* This list is for Major Leaguers who played in Western Canada (one day we still hope to add in those who played elsewhere in Canada and in such circuits as the Basin League). * (The bulk of the stats shown are from Old Time Data, a great resource for pro ball stats.) |
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Jerry Adair There's no record of an MVP having been chosen for the 1958 season, but had there been, 21-year-old Jerry Adair would have been an easy choice. Adair led the loop in hitting at .409, tied for the lead in homers with 10, and finished just behind the RBI leader. Also, he was the top fielding shortstop. On the hill, Adair made three starts -- all complete game victories. In the playoffs, he was even better. Adair hit .444 in 14 playoff games with four homers and six doubles. In late August, 1958 he helped Williston wrap up the Canadian American League title in the final series over Lloydminster then signed on with the Baltimore Orioles and was in the O's lineup three days later. Adair played in the majors over 13 seasons. (Rookie card above.) He set three major league fielding records for a second baseman -- highest fielding average and fewest errors in a season, and consecutive errorless games (89 games, 458 chances). Ironically, he's in the Oklahoma State record book for just one "accomplishment" -- tied for most errors in a game -- 4, against Wichita State in 1957. In his junior year at OSU, Adair led the team in hitting at .438 and made the All Big Eight team and All-American second team. |
He was also a star on the basketball court at Oklahoma State -- the second-leading scorer on the OSU team which reached the 1958 Midwest Regional final. Adair was one of the starting guards on the '57 team which defeated the No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks and Wilt Chamberlain. In Oklahoma it is still referred to as "The Game". He died in 1987 at age 50. BA HR RBI |
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Ed Albosta Albosta made his major league debut at age 22 with the 1941 Brooklyn Dodgers. He pitched in parts of two seasons in the majors, losing all eight of his decisions. The right-hander came to the ManDak League at age 33 and was a playing-manager in '53 & '54. Albosta died in 2003 at age 84. |
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Tom Alston Began his career in the Negro Leagues with the Goshen / Greensboro (NC) Red Wings and later suited up with the Jacksonville Eagles, a touring club which was hired in 1950 to play in Canada as the Indian Head Rockets. After two seasons with the Rockets (1950-1951) Alstonsigned a pro contract and moved up to San Diego of the PacificCoast League in his first pro season, 1952. In 1954 he became the first black to suit up withthe St. Louis Cardinals (Len Tucker had been the first blacksigned by the Cards and Eloyd Robinson the third). In hisinitial season of pro ball, Alston must have thought he'd neverleft Canada -- at least eight of his teammates with Portervillehad played on the prairies (including Jesse Blackman, WaltTyler, Chet Brewer and Les Witherspoon). Alston, with both medical and mental problems, relied upon disability benefits after baseball. He died in 1993 at age 67. |
"LeftyO'Doul, the San Diego baseball manager, claims that Tom Alston,former Indian Head first-baseman, will rattle the ball off bigleague fences before long ... Alston had 14 homers in sevenweeks with the San Diego club in the Pacific Coast League ...O'Doul says 'He's one of the greatest prospects I've ever seen. Here's a kid who wants to learn and is willing to listen andwork like a beaver to get places. I don't see how he canreally miss developing into a great hitter.' ... Alston, a22-year-old lefthanded batter, is making San Diego fans forgetthe exploits of Luke Easter, Harry Simpson and Orestos Minoso.... O'Doul is one of the greatest managers in the game and gaveJoe DiMaggio his start." (SaskatoonStar-Phoenix, June 5, 1953) |
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John Andre A 20-game winner four times in his pro career, Andre pitched in 22 games with the Cubs in 1955. (In one tilt, Andre managed to retire the side with one pitch as Roy Campanella hit into a triple play.) The right-hander had been named the Pitcher of the Year in the Texas League the previous season (beating Dodger phenom Karl Spooner). The 6-4, 200 pounder was expected to be a mainstay of the Minot staff in 1957 and started with a bang winning his first three games, two by shutouts, but the 34-year-old came down with arm woes and was dropped from the roster. He died in 1976 at age 53. |
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Norm Angelini As an 18-year-old, Angelini was among the top pitchers in the North Saskatchewan League in 1966. He followed with a solid mound season in 1967 and surprised by winning the batting title with a .400 mark after compiling a .194 average the previous summer. The left-hander had a solid pro career highlighted by a 28-game stint in the majors with Kansas City Royals in 1972-73. |
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Jimmy Archer Born in Dublin, Ireland, Archer moved to Montreal, then Toronto where he played ball at St. Michael's College and in the Toronto City League before heading out to Virden, Manitoba after a serious workplace injury which may have had a major positive effect on his career as a catcher. Working at a firm which made wooden barrels, Archer fell into a vat of boiling fluids and suffered serious burns to his right arm and side, down to the knee. He was in hospital for three months. He recovered, but found his right arm was now inch shorter than his left, perhaps from a shrunken tendon or scar tissue. Nonetheless, he discovered he had additional power in his throws and could throw from his crouch or squat position with power and accuracy. His unique style had him hailed as "The king of all big league backstops" and "The greatest backstop in the game". He became the Cubs star catcher in 1909 and played with the club for nine seasons. In 1990, Archer was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. |
BA HR RBI 1901 Toronto City League N/A 1902 Fargo, Northern N/A 1902 Virden, MB N/A 1903 Virden, MB N/A 1903 Fargo, Northern .225 1904 Boone, Iowa St. .299 1904 Pittsburgh, NL .150 0 1 1905 Atlanta, Southern Assn. .254 1 1906 Atlanta, Southern Assn. .224 1 1907 Detroit, AL .119 0 0 1908 Buffalo, Int. .208 2 1909 Chicago, NL .230 1 30 1910 Chicago, NL .259 2 41 1911 Chicago, NL .253 4 41 1912 Chicago, NL .283 5 61 1913 Chicago, NL .266 2 44 1914 Chicago, NL .258 0 19 1915 Chicago, NL .243 1 27 1916 Chicago, NL .220 1 30 1917 Chicago, NL .000 0 0 1918 Pittsburgh, NL .155 0 3 1918 Brooklyn, NL .273 0 0 1918 Cincinnati, NL .269 0 2 |
