WINNIPEG WESLEY SENIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Arenas
Columbus Club
Elks
Norwood
Tammany Tigers
FIRST SERIES
(May 15) Playing on a wind-swept diamond before close to 2,000 fans, the defending-champion Arenas opened up the new season on a winning note, taking the long end of a 5 to 3 score in their tussle with the youthful Tammany Tigers. The Arenas started early, taking advantage of a slip on the part of the Tammany kid infield to run across a three-spot in the opening canto. From then on, it was a real battle between Sammy McCallum, who hurled courageously for the Bengals, and winning slabster Wally Lawton who was backed up brilliantly by his mates. Lawton was nicked for seven safeties, four of those coming off the bat of “Slim” Austman who checked in with a home run, a pair of doubles and a single. Heading the nine-hit offense presented by the Rinkmen was Pat Cann with a two-bagger and a one-base rap. “Bunny” Warren and Lawton both singled twice.
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
McCallum (L) and Singbush
(May 17) The Elks made their season’s debut a successful one by smothering the youthful Columbus Club 10 to 4 in a darkness-shortened, six-inning affair at Wesley Park. The Clubbers were handicapped by poor pitching and loose defensive work. The Antlered Tribe assumed the lead from the outset, received steady hurling from winning tosser “Red” Davison and walloped the ball hard in the pinches. Losing heaver Odie Lowe, the first of three chuckers used by the Cee Cees, walked four, hit a batter with the bases loaded and was combed for nine runs on six hits before being yanked. George Rivers of the Brother Bills was the game’s batting star with three singles. Daily, the new husky catcher unveiled by the Elks, swatted a solo home run in his debut but was forced out of the game in the sixth spasm because of a finger injury. “Doc” Flanagan and third sacker Brown both singled twice for the Knights while Lowe belted a bases-empty four-bagger in his first trip to the dish.
Lowe (L), Kelly (4), Dick (5) and McCorquodale
Davison (W) and Daily, Mooney (6)
(May 18) A cold reception from both the weatherman and the Arenas greeted the Norwood baseballers who were flattened 9 to 3 by the Arenas in their first start of the campaign. Right off the bat, the Rinkmen got the jump on their foes by gathering a deuce in the initial panel. Norwood managed to even the count by the fourth but, in the fifth, some wobbly fielding paved the way for four more Arena counters and just about settled the issue which lasted eight episodes before darkness intervened. Bill Beddome, on the mound for the winners, was quite a puzzle to the Suburbanites with runners on base. He was nicked for nine blows which he managed to scatter effectively. Losing flinger Bill Stobie yielded all ten hits garnered by the victors before he was derricked in the final canto. Outfielder Ness Wise stroked a double and two singles for the Arenas. Bill Siddle hammered a triple and one-bagger while Art Frick doubled and singled.
W. Stobie (L), F. Stobie (8) and Mulligan
Beddome (W) and Sinclair
(May 26) The Arenas reeled off their third straight win in the new season, bouncing the Columbus Club 7 to 2 in a joust that was more keenly contested than the final score indicates. Four runs on five ringing hits in the ninth inning, after the teams had fought practically on even terms for eight rounds, gave the Rinkmen a healthy margin. For the major part of the fracas, Arena side-armed heaver Bob Beddome and gangling youngster Odie Lowe of the Columbians battled tooth-and-nail for knoll supremacy with little to choose between them. Ness Wise’s clean RBI-single in the seventh broke a 2-2 tie and put the Rinkmen in front to stay. Greig Warren and Bill Siddle of the winning nine as well as the Clubbers’ Bob Dalziel and Nick Doyle each registered a double and a single.
Beddome (W) and Mobberly
Lowe (L) and McCorquodale
(May 27) A barnburner of a finish enabled the enraged Tammany Tigers to gain a 5 – 5 tie with the Elks in a Senior League thriller at Wesley Park. In arrears by three runs as they came to bat for the final time in the engagement that did not run into overtime because of dark skies, the Bengals began to close the gap when, with one out, “Slim” Austman leaned into one of Larry Wilson’s offerings for a solo round-tripper. Teammate Ward McVey, not to be outdone, followed suit with another bases-empty homer, reducing the deficit to a singleton. Gordie McKenzie, making his 1926 debut in the circuit, then drove Wilson to the showers by clouting a booming triple. Ole Olien, summoned to the knoll rescue, responded with a strikeout but then got careless and walked Bill Crowe. With runners at the corners, a delayed double steal ensued but Elk catcher Nelson Mooney’s peg to the keystone sack was weak and McKenzie had no difficulty in plating the equalizer from third. The Antlered Herd came within an eyelash of winning the game in their half of the ninth but had the potential winning tally thrown out at the plate. McVey had an earlier circuit-clout and a single to accompany his ninth-canto blast. Also acquiring three safeties was leadoff hitter Gord Caslake of the Brother Bills who checked in with a triad of one-baggers.
Crowe and Cockburn
L. Wilson, O. Olien (9) and Mooney
(May 28) Outfielder Toddy May’s big bat and brilliant fielding proved too much for the youthful Columbus Club aggregation at Wesley Park as Norwood romped off with an 8 to 4 victory. Two home runs and a sensational catch in the left garden that cut off at least two runs and nipped a dangerous rally were May’s contribution toward victory. His first circuit-clout came with two mates aboard while the second one sent one runner in ahead of him. In all, he was responsible for five runs. Each side used a pair of chuckers, loser Bill Clifford and second-inning reliever Odie Lowe toiling on the bump for the Cee Cees while slow-moving “Lefty” Roberts flung the horsehide for the Suburbanites until Bill Stobie was summoned in the seventh. Shortpatcher Bob Dalziel of the Columbians, with a double and single, was the only player other than May to pick up more than one hit in the scuffle.
Clifford (L), Lowe (2) and McCorquodale
Roberts (W), W. Stobie (6) and Mulligan
(May 29) The Arenas garnered just three base hits against eight by the Elks, perpetuated three errors against one by the opposition yet somehow emerged as 6 to 4 victors before one of the largest crowds of the season at Wesley Park. As has been the case so often, the veteran Arena aggregation played smart baseball and took advantage of every mental lapse and mistake made by the Antlered Tribe. Speedball twirler Barney Lee, on the hillock for the Brother Bills, allowed just a pair of scratchy infield hits until the seventh spasm when he served up a meatball to slugger Pat Cann who launched it for a two-run homer, part of a four-run uprising that put the Rinkmen in charge. Lee’s lack of control had him in constant peril throughout the tilt as he hit four batters and walked five. Steady Wally Lawton twirled for the Arenas and never gave up more than one run in any single inning.
Lee (L) and Mooney
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
(May 31) Braving inclement weather conditions, the Tammany Tigers recorded their first victory of the season by edging Norwood 4 to 3 in a tight hurling struggle. No scoring occurred until the sixth stanza when the Suburbanites broke through for a deuce and the Jungle Cats responded with a trey in their half of the session. Each aggregation added one more run as winning slabster Finley Fairfield of the Bengals checked the Norwoods on five hits while the duo of Bill Stobie and eighth-episode reliever Harold Hultman yielded five safeties to the Tammany Troop. Not a single batter from either team managed to acquire plural hit totals.
W. Stobie (L), Hultman (8) and H. May
Fairfield (W) and Cockburn
(June 2) The Arenas suffered their first defeat of the current season when they fell 19 to 8 to the Norwood balltossers. The defeat was one of the soundest beatings in the history of the club. Management of the defending champions tried everything possible to turn the tide, switching pitchers around but to no avail. The contest was mercifully called after 5-1/2 innings because of darkness. Every Norwood batter, with the exception of starting pitcher Dave Mackie, had at least one hit. Shortstop Cochrane led the way with a home run and two singles while catcher Andy Mulligan stroked a double and one-base hit. “Mickey” Mickelson swatted a double and a pair of one-baggers for the Rinkmen while young Rosy Rosenstock delivered a grand-slam home run.
Beddome (L), Lawton (3), Fitch (4), Siddle (5) and Mobberly
Mackie, Roberts (W) (2) and Mulligan
(June 3) The Tammany Tigers moved into the runner-up spot in the Wesley Senior League by bumping off the Elks 6 to 2. After starting slowly, the Bengals found their collective batting eye in the third-inning to take a 3 – 0 lead, got the breaks and breezed through handily. Bill Crowe, the Tammany twirler, held the Horned Herd hitless until two were out in the sixth stanza and finished with a five-hitter. Johnny “Red” Davison, on the hillock for the B.P.O.E Brigade, was nicked for a dozen safeties despite running up eleven strikeouts with his heater. Hot corner custodian Murray Van Vliet shone with the baton for the Ferocious Felines, pounding the pill for a trio of singles. Initial sacker Kendall added a double and one-bagger. Romeo Rivers nailed a two-run circuit-jack to account for both the Elk tallies.
