Saskatoon Senior Amateur Baseball
The Saskatoon City Baseball League did not operate during 1936. Only one senior amateur team from the previous season, the Gems, were regular participants on Hub City and area diamonds in 1936. They played an abundance of exhibition games against numerous barnstorming teams including the likes of the Acme Giants, the Houston Black Buffaloes, the House of David, the Boston Royal Giants and the Cincinnati Tigers, coming away with a rather dismal record. Playing against other northern Saskatchewan squads, such as Neilburg, Lanigan, Rosthern and Biggar, their performance was better but not impressive.
As one of only two clubs from the northern half of the province registered to participate in the provincial playdowns, the Gems went directly into playoff mode against the perennially-strong Neilburg All-Stars. Rather than the customary best-of-five series, the two participants agreed to stretch the series into a best four-out-of seven affair.
1936 Northern S.A.B.A final series
(August 8) Playing in Neilburg, the Neilburg All-Stars and Saskatoon Gems broke even in their first playoff twin-bill of the weekend. The Gems won the first game 6 to 4 but dropped the second by an 8 to 0 count. After being down two runs all through the opener, the Gems came to life in the ninth inning with four runs off a single by Alex Folk, doubles by “Curly” Reeve, Bill Dundas and Dunc McKay, and a home run by Eddie Major.
Newboldt (W) and Reeve
Arnold (L) and Prediger
In the nightcap, the All-Stars, behind the four-hit pitching of Al Flohr, chalked up the one-sided shutout victory. Flohr had 16 strikeouts to his credit while Neilburg lit up losing twirler “Ace” Corbin for 12 base blows.
Corbin (L) and Morban
Flohr (W) and Prediger
(August 9) With the playing venue switched over to Rivercourse, Alberta but with the Al-Stars still hosting, the two clubs again divided the spoils. Neilburg won the afternoon game 12 to 3 but lost the nightcap 6 to 3. Steady pitching by Ferry coupled with a flock of errors by the Gems gave Neilburg the third game of the series. The contest was essentially decided after three innings had been played and the Stars leading 10 to 0.
Major (L), Morban (2) and Reeve, Folk (3)
Ferry (W) and Prediger
Saskatoon rebounded to capture the fourth game of the series, scoring three times in the top of the ninth to snap a 3 – 3 tie. The last frame rally was aided in part by an inopportune overthrow on the part of the Stars’ third sacker Ferris. Winning pitcher Earle Newboldt, backed up throughout by Eddie Major’s superb defensive play, held Neilburg in check for most of the game. Al Flohr took the loss as the Gems connected off his slants with regularity.
Newboldt (W) and Reeve
Flohr (L) and Prediger
(August 15) Another split doubleheader featured games five and six of the northern playoff final as the Saskatoon team hosted Neilburg at Cairns Field. The visiting All-Stars took the matinee battle 4 to 3 and the local Gems captured the twilight event 8 to 5. Al Flohr took to the rubber to lead his teammates from Neilburg to victory with a three-hitter in the matinee tussle. The visiting hurler had plenty of twists on the horsehide to dispose of ten Saskatoon bat wielders on strikes and enough control to limit his walks to just one. Earle Newboldt was nicked for eight safeties in absorbing the loss.
Flohr (W) and Prediger
Newboldt (L) and Reeve
Both teams plated four counters in the first frame of the follow-up game and each added a single tally in the third. The Gems took a 5 to 3 lead with a pair of fifth stanza runs and added a final counter in the seventh to seal the deal. “Ace” Corbin, with a solid relief effort, pitched the homesters to the triumph. The Saskatonians blasted 14 hits off loser “Lefty” Arnold with Gems’ first sacker Bill Dunbar doing most of the damage with two triples plus a brace of singles.
Arnold (L) and Prediger
Newboldt, Corbin (W) (2) and Reeve
(August 16) With everything on the line in a seventh-game showdown, the home-standing Saskatoon Gems responded by clinching the northern crown with an impressive 6 to 2 win over the Neilburg All-Stars. The winners racked up 11 base knocks off losing chucker Al Flohr while winning tosser Alex Folk yielded nine hits to the Stars. After four innings of play, the score was knotted but then the Gems took control of things from the fifth inning on.
