In 1955 a team was organized in Mid-Western Manitoba to compete in the Manitoba Little League. Due to a certain technicality, the team was unable to join the league and had to satisfy their desire to play by competing in exhibition games. They even defeated the League Champions and went on to represent the province in several exhibition matches.

In 1957 the Oildome League was organized as a part of the PONY League (Protect our Nations Youth). PONY had begun in the early 1950’s to give youngsters the opportunity to play competitive sport and be involved in the life of a team. Many saw sport as an excellent way to teach and entertain these children, therefore keeping them out of trouble.

Initially, there were only four teams in the Oildome PONY League, Crandall, Decker, Kenton, and Virden. The quality of play amongst these young teams was extraordinary. An All-Star team was selected from the players of each of these towns to compete at a Provincial Play-Down. Laurie Artiss, Charlie Lee, and Bruce Knight were instrumental in bringing the team together.

The All-Star team proved to be highly successful, going on to win the Rural Manitoba Championships. This allowed the Oildome All-Stars to compete against the reigning Manitoba Champions, the Winnipeg South Division All-Stars. The Oildome All-Stars went on to win the series 2-1, giving them the opportunity to represent Manitoba in the Canadian PONY League Championships.

They Oildome Allstars went on the win the Canadian PONY League Championships.

The Oakland Braves were an amalgamation of players from Nesbitt and Wawanessa. Traditionally these two teams had been rivals, but a lack of players brought them together in 1957. The played in the South Central League.

The team was often successful in league and tournament play. Their most notable year was 1961. They won the League Championship game that year, beating the Brandon Cloverleafs 13–0 in the final game. After defeating Cartwright the Oakland Braves advanced to the final series of the South Manitoba Baseball Association. They won the title of Southern Manitoba Champions after defeating Reston in two straight games. Oakland then went on to defeat Rivers in the battle of the Northern and Southern Manitoba Leagues.

From 1991-1996, the Boissevain Centennials dominated the Southwest Baseball League and were regular attendees at the Manitoba Senior AA Championships, where they often took home titles.

The Centennials won the Southwest Baseball League title each year from 1991-1994, and again in 1996. In 1993 and 1994, they also finished their regular season undefeated. The team’s best years came in 1991 and 1996, during which they won the Manitoba Senior AA Championship. In the 1996 Nationals, the team gave up only five runs in their first game thanks to MVP pitcher, Junior Brake.

From 1956–1962, the Miami Baseball Club played in the South Central Border League (also known as the South Central League and South Eastern Manitoba League). The team often competed against local teams such as Winkler, Altona, Plum Coulee, Carman, Roland, and Morden. The league later expanded to include several teams from the United States, allowing the Miami team to compete against Cavalier, Walhalla, and Neche out of North Dakota. The team was extremely successful in this league, winning the league title in 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1960. They went on to win the play-off championships in each of these years except 1957, when they lost to Carman in the semi-finals.

Miami was also often victorious when they travelled to local tournaments. The Annual Morden Tournament held on July 1st saw them in the finals each year from 1956-1960. In 1957 and 1960 they were able to take home the championship.

The Birtle Blue Jays were a small town team that played in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League (MSBL). They competed at a high caliber and were extremely successful.

In 1999, after advancing all the way to the provincial finals, Birtle lost in a seven game series that went right until the final game. The following year they redeemed themselves by winning the MSBL Championships and taking home the Manitoba Senior AAA Crown. This impressive feat was accomplished again in 2002 and in 2004.

In 2001, the Blue Jays attended the Nationals in Kentville, Nova Scotia. The tournament went very well, and Birtle brought home the President’s Cup. In 2003 they attended Nationals once again, but lost in the semi-finals. After winning their third MSBL Championship and Manitoba AAA Crown in 2004, they attended Nationals again in Kamloops, BC in 2005.

Ron Toews was born in Plum Coulee, Manitoba on January 30, 1945. Toews was an impressive pitcher and shortstop. He began playing in Plum Coulee at the age of 12, and he spent much of his early career playing for his hometown. Toews was recruited by Winkler in 1962 and ’63 to play in the Manitoba Juvenile Provincials, where they won the championship. He was a member of the Plum Coulee senior team from 1960-64, and in 1966. In 1963, this team won the local senior league. The next year, he joined the Brandon Cloverleafs as a pitcher and shortstop before returning to Plum Coulee for the 1966 season. Toews went on to win the Manitoba Senior Baseball League (MSBL) Championship with the Brandon Cloverleafs in the following two seasons. In 1970, he pitched with the Ste. Agathe Bisons for the Canada Nationals. Following this tournament, he went on to coach at the Greendell Community Club from 1986-96. Toews’ teams won the Bonvital Championship in 1986, ’87, ’89, ’90, and ’95. He later served as a Greendell Community Club executive from 1997-98. Toews was previously inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame, and the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame (as part of his family).

