way to a well-earned 8 to 5 triumph over the C.P.R. in the wind-up game of the first-half. Four runs in the fifth frame off losing hurler Oliver L’Ami cinched the verdict for the “Y” aggregation. Winning heaver Pitman gave up seven safeties in a route-going performance. “Rube” Talbot, Ted Preston, Russ Atcheson and infielder McNair each stroked two singles for the Y’s-men while L’Ami swatted a double and one-bagger for the Cee Pees.
L’Ami (L), Robinson (6) and Harris
Pitman (W) and Talbot
(June 30) Vanscoy registered their second victory in City League competition by nosing out the Columbus Club 6 to 5. The Villagers played one of their better games of the campaign behind winning tosser “Lefty” Gray while the Columbians, with a makeshift aggregation of players on hand for the road game, gave little help to losing chucker Frank Lyle who had a dozen strikeouts. Bad bobbles by the Cee Cees in the eighth and ninth cantos led to their undoing.
Lyle (L) and xxx
Gray (W) and xxx
(June 30) Recent rains caused a termination of the remainder of the first-half of the City League schedule. The Canadian Nationals were awarded the first-half pennant, suffering just one defeat in seven games.
SECOND-HALF
(July 6) The Columbus Club opened the second-half of the City League schedule by swamping the Y.M.C.A. by the undignified score of 15 to 2. Three bad miscues in the opening stanza gave the Columbians seven runs, far more than they would need to wrap up the verdict. Alf Bennett twirled a solid game for the Cee Cees, doling out just five hits while striking out nine aspiring batters. The Y’s-men used two slabsters, both southpaws, who were offered little in the way of adequate defensive help. Nine errors, coupled with 15 base blows off loser Bevan Lawson and seventh-inning reliever Joe Thomas, a youngster from the senior Rotary League, contributed to the blow-out. Catcher Hugh Goggins and third baseman Joe McCulloch led the offensive onslaught for the winners, each clipping the pill for a double and three singles. Mel Kerr followed close on their heels with three hits.
Bennett (W) and Goggins
Lawson (L), Thomas (7) and Talbot
(July 11) Vanscoy put up a great battle for seven stanzas but imploded in the eighth episode, allowing the Columbus Club to score eight times, as the Cee Cees marched to a 14 to 6 conquest of the Villagers. Alf Bennett did the twirling for the victors, yielding seven hits while fanning eight and walking two. Thompson started off on the hill for the visitors but was derricked in the fifth frame in favor of Leonard Gray. The duo were raked for ten hits including four off the bat of catcher Hughie Goggins. Jack Mutchmore and Mel Kerr followed with a brace of one-baggers each, an output replicated by Thompson and Carl Moore of the Goose Lakers.
Thompson (L), Gray (5) and Ed Shockey
Bennett (W) and Goggins
(July 13) Two timely hits and an error in the fourth frame which produced three counters, spelled the difference as the C.P.R. went on to defeat the Y.M.C.A. 5 to 2 in a highly-contested City League affair. Winning tosser Jerry Cummings, with ten whiffs, had the best of Pitman in the mound struggle. Hits were a scarce article as the Cee Pees “Bunny” Clouston helped himself to batting honors for the evening by rapping out two doubles while Bobby Bowman had a couple of singles for the Y’s-men.
Cummings (W) and Harris
Pitman (L) and Talbot
(July 14) Ten innings of baseball at Vanscoy were insufficient to determine a winner as the homebrews and C.N.R. battled to an 8 – 8 draw with darkness intervening to prevent further play. Going into the eighth episode, the Railroaders had a 7 to 2 lead but bunched hits by the Villagers along with a couple of costly errors by the Nationals paved the way for a five-run Vanscoy rally. Both teams scored once in the ninth and in the only overtime frame, the slate was clean.
Falby and xxx
Gray and xxx
(July 16) The C.P.R. ballswatters staged an effective four-run batting rampage in the top-of-the eighth episode to wipe out a three-run Columbus Club lead and grab a 6 to 5 verdict from the eager clutches of the Columbians. Up until the fateful eighth, losing heaver Alf Bennett of the Nationals experienced little difficulty in subduing the Cee Cees while his mates had run across all five of their runs against winning flinger Jerry Cummings. Outside of the brilliant comeback by the Pacifics, the feature of the evening was the mighty home run launched by Mel Kerr of the Clubbers in the sixth spasm. Leadoff hitter Viv Little, a promotee from the Rotary senior champion Grace nine, stroked a double and two singles to lead the Trackmen at the dish. Cummings, who accumulated ten strikeouts in his winning mound effort, helped his own cause with three singles. Kerr walloped a triple and single for the losers in addition to his mammoth round-tripper while clubmate Roy Allan delivered a trio of one-base raps.
Cummings (W) and Robinson
Bennett (L) and Goggins
(July 19) Celebrating the return of City League baseball to previously deluged Cairns Field, the C.N.R. squad defeated the Y.M.C.A. 7 to 1 in a game that was marred by erratic defensive play. Portsided chuckers, “Lefty” Fairbairn and Bevan Lawson opposed each other on the clay heap with Fairbairn having a decided edge while Lawson received poor support from his mates.
Lawson (L) and xxx
Fairbairn (W) and xxx
(July 20) The Columbus Club caught Merrill Falby working with a weak flipper and slammed the leather pellet to all corners of the field to score a decisive 9 to 4 victory over first-half pennant winning C.N.R. Former Fifth Battalion chucker Harold Winters made his 1923 debut a successful one on the knoll for the Coulumbians who led all the way after starting out with a deuce in their first turn at bat. Mel Kerr and Jack Mutchmore helped themselves to three hits apiece for the victors with a triple included in Kerr’s sum of swats.
Winters (W) and xxx
Falby (L) and xxx
(July 21) Homestanding Vanscoy was involved in their second consecutive tie game when the invading Y.M.C.A. aggregation rallied for four counters in the top-of-the-ninth inning to claim a 9 – 9 draw with the Villagers.
Fraser and Talbot
Thompson, Gray (2), Moore (9) and Ed Shockey, Weldon
(July 23-28) Second annual Saskatoon Exhibition week baseball tournament
(August 1) Shivering in the chilly breezes that floated through Cairns Field, the C.N.R. baseballers doubled visiting Vanscoy 4 to 2 in a darkness-abbreviated, eight-inning contest. There was little to choose between winning pitcher Lawson Atcheson and Leonard “Lefty” Gray, on the bump for the invaders, as both limited opposing batters to just three base hits. It was the ability of the Railroaders to deliver the necessary punch in the clutch that accounted for their taking the verdict. Gray, with a double and single, was the lone multi-hit batter in the tilt.
