(May 30) Breaking out on a scoring spree after being held without a run for six innings, the Regina Young Liberals swamped the Estevan Maple Leafs 13 to 3 in an exhibition encounter played in Weyburn. "Long John" Berner , who twirled for Estevan, had the Liberals tied in knots until late in the game when they ran wild to score 13 runs. Cliff Boll blasted a home run for the Grits. Ralph Hogg got the hurling triumph with a steady performance.
(May 31) Gayle Shupe returned to Regina as a member of Johnny Meyers' Wolf Point Montanans and pitched the visitors to a 10 to 7 win over the Regina Young Liberals. A member of last season's Regina Army & Navy Southern League squad, Shupe rang up 13 strikeouts against many of his former teammates. Grits' outfielder Earl Nicholson lit up Shupe for home run.
(June 12) The House of David ball club thrilled the largest crowd of the season, 2,000, at the Exhibition grounds when they walked off with a 5 to 2 victory over the Moose Jaw All-Stars. One big inning, the first, gave the whiskered gents their margin of victory. Mildred "Babe" Didrikson, the club's feminine acquistion, pitched a hitless first inning for the visitors.
(June 13) Rain put an early end to the exhibition game in the Queen City between the touring House of David and the Regina Young Liberals. The bearded performers took the contest 4 to 0. The Libs' Cliff Boll had three of his team's five hits to lead all batters. "Babe" Didrikson wowed the crowd with two innings of hitless work off the hill, striking out a pair of Grits.
(June 20) The Kansas City Monarchs, pounding out 13 hits and aided by a half dozen miscues by their hosts, romped off with an easy 12 to 0 victory over the Moose Jaw All-Stars.
(June 20) Making their way to the Queen City for a tilt under the lights, the Kansas City Monarchs then turned back the Regina Young Liberals 8 to 7 for their second win of the evening. Chet Brewer, the Monarchs' speedball pitcher, looked exceptionally good for seven innings but weakened considerably in the final two frames, surrendering circuit clouts to Danny McKenna and Andy Young of the Grits as the visitors' lead shrank to but one run.
(June 29) Lefty Vincent, tossed eight innings of one-hit baseball to lead the powerful Bismarck Churchills to a 4 to 1 win over the Regina Nationals. Losing chucker Aldon "Lefty" Wilkie was the only Queen City player to register a hit off Vincent and his one-inning replacement, Barney Morris.
(June 30) Bismarck's high-flying baseballers made it three straight over the Regina Nationals, sweeping a twin-bill by 4 to 1 and 10 to 5 scores. Regina's Murray Armstrong accumulated six hits in the double dip. The only home run in either game was garnered by Bismarck's catcher Quincy Trouppe.
(July 4) The Regina Young Liberals claimed first prize at the Glasgow, Montana Independence Day tournament when they knocked off the Great Northern club of St. Paul in the final 8 to 1. Lawrence Steinert hurled against his old teammates to pick up the win. Andy Young of the Grits cracked out two home runs during the tournament.
(July 10) Pitcher "Slim" Appel of the visiting Richey White Sox turned in a three-hit, 19-strikeout game but it wasn't enough as his group of Montanans were blanked by the Regina Young Liberals 2 to 0. Winning hurler Ralph Hogg was on the beam as well, fanning 13 and surrendering five scattered safeties.
(July 11) The Moose Jaw All-Stars recorded a pair of wins in exhibition action in the Friendly City, taking the opener from the Richey White Sox 9 to 8 and then being awarded the second contest 10 to 9 when the Richey pitcher, Manley, aroused the ire of the plate umpire to the point that he cleared the bench and handed the victory to the hosts.
(July 12) In a return visit to the Capital City, the Richey White Sox took it on the chin once again, going down to defeat at the hands of the Regina Young Liberals by the tune of 5 to 2. "Lefty" Steinert, also known as "Snake", struck out 14 in recording the win for the Reginans.
