SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Preamble :
The 1949 Southern League season saw a reduction from 8 to 6 in the number of clubs partaking from 1948. The Liberty Eagles dropped out and the two Moose Jaw entries, the Purity 99's and Canucks, joined forces as the Purity Canucks.
(May 21) In a sloppily played opening game at Regina's Taylor Field, the Notre Dame Hounds bested the Regina Red Sox to the tune of 13 - 3. Barry Wolstencroft of the winners blasted a three run homer while Roy Banks of the Red Sox had a triple.
L'Heureux, Claggett (W) (4) and Brown
Harrison (L), Bush (4) and Boney
(May 21) The visiting Wilcox Cardinals scored four first inning runs off of losing Weyburn Beavers' pitcher Ralph Hogg which were enough to cruise to an 8 - 3 win. Aubrey Downton of Wilcox led all hitters with three singles.
Buttgereit, A. Downton (W) (4), Don Metz (7) and Weisshaar
Hogg (L), Verpe (2), Covert (6) and Thompson
(May 21) Regina Caps blasted the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks 10 - 7 in the opening game of the 1949 Southern League season for both teams. Al Vogt, in relief of starter Lefty Harrison, was the winning chucker. Moose Jaw's Elmer Torgerson went the distance in absorbing the loss. Bev Bentley and Gus Kyle swung the most damaging sticks for the winners. Bentley had four RBI's with a single and a bases clearing triple while Kyle had three RBI's with two singles. Stan "Stubby" Martin, Gwynne Lovett and Andy McNamee with two led Moose Jaw's 13 hit attack.
Harrison, Vogt (W), Evenson and Smith
Torgerson (L) and Martin
(May 22) The Notre Dame Hounds upended the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks 7 - 5 as lefthander Dick Kerley notched his first win of the young season. Ray Jones of the Purity Canucks belted a solo home run for Moose Jaw while the Hounds' first sacker Barry Wolstencroft had a triple.
Loebe (L), Thorseth and Smith
Kerley (W), Dombowsky, Becker and Brown
(May 22) Swift Current's senior baseball club kicked off the season with a 2-1 win over Gull Lake. Ted Travis went the distance for the win. Jackie McLeod and Olheiser hurled for Gull Lake.
(May 25) Moose Jaw's Lefty Lauer pitched a one hitter, striking out nine, in an abbreviated six inning game as the Purity Canucks won their first of the season in defeating the Weyburn Beavers 5 - 1. Orval Verpe of the Beavers was tagged with the loss. Les Wilder's first inning single was the only blow off Lauer. Leading the nine hit Moose Jaw attack were Lauer as well as outfielders Gwynne Lovett and Norm Toddington with two hits each.
Verpe (L) and Covert
Lauer (W) and Smith
(May 27) Behind the brilliant two hit pitching of Scotty Scott who struck out 11 and didn't issue a single walk, the Wilcox Cardinals trounced the Regina Red Sox 11 - 1. The Cardinals chalked up four runs in the first inning and coasted to an easy win from there. Red Sox starter Pat George was nailed with the loss. Center fielder Clint Squires paced the Wilcox nine hit attack with three safeties including a triple and double.
George (L), McCleneghan (4) and Buckmayer
Scott (W) and Clements
(May 27) After two straight losses to open the season, the Weyburn Beavers found their winning ways in beating the previously undefeated Notre Dame Hounds 4 - 2. Gayle Shupe fanned 12 Notre Dame hitters in pitching the complete game victory. Blaine Shupe paced the winners with three hits while Hounds' catcher Norm Brown also banged out three safeties.
Dombowsky (L), Kerley (8) and Brown
G. Shupe (W) and Thompson
(May 27) The Regina Caps squeezed out a tight 3 - 2 win over the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks in a game played in Regina. Red Staley drove in Tony Righetti with the winning run in the 7th. Lefty Harrison went the distance in picking up the win for the undefeated Caps. Losing pitcher Cy Thorseth almost tied the game in the 9th when with two out he tried to stretch a booming triple into an inside the park home run but was thrown out at the plate.
Thorseth (L) and Martin
Harrison (W) and Smith
(May 28) Veteran outfielder Curly Boyce's pinch hit single in the bottom of the 10th inning, which sent catcher Stan Martin across the plate with the winning run, lifted the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks to a thrilling 5 - 4 victory over the visiting Wilcox Cardinals. Lefty Lauer picked up the pitching win in a relief role. Elmer Torgerson and Gwynne Lovett of the Purity Canucks and Ernie Downton of Wilcox all had two hits.
Aubrey Downton (L) and Weisshaar
Torgerson, Lauer (W) and Martin
(May 29) The Weyburn Beavers registered their second straight win over the Notre Dame Hounds by a 2 - 1 count. Norm Brown of the Hounds, in a losing cause, led all batsmen with four hits in this tightly contested game.
Torgenrud (W), G. Shupe (7) and Thompson
Kerley (L), L'Heureux (8) and Brown
(June 1) The Moose Jaw Purity Canucks, aided by left fielder Gwynne Lovett's two run homer and Elmer Torgerson's six inning relief stint walloped the Regina Red Sox 8 - 2. In taking the loss, Red Sox chucker Ralph McCleneghan was his own worst enemy issuing seven walks and hitting three Moose Jaw batsmen.
McCleneghan (L) and Buckmayer
Compton, Torgerson (W) (4) and Smith
(June 4) Portreeve gained a win and a tie in a Saturday double-header at Swift Current. The teams fought to a 6-6 draw in the opener although the visitors out-hit the home club 14 to 8. Portreeve trailed 4-1 going into the 6th inning when they erupted for four runs, one a homer by Coutts.
Yourex, R. Powell and A. Powell
Stevenson and Phillips
In the second game, Portreeve's ace lefty, Holtby held Swift Current scoreless until the 9th as the visitors notched a 6-2 victory. He allowed seven hits. Ted Travis and Wimpy Stevenson combined on a five-hitter for the losers.
Holtby (W) and xxx
Travis (L), Stevenson and Phillips
(June 4) The hapless Regina Red Sox were drubbed by the visiting Wilcox Cardinals 17 - 1. Ralph McCleneghan endured nine painful innings in going the route for the winless Red Sox.
A. Downton, D. Metz (W) (3), Buttgereit (6) and Weisshaar
McCleneghan (L) and Buckmayer
(June 4) Moose Jaw's Lefty Lauer pitched and batted the hometown Purity Canucks to a 7 - 0 whitewashing of Regina's powerful Caps, in the process handing the visitors their first loss of the 1949 campaign. Lauer limited the Caps to four singles and struck out ten in registering the shutout win. The Purity Canucks pounded loser Denny Evenson and his successor Lefty Harrison for an even dozen safeties. Ray Jones homered for the winners. Jones, Lauer and first baseman Pete Polupski had two hits apiece to pace the attack.
Evenson (L), Harrison (5) and Smith
Lauer (W) and Martin
(June 5) Less than 24 hours after suffering their first loss of the season, the Regina Caps hit the winning trail again as they downed the Notre Dame Hounds 9 - 5 in Wilcox. Gus Kyle and Red Staley paced the Caps' offensive attack with two hits each.
