Randy Robertson

From Hamiota, Randy Robertson was a top minor-age player. He was on teams that won provincial championships at Beaver, Bantam, and Midget levels. His Souris team won a silver medal at Western Canadians in 1979 and Robertson was the all star catcher. As a Midget in 1982, he was selected to attend an elite development camp in Edmonton. In 1984, Robertson was selected to attend a try-out for the Team Canada Youth Team. In the MSBL, his career lasted only from 1984 through to 1989, but his lifetime average was .352 and his 25 stolen bases in one season set a League record never to be matched. He was part of a Hamiota Red Sox team that won three MSBL pennants and one championship. In Hamiota, Robertson coached minor ball from 1985 through 1988 and he also ran a camp for elite young players.

Greg Cameron

Greg Cameron achieved early success in baseball when he was a member of the Souris Little League team that won the 1961 Manitoba championship. As a Juvenile in 1967, Cameron captained the team from Souris that won the Western Canadian title. The next year he joined the Souris Senior Cardinals and the team won the MSBL pennant. He went on to play a total of 12 more years of Senior ball with Souris and Riverside. He played in four Canadian Senior AAA championships. After retiring, Cameron turned to coaching minor ball in Boissevain. In 1994, he co-coached the Oil Dome Pee Wee All Stars to a Manitoba title. This earned them a trip to Nationals in North Bay, Ontario. Cameron has also convened several provincial championship tournaments in Boissivain and currently acts as announcer and scorekeeper for the Senior Boissevain Centennials.

Bruce Stehpens

As both a player and a builder, Bruce Stephens belongs in the Hall of Fame. He was part of his hometown Cardale’s 1968 Manitoba and Western Canadian Midget champion. In 1972, he was on Manitoba’s Junior representative at Nationals. That same year, he was a rookie and the all star catcher in the MSBL with Binscarth Orioles, who were both League and Provincial champions. In 1973, Stephens moved to Deloraine. For many seasons he played for and coached the Royals of the South West League. He was a perennial all star as well as five time League batting champion. His Royals won the 1983 Western Canadian title. While playing, Stephens also coached minor ball. He led Deloraine’s first Provincial championship Pee Wee team. He represented Manitoba at Westerns and Nationals ten times as a player or coach. He also served Baseball Manitoba as Treasurer and for many years as a coaching clinician.

Trevor Procter

Trevor Procter was an outstanding player at all levels from the 1986 Midget Western and Canadian championships to nine Senior Western and Canadian Nationals while winning three silver and one gold. Trevor was a very versatile player who mainly played third base and was voted defensive player of the year three consecutive seasons in Junior with Legion 141. As an 18 year old pickup he hit .571 at the 1988 Senior Western Canadians in Kamloops, BC. He had a lengthy and successful career in the Redboine Senior League and with the Stonewall Blue Jays of the WSBL. He was a member of multiple League and provincial championship teams. Trevor took up coaching minor ball in his home town of Woodlands and has been instrumental in keeping baseball alive in the community. Several of his coached teams have made provincial appearances over the last 15 years but more importantly he has inspired and motivated many children to continue playing baseball.

 

Lane Curry

Lane Curry has been an outstanding performer on the field and valuable contributor off the field to baseball in Manitoba. Always a dangerous hitter Lane was an all-star in the Border League, Manitoba Junior League, the Manitoba Senior League and was often picked up by other teams for Westerns and National play. He was a member of the Manitoba champion St. Boniface team in 1988 and MSBL champions Hamiota Red Sox in 1990 and Riverside Canucks in 1992. Lane acted as playing manager/coach for Senior AA teams from 1997-2004 in Manitou, Lorne, Altona, and Morden winning three League championships. Lane is even more recognized for his tremendous effort in coaching and promoting baseball as a Baseball MB clinician, high school and minor baseball coach, and as a team Manitoba coach at the 1997 Summer Games. At Mayville State University Lane won the 1989 Conference Batting title and was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame both as a baseball and football player on 1990 teams.