(July 17) A three-run rally in the seventh frame lifted the Regina Young Liberals to a slim 6 to 5 victory over the Border League's Estevan Maple Leafs. The Grits out-hit the visitors 13 to 6 but the short-handed Leafs made their base blows count to more advantage. Andy Young picked up the mound victory over Elmer "Lefty" White.
(July 21) John Donaldson, making his first start since rejoining his old club, pitched the Kansas City Monarchs to a 7 to 5 win over their touring cousins, the Israeli House of David, in an exhibition afternoon contest played in Moose Jaw as part of a two-venue doubleheader for both barnstorming teams. Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan led the winners offensively with a perfect four for four performance at the plate. Following the game, the two teams travelled 42 miles to Regina to complete their day-night double bill.
Miller (L) and Hill
Donaldson (W) and Duncan
(July 21) A new attendance record was set at Regina's Floodlight Park as 3,000 spectators filed through the turnstiles to witness a thrilling 1 to 0 victory by the Kansas City Monarchs over the House of David. Playing outfield in this game for the Monarchs was none other than John Donaldson, far better known as an elite pitcher. Donaldson, returning to Saskatchewan after tournament pitching chores for Moose Jaw several years ago, pulled off the defensive highlight of the game in the ninth when he leaned against the right field fence to pull down a scorching blast that had all the earmarks of a home run. The Monarchs' roster was totally different from the club that toured southern Saskatchewan a month ago.
(July 23-28) Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament
(July 23) Kenaston ousted Glidden 13-5 in the opening game of the 1934 Exhibition Tournament. The Ebert brothers figured prominently in the victory as Clarence went the route on the mound and belted a two-run homer and Benny slugged a homer and single and scored twice. Shortstop Dick Derdall smacked a triple and double as Kenaston pounded out 12 hits.
C.Ebert (W) and
Dyck
J.Neff (L), Goheen (3), Palmer (5) and Seekins
(July 24) Lefty Gunther led a 17-hit attack with a homer, triple and two singles as Lanigan clobbered Dundurn Camp 12-1. Gunther and Tannahill each scored four runs. Gene Parks fired a four-hitter for the mound victory. Dundurn made ten errors to just one for Lanigan.
Parks (W) and Tannahill
Corbin (L) and McLeod
In a game played under protest, Aberdeen shaded Watson 2-1 with all the scoring happening in the second inning. Watson claimed three Aberdeen players, Cooney Wood, Phil Morban and Johnny Klinck, were not eligible for the tournament. And the Watson manager pulled his team off the diamond in the last of the eighth inning when Umpire "Kim" Kimmerley called Wood safe on a close play at the plate. Wood held Watson to just four hits and rang up 15 strikeouts. He also had three strikeouts in the uncompleted eighth inning for a total of 18.
Miller (L) and Tyler
Wood (W) and Morban
(July 25) After being held scoreless for six innings, Viscount erupted for six runs in the 7th inning to down Bruno 6-4. Behind 2-0, a missed third strike by Bruno catcher Mike Hofbauer sparked the fireworks. The next two batters singled to drive in the first run and an error in right field tied the count. An infield error, two singles and a wild heave by Hofbauer sent four more runners home. Bruno threatened in the 8th and 9th but scored just a single run in each inning. Bruno, which out-hit the winners 11 to 8, stranded 12 base runners.
Fernholz (L), Tegenkamp (8) and Hofbauer
Tuomainen (W) and Koob
Bill Frost was nicked for just one hit, a Texas Leaguer by "Pinky" Dehmke in the eighth inning, in pitching Asquith to a 6-1 victory over Rosthern. Asquith scored three in the third inning and coasted to the win. Murray clouted a homer and single for the winners while Bill Dunbar added a double and triple and scored three runs.
Baker (L), M.Duffy (6) and J.Duffy
Frost (W) and Johnston
(July 26) Shortstop Pete Hawryluk had a record-setting day slugging three home runs and a triple as Neilburg crushed Battleford 14-0. Wright added four singles for the winners. Al Flohr hurled the shutout giving up just five hits, including a triple and double by first baseman Walter Ellis.
