Repeating as Western Canada League champions wasn’t supposed to be so hard.
After a controversial end to the 1920 season, the Calgary Bronchos looked forward to defending their title.
But Mother Nature, along with issues around the league and fan support, almost derailed the entire 1921 season.
Read More The Buckin’ BronksHe may have just hit a triple, but Peter Pocklington couldn’t help but dream about crushing a home run.
The ink was still fresh on his acquisition of the Ogden Athletics of the Pacific Coast League when he mused about something much bigger: Major League Baseball.
On the 40th anniversary of the Edmonton Trappers beginning play in the PCL, we take a look back at the efforts made to bring the team to the capital and the legacy left behind.
Read More Setting The TrapThere were few things left for Fernando Valenzuela to achieve in baseball by the time the 1990s rolled around.
His resumé included a Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year honours, a pair of Silver Slugger nods, a Gold Glove, a couple of World Series rings, and six National League (NL) All-Star selections.
Not bad for the man from little-known Etchohuaquila, Mexico.
Read More Fernandomania NorthHe may not exactly have been in full bloom when he came to Alberta, but Pete Rose gave us a telling look at the baseball icon, thorns and all.
The three-time World Series champion provided insights into two of his cherished pastimes – gambling and baseball – when he visited the Edmonton area on Oct. 21, 2014.
Read More Wild RoseWith so much excitement surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays after their first World Series victory in 1992, you would think their affiliates would enjoy similar attention.
Unfortunately, the Medicine Hat Blue Jays still struggled at the turnstiles, despite a massive improvement in the standings compared to their cellar-dwelling 1992 campaign.
We take a look at some of the players who suited up for the 1993 edition of the Baby Jays in our latest In The Cards feature.
Read More In The Cards: 1993 Medicine Hat Blue JaysThe Calgary Bronchos faced every cliche in the book. Their backs were against the wall, it was do or die, they were on the brink of elimination.
After falling behind 4-1 in the best-of-nine series against the Regina Senators, the Bronks overcame the adversity to emerge victorious.
However, it came with some rumours of their opposition “laying down.”
Read More A Bronks TaleWhere have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Fishing in Alberta, of course.
Or at least that’s what he told reporters prior to his arrival in Wild Rose Country in the summer of 1953.
“I’m going to Jasper to fish,” DiMaggio told The Vancouver Sun before hopping on a Trans-Canada Airlines plane for Calgary.
There was indeed an enticing catch to be had in Alberta at the time, in the form of his main squeeze Marilyn Monroe.
Read More Joltin’ Joe Has Left & Gone AwayIf patience is a virtue, Russ Parker has a dugout full of it.
Calgary’s “Mr. Baseball” went through the ringer to bring Triple-A baseball to the city, including rumours, a difficult deal and a snowstorm.
On the 35th anniversary of the team’s debut at Foothills Stadium, we take a look back at the road taken to bring the Pacific Coast League team to Calgary.
Read More Blast From The PastIt is seemingly a marriage of three favourite pieces of baseball lore: cards, travel and books.
Brad Balukjian’s new book, “The Wax Pack: On The Open Road In Search Of Baseball’s Afterlife,” dives into what happened to the players he found in a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards.
It led him down an 11,341-mile adventure that can only be described as a mix of nostalgia, travelogue and self-discovery.
Read More Wax TracksIt wasn’t just Americans who suited up in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
A total of 68 Canadians were part of the league between 1943-1954. And the AAGPBL lists ten as being from Alberta.
On this International Women’s Day, we shed some light on their contributions on and off the field.
Read More The Albertans of the All-American League