 

“Good evening everyone, I appreciate the job of to introduce Lane Curry, I was fortunate enough to be Lanes teammate, at Mayville State University, in 1990, as well as with the Hamiota Red Sox the same year. Being a teammate of his and watching him in other sports, coaching with Lane at the Canada Games, are a few things that stand out to me. First of all, he was a great teammate both on and off the field, he had a positive influence and kept the team loose with his sense of humor and unique fashion sense, I remember in the late 80’s and 90’s you had the sweat pants he would wear and vintage jerseys, it encumbers everything in the 80’s and 90’s, you can just imagine how he looked out there. In general just a great person to be around,  tonight I can barely read what I wrote, I forgot my glasses, Lane didn’t give me his cause he was afraid I was going to do something with them. Lane is highly competitive and would do anything to get on base when needed, he would sometimes sacrifice a right elbow just to get on base, he is a personable player, not only a good hitter but could play any position and played them well. In fact he could play any sport and be good at it. Probably one of the best all around players and athletes I’ve ever seen, which isn’t surprising to any of us really given the amazing Zeus like athletic figure he had back in those days, its hard to believe by looking at him but that’s more nutrition and high performance training after he retired. He was just born lucky I guess, He understands the game of baseball and is a great coach, to young players. He has the unique ability to connect with the young people, I think the people who have gone under his wing have really benefited from him. His coaching and community involvement over the years has continued wherever he has lived, and I believe the community here in Morden and the surrounding area is very fortunate to have, please join me while we welcome Lane Curry as a new member of the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Ross Tycoles

  • Born in Reston, MB in 1954
  • A significant player, coach, and builder in the history of Manitoba Baseball
  • Perennial South West Baseball League All-Star in the 1980s as a slugging first baseman and pitcher
  • At the Provincial Championships, Ross hit five home runs including three grand slams and three doubles en route to the Deloraine Royals Championship
  • As a coach, Ross’s teams have made 17 provincial playoff appearances since 1991
  • Manitoba Baseball Association’s High-Performance Coach of the Year 2003
  • Three-time Manitoba Senior Baseball League Coach of the Year
  • High involvement in promoting and reviving baseball across Southwestern Manitoba
  • South West Baseball League President for 10 years and President of Reston Minor Baseball for 12 years
  • Manitoba Baseball Association Director and Vice-President of High-Performance for three years
  • Inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Association Honour Society in 2012

Ross Tycoles Newspaper Article 1980

 

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

Jeff Trager

  • Born in Winnipeg, MB in 1969
  • A local star in Winnipeg for 25 years in Junior and Senior Leagues form 1987-2011
  • Jeff had a 4-year junior career in Elmwood, winning the Provincial Championship in 1987 and 1990
  • Jeff, with a few friends, formed the Kildonan Mudcats and joined the Winnipeg Senior Baseball League
  • The Kildonan Mudcats won the League Title in their first year, and Jeff was named MVP
  • Jeff also won awards such as the Outstanding Pitcher Award with the Winnipeg South Chiefs in 1995
  • Winner of the All-Star Utility Player with the Winnipeg South Chiefs Seniors in 2005
  • In 2005, Jeff won the All-Star Short-Stop Award with the St Boniface Black Sox
  • Won All-Star Third Baseman Award with the Winnipeg South Chiefs Seniors in 2009
  • Jeff was on five Provincial winners and played in two Western tournaments
  • Also coaches AA and AAA levels

Mike Krykewich

  • Born in Grandview, MB in 1965
  • Respected coach who contributed invaluably to baseball in Manitoba
  • Coached Manitoba Provincial teams at every level, including Manitoba’s select team for the Canada Cup
  • Guest Coach with Women’s National Team in 2009 and was awarded Baseball Canada’s Coach of the Year Award
  • Coached internationally in Cuba, in Japan at the World Children’s Baseball Fair, and in England to promote baseball
  • Vice-President in both Coaching and Marketing, as well as serving on the Management Committee of Baseball Manitoba
  • Mike volunteered his time to begin a baseball program at the University of Winnipeg on minimal funding and developed it into official status within the NAIA program

Murray Zuk

Zuk played on 4 provincial winners at Hamiota, was the first M.B.A. president from 1969-70 when 4 groups amalgamated, coached and umpired baseball in Souris for many years, and was head coach for the Souris Cardinals Western Canada Juvenile champions in 1967. Zuk was C.F.A.B. director for 4 years, W.C.B.A. Director for 2 year, and was a Cincinnati Red scout for 28 years. He helped several players obtain scholarships, is currently Atlanta Braves Western Canada scouting director, and in 1990 was the assistant coach for the Western Canada Bantam Champion. Zuk was also very involved in figure skating in Manitoba.

Tom Yandeau

Born in 1965, Tom began playing senior baseball in 1979 at age 14. He played for the Plumas Pirates of the Santa Clara League for the next 32 years, posting a record of 182 home runs in 480 games and a .440 lifetime batting average. He played for Manitoba at the Western Canadian championships in 1995, ’96 and ’97, and has been coaching minor ball since 1995. His involvement in baseball in his community led him to receive the 2007 MBA Volunteer Award, and in 2012 was named Plumas’ Mr. Baseball by the Santa Clara League.