Saturday's event brought people from across the province to celebrate the contributions of the hall of fame class of 2021. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Baseball's Brightest

Sask Baseball HOF celebrates ‘home run evening’ at 36th annual induction ceremony

Aug 23, 2021 | 2:59 PM

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame held their 36^th Annual Induction Ceremony, Sat., Aug. 21 at the Alex Dillabough Centre in Battleford.

The event, which featured the enshrinement of 12 individuals, three teams and one community, was well attended with just under 300 people from across the province.

Former president of the Lloydminster Baseball Association, Kevin Kusch was among the inductees of this year’s class, and said it was ‘truly something special’ to receive the call to the hall and be a guest of honour at Saturday’s celebration.

“It’s really a humbling evening to be a part of when you see some of the names on the wall that have been inducted previously and even my fellow inductees,” Kusch said. “It’s a fantastic event and again, kudos to Jane (Shury) and the board in being able to put it on this year and their patience with COVID and everything, to persevere and make it happen.”

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Also inducted for his contributions to baseball in the province was George Guillaume of Moose Jaw, who was instrumental in helping to establish the game in the nearby village of Marquis during the 1950s.

“I think it’s just super to be here,” Guillaume said Saturday. “At the end of my life – I’m 88 years old now – I can’t say that I could be more happy.”

Other inductees on-hand during Saturday’s event included Fred Curts (Holdfast), Allan Fitzsimmons (Saskatoon), Al Greschuk (Yorkton), Elemer Jerkovits (Regina), Rick Johnston (Maidstone), Neil Urlacher (Okotoks, Alta./Macklin), and Rocky Nickel (Caronport).

Representatives were also present for those posthumously inducted, including the late Father Leonard Albers (Bengough), the late “Goldie” Wiggins (Fillmore), and the late Roy Taylor (Visalia, Calif./Saskatoon).

Also on-hand were representatives for the the teams honoured including the Aquadell Flyers of 1947-1972, the Kamsack Cyclones, and the Edam Blue Sox of 1985-94; and Village Of Gray, Sask.

Nickel called the evening ‘a tremendous honour,’ adding that it’s one he will remember for some time, serving as another of the many special memories the game has given him.

“Baseball has taken me to every province in this country and because of it I have friends from Newfoundland to Victoria B.C.,” Nickel said. “The friendship and comradery is just tremendous, and that’s what I’ll remember most.”

The event also raised $1,600 as part of the evening’s 50-50 game, 100 per cent of which was donated back to the hall of fame and museum by the winning participants, Keith Guillaume and Darwin Urlacher.

President and CEO of the hall, Jane Shury said she’s grateful for the support on display again this year, and to all those who came out to make the weekend induction celebration the success that it was.

“Considering with COVID and other things going on, we had less than our usual 400 people, but [with] the ones who were there, we had a great turnout and everybody had a really happy time,” Shury said. “Everyone was really pleased with the program, as we were pleased in having them attend, and supporting our baseball hall of fame.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1