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 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 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

• 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

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.

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.

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 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.

Born in 1910, pitched for McConnell, Bradwardine, and Hartney before becoming an umpire, where he made his mark on the game. Was umpire-in-chief for M.S.B.L. for several seasons, and conducted countless umpiring clinics. He was also rewarded honourary life membership in M.S.B.L. Ab was also inducted into the M.B.A. Honour Society in 1971. President of M.S.B.L. in 1966, 1969, 1970.

1940-50 junior and senior ball in Nesbitt. 1951-60 played with Riverside in South Central League. 1961-72 played with Riverside in Manitoba Senior Baseball League. 1968 Riverside won Manitoba and Western Canada Championships, batting average of .329 and on-base percentage of .458 during season. 1965 and 1968 first team MSBL All Star. Coached Riverside Jr., Wawanesa and Glenboro in SC League. Coached South Central League All-Stars in 4 of 6 Western Canadians (1975-80), winning silver medals at Westerns located in Zarr, AB. Played, coached and umpired for 35 years.

 

Wes Rathwell Newspaper Article

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