Western Canadian Baseball League
 Western Major Baseball League logo | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Country |  Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Regina Red Sox (2011 and 2012) |
| Most titles | Swift Current Indians |
| Official website | www.wmbl.ca |
The Western Major Baseball League or WMBL is a collegiate summer baseball league. The league can trace its roots back to 1931. The current league evolved from several predecessors including the The Southern Baseball League, the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League and Saskatchewan Major Baseball League. The Southern Baseball League existed from 1931-1974. The Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League existed from 1959-1974. The two leagues merged in 1975 to create the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League.[1] The name was changed to the Western Major Baseball League in 2000 to reflect more teams playing in Alberta, and in the future, British Columbia.
The WMBL is a wood bat league along the lines of such American collegiate circuits as the Cape Cod League, the New England Collegiate Baseball League, the Coastal Plain League, the Northwoods League, the Horizon Air Summer Series, the Pacific International League and the West Coast League.
Member teams
2012 WMBL Membership consisted of 11 teams, in three division play. The top three teams in both the East and West divisions qualified for the post-season, along with the top two teams from the Central Division.
| Team | Centre | 2012 Record | Finish |
| East Division | |||
| Melville Millionaires | Melville, Saskatchewan | 24-22 | 2nd |
| Regina Red Sox | Regina, Saskatchewan | 34-12 | 1st |
| Weyburn Beavers | Weyburn, Saskatchewan | 19-25 | 3rd |
| Yorkton Cardinals | Yorkton, Saskatchewan | 14-32 | 4th |
| Central Division | |||
| Moose Jaw Miller Express | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan | 21-25 | 2nd |
| Saskatoon Yellow Jackets | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 20-26 | 3rd |
| Swift Current Indians | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | 28-18 | 1st |
| West Division | |||
| Edmonton Prospects | Edmonton, Alberta | 6-38 | 4th |
| Lethbridge Bulls | Lethbridge, Alberta | 27-18 | 2nd |
| Medicine Hat Mavericks | Medicine Hat, Alberta | 31-15 | 1st |
| Okotoks Dawgs | Okotoks, Alberta | 26-19 | 3rd |
Former Teams
Former teams include the Sherwood Park Dukes (2008), St. Albert Prospects (2007), Red Deer Generals (2005), Moose Jaw Devons, Oyen Pronghorns, Kindersley Royals, Eston Ramblers (1993), Saskatoon Liners, Saskatoon Nationals, Hazlet Elks (1993), and Unity Cardinals.
Expansion
Cranbrook, British Columbia was granted an expansion team and will begin play in 2013 provided that the city builds a new stadium.
Saskatchewan Major Baseball League
The Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) was formed in 1975 as a combination of The Southern Baseball League and North Saskatchewan Baseball League. Three teams from each former league entered the new loop - Eston Ramblers, Saskatoon Royals and Unity Cardinals from the north and Moose Jaw Devons, Regina Red Sox and Swift Current Indians from the south.[2]
Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy
Saskatchewan Territorial(1895-1905) and Provincial(1906–present) champions have been decided by an annual tournament.[3] In 1967 the first major division was added to the tournament,[4] and the award was named in memory of Harry Hallis. From 1967 until 1974 the name of this provincial champion was added to the trophy. In 1975 when the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League was formed, this trophy continued to be awarded to the SMBL champions, and now the WMBL champions.
