The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of the Marysburg Royals Senior Baseball Team, into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Team Category, Saturday, August 20, 2016, in Battleford, Saskatchewan.

This tiny Hamlet of Marysburg, formerly known as Dead Moose Lake, has had baseball since 1900. In 1918, Father Casimir, a local priest, put together a team of local players, becoming one of the most successful teams in the 1920’s, traveling and winning many of the local tournaments. Marysburg has fielded a senior baseball team every year since. The 1930’s were tough but in the 40’s the team flourished and named the Royals. In the 1950’s, the Royals became the strongest team in the province. The team included many Strueby’s, Bauml’s, Puetz’s, the Stroeder brothers, Glen Hall, George Parker, Louis Wolsfeld, the Panagapko brothers, Britz’s , Wurtz’s and many more. Approximately ten thousand dollars prize money over two seasons. The Royals team of the 50’s was inducted into the Humboldt and District Sports Hall of Fame. In 1962, the North Central Baseball League was formed with the Royals joining in 1964, capturing their first two titles in 1966 and 1968. A change of guard in the 70’s saw some lean years, but by the late 1970’s was again on the upswing.

In the1980’s, the Royals won the North Battleford tournament three times. They won the NCBL title in 1984,1985,1986,1988 and 1989, and the league pennant in 1982, ’84, ’86, ’88 and 1989. They played annually in tournaments and Intermediate ‘A’  Provincials.

The Royals continued their success winning the NCBL title in 1991, ’92, ’93, ’94, 96, ’97, ’98 and 1999, and the pennant in1990, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’98 and 1999. Again the team was successful winning in tournaments and playing in the Intermediate ‘A’ Provincials. In 1998, the Royals entered Senior “C” Provincials and won their first ever Provincial title.

The team won the NCBL title and pennant in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 They were the Senior ‘A’Champions in 2003 and the  Senior ‘AA’ runner ups in 2000 and 2001. In 2004 the North Saskatchewan Central Baseball League disbanded for lack of teams.  During the 40 year history of that league, the Marysburg Royals won the league title nineteen times and the league pennant seventeen times. The Royals have now been a member of the Saskatoon Senior Baseball League since 2004 and have continued providing highly competitive baseball,

winning the SSBL league pennant in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. They won the SSBL title in 2010 and have been league finalists in 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. The Royals won the Senior ‘AA’  title in 2011 and represented Saskatchewan  at the Western Canadian Championships finishing third. Also, they were the Senior ’AA’ runner up in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2014.The Marysburg Royals Baseball Team was named Saskatchewan Baseball Senior Team of the Year in 2011.

The current Royals contribute to baseball in surrounding communities hosting clinics and camps for young ball players at the beautiful ball park in Marysburg. They provide six hours of top notch instructions in all aspects of the game for a minimal charge. Thanks to the Royals, the numbers in minor baseball are on the rise, again creating interest in the great game of baseball. The Royals still have home games throughout the ball season, playing Sunday double headers  against Saskatoon teams. The team is looking forward to embarking on their 98^th consecutive season with twelve of the seventeen players sharing the same last name as the members of the 1918 team.Nine of the current team members are 4^th generation Royals, a truly local team, with pride second to none!.

When Comcast was ready to refresh their Fundamentals Deck at US Cellular Field, EDE worked closely with GMR Marketing and the Chicago White Sox to create the new space. EDE’s craftsmen and project managers provided in-house engineering, fabrication, graphics production, and turn-key installation to create this branded space near left field. The new venue provides three demo stations of the new X1 Entertainment Operating System, charging stations for smart phones, and is enhanced with a chevron wall pattern, wood plank flooring, and large graphics of Chicago White Sox players. The entire space is refreshing and inviting for White Sox fans to experience on game days.

About EDE: EDE has been helping clients bring exhibit ideas to life since 1979. We’ve helped them tell their stories, breathe new life into their brands, and make the seemingly impossible – possible. Our diverse experience with marketers, museums, and architects enables us to see a broader picture in order to find the perfect solution to realize your vision. This experience is proven through our award winning craftsmanship, focused attention to detail and an intense commitment to service. To learn more about EDE please visit edecorp.com

The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame was highlighted in Colorado Expression magazine. Click here to read the feature. 