Davison (L) and Daily
Crowe (W) and Cockburn
(June 4) Walloping the apple for 17 base knocks, the Columbus Club baseballers overcame a weak defensive performance and captured their first victory of the Wesley Senior League campaign, slapping down the Tammany Tigers 9 to 5. Odie Lowe toed the rubber for the Columbians and turned in a splendid effort, holding the Jungle Cats to five scattered bingles. Seven fielding miscues by his mates, however, frequently put him in peril. As well, he was inclined to serve up gopher balls as both “Slim” Austman and pinch-hitter Bill Cockburn lit him up for home runs, Austman’s blast coming with one aboard. Finley Fairfield started on the knoll for the Striped Tabbies and was hit hard, exiting in the sixth spasm. Every batter in the Cee Cees lineup managed to bang out at least one safe swat. Catcher Dunc McCorquodale stung the spheroid for a circuit-clout plus two singles. Third sacker Brown ripped three singles and playing-manager Tommy Shannon belted a four-bagger and a one-base rap.
Fairfield (L), Crowe (6) and Singush
Lowe (W) and McCorquodale
(June 5) A 5 to 4 conquest of the Columbus Club vaulted the Norwood nine up a notch and into second place in the Wesley Senior loop, one game behind the front-running Arenas. After playing loosely in the first two rounds in which they presented the Clubbers with four gift markers, the Suburbanites settled down and played a steady game behind complete-game winning heaver Bill Stobie. Stobie limited the Cee Cees to six scattered bingles, two being of the dinky variety. Long-in-the-tooth Sid May made his first appearance of the season on the clay heap for the Columbians and began to show signs of wear-and-tear in the fourth, finally retiring in the seventh in favor of “Smokey” Harris. Singletons in all three of the middle frames plus a deuce in the seventh propelled the Norwoods into the lead. First baseman Brandt of the winners connected for three singles while teammate Jack Seel delivered a double and one-bagger.
W. Stobie (W) and A. Olien
May (L), Harris (7) and McCorquodale
FIRST-SERIES
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Arenas 4 1 .800
Norwood 3 2 .600
Tammany Tigers 2 2 .500
Elks 1 2 .333
Columbus Club 1 4 .200
(June 8) Six runs in the eighth episode, which was the last round of the darkness-shortened contest, decided the verdict in which the Elks defeated Norwood 14 to 8. Relievers “Red” Davison of the Elks, who was effective after ascending the knoll in the sixth, and Norwood’s Harold Hultman, who came on in the seventh and was roughed up badly in the final stanza, were the pitchers of record. Outfielder “Packey” McFarlane nailed a double and two singles for the winners while cleanup hitter Daily delivered a two-run circuit-jack and and a one-bagger.
Roberts, Hultman (L) (7) and A. Olien
Hind, Davison (W) (6) and Dakins
(June 9) Playing sounder and smarter baseball, the Arenas increased their lead in the first-series standings by virtue of a 7 to 5 victory over the Columbus Club in a spirited Wesley Park engagement. A three-spot in the sixth round broke a 4 – 4 tie and decided the issue. The Columbians were guilty of six errors which negated their 7 to 6 advantage in base hits. Bob Beddome of the Rinkmen and the Clubbers’ “Smokey” Harris were the opposing hurlers with the honors pretty even. “Bunny” Warren of the Arenas as well as the Cee Cees’ Dunc McCorquodale and third baseman Brown, with two singles apiece, were the only multi-hit players in the tilt.
Harris (L) and McCorquodale
Beddome (W) and Mobberly
(June 11) Eight big runs in the opening canto was more than sufficient to give the Columbus Club an 8 to 4 victory over the Elks. After yielding three tallies in the top-of-the-first, the Clubbers parlayed three safeties with the wildness of starter and loser Larry Wilson to bag the eight-spot. The game went seven stanzas before darkness halted proceedings. Winning twirler Odie Lowe hurled a splendid game and was strong in the pinches despite the wobbly support afforded him. Pat O’Brien and Bob Dalziel both stroked a double and a single for the victors.
L. Wilson (L), Davison (1) and Mooney
Lowe (W) and McCorquodale
(June 12) The Tammany Tigers moved into the runner-up spot in the Wesley Senior League standings by downing Norwood 10 to 7 before a large crowd at Wesley Park. Winning pitcher Leo Johnson was wild, issuing eight free tickets, but allowed just six hits and struck out ten. Sammy McCallum, with three singles, and “Slim” Austman and outfielder Kennedy, each with a pair, led the 11-hit Bengal offense.
Johnson (W) and Cockburn
Hultman, Mackie (L) (4) and H. May
(June 14) Running wild in the fourth frame to cross the platter no less than 11 times, the league-leading Arenas handed the Elks a 16 to 4 lacing and increased their margin atop the first-series standings. The Elks trotted out three hurlers in an effort to halt the frisky Rinkmen but all three failed. Starter Larry Wilson was saddled with the defeat. Wally Lawton, backed up with some brilliant support, tossed a six-hitter for the win. Bill Siddle clouted a home run and a single for the winners while Romeo Rivers launched a four-bagger for the Antlered Tribe. Both round-trippers came with one runner aboard.
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
L. Wilson (L), Davison (4), O. Olien (4) and Daily
(June 15) The Tammany Tigers squeezed out a 6 to 5 victory over the Columbus Club to strengthen their hold on second place in the Wesley Senior League. A sensational running catch by left fielder Kennedy saved the game for the Bengals in the ninth canto. The over-the-shoulder snare while in full flight developed into a twin-killing as Kennedy’s relay to the infield was in time to double-up playing-manager Tommy Shannon of the Columbians who was sprinting full throttle from the initial station and was nearing the hot corner bag when the sensational snag was made. Both winning flinger Bill Crowe, with a six-hitter, and veteran Sid May did a creditable job on the knoll. May was hit harder but kept kept the bingles scattered most of the way. The result was decided in the sixth spasm when the Jungle Cats, trailing 5 – 4, got a break when two runners scored on a wild throw to first base. Ron Singbush drilled a two-run homer and a single for the Tammany Troupe while teammate “Slim” Austman clubbed a run-scoring double and a one-bagger.
May (L) and McCorquodale
Crowe (W) and Cockburn, Singbush
(June 18) Fending off a ninth-inning rally by the Elks, Norwood hung on to nose out the Brother Bills 3 to 2 in a snappy, well-played Wesley Park encounter. Winning heaver “Lefty” Roberts and Johnny “Red” Davison of the B.P.O.E. Bunch staged an even knoll duel in which the losers had a slight 9 to 8 margin in safe swats. Con Puhan’s two-out, two-run single in the sixth spasm broke a 1 – 1 tie and put the Suburbanites in front to stay. The Antlered Tribe’s Steve Penu, with a double and single, was the games top batter.
Davison (L) and Daily
Roberts (W) and A. Olien
(June 19) Playing through a steady rain at Wesley Park, the young Columbus Club aggregation started strongly but wilted as the game progressed, finally absorbing a 9 to 3 trouncing at the hands of the Elks. The Clubbers assumed a 3 - 0 lead in the top-of-the-opening panel when Marty Kokran hammered a homer with two mates aboard, driving starter Larry Wilson from the mound in the process. However veteran Jack Hind, summoned to douse the fire, was almost unhittable and held the Cee Cees scoreless the rest of the game. Odie Lowe pitched the entire contest for the Columbians, serving up ten safeties in addition to walking five batters. A four-spot in the third round put the Horned Herd in front and they were never headed thereafter. Lawrie Cuthbert swatted three safeties for the Antlered Tribe including a two-run round-tripper. George Rivers added a double and single while catcher Daily came through with a solo circuit-clout. Hind fanned nine and was touched for just two singles, both by Club catcher Dunc McCorquodale.
Lowe (L) and McCorquodale
L. Wilson, Hind (W) (1) and Daily
(June 22) Pouncing all over the opening presented when losing hurler Odie Lowe suddenly lost his ability to throw strikes, Norwood rallied for a quartet of eighth-episode counters to erase a 5 to 3 deficit and emerge with a 7 to 5 victory. Unable to find the strike zone, Lowe walked the first three batters to face him in the fateful eighth. Herb May’s infield hit, Johnny Dunbar’s single through shortstop and an infield out followed, resulting in the four-spot. The Clubbers out-hit the Suburbanites by a 9 to 6 margin and appeared to be well in control of things until the late implosion. Slow-working “Lefty” Roberts, who fanned seven, was the beneficiary of the comeback, securing the complete-game knoll decision. First baseman Brandt slugged a two-run four-bagger for the victors while Nick Doyle, with a pair of doubles and two RBI’s, topped the Cee Cee swatsmiths.