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Rudy Arroyo He was an 18-year-old junior college youngster when he came north in 1969 to pitch for the Unity Cardinals of the Northern Saskatchewan League. Just two years later the left-hander would be on the mound in the major leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals after going 6-2 with a 1.77 ERA for Arkansas in the Texas League. He pitched in just nine games in the majors and his pro career was over in just four years. |
W L ERA 1969 Unity, North SK 4 1 2.68 1970 Lewiston, NWest 6 4 3.60 1971 Arkansas, TEX 6 2 1.77 1971 St. Louis, NL 0 1 5.40 1971 Tulsa, AA 6 5 5.57 1972 Arkansas, TEX 7 5 2.66 1972 Tulsa, AA 1 2 2.90 1973 Bakersfield, CAL 3 2 5.18 1973 Waterbury, Eastern 0 2 4.74 1973 St. Petersburg, FL 0 2 3.00 |
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Edson Bahr The right-hander from Rouleau, (home of the Canadian television comedy Corner Gas) Saskatchewan, began his pro career with Vancouver of the Western International League in 1938 and, after service during the war, made it to the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In two seasons, Bahr finished with a mark of 11-11 in 46 games, 25 of them starts. He died in April, 2007, at age 87 |
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Curt Barclay The 19-year-old Chicago-born right-hander joined Pete Beiden's Medicine Hat / California Mohawks in 1951. After four minor league seasons (including a 19-11 campaign), Barclay reached the majors with the New York Giants andwon nine games in his rookie season. He closed out his procareer in 1960 in the Pacific Coast League. In 1961,Barclay again showed up in Western Canada at the Lethbridgetournament pitching for the Missoula, Montana,Highlanders. He died March 25, 1985 in Missoula. |
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Greg Bargar The right-hander from the University of Arizona helped the Saskatoon Patrick Liners to the 1979 Saskatchewan Major Baseball League championship. The 20-year-old hurler appeared in ten games, finishing with a 6-1 record. In his one loss, Bargar fired a three-hitter, losing 2-1. Selected by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 1980 amateur draft, Bargar began his pro career in Double-A Southern League with Memphis. He went on to appear in 33 games over three seasons in the majors with the Expos and St. Louis Cardinals. |
W L ERA 1979 Saskatoon SMBL 6 1 N/A 1980 Memphis, SOU 5 5 5.02 1981 Memphis, SOU 5 2 3.60 1981 Denver, AA 5 6 6.03 1982 Memphis, SOU 5 6 4.10 1982 Wichita, AA 0 4 11.20 1983 Memphis, SOU 4 4 3.05 1983 Wichita, AA 6 2 4.66 1983 Montreal, NL 2 0 6.75 1984 Indianapolis, AA 9 8 4.64 1984 Montreal, NL 0 1 7.88 1985 Indianapolis, AA 5 17 4.65 1986 Louisville,AA 3 4 3.56 1986 St.Louis, NL 0 2 5.60 1987 Louisville,AA 10 7 5.72 1988 Louisville,AA 4 2 4.27 |
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Hank Biasatti One of few athletes to play at the top level in both baseball and basketball. Biasatti was a member of Toronto's first NBA club, the Huskies, in 1946 and played a few games with the Philadelphia Athletics in the American League in 1949. The power-hitting first baseman had his best season in 1948 with Toronto in the International League when he swatted 21 home runs and batted in 89. Early in his career he was on three Canadian amateur championship clubs with London in 1943-44-45. |
BA HR RBI 1942 Trois-Rivieres, CAML .312 2 1943 London Army 1944 London Majors, IC 1945 London Majors, IC 1946 Sunbury, ISLG .343 5 1946 Savannah, SALL 1946 Toronto, IL .200 0 13 1947 Savannah, SALL .298 17 1948 Toronto, IL .266 21 89 1949 Philadelphia, AL .083 0 2 1950 Buffalo, IL .276 18 66 1951 Buffalo, IL .244 13 56 1952 San Francisco, PCL .270 0 10 1953 Waterloo, IC 1954 Drummondville, PROV .252 7 1955 Lancaster, PIED .359 2 1956 Columbia, SALL .077 |
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Gale Bishop The Washington basketball star played baseball with Bellingham, Blaine and Deming in the 1940s and 1950s. In college basketball, at Washington State, Bishop twice was named an All-American and later won a spot on an Armed Services squad during the war years. He advanced to pro ranks for one season, 1948-49 with the Philadelphia Warriors of the Basketball Association of America which merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA. |
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Clyde S. Bud Bloomfield A 20-year-old shortstop for the Saskatoon Gems in 1956. Had an eight-game stint in the majors over the 63 & 64 seasons. He was the first player from the University of Tulsa to reach the majors (he also played at Arkansas). Bloomfield was the shortstop for the semi-pro Wichita Dreamliners in 1965 when they captured the National Baseball Congress title. |
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John Boccabella With Saskatoon in 1961, the 20-year-old first baseman finishedsecond in the batting race with a .340 average, was second inhomers and led the loop in runs batted in. He was anunanimous choice for the all-star team. Boccabella was a second team All-American in 1962 with Santa Clara University. In 1963, with Pocatello of the Pioneer League, Boccabella had an explosive start to his pro career belting 30homers and knocking in 92 runs to go along with a .365average. Converted to catcher during his majorleague stint, Boccabella was a crowd favourite in Montreal in the early years ofthe Expo franchise. |
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Rod Booker
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Jim Bouton Bouton, once a 21-game winner with the Yankees, was perhaps better known for his controversial book "Ball Four" than his accomplishments on the field. The best-seller was a diary of his 1969 season and spoke about routine drug use, womanizing, excessive drinking and a side of baseball many wished he had not made public. The right-hander, who became a knuckleballer in his latter years, loved the game so much he kept playing in semi-pro ball after he quit the pro circuit in 1970, even with a job in New York as a sportscaster with CBS. Playing in the New Jersey Metropolitan League with the Ridgewood-Paramus Barons and with Calgary Jimmies in the Alberta Major Baseball League, Bouton kept the fires burning and eventually returned to pro ball and made it back to the majors for a final turn in 1978. |
