“1,000 frenzied capitalists” witness Edmonton’s first professional baseball game. — On May 30, 1907, the first professional baseball game was played in Edmonton, Alberta. Played at Diamond Park, which also opened that day, the home team beat the visiting “Cow Pokers” from Calgary 9–8 (the game was called because of darkness with one out in the top of the 9th)…

Helen Nicol was an Albertan star of American baseball. — Most people are familiar with the 1992 baseball film A League of Their Own, about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Directed by Penny Marshall, the movie stars Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty, and Tom Hanks. Even avid baseball fans from around these parts might not…

Amidst all the stories about Gordie Howe the hockey player that were shared today, following his death at age 88, I was pleased to see some mention of Gordie Howe the baseball player. Howe began his career with the Detroit Red Wings on October 16, 1946, scoring the first of…

“Even though the United States wasn’t in the war, we read the newspapers. We knew what was happening in Europe, and we were outraged by the Nazis — totally outraged. We thought it was a good time for a patriotic hero.” — Joe Simon, Joe Simon: My Life in Comics …

For the past twenty years, one book has ruled them all. — My first copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is now 20 years old. It is a Bloomsbury 1st edition, second printing, from 1997, and it pre-dates the Raincoast editions published in Canada. It’s not worth anything, but for sentimental reasons I want it to last, and I’ve replaced…