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Baseball for all...One of the most important activities in the valley was the competition between towns on the baseball field. This provided the opportunity for people to gather together on and around the field to play and support each other. The town pride was at stake as the season wore on and the rivalries from last year deepened or perhaps new ones were forming as the champions of the past were no longer able to keep up the pace and a new team was now taking over top spot.
The players formed strong units as a team and the success of the team was more important than individual glory. These teams took the business of playing baseball very seriously and they practiced hard. They also played hard, on and off the field. The end of the summer meant the end of season and the championship games were looming. Would the undredog be able to pull off and upset or would the favorite dominate the game? Or were the teams so evenly balanced that it was not possible to predict the outcome with any degree of confidence ? There were trophies to win and hold, perhaps have a drink from and then proudly display for the winter months at the local community hall. Baseball players were the heros during this time and many people tried to emulate their favorite player.
There teams for the children, the teenagers, for women and the men's fastball teams where the fastest pitches and fastest runners would show their best. The friends and family also came out to these games to support the team and to enjoy mor camarderie. This was a special part of the Good Life in the badlands.
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Baseball "Homerun"1 October 1945
East Coulee, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Unknown
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Baseball women team1 October 1945
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The winning team always took home the trophy as recognition of their prowess and success on the field. Seeing the names of your town embossed on the neweset nameplate on the trophy was a special moment for the players and the people of the winning team. This intensity and spirit was contagious and also long lasting - there was a reunion of people that once lived in the valley and suddenly all the men had disappeared. People were wondering what might be happening and perhaps they decided to share a cool beer in the tavern at the old hotel. But no, they were not there. There were on the old ball field playing a game for old times sake, forming teams based on where they used to live. There were actually enough people to form a 9 member team of men that used to play together in the 194-'s in East Coulee. Though there was no trophy for the winner that day, they took home memories of the their experince of the Good Life in the Badlands.5
Baseball Champion Trophy1 October 1940
East Coulee, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Earl Hudgeon
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Baseball Catcher's Mask1 October 1940
East Coulee, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Earl Hudgeon
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Baseball glove1 October 1940
East Coulee, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Earl Hudgeon
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