Flohr (L) and Prediger
Folk (W) and Reeve
1936 southern S.A.B.A. quarter-final playoff series
(July 24) The Swift Current Cardinals opened on a winning note, taking the first game of a quarter-final best-of-five matchup for supremacy of southern Saskatchewan from the Shaunavon Dominoes by a score of 5 to 1. Maynard Hoffman limited the Dominoes to three hits and struck out eight in going the route for Swift Current. He also had a pair of singles while his mates collected nine additional base blows with Ed Plotsky, Fred Long and Ken Blaney accounting for two apiece.
Hoffman (W) and Stevers
Baer (L) and Smitty
(July 27) Behind the one-hit twirling of Bill Springe, the Swift Current Cardinals took a stranglehold on their best-of-five series with the Shaunavon Dominoes when they edged past the Game Pieces 2 to 1 in a thrilling encounter. All scoring was done in the sixth frame with the visitors from Shaunavon putting one on the board when Poulin scampered home after Karahan cracked their only hit, a double. The Speedy Creekers then notched a pair in their half of the inning when Randolph and Kelly crossed the plate. Springe struck out nine and walked three.
Davis (L), Pennington (6) and Smitty
Springe (W) and Plotsky
(July 30) Shaunavon’s hopes of a senior baseball crown disappeared as the Swift Current Cardinals humbled the Dominoes by scoring a 12 to 1 victory in Shaunavon. The triumph was the third in a row for the Cards and gave them a sweep of the series.
xxx (W) and xxx
xxx (L) and xxx
1936 southern S.A.B.A semi-final playoff series
(July 21) Reliable Ralph Hogg enabled the Weyburn Beavers to take the lead in a southern S.A.B.A. best-of-five playoff series when he limited the Estevan Maple Leafs to three hits while his Beaver teammates were collecting five in their 4 to 3 extra-inning win. The Leafs got to Hogg early, posting a pair of first-inning counters and adding another one in the third to take a 3 to 0 lead. The Beavers patiently edged back and tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth. In the last of the tenth frame, after Len Loree had doubled, Hogg won his own game with a sharp single up the middle off losing chucker Bob Inman. Hogg had nine strikeouts while Inman whiffed ten.
Inman (L) and Wentzell
Hogg (W) and Cousins
(July 22) A 10 – 10 draw was the result of the second game in the southern S.A.B.A. semi-final series between the Weyburn Beavers and the homestanding Estevan Maple Leafs. The lead changed hands three times in this nine-inning encounter which was brought to an end by darkness. Trailing by four runs entering the bottom of the ninth, Estevan rallied to knot the count after a bases-loaded triple by Stu McLeod followed by an infield error which allowed McLeod to score. Weyburn starting hurler, Art “Lefty” Walter, was tops with the hickory as he picked up a triple and a pair of singles. Hogg was next in line for the Beavers as he slammed a brace of three-baggers.
Walter, Hogg (9) and Cousins
Wentzell, Elson (7) and Inman
(July 24) The Weyburn Beavers pounded out their second victory over the Estevan Maple Leafs in their playoff series when they won the third game 10 to 7. Ralph Hogg was again the successful pitcher, fanning eight Maple Leafs. Down a run when they went to bat in the seventh, the Beavers plated three counters on a two-run three-bagger by George Frederickson and an ultimate overthrow to the hot corner.
Wentzell (L), Elson (7) and Inman
Hogg (W) and Cousins
(July 27) Having failed to hold leads in two games which they lost, the Estevan Maple Leafs turned on the Weyburn Beavers with a vengeance and bested them 8 to 4 to send the southern S.A.B.A. semi-final series to a fifth game. The Mining Town gang was never in trouble as, aided by Weyburn errors on top of a seven base hit output, they scored at opportune times.
Walter (L) and Cousins
Inman (W), Elson (7) and Wentzell
(July 28) The Weyburn Beavers ousted the Estevan Maple Leafs from the southern Saskatchewan senior baseball playdowns when they trimmed the Leafs 7 to 4 in the fifth game of the series. For Weyburn, Ralph Hogg was once again the hero, chalking up his third mound victory of the series. Both teams played airtight ball until the last half of the sixth when Weyburn scored twice. Collecting five hits in the seventh, the Beavers added four more counters, a margin which allowed them to play out the string. Catcher Bill Cousins picked up a double and two singles to lead the winners at the platter.