Year Tm W L ERA 1975 Calgary, AMBL |
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Ted Bowsfield He was just 15 when he began his "Senior A" baseball career pitching for hometown Penticton in Okanagan baseball. His first season was cut short by an arm injury after just four starts, two of them complete game victories. At age 16, Bowsfield was the ace for the Penticton Athletics in Senior A ball in the Okangan Mainline League in 1951. He topped an outstanding season (10-2, 14 starts, 11 complete games, one of the losses was a 1-0 decision) with a no-hitter in the playoffs. He was even better in his second summer with Penticton firing two no-hitters, one of them in the playoffs. He had tossed a two-hitter with 19 strikeouts to clinch the pennant for the Athletics. In 1953 he had a one-hitter, two, two-hitters and a three-hitter in his first four complete games but sat out a portion of the summer with arm woes. He started out 1954 with a 5-1 record,1.83 ERA and the Red Sox came calling and the left-hander was on a path to the major leagues. With four summers of minorleague ball under his belt, Bowsfield advanced to the majors in1958 with Boston and spent seven seasons in the majorleagues. |
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Nelson Briles Briles, still a teenager, joined Calgary after his college season at Santa Clara. An 11-4, 2.46 summer with Calgary attracted the attention of the scouts. He spent just one season in the minors before making his major league debut at age 21. Over a 14-year MLB career, Briles rang up 129 wins, including a 19-11, 2.31 season with the Cardinals. He added two more wins in his three World Series appearances including a two-hit shutout while with the Pirates. "Nellie" died in early 2005 at age 61. |
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Willard Brown One of the premier players of the Negro Leagues in a career which spanned 24 years, 14 of them with the fabled Kansas City Monarchs. Brown was 32 (or perhaps 36, his birth year is listed as either 1911 or 1915) when, in 1947, he followed Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby and Hank Thompson to the major leagues. His stint with the St. Louis Browns lasted just 21 games and he returned to the Monarchs. Brown led the Negro American League in homers seven times and captured three batting titles. In winter ball in Puerto Rico he won three straight home run and batting titles (his 27 homers in 1947-48 came in just 60 games). In the twilight of his career he returned to the minor leagues and had four extraordinary years in the Texas League. He was 42 (or 46) when he joined Minot in 1957. Still he batted over .300 and added 9 homers. Brown died in 1989 in Houston. In 2006, he was selected for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. Photo from Black Baseball in Kansas City Negro League stats from The Negro Leagues Book |
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Don Buford Buford began his pro career the following season, 1960, and was in the majors with the White Sox in 1963. The USC baseball and football star was a major leaguer for ten seasons, split between the White Sox and Baltimore. He continued in baseball after his playing days as a coach and manager. |
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Tom Burgess The London, Ontario native had a 15-year pro career which included stops in the majors with the Cardinals and the Angels. Burgess, who turned pro after the 1945 season with the London Majors of the Intercounty League, came back to London for three seasons, 1949 to 1951, before resuming his career south of the border. His minor league stay included eight strong seasons in Triple-A. After his playing days, Burgess stayed in baseball as a manager, coach and instructor with St. Louis, Mets, Texas, Detroit, Kansas City and Baseball Canada. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Burgess died in the fall of 2008 at age 81. |
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The Canadian right-hander, born in Rainton, SK (near Regina), made his major league debut in 1938 with Philadelphia A's and, after an absence of ten years, returned to the majors with the New York Yankees in 1949. In between, he had an outstanding career in the Pacific Coast League with Oakland. Overall, he pitched in 19 games in MLB, all in relief. He died in 1988 in San Leandro, California. He was 73. |
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Joseph Clifford Caffie Caffie was among more than a half-dozen imports brought in by the Eston Ramblers for their 1950 season of exhibition and tournament ball. Caffie, Ted Toles and Rudy Johnson, all African-American youngsters, signed pro contracts after their time in Saskatchewan. Mainly a shortstop in his summer in Canada, Caffie played the outfield throughout his 11-year pro career which saw him advance to the majors with Cleveland 1957 and 1958. He got into a total of 44 games and finished with a career batting average of .291 in the majors.
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BA HR RBI 1951 Duluth, Northern .309 4 1951 Harrisburg, Intertste .202 1 1952 Duluth, Northern .342 10 1953 Reading, Eastern .321 7 1953 Indianapolis, AA .231 4 13 1954 Indianapolis, AA .288 3 10 1955 Syracuse, International .261 4 30 1955 Indianapolis, AA .259 0 8 1956 San Diego, PCL .234 0 2 1956 Buffalo, International .311 8 46 1957 Buffalo, International .330 8 41 1957 Cleveland, AL .342 0 1 1958 Cleveland, AL .270 3 10 1958 Buffalo, International .295 9 48 1959 St.Paul, AA .257 4 25 1959 Buffalo, International .273 7 17 1960 Montreal/Miami, INT .218 4 24 1961 Wilson, Carolina .267 2 1961 Charlotte Sally .226 2 |
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Ernie Camacho The year after Camacho's brief fling with the Calgary Jimmies, he was a first round pick, 18th overall, in the amateur baseball draft. With a mid to high 90s fastball, the right-hander was considered one of the top pitching prospects of the day. He reached the majors in 1980 with Oakland but didn't find much success until a trade to Cleveland in 1983. He led the club with 23 saves in 1984 and had 20 in 1986. Viewed as a "flake" during his time in baseball, Camacho suited up with 19 teams over his career. He spent parts of ten years in the majors with Oakland, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Houston, San Francisco and St. Louis. 1990 was his last pro season.
