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In The Cards: 1988 Calgary Cannons

Expectations were high for the Calgary Cannons heading into the 1988 season.

After making it to the Pacific Coast League final the previous summer, the Cannons seemed primed for a repeat performance.

We continue our look back at some of the baseball cards of the past with our new In The Cards, focusing in on the 1988 Calgary Cannons.

Between Innings

Love can take a toll on you.

Whether it’s a family bond, the intimacy of marriage, or even the fondness of sport, love can be exhausting.

It can leave you at a crossroads wondering whether or not the passion that was such a part of you exists at all anymore.

Blue Jays Central host Jamie Campbell was at such an intersection when he came to Alberta in the 1990s to work as a sports anchor for CBC Edmonton.

Potent Pitching

Luring one of the most mild-mannered players in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to charge the mound is an unusual achievement, but it’s one that Lou Pote can celebrate.

The 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher was with the Anaheim Angels in 2001 when he did the nearly impossible: he made Hall-of-Fame designated hitter (DH) Edgar Martinez mad … like, really mad.

It was the sixth inning of an early October game in Anaheim between the Angels and the Seattle Mariners, who finished that season with an American League (AL) record 116 wins.

Ten Books for Alberta Baseball Fans

It’s a great time to find a comfy chair, sit back, crack a book and get lost in it for a few hours.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 10 books that are of interest to Alberta baseball fans. These titles include biographies, historical studies, movie-inspiring tales and first-person accounts of experimental baseball projects.

So, in no particular order, here are the books and authors that have captivated our attention …

In the Cards: Ian’s All Stars

In a pre-internet world, baseball cards served as a fantasy baseball type of resource that connected fans with players.

They provided stats, factoids, interesting graphic designs and photos that ranged from fantastic to hilarious. On occasion, the packs of cardboard collectibles even provided mouth-scraping gum that was capable of losing flavour faster than a card in bike spokes could drop its value.

Of course, baseball cards are still around – they’re even available in mobile app form – but the popularity of the memorabilia is nowhere near what it was in the sports card boom of the 1990s and before that era.

Here at Alberta Dugout Stories, we love our collectibles, so we’ve decided to unveil a baseball card-themed All-Star Team!