The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame are pleased to welcome to the province renowned historian, author and founding member of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mr. Phil S. Dixon.

Barnstorming on the Prairies

– Wednesday, June 17, Saskatoon
– Thursday, June 18, Regina

Mr. Dixon will be delivering presentations in both Saskatoon and Regina recounting a significant time in baseball history – that of the barnstorming tours of the Negro Baseball League into Western Canada in the 1930s & 1940s.  As part of a 90 city North American tour, Mr. Dixon follows the touring path of the Kansas City Monarchs and their legendary players including Jackie Robinson, Leroy Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks, and Wilbur “Bullet” Rogan.

Mr. Dixon states, “Most people have heard of Jackie Robinson, some have heard of Satchel Paige, many have heard of the Kansas City Monarchs but few know how connected they were to your local community.  In honor of the 90th Anniversary of the Monarchs’ first World’s Championship in 1924, I am returning to 90 cities where they played games to present this team’s unique history, and I do so with a local twist.”

Delivering an illustrated presentation with historic photographs, entertaining stories and colourful baseball poetry, Mr. Dixon talks about games played in our province against local competition as well as the history of African-American ball players from our communities who participated in the Negro Leagues.

Many people are unaware of how their communities played an integral role in the success of Negro League Baseball and overall goodwill throughout North America at a time when it was exceedingly difficult and impossible in some areas for Black people to travel. However, the teams from the Negro League traveled and were welcomed to towns and cities to play baseball. Now that history can reach places and people who may not ever get to the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

Presentations will be held on Wednesday, June 17, at 3:00 pm at the Saskatoon Public Library, Cliff Wright Branch auditorium and Thursday, June 18, at 3:00 pm at the Regina Public Library, Central Branch theatre.

Admission is free but donations to the Halls of Fame would be appreciated.

Support for this program is made possible through funding from Saskatchewan Lotteries.

Information with visuals can be found on website: http://sasksportshalloffame.com/barnstorming-baseball-on-the-prairies-commemoration-tour-saskatoon-regina/

The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., has a new look after an extensive renovation.

Click here for more information.

With American Pharoah’s win in Kentucky Derby 141, several exhibits inside the Kentucky Derby Museum will be updated to reflect our latest winner.

The Winner’s Circle exhibit, updated each season to reflect the look and feel of our Kentucky Derby winner, will be on display with a replica horse made to resemble American Pharoah, right down to his silks and shoes. American Pharoah will also be featured in Capture the Moment, which greets guests as they enter the Museum lobby and gives guests a sense of what Derby day was like through photography and video.

“The Greatest Race,” the Museum’s 360-degree film that brings the Kentucky Derby story to life, will feature American Pharoah and his epic journey to the Finish Line. American Pharoah will also be added to our timeline honoring all past Kentucky Derby winners and video of his win will be available inside the Warner L. Jones Time Machine.

Kentucky Derby Museum announces naming of the D. Wayne Lukas Gallery

The Kentucky Derby Museum is proud to announce the naming of the D. Wayne Lukas Gallery, in honor of the Hall of Fame trainer and four-time Kentucky Derby winner.

The D. Wayne Lukas Gallery is the primary area dedicated to educational programming presented by the Museum. The Education Department strives to promote the Kentucky Derby to all ages, and uses the race as a connector to teach content in math, social studies, language arts, science and music to over 60,000 students annually. A former educator, Lukas represents qualities the Education Department strives to achieve through his love of Thoroughbreds and success in the racing industry.

A native of Wisconsin, Lukas has four Kentucky Derby victories among his many accomplishments: Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999).  Lukas originally was a teacher and basketball coach prior to starting his Thoroughbred career by training quarter horses, and is still affectionately known as “The Coach” among his peers and fans. He is also known for taking a child to the Winner’s Circle to share in the biggest moments of his career.

Film gets makeover

“The Greatest Race,” the Kentucky Derby Museum’s 360-degree high-definition film, will receive an extensive makeover and upgrade during the 2015 season.

The film will follow the same basic format as the original, which provides all the action and brings the Kentucky Derby story alive for the Museum’s 200,000 annual visitors. Shooting took place during the 141^st running of the Kentucky Derby using 4k projectors, an increase of five times to the original, with enhanced acoustics and display to accompany updated scenes and stories from recent winners. Once “The Greatest Race” is completed, it will be the largest 4k video display by pixel count in the world

The Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame is hosting the 2015 Canadian Association for Sport Heritage (CASH) conference in Halifax, June 10-12 at The Westin Nova Scotian. The conference welcomes delegates from sport heritage organizations throughout the province and across the country. Two days of sessions feature topics from Board recruitment, to the induction process, to new technology in museums.