Brown, Kunsman (2) and Gordon
Flohr (W) and Bessie
Lanigan took a four-run lead in the first inning and added six in the fourth but had to hold back a Kenaston rally in the ninth for an 11-9 victory. Burrows, Al Gunther, and Lefty Gunther each collected two hits for the winners. Burbridge belted a triple and two singles for Kenaston.
Gooderham, Parks (5) and Tannahill
Osborne (L), Ebert (4) and Dubyk
(July 27) Clean-up hitter Phil Morban smashed a homer and two singles and scored three times to lead a 15-hit attack as Aberdeen crushed Viscount 16-3 to advance to the semi-final round of the Exhibition Tournament. Cooney Wood and pitcher Johnny Klinck also had three hits for the winners. Klinck had a shutout through seven innings allowing just three hits overall.. Third baseman Hanson had two of the Viscount safeties, one a homer.
Klinck (W) and Morban
Tuomainen (L), Carlson (3) and Koob
Catcher Tom Bessie singled to score McKenzie with the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning in Neilburg's come from behind 7-6 victory over Asquith. Al Flohr settled down after giving up five runs over the first two innings to go the route for the pitching win. Neilburg won a bye to the tournament final.
Douglas (L) and Johnson
Flohr (W) and Bessie
(July 28) The Gunthers - Walter, Al and August (Lefty) - carried Lanigan to the final of the Exhibition Tournament by rapped out seven of Lanigan's 12 hits in an 8-5 triumph over Aberdeen. Walter had a homer and single, Al a triple and two singles and Lefty punched out three one-baggers. Gene Parks held Aberdeen to eight hits.
Klinck (L), Wood (7) and Morban
Parks (W) and Tannahill
(July 28) The Neilburg All-Stars topped Lanigan to win the Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament, one of the highlights of the summer on the prairies. It was the second tournament win for Neilburg, having won in 1931, and marked the first of four consecutive tourney victories.
The 1934 event marked the tournament debut of Neilburg's Pete Prediger (left) who went on to play in at least 20 consecutive annual tournaments and perhaps as many as 35 straight events. Records are not available for four years in the 1950s, but Prediger maintained he played in all 35 tourneys from 1934 to 1968.
The All-Stars broke out with three runs in the 7th inning and another three in the 8th go on to defeat Lanigan 8-3. Left fielder Wright led the offense with three hits, including a double. Prediger, playing second base and hitting in the cleanup slot, was one of four Neilburg players with two hits. Al Flohr was outstanding in a relief role for the All-Stars, allowing just one hit - an 8th inning homer by "Mitch" Mitchell - over five innings to register the win.
Arlo Harris, Flohr (W) (5) and Tom Bessie
Lefty Gunther (L), Mitchell (8) and Tannihill
(July 28) Wetaskiwin marched off with first prize money Saturday night after defeating Viking 6 to 5 in the final of the Camrose Exhibition Tournament. Athletics scored the winner with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Jimmy Rattlesnake went the route for his second complete game win of the tournament.
Carruthers (L) and Ross
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson
Wetaskiwin reached the final with a 10-1 victory over Bawlf. The Athletics put the game on ice early with two runs in the first inning and five more in the second. Bawlf batters evinced great difficulty in hitting the deceptive lefty deliveries from Jimmy Rattlesnake.
Rattlesnake (W) and Henderson, Craig (6)
Barnstable (L), Ferry (3) and Olstad
A four-run rally in the 8th inning carried Viking to an 8-7 win over Camrose in the other first round tilt. Down 7-3, Viking began the comeback with a homer from Nomeland in the 7th. In the 8th, with two down and two on, Horton ripped a liner to short and on a wild throw to first two runs came home. Nomeland was safe on a drive to left and Jones connected for a two-bagger to plate Horton and Nomeland.
