It is the end of an era for baseball in Swift Current. 

The Swift Current 57’s announced today Joe Carnahan will not be continuing as the team’s head coach and general manager. Carnahan had been a part of the Western Canadian Baseball League franchise as a coach and player for 20 seasons. 

"I came to the Swift Current Indians organization 20 years ago to play baseball for a summer and as a result of the people I was fortunate to meet and develop relationships with I found myself continually wanting to be involved each year”, Carnahan said in a press release issued by the team this morning. “It was a lot of fun, there were many challenges along the way we were able to overcome and many memories made.” 

In seven seasons as a player, Carnahan led what was then the Swift Current Indians to three Western Major Baseball League championships in 2001, 2005 and 2006, and was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2002 and 2004, WMBL Playoff MVP in 2001 and 2005, and was a five-time All-Star. Carnahan was also awarded as the team’s MVP five times. 

Carnahan then took over for the legendary Harv Martinez as coach after the 2007 season and then built championship teams in 2010, 2016 and 2017, and was voted WMBL Coach of the Year four times. Carnahan has a record of 402 wins and 235 losses as head coach as of the 2019 season, and has played on or coached all six of the Indians’/57’s WMBL Championships. 

Originally from Ashland, Wisconsin, Carnahan currently lives in Swift Current year-round with his wife, Lauren, and three children. He is also a teacher at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School. 

“Now is the right time for me to step away and I would like to thank all the people that have been involved over the years with the Swift Current 57’s organization”, Carnahan added. “I truly enjoyed my time with the organization both as a player and a coach. Most of all though I am grateful for all the relationships I have had the opportunity to gain, with people here in Swift Current and across all of North America." 

A search for Carnahan’s replacement is now underway.