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Bill "Soup" Campbell Campbell was just 17 years old when he pitched for Neilburg of the Northern Saskatchewan League in 1966. He was one of the better pitchers in the loop, winning five games and fanning 65 in 55 innings (he also hit .270 with four homers). Drafted into the Army, Campbell served in Vietnam (becoming one of a half-dozen major leaguers to do so). In 1976, after an historic decision eliminating the reserve clause in baseball, Campbell became the first "free agent" to sign with a new club, gaining a million-dollar contract for four years from the Red Sox. He pitched for 15 seasons in the majors, in 700 games. He was one of the game's top relievers in 1976-77, winning the Rolaids relief award. Arm trouble followed, but he continued to play until 1987. |
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Tom Candiotti The "Candy Man" parlayed a knuckleball into a 25-year pro career, 17 of them in the major leagues. He had his best seasons during his tenure with Cleveland from 1986 to 1991 when he ran up win totals of 13, 14, 15 and 16. In 1991 he had an ERA of 2.24. After a 10-2 college season with St. Mary's in 1976, Candiotti joined the Calgary Jimmies of the Alberta Major Baseball League. At St. Mary's the following season he went 13-3, 1.53, records which still stand. Signed as a free agent by Kansas City, he was picked up by Milwaukee in the Rule 5 draft and spent major league time with the Indians, Toronto, the Dodgers and Oakland. Candiotti remains in baseball as a broadcaster for the Arizona Diamondbacks. |
Year Tm W L ERA 1976 St. Mary's College 10 2 1.67 1976 Calgary Jimmies, AMBL 1977 St. Mary's College 13 3 1.53 1979 Victoria, NWL 5 1 2.44 1980 Fort Myers, FSL 3 2 2.25 1980 Jacksonville, SOU 7 8 2.77 1981 El Paso, TEX 7 6 2.80 1982 Injured 1983 El Paso, TEX 1 0 2.92 1983 Vancouver, PCL 6 4 2.81 1983 MIL, AL 4 4 3.23 1984 MIL, AL 2 2 5.29 1984 Beloit, MWL 0 1 2.70 1984 Vancouver, PCL 8 4 2.89 1985 El Paso, TEX 1 0 2.76 1985 Vancouver, PCL 9 13 3.94 1986 CLE, AL 16 12 3.57 1987 CLE, AL 7 18 4.78 1988 CLE, AL 14 8 3.28 1989 CLE, AL 13 10 3.10 1990 CLE, AL 15 11 3.65 1991 CLE, AL 7 6 2.24 1991 TOR, AL 6 7 2.98 1992 LAD, NL 11 15 3.00 1993 LAD, NL 8 10 3.12 1994 LAD, NL 7 7 4.12 1995 LAD, NL 7 14 3.50 1996 LAD, NL 9 11 4.49 1996 San Bernardino, CAL 0 1 5.00 1997 LAD, NL 10 7 3.60 1998 OAK, AL 11 16 4.84 1999 OAK, AL 3 5 6.35 1999 CLE, AL 1 1 11.05 |
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Harold Homer "Hal" Chase His play, especially his defensive prowess, put him in line for a berth in the Hall of Fame. But, Hal Chase turned out to be one of the most corrupt players in the history of the game.
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Year Tm BA HR RBI 1903 Victoria (Semi-Pro) .353 3 1904 Los Angeles, PCL .279 2 1905 NY Highlanders .249 3 49 1906 NY Highlanders .323 0 76 1906 San Jose, CAL 1907 NY Highlanders .287 2 68 1907 San Jose, CAL 1908 NY Highlanders .285 1 36 1908 Stockton, CAL .383 1 1909 NY Highlanders .283 4 63 1910 NY Highlanders .290 3 73 1911 NY Highlanders .315 3 62 1912 NY Highlanders .274 4 58 1913 NY Highlanders .212 0 9 1913 Chicago White Sox .286 2 39 1914 Chicago White Sox .267 0 20 1914 Buffalo, Fed League .347 3 48 1915 Buffalo, Fed League .291 17 89 1916 Cincinnati Reds .339 4 82 1917 Cincinnati Reds .277 4 86 1918 Cincinnati Reds .301 2 38 1919 NY Giants .284 5 45 1920 San Jose, CAL Hal Chase: The Defiant Life and Turbulent Times of Baseball’s Biggest Crook By Martin Donell Kohout |
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Ossie Chavarria
Chavarria, who played in the Pacific Coast League with Vancouver in the mid and late 1960s, returned to the BC city to make it home after a fifteen year pro career. He continued to play and manage local Vancouver teams into the late 1970s and then became an umpire. He worked games in the minor leagues, college and national and international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the Baseball World Cup |
Year Tm BA HR RBI 1959 Morristown, APPY .375 0 1960 Sanford, FSL .231 1 1961 Lewiston, NWL .299 6 1962 Binghamton, EL .285 5 48 1963 Binghamton, EL .267 9 58 1964 Lewiston, NWL .296 4 1964 Birmingham, SOU .242 5 14 1964 Dallas, PCL .284 0 7 1965 Vancouver, PCL .284 10 71 1966 KCA, AL .325 3 2 1967 KCA, AL .102 0 4 1967 Vancouver, PCL .263 2 14 1968 Vancouver, PCL .244 1 39 1969 Iowa, AA .285 11 90 1970 Syracuse, IL .258 8 49 1971 Syracuse, IL .271 7 40 1972 Cordoba, MEX 1973 Juarez, MEX 1973 Cordoba, MEX 1974 Vancouver Eldorados, VML 1974 Red Deer, AMBL 1975 Burnaby Auroras, VML 1976 1977 1978 Burnaby Astors, VML 1979 Burnaby Astors, VML |
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Al Cihocki After just one pro season and two years in the military, Cihocki suited up for 92 games with Cleveland in 1945 seeing time at shortstop, second and third. He spent seven seasons in Triple-A with Baltimore in the International League. In his early 30s, he came to Bismarck as playing manager of the ManDak League team in 1955. |
