Rockets once ruled Indian Head
They were called the Indian Head Rockets, a team in the Negro League of the 1950s. Indian Head is a small farming community east of Regina, Saskatchewan. In Saskatchewan, one might think hockey is king here. But you may find the sport fourth or even fifth on the list of activities most popular in the province. Football, baseball, curling; those three sports have solid following in the province of Saskatchewan. Football comes from over 100 years of the Green and White, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders are the only professional team of any sport here. Curling can be attributed to such greats as the late Sandra Schmirler of Biggar, Ed Lukowich, Stefanie Lawton and Rick Folk. And then there’s baseball.
Terry Puhl (former Houston Astro), Aldon Jay “Lefty” Wilkie, Terry Donahue (who played with the All American Girls Baseball League), and Ralph Stanley Buxton are just a few of the names that trace back to Saskatchewan with professional baseball. For a time, however, we had the Indian Head Rockets, one of several teams that played in the Negro League. The players who were part of that 1950s team still remember Indian Head. Some went onto the Big Leagues, playing for the Boston Red Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals and other teams in the Majors.
It’s said the story of the Indian Head Rockets would make a great movie. Read more on the Rockets at the Saskatoon Star Phoenix.
“I was scouted, but it didn’t happen. I was drafted for the Korean War and the teams I guess forgot about me. No regrets. Canada was a tremendous experience. Indian Head was the most enjoyable time of my life.” ~Willie Reed, former player with the Indian Head Rockets