McKenzie (W), Harrison (8) and G. Kyle
Kerley (L) and McCarthy
(June 8) Regina's winless Red Sox absorbed an 8 - 6 defeat at the hands of the Weyburn Beavers. Lefty Pat George worked eight innings for the Red Sox and was charged with the loss. Ralph McCleneghan finished the last inning in relief. For the winning Beavers, Orval Verpe went eight innings before veteran Les Wilder worked the final frame. Shortstop Blaine Shupe led the Weyburn attack with three hits and Wilder chipped in with a pair. For the Crimson Hose of the Queen City, second sacker Dick Wilson had three base hits and Al Boney had a pair.
Verpe (W), Wilder (9) and Sathers
George (L), McCleneghan (9) and Buckmayer
(June 8) The Wilcox Cardinals took over first place in the Southern League by doubling the visiting Regina Caps 4 - 2. Both starters, Lefty Harrison of the Caps and Aubrey Downton of the Redbirds gave up ten hits and went the distance. The Cards scored the winning run on a Regina error in the bottom of the sixth. For the visiting capital city crew, both Roger Merlevede and Denny Evenson went 2 for 4 at the plate. Third baseman Irv Wiebe paced the winners offense with 3 for 4 including a double. Nick Metz contributed two singles.
Harrison (L) and Green
A. Downton (W) and Clements
(June 10) Despite a superb pitching performance by Ralph McCleneghan, Regina's luckless Red Sox went down to a 7 - 2 defeat at the hands of the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks. The 26 year old Regina right hander yielded only six hits, two of them by Moose Jaw outfielder Metro Prystai, and struck out 12 batters but errors in crucial spots proved his undoing. For the winners, Lefty Lauer hurled shutout ball for the six innings that he pitched, allowing four hits and fanning nine. Elmer Torgerson pitched the last three innings for the Purity Canucks, giving up both Red Sox runs. Dick Wilson, Andy Buckmayer, George Cullen and McCleneghan all had two hits for the losers.
Lauer (W), Torgerson (7) and Martin
McCleneghan (L) and Buckmayer
June 10) The Weyburn Beavers moved into sole possession of second place in the Southern Baseball League when they beat the Notre Dame Hounds 10 - 6 on the strength of timely hitting by rookie Bill Garner and a masterful relief pitching job by reliable Keith Covert. Veteran Gayle Shupe started on the hill for Weyburn but was shelled from the mound in the third inning when the Hounds scored six times. Notre Dame used four chuckers with the last of these, southpaw Dick Kerley, being charged with the defeat. Garner led the winners with three hits in four at bats. Beavers' catcher Charlie Thompson, Gayle Shupe and Les Wilder all had two safeties. For the losing Hounds, Walt Becker was the big gun going 3 for 4. Gayle Shupe had the game's only homer.
Dombowsky, L'Heureux (3), Becker (5), Kerley (L) (7) and Germann
G. Shupe, Covert (W) (3) and Thompson
(June 11) Cy Thorseth of the Purity Canucks went the route, limiting the collegians to six hits and striking out six, as the Moose Jaw squad hung a 5 - 3 loss on the Notre Dame Hounds. Hounds' young southpaw Hugo Dombowsky was nicked for nine safeties in taking the loss. Dombowsky's double was the only extra base hit of the game. Leading the Moose Jaw attack were leadoff man Ted Foord who went 3 for 4 at the dish while Metro Prystai and Stan Martin had two hits each.
Dombowsky (L) and Germann
Thorseth (W) and Martin
(June 11) The Metz brothers stole the show as they led the Wilcox Cardinals to a 7 - 5 triumph over the Regina Caps. Starting pitcher Don Metz silenced the vaunted Queen City sluggers with a steady eight hit pitching effort including seven strikeouts in the 8 1/3 innings he worked. Aubrey Downton retired the last two Caps' hitters in the 9th. Shortstop Nick Metz contributed two singles to the Wilcox attack and came up with the defensive play of the game to wipe out a threatening Caps' rally in the 6th. Import Shaffer Green, making his first pitching appearance for Regina, was lit up for eight hits and five runs in the six innings he worked and was tagged with the loss. Aubrey Downton had three hits for the winning Cards. For the Reginans, first sacker Warren Martin and starting chucker Green both had two hits. Green and second baseman Tony Righetti provided the power slugging as both hit home runs.
D. Metz (W), A. Downton (9) and Clements
Green (L), Vogt (7) and G. Kyle
(June 12) After a Saturday night loss in Moose Jaw, the Notre Dame Hounds regained their winning ways Sunday afternoon trouncing the winless Regina Red Sox 17 - 2 in Wilcox. The Hounds scored six runs in the 2nd and added five more markers in the 3rd. After that, it was no contest. Lefty Pat George started on the mound for the Sox and was replaced by Cec Bush when the Notre Dame sluggers started to find the range. Walt Becker and Hugo Dombowsky divided the Hounds' hurling chores.
George (L), Bush and Buckmayer
Becker (W), Dombowsky and Germann
League Standings (June 12) W L Pct.
Wilcox Cardinals 5 1 .833
M. J. Purity Canucks 6 3 .667
Weyburn Beavers 4 2 .667
Regina Caps 3 3 .500
Notre Dame Hounds 3 5 .375
Regina Red Sox 0 7 .000
(June 13) The floundering Regina Red Sox threw a medium sized scare into their intra-city rivals, the Regina Caps, but faded in the last three frames and dropped an 11 - 8 encounter. Caps' starter Rex Sorenson showed little on the mound and the eager Sox got to him for 16 hits. Sluggers for the Capitals belted out 13 hits off Red Sox chucker Ralph McCleneghan. Red Sox outfielder George Cullen had a comfortable night at the plate with a 4 for 5 outing. Tony Righetti of the Caps and Bob McWhirter of the Red Sox each collected three safeties in five attempts. Included in Righetti's total were a double and triple. Third baseman Bill Kyle of the Caps poled out a home run in the 6th. The Sox held an 8 - 6 edge going into the 7th, but the Caps rallied with three in the 7th and two more in the 8th to wrap up the victory.
McCleneghan (L) and Buckmayer
Sorenson (W) and G. Kyle
(June 15) George Ligon's coloured All-Stars took a pair of exhibition tilts from the Regina Caps, 10-8 and 10-6.
Toby Simms belted a homer and a triple to pace the Ligon's to the win in the opener. Fred Bankhead had three hits for the winners while Jackie Fulton and Shaffer Green each had three for the Caps.
R Ligon (W) and Bailey
Green, Vogt (L) (5) and G Kyle
The Ligon's broke loose for two runs in the 8th and three in the 9th to down the Caps 10-6 in the second game. Regina had taken a 4-0 lead in the opening frame. Aquillon Bailey, who had two hits, including a triple, in the first game belted three safeties in the evening encounter. Curtis Tate went the distance for the win. Green added another two hits for Regina.
Tate (W) and Harland
Harrison (L), Vogt (9) and G Kyle
(June 15) Club officials of the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks announced that big Mort Cooper, one of the top pitchers in the National League earlier this decade, will be joining the second place Moose Jaw entry in the Southern League later this month. The 34 year old Cooper, whose major league career was shortened by an arm ailment, tried unsuccessfully to make a comeback this season with the Chicago Cubs.
Morton Cecil Cooper (March 2, 1913 - November 17, 1958) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals. The team's top pitcher during its National League pennant years of 1942-44, he won over 20 games in each of the three years and received the 1942 Most Valuable Player award after posting a 22-7 record with ten shutouts and a 1.78 earned run average, the lowest by any NL right-hander between 1920 and 1967. His brother Walker was an NL catcher, and his teammate for several seasons.