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Reggie Cleveland Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Cleveland was signed at age 17 after impressing St. Louis scouts. He had pitched for the Swift Current Indians of the Southern League in Saskatchewan, leading the club to the pennant in 1965. The right-hander went on to a 13-year career in the major leagues with four teams, the Cardinals, Boston, Texas and Milwaukee. He won 105 games with an ERA of 4.01. In 1971, The Sporting News named Cleveland as the National League's Rookie of the Year. He's been selected for induction into the Canadian and Saskatchewan Halls of Fame. |
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Truman 'Tex' Clevenger Regina Caps 1950, 1952 The right-hander pitched for Regina Caps in the 1950 season and returned in 1952. At Fresno State in 1953, Clevenger led the Bulldogs with an 11-3 won-lost record and sparkling 1.49 ERA. He also led the team in hitting with a .451 average. That summer he began his pro career with a splash in the California League -- 16-2, 1.51. Including his college and pro marks, the Visalia CA product finished the season with 27 wins and 5 losses! At age 22, Clevenger earned a promotion to the major leagues with the Red Sox. He logged eight years in the majors with Boston, Washington, Los Angeles and New York. |
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Frank Colman
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BA HR RBI 1936 London, Intercounty 1937 London, Intercounty 1938 London, Intercounty 1939 Batavia, PONY .276 0 - 8-7 3.18 1939 Cornwall, CAN-AM .500 0 - 0-1 0.00 1940 Wilmington, Interstate 361 5 - 10-4 2.76 1941 Toronto M-Leafs, IL .294 4 47 1942 Toronto M-Leafs, IL .300 7 62 1942 Pittsburgh, NL .135 1 2 1943 Toronto M-Leafs, IL .312 3 19 1943 Pittsburgh, NL .271 0 4 1944 Pittsburgh, NL .270 6 53 1945 Pittsburgh, NL .209 4 30 1946 Newark, IL .304 15 58 1946 Pittsburgh, NL .170 1 6 1946 New York, AL .267 1 5 1947 Newark, IL .294 4 14 1947 New York, AL .107 2 6 1948 Newark, IL .280 3 16 1949 Seattle Rainiers, PCL .320 13 67 1950 Seattle Rainiers, PCL .319 18 97 1951 Toronto M-Leafs, IL .285 12 66 1952 Toronto M-Leafs, IL .291 1 10 1953 Toronto M-Leafs, INL .255 4 14 1954 London, Intercounty .360 1955 London, Intercounty 1956 London, Intercounty 1957 London, Intercounty 1958 London, Intercounty 1959 London, Intercounty |
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Keith Comstock Comstock, brought to Red Deer, Alberta from California had an oh-so-brief career on the prairies. One game, six innings. A shoulder injury in his first start ended his season. Six innings, seven hits, two earned runs, struck out six and walked four. Comstock, age 19, had arrived with impressive credentials, an all-star season with California's Canada Junior College. He was 6-1, 2.07 as a freshman in league play, 9-2 overall. The left-hander didn't let that setback in Red Deer derail his baseball career. He pitched in the minors for eight seasons before a debut in the majors with Minnesota in 1984. He spent two years in Japan before returning to the United States for major league stops with San Francisco, San Diego and finally Seattle. He best season came 15 years after his Red Deer experience when he finished 7-4 with a 2.89 ERA for the Mariners. Near the end of his career he also pitched in Calgary. Comstock says he was once traded from the Oakland system to the Detroit organization for $100 and a bag of balls, which he had to personally deliver. He is currently a baseball coach with the Texas Rangers. |
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Mort Cooper Mort was the older brother of battery mate Walker Cooper. Over three seasons in the early 40s, he was the best pitcher in the majors. Cooper led the majors in wins, shutouts (10) and ERA in 1942 and in wins in 1943. He captured the NL's MVP award in 1942. After three straight 20-win seasons, he hurt his arm early in the 1945 season. He had pitched in three World Series. Cooper died in 1958. He was just 45. Photo courtesy TheDeadballEra.com
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W L ERA 1933 Des Moines/Muskogee, Western 7 5 1934 Columbus, AA 0 1 5.73 1934 Elmira, NY-P 10 12 4.43 1935 Columbus, AA 6 7 3.65 1936 Columbus, AA 5 7 4.76 1936 Asheville, Piedmont 1937 Columbus, AA 13 13 4.10 1938 St Louis, NL 2 1 3.04 1938 Houston, Texas 13 10 2.34 1939 St Louis, NL 12 6 3.25 1940 St Louis, NL 11 12 3.63 1941 St Louis, NL 13 9 3.91 1942 St Louis, NL 22 7 1.78 1943 St Louis, NL 21 8 2.30 1944 St Louis, NL 22 7 2.46 1945 St Louis/Boston NL 9 4 2.92 1946 Boston, NL 13 11 3.12 1947 Boston/New York, NL 3 10 5.40 1949 Chicago, NL 0 0 0.00 1949 Moose Jaw, So Sask 0 0 |
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Pete Craig A Windsor, Ontario native, Craig pitched for the Listowel Legionnaires of the Intercounty League in Southern Ontario in 1960 before attending the University of Detroit. He excelled in college ball, firing a no-hitter in his first start for the Titans. The right-hander compiled records of 6-1, 1.96, 8-1, 2.22 and 4-1, 2.57 in his three seasons. In 1980 he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. During the summers of 1961 and 1962, Craig pitched in the Basin League for the Winner Pheasants. He turned pro in 1963, advancing to the majors with Washington the following season. He appeared in six games with the Senators over three seasons, finishing with the career record of 0-3 in 18 innings. |