Gray (L) and Talbot
Atcheson (W) and Taylor
(August 3) The Y.M.C.A. band of diamond troupers won for the first time in the second-half of the schedule when they squeezed out a narrow 5 to 4 victory over the previously undefeated C.P.R. nine in a City League encounter limited to seven-stanzas. A brace of tallies in the fifth frame did the trick for the Y’s-men who were outhit 9 to 6 by the Railroaders. Driving in the tying counter with a sharp single was infielder Carmichael who, in turn, plated the deciding marker when “Rube” Talbot whacked a double into the left garden. Winning slabster Fraser was fortunate to take the mound verdict over Oliver L’Ami who deserved a better fate. Bobby Bowman had a triple and single for the winners while Pete Campbell, Frank Langford and Len Hunter all singled twice for the Pacifics. The Trackmen lodged a protest following a base-running debacle that occurred during the fourth frame.
L’Ami (L) and L. Hunter
Fraser (W) and Talbot
(August 6) The C.N.R. slipped back into a first-place tie with the Columbus Club by scoring an overwhelming 22 to 3 triumph over the Y.M.C.A. The massacre was called at the end of the fifth inning. Lawson Atcheson twirled a solid five-hitter for the Nationals, yielding four base raps in the second stanza when the losers scored all three of their runs. The Railroaders punctuated the atmosphere with 17 base knocks with Roy Forsythe leading the pack with a circuit clout and three singles.
Pitman (L), R. Atcheson (4) and Talbot
L. Atcheson (W) and Brown
(August 7) Fashioning a fine three-hitter, Merrill Falby pitched the C.N.R. to a 3 to 0 whitewashing of the Columbus Club. In registering the shutout, Falby whiffed a dozen Cee Cee batters. Loser Alf Bennett was tagged for ten base hits. Both Falby and Bennett went the entire nine innings without issuing a walk, hitting a batter or registering a wild pitch. Ray Watkins, Jack Leachman and Andy Aitkenhead laced a pair of singles each for the Nats while Hughie Goggins gathered two of the three safeties garnered by the Clubbers.
Bennett (L) and Goggins
Falby (W) and Brown
SECOND-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
C.N.R. 4 1 .800
C.P.R. 2 1 .667
Columbus Club 3 2 .600
Y.M.C.A. 1 4 .200
Vanscoy 0 2 .000
(August 13) With a 5 to 3 conquest over their closest rivals, the C.P.R. in a merry diamond strife at Cairns Field, the C.N.R. City Leaguers advanced another step toward the second-half pennant. Lawson Atcheson of the Nationals and the Cee Pees’ Jerry Cummings engaged in a nip-and-tuck heaving duel in which the ability of the Nats to bunch hits had its reward. Both teams smacked the horsehide for nine base raps but it was a four-run outburst in the fifth frame that sealed the deal for the winners. Ray Watkins and Atcheson both singled twice for the Nationals while Frank Langford and Cummings of the Pacifics did likewise.
Cummings (L) and L. Hunter
Atcheson (W) and Brown
(August 14) The two Saskatoon railway clubs, the Nationals and Pacifics, squared off in what turned out to be the finest scuffle of the season, a 1 to 0 win for the Cee Pees. Losing twirler Guy Poole held the C.P.R. nine to just one hit yet yielded the game’s lone run in the third inning when Viv Little coaxed a walk out of him, was called safe at second base on a highly disputed theft and, while the Nats were arguing the umpire’s call, streaked down to third, romping home when Poole made a hurried throw to the hot corner station that was off target and rolled to the stands. Winning chucker Jerry Cummings yielded just four hits, fanned ten, walked none and hit one batter. Hard-luck loser Poole registered nine whiffs, doled out six free passes to first base and plunked one batsman. Both slab artists were aided by sensational fielding plays during the joust.
Poole (L) and Brown
Cummings (W) and Robinson
(August 15) The Columbus Club defeated the Y.M.C.A. 11 to 2 in a listless City League encounter that wrapped up regular season play. Time restraints curtailed the playing of any further scheduled second-half games that were postponed because of wet weather. The “Y” aggregation started off like a house afire, scoring both of their counters in the top-of-the-opening panel but that was the extent of their offensive output. The game developed into a virtual slaughter in the fifth when the Columbians hammered losing twirler Fraser for five hits and six runs. Alf Bennett copped the knoll triumph with a four-hitter. Joe McCulloch of the Clubbers, with a double and single, was the contest’s leading hitter.
Fraser (L) and Talbot
Bennett (W) and Goggins
(August 15) In a lengthy, and at times, heated session of City League officials, protests filed by the C.N.R. and C.P.R. relating to a pair of second-half games were discussed and ruled upon. The C.N.R. withdrew their protest regarding a July 20 loss to the Columbus Club but a C.P.R. challenge concerning an August 3 game against the Y.M.C.A. was upheld and the result of the game thrown out. This decision altered the final standings and allowed the Pacifics to claim the second-half pennant by mere percentage points.
SECOND-HALF
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
C.P.R. 3 1 .750
C.N.R. 5 2 .714
Columbus Club 5 2 .714
Y.M.C.A. 1 5 .167
Vanscoy 0 4 .000
PLAYOFFS C.N.R (first-half winners) vs C.P.R. (second-half champions) best-of-five series
(August 17) First blood in the City League final series went to the C.P.R. team who edged past the C.N.R. team 7 to 6 in a game that was called in the bottom-of-the-eighth episode because of darkness. The Pacifics, with Jerry Cummings on the knoll, were outhit 11 to 8. Guy Poole did the heaving for the Nationals.
Cummings (W) and Robinson
Poole (L) and Brown
(August 20) The C.N.R. evened the City League finals at a game apiece by defeating the C.P.R. 6 to 1 in a fast-paced scuffle at Cairns Field. Five errors helped in spelling defeat for the Cee Pees who were outhit 9 to 8. Lawson Atcheson earned the hillock decision over Jerry Cummings as both tossers went the route. Ray Watkins and Roy Forsythe of the Nats as well as the Pacifics’ Clarence Robinson each picked up a brace of bingles for their respective nines.
Atcheson (W) and Brown
Cummings (L) and Robinson
(August 22) Superior play in the field and at bat propelled the C.P.R. baseballers to a 7 to 5 conquest of the C.N.R. and a two-games-to-one lead in the City League finals. A four-run fourth inning against losing chucker Merrill Falby turned the game in favor of the Cee Pees. Alf Bennett hurled a sweet eight-hitter in earning the knoll verdict. Shortpatcher Roy Allan of the Pacifics won the batting honors for the night with three base raps. Teammate George Porteous swatted a double and one-bagger. Jack Leachman singled twice for the Nats.