Cooper was born in Atherton, Missouri, and after debuting with the Cardinals in 1938 had a 12-6 record as a 1939 rookie. He was 24-21 over the next two seasons before hitting his stride, helping the team to World Series titles in both 1942 and 1944. In 1945, both Cooper brothers staged contract holdouts, and Mort was traded that May to the Boston Braves after only three starts; bothered by longtime elbow problems, he ended the year only 9-4. After a 13-11 season in 1946, he began 1947 at 2-5 and was traded to the New York Giants in June. He was 1-5 for the Giants over the rest of the season, and was released in July 1948 after not pitching all year due to arm trouble. He ended his career with a single 1949 relief appearance for the Chicago Cubs in which he failed to record an out. He retired with a record of 128-75, a 2.97 ERA, 913 strikeouts in 1840 2/3 innings and 33 shutouts. He was selected to the NL All-Star team four times (1942, 1943, 1945, 1946).
Mort Cooper died of a lung condition at age 45 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
(June 16) Moose Jaw Canucks were awarded an exhibition victory over the Ligon All-Stars after a 10th inning rhubarb over a balk call. Canucks were handed the win by umpire Paul Bozak when All-Stars' manager George Ligon walked on the field to protest a decision. When he refused to leave the field the game was called. The dispute hinged on a balk call on Ligon pitcher Rufus Ligon. The visitors were leading 4-3 when the contest was ended. Lefty Lauer and Elmer Torgerson worked the hill for Moose Jaw.
(June 17) The Weyburn Beavers climbed into second place in the Southern Baseball League by tripping up the top place Wilcox Cardinals 3 - 1 in a game played in Milestone. Big Gayle Shupe of the Beavers went the distance in handcuffing the Cards. Aubrey Downton started for Wilcox but was relieved by Don Metz in the 4th.
G. Shupe (W) and Covert
A. Downton (L), D. Metz (4) and Weisshaar
(June 18) The cellar dwelling Regina Red Sox dropped a 5 - 4 decision to the visiting Wilcox Cardinals. The inability to come through in the clutch made the difference in this contest as the Red Sox came apart at the seams when the Wilcox crew got men on base and failed to deliver at the plate with runners in scoring position. Only one of the Wilcox runs was earned. Fast throwing Cec Bush pitched capable ball for the Sox until he tired in the 7th, giving up two walks, a single to Aub Downton and a ground ball by Nick Metz which second sacker Gordie Mitton threw wild to first allowing the winning run to score. The Downton brothers, Ernie and Aub, as well as Nick Metz had two hits each for the winners. Leading the Sox ten hit attack against winner Walter "Butch" Buttgereit and reliever Don Metz was Sox right fielder Bob McWhirter who went 3 for 5.
Buttgereit (W), D. Metz (8) and Weisshaar
Bush (L), McCleneghan (8) and Buckmayer
(June 18) A grand slam homer by Adolph Thurman gave Muskogee Cardinals a 4-3 win over Estevan Maple Leafs in an exhibition match at Estevan.
B Love (W) and Taylor
F John (L), B Gough (8), D Abbot (9) and xxx
(June 20) In spite of the continued batting prowess by import Shaffer Green, the Regina Caps dropped their third straight exhibition game to touring clubs. Muskogee colored Cardinals dumped the Caps 12-9, scoring seven runs in the final two innings. Green, a 24-year-old from Pittsburgh came to the Caps as a pitcher but his hitting prompted the club to play him in the outfield. Green pounded out two homers and a double, driving in four runs. After the Cards plated five runs in the top of the 9th the Caps rallied for a pair and had the bases loaded when pinch-hitter Denny Evenson popped up to end the game. Centre fielder Elmer Hester paced the winners with four hits, including a homer and a triple. Roger Merlevede had three hits for Regina.
Staton (W), Thomas (9) and Taylor
Harrison (L), Glasser (9) and G Kyle
(June 22) After a month's layoff from mound duties because of a sore arm, reliable veteran Ralph Hogg showed there was still life in the old flipper by fashioning a neat two-hitter to pace the Weyburn Beavers to an easy 12 - 1 victory over the Regina Red Sox. Hogg also sent ten batters down swinging. The win, the Beavers sixth straight, advanced them into a first place tie with the Wilcox Cardinals. The loss was the tenth in a row for the cellar dwelling Red Sox. Losing pitcher, southpaw Pat George, started but was replaced by Cec Bush in the initial frame after five Weyburn runs had crossed the plate. Charlie Thompson paced the winners' dozen hit attack with three singles. Bill Garner and Blaine Shupe had two each.
George (L), Bush (1) Mearns (4) and Buckmayer
Hogg (W) and Covert
(June 24) With newly signed import pitcher and ex-major leaguer Mort Cooper watching from the stands, the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks edged the Weyburn Beavers 3 - 2 in ten innings in a second place showdown. Purity Canucks' shortstop Ray Jones wielded the big stick for Moose Jaw driving in all three runs with two singles, the last of which broke up a brilliant mound duel between Weyburn veteran Gayle Shupe and young Lefty Lauer of Moose Jaw in the bottom half of the extra frame. Lauer limited the Beavers to four singles, two by veteran first baseman Les Wilder and shut out the Soo Liners over the last six innings. Besides Jones' brace of hits, center fielder Metro Prystai and catcher Stubby Martin also banged out two hits for the winners.
G. Shupe (L) and Covert
Lauer (W) and Martin
(June 24) Gus Kyle's three-run homer in the 4th inning was the differences as Regina Caps downed Elmwood Giants 7-5 in an exhibition game at Winnipeg. Kyle also had a double and single. Tony Righetti had a double and two singles for Regina while Dick Roche paced the Giants with a pair of doubles.
Mast, Harrison (W) (1) and Kyle
Desjardin (L), Reeves (4) and McConachy
(June 24) Harlem Globe Trotters exploded with six runs in the 8th inning to down House of David 9-1 in an exhibition game at Taylor Field, Regina. The season's largest crowd, an estimated 3,000, saw two of the continent's top touring teams along with funnyman Ed Hamman. 34-year-old Laymon Ramsey tossed a seven-hitter for the win. The only run against him came in the 9th when Chet Ashman belted the ball into the crowd along the right field foul line and circled the bases before it could be retrieved. Lefty Dick Moran, an 18-year-old from Lonerock, Wisconsin went the route for the Davids. Trotters' outfielder Sam Wheeler and shortstop Ted Strong made outstanding defensive plays.
Ramsey (W) and Hardy
Moran (L) and Tomski
(June 24) In what was described as the best game of the season at Swift Current, the barnstorming Muskogee Cardinals topped Ernie Mugliston's home side 9-4. A college student, in the area for the summer, made an auspicious debut for Swift Current. Frank Bond, playing first base, blasted a liner to the centre field scoreboard for a ground-rule double and made two thrilling defensive plays, including an over-the-shoulder catch near the cards. The game was halted midway by a heavy shower, but play continued on the muddy field. Ollie Staton gave up 11 hits but went the distance for the win. Ted Travis allowed 13 hits in taking the loss. Elmer Hester and Staten led the Cards each with three hits. Stevenson, Wiggins and Bond each had a pair for Swift Current.
