Bulls at the Gate

It was a bullish move that transformed the baseball scene in Western Canada.

The creation of a Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) franchise in Lethbridge was initially intended to fill the void left by the departure of professional baseball.

Decades later, the legacy of that team can be seen at ballparks across Alberta and throughout the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL).

Sparks Flies in Saskatoon

Nolan Sparks was just 12 years old when his hometown team, the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets, folded following the 2014 Western Major Baseball League season.

Now 21, Sparks is hoping to help rebuild the summer collegiate scene in his hometown as the first signee of the expansion Saskatoon Berries.

Tooning Up For the Big Leagues

From Saskatchewan to St. Louis to Seattle, Marco Gonzales always managed to take his game to the next level.

He’s hoping to do that again as a member of the starting rotation with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024.

We take a look back at the reliable left-hander’s time with the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets.

Willie “Curly” Williams – Mr. Baseball of Western Canada

Willie “Curly” Williams left an indelible mark on Alberta and Saskatchewan.

An African-American and former seasoned Negro League player from the US, he found solace and acceptance in the warm embrace of Western Canadian baseball fans.

So much so that Williams earned the title of “Mr. Baseball” in the border city of Lloydminster.

Hall of Fame for Heisler

From the mounds of Moose Jaw to representing Canada on baseball’s international scene, Rod Heisler has now found a Hall-of-Fame home in Saint Marys, Ontario.

Heisler – a left-handed pitcher who played in a record 14 international competitions for the men’s national team – is one of a half-dozen inductees recently announced as part of the 2024 class by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Welcome to Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

Every community in Saskatchewan has a baseball story to tell.

The athletes, families, coaches, umpires, volunteers and community members share in the excitement of baseball we have all come to love.

All these stories and many more deserve to be told and shared, which we will do at Saskatchewan Dugout Stories.