Hard times - hard ball : the Cape Breton Colliery League, 1936-1939

Abstract

The Cape Breton Colliery League existed as a semi-professional baseball league in 1936 and as a member of organized baseball from 1937 to 1939. "Hard Times-Hard Ball, The Cape Breton Colliery League 1936-1939," examines the League and its relationship to the communities of industrial Cape Breton.

The thesis argues the member towns banded together to ensure success notwithstanding the social, political and economic conditions. The development of the League crossed lines of class, politics and religion.

The positive and negative conceptual complexities of community and the role of sport is examined. After describing the development of communities already in place in industrial Cape Breton we examine the relationship of baseball to these communities.

The history of the League is traced from 1936 as the Colliery League moves from the ranks of amateur athletics to professional baseball. It is revealed how the players were acquired, their relationship with the fans, the benefits of playing professional baseball for the player and the level of play attained.

The Colliery League supplied the fans with a break from the monotony of work and provided a topic of discussion for after games and during the off-season. Baseball gave the fans a positive focal point during times of great economic hardship. Although providing some negative influences on community, baseball for the most part exhibited positive influences on the towns of industrial Cape Breton.