Lowe (L), Shannon (8) and McCorquodale
Roberts (W) and A. Olien
(June 23) The Elks ran roughshod over the Tammany Tigers 19 to 1 as the Bengals put on a poor display, committing nine errors despite having all their regular players as cast-members. Johnny “Red” Davison, the lanky, fiery-haired twirler of the Antlered Tribe, gave one of the best pitching performances of the season in this encounter. Davison faced just 30 batters, three over the minimum, struck out 13, walked one and yielded just three hits, two coming off the bat of Ward McVey. An eighth-episode solo circuit-jack by McVey accounted for the lone tally plated by the Striped Felines. Leo Johnson started on the hill for the Jungle Cats and was continuously in trouble. Seventh-stanza reliever, Sammy McCallum, fared no better. Besides pitching stellar ball, Davison was the big noise with the stick, stroking four singles. Lawrie Cuthbert contributed a double and two singles while flychaser Daily ripped a trio of one-baggers. Coming through with a double and single was Steve Penu while “Packy” McFarlane hammered a home run.
Johnson (L), McCallum (7) and Singbush
Davison (W) and Mooney
(June 24) After being six runs down at one point in the contest, the Columbus Club band of pastimers came on strong in the late stages of the game to record a sweet and most merited 7 to 6 victory over the first-place Arenas. The outstanding pitching of veteran Sid May, saddled with a half-dozen unearned tallies in the third round when the Cee Cee defense collapsed, allowed the Clubbers to overcome the deficit and engineer the remarkable comeback. A singleton in their half of the third, a four-spot in the seventh and a deuce in the eighth did the trick. May plated the tying run after singling to lead off the bottom-of-the-eighth episode. A double by Bob Dalziel drove in May but Dalziel was out at third trying to stretch his swat into a triple. Marty Kokran later knocked in Nick Doyle with the ultimate winner on a one-bagger to the right garden as May held the fort in the ninth, holding the Rinkmen hitless. Kokran had a pair of earlier singles to go along with his game-deciding safety. Bill Knight and starting twirler Bob Beddome each clubbed a double and single for the losers.
Beddome, Siddle (L) (8) and Sinclair
May (W) and McCorquodale
FIRST-SERIES
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Arenas 6 2 .750
Tammany Tigers 4 3 .571
Norwood 5 4 .556
Elks 4 5 .444
Columbus Club 3 8 .272
(June 25) Saving their clutch hitting for the bottom-of-the-ninth inning, the Elks pulled off a 6 to 5 win over the Tammany Tigers. Lawrie Cuthbert’s sharp single with the bases loaded drove in the tying and winning markers. The game-deciding blow was Cuthbert’s fourth safety of the joust. One of his earlier bingles was a two-bagger. He drove in four of his team’s six tallies. Reliever Olie Olien garnered the pitching win over the Bengals’ Bill Crowe. “Packey” McFarlane added three singles to the B.P.O.E. offensive output. Ward McVey clubbed a solid two-run homer for the vanquished Jungle Cats.
Crowe (L) and Singbush
Hind, O. Olien (W) (6) and Mooney
(June 26) Norwood crept to with a half-game of the Senior League leadership by taming the front-running Arenas 13 to 10 in the opening game of Wesley Park doubleheader which drew one of the largest crowds of the season. In the second encounter, the tail-end Columbus Club nine picked up their second win of the week, defeating the Tammany Tigers 7 to 4.
Bill Stobie, combed for 13 safeties while striking out ten, managed to go the route on the hill for the Suburbanites in the lid-lifter. It was their second triumph over the Rinkmen this campaign. Wally Lawton opened on the bump for the Arenas but was yanked in the second round when he walked three batters. His successor, Bill Siddle, was roughed up for 13 of the 16 hits garnered by the winners. Norwood scored five times in the second inning and were never headed. Leading the offensive assault of the Suburbanites was shortpatcher Cochrane who gathered three doubles and a single. Toddy May belted a home run, double and single while first sacker Brandt added a triple and one-bagger. Outfielder Art Frick had four singles for the losers while Lawton added a home run and Siddle stroked a double and two singles.
W. Stobie (W) and A. Olien
Lawton, Siddle (L) (2) and Sinclair
The late fixture was a light-hitting affair in which the Clubbers had a 7 to 4 edge in base knocks. The was no scoring until the sixth spasm when the Bengals ran across four counters. A four-spot by the Clubbers in the seventh nullified that lead and then, in the eighth, the Columbians plated a trey off reliever Bill Crowe to wrap up the verdict. Odie Lowe, replacing starter “Lefty” Dick in the sixth, was credited with the hillock victory. First baseman Bill Davis of the Cee Cees, with a round-tripper and single, was the only batter from either squad to amass plural hit totals. Teammate Marty Kokran also launched a home run.
Fairfield, Crowe (L) (7) and Singbush
Dick, Lowe (W) (6) and McCorquodale
(June 28) The pace-setting Arenas made certain of a spot in the first-series’ playoffs by spanking the Tammany Tigers 8 to 3 at the Wesley diamond. The Rinkmen seized command of the joust, taking had a 2 – 1 lead after the opening canto. Wally Lawton served up the benders for the Arenas and had speed to burn. He held the Jungle Cats to seven safeties, three of which were banged out by Sammy McCallum. Tammany catcher Ron Singbush added a double and one-bagger. Losing heaver Leo Johnson was nicked freely throughout, yielding 11 base knocks. Art Frick and Lawton both registered a home run and single for the Arenas, Frick’s four-bagger coming with one mate aboard.
Johnson (L) and Singbush
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
(June 29) Which club will meet the Arenas for the first-series’ honors is still undecided after the current second-place team from Norwood and the Elks, another contender, battled to a 7 – 7 stalemate. Facing a 7 – 0 deficit incurred after three rounds of play, the Suburbanites rallied with a five-spot in the fourth and a deuce in the sixth to escape defeat. Reliever Bill Stobie held the Antlered Tribe scoreless after coming on for “Lefty” Roberts in the fourth frame. George Rivers and “Packey” McFarlane led the 14-hit attack launched by the Brother Bills, stroking three singles apiece. Con Puhan, with a double and a pair of one-base raps, had three of the Norwood safeties.
Davison, Hind (6) and Daily
Roberts, W. Stobie (4) and A Olien
(June 30 – July 3) In their annual trek to western Canada, the high-powered Toronto Oslers stopped off in the Manitoba Capital once more and engaged in a series of six exhibition matches with member teams in the Winnipeg Wesley Senior circuit. The invaders, who went undefeated against Winnipeg teams on their 1925 tour, won four of six games played this year, losing only to the first-place Arenas, who they played twice, and current runner-up Norwood. Stocky catcher Clare Hoose of the Hog Towners went 9 for 19 in the series, with a home run, for a .474 average.
(July 5) Taking the lead in the top-of-the-ninth chapter, only to fold in the bottom-half of the session, resulted in a devastating 7 to 6 loss for the Norwoods in their engagement with the Tammany Tigers. The setback reduced the Suburbanites’ margin over the third-place Elks to just a half-game in their battle for the final first-series’ playoff slot. “Slim” Austman doubled off losing twirler Harold Hultman to drive in winning hurler Bill Crowe with the equalizer and then plated the deciding tally on an infield error. The Bengals, with an 11 to 9 advantage in base hits, had a three-hit performance, all singles, from Ward McVey. Second sacker Gord McKenzie followed with a double and one-bagger.
Roberts, Hultman (L) (9) and A. Olien
Johnson, Crowe (W) (8) and Singbush
FIRST-SERIES
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Arenas 7 3 .700
Norwood 6 5 .545
Elks 5 5 .500
Tammany Tigers 5 6 .455
Columbus Club 4 8 .333
(July 6) The pennant-winning Arenas made it more difficult for the Elks to be a part of the first-series’ playoff picture when they took the long end of an 8 to 4 verdict at Wesley Park. There was an epidemic of home runs in this melee, no less than six baseballs being clouted for round-trippers. “Bunny” Warren of the victors and the Horned Herd’s Romeo Rivers picked off two apiece. Art Frick and Ness Wise of the Rinkmen blasted the other two. The Antlered Tribe out hit the Arenas 11 – 8 but failed to use their bingles to proper advantage, leaving 13 runners stranded on the sacks. Dazzling catchers by flychaser Art Frick of the Rinkmen halted at least three threatening Elk rallies. Wally Lawton went the route on the clay heap for the the Arenas while losing slabster “Red” Davison turned the horsehide over to Larry Wilson in the eighth. Warren and Rivers each added a single to their pair of circuit-clouts.
Davison (L), L. Wilson (8) and Daily
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
(July 7) The Elks pounded their way into a tie for second place in the first-half standings when they walloped the Norwood team 11 to 2 in a fixture reduced to eight innings because of darkness. The victors put together a 17-hit barrage, making things easy for winning heaver Jack Hind who allowed but three safeties and fanned nine during the contest. Joe Rivers and brother, Romeo, along with catcher Daily, each pounded the pill for three base raps in leading the Brother Bills at the dish. One of Joe’s blasts was a home run. Gord Caslake added a brace of two-baggers.