Staten (W) and xxx
Travis (L) and xxx
(June 25) Harlem Globe Trotters made it two in a row over the House Of David taking a 4-2 decision at Regina. After giving up a two-run triple to Davids' catcher Hank Glossenger in the 2nd inning, Joe Bankhead held the Davids in check. Trotters didn't get a hit off David's starter Jim Boatman until the 5th inning when they collected four safeties and scored three times. Third baseman Parnell Woods and shortstop Ted Strong each had two hits for the winners. Manager George Anderson and Hugh Cook each had a pair for the Davids.
Boatman (L), Dean (7) and Glossenger
Bankhead (W) and Brooks
(June 25) Delisle Commodores squeezed out Mort Cooper and his Moose Jaw Purity Canuck teammates 5 - 4 in an exhibition game before a Moose Jaw crowd of 2,500. The former St. Louis Cardinals' pitching ace, making his first appearance in a Moose Jaw uniform, worked the first six innings before turning over mound duties to Elmer Torgerson who was charged with the loss. Cooper gave up only three hits, two of them by center fielder Doug Bentley, the Chicago Black Hawks' hockey star, and was leading 3 - 2 after his stint on the mound. Canucks out-hit the Commodores but were unable to bunch their blows together off Bennie Griggs except in the 1st inning when they scored three times.
Griggs (W) and Reg Bentley
Cooper, Torgerson (L) and Smith, Martin
(June 26) A big 7th inning rally that netted four runs propelled the Wilcox Cardinals to a 6 - 5 win over the Notre Dame Hounds. The win consolidated the Redbirds' position as front runner in the circuit. Batting feature of the game was a long 2nd inning homer by Cards third sacker Walter Buttgereit who also contributed with a two-bagger and a pair of singles. Don Metz of the Cardinals picked up the win in relief of starter Aubrey Downton. He also had a good day at the plate going 3 for 5. Hounds' Dick Kerley was saddled with the loss.
A. Downton, D. Metz (W) (3) and Clements
Kerley (L), Claggett (8) and Germann
League Standings (June 27) W L Pct.
Wilcox Cardinals 7 2 .776
M. J. Purity Canucks 7 3 .700
Weyburn Beavers 6 3 .667
Regina Caps 4 3 .571
Notre Dame Hounds 3 6 .333
Regina Red Sox 0 10 .000
League Statistics as of June 27
Batting (Minimum 15 at bats) AB R H AVE
Norm Brown - Notre Dame 31 6 14 .452
Aubrey Downton - Wilcox 31 8 13 .419
Metro Prystai - Moose Jaw 35 8 14 .400
Ralph McCleneghan - Red Sox 21 2 8 .381
Tony Righetti - Caps 29 7 11 .379
Jackie Fulton - Caps 22 6 8 .363
Walter Buttgereit - Wilcox 28 7 10 .357
Bill Garner - Weyburn 34 9 12 .353
Elmer Torgerson - Moose Jaw 20 3 7 .350
Clint Squires - Wilcox 43 7 15 .349
Al Staley - Caps 26 6 9 .346
Stan Martin - Moose Jaw 29 9 10 .345
Home Runs - Ray Jones (Moose Jaw), Gale Shupe (Weyburn), Shaffer Green (Regina Caps) and Barry Wolstencroft (Notre Dame) - all with 2
Pitching
Lefty Lauer - Moose Jaw 5 - 0 1.000
Don Metz - Wilcox 2 - 0 1.000
Walter Buttgereit - Wilcox 2 - 0 1.000
(July 2) The Moose Jaw Purity Canucks downed the cellar dwelling Regina Red Sox 11 - 2, scoring 1 run in each of the first two innings, adding 3 in the 4th, a like number in the 5th and then coasting to victory from there. The hapless Sox fell for the 11th straight time this season despite the effort of twirlers Lefty Mearns, Ralph McCleneghan and newcomer Paul Bouffard. Elmer Torgerson started on the hill for Moose Jaw, relinquishing the chores to Cy Thorseth in the 7th. A long home run by Canuck catcher Jim Starrak, playing in his first Southern League game of the season, was the hitting highlight of the tussle. Purity Canucks' Metro Prystai, of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, picked up a triple as did teammate Ken Englehardt.
Torgerson (W), Thorseth (7) and Starrak
Mearns (L), McCleneghan (5), Bouffard and Buckmayer
(July 6) 20 year old southpaw Cliff Harrison of the Regina Caps retired the first 26 batters he faced but weakened in the later innings and had to hang on for a tight 4 - 3 decision over the Weyburn Beavers. The Caps got to Beavers' starter and loser Ralph Hogg for their winning margin in the 3rd and never looked back. Second baseman Tony Righetti had two hits for the winners including a round tripper. Catcher Gus Kyle chipped in with a triple. Hogg and Gayle Shupe both had a brace of singles for Weyburn.
Hogg (L) and Covert
Harrison (W) and G. Kyle
(July 7) The Caps of Regina exploded for seven runs in the last two innings to break up a tight mound duel between Gayle Shupe and Shaffer Green and went on to thump the Weyburn Beavers 7 - 1. It was the second win in two nights for the Caps over their Soo Line rivals. Green was in scintillating form setting down the Beavers with two safeties and fanning 12. Shupe was riding along on a 1 - 0 lead and pitching no-hit ball when the Caps' bats came to life in the 8th. He was temporarily relieved by Lefty Roth but returned to the hill again in the last frame after the damage had been done. Center fielder Jackie Fulton of the Caps was the only batsman to garner two hits in this game. Shortstop Sully Glasser delivered a home run for the Caps.
Green (W) and G. Kyle
G. Shupe (L), Roth (8), G. Shupe (9) and Covert
(July 7) The power-laden Moose Jaw Purity Canucks assaulted three Cardinals' pitchers for 15 hits and clubbed out an easy 15 - 3 verdict over the Wilcox crew and, in the process, took over first place in the Southern League. Gwynne Lovett, Moose Jaw's left fielder, came up with the longest hit of the game, a triple. Right fielder Bill Emerson and first baseman Pete Polupski led the 15 hit assault with 3 for 5 performances. Canucks' catcher Wally Smith chipped in with a pair of singles. The game was called after eight innings because of darkness.
Thorseth, Torgerson (W) (4), Cooper (7) and Smith, Starrak (7)
A. Downton (L), D. Metz (3), Buttgereit (6) and Clements
(July 8) The Regina Caps had little difficulty in defeating their cross-town rival Regina Red Sox 14 - 3. Caps' Rex Sorenson tossed three hit ball at the Sox before giving way to Bill Kyle in the 8th. Erwin Fricke made his hurling debut for the Sox but was forced to leave the game with a badly blistered finger. Leon Booker led the 14 hit Cap attack with four safeties including a homer and double. Caps' Frank Smith was 3 for 4 with four RBI's.
Sorenson (W) , B. Kyle (8) and G. Kyle
Fricke (L), Bouffard (7) and Buckmayer
(July 9) The Regina Caps battled the persistent Wilcox Cardinals and were able to eke out a 3 - 2 win. Regina second baseman Tony Righetti drove in the winning tally hitting a clutch single to score Roger Merlevede. Cliff "Lefty" Harrison registered the win in relief of starter Leon Booker. Don Metz went the route for Wilcox and was tagged with the loss. Shortstop Nick Metz of the Cards was the game's top batter going 3 for 5. Shaffer Green of the Reginans and Walt Buttgereit of the Cardinals both banged out triples.
