In The Cards: 1985 Edmonton Trappers

We venture to the provincial capital for this edition of In The Cards.

The overall look and feel of the set gives it a big league feel, reminiscent of something Topps might have created.

On the field, the Trappers were the defending champs, having won their first PCL title in 1984.

Wax Tracks

It 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.

In The Cards: 1989 Calgary Cannons

This should have been a set that included a Ken Griffey Jr. baseball card.

Alas, the Hall of Fame outfielder ended up being too good for Triple-A baseball, skipping straight from the Double-A level in 1988 to the Seattle Mariners in 1989. Nonetheless, this blue-bordered ProCards set of the Calgary Cannons included plenty of Major League Baseball (MLB) talent.

If The Glove Fits

With the first Calgary Cannon now enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, another member of the defunct Triple-A team is waiting on deck to see if he will join his former teammate among the sport’s immortals.

And, while designated hitter extraordinaire Edgar Martinez had to wait until his 10th and final year on the ballot to be selected for Cooperstown kudos, shortstop Omar Vizquel may have to wait even longer.

Edgar: Almost A Dodger or Yankee?

Can you imagine one of your favourite athletes in a uniform other than the one they became famous in?

Over the years, many have been able to play with one team. But in the free agency era, they have become fewer and further between.

As we found out with author Larry Stone, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Edgar Martinez almost didn’t stick around Seattle after not seeing a clear path out from the Calgary Cannons.

Foothills Feedback

Long before Sportsnet 960 The Fan radio personalities Pat Steinberg and Will Nault were making waves on the air, they were teenagers in need of summer jobs.

For both of them, their first paycheques came as a result of the innings they put in at Foothills Stadium.

Steinberg was 14 years old when a job fair at the ballpark – which was then called Burns Stadium – landed him a role with the Triple-A Calgary Cannons of the Pacific Coast League (PCL).

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.

Online Silent Auction: Nov. 23-30

With the Christmas season upon us, we have just the gifts for the baseball fans in your life! Introducing the Alberta Dugout Stories Silent Auction!

Familiar World Series MVPs

The World Series MVP award recognizes the most clutch performers in baseball.

Over the years, the winners of the award have included several players who once called Alberta home.

Here’s our look at some former Pacific Coast League and Pioneer League talents who saved their best play for the World Series.

The Bat & The Kittle

From a historical and statistical perspective, Ron Kittle put together the best single season of baseball that Alberta has ever seen.

But as good as that 1982 campaign for the Edmonton Trappers was, Kittle is much more prolific as a sports personality and baseball storyteller.

Edmonton got a taste of Kittle’s gift of the gab recently when the 1983 American League Rookie of the Year visited the provincial capital. The 6-foot-4, thick-armed and bespectacled former outfielder was in town as a guest of the Edmonton Prospects of the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL).