Lauree (Cumming) Clifford
Athlete Category | Lauree was a great pitcher, a strong power hitter, and a versatile player who led by example and moral encouragement. She played for Lenore, Shoal Lake, CUAC Blues and Portage Hotel Blues. Lauree was selected as Portage la Prairie’s citizen of the year in 1995. |
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Isny (Johnson) Gallimore
Athlete Category | Isny won the Greater Winnipeg senior women’s batting crown in 1949 with a .371 average, and was named the league MVP in the 1953 and 1954 seasons. She was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 as an all-around athlete for her accomplishments in softball, golf and five-pin bowling. |
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Vern Watson
Athlete Category | One of Manitoba’s top pitchers, Vern played on 11 of 13 league championship teams for Portage Mercurys from 1951 - 1963. One of the highlights of Vern’s career was being the first Manitoba pitcher to defeat the King and his Court. |
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Leo Bouchard
All-Around Category | Leo was a triple threat as a player, coach and official, but is best known for his coaching in senior men’s ranks. Softball Manitoba has Leo’s name on an award for the top senior, intermediate or junior fast pitch coach or manager of the year. |
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Jack Hilderman
All-Around Category | Jack was involved with softball for nearly 50 years as a player and an umpire. An outstanding catcher, Jack was MVP of the 20th Century League in 1950 and played for the Ukrainian Legion Branch 141 team that won the Western Canadian Championship in 1952. He also served as Softball Manitoba umpire-in-chief. |
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Al Mayer
Coach/Manager Category | Al started his coaching career in 1963 and is still coaching today. He formed the Winnipeg Junior Colonels team in 1974. As the Colonels and then Optimists, the team won six consecutive junior provincial championships and a bronze medal at the Canadian Championships in 1977. Al also coached and managed many senior and intermediate teams and served as president of the Winnipeg Men’s Industrial League. |
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Evelyne & Roy Holenski
Builder Category | Evelyne and Roy are responsible for making the Smitty’s organization one of the most successful softball organizations in Canada. The Holenskis coached Smitty’s to Canadian Senior Women’s Championships in 1995, 1996 and 1997. They also founded the Manitoba Ladies Super League in 1985. |
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Charlie Krupp
Builder Category | As an athlete, Charlie was a catcher with the championship YMHA teams during the 1920s and early 1930s. He also coached several outstanding senior men’s softball teams. His contributions to the sport were acknowledged when Winnipeg’s first lighted softball park was named Charlie Krupp Memorial Stadium. He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. |
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Norm Langston
Builder Category | Described as Brandon’s "softball ambassador", Norm spent 47 years as a player, coach, manager and volunteer. He served as president of the Brandon Major Fastball League, chair of softball for the 1997 Canada Summer Games and on the executive of the Westman Merchants of the Western Major Fastball League. Norm was instrumental in organizing and implementing the Curran Park Softball Complex in Brandon. |
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Elizabeth & Mike Makowski
Builder Category | Elizabeth and Mike played a major role in the development of softball in the Interlake area. Mike was involved in the formation of the Highway 6&7 League in the late 1950s and served as the Softball Manitoba president in 1966. The couple coached and managed numerous provincial championship teams and their 1981 team won a bronze medal at the midget girls nationals. |
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Jean Mayne
Builder Category | Jean was involved in softball for better than 30 years primarily at the minor level in St. Vital. She was Softball Manitoba minor chairperson for six years and president of the association from l984 - l986. The association honoured Jean with a life membership in 1986. |
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Bill (Booty) White
Umpire Category | Bill became an umpire after a shoulder injury curtailed his playing career. His second career lasted more than 30 years and he umpired in all categories from minor to senior and was on a diamond just about every weekend doing tournaments in southern Manitoba. In 1980, Softball Manitoba recognized him for his devotion and dedication to the sport. |
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| 1944-48 St. Boniface Athletics Team Category | When women’s softball was one of the province’s most popular sports, the St. Boniface Athletics were one of the best teams. Coached by Jimmie McKenzie, the team won the Winnipeg senior women’s championship in 1944, 1945, and 1948 |
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| 1958-61 Portage Mercurys Team Category | The Portage Mercurys men’s name was synonymous with winning fastball in Manitoba during the 1950s and early 1960s. The Mercurys won the league championship 11 times in a 13-year span between 1951 and 1963. In 1958, the Mercurys challenged the Winnipeg senior A champions, Kiewel’s Seals, for the provincial senior A crown. The Mercurys won the best-of-five series three games to one, for their first of four consecutive senior titles. |
