*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on December 20. You can read it here.

December 23, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

It was one of the most impressive performances the province of Saskatchewan has ever seen on a baseball field.

A team based out of Wapella, with a population of just 400, nearly ran the table for the entire summer of 1924, winning 16 of 20 tournaments they played in.

They won 51 times, were defeated on five occasions, and took home a total of $2,600.

While that doesn’t sound like a lot, it amounts to about $45,750 in today’s dollars.

They even hooked up with the famous Brandon Grays for a four-game showdown that captured the attention of hundreds of prairie baseball fans.

Not a lot is known about the players who made up Wapella’s star roster, and on this 100th anniversary of the team’s outstanding performance, we hope this story will bring a few more memories and mementos to light.

OFF TO A HOT START

It all started on April 3 when the community gathered to discuss the previous 1923 season.

“A large and enthusiastic gathering of baseball fans were present at the annual meeting of the local club held in the council chamber last night,” read the report in the April 5 edition of the Regina Leader-Post.

“A resolution was adopted recommending that a professional team be played if sufficient financial support could be guaranteed by the citizens.”

With catcher/manager Patrick McNeally (also spelled McNeilly in some newspaper articles) and second baseman/captain J. McNeally leading the charge, the team set out for the first of its many tournaments on May 24 in Grenfell.

Facing teams from fellow Trans-Canada Highway communities in Broadview, Wolsely, Windthorst and the hosts, the Wapella squad took home the first-place money.

They would continue their winning ways in the days ahead during short tournaments in Whitewood, Fairlight, Hamiota and a Canada Day tournament in Moosomin.

In all, they won 23-straight contests to start their summer season. You can read more of the tournament-by-tournament recaps with the great work done by Jay-Dell Mah on his AtThePlate.com site here.

ALL THEY DID WAS WIN

All good things come to an end and such was the case for Wapella when they took part in the July 2 tournament in Wolseley.

It seemed the arduous schedule may have played a part in a loss to their rivals from Grenfell.

“This defeat came at the end of two days playing which the local boys had traveled 300 miles, taken part in six games and losing in the last one,” wrote the Winnipeg Tribune on July 7.

“All this traveling and playing was done in 36 hours, which is a splendid showing, and speaks well for the stamina and careful training the boys are doing.”

As the tournaments went on, word started to spread across Saskatchewan and Manitoba about the impressive Wapella outfit.

More than 1,000 fans took in a tournament in Carlyle, Manitoba on July 4, where Wapella trounced Wawota 15-5 in the final to get back into the win column.

They won another tournament in Shoal Lake, then split the prize money at a cross-border event in Oxbow.

Seven teams took part looking to win the $500 prize, including Wapella, Weyburn and Grenfell as well as Kenmare, Sherwood, Flaxton and Columbus from North Dakota.

Fans came from every community to watch.

“Probably the greatest baseball tournament that has ever been held in this part of Saskatchewan was held here last Tuesday in the presence of nearly 3,000 spectators,” read a special dispatch to the Winnipeg Free Press on July 21.

The final, featuring Wapella and Sherwood, was an exhibition of the best pitchers, as the writer said they seemed to have kept their best pitchers for the last game.

However, the game ended in controversy.

“Seven innings were played without score, although Wapella had two good chances to score,” the article continued. “Wapella then decided not to continue to see which team would gain the victory and the game was awarded to Sherwood.”

“The crowd was disappointed that the game was not fought to a finish, but as Wapella declined to go on, no other course was possible.”

It’s not clear as to why the team decided not to finish the final game, but they did soldier on with more tournament wins in Arcola and Melita.

BRING ON THE GRAYS

The Brandon Greys first burst onto the baseball scene in 1921 when they won the Manitoba provincial title.

They spent the following season as a traveling team, then won the Manitoba Amateur Baseball Association championship in 1923.

Heading into the 1924 season, they had become a marked team, as some of the best competitors across the prairies wanted to see how they stacked up.

Wapella was no different, and were granted their wish in late-July.

“Wapella’s strong ball nine has been anxious to get a crack at the Greys for some time,” wrote the Brandon Sun on July 23. “The Greys will take up a fast lineup if all the boys can get away for the day, and they expect to give the Saskatchewan representatives a battle in both ends of the double-bill.”

