The Indian Head Rockets were an all-African American and Latino baseball team that played across the prairies in the early 1950s. Nat Bates and Willie Reed came north from Richmond, California, with three friends, to play with the Rockets in 1952.
At a time when Black athletes were still shut out of many mainstream opportunities, the Rockets’ thrilling brand of baseball won them admirers across Western Canada. They played hard, they played fast, and they played with purpose—leaving an indelible mark on Saskatchewan’s sporting and social history.
Now in their 90s, Nat Bates and Willie Reed will be honoured at the Regina Red Sox Western Major Baseball League game on June 11 which will feature throwback uniforms to honour the Rockets’ 75th anniversary. In partnership with the Indian Head Museum and the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum, fans can meet Nat Bates and Willie Reed at the SSHF between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 11 as they share their memories of their days barnstorming across the prairies.