Bob Senff

Bob Senff was a Winnipegger who moved to Virden in 1971 and in 1980 began to umpire. Over the next thirty years he was a highly respected umpire in Western Manitoba. He worked primarily in the MSBL, but for two years also handled games in the Prairie League of Professional Baseball. He also regularly umpired in other leagues like at Western Canadians, Manitoba Regionals or Provincials, and at National tournaments including the first Women’s National tournament held in St. James. Senff served in administrative positions such as assignor of umpires for Senior leagues, Umpire-in-Chief of the MSBL, and 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 singing both the Canadian and American National Anthems before umpiring Prairie League games.

Ron Shewchuk

Ron Shewchuk of Minnedosa has been involved in the umpiring programs of Manitoba, Baseball Canada, and international baseball for the past 35 years. On the field, Ron has umpired over 50 Provincial, MSBL, and Western Canadian championships and 900 professional games. In 13 national championships he always worked the gold medal game either behind the plate or at first base. Internationally, Ron has worked eight championships including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has earned Baseball Manitoba and Baseball Canada Umpire of the Year awards. Ron has also made significant contributions to the provincial and national umpire programs through his extensive supervisory and administrative involvement.

Larry Nicholls

  • 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

  • Born in Winnipeg, MB in 1961
  • Contributed immensely to baseball in Manitoba as an umpire and an administrator
  • Began umpiring in the 1970s
  • Umpired all levels of national and international tournaments
  • Became the youngest umpire to work in the Olympics in the Atlanta Summer Olympics of 1996
  • Glen was the plate umpire for the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Team Canada for the 1992 Exhibition Game
  • Throughout his career, Glen developed, instructed, and supervised multiple umpire clinics
  • Inaugural recipient of Baseball Canada’s Umpire of the Year in 1993
  • President of Baseball Manitoba from 1993-1996 and served on the Board of Directors for 7 years

Sam Tascona

Involved for 55 years as a player, coach, umpire placed with First Kildonan Rangers and West End Gengals Bantams, Norwood, and C.U.A.C. Midgets, United Fox and C.U.A.C. Juniors, senior with St. Boniface Native Sons, Selkirk. St. James. and St. Vital. coached midget, junior, senior and intermediate teams winning championships with Precious Blood and Fannystelle, was junior all star coach in `54, playing coach of successful tournament team in 50`s and 60`s, umpired for 38 years, conducted clinics and was umpire-in-chief for 20 years, once supplied umpires for l07 teams, was umpire-in-chief for 1967 Pan Am Games, officiated in rural tournaments for over 20 years.

Don Sumner

Played for Virden, Souris, Brandon Athletics, Brandon Cloverleafs before becoming an umpire and-then an administrator. Has served M.S.B.L. as Secretary-Treasurer, statistician, or in some other capacity for 35 years.

Iggy Scaletta

Iggy Scaletta played for Frank McComb’s Midgets in 1942, Stuart Travellers’ Juveniles in 1943, Norwood Seniors in 1944, the Navy: Halifax Senior League – Cornwalllis Team in 1945, the Rosedale Junior Champions in 1946, the Elmwood Seniors in 1947, the St. James Legion Senior Champions (and was also the M.V.P) in 1948, the St. Boniface Native Sons in 1949 & 51 (1951 Champions), and the Transcona – Senior Finalists in 1952. Scaletta coached Columbus Club Juveniles – City Finalists in 1947, umped Midget, Junior, Intermediate & Senior Baseball, and also umped the Pan Am Games; Ist base ump in final USA-Cuba game.

Hub Orchard

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.

Almer McKerlie

McKerliewas an all star catcher for Fort William Legion, who won the Northern and Central Ontario title. Almer later went to St. Louis Cardinals spring training camp at St. Petersburg, Florida in 1949. McKerlie caught five seasons for the great Carman Cardinals teams of the late 40s and early 50s. McKerlie was star catcher for three years and hit .333 one season. McKerlie played and coachedminor and senior baseball at Miami till 1963. McKerlie was an excellent umpire and hockey referee for 20 years and was elected to the M.B.A. honour Society in 1987.

Alexander McKenzie

McKenzie played with Neepawa in 20’s, was president of Neepawa and District League from 1950 – 69, M.B.A. director for 2 years, and umpired 1170 baseball games at all levels while keeping records of each and every game.