Photo Credit: attheplate.com When Luther “Doc” Hughes arrived in Saskatchewan in 1911, he entered prairie sport through a role that offered access without equality. Brought to Saskatoon by J. F. Cairns to work with the Saskatoon Quakers, Hughes was initially employed as a groundskeeper and trainer, a masseur by trade, as later profiles would describe… Continue reading Luther “Doc” Hughes: Proximity, Power, and Prairie Sport
Category: western canada
Tales from the Dirt Road – Halloween Edition
The Saskatchewan Connection: Letters from Ty Cobb Every October, I like to pull a story that feels a little haunted—not by ghosts exactly, but by questions or unknowns that still echo through time. This year’s mystery begins at the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan with one of the most unlikely connections in local baseball history: a… Continue reading Tales from the Dirt Road – Halloween Edition
A Baseball, a Story, and the Liberty Eagles of 1940
Holding my Baseball. Prologue It began, as many research rabbit holes do, with an object. I thought it would be straightforward, but the moment I began cross-referencing the names on the ball with the 1940 Southern Saskatchewan League (SBBL) champions — the Weyburn Beavers — something didn’t add up. The names didn’t match. What was… Continue reading A Baseball, a Story, and the Liberty Eagles of 1940
Pitch by Pitch: Honouring the Legacy of the Indian Head Rockets
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
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
Searching for Big Jim Williams’ Grave: An Update
The search for Big Jim Williams’ final resting place has taken fascinating turns. Just before Christmas, a whirlwind of new information came in, thanks to the dedicated research of Jennifer Bibb (University of North Florida) and Georgia Pribanic (Southern Genealogist’s Exchange Society). Their incredible work led them deep into the records of the Southern Genealogist’s… Continue reading Searching for Big Jim Williams’ Grave: An Update
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
Lacombe: Central Alberta’s Biggest Sports Attraction 1950-1988
Article featured on (attheplate.com) By Robyn Jensen Prologue: Each province had one community that really stepped it up when it came to hosting baseball tournaments in the late 1940s and 1950s- Saskatchewan had Indian Head and Alberta had Lacombe. Teams from across Canada and the United States came to compete for the huge prize amounts.… Continue reading Lacombe: Central Alberta’s Biggest Sports Attraction 1950-1988
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)
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