Western Canadian Baseball League

Western Canadian Baseball League logo
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1931
No. of teams	11
Country	Canada
Headquarters	Lethbridge, Alberta
Most recent champion(s)	Okotoks Dawgs
Most titles	Okotoks Dawgs (7 titles)
Official website	westerncanadianbaseballleague.ca

The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league based in Saskatchewan and Alberta that descends from leagues dating to 1931.

History

The league can trace its roots back to 1931, via its predecessors. The Southern Baseball League existed from 1931 to 1974. The Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League existed from 1959 to 1974. The Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) was formed in 1975 as a combination of the two predecessors. Three teams from each former league entered the new loop — the Eston Ramblers, Saskatoon Royals, and Unity Cardinals from the north and Moose Jaw Devons, Regina Red Sox, and Swift Current Indians from the south.^[1][2]

The league was renamed the Western Major Baseball League in 2000 to reflect more teams playing in Alberta, as well as future expansion to British Columbia. In June 2018 it was announced that the league would be renamed to the Western Canadian Baseball League in 2019.^[3]

The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and logistics, the 2021 season was played with only five Alberta-based teams and Canadian players only.^[4][5]

Member teams

As of 2024, WCBL membership consists of 12 teams in two divisions. The top four teams in each division qualify for the post-season.

Former teams

Former teams include the Melville Millionaires (2021), Yorkton Cardinals (2021), Saskatoon Yellow Jackets (2014), 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 a conditional expansion team in 2011 and was to begin play after building a new stadium.^[6][7] As of 2018, these plans appear to have stalled.

Sylvan Lake was working towards a WCBL team in September 2019. Under the concept, a 2,200-seat ballpark would be built as part of Sylvan Lake's Pogadl Park development and house a WCBL expansion team backed by the ownership group Hard 4 Sports and Entertainment. The earliest that the ballpark would be completed is 2021, with the WCBL squad potentially beginning play that season as part of a 25-year lease agreement.^[8] Plans for a 2021 launch were officially announced November 1, 2019.^[9] Branding as the Sylvan Lake Gulls was announced in March 2020.^[10]

Spruce Grove is constructing a ballpark.^[11] In May 2020, the Edmonton Prospects confirmed that the team would be leaving Edmonton for Spruce Grove by 2022,^[12] but due to construction delays Myshak Metro Ballpark is (as of November 2022) scheduled to open no earlier than 2024.^[13][14]

An expansion team in Saskatoon will begin playing at Cairns Field in 2024.^[15] In July, 2023, the Saskatoon team unveiled that it would be called the Saskatoon Berries.^[16]

Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy

Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy

Saskatchewan Territorial (1895–1905) and Provincial (1906–present) champions have been decided by an annual tournament.^[2] In 1967 the first major division was added to the tournament,^[17] 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 WCBL champions.

League champions

Former logo as the Western Major Baseball League

References

External links

• Official website