Wentzell (L) and Tucker, Inman
Hogg (W) and Cousins
Prince Albert & District Baseball League
Final Standings P W L Pct.
Canucks 8 7 1 .875
South Prince Albert 7 4 3 .571
Legion 8 4 4 .500
Nationals 7 2 5 .286
Elks 8 2 6 .250
Semi-final playoff series
(July 31) Playing a steady brand of baseball, the South Prince Albert baseball club won the first game of the two-out-of-three series for the right to meet the Canucks in the Prince Albert city finals. The Southlanders downed the Legion 9 to 5 at Bohemian Park to earn this nod. Allan Young, ace hurler for South Prince Albert, was a tower of strength for his team. He came to the rescue of starter Jim Brown in the third frame and held the Legion in check for the balance of the contest, striking out eight along the way. He also had a pair of hits including a solo home run in the third inning. The next two top hitters in the game were from the Legion squad. Both Charlie Young and second baseman Thompson connected for a triple and a single. Losing flinger Bill Coombs turned in a fine performance. With the exception of Young’s blast, he held the rural team to six scattered singles but miscues by his mates left him vulnerable.
Jim Brown, A. Young (W) (3) and Jack Brown
W. Coombs (L) and Mosher
(August 22) Following a three-week interruption, the Prince Albert semi-finals resumed in a game which saw the Canadian Legion nine even the series with a 5 to 4 win over South Prince Albert. It was a ninth-inning rally that gave the Vets the victory. Two runs down in the ninth, a pair of singles followed by an error allowed the tying runs to score. “Scotty” Milne then ripped a line drive base blow to plate the winner. Bowser Coombs got the win with a three-hitter and struck out eight. The Legion’s keystone combination, Percy Leachman and Milne, both singled twice.
A. Young (L) and Dormer, Given (4)
B. Coombs (W) and Mosher
(August 29) The Canadian Legion captured the third and deciding semi-final playoff game by downing South Prince Albert 14 to 11 in an error-filled game. Bowser Coombs went the route for the winners, striking out six and being touched for 12 hits. The Southlanders tandem of loser Allan Young and reliever Jim Brown allowed 13 base raps. Eli Terris and third sacker Reederer both had a triple and a single for the victors while Freddie Mosher of the Legion and G. Halcro of South P. A. each stroked a double and a single.
A. Young (L), Jim Brown (5) Jack Brown
B. Coombs (W) and Mosher
Final series
(September 5) A final inning drive rewarded the Canadian Legion baseball club with a single counter to break a tie and give them a 4 to 3 win over the pennant-winning Canucks in game one of a best-of-three Prince Albert & District League final. Both clubs collected nine base hits in this tightly contested game. In the top of the ninth, the Legion’s Lyken led off with a double but was unable to advance until, with two outs, left fielder Aydt of the Canucks muffed Scotty Milne’s long fly ball which allowed the lead run to score. In their last turn at bat, the Canucks made a strong effort to again tie the game. With runners at second and third and with two batters retired, winning chucker Bowser Coombs fanned Don Grant to end the game.
B. Coombs (W) and xxx
Carle, Logue (L) and xxx
(September 20) Coming away with relatively easy 10 to 3 and 8 to 4 victories over the Legion, the Canucks annexed the Prince Albert & District Baseball League title for 1936. Numerous errors on the part of the Vets gave the Canucks plenty of scoring opportunities. In the first game, the Legionnaires had one particularly bad inning when they committed four errors which allowed six Canuck runners to cross the plate. Don Grant went the route on the hill for the winners, allowing five well-scattered singles.
Grant (W) and xxx
B. Coombs (L), Mosher and xxx
The second fixture was, by far, the most interesting as both clubs opened with strong offensive drives. A first frame three-spot by the Legion was exceeded by five Canuck tallies in the bottom of the stanza. After the winners added a sixth run, Freddie Mosher took over on the hill for the Legion and held the Canucks to five hits and two runs in the next six innings.
xxx (L), Mosher (4) and xxx
Carle (W), Logue and xxx