Rockets Logo Design by Malena (Max) Jensen Introduction On June 11, 2025, a packed crowd at Regina’s Currie Field rose to its feet as two nonagenarians, Nat Bates and Willie Reed, stepped onto the diamond. They weren’t just guests of honour; they were history in motion. Seventy-three years earlier, the two had suited up for… Continue reading Pitch by Pitch: Honouring the Legacy of the Indian Head Rockets
Category: Sports
My Podcast Interview with AB Dugout Stories
I was invited to talk about The Indian Head Rockets for Black History Month with Joe McFarland of AB & SK Dugout Stories. I've collaborated with Joe and Ian on a couple of occasions, writing stories for their website. It was an absolute pleasure to chat in person about a team near and dear to… Continue reading My Podcast Interview with AB Dugout Stories
The Elusive James “Big Jim” Williams – His Battles On & Off the Diamond
Researched by Robyn Jensen & Rich Necker. Written by Robyn Jensen Born: January 16, 1906, in Benton, Alabama Died: April 28th, 1962, in Jacksonville, Florida Career: 1933 to 1959 (Puerto Rico & Cuban Winter Leagues, Negro Leagues, Canada) Positions: 1b, Outfielder, Manager Bats Right, Throw Right Height: 6'1 Weight: 200 lbs Photo Credit: Indian Head… Continue reading The Elusive James “Big Jim” Williams – His Battles On & Off the Diamond
Tales from the Dirt Road (Halloween Edition)—The Ghost of Big Jim Williams
Prologue Last year, for Halloween, I wrote a piece titled "Tales from the Dirt Road (Halloween Edition)—The Ghost of Chet Brewer. " It was about discovering a photograph of Chet playing for the Indian Head Rockets in 1951. Brewer started playing mid-season for them (apparently snatched from Sceptre for a reported $800) and was not… Continue reading Tales from the Dirt Road (Halloween Edition)—The Ghost of Big Jim Williams
My visit with a legend: Jay-Dell Mah (attheplate.com)
Robyn and Jay-Dell (August 2024) As I've gotten older, I've come to realize just how precious time is, especially with those who have lived rich, storied lives. When given the opportunity, I always make sure to visit with these wise individuals because, once they are gone, their stories are gone too. Recently, I had the… Continue reading My visit with a legend: Jay-Dell Mah (attheplate.com)
Tales from the Dirt Road (Halloween Edition)
Comic Book Inspired Photo designed by Robyn Jensen Prologue: I have been on the Indian Head Museum (IHM) Board since 2019 and am slowly organizing the Indian Head Rockets collections. From 1950 to 1954, the organization hired black baseball players from the United States and Cuba to play as the Rockets in Indian Head. One player… Continue reading Tales from the Dirt Road (Halloween Edition)
The AAGPBL and the Saskatchewan connections which inspired the latest Heritage Minute
This summer, Historica Canada traveled to Saskatchewan to produce a 60-second vignette on Mary "Bonnie" Baker, a 1940s professional baseball player from Regina. This Heritage Minute is also produced by Danny Rockett Productions and Barbershop Films, a Saskatchewan production company, with funding support from Creative Saskatchewan and in-kind equipment support from William F. White International.… Continue reading The AAGPBL and the Saskatchewan connections which inspired the latest Heritage Minute
Double Take
This past spring, I took on a whirlwind university course that crammed four months of work into just two. Between long hours of reading, writing, and juggling everyday life, I often felt like Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, glued to my computer in a dark room, clinging to my assignments as if they… Continue reading Double Take
A Day in the Life of a 1950s Bat Boy
You see their faces in the photos, either standing or sitting in the team photos. There is sometimes a name but most often not. The bat boys were the ones who kept the wheels turning before, during, and after the game. In return, they befriended the players, many of whom became big brothers and mentors.… Continue reading A Day in the Life of a 1950s Bat Boy
The Story of the 1944 Regina Capitals – Underdogs & Heroes of the Saskatchewan Baseball League
For Rich This is the underdog story of veteran player/umpire George Drew and his rag-tag team of "old blokes" who came out of nowhere, defying all the odds, and in storybook fashion, went on to capture the 1944 South Saskatchewan League championship title. "If I can't gather up a bunch of broken-down ball players that… Continue reading The Story of the 1944 Regina Capitals – Underdogs & Heroes of the Saskatchewan Baseball League
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