A 20-person nomination committee selects Raymond Clayborn, Kevin Faulk and Mike Vrabel as the 2016 Patriots Hall of Fame finalists. Patriots fans now have until May 14 to vote for the finalist most deserving of hall of fame honors.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced that three former Patriots have been selected as finalists for this year’s induction into the team’s hall of fame. This year’s finalists (listed in alphabetical order) are cornerback Raymond Clayborn, running back Kevin Faulk and linebacker Mike Vrabel. Faulk and Vrabel both helped the Patriots earn the first three Super Bowl championships in franchise history. Clayborn is a finalist for the third straight year, while Faulk and Vrabel are both first-time finalists.

Starting today, Patriots fans are encouraged to vote for the former Patriot most deserving of hall of fame enshrinement. Fans can vote on www.patriots.com for the next month. Voting will end on May 14, and the Patriots will announce the 2016 Patriots Hall of Fame selection at a later date.

This year’s inductee will become the 25th person to be enshrined into the Patriots Hall of Fame. The Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony is held on the NRG Plaza just outside The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon. The outdoor ceremony is free and open to the public. Patriots fans of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. The date and time of this year’s event will be announced at a later date.

Beginning in 2007, the Patriots started a new hall of fame tradition, inducting one player or head coach to The Hall each year. The process for induction involves a panel of media, alumni and staff who collectively nominate the players or head coaches most deserving of induction. After the nominations are made, the committee votes and the top three tallies become that year’s finalists. The Patriots then give their fans the opportunity to vote online to select each year’s winner. The Patriots are the only team in the NFL that allows the fans to make the final selection of each year’s nominees.

The New England Patriots held their annual nomination committee meeting on Wed., April 6, to nominate this year’s candidates for induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Now it is up to the fans to select this year’s honoree.

More information on each of this year’s finalists can be found below:

Raymond Clayborn was a three-time Pro Bowl player (1983, 1985, 1986) for the Patriots during a career that extended from 1977 through 1989. He was drafted by the Patriots in the first round (16^th overall) out of Texas in 1977 and quickly established himself as one of the game’s best cornerbacks as well as a superb kickoff returner. He finished his career with a franchise-leading 36 interceptions, a record which was tied by Ty Law in 2004 and remains today, 27 years after he retired. His 555 interception return yards are second in franchise history to Law’s 583 return yards. Clayborn also returned 57 kickoffs for 1,538 yards and three touchdowns. As a rookie in 1977, Clayborn returned 28 kickoffs for 869 yards and led the NFL with a 31.0-yard return average and returned three kicks for touchdowns, both of which remain franchise records. He is one of just 19 NFL players since the 1970 merger to finish a season with a better than 30.0-yard average on kickoff returns (min. 20 returns) and is the only Patriots player to accomplish the feat. Clayborn played a vital role in bringing the Patriots to respectability in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. During his 13 seasons with the Patriots, he helped the Patriots to 10 winning seasons, including four postseason berths. Clayborn intercepted Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino and recorded six passes defensed to help end an 18-game losing streak to the Miami Dolphins in the Orange Bowl in a 31-14 AFC Championship victory that propelled the Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance. Clayborn was a member of the Patriots’ 1970s and 1980s all-decade teams. He also set a franchise record by playing in 161 consecutive games.

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Kevin Faulk concluded his 13-year career with the Patriots as one of the most productive players in team history. He filled various roles after joining the team in 1999 as a second-round pick (46th overall) out of Louisiana State. He is the Patriots’ all-time leader in all-purpose yards (12,349) and kickoff return yards (4,098) and is the Patriots’ all-time leading return specialist, totaling 5,041 combined return yards (4,098 kick return yards and 943 punt return yards). He ranks fifth in Patriots history in rushing yards (3,607), fifth in receptions (431), 12th in receiving yards (3,701) and eighth in punt return yards (943). For his career, he played in 161 games and accumulated 3,607 yards rushing on 864 attempts for a 4.2-yard average with 16 touchdowns, caught 431 passes for 3,701 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, returned 181 kicks for 4,098 yards and two touchdowns and returned 101 punts for 943 yards. Faulk is the Patriots’ all-time leader in receptions by a running back, totaling 431 in his career and is one of just 30 running backs in NFL history to reach the 400-reception plateau. In the 2000s decade, he was one of just six players to rush for more than 3,000 yards and gain over 3,000 yards receiving, joining Tiki Barber, Marshall Faulk, Michael Pittman, LaDanian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook. Faulk helped the Patriots claim 11 winning seasons, including three Super Bowls titles and five AFC Championships during his 13-year career with New England. Faulk is a member of the Patriots’ all-decade and 50th Anniversary teams as a return specialist.