Bob Paradine was born in Binscarth, Manitoba on March 7, 1958. Paradine played with the Binscarth Orioles in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League from 1981-90. The Orioles won the league title in 1982, ’84, and ’86. Paradine was named Manitoba Senior Baseball League (MSBL) all-star outfielder five times during his time with the Orioles. He went on to serve as president of Binscarth Minor Baseball for ten years. Paradine was also a very successful fastball coach, and he often coached three women’s teams each year. From 1996-2008, he had many different teams reach the finals, earning provincial gold numerous times in each age category he coached. Paradine’s effort allowed many local girls the opportunity to play top-caliber baseball, and all three of his daughters ended up receiving scholarships to play baseball in the United States.

 

Bob Paradine Newspaper Article 1976

These articles are gathered from University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections, Winnipeg Tribune Collection

Terry Kirlin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Kirlin was an excellent player and an even better coach. He played in the Manitoba Junior Baseball League for six years, four of which were with Transcona, and two were with Legion 141. He led the league in home runs and was on the all-star team two times. Kirlin then played for Iowa Western College in 1974, and Augsburg University from 1975-78. Upon returning to Manitoba in 1978, he started playing ball with Dauphin’s senior team. Following one season with them, in 1979 he joined the Elmwood Giants’ senior team. With the Giants, Kirlin was considered a key player. He was appointed team captain and later served as playing coach for many years. While playing with the Elmwood Giants, they appeared in the league finals 12 times and won a Redboine League championship. Kirlin then served as the senior Elmwood Giants’ coach until 1997. From this coaching role, he led the team to 14 league finals, one league championship, one provincial championship, and four western Canadian championship appearances. As captain and coach he was well respected and loved. Kirlin was known for handing out player report cards to teach and encourage his team. He also served on the Redboine Board of Directors from 1989-98 as a player representative, vice president, and president.

Glen Hunter was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has been apart of Manitoba baseball for decades as a player, coach, and clinician. While with the Elmwood Bison Baseball team, he won the provincial championship and western Canadian championship in 1978. From 1978-81 he played on the Elmwood Giants junior team, winning the league championships in 1978, ’79, and ’80. They also won the national junior championships in 1978, the western Canadian championships in 1979, and silver at the western Canadian championships in 1980. This Elmwood team was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. From 1982-93, Hunter played with the Elmwood Giants senior team. This team made it to the league finals consecutively from 1982-88, and then again from 1990-93. While playing for the Giants, Hunter was selected for the Redboine League all-star team a total of four times. Hunter has also coached many teams, including the provincial midget all-star team who finished fourth at the national championships in 2008, and the Elmwood Giants juniors who won the western Canadian championships in 2010. In 2008 he was chosen as Manitoba’s High Performance Coach of the Year. For decades, Hunter was also involved in organizing clinics for both players and coaches. Late in his career, he was highly involved in the administration of the Manitoba Junior Baseball League, and he has served as vice-president and director of media relations.

Brian Hodgson was born in Roland, Manitoba on October 28, 1954. Hodgson has been involved in baseball as a player and umpire at an elite level since the early 1970s. He had a notable career with the Carman Goldeyes at the junior and senior levels from 1970-86, in which they won numerous championships within the league and province. As a member of the Carman Goldeyes senior team, he he Hodgson was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Hodgson represented Manitoba at the Canadian championships in 1971, the western Canadian junior championships in 1972, ’74, and ’75, and the western Canadian senior championships in 1984, where his team won silver. Since the completion of his playing career in 1986, Hodgson has supervised and umpired numerous provincial and western Canadian baseball championships. He has also umpired professional baseball in the Northern League and the American Association. He has served as vice-president of umpires for Baseball Manitoba from 1996-’99, and later served on the Baseball Manitoba Umpire Committee. Hodgson was also selected by the International Baseball Federation to serve as an umpire in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. This was the last Olympic Games to include baseball in the program before it was removed.

 

Bob Hodgson, Newspaper Article 1973

Bob Hodgson Newspaper Article 1974

Bob Hodgson Newspaper Article 1976

These articles are gathered from University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections, Winnipeg Tribune Collection