The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum’s newest exhibit, Whistleblowers: Referees & Umpires in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, is now on display in the museum’s rotunda.  Featuring game-worn uniforms, rule books, penalty flags, and photographs, the exhibit highlights the handful of sports officials in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame such as college football referee Jimmy Harper, basketball referee Sally Smalley Bell, and boxing referee Mills Lane.  Whistleblowers: Referees & Umpires in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is scheduled to remain on display through August.

THE PIKE FAMILY, MAIDSTONE, SASKATCHEWAN, will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Family Category, Saturday, August 15, 2015, at Battleford, Sask.

ALVIN PIKE- 1919-2004  was the third child of nine, who grew up on a farm in the school district of Forest Bank, north of Waseca, Saskatchewan. As young people, they found their own recreation and sports, especially baseball. Alvin married Florence in 1945. They raised 6 children; Lyn [Murray Blythe],Wayne [Jane], Terry [Renee], Bill, Karen [Rick Johnson] and Laurie [Dana Kobes]. Alvin participated in baseball at all levels, transporting players, umpiring and announcing. He was devoted to family and community and to the game of baseball. He died in 2004, but would have been so proud to watch the great grandchildren start their ball careers.

FLORENCE PIKE was a baseball [and hockey] fanatic. She was very community minded. She held score keeping clinics and kept score  whenever and wherever needed.

At 89 years of age, she regrets that her health kept her from her kids sports the last year, however, she celebrates Jays games, hockey and curling on the television.

Son Wayne played minor league baseball, Waseca Legion, 1955-1960, then with Standard Hill Lakers, 1963 to 1969, Neilburg Monarchs, 1966 to 1969, Standard Hill Oldtimers, 1988 to 2004. Wayne coached several minor league teams including the 1993 Bantam Provincial Champions and SBA Team of the Year, the 1996 Midget Provincial Champions, the1996 Western Canadian Midget silver medalists, the1998 Bantam Provincial Champions, the 1999 Junior Provincial Champions, the 1999 Senior Men’s finalists, and the 2004 Senior Men’s silver medalists. Wayne umpired Minor and Senior Men’s baseball. He coached other sports, and was active in community organizations. His wife, Jane helped when needed. Their children, Vanessa, Dustin and Jared, participated in minor baseball and were key participants in Provincial Championship successes.

            Wayne’s son Dustin  articipated in baseball with Meadow Lake White Sox 1991-2004, Bantam Provincial Championship [SBA Team of the Year] 1993, Midget Provincial Championship 1996, Midget Western Canadian Championships silver medalists 1996, Junior Provincial Championship 1999, Senior Men’s finalist 1999, Senior Men’s silver medalists 2004, and umpiring minor baseball 1994-2000.

            Wayne’s son Jared participated in baseball with Meadow Lake White Sox 1992-2002, SAIT [Calgary] Trojans 2003-2005, Calgary Red Sox 2006-2008, Saskatoon Rangers 2010-present, Pee Wee Provincial Championship 1999, Midget Provincial finalist 2002, Senior Men’s finalist1999, Senior Men’s Silver Medalist 2004, and umpiring minor ball and senior men’s baseball.

Son Terry participated in Waseca Minor Baseball 1956-1964, Maidstone Bantams 1965, Standard Hill Lakers 1965-1975, Standard Hill Oldtimers 1988-1989, pitched until he injured his arm in 1975. He then played fastball. Terry participated in many community projects, donating his equipment and labour. Terry and wife Renee supported daughters Rheannon, Reagan, Alexis and Nicole in competitive fastball and hockey.

Son Bill also participated in Waseca Minor Baseball 1957-1965, Maidstone Bantam 1965, Standard Hill Lakers 1966-1985, then Oldtimers 1985 to present. He also umpired minor, senior and tournament baseball. He also was involved with many community projects, donating his time and equipment.

GERALD PIKE 1923-2012– was a hard working farmer, very dedicated to his family. He married  Lois in 1950, and being an avid sportsman, he encouraged his children,Randy, Keith [Debbie], Kevin [Yvonne], and Melanie [Morris Freeston] to enjoy the outdoors. Gerald played fastball for many years but, he also coached minor baseball. In 1995, he donned his baseball glove and was on the silver medal team, in the Senior River Junction Games. Gerald was recruited one year by Standard Hill Oldtimers, to fill the roster of players the ages of his sons. Not many can say they both coached their sons, then later, called in to become the hero of the day, to play with them! The grandchildren love this story! Playing alongside his sons on one team meant more to him than any award or trophy.

Gerald was very community minded and was involved with many organizations.

LOIS PIKE, Gerald’s wife,  was always there organizing, phoning, preparing meals, getting the family  ready to get to the game on time to enjoy watching every minute of it. Lois was community minded,  active in many organizations.