Hind (W) and Daily
W. Stobie (L) Mackie (5) and A. Ollien
(July 9) By virtue of a 9 to 1 lacing of the Arenas in the final game of the first-series schedule, the Tammany Tigers created a three-way tie for the runner-up spot in the standings with the Elks and Norwood. The Bengals were worthy victors in the clash despite the fact that the Arenas rested a pair of their regular players. A four-run fifth frame which featured back-to-back home runs by Ward McVey and Wilf Arnott, McVey’s blast coming with two runners on base, put the Jungle Cats on a solid footing. Winning pitcher Leo Johnson was in fine form, holding the powerful Rinkmen to four scattered safeties including a brace of one-baggers by infielder Rosy Rosenstock. McVey and Arnott added singles to their four-ply clouts while first baseman Harvey Kendall laced a double and a single.
Beddome (L) and Mobberly
Johnson (W) and Singbush
First Series final standings W L Pct.
Arenas 8 4 .667
Tammany Tigers * 6 6 .500
Norwood 6 6 .500
Elks 6 6 .500
Columbus Club 4 8 .333
* Tammany Tigers won draw for bye in three-way second-place playoff in First Series standings. Norwood and Elks to play a tie-breaker, the winner to meet the Tigers for second place and the right to face the Arenas in the First Series final.
First Series post-season playoffs
(July 10) The Elks eliminated Norwood 6 to 5 in a First Series elimination game which took 11 innings to decide. The Antlered Herd held a 15 to 9 advantage in base hits and took advantage of loser “Lefty” Roberts’ fatigue in the second round of overtime when the Norwood portsider walked a pair, leading to the winning run. Outfielder Gordie Caslake paced the Wapiti Tribe at the dish, drilling five hits in six turns at bat. The win places the Elks in a second-place final against the Tammany Tigers.
Hind, Davison (W) (7) and Mooney
Roberts (L) and A. Olien
(July 12) Hammering the Tammany Tigers 12 to 3, the Elks punched their ticket to the First Series final against the Arenas. Johnny “Red” Davison spun a seven-hitter in garnering the knoll triumph, fanning ten along the way. First baseman Romeo Rivers of the winners smashed the pellet for a pair of home runs and a brace of singles.
Davison (W) and Mooney
Crowe (L) and Singbush
(July 13) Continuing their hot streak, the Elks knocked off the Arenas 5 to 3 in the opener of the First Series finals. Both teams registered six safeties as Jack Hind and Wally Lawton battled for hill supremacy. The Antlered Herd jumped into a 3 to 0 lead in the fifth canto, on Romeo Rivers’ three-run round-tripper, and increased the margin to 5 to 0 with a brace of tallies in the seventh panel. All three of the Arenas’ markers came on a two-out, three-run circuit-clout by Greig Warren in the ninth. Bill “Snake” Siddle laced three singles and stole four bases in a losing cause.
Lawton (L) and Sinclair
Hind (W) and Daily
(July 14) Playing sparkling ball in the field, the Elks romped off with the Wesley League First Series honours by defeating the Arenas 5 to 2 and capturing the final series in two straight games. Johnny “Red” Davison fanned eight and set the Arenas down on six hits in taking the hillock decision. A three-run fifth frame set the wheels in motion for the victory by the Wapiti nine. Fly chaser Romeo Rivers again led the winners with the lumber, spanking the sphere for a double and single.
Davison (W) and Mooney
Beddome (L), Fitch (5) and Sinclair
SECOND SERIES
(July 15) The Columbus Club started out the second series of the Wesley Senior League in auspicious style by blanking the Tammany Tigers 9 to 0. Odie Lowe, on the hillock for the Clubbers, was wild at times, but limited the Bengals to two scattered singles. Losing chucker Sammy McCallum was nicked for 11 clean hits including home runs by Bob Dalziel, a three-run blast, and Nick Doyle, a solo shot. The Cee Cees did all their scoring in two chapters, plating a trey in the fifth and salting the game away with a six-spot in the eighth. Doyle stroked a pair of singles in addition to his four-bagger to lead the Columbians at the dish.
Lowe (W) and McCorquodale
McCallum (L) ad Singbush
(July 17) Aided by perfect support from his teammates, Wally Lawton handcuffed the Columbus Club balltossers on four hits and one walk in pitching the Arenas to a 3 to 0 victory. There was no score of any kind until the seventh inning when the Rinkmen got to Sid May, bunching four hits, including a lead-off double by Lawton and a two-run triple by Bill Knight, to chase across their three counters. “Bunny” Warren, with a pair of one-baggers, drove in the first Arena tally. Pat O’Brien cuffed a double and a single for the Cee Cees.
May (L) and McCorquodale
Lawton (W) and Fitch
(July 19) Odie Lowe allowed but five scattered hits as the Columbus Club trounced Norwood 9 to 1 for their second win in three starts. The Columbians gathered 11 safeties in their run-collecting sprint and gave Lowe grand support afield. Despite nine strikeouts, losing twirler Bill Stobie was hit hard and received less-than-adequate backing from the left side of his infield. Taking a two-run lead in the top-of-the-first inning, the Clubbers never looked back and coasted to the victory. Nick Doyle cracked a home run and a single for the winners while Dunc McCorquodale slammed a double and a one-bagger. Tod May accounted for the lone run scored by the Suburbanites with a fourth-frame solo round-tripper.
Lowe (W) and McCorquodale
W. Stobie (L) and A. Olien, H. May
(July 21) Hammering Bill Crowe’s offerings for a dozen base blows, Norwood picked up their initial second-series win by blowing past the shorthanded Tammany Tigers 7 to 3. “Lefty” Roberts fanned ten and allowed seven hits in going the distance for the mound win. Infielders Keith Hopper and Camille Van Beneen had two RBI’s apiece for the Suburbanites while Crowe drove in a pair of the Tammany tallies.
Crowe (L) and Cockburn
Roberts (W) and Seel
(July 22) Miles out in front for most of the way, the Columbus Club diamond troopers suddenly blew up and dropped a 15 to 11 verdict to the Elks in a hectic Wesley Park battle that was called after seven stanzas. The Clubbers looked to have things well in hand with a 9 to 4 lead at the end of four chapters. A six-spot in the sixth followed by a quartet of seventh-inning counters, sewed up the come-from-behind victory for the Antlered Tribe. Veteran Jack Hind was credited with the pitching win after ascending the hill in relief to extinguish a bases-loaded, none-out fire in the fourth round. Sid May started on the bump for the Cee Cees and went along until the sixth, when six hits in a row and some punk support caused him to be derricked in favor of Odie Lowe who finished the contest. All 27 hits in the fracas, 15 coming from the Horned Herd, were singles. Gord Caslake and “Red” Davison of the winners led the way with three apiece.
Arnison, Hind (W) (4) and Mooney
May (L), Lowe (6) and McCorquodale
(July 24) The Arenas chalked up their second straight victory in the second series of the Wesley Senior League by defeating Norwood 6 to 2. Norwood led up until the fourth frame when the Arenas got to losing heaver Bill Stobie for five safeties and an equal number of runs. A base-on-balls, two stolen bases, a pair of sacrifices and a costly error aided the Rinkmen in their outburst which essentially decided the game. Southpaw Dunc Irvine, back in harness with the defending champions for the first time this season, fashioned a five-hitter in copping the complete-game knoll win. Irvine helped his own cause by stroking a double and a single, collecting a pair of RBI’s in the process.
W. Stobie (L) and A. Olien
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
(July 26) Sammy McCallum curve-balled the Elks to death as the Tammany Tigers squeezed out a 4 to 3 victory over the Brother Bills at Wesley Park. Both teams had eight hits but the Antlered Tribe had less success in bunching their bingles off McCallum who was tough in the pinches. Ed Wilson, a new moundsman and a brother of Larry Wilson, started on the hillock for the B.P.O.E. Bunch and had plenty of smoke but could not seem to locate the plate walking seven during his tenure. He was lifted in the sixth as “Red” Davison took over. An infield hit by the Bengals’ Frank McDonald in the sixth session drove in the winning counter. Shortstop Gordon Starr led the winners at the plate with three clean singles.
McCallum (W) and Cockburn
E. Wilson (L), Davison (6) and Mooney
(July 27) Norwood went on a rampage at Wesley Park and walloped the Columbus Club youngsters 18 to 2. The Suburbanites pounded Odie Lowe and Sid May for 17 base blows in the ragged affair. Winning chucker Bill Stobie limited the Columbians to four hits and two walks. Jack Seel pounded two doubles and a single for the winning nine while teammates Con Puhan, Camille Van Beneen and shortstop Cochrane also clipped the apple for three safe swats with a four-bagger included in Puhan’s total. A two-run homer by Pat O’Brien in the fourth frame gave the Cee Cees their only runs.