Bennett (W) and Goggins
Falby (L) and Brown
(August 24) Plating the winning tally in the bottom-of-the-tenth inning in a game that was about to be called because of darkness, the C.P.R. band of baseballers nosed out the C.N.R. 2 to 1 to carry off the 1923 championship of the Saskatoon City Baseball League. The game resolved into a hurling duel right from the start with Lawson Atcheson on the mound for the Nationals and Jerry Cummings serving them up for the Pacifics. Atcheson allowed five hits and zero walks while the Nats found Cummings’ offerings for six safeties and two free passes. Both chuckers fanned four and neither gave up an earned run. The winning counter in the overtime session resulted from two singles sandwiched around an error with Roy Allan driving in the deciding tally. Joe Brown was the only National who succeeded in acquiring two hits off Cummings while the Cee Pees’ Hugh Goggins turned the same trick on Atcheson.
Atcheson (L) and Brown
Cummings (W) and Robinson
REGINA NORTHSIDE LEAGUE
The 1923 circuit began with four teams but by the time the second-half of the schedule was nearing completion, the number of entries had dwindled to just two.
TEAMS
Elks
Imperial Life
Pirates
Winner’s Club
FIRST-HALF
(May 21) One big round of healthy swatting was enough for the defending-champion Elks to double the Pirates 6 to 3 in the opening game of the Northside Baseball League. Ideal weather helped attract a capacity crowd to the event at Park de Young. The Antlered Tribe landed on the offerings of heaver Pete Gottselig of the Buccaneers for six sound bingles in the top-of-the-opening panel which propelled them into a 5 to 0 lead, a margin that was never headed. The Sea Scoundrels picked up a singletons in the first, fourth and ninth chapters while the victors added to their total when Fred Barker launched the first four-bagger of the campaign, a solo blast, in the fourth frame. Every member of the Elks had at least one base hit in a balanced ten-hit attack with winning pitcher Wade Bird leading the way with a pair. Shortstop Forsythe, flychaser “Butch” Wilson and playing-manager Pete Parker paced the losers offensively with a brace of one-baggers each.
Bird (W) and Timmis
P. Gottselig (L) and Parker
(May 23) A bevy of base hits defined the Northside League game between Imperial Life and the Winner’s Club in which the Insurers prevailed 10 to 8. Twenty-five bingles were banged out by the participants, 13 by the Clubbers. Winner’s took a three-run lead in the first inning and remained in front until the eighth when the Lifers got to losing heaver Bill Bannister for a pair of runs. In the ninth, they put the game on ice with a trey. George Dent led the Underwriters at the dish, stroking four singles. Heinie Rogers of the vanquished nine got to winning flinger Holmes for a triad of one-baggers.
Holmes (W) and W. White
Bannister (L) and Leigh
(May 25) Bunching their hits in the third, six and seventh stanzas, the defending-champion Elks won their second game of the season, beating Imperial Life 6 to 1. Veteran southpaw Tannahill of the Antlered Tribe hurled a steady game, allowing only four hits while walking three and fanning seven. Catcher Brian Timmis was the big noise with the lumber for the victors, stroking a double and two singles while driving in four runs. Russ White hurled his first game of the campaign for the Lifers, tossing a seven-hitter in defeat. He also poked out two of the Imperials’ four safeties, a double and single, and batted in his team’s lone run.
Tannahill (W) and Timmis
R. White (L) and W. White
(May 28) Second baseman Heinie Rogers picked up three RBI’s as the Winner’s Club doubled the Pirates 4 to 2 at Park de Young. Rogers, with a trio of one-base raps, and his middle-infield partner shortstop Howie Milne, both had three safeties against losing chucker Grant Crawford. One of Milne’s knocks was a triple. Winning heaver Gilmour and Crawford were each touched for eight bingles. “Happy” Hepburn and shortpatcher Cy Forsythe had two singles apiece for the Pirates.
Crawford (L) and Parker
Gilmour (W) and Leigh
(May 30) A tenth-inning triple by Winner’s Club outfielder Vadis Lindsay broke a 3 – 3 tie, driving home what turned out to be the deciding counter and providing the impetus for a thrilling 5 to 3 conquest of the Elks. The Elks outhit the Clubbers 10 to 7 but four glaring errors spoiled their chances. Tannahill, the young southpaw of the Wapiti, hurled a steady game, striking out ten and walking four. Losing chucker Bill Bannister whiffed four and gave out three free passes to first base. Lindsay had a one-bagger to go along with his winning bingle and touched the pan with the insurance counter. Teammate Stew Leigh also tripled and singled for the Clubbers. Elks’ second baseman Tommy Green belted a solo home run and a single.
Bannister (L) and Leigh
Tannahill (W) and Blacklock
(June 6) Three big innings for Winner’s spelled defeat for the Pirates by an overwhelming score of 14 to 3. In the third and sixth spasms, the Clubbers plated four counters each time and, in the ninth, they ran across another half-dozen. Bill Bannister hurled a cool, steady game for Winner’s, yielding seven hits while allowing only one base-on-balls. Losing chucker Pete Gottselig of the Buccaneers started in impressive fashion but found himself in a big jam by the time the third inning had begun. He lasted for 8-2/3 frames and was raked for 15 base blows. Shortpatcher Howie Milne combed him for four safe swats, including a pair of doubles. Top dog with the lumber for the Sea Pillagers was flychaser “Butch” Wilson who claimed three singles off Bannister.
Bannister (W) and Leigh
P. Gottselig (L), Beavis (9) and Parker
(June 7) The Imperial Life diamond pastimers put up a good fight but were still edged by the Elks 3 to 2 at Park de Young. The Antlered Tribe plated singletons in each of the first, second and third sessions and held on after the Underwriters pushed across a deuce in the eighth. Both teams picked up six base hits as Tommy Green copped the hurling verdict over Holmes. Neither side could produce an extra-base hit. Green and second sacker Davis singled twice for the victors while Russ White and Pete Irvin of the Lifers replicated the output.
Holmes (L) and W. White
Green (W) and Timmis
(June 8) Ragged work on the part of the Elks infield, coupled with excellent twirling by Pete Gottselig, gave the Pirates their first win of the season, an to 3 conquest of the Horned Horde. Webb Bird, who started on the mound for the Elks, was off form and Tommy Green replaced him in the fifth frame after “Butch” Wilson had cracked out a three-run homer to put the Buccaneers in front 7 – 2. Although nicked for nine hits, including a bases-empty circuit-clout by Fred Barker, Gottselig did a good job in spacing them. Shortstop Forsythe singled twice for the Bucs while, for the Antlered Herd, Barker added a one-bagger to his round-tripper and catcher Brian Timmis drilled a double and single.
P. Gottselig (W) and Parker
Bird (L), Green (5) and Timmis
(June 11) The Imperial Life aggregation came through in great style and won a short and snappy ball game from the Winners Club 4 to 3. Winning hurler Russell White pitched remarkably well except for the eighth episode when he gave up two singles, walked one and hit three batters. Finishing with a seven-hitter, he struck out a dozen. Bill Bannister, on the knoll for the Clubbers, also twirled a steady game, fanning eight and walking but one. The Lifers had a well-balanced nine-hit offensive attack with eight of the nine players in the lineup registering at least one hit. George Dent, with two singles, was their lone batter to have a multi-hit game. Middle infielders Howie Milne and “Heinie” Rogers of the vanquished nine also singled twice.
