A look inside what was a joyous occasion, celebrating the Class of 2022 at the Alex Dillabough Centre Saturday evening. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Home Run Celebration

Sask Baseball H.O.F. celebrates 37th Induction Ceremony

Aug 23, 2022 | 5:00 AM

It was a home run weekend for the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame at their 37^th Annual Induction Ceremony.

The Class of ’22 featured the enshrinement of 13 individuals, two teams, and one family, with a room full of friends and loved ones on hand for the celebration at Battleford’s Alex Dillabough Centre.

Perhaps the furthest-traveled inductee at Saturday’s ceremony was Nat Bates. A pitcher with the all-black Indian Head Rockets team of the early ‘50s, the soon-to-be 91-year-old made the trip for this year’s induction weekend from Richmond, California to represent his team.

“It’s a tremendous honour; it’s sort of like a dream coming true,” Bates said, reflecting on the Rockets’ induction. “It’s something we never anticipated, and I’m just blessed to be one of probably only two survivors of the 1952 Indian Head Rockets.”

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North Battleford’s Kelvin Colliar was inducted for his contributions to the game throughout the years, as a player, bat boy, umpire, and commissioner at various times with local baseball teams and leagues in the region.

Colliar said his induction into the Hall, which already brought back a swell of memories from years spent at the ballpark, was only made sweeter sharing the experience with his father, and fellow Sask. Baseball Hall of Famer, Bob Colliar.

“It’s a reflection back on 50 years of baseball for me, going back to my early days starting in North Battleford working around the ball diamond with my dad as a bat boy,” Colliar said. […] “My dad is 92, so it was really good to have him here to celebrate this with me, because my love of baseball comes from his love of baseball.”

A strong family connection to the sport also played a big part in Regina native, Mitch McDonald’s journey to enshrinement.

McDonald received the unique distinction of being named a double inductee of the 2022 Class, receiving the call to the Hall both for his individual accomplishments and as part of the McDonald family, along with parents Leo and Jean McDonald, brother Jeff, and sister Stephanie.

And while much of his early life was spent in Regina, the weekend also marked a homecoming of sorts for both Mitch and his family in their return to the Battlefords.

“My dad actually coached the North Stars in the early 90s, so I was about four or five when we left to go to Regina, so this was my first time being back here in about 30 years,” Mitch said, letting out a smile. “For my father, I’m sure it’s been close to that as well, so it was pretty neat that way; we got to see the old house and see the neighborhood again.”

Another of the weekend’s inductees experiencing a reunion of sorts, was also making his second trip across the stage, in Moose Jaw’s George Guillaume.

Already inducted for his contributions to the sport as an individual last year, as part of the Class of ’21, Guillaume received the honour this time around representing the Marquis Wheat Kings, a team he helped establish in the late 1950s and served as player/coach with into the early ‘60s.

He was one of two players in attendance at the weekend’s celebration representing the Marquis team, along with his old teammate Merv Froehlich, who made the trip from Prince Edward Island, giving the friends a chance to reconnect.

“He was my neighbor at home, and then he was about 30 years old when he left [to the east coast] with his wife, and he came back [Saturday] for this,” Guillaume said.

When asked what stands out most from his years involved with the game, Guillaume said it’s the friendships made.

“Baseball meant a lifetime of meeting people, of playing and having fun,” he said. “It even took me to the World Series in 1955, so I have of good memories because of it.”

Other inductees enshrined within the Class of 2022 include Roger Blaquiere (Edam), Blair Bosch (Medicine Hat), Myles Dezotell (Regina), Clayton Ermel (Lloydminster), Mary Anne Gaetz (Unity), Ron Knaus (Regina), Harry Lamberty (Nipawin), Jack Scott (Fairmont, BC.), Elmer Torgerson (Eyebrow, SK.), Brooks Washfelder (Yorkton), and Ernie Weimer (Fox Valley, SK).

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1