Emil Hanson, Carruthers (7), Emil Hanson (8), Emory Hanson (8) and G.Rosland
J.McAthey (W) and S.Ross
(July 30 – August 2) Prince Albert’s 15-team exhibition tournament ended with the defending champion Crooked River Lumberjacks repeating as winners with a 6 to 4 win over Birch Hills in the final game. The finale was a hard-hitting affair with 20 base blows rattling off the bats of the two clubs. The break of the game came in the fourth inning after Crooked River had gained a two-run advantage. Birch Hills’ pinch-hitter Lorne Lunan cracked out a long blow to the racetrack for an apparent home run but was called out for failing to touch first base. Steele led the winners offensively with a triple and double.
Jackson (W) and Hill
Frost (L) and E. Lunan, Knipfel (6)
The semi-final games saw Crooked River take out Cudworth 7 to 4 while Birch Hills dropped Davis 3 to 1.
(August 1) Elmer “Lefty” White, bespectacled hero of many a baseball battle, stood out as the sensation of Estevan’s six-team tournament, sponsored by the local Truax-Traer Coal Mine. White chalked up something for Ripley to shoot at when he struck out a total of 27 batters in 12 innings of pitching. Benson SK won first money in the tournament, trimming Howard Enmark’s Bienfait Braves 5 to 2 in the final game.
(August 1) With an 8-2 victory over Camrose in the final, Ponoka captured top prize in the Ponoka Tournament Wednesday. It was a tight contest until the 8th when Ponoka scored five runs on four hits. Dittberner went the distance for the winners allowing just three singles. Crellin led the offense with a homer.
Carruthers (L), Scotvold (8) and xxx
Dittberner (W) and xxx
Camrose reached the final by downing Fredricksheim 10-1 behind the five-hit pitching of Emil Hanson.
E.Hanson (W) and xxx
R.Mix (L), Elder and xxx
Duke Baer fired a two-hitter as Ponoka shutout Wetaskiwin 8-0 in the other opening round contest. Three singles and an error accounted for three runs in the fifth and another two errors helped Ponoka to four runs in the sixth.
Baer (W) and xxx
Rattlesnake (L), K.Anderson (6) and xxx
(August 4-5-6) Heavy hitting by the Rossland seniors resulted in their 13 to 2 win over the Sad Slim Smith’s Rainbow Oilers of Spokane in the final of the First Annual Nelson baseball tournament. Winning pitcher Dave Jamme as well as position players McCammon, Leo Burke and Striker all hit home runs for Rossland against a trio of Oiler chuckers. Aside from his round-tripper, McCammon also singled twice. Leo Couture added a triple, double and single for the winners.
Jamme (W) and Genest
Noble (L), Skaaden (3), Woods (5) and Aue
A day earlier, the Golden City nine had qualified for the tourney final when Bernie Neis, tossing a two-hitter and aided by Leo Burke’s two-run homer in the ninth inning, pitched the Rosslanders to a 2 to 0 victory over Chewelah WA. The Oilers punched their ticket to the tourney final by blasting four homers and three triples in eliminating the Nelson Seniors 11 to 1.
First day action in the three-day event saw Nelson, behind the two-hit pitching of Tommy O’Shea, shutout the Trail Intermediate Indians 5 to 0 while the Trail Seniors were sent to the sidelines after dropping a 7 to 3 decision to the Rainbow Oilers.
(August 15) House of David shortstop, Dick Atwell, slugged four home runs, two in each game as the whiskered clan drubbed the Regina Young Liberals 9 to 1 and 13 to 4 in an exhibition double bill. Interestingly, the House of David pitcher in the second game was "Bud" Spiesman, all decked out with a beard, who was the ace pitcher of last season's Edmonton Army & Navy Cubs, the team that defeated the Regina Nationals for the Alberta - Saskatchewan interprovincial senior title.
(September 3) The Regina Nationals, Saskatchewan senior baseball champions, visited Estevan on Labor Day for an exhibition doubleheader with the Estevan Maple Leafs. After being held to a 2 - 2 draw in the afternoon game, the Nats took the late affair by a 6 to 1 count. John Berner of the Leafs and Aldon "Lefty" Wilkie of the Reginans were the opposing hurlers in the early game while Hector McLeod out-dueled Elmer "Lefty" White in the finale.
