Chatfield Cardinals 1952–1957

• HOMETOWN Chatfield, MB

• INDUCTED 2003

PLAYERS

Back Row (L-R):John Kempa, George Leduchowski, Joe Leduchowski, Norris Pawlychka, Paul Leduchowski, Art Lavalee

Front Row: Dan Leduchowski, Gordie Lavalee, Eddie Iwanusiw, Peter Genyk, Steven Banera.

During the early 1950’s, players from the Wheathill, Buffalo Lake, and Chatfield areas joined together to form a baseball team in Chatfield. From 1949 to 1954, the team was in their building stage. By 1952, Chatfield had established a very strong and dominant baseball team that played in weekend tournaments. Chatfield played in tournaments throughout central Manitoba. Some of the Interlake towns with baseball tournaments that Chatfield took part in were Arborg, Ashern, Broad Valley, Eriksdale, Fisher Branch, Hodgson, Inwood, Gimli, Lundar, Poplarfield, Oak Point, St. Laurent, Siglunes, Stonewall, Teulon, and Woodlands. Chatfield also ventured out to bigger tournaments such as Vita and Notre Dame de Lourdes. In these distant tournaments, Chatfield played against well-known Manitoban teams such as Fort Whyte, Precious Blood, St. Boniface, Brandon, Carman, and teams from the United States.

Chatfield also had their own tournaments. In 1955 they held three tournaments in Chatfield and won each of them. At most tournaments, Chatfield was usually in the finals and very rarely would they go home without any of the prize money.