Bannister (L) and Leigh
R. White (W) and W. White
(June 13) Although the Elks scored seven times in the third inning, their entire output for the game, they were still nosed out by the Winner’s Club 8 to 7 in a fierce, ten-inning battle at Park de Young. Dyer and Tannahill, both portsiders, opposed each other on the slab. Dyer hurled sensational for the Clubbers in 9-1/3 innings on the bump, yielding just four hits while striking out 17 Winners’ batters. He also cracked a two-base hit that drove in the tying run in the bottom-of-the-ninth. Despite these heroics, Dyer failed to get credit for the victory he worked so hard for. Getting off to a shaky start in the overtime session, Dyer was yanked by playing-manager “Heinie” Rogers who replaced him on the hillock with Bill Bannister, the eventual winning heaver. Tannahill was nicked for a dozen base raps in going the ten-inning route for the Wapiti. With one retired in bottom-of-the-bonus round of play, Gord Grassick got to Tannahill for a triple and Bannister ended things with an RBI-single. Howie Milne of victors led all batters with a four-hit performance, all one-baggers. Teammate Stew Leigh connected for the contest’s longest blow, a four-ply clout.
Tannahill (L) and Timmis
Dyer, Bannister (W) (10) and Blacklock
(June 15) The Pirates climbed alongside Imperial Life for third place in the first-division standings by eking out a 4 to 3 triumph over the Insurers. Both winning tosser Grant Crawford and losing chucker George Holmes yielded eight hits in going the route. A four-run sixth spasm did the trick for the Sea Scoundrels who had a balanced hitting attack headed by Len McDougall who singled twice. Pete Irvin as best with the baton for the Underwriters, slamming a pair of triples and a single. Clubmates George Dent and Russ White followed with a brace of one-baggers each.
Holmes (L) and W White
Crawford (W) and Parker
FIRST-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Winner’s Club 4 2 .667
Elks 3 3 .500
Imperial Life 2 3 .400
Pirates 2 3 .400
(June 18) Imperial Life came out on top of the Elks 16 to 15 in a wild slugging match at Park de Young. While the teams broke even on safe hits with 19 each, the Lifers had a wide edge in power hitting as eight of their blows were for extra bases while the Antlered Herd had but one. Chuck Milne had a perfect evening at bat for the Underwriters acquiring five hits, two of them doubles, in as many at bats. Teammate George Dent socked the sphere for a two-bagger and three single while starting twirler Bill Wilson of the Elks, promoted from C.N.R. of the second-division for this game, stroked four one-baggers.
Wilson, Bird (L) (8), Vineberg (8) and Timmis
R. White, Holmes (W) (4) and W. White
(June 20) Right-hander Bill Bannister swished nine and tamed the Pirates on four hits in leading the Winner’s Club to a 5 to 0 whitewashing of the Buccaneers in a quick and snappy contest at Park de Young. For the first five frames, the game was a scoreless mound duel, but losing flinger Pete Gottselig weakened thereafter while Bannister remained steady to the end. Heinie Rogers, Stew Leigh and Gord Grassick of the Clubbers all stung the sphere for a double and single.
P. Gottselig (L) and Parker
Bannister (W) and Leigh
(June 22) Leo Vineberg, the regular shortstop with the Elks baseball nine, made a rare knoll appearance and twirled a nifty six-hitter while fanning ten as the Wapiti doubled the Pirates 8 to 4 at Park de Young. Both Vineberg and losing heaver Grant Crawford of the Bucs went the route. Heading the 14-hit offensive thrust for the Antlered Tribe was second-division callup Don McEachern who made an impressive debut by spanking the horsehide for three doubles and a single. Clubmate “Casey” Moroschan, also playing in his initial league contest of the campaign, slammed a triple and one-bagger. Crawford had a double and single in support of his mound effort.
Vineberg (W) and Timmis
Crawford (L) and Parker
(June 26) The Winner’s Club increased their lead in the first-division of the Northside League when they clobbered Imperial Life 11 to 3. The Clubbers plated a deuce in their opening turn at bat and held the lead throughout as winning slabster Bill Bannister was given excellent defensive support in holding the Insurers at bay with an eight-hitter. Losing twirler Russell White was raked for ten base knocks, two of which were four-baggers, and was wild as a hawk, hitting eight batters including outfielder Gregg four times and Howie Milne twice, walking two and uncorking a wild pitch. Jack Rowand, with one mate aboard, and Stew Leigh, with the sacks empty, launched the four-ply clouts for Winner’s. Both sluggers had a single in addition to their round-trippers.
R. White (L) and W. White
Bannister (W) and Leigh
(June 27) Newcomer Stokes toed the rubber for the Elks at Park de Young and for seven full stanzas he completely mystified the hard-hitting Winner’s Club. In the eighth spasm, however, the league leaders solved the riddle and touched him for three runs on three hits, eventually winning the game 5 to 4 on the basis of a deuce in the tenth inning. Light-hitting “Shorty” McNab’s two-run single in the pivotal eighth sent the Antlered Tribe in front for the first time in the struggle. They would still need a deuce in the bonus round of play to prevail and an RBI-single by Jack Rowand, along with a wild pitch which allowed Rowand to romp home from third, provided that boost. Stokes gave up just six hits in absorbing the overtime defeat. Winning flinger Dyer surrendered nine safeties.
Dyer (W) and Leigh, Blacklock (3)
Stokes (L) and Timmis
(July 11) After numerous postponements due to rain and water-logged diamonds over the past two weeks, action within the Northside Baseball League finally resumed at Park de Young where the front-running Winner’s Club stampeded all over Imperial Life by an 11 to 2 count. The Clubbers hit consistently, registering 18 base knocks off the slants of George Holmes and failing to wallop safely in only the fifth and eighth innings. Essaying the role of a mound artist, regular pasture patroller Vadis Lindsay of the victors fanned 13 but walked a dozen in copping the route-going hillock triumph. A lone fifth-frame single by catcher Gerald Erskine, called up from Simpson’s of the second division, was the only safety Lindsay allowed. First baseman Dyer and flychaser “Shorty” McNab cracked three safe swats apiece for Winner’s with one of Dyers blows being a two-bagger.
Lindsay (W) and Leigh
Holmes (L) and Erskine
(July 13) The Elks handed a 12 to 5 drubbing to the league-leading Winner’s Club in a slow-moving affair at Park de Young. The Antlered Herd pounded a duo of Clubber tossers for 14 base blows as second-division callup Don McEachern led the way with the hickory, slamming a home run, triple and two singles. Mickey Longpre, also promoted from the C.N.R. second-division team for this game, ripped a three-bagger and a brace of singles.