Son Randy participated in Waseca Minor Ball 1959 -1965, Standard Hill Lakers 1967-1977, Standard Hill Oldtimers 1988-2012. then base coaching for the Oldtimers in 2013.

Son Keith also participated in Waseca Legion Minor Ball 1961-1967[McFayden Player of the Year 1967], Standard Hill Lakers 1969 -1975, Standard Hill Oldtimers 1989 to the present-25 years.

Keith’s son Brett participated in Maidstone Minor Ball 1979, Standard Hill Lakers 5 years, Standard Hill Oldtimer’s 4 years.

Son Kevin was in Waseca Legion Minor Ball 1961 -1969, Standard Hill Lakers 1969 -1985, Standard Hill Oldtimers 1990 to the present. Recruited to play provincial baseball with Marsden and Marshall 1968 and 1969, Recruited to play baseball with Saskatoon in Western finals in late 1970’s,

The Pike Family legacy is their love of baseball, sports and community, that continues to this day, through their 17 grandchildren and 20 great grand children.

STANDARD HILL, SILVER LAKE PARK, northeast of Maidstone, SASK. will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Community Category, Saturday, August 15, 2015, at Battleford, Sask.

Standard Hill is a school district located in Silver Lake Park.

Records indicate that a Standard Hill baseball team played July1,1924. The line-up was Gus Nimms, Harry Gerbig, —- Kinning, Les Reid, Lloyd Gerbig, Gus Nowieczin, —- Taylor, Carson Forshaw and A. Skolrood. On July 1, 1927, the line up consisted of Gus Nimms, Harry Gerbig, Les Reid, Eno Foster, Elmer Rudler, Lloyd Gerbig, C. Leachman, Dave Andrews and Art Skolrood.

During the war years ball was discontinued, but, in 1955, the Standard Hill Pats were formed. Their ball diamond was south of the gravel pit near Lane Bridge over Gully in Standard Hill District. Coaches were Ian Ferguson and Lloyd Gerbig.

In 1958, Standard Hill held it’s first ball tournament. Prize money was $50.00. Ice-cream cones were 5 cents. There were all kinds of races.

Tournaments the team played in included Two Hills, Shell Lake, Rabbit Lake, Eatonia, Czar, Provost, Marwayne, Dewberry, Fort Pitt, Luseland, Macklin, Leipzig, Heinsburg, Tramping Lake, Big Bush, North Bend and more.

The teams first uniforms were hot and itchy, made of gray melton cloth. The second was black, a poor choice as they were too hot .Today, the uniforms are cooler, made of a stretchy material with the pants in gray and the top in navy with red lettering.

In1960, the team moved to Silver Lake and became the Standard Hill Lakers. The team cooperated with the Maidstone Kinsmen to build a new ball diamond where it still stands today. During those years, they played in the North Saskatchewan Baseball League, now known as the North Saskatchewan River League, and in numerous tournaments, Two other teams from Standard Hill played in the 1980’s. They were the Standard Hill Midgets, under 16 years of age, and the Standard Hill Bisons, under 18 years. Coaches were Rodney Rhinehart and Buck Gerbig. During that time, Standard Hill hosted the Midget Provincials. Many of these Midget and Bison ball players went on to play with the Standard Hill Lakers and the Old Timers.

Since it was started in 1988, this Old Timers team has participated in every Twilite Provincial tournament.

Standard Hill Lakers have won the League Championship in 1974, 1992 and 1999, and the Provincial Championship in1994.

Many of these boys and men from the Standard Hill baseball teams provided entertainment to several generations of fans.

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction, posthumously, of The Late Joseph Michael Erautt, Vibank, Saskatchewan, into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, on Saturday, August 15, 2015, in Battleford, Sask.

Joseph Michael Erautt was born September 1, 1921, in Vibank, Saskatchewan.. Limited information is available on Joe as a youth while growing up in Vibank.

Joe became a professional baseball player at the age of 28, when he made his debut as a Major Leaguer with the Chicago White Sox on May 9, 1950.  He was a right-handed pitcher and batter.

Nicknamed, “Stubby”, he was a catcher over parts of two seasons [1950-1951] with the White Sox.

For his career, Joe compiled a .186 batting average in 43 at bats, with one run batted in. Erautt was an alumnus of the University of Portland.

He played his last Major League game July 22, 1951, for the Chicago White Sox.

Joseph Michael Erautt died at the young age of 55 years, on October 6, 1976 from Parkinson’s disease. Joe is buried at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, USA.

As Joseph Erautt is one of the eight born and raised Saskatchewan baseball players that made the Major Leagues, we are proud to have him join the other six that have already been inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of The Late Wallace Pruden, Trail, BC, formerly of Lashburn, Saskatchewan, into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category as a player, on Saturday, August 15, 2015.

