The All American Girls Professional Baseball League was a league that operated in cities located on or near Lake Michigan. It began in 1943. The main promoter was Philip Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, who was worried about the viability of (men’s) pro baseball during World War Two, and decided to establlish an alternate attraction. The league lasted until 1954. Over the years the rules, equipment, and style of play in the league changed from softball to baseball (for example, the size of the ball at the beginning was 12″ in circumference, but at the end it was 9 ¼”). Eleven girls from Manitoba played in the league. All of them were inducted into the Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1988. They were inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame at St. Mary’s, Ontario on June 4, 1998

Back Row: Ed Strain, Johnny Maroniuk, Roy Meneer, Barney Strain, Ivan Grant, Cliff Holloway, Alex Baron
Front Row: Tommy Inverarity, Arnold McFarlane, Wilbur Strain, Claude Reid.Bat Boy: Ivan Strain

Missing: Tommy Dickson, Harvey McFarlane, Roy Minera,  Clarence Strain

The 1946 Carberry Royals are the first team inducted into a special category for teams from communities with less than 1000 people. The team travelled nearly 3200 miles and won almost $3500 in tournaments held in various places in southern Manitoba. They travelled by truck with the body of a bus on the back.

The Fort Whyte Tournament Team from 1954 to 1960 consisted of players from Winnipeg Senior Baseball league teams and outstanding Winnipeg Junior League players and occasionally players from rural Manitoba. They compete in tournaments from Souris and Elphinstone in the West, across the province to Keewatin and Dryden in Ontario. Averaging sixteen to eighteen open and invitational tournaments per year and playing against many excellent teams. They never lost more than two tournaments in any year.

All Star first baseman with Brandon Cloverleafs, 7 time Central Manitoba Baseball Association champs (’54-60) 9 times. all star first baseman in M.S.B.L. 1961-7l, league batting champion in ’66 and ’69, Canadian champs in ’72, Manitoba champs in ’66, ’67, ’69, ’71, president of first Canadian Youth championships at Brandon in 1989, president of World Youth championships at Brandon in 1991. past president of World Youth championships at Brandon in 1994

Involved for 55 years as a player, coach, umpire placed with First Kildonan Rangers and West End Gengals Bantams, Norwood, and C.U.A.C. Midgets, United Fox and C.U.A.C. Juniors, senior with St. Boniface Native Sons, Selkirk. St. James. and St. Vital. coached midget, junior, senior and intermediate teams winning championships with Precious Blood and Fannystelle, was junior all star coach in `54, playing coach of successful tournament team in 50`s and 60`s, umpired for 38 years, conducted clinics and was umpire-in-chief for 20 years, once supplied umpires for l07 teams, was umpire-in-chief for 1967 Pan Am Games, officiated in rural tournaments for over 20 years.

Played or managed Riverside Canucks for 4l years( 1950 – 91) shortstop, pitcher and outfielder as one of 4 brothers, led Riverside to 7 M.S.B.L. championships and 5 M.B.A. crowns, was M.S.H.L. all star l7 times, led Team Manitoba 5 times ( 1 as coach and 4 as manager) won two Western Canada championships and a bronze medal at Kentville, NS, managed host M.S.B.L. all stars in 1977 Canadian championships.

McConnell versatile player who played at McConnell, Cardale, Foxwarren, Hamiota, Miami, Carman, all star pitcher at, Indianhead in 1955, coached for 38 years, won several provincial crowns including 3(bantam, juvenile, junior) at Hamiota in 1957, barnstormed as player coach in Hamiota in 1957. Hamiota player-coach who won prestigious Birtle July 1 tournament 7 consecutive years (55-6l ). Coach of Canada`s Pan Am team in 67, also vice president Carman Pan Am Society, M.B.A. president (83-87), general manager Canada’s Youth team at World Championships (87-89) in Windsor, Trois Rivieres, Sydney, Australia. M.B.A. Volunteer of Year in 1996. Recently inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, being the first inductee from Manitoba.

Great pitcher with McConnell, Cardale. Hamiota, Carman & Miami in league and tournament play (1950-77), in 1967 Pan Am Games he had a 1-1 record against Cuba (4-6 & 10-9), won 2 games at Canada Games in Halifax 1969, pitched 2 games for Team Canada at Cartagena Columbia against U.S.A. and Columbia (1970) was pitcher- manager in Cali Columbia (197I ) beat Puerto Rico 5-3, 1970 at Canadian senior championships in Brandon won games over Alberta and P.E.I., at World Championships in 1972 at Managua Nicaragua had 1-1 record (4-1 over Honduras, 3-4 to Costa Rica) 1973 won silver medals as Team Manitoba manager in Burnaby B.C., was player -coach for Team Canada at Intercontinental Cup in Bologna, Italy, coached-managed Manitoba teams to medals at Kenosse Lake, SK. Pointe aux Trembles, PQ, Burnaby, BC, North Battleford, SK, Vancouver, Fredericton, Edmonton, St. Albert, Regina, Saskatoon. Held various offices for M.S.B.L. Baseball Manitoba and Baseball Canada.

Tobacco Creek outstanding hurler who had Bud Sweeney as his catcher, performed with Myrtle (20`s) Miami, Oakville, Dunrea, Notre Dame, Elm Creek, Starbuck, Belmont and Carman, great tournament pitcher who pitched against House of David, later turned to umpiring and was highly regarded.

Builder – Media. Good Left handed pitcher who went to Washington Senators camp in 1950 with Gary Blaine, 1956 – 58 Regina Leader Post. 1958 – 63 Winnipeg Tribune covered Goldeyes and World Series, 1968 – 74 covered Montreal Expos for Montreal Star, 1974 – 77 anchored an open line radio show for Montreal stations CJAD & CFCF, 1977 – 82 – CBC anchor in Winnipeg, 1982 – 89 covered Toronto Blue Jays for Toronto Sun and Toronto Star, founded Manitoba Marathon. Charity work for Toronto Food Bank, Winnipeg Harvest Food Bank, Gimli Food Bank.