1967 Canadian Pan Am Games Team

This team included eight Manitobans. They were coaches Gerry MacKay (Brandon) and Gladwyn Scott (Carman), players Gene Cory (Riverside), Bob Hunter (Transcona), Cam Hurst (Transcona), Maurice Oakes (Brandon), Al Robertson (Hamiota), Glennis Scott (Miami). The team trained in Brandon and played exhibition games in Western Manitoba. It was the first truly Canadian national team. Teams in the tournament were Canada, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico. The highlight came with the 10-9 victory over the Cubans in a game at Carman. This was Cuba’s first loss in twelve years of international competition.

McConnell 1949–54

Perennial contenders in the Mid-West League and a great tournament team. Averaged about 65 games a year and only about 10 losses. Had a strong group of pitchers including Murray Richardson, Ross Pollock, Harold Pollock, Ray Asselstine, Gladwyn Scott, Glennis Scott. The main catcher for 25 years was Jim Scott (Sr.) Special events included playing the travelling (Negro) Muskogee (Oklahoma) Cardinals at Rossburn, playing the tough Holar (Saskatchewan) team at Russell, and playing in the 1955 Indian Head tournament with $1,000 as the top prize.

St Boniface Native Sons 1955–1959

The Native Sons were formed in 1932 and terminated operations in 1998. In the six years, from 1953-1958, they won the Winnipeg Senior League crown five times. They were known as the Yankees of the west. In the 1950’s they won the Senior League title seven times in nine years, losing in the finals the other two years. They were talented at all positions. Among the prominent players, 1953-1958, were pitchers Ed Mazur, Bruce Pell, Bruce Jones, John Robertson, Joe Baron, and Pete Rettie, catchers Bruce Hudson and Don Collins, outfielders Ken Little, Gord Simpson, Reg Chopp, and Ray Hayes, infielders Jim Zarie, Al Johnson, Bob Hansford, Ken Ridley, and Fred Dunsmore, coaches Terry Hind and Doug McGhee.

Blessed with a depth of talent in all positions the Native Sons won the Greater Winnipeg Senior League crown five times in the six year span and became known as the Yeankees of the local senior circuit. They won the Leage also in 1951 and were finalists in 1952 and 1954. Some team members included Bruce Hudson and Don Collins (catcher), Ed Mazur, Bruce Pell, Bruce Jones, John Robertson, Joe Baron, Pete Rettiel, Garnet Boutet (pitchers), Ken Little, Gord Simpson, Reg Chopp, Ray Hayes (outfields, Jim Zarie, Al Johnson, Bob Hansford, Ken Ridley, Fred Dunsmore (infielders), Terry Hind, Doug McGee (coaches). The Native Sons were formed in 1932 and terminated in 1998.

Ernie Boushy

Ernie was born in Gilbert Plains and played with the Dauphin Redbirds from 1948-51, the Carman Cardinals of the ManDak League in 1952, and in Welch, West Virginia in the Appalachian League in 1953. Ernie also played in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the Piedmont League in 1954. Boushy was the batting champion in 1953 in the Appalachian League, but could not expect to move up from minor leagues, so he returned home to Swan River in 1955. In the 1960s Boushy was a very prominent curler, and skipped rink to four provincial and two national mixed titles in 1955.

Mort Wright

Mort Wright played minor ball in Brandon, went to Washington Senators camp in Florida in 1953, but returned to play with Brandon Athletics, Greys, Cloverleafs. He pitched three no-hitters and played a prominent role on the Cloverleafs three Central Manitoba Baseball Association champions of 1955-57. Later Mort was playing manager of Cloverleafs teams of 1958-60, which won three more C.M.B.A. titles. After M.S.B.L. was formed, Wright managed the Cloverleafs to three straight league and provincial titles, from 1967-69. Wright later managed or assisted at Virden and at Riverside. Mort Wright retired in 1992 after 41 seasons of playing, coaching, and managing with teams that won six C.M.B.A. titles, five M.S.B.L. crowns, and two Manitoba championships.