The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league. The league is home to teams based in the Canadian Prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and has roots dating back to 1931 in Saskatchewan's Southern Baseball League. In 1975, the province's southern and northern leagues merged, creating the foundation for the WCBL. Today, the league boasts seven teams in Alberta and five in Saskatchewan.
The league can trace its roots back to 1931, via its predecessors, the Southern Baseball League (1931 to 1974) and the Northern Saskatchewan Baseball League (1959 to 1974). The Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) was formed in 1975 through a merger of the Southern and Northern leagues. Three teams from each former league entered the new loop—the Eston Ramblers, Saskatoon Royals, and Unity Cardinals from the north, and the Moose Jaw Devons, Regina Red Sox, and Swift Current Indians from the south.[1][2]
The league was renamed the Western Major Baseball League in 2000 to reflect teams based in Alberta, along with the possibility of future expansion to British Columbia. In June 2018, it was announced that the league would be renamed the Western Canadian Baseball League.[3]
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and logistics, the 2021 season was played with only five Alberta-based teams and Canadian players only.[4][5]
Teams
As of 2025[update], WCBL membership consists of 12 teams in two divisions. The West Division is made up of six Albertan teams, while the East Division is made up of all five teams from Saskatchewan, plus the easternmost Albertan team from Medicine Hat. The top four teams in each division qualify for the post-season.
Cranbrook, British Columbia, was granted an expansion team, the Eds, in 2011 conditional on building a new stadium.[6][7] However, the plans failed to come to fruition.
The two most recent additions to the league are in Sylvan Lake and Saskatoon. Plans for a 2021 launch of the Sylvan Lake team were announced November 1, 2019.[8] Branding as the Sylvan Lake Gulls was announced in March 2020.[9] Saskatoon was awarded the most recent expansion team, in 2023.[10] In July 2023, the team unveiled that it would be called the Saskatoon Berries.[11]
Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy
Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy.
Saskatchewan Territorial (1895–1905) and Provincial (1906–present) champions have been decided by an annual tournament.[2] In 1967 the first major division was added to the tournament,[12] and the award was named in memory of Harry Hallis. From 1967 until 1974 the name of this provincial champion was added to the trophy. In 1975, when the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League was formed, this trophy continued to be awarded to the SMBL champions, and now the WCBL champions.
League champions
Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) Champions: (Harry Hallis Memorial Trophy)
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