The Thompson Reds were developed by “Red” Sangster. “Red” developed a top notch team by attracting young athletes to work at Inco and play for the Reds in the Polar League with Flin Flon, The Pas, Bowsman. In 1969 the Reds lost to Binscarth in Senior B provincials. The scores were 1–0 (win), 12–11 (loss) in 19 innings, 5–3 (loss). In 1970 Thompson hosted the Westen Canada Senior B championship.
During the early 1950’s, players from the Wheathill, Buffalo Lake, and Chatfield areas joined together to form a baseball team in Chatfield. From 1949 to 1954, the team was in their building stage. By 1952, Chatfield has established a very strong and dominant baseball team that played in weekend tournaments. Chatfield played in tournaments throughout central Manitoba. Some of the interlake towns with baseball tournaments that Chatfield took part in were: Arborg, Ashern, Broad Valley, Eriksdale, Fisher Branch, Hodgson, Inwood, Gimli, Lundar, Poplarfield, Oak Point, St. Laurent, Siglunes, Stonewall, Teulon, and Woodlands. Chatfield also ventured out to bigger tournaments such as Vita and Notre Dame de Lourdes. In these distant tournaments, Chatfield played against well-known Manitoba teams such as Fort Whyte, Precious Blood, St. Boniface, Brandon, Carman, and teams from the United States.
Chatfield also had their own tournaments. In 1955 they held three tournaments in Chatfield and won all of their tournaments. At most tournamentsChatfield was usually in the finals and very rarely would they go home without any of the prize money.
Binscarth was perennial champions in the North West League and won the provincial senior B crowns in 1969-70-71.
In 1972 the Orioles moved to the Manitoba Senior League which they won with a 16-4 pennant record and the provicial senior A title. In 1973 Binscarth won the M.S.B.L. pennant, Binscarth played in many big Western Canada tournaments (Regina Langenberg, Moose Jaw, Melville, Saskatoon, Saltcoats, Lacombe Alberta).
Garth Neville who also played with Team Canada, was their main pitcher but the Orioles combined youth, speed, great defense and stong hitting.
Although American imports were not used by the Orioles then, manager Bob Wasslen was a good recruiter.
Daune Yerex was an excellent Player/Builder for the sport of baseball. Daune was a southpaw pitcher with good fastball and curve. He started with Eden at 16 years of age, moved to home community Springhill squad from 1950-55, won team Neepawa and District League in 1954, and returned to Eden. Daune was often selected to all star teams, and moved to Winnipeg to manage a tournament team, St. Avila Royals, for four years. Daune later returned to Neepawa and managed the Farmers for four years, managed the Cubs for one season, was a work horse on the mound as he hurled 30 innings in a four day stretch including 14 frames at Dauphin and a 1-0 victory over the Redbirds. Daune tossed a perfect game on July 1 at Austin for Brandon Cloverleafs against Selkirk. Daune was a great supporter of baseball and the Hall of Fame.
Bob Wilson played in the Brandon After Little League, Pony League, Brandon Athletics, and for one year Bob joined the Cloverleafs in 1957. For the next 21 years Bob won the Central Manitoba Baseball crown four times from 1957-60, won M.S.B.L. title six times and the Manitoba senior A crown five times (66, 69, 70, 71, 76). Bob played in the Canadian championships at Kenosee (1971), took silver at the Canadian championships in Edmunston, N.B. in 1973, and was named to M.S.B.L. first all star team nine times and the second all star team three times. Bob had a 17 year batting average of .306 in M.S.B.L., and was named to the M.S.B.L. forty year all star team as an outfielder.
Ken Seafoot played for Riverside and Virden. Ken was one of four brothers was an original member Of Riverside (1946) and was a catcher, pitcher and manager for 17 years. Ken moved to Virden and entered the Oilers into the M.S.B.L. in 1963 where he was manager for three years. He was voted to M.S.B.L. all star team in 1961-1963. Ken received M.S.B.L. Honorary Life Membership in 1988, was M.S.B.L. umpire 1966-88, and served as umpire in chief 1969-74 (implemented umpire dress code, organized clinics, encouraged rotating umpire teams in play-offs). Ken also officiated in five Canadian Championships in Regina, Vancouver, Virden, Brandon (2) and two Western Canada Championships.
Harold Pollock played primarily with McConnell for 14 years from 1943-57. Harold was a good hitter with power, daring base runner, and always gave 110%. Pollock was widely known as Lefty and big Harold, his pitching record in 1954 was 15-3, one of six. Pollock played with McConnell in late 40’s and early 50’s, Hall of Famer Lorne Lilley said “Harold was colorful, competitive, a great team man, you could write a book about him.” Harold “[s]tarted out as an infielder but couldn’t throw the ball straight” stated Harold, who is a retired grain buyer in Wolsley, Saskatchewan.
Hub Orchard played second base for Miami from 1920-46, and managed successful 1947 and 48 tournament teams. Hub was a well known umpire from the late 40’s to mid 60’s in Carman, Morden, Notre Dame, Belmont, St. Claude, Winkler, etc. He coached minor ball from 1950-58, won Manitoba Juvenile titles from 1954-56 over Neepawa, Hamiota, and Melita respectively. Hub was Manitoba midget finalist in 1953 to Elmwood and junior finalist to Hamiota in 1957. Orchard served as president and V.P. of the Manitoba Minor Baseball association in the mid 50`s, received M.B.A. Honour Society Award in 1972, and was R.M. of Thompson Councillor from 1964-75. Hub was very active in recreation, curling, hockey and Grand Master – IOOF Lodge.
Dave Olsen was a significant builder of the sport of baseball. He was the Elmwood Giants director for 20 years, spent 10 years on the M.B.A. (three as president), and six years with Baseball Canada (two as president). Dave was instrumental in obtaining funding for Whittler Park, and St. James, Elmwood and Winnipeg South parks through city of Winnipeg. Dave was also the baseball chairman for the 1999 Pan Am Games, coached for over 30 years, won seven provincial titles, twice M.J.B.L. manager of the year. Olsen was the general manager of the 1987 Western Canada Summer Games Team, 1992 Youth Selects Team, 1997 Canada Summer Games Team, and the 1999 Western Canada Summer Games Team.
Dale Lowes was a McAuley Blazers catcher with a great arm (threw out 17 straight base runners in M.S.B.L.). Dale hit two grand slams, back to back in Elphinstone on July 1 against Cypress River (8-0), M.S.B.L. champions in 65, 75, 87, and Manitoba champs 75 and 87. Dale Lowes was M.S.B.L. First all star team, 12 times and second all star team in 78. Dale won bronze medals in Canadian championships in 76 & 85. Dale had good speed, was a power hitter, a team leader, and one of the top catchers in M.S.B.L. history. Lowes had a .319 batting average in his 17 year M.S.B.L. career.