Stokes, Green (W) (3) and Irvine
Dyer (L), Bannister (3) and Leigh
(July 16) Imperial Life balltossers disposed of the Pirates 15 to 7 in a rather sloppily-played game that had some exciting moments. Batters from both teams teed off with regularity as the Lifers had a 12 to ten margin in base hits. Winning flinger Russ White struck out a dozen and walked three. Losing chucker Johnny Gottselig, in his debut performance with the Sea Scoundrels this season after spending the first half of the campaign with the St. Mary’s aggregation in the East Side League, fanned eight, issued two free passes and plunked six of the Underwriter batters including Tommy Nelson three times. Gottselig suffered through two tragic innings, the sixth and eighth, when nine hits, aided and abetted by four errors and a few walks, produced 13 counters for the victors. The big hitters of the evening were the Buccaneers’ Gottselig who creamed the orb for a home run and single, along with Pete Irvin and second-division secondee Ernie Cameron of the Insurers. Irvin smashed a three-bagger and a two-base blow while Cameron delivered a pair of doubles.
R White (W) and W. White
J. Gottselig (L) and Parker
FIRST-HALF
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
Winner’s Club 8 3 .727
Elks 5 5 .500
Imperial Life 4 5 .444
Pirates 2 6 .250
SECOND-HALF
(July 18) The Elks opened the second-half of the Northside League schedule with a decisive 16 to 6 conquest of the Imperial Life nine. Scoring six times in the opening panel against losing chucker “Doc” Gitterman, who was requisitioned from the second-division ranks for the fracas, the Horned Horde was in control throughout the tumultuous battle. Every batter in the Elks’ lineup had at least one safety as part of their 19-hit offensive attack. Starting and winning heaver Webb Bird led the Wapiti onslaught with four base raps, all singles. Clubmates Jack Farquhar, Don McEachern and Leo Vineberg followed with a triad of one-baggers each. Tommy Nelson and Charley Milne registered three bingles apiece for the Lifers with a double included in Milne’s total.
Bird (W), Vineberg (6) and Irvine
Gitterman (L) and W. White
(July 20) First-half pennant-winning Winner’s Club had to battle all the way but finally prevailed 4 to 2 over a hard-fighting Pirates aggregation. Southpaw heaver Dyer fanned ten and allowed only four well-scattered hits, including a bases-empty circuit-clout by Ernie Cameron, in copping the knoll verdict over Buccaneer starter Johnny Gottselig who was derricked in the third round. Jack Rowand of the Clubbers, with a pair of one-baggers, was the lone batter in the game that had plural hit totals.
J. Gottselig (L), Forsythe (3) and Parker
Dyer (W) and Leigh, Ellis
(July 23) The Elks shutout the Pirates by a top-heavy score of 11 to 0 as versatile Webb Bird fanned eight and allowed six scattered his in recording the whitewash mound victory. Half a dozen errors by the Buccaneers helped the Elks materially. Three of the twelve hits garnered by the Antlered Herd were decidedly scratchy. Middle pasture patroller Cliff Moses picked up four safeties for the victors.
Bird (W) and Stevenson
Crawford (L) and Parker
(July 25) Bill Earley, a new mound artist to the pitching stable of the Winner’s Club was highly successful in his Northside League debut, striking out 13 while allowing four singles in pacing the Clubbers to a 7 to 0 blanking of Imperial Life. The margin of victory was not indicative of the play as losing tosser Russell White also had a stellar performance on the hillock with a six-hitter but was hurt with defensive lapses by his mates in critical situations. Heinie Rogers of the victors and the Lifers’ Tommy Nelson, with two singles each, were the top hitters for their respective squads.
R. White (L) and W. White
Earley (W) and Leigh
(July 27) Five third-inning hits, including a double by Stew Leigh, paved the way for the Winner’s Club to plate four counters and take a 6 to 4 decision from the Elks before a packed house at Park de Young. Bill Earley, the new moundsman for the Clubbers, hooked up against the Elks’ Tommy Green in the clash in which the Antlered Tribe held a 14 to 12 advantage in base hits. Green amassed ten strikeouts to nine for Earley. The big sticker of the night was Fred Brundage, left gardener of the Wapiti, who whammed the pellet for four safeties, including a triple. Jack Farquhar of the same team hit safely three times with one of those raps falling in for a double. Another Elk, Don McEachern, pounded out two doubles. Top swatsmith for the victors was Leigh who added a single to his two-bagger.
Earley (W) and Leigh
Green (L) and Timmis
(July 27) League moguls announced that the Imperial Life and Pirate teams would amalgamate and that the Northside League would complete the season with three strong clubs. The combined team was renamed as the Imperial Pirates, retaining a flavor of each of the merging squads. Results from the previous second-half games were all tossed out and a new schedule implemented.
(July 30) The hybrid Imperial Pirates pulled off what their two tail-end predecessors were unable to do, capture a second-half Northside League win. The newly-formed squad annexed their initial triumph by bouncing the Elks 12 to 3 in a darkness-shortened, seven inning affair at Park de Young. The amalgamated forces pounced on former Pirate, Grant Crawford, for 11 of their 17 hits before he was yanked in the sixth spasm. George Holmes gave up nine safeties, including three by Crawford, in taking the mound decision. Charley Milne led the combined I-P’s offensively with a double and a brace of one-base raps.
Holmes (W) and Parker
G. Crawford (L), Bird (6) and Stevenson
(August 1) Northside League ball fans were treated to an unusual spectacle at Park de Young where, by far, the best game of the season involving first-division teams was staged. Tommy Green of the Elks spun a no-hit game but, at the same time, came out as the losing pitcher after his teammates had given him a 1 – 0 lead. Two consecutive bases-on-balls by Green to begin the eighth episode proved to be his undoing. An infield out advanced the runners and they both crossed the pan on an infield error, leading to a narrow 2 to 1 victory for the Winner’s Club. Winning heaver Dyer of the Clubbers was almost as effective as Green, limiting the victors to just three safeties, only one of which was really spanked. Dyer had a 6 to 5 edge in strikeouts and walked only one as opposed the Green’s three free tickets.
Green (L) and Spence
Dyer (W) and Leigh
(August 3) A muffed double play opportunity in the third round by the Imperial Pirates gave the Winner’s Club the opening they needed and they went on to score four times to take the lead which resulted in an eventual 13 to 5 conquest of the Combines. The I-P’s played sloppily afield, committing eight miscues behind losing chucker George Holmes who was nicked for 14 base knocks, including a triple and three singles by first sacker Frank Gillespie, a recent arrival from the Winnipeg Arenas. Club starter Bill Bannister, who switched places on the diamond with Dyer halfway through the game, secured the knoll win. Bill Baldwin and Charley Milne each had three of the nine safeties secured by the losers with one of Baldwin’s raps being a double.