D. Metz (L) and Clements
Booker, Harrison (W) (5) and G. Kyle
(July 10) The Regina Caps slugged out a convincing 7 - 1 win over the Notre Dame Hounds. The Caps were never in trouble in this game, tallying braces of runs in both the second and third frames to take a healthy lead. Leon Booker led Regina's 13 hit attack by slapping out three singles. The Kyle brothers, Bill and Gus, as well as Roger Merlevede and Sully Glasser all contributed two hits.
Green (W) and G. Kyle
Dombowsky (L) and Germann
(July 11) Lefty Lauer carved out a brilliant mound performance as he fanned 18 batters and led the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks to a 5 - 3 road victory over the Weyburn Beavers. The Canucks' win vaulted them into a 1/2 game lead in the Southern League standings. The Beavers nicked the Mill City southpaw for eight hits including two bases-empty four baggers by Gayle Shupe. Veteran Ralph Hogg, on the mound for Weyburn, hurled four hit ball but seven costly miscues by his mates led to his downfall. Gayle Shupe led all hitters with 3 for 5. Moose Jaw's Elmer Torgerson went 3 for 4,
Lauer (W) and Smith
Hogg (L) and Covert
(July 13) Delisle Commodores downed Mort Cooper and the Moose Jaw Canucks 8-3 in an exhibition match at Saskatoon. Cooper, who began the season in the major leagues, went just four innings giving up six hits and four runs. Murray Coben, who picked up the win in relief of starter Bennie Griggs, helped out at the plate with a triple.
Cooper (L), Thorseth (5), Inkster (8) and Smith
Griggs, Coben (W) (4), Yarocho (8) and Reg Bentley
(July 15) The Wilcox Cardinals strengthened their hold on third place in the Southern League by whipping the Notre Dame Hounds 11 - 5. The Cards battered three Notre Dame chuckers for 18 hits with Clint Squires registering four and Don Metz three in leading the way. Notre Dame starter Dick Kerley lasted three innings and was charged with the defeat. Big Walter Buttgereit hurled six frames for the Cards and gained credit for the victory. Barry Wolstencroft was Notre Dame's top hitter going 2 for 4.
Kerley (L), L'Heureux (3), Claggett (6) and Germann
Buttgereit (W), D. Metz (7), Lawrence (8) and Clements
(July 15) The winless wonders of the Southern League, the Red Sox of Regina, put up a stiff battle before bowing to the Weyburn Beavers 5 - 3 for their 13th consecutive loss in league play. The Reginans jumped into a 3 - 0 lead in the first two frames and stayed in front until the 5th. After recovering from a shaky start, Beavers' hurler Keith Covert showed good form as he gave up seven hits and sent ten Sox batters down swinging. Mike Dzingelowski of the Red Sox fanned 12 in his Southern League debut and, like Covert, was nicked for seven safeties but the Beavers bunched them for their winning margin. Sox third baseman Al Clow and Weyburn outfielder Jim Anderson each had two hits.
Dzingelowski (L) and Buckmayer
Covert (W) and Sathers
(July 17) Barry Wolstencroft, the stylish Notre Dame first baseman, made up for his first inning error which cost his team two runs by speeding home with the winning run in the bottom half of the 10th inning to give the Hounds a 4 - 3 win over the Weyburn Beavers. Brilliant pitching by Hugo Dombowsky of Notre Dame and the Beavers' Gayle Shupe, in relief of Ralph Hogg, were the feature of this extra inning tilt. With one out in the 10th, Wolstencroft lashed out a single, stole second and scored on Frank Germann's single. Germann, with two singles, was the only player from either team to register more than one hit.
Hogg, G. Shupe (L) (3) and Covert
Dombowsky (W) and Germann
(July 18) Trailing the Regina Caps by a 6 - 0 count after two innings of play, the plucky Notre Dame Hounds threw a king-sized scare at the Queen City crew before dropping a close 8 - 7 verdict. The collegians outhit the Caps 15 to 8 but were unable to come up with the big hit in crucial situations. The triumph for the Caps lifted them into a first place tie in the standings with the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks. Caps knocked Hounds' starter Walt Becker out of the game before he had retired even a single batter in the first frame and went on to tally five runs. Tony Righetti led the Caps with two triples. Catcher Frank Germann and first baseman Barry Wolstencroft paced the Notre Dame attack with three hits each.
Becker (L), Kerley (1) and Germann
Sorenson (W), Harrison (7) and G. Kyle
League Standings (July 20) W L Pct
Moose Jaw Purity Canucks 10 3 .769
Regina Caps 10 3 .769
Wilcox Cardinals 8 4 .667
Weyburn Beavers 7 7 .500
Notre Dame Hounds 4 9 .307
Regina Red Sox 0 13 .000
(July 19) Normie Brown of Notre Dame picked up two hits Monday to increase his lead atop the Southern league batting race. Brown, with a .425 mark, topped Leon Booker of the Regina Caps, at .400. Ralph McCleneghan, Regina Red Sox pitcher, was third at .375. Gayle Shupe of Weyburn had the most homers, four. Lambert (Lefty) Lauer of Moose Jaw was the loop's top pitcher. In his latest effort, Lauer struck out 18 to run his winning streak to six straight.
AB R H AVE
Norm Brown, Notre Dame 40 8 17 .425
Leon Booker, Caps 25 7 10 .400
Ralph McCleneghan, Red Sox 24 3 9 .375
Aubrey Downton, Wilcox 46 10 17 .370
Nick Metz, Wilcox 53 9 19 .358
Elmer Torgerson, Moose Jaw 28 5 10 .357
Metro Prystai, Moose Jaw 48 11 17 .354
Tony Righetti, Caps 57 15 20 .351
Don Metz, Wilcox 46 9 16 .348
Clint Squires, Wilcox 58 10 20 .345
(July 22) Southern league All-Stars and Brooklyn Cuban Giants battled to a 2-2, 10 inning tie before 3,000 fans at Taylor Field. The game was called because of darkness. Lincoln Boyd, of the Giants, was the day's top hitter with a double and four singles. Art Hunt and Leo Phillips handled the mound work for the visitors while Lefty Lauer went the distance for the All-Stars.
Hunt, Phillips (9) and Davis
Lauer and G Kyle
(July 23) The Moose Jaw Purity Canucks experienced little difficulty in turning back Regina's winless Red Sox 6 - 1 behind the fancy flinging of Albert "Lefty" Erfle, making his first appearance for Moose Jaw this season. Erfle checked in with a seven hit, 12 strikeout performance in a contest called on account of darkness in the bottom of the 8th. Canucks collected only eight blows off southpaw Mike Dzingelowski but made good use of five Regina errors to build up a lead. Moose Jaw's Ray Jones and Elmer Torgerson as well as Bob McWhirter of the Red Sox each had two hits. The game was called after eight innings because of darkness.
Dzingelowski (L) and Buckmayer
Erfle (W) and Martin
(July 23) The Regina Caps walked off with a high scoring 10 - 8 win against the Notre Dame Hounds, enabling them to keep pace with the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks at the top of the Southern League standings. The pesky Hounds out-hit the Caps 18 - 16 but, again, as was the case in their last meeting five days ago, couldn't drive in runs when it mattered most. Although hit hard, Cliff Harrison went the distance for Regina. Notre Dame starter Dude Hoag, who was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 8th, took the loss. Gus Kyle of the Caps had a perfect night at the plate banging out a triple, double and two singles in four at bats. Outfielder Ralph Beattie paced the Hounds offense with four singles.
