The ManDak League

The ManDak League may be one of baseball’s best kept secrets. Operating in Manitoba and North Dakota from 1950 to 1957, it was the outlet for former Negro Leaguers to continue playing and entertaining fans, occupying fields with ex-major leaguers, minor league stars and some of the best Manitoba-, North Dakota–,and Minnesota-born players. It featured such greats as Willie Wells, Leon Day, Ray Dandridge and Satchel Paige, who pitched briefly for the Minot Mallards in 1950.
In Part I, chapters on each of the ManDak’s eight seasons provide detailed information on the stadiums, franchise and league personnel, pennant races, and standout performances. In Part II, a comprehensive listing of profiles presents basic information on the league’s players, their baseball backgrounds, and their accomplishments in the ManDak and other leagues. Emphasis is given to former Negro Leaguers, many of whom finished their careers in the ManDak League. Appendices provide batting and pitching records, rosters, and rules of conduct.

The late Barry Swanton was a retired baseball coach and manager from Winnipeg, Canada. He was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame for his promotion of baseball and baseball history in that province.

Barry Swanton
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 232
Bibliographic Info: 14 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2006
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2510-5
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction      1

I. History of the League      5
1. The 1950 Season      5
2. The 1951 Season      22
3. The 1952 Season      29
4. The 1953 Season      35
5. The 1954 Season      42
6. The 1955 Season      49
7. The 1956 Season      54
8. The 1957 Season      59
9. The End of the ManDak League      63
II. Player Profiles      65

Appendix I. 1950 Minot Mallards Team Rules      182
Appendix II. Batting and Pitching Records      183
Appendix III. Rosters      204
Bibliography      211
Index      213

“a labor of love”—Primetimes; “this is one book for which I’ve been waiting…does not disappoint…I can’t recommend this book enough”—Minor League Researcher; “chronicles what may be one of baseball’s best kept secrets from the era called the Golden Age of Baseball”—The Cloverdale Reporter.