The Regina Leader-Post, in its August 30, 1934 edition, ran an article announcing that a barnstorming band of major league players, all from the American League, would be appearing in Regina on October 9, 1934.
The group of players, managed by Connie Mack's son, Earl, was headlined by offensive stars Jimmie Foxx (.344, 44 homers and 130 RBI's), Heinie Manush (.349, 42 doubles, 89 RBI's), Roger "Doc" Cramer (.311, 202 hits) and Frank "Pinky" Higgins (.330, 37 doubles).
All of this fearsome foursome except Manush, who was an outfielder on the Washington Senators, were members of the 1934 Philadelphia Athletics who, despite finishing in fifth place in the junior circuit, led the league in home runs and slugging percentage. It would be the second trip for the Macksters into southern Saskatchewan, their first being two years previous. Those players returning from the 1932 squad included Manush and three of his Washington Senators' teammates, catcher Luke Sewell, infielder Ralph "Red" Kress and pitcher Earl Whitehill. The other returnee was Boston Red Sox' pitcher Rube Walberg. Other members of the American Leaguers included shortstop Marty Hopkins and pitcher Ted Lyons of the Chicago White Sox, catcher Charlie Moss of the Philadelphia Athletics, outfielder Bruce Campbell of the St. Louis Browns, outfielder Dick Porter of the Boston Red Sox and pitcher Tommy Thomas of the Washington Senators. Also mentioned as travelling with the team was Al Schacht who provides comedy relief and pitches an inning or two of mop-up relief.
Regina players, selected by Al Ritchie, who was named as manager of the Queen City contingent, were, for the most part, the nucleus of the Nationals. Two of those originally selected, shortstop Murray Armstrong of the Nats and outfielder Andy Young of the Young Liberals both had to decline as the pair headed to Winnipeg for a tryout with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. One other selectee, Jack "Jersey" Cambell was also involved in another sport during October, that being as a gridironer with the local Roughriders, but he was able to appear for the exhibition doubleheader. Ritchie's choice as field manager seemed odd as his forté was in coaching football in Regina and he was not actively involved with the Southern League. His leadership abilities were unquestioned, however, and he was ultimately inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame. The locals were hampered by a month of inactivity and the first time they practiced together was a mere two days before the scheduled event took place.
Seventeen Regina players in all, seven from the Young Liberals, suited up and played in the pair of games. These were:
Nationals : pitchers Hec McLeod, "Lefty" Wilkie and "Swainey" Swainson; catcher Marty Kokran; infielders Jack Campbell, Stan Shaley and Joe Trapp; outfielders Johnny Stoyand, Art Sihvon and Joe Haberman
Young Liberals : catcher Dave Clayton; infielders "Babe" Brossard, Webb Bird, Danny McKenna, Bryan Forster and Mike Karahan; outfielder Cliff Hogg
When the major leaguers arrived in Regina, they were without slugging first baseman Jimmie Foxx who had been hit in the head by a pitched ball the previous night in Winnipeg and was still recovering there.
The fact that both games resulted in lopsided scores for the tourists didn't seem to bother the fans as both games were run off snappily and kept the large crowd highly entertained, especially with the antics of Al Schacht. The final scores were 12 to 3 in the afternoon contest and 12 to 1 in the encounter played under the lights.
In the absence of Foxx, Ralph "Red" Kress and Frank "Pinky" Higgins took up the task of pounding out home runs for the visitors. Kress drove one out of the park in the matinee event and Higgins sent one soaring over the fence in the nightcap. The outclassed Southern Leaguers were set down on eleven hits in the two games.
Joe Trapp, Nationals' rookie third baseman led the locals with three hits, two in the afternoon and one in the evening. Bryan Forster and Johnny Stoyand were the only other Reginans to get more than one hit, Forster getting a pair in the opener and Stoyand one in each game. Stoyand's double in the first game was the only extra-base blow the Queen City crew collected in either game. "Red" Kress led the American Leaguers' attack with seven base knocks, five of them coming in the night game. Regina's "Lefty" Wilkie struck out six major leaguers in the second affair.