W L ERA 1960 Listowel, Intercounty 5 4 3.23 1961 Winner, Basin 1962 Winner, Basin 1963 Duluth, Northern 7 5 2.51 1963 Knoxville, So. Atlantic 1 1 0.64 1964 Rocky Mount, Carolina 14 13 3.07 1965 Hawaii, PCL 14 11 3.76 1964 Washington, AL 0 0 1965 Washington, AL 0 3 8.16 1966 Washington, AL 0 0 4.59 1966 Hawaii, PCL 14 13 3.48 1967 Hawaii/Indianapolis, PCL 4 10 5.52 |
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Tim Cullen A star in both basketball and baseball in high school and college (Santa Clara, 2nd team All-American in baseball, 1954). At age 19, he was an All-Star third baseman with Saskatoon in the Western Canada League in 1961. In tournament play that season Cullen had a baseball rarity, consecutive grand slam homers (in consecutive innings)! After a summer with Everett, WA in semi-pro ball, Cullen was the hitting star of the 1963 Western Canada summer winning the triple crown. Playing for Calgary, Cullen finished with a .345 average, 19 home runs and 62 runs batted in. He was in Triple-A the following season. |
BA HR RBI 1961 Saskatoon, WCBL .266 1962 Everett,WA N/A 1963 Calgary, WCBL .345 19 62 1964 Seattle, PCL .254 2 20 1965 Hawaii, PCL .221 6 39 1966 Washington, AL .235 0 0 Hawaii, PCL .295 2 41 1967 Washington, AL .236 2 31 1968 Chicago - Wash, AL .230 3 29 1969 Washington, AL .209 1 15 1970 Washington, AL .214 1 18 1971 Washington, AL .191 2 26 1972 Iowa, AA .266 2 15 Oakland, AL .261 0 15 |
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Hal Doc Daugherty Had one of the shortest major league careers -- one at bat, a strikeout -- for the 1951 Detroit Tigers. After four seasons in Triple-A, the 29-year-old Daughterty joined the ManDak League in 1954. He was playing manager for Minot in 1956. |
BA HR RBI 1948 Williamsport, Eastern .255 9 54 1949 Williamsport, Eastern .203 7 29 1950 Little Rock, SA .251 5 27 1951 Toledo, AA .271 2 17 1951 Detroit, AL .000 0 0 1951 Little Rock, SA .185 1 3 1952 Buffalo, IL .225 6 33 1953 Charleston, AA .257 1 9 1953 Buffalo/Springfield, IL .206 3 40 1954 Brandon, ManDak .257 11 45 1955 1956 Minot, ManDak .320 12 56 1957 TBA, Basin League |
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Isaac Marion "Ike" Davis Ike Davis was playing-manager for the Wetaskiwin Braves of 1935 and Medicine Hat Royals and Ponoka Panthers of 1936. The little (5'7", 140 lb) shortstop had a cup of coffee with the Washington Senators in 1919 and the White Sox in 1924 before a full season with Chicago in 1925 when in hit .240 (with 31 doubles, 9 triples and 61 RBI). His whereabouts between 1928 and his stints with Wetaskiwin and Ponoka in the Northern Alberta League Medicine Hat in the Southern Alberta League is unknown. |
BA HR RBI 1917 Wichita, WL .238 1 1919 Minneapolis, AA .258 0 1919 Washington, AL .000 0 0 1921 Toronto, IL .233 3 1922 Columbus, AA .253 1 1923 Columbus, AA .314 3 1924 Columbus, AA .283 2 1924 Chicago, AL .242 0 4 1925 Chicago, AL .240 0 61 1928 Seattle/Portland, PCL .220 0 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 Edmonton Shastas, NAL 1935 Wetaskiwin, NAL 1936 Medicine Hat, SAL 1936 Ponoka Panthers, NAL |
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Rex Dawson Born in the US, Dawson grew up in Canada and appears to have kicked off his career pitching in Chemainus. His big league career consisted of one inning with the Washington Senators in 1913 (career ERA - 0.00). In one celebrated 1911 matchup between two young Vancouver Islanders headed to the major leagues Dawson lost 2-0 to Bob Steele who twirled a one-hit shutout, striking out 15, facing just 27 batters, while Dawson gave up two hits, while whiffing 16, to take the loss. A spit-ball artist, Dawson continued in the professional ranks until 1919 then played semi-pro ball into the mid-1920s.
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W L ERA 1911 Chemainus 1912 Chemainus 1913 Missoula, Union Assoc. 6 7 1913 Vancouver, NWL 1 1 1913 Washington, AL 0 0 0.00 1914 Utah, Semi-Pro 1915 Lincoln, WL 13 14 2.00 1915 Indianapolis, AA 4 3 2.44 1916 Indianapolis, AA 20 14 1917 Indianapolis, AA 15 14 2.71 1918 Indiana, Semi_pro 1918 Military Service 1919 Indianapolis, AA 0 1 1919 Vernon, PCL 16 11 2.96 1920 Lafayette, IN 1921 Indiana Bells, IN 1922 Lebanon, IN 1923 Shelbyville, IN 1924 Bellevue, Zanesville, OH 1925 Not known 1926 Ludlow, OH |
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Dave Dowling Before launching a pro career, Dowling pitched with the legendary Alaska Goldpanners in 1963 and had some eye-popping numbers. He went 11-3 and set team records for his 0.85 ERA, seven complete games and 217 strikeouts in just 116 innings. In one game, he fanned 16 straight and 24 in total and he had two other games where he fanned 22. Dowling had a stretch of 36 scoreless innings. |
Dowling was the pitching star at the 1963 NBC Championships where he was named to the All-American team and chosen as the top pitcher in the tournament. He pitched in just two games in the major leagues. (Photo courtesy, goldpanners.com) W L ERA |
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Sammy Drake The younger brother of Solly Drake (below), Sammy was 19 when he batted .305 with the Carman Cardinals of the ManDak League in 1954. He turned pro a year later and eventually made the major leagues with the Cubs in 1960. He saw limited action in 1961 with Chicago and 1962 with the Mets. Sammy and Solly were the first Afro-American brothers to play in the majors. Drake died in January, 2010 in Los Angeles.