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Mike Vrabel is recognized as one of the best free agent signings in team history. He joined the team prior to the 2001 season, following a four-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was used primarily on special teams and as reserve linebacker. During his eight-year tenure in New England, Vrabel played a major role in the Patriots’ dynamic run of three Super Bowls in four years (2001, 2003 and 2004). He exemplified positional versatility, starting at both inside and outside linebacker positions during his Patriots tenure, regularly lining up on offense in short-yardage and goal-line situations and continuing to make valuable contributions on various special teams units throughout his career. As a Patriot, he caught eight regular-season passes, and two more in the playoffs. All 10 receptions were touchdowns, including touchdown receptions in back-to-back, 3-point Super Bowl wins over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXVIII (32-29) and Philadelphia Eagles (24-21) in Super Bowl XXXIX. In Week 8 of the 2007 season, Vrabel forced three fumbles, had three sacks, recovered an onside kick and scored an offensive touchdown against Washington, all of which earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He earned Pro Bowl and NFL All-Pro honors following the 2007 season after registering 12½ sacks and helping the Patriots to the first 16-0 regular season in NFL history. On Dec. 26, 2005, on Monday Night Football, Vrabel became the first player since the official recording of sacks began in 1982 to have two touchdown receptions and a sack in the same game. Vrabel started 110-of-125 games and the Patriots were 95-20 in in those games for a .760 winning percentage. He was a four-time team captain, including the 2006 season in which the defense set a franchise record by allowing just 14.8 points per game and just 237 points, the fewest by the Patriots in a 16-game season. His 48 career sacks with the team are the seventh-most in team history. In 2009, he was voted to the Patriots’ 50th Anniversary Team as an outside linebacker along with Andre Tippett and the 2000s all-decade team along with Willie McGinest, both of whom are Patriots Hall of Famers.

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About the Patriots Hall of Fame

The Patriots Hall of Fame was officially formed in 1991 after John Hannah became the first Patriots player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With the hall of fame, the Patriots created a new way of honoring their greatest players. When The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon opened in 2008, Patriots players, past and present, finally had a place where their legacies would be preserved and available to fans year round. Enshrinement into The Hall is the franchise’s highest honor befitting of the franchise’s greatest players, with 30-foot video pylons displaying each enshrinee. Beginning in 2007, fans became part of the hall of fame tradition as active participants in the selection process.

This year’s inductee will join other Patriot greats and two contributors as a member of the New England Patriots Hall of Fame (listed in alphabetical order below with year of induction):

Houston Antwine (2015)

Bruce Armstrong (2001)

Drew Bledsoe (2011)

Troy Brown (2012)

Tedy Bruschi (2013)

Nick Buoniconti (1992)

Gino Cappelletti (1992)

Ben Coates (2008)

Sam Cunningham (2010)

Bob Dee (1993)

Steve Grogan (1995)

John Hannah (1991)

Mike Haynes (1994)

Jim Lee Hunt (1993)

Ty Law (2014)

Willie McGinest (2015)

Stanley Morgan (2007

Jon Morris (2011)

Jim Nance (2009)

Steve Nelson (1993)

Vito “Babe” Parilli (1993)

Andre Tippett (1999)

Contributors:

William H. “Billy” Sullivan, Jr. (2009)

Gil Santos (2013)

About The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is the crown jewel of Patriot Place and the only sports and education experience of its kind. Through a dazzling array of interactive multimedia exhibits, artifacts never before viewable by the public and home of the Patriots’ four Lombardi Trophies, The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon showcases the tradition of the New England Patriots, explores the history of football in New England and promotes math and science education for the thousands of schoolchildren who visit each year. For more information, please visit www.thehallatpatriotplace.com.