It was a milestone event for the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Saturday night at the Alex Dillabough Centre.
The museum hosted their 30th annual induction ceremony, enshrining 16 new people, places and teams into the annals of Saskatchewan baseball history.
Entering the hall in the players category were Frederick Cardwell from Kelowna, B.C., the late Stan Green from Kamsack, the late Bob Herron who played with the North Battleford Beavers from 1952-53, White Rock, B.C.'s Brian Keegan, Dean Mathison from Leader, Charlie Meacher from Moose Jaw, Ross Morrison from Medicine Hat, Alta., Harvey Nybo from Lake Pelletier, Kevin Ritchie from Wilcox, Edwin Rolheiser from Rosetown, Bob Silzer from Saskatoon and the late Lloyd Woolley from Regina.
In the team category, the Climax Cardinals and the 1932-36 Regina Nationals were inducted into the hall of fame. The Varjassy family from Kipling was inducted in the family category. Muenster was selected in the community category.
Keegan, who grew up in Moose Jaw and played with the Regals from 1963-67, and the Swift Current Indians in 1968-69 and 1971-75, was chosen to speak to the more than 400 people in the audience on behalf of the inductees. He said they were a varied group of individuals, families and teams spanning more than six decades.
He added they had "individuals who have made their name through coaching, others through playing and playing at different levels all over the province, which allows us to just have a great celebration when we come together."
Keegan said that he spoke for all of the inductees when he said it was an honour to be part of the "storied history of this organization which has played a major role in keeping the heritage of baseball in Saskatchewan alive."
The evening's guest speaker was Bowmanville, Ont.'s Bill Humber, one of Canada's foremost sports historians. He detailed the foundation of baseball in Saskatchewan, specifically the province's first premier Thomas Walter Scott's love of the game. Humber said Scott was a "noted pitcher" as a young man in Saskatchewan.
Long-time inductor Paul Hack was honoured during the induction ceremony as well. He has been the voice of the inductions for all 30 ceremonies. Hack again introduced the individual players.
The ceremony was the closing of Saskatchewan Baseball Museum Day, as proclaimed by the Town of Battleford.
In the morning, a crowd gathered in front of the museum at 292-22nd St. for the unveiling of the biggest bat in Canada. Progressive Yard Works in Saskatoon produced the bat, measuring 55 feet long with a five-foot diameter. The bat is six feet longer than the previous biggest bat in Canada located in Edmonton.
"Some people say, 'Why a big bat?' I say, 'Why not?'" said Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum president and CEO Jane Shury.
MLA for the Battlefords Herb Cox says the bat will be a great asset to the Battlefords and wished he had a bat this size when he was still playing baseball.
"Had I had a stick this size when I was playing ball, it probably would've helped my batting average. I'm sure I could've got it up over .100."
The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is open throughout the year from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. It houses memorabilia including uniforms, photographs, equipment, trophies, bats, balls and more.
Make sure to check out the photo gallery of the night's events.