Wallace Pruden was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Pruden, Lashburn, Saskatchewan. Wallace [Wally] was a very level headed, calm and polite young man which was carried over to his ball playing. He played third base but he was the main strength to the team as a pitcher. When the going got tough and he and the team were under pressure, Wally remained cool and came through for the team.

Wally played in Little League organized baseball, and at Sports Day’s in Lashburn.The team he played for entered Provincial playoffs in 1955 but lost to Luseland, Saskatchewan. This same team, the Lashburn Linnets, were successful the following year, 1956, winning the Saskatchewan Minor Baseball League Provincial Little League Championship and the C.M. Fines Trophy.
This was the first Provincial Championship for Lashburn since May 19, 1909, when Tommy Simkins won the Provincial boxing Championship.

In 1957 Wally pitched a perfect game in the first game of the Little League Championship series, facing only 18 batters in six innings, giving up no runs, no hits and striking out 13 batters, had two put outs, two assists on two put outs by the first baseman, and the fifth put out, a ground out to the first baseman. Only three man handled the ball-the pitcher, the catcher and the first baseman. This was a history record!  Wally had a bases loaded homer and a triple.

In the third game, Pruden had already been given two intentional walks and were giving him a third walk when he reached out and snagged a long single which brought in the tying and winning runs. Provincial playoff batting averages record Wally Pruden playing 12 games, at bat 31 times with 10 homeruns, 38 runs batted in and a batting average of .645.

The Lashburn Linnets were the 1957 Provincial Little League  Champions, and for the second time received the C.M. Fines Trophy.

Quote, “Wally moved from town to town finally settling in Trail, B.C. He played ball well into his adult life.” Jim Coolidge, Lashburn, Saskatchewan.

Wallace Pruden died May 24, 2015.

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame has officially opened the Zoetis Rodeo Livestock Exhibit for the summer, with two retired bucking horses living on the premises until mid-September.

“We are glad we are able to bring this exhibit back to the Hall again this summer,” said Kent Sturman, director. “It was very popular with museum guests last year and we certainly wanted to have it here again. We are thankful to Cervi’s for their assistance with this exhibit and support of the Hall.”

Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Brown Bomber and Back Street are the two horses featured in the exhibit. Brown Bomber, 27, went to the WNFR six times in a row as a bareback horse (1994-1999). He was added to the saddle bronc event and added eight more trips to the WNFR to his resume. One of his most memorable performances came in the 10th round of the 1995 WNFR when he carried Billy Laye to a 91-point bareback ride, which stood as the WNFR bareback riding record until 2007.

Bomber had a unique bucking style – he would always take a substantial run before breaking and then bucking. Many tried over the years to change his style and get him to break sooner but he never changed. Although it isn’t unusual for an animal to take that run before breaking, rarely has there been a horse that bucked so hard after. That style earned Bomber the respect of the cowboys which thereby earned him so many trips to the WNFR – 14 trips in a 15 year span.

Brown Bomber was retired from rodeo at the Dayton, Iowa PRCA rodeo in 2011 after Will Smith won the saddle bronc riding on him. He has remained on the Cervi Ranch in his retirement where his only job is in the fall when the colts are weaned from their mothers. Brown Bomber takes charge of the babies like a comfortable old uncle.

Brown Bomber was born in 1988 on the Korkow Rodeo Ranch and purchased by Mike Cervi in 1994.

Back Street is a 24-year-old saddle bronc horse who qualified for the WNFR three times (1997, 1999 and 2005). She is truly from a royal lineage of broncs. She has followed in the footsteps of her mother Easy Street, a 12 time WNFR saddle bronc horse.

Back Street has had a colt every year since 1999 and is bred again this year to Oil Train, the sire of Harry Vold’s champion stallion Painted Valley. Some of her off spring include Street Wise, Street Smart and Back Fire.

Back Street held the highest marked saddle bronc riding score at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, a 90-point ride by Ryan Mapston of Montana. The record held for many years. Back Street was retired from rodeo in 2012 at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. She will continue to live out her retirement on the Cervi Ranch.

The exhibit is open during museum hours and guests are able to visit the horses in the Zoetis Barn adjacent to the museum. The horses get regular exercise in the Priefert Ed Honnen Arena, are checked regularly by a local veterinarian and have a normal feed and nutrition regimen while here at the Hall.

“This exhibit not only allows museum guests to see up close some great rodeo animal athletes, it also allows them to become educated on the PRCA’s animal welfare program and to learn about the care and treatment of rodeo livestock,” Sturman said. “The exhibit includes educational signage about animal welfare within the PRCA organization.”