Lowe (L), May (1), Lowe (2) and McCorquodale
W. Stobie (W) and A. Olien
(July 28) Led by Sammy McCallum, diminutive curve-ball heaver, the Tammany Tigers turned back the Arenas 5 to 2. It was McCallum’s second mound triumph in three days and the first setback for the Rinkmen in the second series. In limiting the defending champions to three hits, the Bengal slabster fanned seven and walked just one. The telling blow of the contest was delivered by middle pasture patroller Ward McVey who slammed a Wally Lawton pitch for a three-run homer in the fifth frame. Lawton allowed six safeties but two of them were circuit clouts, the second one coming off the bat of Tony McDonald in the eighth episode with the bases empty.
Lawton (L) and Sinclair
McCallum (W) and Cockburn
(July 29) Stars were beginning to twinkle when winning tosser “Smoky” Harris crossed the pan with the run that gave the Columbus Club a 10 to 9 victory over the Elks in a long drawn out Wesley Park engagement that was called after eight episodes. The clash should never have been allowed to continue beyond seven stanzas when the Cee Cees had a 9 to 8 margin as semi-darkness was already quite evident. Three walks and a hit batsman in the last-half of the eighth were responsible for the deciding tally. An array of six twirlers were used in the fracas, four by the Antlered Tribe who out-swatted their opponents by a significant 14 to 7 margin. The Columbians did a better job of bunching their bingles, however, and also took advantage of ten bases-on-balls, two hit batsmen plus costly miscues and errors of omission by the Wapiti. “Red” Davison, patrolling an outfield position for the Brother Bills, stroked four singles in a losing cause. Teammate Joe Rivers cuffed a double and a brace of one-baggers while Bevan Brown contributed a two-bagger and one-base rap. Odie Lowe tripled and singled for the victors while Pat O’Brien belted a fifth-frame round-tripper.
L. Wilson, Arnison (5), O. Olien (7), Hind (L) (8) and Brown
Lowe, Harris (W) (6) and McCorquodale
(July 31) Following a 4 to 2 Arena defeat at the hands of the Elks at Wesley Park, a five-cornered tie was created in the circuit, every team having broken even in games played during the second series. Jack Hind, veteran fireball artist of the Horned Herd, was in rare form in this tilt and was virtually unhittable in the final six rounds. He held the Arenas to six scattered hits and appeared at his best when a strikeout was needed. Dunc Irvine, the southpaw crossfire hurler of the Rinkmen, went well for the first two frames but began to fade in the third, losing his ability to throw strikes and was relieved by Bob Beddome but not before damage in the amount of three runs had been done. Joe Rivers banged out a double and a single for the winners while Pat Cann led the vanquished nine offensively with a pair of singles.
Irvine (L), Beddome (3) and Mobberly
Hind (W) and Brown, Caslake (3)
SECOND-SERIES
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Columbus Club 3 3 .500
Norwood 2 2 .500
Tammany Tigers 2 2 .500
Arenas 2 2 .500
Elks 2 2 .500
(August 2) Annexing their third straight win, a 4 to 1 conquest of the Elks, the Tammany Tigers moved to the top of the tightly-bunched second-series standings. After serving up a first-pitch home run to leadoff hitter Joe Rivers of the Antlered Tribe to start the game, winning pitcher Bill Crowe of the Bengals shut down the Elk scoring machine the rest of the game. He faced a worthy mound rival in “Red” Davison who yielded seven safeties while Crowe was nicked for six. Ward McVey slugged a solo home run and a single for the Jungle Cats while catcher Bill Cockburn drove in two of his team’s runs.
Davison (L) and Caslake
Crowe (W) and Cockburn
(August 3) The Arenas went into a tie with the Tammany Tigers for top place in the Wesley Park Senior League when the held off a late-inning charge by the Columbus Club to escape with a 9 to 7 triumph. The game was called after seven innings because of darkness but, in the bottom-half of final canto, winning pitcher Wally Lawton suddenly lost control, walked three in a row and, with two errors thrown in, four Cee Cee runners left the imprint of their cleats on the irregular pentagon known as home plate. Dunc Irvine was called to the rescue and, with just one retired, he fanned two batters to end the threat and the game. “Bunny” Warren had three hits for the victorious Rinkmen, all singles. Outfielder Pridham doubled and singled for the Columbians.
Lawton (W). Irvine (7) and Sinclair
Lowe (L), Harris (3) and McCorquodale
(August 4) A shorthanded Norwood team proved no match for the Elks and Jack Hind’s fastball at Wesley Park with the result that the first-series champions romped off with a 7 to 1 victory. Hind yielded a run in the first inning en route to a two-hitter but was never in danger thereafter. He whiffed seven in the abbreviated seven-stanza tilt. Bill Stobie started on the hill for the Suburbanites and was wild, walking the first three batters to face him, all of whom scored. After yielding four more tallies on four hits and an error in the third round, Stobie was replaced on the hill by his brother Fred who extinguished the blaze and put up goose eggs the rest of the way. George Rivers of the Antlered Herd, with a double and single, was the only batter in the engagement with more than one hit. His brace of bingles accounted for four RBI’s.
W. Stobie (L), F. Stobie (3) and A. Olien
Hind (W) and Caslake
(August 6) Jack Hind fanned 11 batters as the Winnipeg Wesley Park Senior League All-Stars rallied in the ninth inning to gain a 2 – 2 tie with the touring House of David aggregation.
(August 7) 5,000 fans jammed Wesley Park to watch the bewhiskered House of David blank the local All-Stars 4 to 0 in exhibition action.
(August 9) The Arenas trounced Norwood 13 to 1 in a six-inning clash called because of darkness. The Rinkmen took control of the tussle right from the start when they ran across a trey in the opening chapter. Continuing the assault throughout, the winners plated at least one run in every frame they came to bat. Losing pitcher “Lefty” Roberts lasted just a little more than an inning before he was driven for cover as Fred Stobie came on in relief. Southpaw Dunc Irvine breezed to the four-hit mound victory although he was erratic from time-to-time. Art Frick launched a long homer and a single for the front-runners while Greig Warren and Rosy Rosenstock each delivered a double and a one-bagger.
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
Roberts (L), F. Stobie (2) and A. Olien, H. May
(August 10) Barney Lee and Sid May hooked up in an old-fashioned pitching duel at Wesley Park as the youngster triumphed over the veteran, the Elks emerging with a 1 to 0 victory against the Columbus Club in a snappy, errorless game. Lee fashioned a four-hit shutout and walked three while running up 11 strikeouts with his blazing fastball. May hurled more of a heady game, working his slow assortment of curves for five whiffs and a solitary free pass while yielding five safeties. After opening the fifth frame with a scratch single against May, Lee moved to third base on a line double by Joe Rivers and scored the only run of the game on a sacrifice fly to the middle garden by Lawrie Cuthbert.
May (L) and Arnott
Lee (W) and Dakins
(August 11) Displaying a wretched exhibition of baseball, the Tammany Tigers muffed seven easy chances, handing Norwood seven unearned runs in a 7 to 5 loss to the Suburbanites. The game ended after 5-1/2 stanzas because of darkness. Losing heaver Bill Crowe pitched reasonably well for the Striped Tabbies but had his efforts go for naught with the defensive meltdown. On the other hand, Bill Stobie who was on the knoll for the Suburbanites, was hit rather freely but was given gilt-edged support. Only Crowe and teammate Gord McKenzie, each with two singles, had multi-hit batting performances.
Crowe (L) and Cockburn
W. Stobie (W) and A. Olien
(August 12) Staging a three-run rally in the sixth spasm after trailing by a deuce, the Arenas emerged with a 3 to 2 conquest of the Elks in a keen, eight-inning battle featured by excellent twirling. For the first five rounds, the Rinkmen could do nothing with Barney Lee’s benders, the Wapiti heaver yielding not a solitary hit. A leadoff walk in the sixth, however, started a downward spiral that featured a double by Bill Knight, a fluky three-bagger by Bill Siddle and an infield error that allowed Siddle to reach home with what turned out to be the winning run. Both teams had just three hits in the pitching-dominated affair. The Arenas used two hurlers with reliever Dunc Irvine holding the Antlered Tribe hitless after ascending the knoll in the third session.
Lee (L) and Dakins
Beddome, Irvine (W) (3) and Sinclair
(August 13) Norwood scored eight runs in the first inning and, in the end, were lucky to defeat the Elks 10 to 9 in an encounter limited to six stanzas. Had it not been for some very poor judgement on the basepaths in the sixth and final round of the darkness-shortened affair, the Brother Bills would have won or emerged with a tie at worst. Neither starting twirler, Lefty Roberts of Norwood and the Elks’ Jack Hind, survived to the finish although both emerged as the pitchers of record. Top hitter in the contest was Romeo Rivers of the Antlered Tribe who swatted a two-run homer and a one-base hit.