League champions
Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)
- 2012: Regina Red Sox
- 2011: Regina Red Sox
- 2010: Swift Current Indians
- 2009: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2008: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2007: Okotoks Dawgs
- 2006: Swift Current Indians
- 2005: Swift Current Indians
- 2004: Calgary Dawgs
- 2003: Medicine Hat Mavericks
- 2002: Melville Millionaires/Moose Jaw Miller Express (shared)
- 2001: Swift Current Indians
Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)
- 2000: Swift Current Indians
- 1999: Moose Jaw Miller Express
- 1998: Swift Current Indians
- 1997: Swift Current Indians
- 1996: Swift Current Indians
- 1995: Oyen Pronghorns
- 1994: Swift Current Indians
- 1993: Eston Ramblers
- 1992: Swift Current Indians
- 1991: Kindersley Royals
- 1990: Kindersley Royals
- 1989: Hazlet Elks
- 1988: Hazlet Elks
- 1987: Hazlet Elks
- 1986: Eston Ramblers
- 1985: Kindersley Royals
- 1984: Kindersley Royals
- 1983: Eston Ramblers
- 1982: Eston Ramblers
- 1981: Saskatoon Patrick-Liners
- 1980: Saskatoon Patrick-Liners
- 1979: Saskatoon Patrick-Liners
- 1978: Eston Ramblers
- 1977: Regina Red Sox
- 1976: Regina Red Sox
- 1975: Eston Ramblers
Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League Champions:
- 1974: Saskatoon Royals
- 1973: Saskatoon Commodores
- 1972: North Battleford Beavers
- 1971: North Battleford Beavers
- 1970: Unity Cardinals
- 1969: North Battleford Beavers
- 1968: North Battleford Beavers
- 1967: Unity Cardinals
- 1966: Unity Cardinals
- 1965: North Battleford Beavers
- 1964: North Battleford Beavers
- 1963: North Battleford Beavers
- 1962: North Battleford Beavers
- 1961: Neilburg Monarchs
- 1960: Kindersley Klippers
- 1959: Spruce Home[5]
The Southern Baseball League (SBL) Champions: (J.T.M. Anderson Trophy)
- 1974: Moose Jaw Devons
- 1973: Moose Jaw Devons
- 1972: Swift Current Indians
- 1971: Moose Jaw Regals
- 1970: Moose Jaw Regals
- 1969: Regina Red Sox
- 1968: Moose Jaw Regals
- 1967: Yorkton Cardinals
- 1966: Moose Jaw Regals
- 1965: Swift Current Indians
- 1964: Regina Red Sox
- 1963: Swift Current Indians
- 1962: Moose Jaw Steelers
- 1961: Moose Jaw Steelers
- 1960: Regina Red Sox
- 1959: Swift Current Indians
- 1958: Southey Red Sox
- 1957: Southey Red Sox
- 1956: Estevan Maple Leafs
- 1955: Regina Red Sox
- 1954: Moose Jaw Lakers
- 1953: Regina Red Sox
- 1952: Regina Royal Caps
- 1951: Weyburn Beavers
- 1950: Estevan Maple Leafs
- 1949: Moose Jaw Canucks
- 1948: Weyburn Beavers
- 1947: Weyburn Beavers
- 1946: Regina Clippers
- 1945: Weyburn Beavers
- 1944: Regina Royal Caps
- 1943: (No Champion-World War II)
- 1942: Regina Red Sox
- 1941: Weyburn Beavers
- 1940: Weyburn Beavers
- 1939: (No champion-World War II)
- 1938: Broadview Buffalos
- 1937: Weyburn Beavers
- 1936: Regina Nationals
- 1935: Regina Nationals
- 1934: Regina Nationals
- 1933: Regina Nationals
- 1932: Regina Nationals
- 1931: Moose Jaw Canucks[6]
References
- ^ Shury, David W. "Wheat Province Diamonds". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, 1997.
- ^ Western Canada Baseball "http://www.attheplate.com/wcbl/1975_1.html" Retrieved on 23 February 2012.
- ^ Shury, David W. "Wheat Province Diamonds". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, 1997, pg 372-373.
- ^ Western Canada Baseball "http://www.attheplate.com/wcbl/1967_50i.html" Retrieved on 5 March 2012.
- ^ Shury, David W. "Wheat Province Diamonds". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, 1997.
- ^ Shury, David W. "Wheat Province Diamonds". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, 1997.