Bannister (W), Dyer (6) and Leigh
Holmes (L) and Parker
(August 6) The Elks shook their extra-inning jinx at Park De Young by trimming the Imperial Pirates 6 to 5 in ten rounds of exciting action. The Wapiti outswatted the Combines by a significant 16 to 9 margin and would have won in regulation time had it not been for the high-class defensive play of the I-P’s. Pinch-hitter Grant Crawford whaled out a double in the top half of the bonus round of play to drive in the winning counter. Casey Moroschan appeared on the mound for the Antlered Tribe, fanning 11 and holding the Amalgamates to nine hits while shutting them out in every frame but the third when three singles, two walks and an error resulted in five runs. Moroschan also cut a big swathe with the hickory, touching up losing twirler Rogers for a double and three singles. His offensive performance was duplicated by teammate Fred Barker. Catcher Brian Timmis, with three singles, also made significant noise with the willow. Not to be overlooked, flychaser Don McEachern belted a two-run homer.
Moroschan (W) and Timmis
Rogers (L) and Erskine
(August 8) Coming from behind twice to tie the game, the Elks caught a break in the bottom-of-the-ninth canto when catcher Stew Leigh of the Winner’s Club uncorked a wild and reckless pickoff throw to third base which allowed “Happy” Crawford” to cross the dish with the deciding run in a 6 to 5 triumph for the Antlered Herd. The game was a low-scoring 1 – 0 pitcher’s duel deluxe until the eighth episode when things began to move. The Clubbers padded their narrow margin with a trey to take a comfortable lead. The Wapiti then went on a rampage and notched their first four counters in the bottom-half of the round to square things. However, an RBI-double by losing heaver Bill Earley in the top-of-the-ninth put the Clubbers in front once again. The Horned Horde responded when Webb Bird delivered a leadoff solo round-tripper to deadlock things once more. Crawford, the next batter, singled and moved into scoring position on Leo Vineberg’s hot drive to short which Howie Milne found too hot to handle. Crawford then moved to third base on a fielder’s choice after Earley had been yanked an replaced by Dyer who had been called upon to quell the uprising. At this point, Leigh ended the hostilities with his questionable, off-target heave. Tommy Green, of no-hit fame, went the route on the knoll for the victors, surrendering five hits along with two free passes. Two of those safeties, a triple and single, were acquired by Milne. Don McEachern, with a double and one-bagger, paced the balanced 11-hit Elks’ attack.
Earley (L), Dyer (9) and Leigh
Green (W) and Snell
(August 10) Six costly errors, resulting in six unearned runs, spelled the demise of the Imperial Pirates who were nosed out 6 to 5 by the Winner’s Club. The game was tied up three times before a single by winning pitcher Dyer in the bottom-of-the-ninth panel, preceded by a brace of I-P miscues, drove in the winning run. Hard-luck losing chucker “Doc” Gitterman, recruited from the Y.M.H.A. club of the second-division for this contest, had his drop ball working to perfection and gave up only five hits, all singles. Dyer took over mound chores for the Clubbers in the fourth session with his team trailing 3 – 1 and held the Amalgamates to three singles in the six stanzas that he hurled.
Gitterman (L) and Parker
Bannister, Dyer (W) (4) and Ellis
(August 13) Six runs in the first inning was more than enough for the Elks to humble the Imperial Pirates 16 to 3 in a darkness-shortened, seven-inning affair at Park de Young. Versatile Webb Bird made a rare appearance on the hillock for the Horned Herd and held the Combines to six safeties in securing the mound win. The Wapiti gathered 15 base blows during the rout, a double and three singles of which came off the bat of leadoff batter Ray Crawford. Teammate Fred Brundage followed with a triple plus a pair of one-baggers while Bird helped his own cause with a triad of one-base raps. Leo Vineberg made his presence felt with a home run and a single. For the I-P’s, Charley Milne stroked a double and single.
Bird (W) and Moses
Crawford (L), Gitterman (1) and Parker
SECOND-HALF
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Winner’s Club 3 1 .750
Elks 3 2 .600
Imperial Pirates 1 4 .200
(August 18) Crippled by injuries, the Imperial Pirates announced they would be unable to finish the season. In view of that development, the league set up a three-game series between the two-remaining teams, the Elks and Winner’s Club, to determine a second-half victor.
SECOND-HALF FINAL SERIES
(August 20) A late scoring splurge by the Elks fell short as they were clipped 7 to 5 by the Winner’s Club at Park de Young. Winning hurler Bill Earley held the Wapiti scoreless for the first six frames but began to weaken in the final three rounds when the vanquished nine got to him for four of their five safeties including a three-run homer by Don “Scotty” McEachern. Losing chucker Stokes was nicked for five of the nine hits garnered by the Clubbers. Howie Milne topped Winner’s at the plate, slamming a double and two singles. McEachern stroked a single in addition to his round-tripper.
Stokes (L), Green (7) and Snell
Earley (W) and McDougall
(August 24) Portsider Tommy Green rationed the Winner’s Club swatsmiths to just two hits as he pitched the Elks to a 2 to 1 victory over the Clubbers. The win for the Horned Herd created a tie with the losers in their three-game set-to for second-half honors. Losing chucker Bill Earley was a potent force for the first six frames but, in the seventh, the Wapiti got to him for both their tallies when he gave up three hits. He finished with 13 strikeouts but walked two and surrendered nine base raps. Green fanned ten and gave up three free passes. The lone run scored against him was unearned. Second sacker Casey Moroschan ripped three singles for the victors.
Earley (L) and McDougall
Green (W) and Snell
(August 27) The Winner’s Club baseballers were handed a lopsided jolt in their rubber match with the Elks for the second-half title of the Northside League’s first division. The Antlered Tribe, with southpaw Tommy Green on the knoll, pounded out a decisive 8 to 1 victory to force another series with the first-half winning Clubbers for the overall championship of the circuit. Green limited the Winner’s nine to five hits, two of which were garnered by catcher Bill McDougall. The rampant Elks touched up losing slabster Bill Earley and reliever Dyer for 11 hits and went hitless in only two rounds. Green, with a trio of one-base raps, and Casey Moroschan, with a triple and single, led the victors with the lumber.
Green (W) and Snell
Earley (L), Dyer (3) and McDougall
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS Winner’s Club vs Elks (best-of-five series)
(August 30) Fred Barker’s sharp single through shortstop drove in Casey Moroschan from third base with the walk-off winner as the Elks shaded to Winner’s Club 3 to 2 in the eight-inning opener of the Northside League finals. Moroschan had connected for an RBI-double to send home the tying counter and bring the teams even at 2 – 2 before moving to third on a sacrifice fly. The legitimacy of his two-bagger was argued vehemently by the Clubbers who claimed that the blow was a foul ball. Tommy Green of the Antlered Tribe, nicked for nine safeties, copped the close mound victory over Bill Earley of the Clubmen who yielded eight hits. Moroschan had a pair of singles in addition to his timely double and, for good measure, swiped two bases.