Hoag (L), Kerley (8) and Germann
Harrison (W) and G. Kyle
(July 25) The Moose Jaw Purity Canucks took over sole possession of top spot in the Southern League by virtue of a smashing 16 - 4 victory over the Wilcox Cardinals in a darkness shortened eight inning contest. The game was up for grabs until the 7th when the Canucks lowered the boom on Wilcox starter and loser Walt Buttgereit and reliever Aub Downton, scoring six runs on five hits including pinch-hitter Curly Boyce's bases loaded triple. Moose Jaw pounded out 16 base hits with Bill Emerson and Andy McNamee each collecting three. Elmer Torgerson was credited with the victory. Center fielder Bob Metz went 3 for 3 for Wilcox. The game was called at the end of eight innings because of darkness.
Buttgereit (L), A. Downton (7) and Weisshaar
Torgerson (W), Lauer (8) and Smith, Martin (8)
(July 29) The lowly Regina Red Sox battled the high flying Regina Caps to the final out before bowing 4 - 3. The Caps' triumph moved them back into a first place tie with the Moose Jaw Canucks at the top of the Southern League heap. Versatile Shaffer Green, catching for the first time this season for the Caps, led the attack with a 3 for 4 performance. Al Clow of the Red Sox also had a 3 for 4 night.
Bouffard (L) and Buckmayer
Sorenson (W) and Green
(July 30) The Notre Dame Hounds put an end to the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks' six game winning streak by downing the Mill City crew 4 - 3 as portsiders Hugo Dombowsky and Lefty Lauer hooked up in a tight contest. Lauer's loss was his first in seven mound starts this season. Hounds' second baseman Walt Becker pulled off a spectacular catch and a resulting double play in snuffing out a Moose Jaw rally in the bottom of the 9th with the potential tying and winning runs on base. Becker and outfielder Murray Huck both had two hits for the Hounds while Ted Foord led the Canucks' clubbers with three hits including a double.
Dombowsky (W) and Germann
Lauer (L) and Martin
(July 30) Cap base-runners enjoyed a field day at the expense of the Wilcox Cardinals as the Reginans chalked up a 7 - 4 triumph. The Caps pilfered a total of five bases and the thefts led to four of their runs. The win, coupled the Moose Jaw loss, gives the Caps sole possession of first place in the Southern loop. Cliff "Lefty" Harrison allowed only four well scattered hits going into the 9th but he weakened in the finale and the Cards roughed him up for three runs. Don Metz started on the mound for Wilcox but control problems led to his undoing and he was lifted in favor of Aub Downton in the 6th. Tony Righetti, Shaffer Green and catcher Frank Smith had two hits each for the Capital City squad while Clint Squires was the Redbirds' leading batsman with a 3 for 5 evening.
Harrison (W) and Smith
D. Metz (L), A. Downton (6) and Clements
(July 30) Frank Bond clubbed a homer, triple and single to lead Swift Current to a 7-4 victory over the touring St. Louis Black Cardinals. The California college kid also made a couple of outstanding fielding plays. Jimmy Bak also homered for the winners. Wimpy Stevenson went the route for the mound triumph.
(July 31) Walt Becker's single in the bottom of the 15th inning ended a marathon game and gave the Notre Dame Hounds a thrilling 3 - 2 victory over the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks, their second win over the Canucks on consecutive nights. Lloyd "Dude" Hoag went all 15 frames for the winners in registering the victory. Mort Cooper hurled the first six innings for the Purity Canucks and left the game with a 2 - 1 lead. Lefty Al Erfle was charged with the loss. In addition to his game winning RBI, Becker also had a triple in leading the Hounds' offense. Ted Foord had two hits for Moose Jaw.
Cooper, Erfle (L) (7) and Smith, Martin (7)
Hoag (W) and Germann
League Standings (July 31) W L Pct
Regina Caps 13 3 .813
Moose Jaw Purity Canucks 12 5 .706
Wilcox Cardinals 8 6 .571
Weyburn Beavers 7 7 .500
Notre Dame Hounds 6 10 .375
Regina Red Sox 0 15 .000
(Aug 01) The Buchanan All-Stars, the former San Francisco Sea Lions, downed Regina Caps 7-2 in an exhibition game at Taylor Field. John Henry Oliver spaced out nine hits in going the distance for the win. Lee Landrum led the visitors at the plate with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Shaffer Green had a homer for the Caps.
Oliver (W) and Landrum
Green (L) and G Kyle
(Aug 01) Walter "Gus" Kyle was reported to be leaving the Regina Caps to join the Edmonton Cubs of the Big Four league for the remainder of the season.
(August 3) A short, punch single by Ken Englehardt in the sixth inning, which landed just out of second baseman Tony Righetti's reach in right field, robbed Cliff Harrison of a no-hit, no-run game as the young Cap lefthander turned in a sensational effort in pitching the Reginans to a 4 - 0 victory over the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks. Harrison baffled the Canuck batters facing only 28 men, striking out four and walking none. The Caps, who increased their lead over second place Moose Jaw with the triumph, opened the scoring in the second inning on Shaffer Green's towering two-run homer, giving Harrison all the runs he would require. Lefty Lauer of the Canucks was no slouch on the mound either, surrendering six hits and fanning eight but five errors by his mates got him in hot water.
Lauer (L) and Smith
Harrison (W) and Green
(Aug 04) Shaffer Green belted two homers and a pair of singles to drive in five runs as Regina Caps upset Minot Merchants 9-4 in an exhibition game at Taylor Field. Ted Strong had three hits, including a homer for Minot.
Bryant (L), McLean (5) and Maler
Gerein (W), Gemmell (7) and G Kyle
(August 5) The Notre Dame Hounds stayed in the hunt for a Southern League playoff berth by scoring a 4 - 1 victory over the Regina Red Sox. The Hounds' victory left them 1 1/2 games behind the Weyburn Beavers in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot. Lionel "Happy" L'Heureux scattered five hits in the abbreviated seven inning contest to pick up the pitching win. Cec Bush, working on the hill for the Sox, allowed six hits but his wildness kept him in constant trouble. Walt Becker of the Hounds and Sox shortstop Fred Evans both had two hits for their respective teams. The tilt was halted after seven innings because of darkness.
Bush (L) and Boney
L'Heureux (W) and Germann
(August 6) On a 100-degree night at Swift Current, the Indians heated up the base paths in a 13-0 win over Richlea behind Ted Travis' steady hurling. A long homer by Johnny Demick, the fielding and clouting of Frank Bond and steady play of third-basemen Bobby Beggs featured the contest.
(Aug 9) Regina Caps and Ligon All-Stars battled to a 4-4 tie in an exhibition tilt at Taylor Field. Al "Red" Staley's single with two out in the bottom of the 9th drove in the tying run. The game was called because of darkness. Caps carried a 2-0 lead into the 7th when the All-Stars plated three to take the lead. Each team scored in the 8th. Tony Maze went the distance for Regina allowing six hits. He fanned seven and issued one base on balls. Veteran lefty Rufus Ligon started for the visitors giving way to Frank Pearson in the sixth.
