Right-hander Mike Purcello couldn't catch a break during the regular season in the Regina City League as he was on the losing side in all four games he pitched for the Regina Commandos. But, the playoffs were a whole different story.
Purcello, hurling for the Regina Red Sox, was the winner in one of the semi-final games, then fired three complete game victories as the Sox took the final series and the league championship three games to one.
Four military teams (the Tech Aeronauts, No. 4 Service Flying Training School, No. 7 Initial Training School and No. 12 Vocational Training School) plus the Cubs, the only civilian team in the circuit, began the 1943 season as members of the Saskatoon City Baseball League. Early in the campaign, however, it became evident that the No. 12 Vocational Training School squad was lacking in experienced players and was overmatched on the diamond. To maintain competitive balance, it was decided to drop them from the loop and finish the season with four teams.
The highlight of the regular season was the eight-inning no-hit shutout turned in by pitcher Doug Betts of the No. & I.T.S. team.
The 1943 Prince Albert City League maintained its stability as five teams again entered the pennant chase. An R.C.A.F. team, the No. 6 Emergency Flying Training School, replaced the Air Observers School of a year previous.
The first known fatality of a former Southern League player in the European conflict occurred during the off-season. Army Lieutenant Robert "Bob" C. Emerson, a first baseman for a number of seasons with the Moose Jaw Athletics (1936), Moose Jaw Canucks (1939) and Moose Jaw Elks (1941) was killed in action on December 23, 1943.
Bob's younger brother, Bill, was also a member of several of the Moose Jaw Southern League teams and played right up until 1950.