This Brandon Cloverleafs team was one of the greatest amateur baseball teams ever assembled in Manitoba.

The team started in 1948, when Brandon did not have any organized minor baseball team. A bunch of young kids, pumped up from listening to the World Series, got together at a south end softball diamond. They each threw in two dollars for equipment, drew a name from a hat, and the Brandon Cloverleafs Baseball Club was born. Dressed in uniforms that consisted of black sweatpants and white t-shirts. The young team played in pick-up leagues and followed baseball tournaments around the country. They coached and managed themselves. They practiced and played on the Mental Hospital diamond, with practices sometimes lasting seven or eight hours. As the time passed, some of the players left the team, and others took their place. Each year the team became more successful, and eventually the club moved their games to the new Kinsmen Stadium.

In 1951, the Cloverleafs joined the Central Manitoba Baseball Association, which at that time included eight leagues with 40 teams. By 1954, the Cloverleafs had one of the most feared and exciting baseball teams in the history of sport in western Manitoba. From 1954 to 1960, the team won seven Central Manitoba Baseball Association Championships. They had great depth and were a perfect blend of youth and experience, strength and speed, and pitching and fielding. Their playoff record over these years was a phenomenal 36 wins and 5 losses. In 1956 they played 60 games, won 54, lost 4, and tied 2. Three years later, they won 38 of 44 starts.

Throughout the 50s, the Cloverleafs dominated the baseball tournament circuit. They also won various exhibition games with American teams, including one against the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Negro League. They won this game 15-7.

The Brandon Cloverleafs was a team that developed a bunch of rag-tag kids into one of the finest in Manitoba. Their success often hinged on a special magic that went beyond talent. They were good friends, they worked together and stuck together. The group was very close-knit, and that was one of the biggest reasons for their success.

It is only fitting that the Brandon Cloverleafs of this era were the first team inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame They were an outstanding team, and many members from it contributed immensely to baseball long after their playing days were over.

Don Sumner was born in Brandon, Manitoba. Sumner played for Virden, Souris, the Brandon Athletics, and the Brandon Cloverleafs before becoming an umpire and administrator. He served the Manitoba Senior Baseball League as secretary-treasurer, statistician, and in other capacities for over 35 years.

Jim Scott was born in McConnell, Manitoba on April 21, 1908. Scott was the catcher for McConnell’s strong teams of the 1930s. ’40s, and ’50s. He was also often the teams manager during this time. Scott was a highly involved in his local community, and he was a mentor and a leader on and off the field.

Red Sangster was born in Silverwood, Manitoba on October 15, 1924. Sangster spent more than 40 years as a coach, manager, and promoter of baseball in northern Manitoba. He was manager of the Flin Flon Cardinals for nine years and the Thompson Reds for 35 years. During this time, Sangster spearheaded the building of Thompson’s baseball facility in 1968, which is not named Red Sangster Field. He received the Order of Thompson award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Key to the City in October of 2014.

Murray Richardson was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan in 1927. Richardson played professionally in the Dodgers organization in the late 1940s and early ’50s. Locally, he played in Carman, Minot, McConnell, Hamiota, Virden, and The Pas. Richardson helped organize the Oil Dome League while acting as Virden’s Athletic Director (1958-67). He also served as Recreation/Athletic Director in North Battleford and Hamiota.

Ab Richardson was born in McConnell, Manitoba in 1910. Richardson pitched for McConnell, Bradwardine, and Hartney before becoming an umpire, where he made his lasting mark on the game. Richardson was umpire-in-chief for the Manitoba Senior Baseball League (MSBL) for several seasons, and he conducted countless umpiring clinics. He was also president of the MSBL in 1966, ’69, and ’70. Richardson was recognized for his tremendous dedication to baseball through his Honourary Life membership in the MSBL and his induction into the Manitoba Baseball Association Honour Society in 1971.

Pete Rettie was born in Brandon, Manitoba on August 15, 1930. Rettie was a top pitcher in the late 1940s and throughout the ’50s. Rettie began playing baseball because of someone he met in Winnipeg, who encouraged him to put his good throwing arm to use. Initially, he was placed at third base, but he quickly became his team’s pitcher and earned the nickname “Pistol Pete”. Rettie went on to compete in the finals of the 1948 Juvenile League with Norwood, and then won at the City Junior finals the next year with Rosedale. During this series, he pitched a no-hit, no-run game to give himself a shutout streak of 23 innings. Later, Rettie played with the St. Boniface Native Sons from 1951-59. During this time, St. Boniface won five league championships. Midway through his career with Boniface, the Goldeyes obtained his pitching services for a few games, all of which were successful. Rettie was also highly involved administration and coaching for Charleswood baseball and hockey programs.

Irv Powers was born in Nesbitt, Manitoba on January 10, 1934. Powers played with the Brandon Cloverleafs from 1955-57, but an industrial accident cut short his playing career. The very next season, he was appointed to a coaching position with the Cloverleafs. He remained with the organization for the next 23 years, serving many roles, including coach, field manager, and general manager. The Cloverleafs won 11 championships over his tenure, and in 1971 he led them to a national gold medal.

Evelyn Moroz was born in Tyndall, Manitoba on November 11, 1924. She was an excellent all-round athlete who played six seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In this league, she was on was a first-team all-star in 1950 and second-team all-star for two other seasons. Moroz was inducted into the American National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, as part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and she has been individually inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Johnny Menzies was born in Shoal Lake, Manitoba on April 4, 1904. Menzies was a fleet footed center fielder for the Dokey Tigers Winnipeg senior baseball team. He was the league batting champion in 1932 with a .400 average. In 1927 he surpassed this benchmark with a .464 average, but did not play enough games to win the title. The Dokey Tigers were league champions in 1931 and 1932. Menzies was also a star in Holland and Virden, where he was a teacher.