The first doubleheader was slated for Wapella on July 24, with the second set for Brandon on July 26.

The newspaper noted this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for the Greys.

“The Saskatchewan team is one of the strongest that has ever played in the two western provinces and the Greys expect to get a real battle in each game today,” the paper wrote on July 24. “Up until three weeks ago, the Wapella team was unbeaten, and their remarkable string of successes was gained over every prominent club in their province.”

It was shaping up to be a classic prairie battle.

PLAY BALL

Pitching was the name of the game in the first set of games in Wapella.

The home team rode a three-hit performance from former Greys hurler and future Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Whit Meredith to a 6-1 victory in the afternoon opener.

In the second game, it was Allan “Lefty” Armstrong who took to the hill for Wapella, matching up well with Greys’ spinner Cliff Carey.

Armstrong, who was later inducted into the Regina Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Regina Nationals, guided his team to a 3-0 victory with a one-hitter.

“Both games were hard fought, the evening affair being a brilliant battle and featuring a real hurler’s duel between Cliff Carey for the Greys and ‘Lefty’ Armstrong for the home club,” wrote the Brandon Sun. “The Greys managed to get one bingle off Armstrong, while four hits was the total of the Wapella clouters’ work.”

The wins earned the respect of the newspaper’s writer, who, in previewing the second double-header two days later, tipped his cap generously.

“When the Wapella ball club steps on the diamond at the Athletic grounds tomorrow for a double-bill, ball fans will see the classiest segregation of players that has been here this year,” the Sun wrote. “The Saskatchewan club is without a doubt one of the best that has been gathered together in the west and their record is a very impressive one.”

The Greys, meantime, had to find a way to beat Wapella’s excellent arms and stellar defense, which they were able to do in the opener.

A three-run third inning, coupled with a strong outing from H.L. “Krug” Crawford on the bump, propelled the Greys to a 3-2 victory over Meredith and the Saskatchewan contingent.

“There were many thrilling plays to the afternoon session, and they cut deep into the run-getting column,” the Sun reported.

However, it would be their lone win as they were once again forced to face Armstrong in the nightcap.

For a second time, he would allow just one hit while the Wapella offence came alive in an 8-0 drubbing to close out the four-game series.

“’Lefty’ Armstrong gave about the niftiest all-round sample of pitching ability in the evening affair when he held the Greys to a solitary bingle,” the Sun continued. “The long hit was a sizzler from Bill Porter’s bat, but it was the only hit that got away.”

“Armstrong had all kinds of stuff on the ball and a zipping fast one that simply breezed by the batters.”

Both games were seen by big crowds, the newspaper reported, even though some heavy rains dampened the field for the evening affair.

REFLECTIONS ON GREATNESS

Going 3-1 against the famous Brandon Grays was viewed as the perfect way for Wapella to wind up their almost perfect campaign.

Under the headline of “Wapella’s Record-Setting Baseball Team,” the Regina Leader-Post recapped the squad’s accomplishments in its Aug. 16 edition.

“Playing in 56 games during the summer, the Wapella club scored 51 victories and lost five games; scored 131 runs against 20; took part in 20 tournaments, winning first money in 16, second in one and sharing in third in the others,” the paper stated. “The total tournament prizes totalled approximately $2,600.”

It was an unforgettable summer for the team, which the paper called “the most successful ball club in Saskatchewan during the 1924 season.”

Despite the accolades, not much is known about the players on the roster, which included:

Allan “Lefty” Armstrong – Pitcher

Whit Meredith – Pitcher

Pat McNeilly – Catcher and Manager

F. Embury – First Base

J. McNeilly – Second Base and Captain

C. Hitchings – Third Base

L. Clements – Left Field

H. Rowbotham – Left Field

R. Morrison – Right Field

E. Schram – Right Field

Despite numerous searches and several inquiries for records, we have come up empty-handed in our efforts to get a clearer picture on where the Wapella players were from or where most of them ended up after the summer of 1924.

If you have historical documents or background information to share, please let us know at albertadugoutstories@gmail.com.

We believe this team is worthy of acknowledgement for their outstanding performance during the 1924 season, and it is our pleasure bringing their accomplishments to light.