R Ligon, Pearson (6) and Holland
Maze and Kyle
(August 10) The Regina Caps were in a lusty home run hitting mood and encountered little trouble in pounding out a 10 - 5 win over the Weyburn Beavers. The Caps' victory assured them of a first place finish in the Southern circuit's final standings. Sully Glasser, Lee Booker and Gus Kyle walloped four base clouts in the first four innings to send the Caps into a comfortable lead. Weyburn starter Ralph Hogg was roughed up early and retired after three innings on the hill. Lefty Harrison worked the distance for the Caps. Regina's Gus Kyle banged out a perfect 4 for 4 for the winners. Jack Shupe was the best at the plate for the Beavers with three hits.
Hogg (L), Covert (4) and Covert, Sathers (4)
Harrison (W) and G. Kyle
(Aug 11) New Orleans Creoles, with female second baseman Toni Stone making an appearance, downed the Southern league All-Stars 8-4 at Taylor Field. Creoles broke open a tight game with three runs in the 7th inning and a pair in the 8th. Lefthander John Johnson, who performed with the Ligon's in 1948, held the All-Stars to seven hits in going the distance. Al Pinkston, "giant New Orleans right fielder" had two hits, including a towering homer. Stone was hitless in her one trip to the plate.
Johnson (W) and Swanson
Maze (L) and Kyle
(August 12) The Regina Red Sox made their final appearance of the 1949 Southern League season but their opponent, the Regina Caps showed little mercy for the cellar dwellers, pasting them 12 - 1 in a darkness shortened six inning encounter. Tony Righetti, Gus Kyle, Sully Glasser and Caps' pitcher Rex Sorenson each cracked out two hits for the winners. Shortstop Fred Evans was the best for the Sox with 2 for 3 including a triple. The contest was called after six innings because of darkness.
Sorenson (W) and G. Kyle, Booker (5)
Bouffard (L), Bush (2) and Buckmayer
(August 15) In an abbreviated regular league finale for both teams, the Weyburn Beavers edged the Regina Caps 4 - 3. Lloyd Hofmeister, a Beaver newcomer, worked on the hill, fanning four and giving up seven hits. Rex Sorenson on the mound for the Caps surrendered nine hits and struck out only one. Jim Anderson of the Beavers and Bill Kyle of the Caps shared batting honors, each getting 3 for 3. The game was called after six innings because of darkness.
Sorenson (L) and G. Kyle
Hofmeister (W) and Covert
Final League Standings W L Pct
Regina Caps 16 4 .800
Moose Jaw Purity Canucks 12 6 .667
Wilcox Cardinals 8 6 .571
Weyburn Beavers 8 8 .500
Notre Dame Hounds 7 10 .413
Regina Red Sox 0 17 .000
Final Batting Statistics
Batting Average - Wilcox Cardinals' center fielder Clint Squires ( 25 for 68 .368) edged out
Notre Dame shortstop Norm Brown (22 for 61 .361) by .007 percentage points.
Clint Squires - Wilcox .368
Norm Brown - Notre Dame .361
Shaffer Green - Regina Caps .353
Don Metz - Wilcox Cardinals .352
Irvin Wiebe - Wilcox Cardinals .351
Gus Kyle - Regina Caps .349
Tony Righetti - Regina Caps .349
Gayle Shupe - Weyburn Beavers .328
Walt Becker - Notre Dame .328
Walter Buttgereit - Wilcox Cardinals .320
Leading batting average for the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks belonged to catcher Stan "Stubby" Martin at .310 while Bob McWhirter led the Regina Red Sox, also with a .310 average.
Home Runs - Weyburn Beavers' Gale Shupe topped the homer department with 4.
Barry Wolstencroft (Notre Dame Hounds), Shaffer Green (Regina Caps) and Tony Righetti (Regina Caps)
all tied for second place with 3.
Hits - Righetti - 29
Runs Scored - Righetti - 23
Pitching
Cliff "Lefty" Harrison - Regina Caps 7 - 1
Rex Sorenson - Regina Caps 5 - 1
Lambert "Lefty" Lauer - M.J. Canucks 6 - 2
Playoff Pairings
As the third place Wilcox Cardinals decided to forego playoff competition (too many of their players were involved in harvesting operations), the semi-final pairings are as follows:
Regina Caps vs Notre Dame Hounds
Moose Jaw Purity Canucks vs Weyburn Beavers
Regina Caps and Notre Dame Hounds (best 2 out of 3) semi-final
(August 16) Not expected to offer much resistance to the pennant winning Caps, the scrappy Notre Dame Hounds battled the Reginans every inch of the way as the Caps had to come through with a two run rally in the 8th inning to gain a 4 - 4 tie in the opening game of the best of three semi final. Two southpaws, Hugo Dombowsky of the Hounds and Cliff Harrison of the Caps went the route. Third baseman Cec McCarron lashed out 3 for 4 to lead the Notre Dame offense. Al "Red" Staley had two hits for the Caps. The game was called after nine innings because of darkness.
Dombowsky and Germann
Harrison and G. Kyle
(August 17) The combination of Shaffer Green and Lee Booker proved too much for the Notre Dame Hounds as the Caps' import duo from Pittsburgh paced the Reginans to a 7 - 2 triumph. Green silenced the Hounds with a steady six hit mound performance and also slammed out a two run triple. Booker for his part cracked out an amazing 5 for 5 at the plate. Notre Dame pitcher Frank Germann was hit freely, giving up 16 Cap safeties. Barry Wolstencroft had a home run for the losers.
Green (W) and G. Kyle
Germann (L) and Brown
(August 18) The Regina Caps bounced back with the winning run in the last half of the 9th inning after the Notre Dame Hounds tied the count with a hair-raising rally in the top of the inning to gain a thrilling 6 - 5 decision and advance to the Southern League final series. Caps' Rex Sorenson, who had relieved a tired Lefty Harrison on the mound in the 7th, drove in the winning tally with a clean single off Hugo Dombowsky to end the battle. six players, Jackie Fulton, Leon Booker and Tony Righetti of the Caps and Norm Brown, Walt Becker and Cec McCarron of the Hounds each had two base hits.
Dombowsky (L) and Germann
Harrison, Sorenson (W) (7) and G. Kyle
Moose Jaw Purity Canucks and Weyburn Beavers (best 2 out of 3) semi-final
(August 17) The Moose Jaw Purity Canucks gave the scorekeeper a migraine headache when they buried the Weyburn Beavers under a 25 - 1 score in the opening game of their best of three semi final. The Canucks showered the visitors with 12 runs in the opening frame and the game was virtually over at that point. Shortstop Metro Prystai paced the winners in the onslaught driving in eight runs with two doubles and a single. Catcher Stan Martin homered for the Canucks. Outfielder Jim Anderson had two hits for Weyburn. The game was called after seven innings because of darkness.
Hogg (L), Covert (1), B. Shupe (7) and Sathers
Lauer (W), Emerson (6) and Martin, Smith (6)
(August 18) For the first time in many years, the Weyburn Beavers will not be in the Southern League baseball final as the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks wrapped up the best of three semi final by edging them 3 - 2. Canucks win the series in straight games and advance to play the Regina Caps in a best of five final. Gwynne Lovett tallied the winning run for the Canucks, scoring on a fielder's choice in the 6th. Elmer Torgerson allowed seven hits and fanned four in picking up the win. Gayle Shupe, on the mound for Weyburn, allowed six hits and struck out four. Bill Emerson's two hits led the winners. Keith Covert had a pair as well for the Beavers while Les Wilder hit a towering home run.
