Bob Senff was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 2, 1947. Senff moved to Virden in 1971, and in 1980 he became an umpire. Over the next 30 years, he was a highly respected umpire in western Manitoba. He worked primarily in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League (MSBL), but for two years he also handled games in the Prairie League of Professional Baseball. On top of this, he would regularly umpire at Provincials, Westerns, and Nationals. He even umpired at the first Women’s National Championship held in St. James. Senff served in administrative positions such as Umpire Assigner, Umpire-in-Chief of the MSBL, and as a member of the Disciplinary Committee of Baseball Manitoba. He especially remembers umpiring a senior game in which his two sons played against each other, and a time in the Prairie League where he sang both the Canadian and American national anthems.

Ron Shewchuk was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba on September 23, 1959. Shewchuk was involved in umpiring programs in Manitoba, Canada, and international baseball for over 35 years. He umpired over 50 championship matches, and over 900 professional games. In 13 national championships, he was always behind the plate or at first base. Internationally, Shewchuk worked at eight championships, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Because of his success and dedication, he earned Baseball Manitoba and Baseball Canada Umpire of the Year awards. Shewchuk also made significant contributions to the provincial and national umpire programs through his extensive administrative involvement.

• Larry started playing and winning baseball at a very young age
• A strong pitcher, catcher, and first baseman
• In 1968, Larry began playing for Holland and helped coach the town’s A team
• Instrumental is organizing the Santa Clara League and having it associated with the Manitoba Baseball Association
• In 1976, Larry started umping senior ball and eventually became the Umpire-in-Chief of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League
• Became President of Killarney Minor Ball in 1983
• Awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Manitoba Baseball Association in 1986
• Larry left coaching in 1987 to become a full-time umpire
• Was an official at National Championships and Western Canada Championships numerous times and at the World Championships twice

Glen Johnson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Johnson contributed immensely to baseball in Manitoba as an umpire and as an administrator. He began umpiring in the 1970s, and over the course of his career he umpired at all levels of national and international tournaments. In the Atlanta Summer Olympics of 1996, he became the youngest umpire to work at the Olympic level. Johnson was the plate umpire for the exhibition match between the Toronto Blue Jays and Team Canada in 1992. Throughout his career, Johnson developed, instructed and supervised multiple umpire clinics. He was the inaugural recipient of Baseball Canada’s Umpire of the Year in 1993, and he served as as president of Baseball Manitoba from 1993-1996. Johnson was also a director of Baseball Manitoba for seven years.

Sam Tascona was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba on April 13, 1928. Tascona was involved in baseball for over five decades as a player, coach, or umpire. He was involved with many teams over his long career, including the Kildonan Ranger, the bantam West End Gengals, Norwood, the CUAC (Canadian Ukrainian Athletics Centre) Juniors, the St. Boniface Native Sons, Selkirk, St. James, and St. Vital. Tascona coached midget, junior, senior, and intermediate teams, and he won championships with Precious Blood and Fannystelle. He was the Junior All-Star Coach in 1954, and a tournament team coach in the 1950s and ’60s. Following his time coaching, Tascona umpired for 38 years, conducted clinics, and was umpire-in-chief for two decades. At one point, he was supplying umpires for 107 teams. Tascona was also umpire-in-chief for the 1967 Pan-Am Games, and he officiated in rural tournaments for over 20 years.

Don Sumner was born in Brandon, Manitoba. Sumner played for Virden, Souris, the Brandon Athletics, and the Brandon Cloverleafs before becoming an umpire and administrator. He served the Manitoba Senior Baseball League as secretary-treasurer, statistician, and in other capacities for over 35 years.

Iggy Scaletta was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba on January 12, 1926. Scaletta played for Frank McComb’s Midgets in 1942, the Stuart Travelers juvenile team in 1943, the Norwood senior team in 1944, and with Cornwallis’ team in the Halifax Senior League in 1945 while he was enlisted in the navy. He went on to play with Rosedale in 1946 (junior champions), the Elmwood Seniors in 1947, St. James in 1948 (senior champions, Scaletta was MVP), the St. Boniface Native Sons in 1949 and ’51 (league champions in 1951), and with Transcona (semi-finalists). Scaletta later coached the Columbus Club Juveniles (city finalists in 1947), and he umpired at many levels, including at the Pan-Am Games.

Hub Orchard was born in Miami, Manitoba on September 10, 1905. Orchard played second base for Miami from 1920-46, and managed successful 1947 and ’48 tournament teams. He was a well known umpire from the late 1940s to mid ’60s in Carman, Morden, Notre Dame, Belmont, St. Claude, and Winkler, among others. Orchard coached minor ball from 1950-58, winning juvenile league titles from 1954-56 over Neepawa, Hamiota, and Melita respectively. He served as both president and vice-president of the Manitoba Minor Baseball Association in the mid 1950s. In 1972, Orchard received the Manitoba Baseball Association Honour Society award. Orchard was also very active in curling and hockey.

Almer McKerlie was born in Miami, Manitoba on March 11, 1926. McKerlie was an all-star catcher for Fort William Legion, who won the northern and central Ontario title. He later joined the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring training camp at St. Petersburg, Florida in 1949. In the late 1940s and early ’50s, McKerlie was catcher with the Carman Cardinals for five seasons. He was an all-star catcher three of these years, and he hit .333 in on season. McKerlie was also a coach and administrator of senior baseball in Miami, Manitoba until 1963. On top of all of this, he was also an umpire and a hockey referee for 20 years. McKerlie was elected into the Manitoba Baseball Association Honour Society in 1987.

Almer McKerlie was born in Miami, Manitoba on March 11, 1926. McKerlie was an all-star catcher for Fort William Legion, who won the northern and central Ontario title. He later joined the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring training camp at St. Petersburg, Florida in 1949. In the late 1940s and early ’50s, McKerlie was catcher with the Carman Cardinals for five seasons. He was an all-star catcher three of these years, and he hit .333 in on season. McKerlie was also a coach and administrator of senior baseball in Miami, Manitoba until 1963. On top of all of this, he was also an umpire and a hockey referee for 20 years. McKerlie was elected into the Manitoba Baseball Association Honour Society in 1987.