The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Battleford, is proud to announce the selection of Ron Bauml, Muenster, Saskatchewan, to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, as a player and builder, Saturday, August 20, 2016, at Battleford, Saskatchewan.
Ron was born May 29, 1961, to Clarence and Lillian [Gerwing], Muenster, Saskatchewan. He, his 2 brothers and 1 sister, were raised on the family farm 3 miles north of Marysburg. Ron’s father, Clarence and his Uncle Ray both played for the Marysburg Royals Senior Baseball team, as so would Dave, Ron and Murray as well as their sons.
Ron’s baseball career began at Pee Wee age, playing minor ball with the Muenster Red Sox. He pitched his first senior game in 1976 at the age of 15, for the Marysburg Royals, and from then on played senior baseball until he retired in 2002. In 1978 Ron was a member of the Humboldt Provincial Midget Champions, winning the MVP Award. He also competed in a National Junior Championship with the North Battleford Juniors in 1980. Ron’s passion for the game and his fierce competitive spirit fueled him to be one of the best all round ball players in the 1980’s and 1990’s, being recognized as one of the top lefties in the province, but, he could do it all. He was approached to play college baseball in the United States, but stayed home to carry on with the family farm. Ron was a member of the Marysburg Royals for more than 25 years. During that time, the team won 16 league championships and were pennant winners 15 times. As well, the team travelled and competed in tournaments across the province and beyond Saskatchewan borders, with the fondest memories of a tournament in St. Lazare, Manitoba, when they played against a semi-pro team from California. When the Royals were not successful in qualifying for Provincial play offs, Ron was picked up by other teams for these Provincial tournaments. He played in 4 Senior AAA National Championships. Once with Swift Current and Kindersley and twice with Weyburn Beavers, winning Nationals in 1996. Ron pitched the final game that year against the team from Ottawa and was credited with the win. Ron was also picked up many times in AA Provincials. He also was picked up by teams including Regina Canadiens, Regina Capitals, Fulda Flyers and Wilkie Brewers in Western Championships. Following his playing days, Ron coached his teams to many provincial tournaments. He coached the 2005 Muenster Red Sox Pee Wee Provincial Champions. He coached the 2010 Saskatoon Giants Midget AAA’s, advancing them to the Nationals in London, Ontario. Twice Ron coached the Zone 5 Bantam Selects in the Saskatchewan Summer Games. While playing in the North Central Baseball League, Ron was the recipient of the 1981 NCBL Most Valuable Player Award. He was the NCBL Batting Champ in 1981 [.463]; 1990 [.538]; 1997 [.500]; 1999 [.605]; 2000 [.507]. He was the Homerun King in 1983 with 6; 1987 with 8; 1990 with 11; 1992 with 7, and 1999 with 9.
He was top pitcher in 1997, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1988.
Ron and his wife Joy live on the Bauml farm. Baseball has always been a love of Ron’s, providing many friends and countless memories. He believes that all accomplishments and statistics aside, through the years, he has learned that no one remembers your batting average or awards but teammates will remember you for your passion and love of the game.
He passed this love of the game onto his children with their oldest son Braden selected to work with the Team Canada Juniors in Orlanda, Florida, after the Canada Cup in 2006. Cole, their youngest son, played in the Canada Cup in 2009, then played in a Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado for 2 years. He then transferred to Northern Kentucky University, then drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2015. Ron’s comments, ”These have definitely been the biggest baseball highlights in my life so far.”