Torgerson (W) and Martin
G. Shupe (L) and Covert
(August 20) In exhibition action at Swift Current, Muskogee Cardinals downed the St. Louis Black Cardinals 3-1. The Swift Current Sun reported it as "a wonderfully interesting game" and reported that Wimpy Stephenson pitched "a very sound game" for St. Louis.
xxx and xxx
Stephenson (L) and xxx
Regina Caps and Moose Jaw Purity Canucks (best 3 out of 5) final
(August 22) The Regina Caps walked off with an 11 - 2 triumph over the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks in the opening game of the best of five final. The Caps pounded Canucks' starter Lefty Lauer and reliever Elmer Torgerson for 14 safeties in running away with this game. Regina's starting chucker Lefty Harrison wasn't around for the finish either but he enjoyed another good evening at the expense of the Canuck hitters while he was in there, limiting Moose Jaw to two runs on six hits. Rex Sorenson finished the job for the Caps, pitching the last frame. Caps pulled ahead 5 - 0 with two in the 3rd and three in the 5th and never looked back from there. Gus Kyle and Shaffer Green with three hits were the game's leading swatters. Metro Prystai had a brace of hits for Moose Jaw including a triple. The Caps' Leon Booker poled out a four bagger.
Lauer (L), Torgerson (7) and Martin, Starrak (7)
Harrison (W), Sorenson (9) and G. Kyle
(August 23) The rains came in the 6th inning and forced a halt to the second game of the Southern League final with the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks and the Regina Caps knotted at 1 - 1. Regina's Rex Sorenson and Moose Jaw's Elmer Torgerson were locked in a tight mound duel when the weatherman stepped in. The contest was halted after six innings by rain.
Sorenson and G. Kyle
Torgerson and Smith
(August 24) Regina Caps moved into a 2 - 0 lead in the Southern League final by edging the Moose Jaw Purity Canucks 5 - 4. Moose Jaw catcher Jim Starrak's passed ball in the 6th allowed the Caps' Jackie Fulton to score from third base and tally the winning run. Although nicked for 12 hits, Cy Thorseth went the route for the Canucks. Caps' starter Shaffer Green bowed out in the 6th and his successor, Rex Sorenson, was credited with the win. Lee Booker with 3 for 4 led the Cap hitters. Elmer Torgerson and Ray Jones paced Moose Jaw with two hits each.
Thorseth (L) and Starrak
Green, Sorenson (W) (6) and G. Kyle
(August 25) The Moose Jaw Purity Canucks staved off elimination in the Southern League finals as they unloaded the heavy lumber in besting the Regina Caps 6 - 5. Regina now leads the series two games to 1. Lefty Lauer was the winning pitcher but it was the explosive stick work of the Moose Jaw club that did the trick. Caps' Cliff Harrison was the victim of a 15 hit Canucks' attack before he was lifted in favor of Rex Sorenson. Shortstop Ray Jones and Lauer each had three hits in the booming 16 hit Moose Jaw attack. Center fielder Jackie Fulton had four hits for the Caps and second sacker Tony Righetti had three, a double, triple and homer. Lauer struck out nine including both Kyle brothers, Bill and Gus, three times each. The game was called at the end of eight innings because of darkness.
Harrison (L), Sorenson (8) and G. Kyle
Lauer (W) and Smith
(August 26) The Moose Jaw Purity Canucks squared their best of five final series with the Regina Caps at two games each thanks to a masterful pitching performance by Elmer Torgerson who came through with a 4 - 0 shutout. Torgerson was the whole show as he surrendered three hits in the initial two frames but held the Caps hitless for the balance of the game. Loser Rex Sorenson went the distance, giving up seven hits, three of them by leadoff hitter Ted Foord.
Torgerson (W) and Smith
Sorenson (L) and G. Kyle
(August 30) A ground ball which took a crazy hop over the glove of Cap third baseman Bill Kyle enabled the scrappy Moose Jaw Purity Canucks to take top honors in the Southern League in an action packed, sudden death final. Wally Smith's bad bounce blow, coming with two out and two men on base in the bottom half of the 8th, scored Jim Starrak from second base with the winning run in their exciting 5 - 4 decision over the Regina Caps. After trailing 2 - 0 in the series, the Canucks fought their way back with three straight victories to win the William "Pop" Harvey memorial trophy, emblematic of the league championship. The count was knotted at 4 - 4 and darkness was quickly enveloping the diamond when the Canucks took their turn at bat in the last of the 8th. Left fielder Red Staley made a great throw to the plate on Smith's single and when catcher Shaffer Green narrowly missed tagging a sliding Starrak, the Moose Jaw bench emptied in jubilation and the plate umpire called the game on account of darkness. Starrak and Ted Foord had three hits apiece for the new Southern League champs. Mort Cooper, former National League pitching star, who had taken over the managerial reins of the Purity Canucks during the playoffs, thanked the fans during the post-game presentation as he prepared for his return to the United States.
Booker, Harrison (2), Sorenson (L) (7) and G. Kyle, Green (2)
Lauer, Torgerson (W) (7) and Smith
(September 3) Delisle Commodores took a 2-0 game lead in the Saskatchewan Senior final with a sweep of a double-header at Saskatoon. Commodores won 6-4 and 4-3.
Delisle took an early lead in the first game when Max Bentley drove in Dick Butler in the opening frame. Moose Jaw responded in the 2nd as Pete Palupski followed Elmer Torgerson's single with a homer over the right field fence. Commodores came right back with three in their half of the 2nd thanks to a pair of walks and two infield errors. Lefty Lauer drove in Palupski in the 4th to cut the margin, but Delise notched singletons in the 5th and 6th to regain the upper hand. Murray Coben pitched a five-hitter for the win. Lauer allowed just three hits in a losing cause.
Lauer (L) and Peterson
Coben (W) and R. Bentley
In the second game, consecutive 7th inning singles by Doug and Max Bentley drove in Dick Piper with the winning run. Piper reached base when hit by a pitch. Johnny Maroniuk went the route for the win, besting Earl Torgerson. A highlight of the twin-bill was the fielding of Canucks' third baseman Norm Brown who handled 16 chances without a miscue.
Torgerson (L) and Peterson, Smith (3)
Maroniuk (W) and R. Bentley
(September 7) Paced by the Bentley brothers, Delisle Commodores captured the Saskatchewan Senior Baseball championship downing Moose Jaw Canucks in a best-of-five final. After dropping the first game of a double-header Wednesday 5-3, the Commodores bounced back to win 8-4 to take the set in four games. Delisle swept the opening twin-bill at Saskatoon, 6-4 and 4-3. In the final game, Max and Reg Bentley, Dick Piper and Eddie Brown each had three hits in leading the 18-hit attack. Max Bentley's offensive included a home runs and four runs batted in. Elmer Torgerson belted a home for Moose Jaw. Southpaw Murray Coben went the distance for the win allowing just six hits.
Coben (W) and Reg Bentley
Cy Thorseth (L), Elmer Torgerson (3) and Germann, Smith
In the afternoon, Canucks collected 12 hits in securing their first win of the series. Bill Emerson, Norm Brown, Elmer Torgerson, Wally Smith and Lefty Lauer each had a pair. Max Bentley had three hits for Delisle.
Yaroscho (L) and Reg Bentley
Lefty Lauer (W) and Smith