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BA HR RBI 1954 Carman, ManDak .305 1 30 1955 Macon, South Atl .251 1 27 1956 Lafayette, Evangeline .339 0 8 1956 Burlington, III .187 2 9 1956 Ponca City, Sooner St .285 13 58 1957 (Military Service) 1958 (Military Service) 1959 Burlington, III .292 6 26 1959 San Antonio, Texas .303 2 14 1960 Houston, AA .219 2 11 1960 Chicago, NL .067 0 0 1960 San Antonio, Texas .318 8 52 1961 Houston, AA .306 10 45 1961 Chicago, NL .000 0 0 1962 Syracuse-Columbus, IL .254 6 31 1962 New York, NL .192 0 7 1964 Williamsport, Eastern .261 2 17 1964 Buffalo, IL .308 1 2 1964 Indianapolis, PCL .145 0 4 1965 Buffalo, IL .255 1 6 |
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Solly Drake Joined the Elmwood Giants as an 17-year-old outfielder in 1948 and returned for two more seasons in Manitoba. He suited up with the Giants in 1950 for the inaugural season of the ManDak League. A .300 hitter with Elmwood in 1950, Drake began his pro career in 1951 as an all-star with Topeka. After two years lost to military service, Drake put in two more seasons in the minors before his debut, at age 25, with the Cubs in April, 1956. He was a star for the Mariano Tigers of Cuba at the 1956-1957 Caribbean Series. Drake was selected as the Most Valuable Player as he led Cuba to the title. In 2007, the Rev. Dr. Solomon Drake, pastor of the Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in south Los Angeles, was honoured for 25 years of service. |
BA HR RBI |
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Noble Jan Dukes The lefty from California was still in high school when he pitched for Calgary in the Western Canada League in 1963. In semi-pro ball in 1964 with Bellingham, WA, he was named the top pitcher at the National Baseball Congress tourney. He later starred in college ball for Santa Clara. In the secondary phase of the 1967 draft, he was selected 8th over-all by Washington. Dukes pitched in 16 games over three seasons in the major leagues with Washington and Texas. |
W L ERA 1963 Calgary, WCBL, Semi-Pro 6 4 2.50 1964 Bellingham, WA Semi-Pro 1965 Injured 1966 Boulder CO, Semi-Pro 1967 Hawaii, PCL 0 1 4.50 1967 York, Eastern 5 7 1.63 1968 Buffalo, IL 11 13 4.75 1969 Washington, AL 0 2 2.45 1969 Buffalo, IL 11 10 3.32 1970 Denver, AA 5 7 4.10 1970 Washington, AL 0 0 2.57 1971 Denver, AA 6 5 3.98 1972 Denver, AA 1 1 5.19 1972 Texas, AL 0 0 4.50 1973 Peninsula, IL 0 1 4.91 1973 Saltillo-Veracruz, MEX 4 3 2.41 |
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Vallie Ennis (Joe, Chief) Eaves The Philadelphia A's plucked Eaves from the semi-pro ranks in 1935 after he starred in the inaugural National Semi-pro Tournament with Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was in the majors within weeks and tossed a complete game victory in his debut. Part Cherokee, he was among few Native Americans to star on the diamonds in the decades after the First World War. His talent was often overshadowed by his off-field activities: " ... More than once firewater got him into trouble, but Eaves loved baseball and he could pitch ... his professional career which proved nerve-racking for every manager he played under. Though he tried the patience of every boss under whom he served, none denied his great natural pitching ability." (The Sporting News, May 3, 1945) In 1951, near the end of his 23-year career, Eaves made a couple of appearances for Minot. He hung on to play long enough so he could suit up on the same team as his son Jerry. In 1957, both pitched for Hobbs of the Southwestern League. Vallie Eaves died three years later at the age of 48. |
W L ERA 1935 Shawnee, N/A 1935 Philadelphia, AL 1 2 5.14 1936 Galveston, Texas 0 0 3.00 1936 Bartlesville, West Assoc 0 2 10.42 1937 Mount Pleasant, N/A 1938 Texarkana, East Texas 15 4 3.47 1938 Shreveport, Texas 6 8 4.14 1939 Chicago, AL 0 1 4.63 1939 Shreveport, Texas 21 10 2.77 1940 Chicago, AL 0 2 6.75 1940 Toronto, IL 5 14 4.74 1941 Milwaukee, AA 4 6 2.95 1941 Toronto, IL 2 12 5.52 1941 Chicago, NL 3 3 3.53 1942 Milwaukee, AA 4 5 5.46 1942 Chicago, NL 0 0 9.00 1942 Nashville, SA 6 6 5.02 1943 Minneapolis, AA 0 3 4.71 1943 Montgomery, SA 1 1 1.35 1944 1945 San Diego, PCL 21 15 3.00 1946 Texarkana, East Texas 13 4 2.69 1946 San Diego, PCL 1 3 1946 Oklahoma City, Texas 2 4 3.17 1947 Texarkana, Big State 25 5 4.45 1948 Texarkana, Big State 7 5 4.54 1948 Gladewater, Lone Star 9 7 4.06 1949 Borger/Abilene, W.Texas-NM 7 11 6.50 1950 Leesville, Gulf Coast 26 10 3.15 1951 Texarkana, Big State 0 2 3.21 1951 Greenville, Cotton St 0 3 1951 Lake Charles, Gulf Coast 0 1 36.00 1951 Minot, ManDak 1 1 1951 Slayton, Minnesota 1952 Meridian, Cotton St 6 1 3.00 1952 Port Arthur, Gulf Coast 13 6 3.52 1953 Brownsville, Gulf Coast 19 11 2.61 1954 Galveston/B-D-R, Big State 12 11 5.40 1954 WF/SWater/Roswell,Longhorn) 1 2 9.75 1957 Hobbs, Southwestern 1 0 4.50 |
