SASKATCHEWAN — Another senior men’s baseball league in Saskatchewan is marking a milestone anniversary, being the second oldest league next to the 100-year-old Dunning Baseball League.
The Sask-Alta Baseball League was formed in 1951 by Les Benjamin, who was a CPR agent in Richmound at the time. The original six teams in the league were the Fox Valley Lions, Golden Prairie Chinooks, Hilda Cubs, Horsham Flyers, Richmound Rockets, and Schuler Tiger Cats.
The league is currently in its 75th season and composed of five teams, the Cabri River Rats, Climax Cardinals, Gull Lake Greyhounds, Richmound Rockets and Swift Current Yard Goats.
For 75 summers, the crack of the bat has echoed across diamonds in southwestern Saskatchewan and neighbouring Alberta, bringing generations of players, families and communities together. Now, the Sask-Alta Baseball League—the province's second-oldest senior men's baseball league—is celebrating a milestone that reflects far more than longevity. It is a testament to the enduring passion, resilience and community spirit that have kept rural baseball alive since 1951.
The league’s website states, “In the 1950's there was senior baseball being played around the countryside but only at sports days, and these where money games so young kids seldom got a chance to play unless their team was short-handed. With the formation of a league, this meant that young players would be given an opportunity to play and therefore build a team for future generations.”
An interesting trivia piece noted by the league president is that Richmond has fielded a team every single year, which is also a big point of pride for them, as well as being a remarkable accomplishment.
Over the decades, more than 40 teams have called the Sask-Alta Baseball League home. While many small-town leagues have disappeared, the Sask-Alta has weathered changing populations, economic shifts and even a pandemic, thanks to volunteers, players and communities committed to keeping baseball thriving on the Prairies.
Like many small-centre sports organizations, the leagues has experienced its ups and downs throughout its history. But it has survived to see ball played on the field every year thanks to deep baseball roots and the determination of countless individuals with a love for the game.
Eddie Gergely, League President, told SaskToday, “When the league was formed in 1951, teams from Schuler and Hilda, both Alberta teams were part of it, hence the league’s dual province name. A number of Alberta teams have been part of this league over the years, including Acadia Valley, Oyen, Walsh, Redclliff, and a number of Medicine Hat teams that have come and gone over the years. The last Alberta-based team that played in this league was the Medicine Hat Vipers in 2018.”
The league's impact extends well beyond championships. Seventeen former players, along with the communities of Richmound and Climax and former league clubs including the Leader Barons and Mendham Monarchs, have earned induction into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, underscoring the calibre of talent and tradition the league has produced.
It is clear that by league championship history, the Cabri River Rats have been a dominant team in the league for a number of years, showing championship wins, consecutively from 2018-2022 (no regular or playoff season in 2020 due to pandemic). The team captured another title in 2024.
For the current season, Swift Current Yard Goats sit atop of the standings with a 9-3 record. Gergely says, regular season wrapped up July 22 and the league finals tournament takes place on July 26 in Swift Current. Fans can check into the league’s website Sask-Alta Baseball League Home Page or their Facebook page at Sask-Alta Baseball League | Facebook
Today, the Sask-Alta Baseball League remains a cornerstone of rural life, providing high-level baseball, strengthening community connections and inspiring the next generation of players. As it celebrates its 75th season, the league stands as proof that while uniforms, teams and players may change, the love of the game—and the communities that rally around it—continues to endure.