Roberts (W), W. Stobie (5) and A. Olien
Hind (L), Arnison (4) and Dakins
(August 14) The Arenas walloped the horsehide hard and further lengthened their second-series lead by handing the Tammany Tigers a sound 7 to 2 lacing in a Wesley Park fixture that ended in a steady drizzle of rain. Winning slabster Bob Beddome gave a fine performance on the mound for the Rinkmen, limiting the Bengals to five hits but Sammy McCallum, who tamed the defending champions two weeks ago, was no puzzle in this tilt and was driven to cover in the fifth when Bill Crowe took over. Art Frick and Bill Siddle of the victors, with three safeties apiece, were the hitting stars of the game. Each cracked a home run while Frick also added a double. Teammate Greig Warren came through with a two-bagger and a single.
McCallum (L), Crowe (5) and Cockburn
Beddome (W) and Sinclair
SECOND-SERIES
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Arenas 6 2 .750
Norwood 4 4 .500
Elks 4 5 .444
Tammany Tigers 3 4 .429
Columbus Club 3 5 .375
(August 16) By defeating the Tammany Tigers 7 to 2 in a darkness-shortened seven-inning encounter, the Arenas virtually clinched a place in the second-series playoffs. The worst the Rinkmen can do, if they lose their three remaining games, is to tie for second place. The game was featured by three home runs with Bill Siddle and Greig Warren connecting for the Arenas and Ron Singbush sending one over the fence for the Bengals. Siddle’s circuit-clout came with one runner aboard. Dunc Irvine, the southpaw Arena hurler, was nicked for ten hits but was tight in the pinches and was backed by brilliant defensive support. Leo Johnson, heaver for the Jungle Cats, allowed eight safeties but had two bad innings. Siddle and Singbush both had a single in addition to their round-trippers.
Johnson (L) and Singbush
Irvine (W) and Mobberly
(August 18) Fifth-frame reliever Sid May pitched his way out of a bases-loaded, none-out situation in the sixth and final inning of an abbreviated Wesley Senior League encounter to preserve a 6 - 6 draw for the Columbus Club in their match with the Arenas. Outswatted 7 – 4 by the Clubbers, the Rinkmen filled the sacks on a walk and a pair of wretched defensive plays, leaving it up to the veteran right-hander to bail them out. Bob Beddome went the route on the hill for the second-series leaders and had to contend with some weak infield work. Cee Cee starter Odie Lowe was also supported poorly before being yanked in the fifth for May. Flychaser Art Frick launched a three-run homer for the Arenas.
Lowe, May (5) and Arnott
Beddome and Sinclair
(August 21) Right-hander Bill Crowe stifled the Columbus Club on two hits, both singles, and first baseman Harvey Kendall supplied the batting power with a pair of home runs, as the Tammany Tigers clipped the Cee Cees 6 to 1 before 1,500 fans. Crowe held the Columbians hitless for 7-2/3 innings and did not issue a walk while Kendall connected for a solo shot and a two-run blast. Crowe helped his own cause with a brace of singles. Losing pitcher Lefty Deakin, a young southpaw from the intermediate ranks, was a bit wild in his inaugural senior appearance and lasted until the fourth.
Deakin (L), May (4), Shannon (4) and Arnott
Crowe (W) and Cockburn
(August 23) Johnny ”Red” Davison, talented speedball hurler, held the Tammany Tigers in the palm of his hand for the six innings played before darkness stepped in to halt proceedings, the result being a 4 to 1 win for the Elks. Davison permitted only one hit in the shortened engagement, a clean opening-inning single off the bat of Harvey Kendall, gave up just one walk and fanned nine batters. Leo Johnson of the Bengals opposed Davison on the hill and wasn’t too generous in doling out bingles either, yielding only three including a double to Joe Rivers. It was not an errorless game as four of the five runs scored were sent across the pan as a result on infield boots.
Davison (W) and Dakins
Johnson (L) and Cockburn
(August 24) Showing the form that made him a puzzle to opposing batters for many a moon, veteran chucker Sid May allowed only four hits, scattered over the final four rounds of an eight-inning contest, as he pitched the Columbus Club to a 4 to 1 conquest of the Norwood nine. Completely baffling the Suburbanites with his sharp-breaking curves, May accumulated nine strikeouts while issuing just one free pass. Opposing him on the knoll was Bill Stobie, another talented hurler who was nicked for just six safeties including a two-run, four-ply clout by intermediate recruit Malloy.
W. Stobie (L), F. Stobie (7) and A. Olien
May (W) and Arnott
(August 25) The Elks and Norwood played to a 6 – 6 stalemate at Wesley Park in a contest that was limited to six stanzas because of a lack of illumination. The Wapiti acquired nearly all their counters through the aid of errors while the wildness of rookie Elk heaver Arni Arnison paved the way for the Norwood tallies. The Antlered Tribe had the game sewn up on more than one occasion simply because the Suburbanites messed up about everything that came their way. Yet Arnison, who displayed a great-breaking curveball, was far too generous in handing out free transportation to the initial station, walking eight batters in the 4-2/3 innings that he toiled on the clay heap. Only two hitters in the fracas, “Packy” McFarlane of the Horned Herd with a double and single, and Norwood’s Herb May, with a brace of one-baggers, managed to have multi-hit games.
L. Wilson and Dakins
Arnison, Roberts (5) and A. Olien
(August 26) After a shameful display in the fifth and final round of their 12 to 0 loss to the Tammany Tigers, all members of the Columbus Club team that participated in that closing session were given indefinite suspensions by the Wesley Senior League. Facing certain defeat and elimination from any possibility of a playoff post, the Columbians made no attempt to retire opposing batters, hoping for darkness to end the tussle before the necessary 4-1/2 innings required to make an official game had been run off. Bill Crowe was credited with the three-hit pitching win and was ably assisted by teammate Harvey Kendall who smacked a home run, double and single. Crowe also homered for the Bengals.
Crowe (W) and Cockburn
Deakin (L) ,Harris (3) and Arnott
(August 27) The Arenas further lengthened their lead in the second-half of the schedule when they edged Norwood 4 to 3 in a game that was terminated in the top-of-the-seventh stanza because of darkness. All four tallies plated by the Rinkmen, who had a 6 – 4 advantage in base raps, came as a result of circuit-clouts. Greig Warren, Art Frick and Bill Siddle all went deep with round-trippers, Siddle’s blast coming with one aboard. The Suburbanites blew a couple of opportunities to tie the score and move in front in their final turn at bat after Arena tosser Bob Beddome walked the bases full but bone headed base running mistakes probably cost them two runs.
Irvine, Lawton (3), Beddome (W) (5) and Sinclair
W. Stobie (L) and Olien
(August 28) The Elks and Norwood chalked up victories in doubleheader play at Wesley Park but the battle for the runner-up spot in the second series standings remains undecided. The Antlered Tribe doubled the front-running Arenas 4 to 2 in the lid-lifter of the day while Norwood trimmed the Tammany Tigers 8 to 4 in the wind-up engagement.
The opening affair was closely contested and didn’t break in the direction of the B.P.O.E. Brigade until the fifth frame when they ran across a deuce to break a 1 – 1 tie. Elks’ starting chucker Barney Lee was forced out of the game with a fourth-inning ankle injury as “Red” Davison came on to earn the hillock decision. Dunc Irvine hurled the full nine chapters for the Rinkmen and, outside of the fifth when he surrendered three of the five Wapiti hits, pitched well.
Irvine (L) and Sinclair
Lee, Davison (W) (4) and Dakins
Despite three double plays, the second tilt was a slow and long drawn-out affair. Norwood bunched seven of their 11 hits in the seventh and ninth rounds to tuck the game away. Altogether, five hurlers were used, three by the Suburbanites. Shortpatcher Cochrane and Jack Seel led the winners with the baton, each pounding the pill for three safeties.
Roberts, F. Stobie (W) (4), W. Stobie (7) and A. Olien
Johnson(L), Crowe (7) and Singbush
SECOND-SERIES
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Arenas 8 3 .727
Elks 6 5 .545
Norwood 5 6 .455
Tammany Tigers 5 7 .417
Columbus Club 4 7 .364
(September 2) The Elks defeated Norwood 4 to 0 to clinch second place in the second series. However, with time constraints weighing on the league to declare a playoff champion, the Brother Bills showed their sportsmanship and conceded the second-series title to the Arenas so that the best-of-seven overall league finals could get underway. Jack Hind was in great form in hurling the five-inning shutout, limiting the Suburbanites to four scattered singles. Losing heaver Bill Stobie was nicked for seven safeties including a solo home run to Gord Caslake and a run-scoring double by Olie Olien.