Earley (L) and Leigh
Green (W) and Snell
(September 1) By grabbing both ends of a nip-and-tuck doubleheader from the Winner’s Club at Park de Young by scores of 4 to 2 and 9 to 8, the defending champion Elks repeated as first-division titlists of the Northside Baseball League. The Antlered Tribe won both contests because of superior defensive play.
A two-run double by “Scotty” McEachern in the top-of-the-ninth canto broke a 2 – 2 tie and lifted the Wapiti to victory in the matinee joust. Casey Moroschan was the star of this fixture. Aside from hurling a masterful win on the knoll while fanning nine, Moroschan connected for a triple and two singles off his mound opponent, Dyer. Jack Rowand was best offensively for the Clubbers, stroking three singles.
Moroschan (W) and Snell
Dyer (L) and Leigh
The Clubbers, with a healthy 17 to 10 margin in base hits, jumped out to an early lead in the sunset skirmish but had to battle back from an 8 to 5 deficit with a singleton in the eighth and a deuce in the top-of-the-ninth to tie things up at 8 – 8. Then came the Elks final turn at bat. Jack Farquhar opened with a walk, Tommy Green sacrificed him to the keystone station and Fred Brundage sent him to third on an infield out. “Rancher” Snell’s routine fly ball to the right pasture was nervously muffed by Bill Earley as Farquhar trotted in to touch the pan with the deciding tally. Four hurlers displayed their talents in the twilight tilt with ninth-inning reliever Moroschan accruing his second win of the day while Bill Bannister, who came on for starter Earley in the sixth spasm, was the hard-luck loser. Leading the hit parade in the finale were Howie Milne and Dyer of the vanquished nine who both creamed the orb for three safeties with a triple included in Milne’s total of raps.
Earley, Bannister (L) (6) and Leigh, Ellis
Green, Moroschan (W) (9) and Snell
1923 REGINA NORTHSIDE BASEBALL LEAGUE (SECOND DIVISION)
TEAMS
City Hall
C.N.R.
C.P.R.
Simpson’s
Y.M.H.A.
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
C.N.R. 18 4 .818
Simpson’s 18 4 .818
City Hall 8 13 .381
C.P.R. 7 14 .333
Y.M.H.A 2 18 .100
FIRST-PLACE TIE-BREAKER
(August 31) The C.N.R. diamond artists are the champions of the second-division of the Northside Baseball League after a convincing 6 to 2 triumph over Simpson’s in the sudden-death tie-breaker for the 1923 pennant. The Railroaders enjoyed an 11 to 8 advantage in base hits. Top hitters in the fracas were Stevenson of the Nationals and losing twirler Rogers of the Storemen who each stung the spheroid for three singles.
Gregory (W) and Spence
Rogers (L) and Erskine
1923 REGINA EAST SIDE BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Capitals
Maple Leafs
Red Sox (disbanded in mid-July)
St. Joseph’s
St. Mary’s
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
St. Mary’s 12 6 .667
Maple Leafs 10 8 .556
Capitals 8 10 .444
St. Joseph’s 7 11 .389
FINALS
(August 27) The runner-up Maple Leafs upset the dope in the first game of the East Side League finals when they bounced the pennant-winning St. Mary’s nine 10 to 6. Light-hitting first baseman J. Ehman had three of the 11 base knocks annexed by the Leafs in their 11-hit offense against losing heaver Pete Gottselig. Southpaw Pete Radu fanned 13 and gave up nine safeties, including three to Gottselig, in taking the mound verdict.
Radu (W) and McInnis
P. Gottselig (L) and Ehman
(August 29) Lady Luck helped the Maple Leafs grab a two-game lead in the East Side League finals when they ran roughshod over St. Mary’s by a 13 to 7 count. For seven innings, winning hurler “Mutt” Smith had the Saints eating out of his hand, but in the final two sessions, the Leafs pounded his offerings with regularity. With a substantial lead, he was kept on the hill despite surrendering 16 safeties. Losing slabster Johnny Gottselig was raked for nine base knocks including a double and two singles by Pete Nashburn and three singles of the bat of second sacker Bergi. Gottselig, with a triple and a brace of one-baggers, and his batterymate, Ehman, who singled on three occasions, were best with the baton for the losers.
John Gottselig (L) and Schneider, Ehman
Smith (W) and McInnis
(September 3) St. Mary’s were unable to field a team for the third game of the Eastside League finals and, as a result, the Maple Leafs were awarded the contest by forfeiture along with the championship of the league.
1923 MOOSE JAW CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE (SENIOR DIVISION)
TEAMS
C.P.R.
Moose Jaw Motors
Robin Hoods #
St. Joseph’s *
* first-half pennant winner
# second-half pennant winner
After dropping the first two games, the Robin Hoods, second-half pennant winners, defeated the St. Joseph’s squad 3 games to 2 in the best-of-five final series to lay claim to the 1923 Moose Jaw City League championship.
(September 1) The Moose Jaw City League All-Stars copped the honors for 1923 in their numerous inter-city skirmishes with the Regina Northside loop. The Mill City nine captured the final two games in the season-long series by scores of 14 to 2 and 5 to 1, giving them a one-game edge over their Queen City foes. At one point in the campaign, the Northside League selects were five games up in the inter-city series.
1923 MOOSE JAW CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE (INTERMEDIATE DIVISION)
TEAMS
St. Joseph’s
Times
Yeoman
Y..M.C.A.
1923 MOOSE JAW COUNTY BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Ardill
Congress
Ettington
Mazenod
Mossbank
Vantage
SASKATCHEWAN PROVINCIAL PLAYOFFS
The Regina Elks retained the Saskatchewan senior amateur baseball championship by defeating the Moose Jaw Robin Hoods three games to one in the 1923 best-of-five provincial final. Earlier, in a best-two-out-of-three semi-final match-up, the Elks had disposed of the Saskatoon C.P.R. in two straight games.
SEMI - FINALS
(September 8) The Elks, champions of Regina's metropolitan circuit, advanced to the provincial final series against the Robin Hoods of Moose Jaw when they soundly trounced the C.P.R. champion team of Saskatoon in both games of a semi-final doubleheader. The Capital City champions were too much for the visitors and ran the score of both games of the twin-bill into double figures, spanking the Hub City railroaders 19 to 9 and 16 to 3.