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Paul Edmondson In spite of the 1-6 record, Edmondson pitched well in his 1969 stint in the major leaguers. He was set to return in 1970 but was killed in an auto accident in California while on his way to Spring Training. He was just 27 years old. Edmondson had an uneven season as a starter and reliever for Saskatoon of the Western Canada League in 1963. |
W L ERA 1963 Saskatoon, WCBL 5 4 1965 White Sox, FLO Rookie 0 0 0.00 1965 Clinton, Midwest 5 4 1.40 1966 Military Service 1967 Lynchburg, Carolina 11 11 3.30 1968 Hawaii, PCL 0 1 12.00 1968 Evansville, Southern 4 13 3.06 1969 Columbus, Southern 7 3 1.87 1969 Chicago, AL 1 6 3.70 |
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Juan Eichelberger Out of Cal Berkeley, Eichelberger began his climb to the majors in 1973 with the Calgary Jimmies of the Alberta Major Baseball League. In 1975, the right-hander was a 1st round pick of the Padres in the January supplemental amateur draft. He had a fine debut season in pro ball with a 10-4, 2.77 summer with Reno in the California League. He had a cup of coffee with the Padres in 1978 and again in 1979 before three solid seasons, mainly as a starter in the San Diego rotation. He was traded to Cleveland in 1982. After five years in the minors, Eichelberger returned to the majors with Atlanta and compiled a 2-0, 3.86 record in 20 games out of the pen. He ended his pro career with a few games in Japan in 1989.
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Year W L ERA 1973 Calgary Jimmies, AMBL 2 3 3.37 1974 N/A 1975 Reno, CAL 10 4 2.77 1975 Alexandria, TEX 3 4 4.32 1976 Reno, CAL 6 1 3.54 1976 Amarillo, TEX 2 6 5.59 1977 Amarillo, TEX 12 7 4.11 1978 Hawaii, PCL 8 13 4.50 1978 SD, NL 0 0 10.80 1979 Hawaii, PCL 13 9 3.37 1979 SD, NL 1 1 3.43 1980 Hawaii, PCL 7 3 3.51 1980 SD , NL 4 2 3.65 1981 SD, NL 8 8 3.50 1982 SD, NL 7 14 4.20 1983 CLE, AL 4 11 4.90 1984 Vancouver, PCL 8 11 4.96 1985 Miami, FLS 2 3 4.07 1985 Richmond, IL 4 1 3.00 1986 Greenville, SOU 3 3 2.70 1986 Richmond, IL 7 4 4.09 1987 Richmond, IL 7 5 3.38 1988 Richmond, IL 2 4 3.14 1988 ATL, NL 2 0 3.86 1989 Yakult, JP 0 3 7.04 |
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Larry Elliot (Lawrence Lee Elliot) A 19-year-old outfielder - pitcher with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1957. Elliot finished 6th in the batting race that season with a .339 mark. He was among the leaders in homers and RBI. Elliot went to the hill on six occasions. While he finished with an ERA of 2.50, control was a problem (37 walks in 36 innings. One of many USC products to suit up in Western Canada, Elliot made his major league debut in 1962. |
BA HR RBI 1957 Edmonton, WCBL .339 10 46 1958 Clinton, Midwest .291 16 82 1959 Wilson, Carolina .265 25 85 1960 Salt Lake City, PCL .000 0 0 Savannah, South Atl .257 9 63 1961 Columbus, IL .257 16 67 1962 Columbus, IL .235 23 78 Pittsburgh, NL .300 1 2 1963 Columbus, IL .252 26 81 Pittsburgh, NL .000 0 0 1964 Buffalo, IL .277 8 26 New York, NL .228 9 22 1965 San Diego, PCL .247 14 48 1966 Jacksonville, IL .303 11 56 New York, NL .246 5 32 1967 Jacksonville, IL .220 1 5 Vancouver, PCL .261 2 41 1968 Vcr/Seattle, PCL .232 13 71 1969 Iowa - Denver, AA .281 7 59 |
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Joe "Stubby" Erautt His best seasons were in the Southern Association with Little Rock where he hit .305 and .312 in 1948-1949. He died in 1976 in Portland, OR. |
BA HR RBI 1940 Henderson, E. Texas .265 1 38 1940 Beaumont, Texas N/A 1941 Winston-Salem, Piedmont .200 3 30 1942 Beaumont, Texas .185 1 20 1943 Military Service 1944 Military Service 1945 Military Service 1946 Buffalo/Toronto, Int. .222 3 15 1947 Birmingham, Southern .275 2 52 1948 Little Rock, Southern .305 2 58 1949 Little Rock, Southern .312 6 45 1950 Chicago, AL .222 0 1 1951 Chicago, AL .160 0 0 1951 Seattle, PCL .304 1 18 1952 Buffalo, Int. .282 2 22 1952 Little Rock, Southern .217 0 8 1953 Buffalo, Int. .259 2 18 1954 Syracuse, Int. .234 0 8 1954 Seattle, PCL .202 1 10 1955 Schenectady, Eastern .286 0 0 1955 Syracuse/Columbus, Int. .208 0 16 1956 New Orleans, Southern .240 2 32 |
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