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Alberta Dugout Stories podcast highlights decades of baseball in the province

May 4, 2023 | 4:38 PM

Alberta Dugout Stories was created in 2017, celebrating the past, present and future of baseball in Alberta.

Co-founders Joe McFarland and Ian Wilson hope their podcast and website help grow the sport of baseball, and remind Albertans of the rich history of the game.

Wilson and McFarland started the Alberta Dugout Stories after joining a slo-pitch league together.

Wilson says they quickly found a shared love for baseball, and both had a background in storytelling.

“All good ideas came in a pub over a couple of pitchers of beer, talking about baseball. That initial focus really was the history of baseball in Alberta and we realized, it’s a very vibrant, strong scene,” says Wilson.

McFarland adds, “we were just sort of taken aback by how little coverage there had been for baseball in Alberta.”

What started as just social media accounts turned into a podcast and website after a positive response from listeners.

McFarland says they have seen a lot of growth in the six years of operation, and they are motivated to continue because of the closely-knit Alberta baseball community.

“Just having that collaboration and cooperation amongst the baseball community here has just meant the absolute world to us, because honestly, if it wasn’t for the community buying into what we’re doing we’d be just yelling into an empty echo chamber,” McFarland states.

Both McFarland and Wilson enjoy doing stories in their spare time. They say that although they don’t make a lot of money doing it, they feel it is important for the growth of the sport.

“I want to be able to tell those stories and make those young kids go ‘Oh that gal came from my hometown, and now they’re starring in the NCAA’, or ‘Hey, they got drafted by a major league baseball team,’ and those kinds of stories will allow for them to be inspired to chase their dream as well,” McFarland noted.

Wilson says coverage is lacking for smaller baseball leagues around Alberta. He hopes shining a spotlight onto these leagues and players will encourage kids, including his own, to take up baseball.

“I want them to see the value in the game, I want them to see the lessons that come with it, the importance of health and fitness and athletics,” Wilson said.

Wilson and McFarland have looked at expanding their operation to new regions, but say they are primarily focused on telling Albertan stories first.

“I feel like we’re just scratching the surface, there’s so many great stories of baseball in this province and it’s just an honour and a privilege for us to be able to tell some of those stories.”

You can find Alberta Dugout Stories Apple Podcast, Spotify or Google Play.