Diamonds in the Rough

They were the first official affiliate established for the new Arizona Diamondbacks.

A full two years before the Major League Baseball squad took to the field, the Lethbridge Black Diamonds were expected to be a powerhouse in their inaugural season of 1996.

We take a look back at the successful three-year history of the team, which took numerous twists and turns off the field.

Hammerin’ Hank Shines in Derby Delight

It was a long-ball competition that truly knocked it out of the park.

The 2023 edition of the Western Canadian Baseball League Home Run Derby featured a competitive field of participants, a special scene between father and son, and that key ingredient of plenty of dingers.

With the help of his dad, Hank Dodson of the Sylvan Lake Gulls was crowned the champion.

The Pioneers: Lethbridge Expos

Southern Alberta’s love affair with baseball hit a fever pitch in the 1970’s.

After years of our own circuits and big league players barnstorming through, relationships were built to bring affiliated baseball to the masses.

In the first of our three-part look at the Pioneer League’s days in Alberta, we profile the lead-up to the first game at home for the Lethbridge Expos.

Alberta’s NL Dugout Connections

There was a time when if you wanted to play Major League Baseball (MLB), you were likely to make a minor-league stop in Canada first.

Either as visitors or members of the home squad, countless players in the Pioneer League or the Pacific Coast League (PCL) would find their way to Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Calgary or Edmonton.

In our second of a two-part series, we explore the coaches and managers from the National League (NL) who played in Alberta before finding their way in the majors.

Alberta’s AL Dugout Connections

Major League Baseball (MLB) may feel like it is far removed from the ball diamonds of Alberta, but if you play a quick game of six dugouts of separation you’ll discover there are plenty of coaching connections between the majors and our province.

In our first of a two-part series exploring those connections, we look at the American League squads who have former Alberta players on the payroll.