Hind (W) and Dakins
W. Stobie (L) and A. Olien
Second Series final standings * W L Pct.
Arenas 8 3 .727
Elks 7 5 .583
Norwood 5 7 .417
Tammany Tigers 5 7 .417
Columbus Club 4 7 .364
* Because of time constraints, no Second Series playoff between first-place Arenas and second-place Elks took place. Arenas awarded Second Series championship. Both teams squared off in best-of-seven overall Wesley League final series.
Wesley Senior Baseball League finals (best-of-seven series)
(September 6) Playing a superior brand of baseball and producing in the clutch, the Arenas assumed a commanding lead in the Wesley Senior Baseball finals by sweeping both games of a Labor Day playoff doubleheader at Wesley Park. In the morning tilt, the Warren-managed nine nosed out a 1 to 0 victory and, in the afternoon, took the measure of the Antlered Crew 7 to 6. Both games were nip-and-tuck affairs which furnished the large crowd with plenty of thrills. One player stood out brightly in the Arenas’ twin triumphs. Portsided heaver Dunc Irvine pitched shutout ball in blanking the Wapiti Squad in the opening tussle and was rushed in as a ninth-inning reliever in the wrap-up contest, to stymie a promising rally by the Elks, and then crashing a double in the bottom half of the panel to chase across the winning counter.
The only tally of the matinee skirmish was plated in the very opening round. Losing chucker Johnny “Red” Davison issued a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Wally Lawton which forced in “Bunny” Warren from third base. Both pitchers were touched for five safeties with shortstop Bill “Snake” Siddle of the victorious aggregation the only player on either side to amass plural totals, a pair of singles.
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
Davison (L) and Dakins
Going into the final canto of the second tilt, with the score 6 to 3 against them, Romeo Rivers of the Elks poled out a three-run round-tripper to knot the count at 6 – 6. The Arenas, however, met the challenge head-on with Irvine’s bottom-of-the-ninth heroics. A scratch single by catcher Len Sinclair set the stage for Irvine’s deep two-bagger and the walkoff win. George Rivers had a three-hit game for the vanquished nine while playing-manager “Bunny” Warren slammed a four-bagger for the winners.
Hind, Lee (8), Wilson (8), Davison (L) (9) and Dakins
Fitch, Irvine (W) (9) and Sinclair
(September 8) Slamming hard into the offerings of losing hurler Bobby Beddome in the fourth inning, the Elks scored five runs which proved to be enough for them to defeat the Arenas 5 to 3 in the third game of the Wesley Senior League finals. Versatile Romeo Rivers proved to be the hero of the fray. With the score tied 2 – 2 and two runners perched on the sacks, Rivers nailed a Beddome pitch for a three-run circuit-clout, sending the Antlered Herd and their pitcher Barney Lee to victory. Lee held the powerful Arenas to just four safeties and struck out an equal number. Walking eight batters, however, kept him in peril throughout.
Beddome (L), Lawton (4) and Sinclair
Lee (W) and Dakins
(September 9) Johnny “Red” Davison limited the Arenas to a pair of bingles in pitching the Elks to a 3 to 1 triumph in the fourth fracas of the Wesley Senior League finals, tying the series at two games apiece. A double by Bill “Snake” Siddle and a bases-empty home run by Pat Cann were the lone safeties surrendered by Davison. Loser Dunc Irvine was touched for only four base hits by the winners but was given poor defensive support by his mates. Joe Penu’s first inning double drove in the Elks’ first run. The Antlered Herd added another marker in the third on an infield ground out which plated “Packy” McFarlane from third. Their final counter came in the seventh when Joe Rivers bounced a come-backer hit off Irvine’s shin which allowed Ole Olien to scamper home from the hot corner pillow.
Davison (W) and Dakins
Irvine (L) and Sinclair
(September 10) A three-run uprising in their final turn at bat was enough to propel the Arenas to a 4 to 2 win over the Elks in their fifth playoff set-to. Winning pitcher Wally Lawton’s two-run single was the lightning rod that broke a deadlock and sent the Arenas to victory. Lawton held the Wapiti to just three safeties, one of the scratch variety. Loser Jack Hind gave up eight base hits, a triad of which were collected by playing-manager “Bunny” Warren. Bill “Snake” Siddle cranked a solo four-bagger for the winners in the fifth.
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
Hind (L) and Dakins
(September 11) A seventh and final game will be necessary to determine the championship of the Wesley Senior Baseball League following the one-sided 20 to 7 conquest of the Arenas by the hard-hitting Elks. Pitchers on both sides were off-form as each manager paraded three to the hill. When the dust had settled, the Antlered Tribe held a 14 to 13 advantage in base swats. A nine-run fifth-inning explosion by the Elks put the game out of reach for the vanquished nine. Shortstop Joe Rivers of the winners led the hit parade with four singles. Fly chaser Art Frick was best with the lumber for the Arenas, whacking two doubles and a single while teammate Greig Warren launched a bases-empty home run.
Irvine (L), Beddome (3), Siddle (5) and Sinclair
Lee, Davison (W) (1), Wilson (7) and Dakins
(September 13) Well into a seventh game being played in a drizzle of rain, and with the Arenas holding a slight 5 to 4 edge, plate umpire Walter Jansen called off hostilities on account of darkness after six innings. With a rule in effect that playoff games have to go at least seven innings, the game was declared no contest and will be replayed from the start.
(September 15) The Arenas captured the championship of the Wesley Senior Baseball League for the eighth time since its formation in 1910 by defeating the Elks 4 to 3 in the seventh and deciding game of a highly-contested series. Home runs by Greig Warren and Bill “Snake” Siddle accounted for three of the winners’ four counters. Siddle’s blast was a two-run clout but he also contributed significantly on a defensive level by igniting a pair of twin killings. Joe Rivers of the Elks poled out a third circuit-smash of the game in the seventh with the sacks empty. Dunc Irvine fanned eight in going the distance for the knoll triumph.
Irvine (W) and Sinclair
Lee (L), Hind (3) and Dakins
SENIOR BASEBALL IN BRANDON & SOUTHWESTERN MANITOBA
The senior amateur Greys, perennial inter-city representatives of the Wheat City, did not operate in 1926, the result being that many of their former players wound up playing in the senior-level Brandon City League.
- Maroons
- Nationals
- Shamrocks
(May 19) Hammering the offerings of losing hurler Ken Dundas in the first two innings, the Nationals took an early lead and went on to pulverize the Maroons 10 to 2. Winning tosser “Happy” Buchanan limited the Maroons to six safeties. First baseman Frame clouted a home run for the winners.
Buchanan (W) and Reid
K. Dundas (L), Finnson (2) and C. Cowan
(May 27) A five-run outburst in the opening panel ignited the Nationals to a 7 to 5 conquest of the Shamrocks. Sutherland of the Nats and McLeod of the Irish Clan each stroked a double and a single. Teenager Ruller survived a rough fifth frame to cop the pitching win. Reg Smith was tagged with the loss.
Smith (L) and Crane
Ruller (W) and H. Cowan
(June 3) Pushing across the winning encounter in their last appearance at the plate, the Shamrocks nosed out the Nationals 6 to 5. Catcher Crane’s single in the bottom-of-the-ninth drove in Munson with the deciding tally. Both teams had seven hits as McLeod of the victors and Sutherland of the vanquished nine each stroked a double and single for their respective clubs.
Carr (L) and Reid
Hyndman (W) and Crane
(June 8) With Lorne Gray fashioning a two-hitter, the Maroons dumped the Shamrocks 6 to 2. Seven errors behind losing chucker Hyndman killed all chances that the Irishmen had of winning.
Gray (W) and C. Cowan
Hyndman (L) and Crane
(June 11) The Maroons and Nationals battled to a 3 – 3 tie in a game that was halted by darkness after eight innings. “Happy” Buchanan, hurling for the Nats, struck out 14 and allowed only five hits while the Maroons’ Lorne Gray was nicked for eight hits while fanning five.
Gray and C. Cowan
Buchanan and H. Cowan
(June 15) Scoring both their counters in the second spasm, the Nationals went on to blank the Shamrocks 2 to 0. Both teams managed just three hits off the respective deliveries of winning tosser Tom Carr and losing chucker Hyndman. A two-out double by Nats’ second baseman Rathwell in the second inning accounted for all the scoring.
Hyndman (L) and Crane
Carr (W) and Cochlan
(June 18) The Shamrocks got past the Maroons 5 to 3 in an evenly-matched engagement in which both clubs picked up five safeties. A three-run sixth spasm put the Irishmen in front to stay.
Hyndman (W) and Crane
Gray (L) and C. Cowan
STANDINGS W L Pct.