Jack Farquhar, "Casey" Moroschan, Cliff Moses and "Rancher" Snell each banged out three hits for the Queen City nine in the opener with a triple being included in both Farquhar's and Moses' total. Southpaw hurler Tommy Green struck out 6 Saskatoon batters to earn the pitching decision.
Cummings (L) and Robinson
Green (W) and Snell
Regina's heavy artillery continued in the late game as winning chucker "Casey" Moroschan had the support of 16 base hits in cruising to victory. His batterymate, "Rancher" Snell, contributed a triple, double and single while Tommy Green, Fred Brundage and Leo Vineberg all had two doubles and a single.
Moroschan (W) and Snell
Bennett (L) and Robinson, Goggins
PROVINCIAL FINALS
(September 12) The Moose Jaw Robin Hoods and Regina Elks divided the spoils in the first double-bill in their best-of-five playoff for the provincial senior amateur baseball championship. Playing at Regina's Park de Young, the opening game was annexed by the Robins 10 to 4 while the Antlered Tribe rebounded for a 5 to 2 second game victory.
In arrears by a 4 to 1 count entering the seventh inning of the matinee encounter, the Mill City gang staged an epic comeback, plating four counters to take a one-run lead. Then, in the ninth, they ran wilder than ever and, assisted by numerous Regina fielding miscues, tacked on five more tallies to walk away with the game. Third sacker Chuck Robinson was a standout defensively for the Hoods and also produced three base hits, one of which was a double. Regina shortstop Leo Vineberg had three singles off the slants of winning twirler Andy Dale.
Dale (W) and Mills
Moroschan (L) and Snell
In the evening event, the Elks looked as if they would hold the Robin Hoods scoreless. A supreme effort by the visitors in the eighth averted the whitewash but failed to pull the game out of the fire. Portsider Tommy Green picked up the win with an eight-hitter, besting George Haigh. Green also picked up a pair of hits in this contest as did teammates Leo Vineberg and Cliff Moses.
Green (W) and Snell
Haigh (L) and Mills
(September 14) The Regina Elks grabbed both games of a double-dip with the Moose Jaw Robin Hoods to decide the Saskatchewan senior amateur baseball championship in four games. The first game fell to the Elks 7 to 3 while they won the evening contest 9 to 8 after 8 innings of exciting baseball. The double killing secured three games out of four for the visiting Reginans.
The Millers threw the opening game away with errors at crucial moments in the fifth frame when the Elks scored five runs. Moose Jaw out-hit their guests 9 to 8 and had all of the game's extra-base hits. Catchers "Rancher" Snell of the Reginans and "Haddo" Mills of the hosts were the contest's leading hitters, Snell pasting a trio of one baggers while Mills had a double and single.
Moroschan (W) and Snell
Dale (L) and Mills
With fully 2,500 fans filling the stands for the game which ultimately decided the championship, the Elks broke an 8 - 8 deadlock in the bottom of the eighth and final inning after "Scotty" McEachern singled to leadoff the frame and, with one out, scampered home with the go-ahead tally on Jack Farquhar's booming triple. Darkness ended the affair and series at that point. Farquhar wound up with four safeties, two of which were three-baggers, in leading the winners at the dish. McEachern followed with a trio of singles as Tommy Green picked up his second hurling victory of the four-game set-to.
Haigh (L) and Mills
Green (W) and Snell
1923 NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Blaine Lake
Leask
Marcelin
Shellbrook
1923 SASKATOON SENIOR ROTARY BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
C.A.A.
Coues
Grace
St. George’s
St. Thomas
Third Avenue Eagles
Wesley
Westminster
(June 28) Westminster earned the right to meet first-place Grace for the championship of the Rotary Senior League by defeating St. Thomas 8 to 3. Earl DeGeer was the hero of the night, holding the opposition hitless as his Westminster teammates clinched second-spot in the short-season Saskatoon circuit. DeGeer, who walked seven and struck out 12, capped his winning mound performance by slamming a fifth-inning grand-slam home run off losing twirler Sam Conkin.
DeGeer (W) and Cannon
S. Conkin (L) and White, Johnson
FINALS (best-of-three series)
(June 29) Grace captured the first game of the Senior Rotary League finals by defeating Westminster 7 to 5 in a hair-raising diamond duel. Westminster rode along with a comfortable 5 – 2 lead until the fifth inning when losing chucker Earl DeGeer weakened and allowed three runs on four hits. Then, in the sixth, the Grace Gang manufactured two more markers on one hit and three errors. Winning tosser Artie Kerr pitched a steady game after the opening stanza when he was nicked for four tallies by the losers. First baseman Jack Mutchmore stroked a double and three singles for the victors. Catcher Cannon singled three times for the vanquished nine.
DeGeer (L) and Cannon
Kerr (W) and Conn
(July 3) Westminster defeated Grace 7 to 4 and evened the senior Rotary League championship finals at a game apiece. The lead see-sawed from side to side until the sixth spasm when the Westminster Willow Wielders pushed four counters across the plate with one of those tallies resulting on a theft of home by shortstop George Graham. Earl DeGeer, with a five-hitter, copped the pitching win while losing slabster Harold Willis was combed for eight safeties and walked five batters. DeGeer helped his own cause with a brace of bingles while teammate Al Lee also ripped a pair of base hits. Maitland Conn and Viv Little both singled twice for the losers.
Willis (L) and Conn
DeGeer (W) and Cannon
(July 5) Although rain interrupted the third and deciding game of the senior Rotary finals, another game will not be necessary. George Graham, captain of the Westminster team who were in arrears by a 9 to 0 count when the game was called in the bottom-of-the-fourth frame, graciously announced that his mates had decided to concede the title to Grace rather than demand a full replay of the tilt. Artie Kerr had a one-hitter going at the time that action was terminated.
1923 A. A. RURAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Bethune *
Chamberlain
Dilke
Findlater
Kedleston
* 1923 pennant winner
1923 SOUTH CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Brownlee
Carlyle
Eskbank
Eyebrow
Keeler
Lake Valley
Marquis *
* 1923 South Central League pennant winner
1923 LONG LAKE BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Holdfast
Liberty
Penzance
Simpson
1923 GRAIN GROWERS BASEBALL LEAGUE
KNOWN TEAMS
Davin
McLean
1923 TRIANGLE BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Denholm
Maymont
Richard
Ruddell
Speers
1923 GOOSE LAKE BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Delisle
Donavon
Kinley
Laura
1923 BIG FOUR BASEBALL LEAGUE #1
TEAMS
Colonsay
Meacham
Viscount
Young
1923 BIG FOUR BASEBALL LEAGUE #2
TEAMS
Lac Vert
Naicam
Pleasantdale
Spalding
1923 NAME UNKNOWN
TEAMS
Macklin
Northend
Primate
Senlac
1923 GARRY BASEBALL LEAGUE
TEAMS
Cherryfield
Springfield
Theodore
Willowbrook