Making the List

Bob Elliott has released his full list of the most influential Canadians in baseball, and the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) makes a number of appearances on the esteemed roll call.

The Hall-of-Fame journalist produced a list of 140 top names in the sport, with Alex Anthopoulos, general manager of the Atlanta Braves, at first overall; followed by Phillies’ skipper Rob Thomson in second; and Josh Naylor – slugger with the Cleveland Guardians – in the third spot.

Here’s a look at where WCBL personalities landed on the Canadian Baseball Network list …

Field of Seams

They’re having a ball in the Western Canadian Baseball League.

Good thing, too, because baseballs are a vital piece of equipment for the WCBL. You literally cannot play the game without them.

The league, with a dozen teams in Alberta and Saskatchewan, welcomes a new official baseball supplier this year.

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.