Nationals 3 1 .750
Shamrocks 2 3 .400
Maroons 1 2 .333
(June 22) With the fumble-fingered Maroons booting the ball ten times, the Nationals walked off with an easy 12 to 4 victory. Wally Brannon was the hitting star of the evening with four bingles in five trips while Jack Dundas stroked three safeties.
Buchanan (W) and Cochlan
Gray (L) and C. Cowan
(June 25) Despite holding a hefty 10 – 3 margin in base hits, it wasn’t until the bottom-of-the-ninth inning that the first-place Nationals were able to plate the winning run and dispose of the Shamrocks by a narrow 2 to 1 count. Two hits, a walk and a bungled force play at third base allowed the Nats to push across the deciding counter in support of victorious slabster Reg Trafford.
Hyndman (L) and Crane
Trafford (W) and H. Cowan
(July 6) Unable to field a full complement of players, the Maroons defaulted to the Shamrocks 9 to 0.
(July 15) The Nationals took a stranglehold on the leadership in the City League by dismantling the Shamrocks 11 to 6. The victors piled up 23 base hits in copping the one-sided triumph.
Frame (W) and Butler
Lane (L) and Crane
(August 3) In a clash of also-rans, the Maroons clipped the Shamrocks 7 to 2. Third baseman Tommy Cowan bagged a home run for the winners.
K. Dundas (W) and C. Cowan
Lane (L) and Crane
(August 10) Winning pitcher Reg Trafford slugged a three-run homer in the sixth spasm to help engineer the pace-setting Nationals to an 11 to 6 pasting of the Shamrocks. Trafford’s batterymate, catcher Ollie Reid, helped the cause with a pair of triples.
Trafford (W) and Reid
Smith (L) and Crane
(August 12) In a tight pitching battle between Reg Trafford and Ken Dundas, the runaway league-leading Nationals blanked the Maroons 2 to 0.
Trafford (W) and Cochlan
K. Dundas (L) and C. Cowan
PROVINCIAL SENIOR PLAYDOWNS
QUARTER-FINALS Portage la Prairie vs Brandon Nationals
(August 31) Unable to gather a team together for the provincial playoffs, the Portage la Prairie seniors conceded their quarter-final series to the Brandon Nationals.
MANITOBA SENIOR SEMI-FINALS
Sperling vs Brandon Nationals (best-of-three series)
(September 6) The Brandon Nationals and Sperling split their playoff twin-bill at the Athletic Grounds in the Wheat City, the visitors cashing in on a bevy of Brandon errors to cop the matinee contest 8 to 5 while the hosts, with a strengthened lineup, rebounded for a 9 to 3 triumph in the shortened wrap-up tussle.
Both teams connected for seven safeties in the opener but the Nats were guilty of nine physical errors and not a few mental ones. Rival backstops, Jerome of Sperling and Brandon’s Cochlan led their respective teams with the hickory, each connecting for a double and single.
Harris (W) and Jerome
Finnson (L) and Cochlan
Sperling chucker “Smokey” Harris, mound winner in the curtain-raiser, made an unsuccessful attempt to do the iron-man stunt in the late fracas but was mauled before being driven to the showers. “Happy” Buchanan of the Nats, on the other hand, was sharp as a tack and limited the Sperlingites to just three safeties. Hod Cowan, a playoff pickup from the Maroons, paced the Brandon squad offensively with a double and one-bagger.
Harris (L), Unsworth (4) and Jerome
Buchanan (W) and Cochlan
(September 10) Playing the rubber-match at Portage La Prairie, the Brandon Nationals advanced to meet a Winnipeg representative, either the Elks or the Arenas, for the senior baseball championship of Manitoba, after defeating Sperling 6 to 4 in the final skirmish in their semi-final set-to. Jack Carpenter’s three-run homer in the seventh frame was the deciding blow of the game. A three-run rally in the final panel by the Sperling nine was insufficient to even the score. The Nats held an 11 to 6 advantage in base swats with Carpenter, Buchanan and second sacker McLellan each garnering a brace of safeties.
Buchanan (W) and Cochlan
Harris (L) and Moir, Jerome
MANITOBA PROVINCIAL SENIOR FINALS
Winnipeg Arenas (Wesley League champions) vs Brandon Nationals (best-of-three series)
Winnipeg Arenas final series player replacements : Fennell SS (Norwood Intermediates), Lloyd Dick C (Norwood Intermediates), Reid Johnny P (Norwood Intermediates)
(September 17) Outclassing their opponents in all facets of the game, the Winnipeg Arenas romped off with the first of a three-game series for the provincial championship by blanking the visiting Brandon Nationals 7 to 0 at Wesley Park. Wally Lawton went the distance on the knoll for the ‘Peggers, holding the Wheat City Gang to four hits. Shortstop Bill “Snake” Siddle doubled and singled twice for the Arenas while teammates Pat Cann and Art Frick both smashed three-run homers.
Buchanan (L), Trafford (5) and Cochlan
Lawton (W) and Sinclair
(September 18) Outfielder Ness Wise pounded a home run, double and two singles in powering the Wesley League champion Winnipeg Arenas to an 8 to 3 conquest of the Brandon Nationals, a victory which secured the 1926 provincial senior crown for the Arenas. Johnny Reid, brought in as a player replacement from the Norwood Intermediates, pitched well for the Winnipegers until the eighth frame and earned the mound win
Reid (W), Irvine (8) and Lloyd
Carr (L) and Cochlan
OTHER MANITOBA LEAGUES/TEAMS/ROSTERS
WESTERN MANITOBA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Hamiota
Oak Lake
Virden
RED RIVER VALLEY BASEBALL LEAGUE
Emerson
Letellier
(July 20) Visiting Letellier clinched the 1926 Red River Valley League pennant by decisively defeating Emerson 9 to 0. In posting the shutout, winning pitcher “Darky” Bouchard did not allow an Emerson runner to advance beyond first base.
Bouchard (W) and Breton
Sanders (L) and Turner
EASTERN MANITOBA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Bird’s Hill
Tyndale
Whitemouth
(July 17) Bird’s Hill won the 1926 EMBL championship and the D. A. Ruff trophy by defeating the homestanding Tyndale squad 9 to 1.
Keedian (W) and Martin
Winkler (L), Hogan and Sinclair
SOUTH CENTRAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Carman
Elk Creek
Morden
Roland
NORTH CYPRESS BASEBALL LEAGUE
Carberry
Gregg
Harte
Pleasant Point
Summerville :
Wellwood
C.N.R. BASEBALL LEAGUE
Miami
Rosebank
MB LEAGUE - NAME UNKNOWN1
Dauphin Elks
Gilbert Plains
Grandview
MB LEAGUE - NAME UNKNOWN
Dugald
Meadowvale
Oakbank
Vivian
MB LEAGUE - NAME UNKNOWN
Angusville
Russell
WINNIPEG INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Columbus Club
Norwood :
Pilgrims
St. Vital
Transcona
West End
FIRST-SERIES
FINAL STANDINGS W L Pct.
Norwood 12 3 .800
Columbus Club 10 4 .714
St. Vital 7 7 .500
Pilgrims 6 8 .429
West End 5 10 .333
Transcona 3 11 .214
SECOND-SERIES
TIE-BREAKER
(September 11) Norwood, first-series champions, hung a double defeat on the Pilgrims by scores of 8 to 4 and 13 to 2 to annex the best-of-three tie-breaker for the second-series title. By capturing both halves of the split-schedule, the Suburbanites also laid claim to the overall Winnipeg Intermediate Baseball League crown for 1926. Johnny Reid and Dave Mackie were the winning pitchers in the sweep.
WINNIPEG JUNIOR BASEBALL LEAGUE
Columbus Club
Elmwood Giants
Grain Exchange (played only in first-series schedule)
Tammany Tigers (dropped out of league in June)
West End
FIRST-SERIES
(June 29) The Columbus Club juniors clinched the first-series’ honors when they nosed out West End 6 to 5 in a hectic battle. Pinch-hitter Joe Fritz drove in Hutter, who had singled and swiped second, with the winning run in the eighth inning.
Bissett (L) and Prior
Jackson, Lumsden (W) and Taylor
SECOND SERIES
(September 11) The Columbus Club balltossers are the newly-crowned Winnipeg junior champions for 1926. The Clubbers, who won the first series, clinched the overall title by defeating West End in a sudden-death playoff game for the second-half crown by a narrow 3 to 2 count. The winning run was plated in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning after West End had tied the game in the top-half of the frame.
A three-way tie for top spot in the second-series necessitated a pair of sudden-death encounters, both of which the Columbians captured, initially eliminating the defending-champion Elmwood Giants before facing West End who have received a bye.
Ridgedale, Bissett (L) and Prior
Fritz (W) and Taylor