In The Cards: ’91 Calgary Cannons

They were a colourful bunch, those 1991 Calgary Cannons.

Sporting jerseys with white, blue, red and yellow colours, the Cannons looked sharp that season.

This 27-card team set from ProCards added even more colour to the squad …

In The Cards: 1987 Edmonton Trappers

It was the summer of 1987 that sealed Edmonton’s reputation as the City of Champions.

While sports teams had gathered championships, it was actually the response to that summer’s deadly tornado that led to the term being used.

Our latest “In The Cards” looks back at the Trappers of that season, who had a largely underwhelming season.

In The Cards: 1984 Edmonton Trappers

The 1984 Edmonton Trappers were the first Canadian team to win a Pacific Coast League (PCL) championship.

The Trappers would go on to claim three more PCL titles over the course of their existence, but this one had some strong underdog vibes to it.

Learn more in this edition of In The Cards …

Bone Rattling

Calgary baseball fans just couldn’t wait to see the rising star outfielder suit up for the home team.

And in the spring of 1989, that wish came true, even if it didn’t quite seem like it at the time.

While season ticket holders of the Cannons were eagerly awaiting the arrival of future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., the Seattle Mariners – the parent club of the Triple-A Calgary team – sent up-and-coming Jay Buhner to Foothills Stadium instead.

Joyn the Club

No pressure.

We just want you to replace Hall-of-Fame first baseman Rod Carew.

This was the looming expectation for Wally Joyner as he went about his business in 1985.

The A’s in Alberta

As Oakland baseball fans say goodbye to the Athletics, the curtain is also going down on a small piece of Alberta’s baseball history.

The Athletics had a Pioneer League team in Medicine Hat in 1977, then an affiliation with the Edmonton Trappers from 1995 to 1998.

In The Cards: 1990 Calgary Cannons

It was the summer of 1990 and life was good for Calgary baseball fans.

If you went to Foothills Stadium to take in a Triple-A game that season, the odds were good that you’d get to see shortstop Omar Vizquel pick a ball out of the infield dirt and fire it over to first baseman Tino Martinez to record an out.

If you were really lucky, you might show up on one of the nights that outfielder Jay Buhner suited up for the Cannons that year.

For those who collected baseball cards, the sports collectibles business was booming.

Trappers Unlocked

The rain pouring down on what was then called Telus Field in Edmonton acted as a perfect metaphor.

Despite the downpour, more than 9,000 fans bundled up to shed tears and say goodbye to their beloved Edmonton Trappers on final time on Sept. 2, 2004.

R.B.I. Baseball: All-Alberta Team

For baseball fans and gamers of a certain vintage, Nintendo changed what it meant to enjoy the sport in a groundbreaking way.

With the 1987 release of R.B.I. Baseball, arcade goers and home video game players were able to interact with America’s pastime on a different level.

And, lo and behold, some Alberta baseball stars were part of the fun …

The Pat Came Back

Pat Casey may have thought he was done with the game of baseball, but the sport had different plans for him.

On a number of occasions, when baseball looked like it offered only dead ends, the Oregon product discovered there was more for him.

The result was a fulfilling career and the realization of a dream he never had.