2014 Inductees

Greg came to love the game of softball growing up in a softball family. He was a dominating pitcher in Manitoba Softball taking his teams to many `Westerns and Canadian Championships. In 1979, he was named Softball Manitoba’s Male Minor Player of the Year, in 1980, top Senior Player, and in 1989, Top Male Player. Today, he shares his skills with aspiring, young pitchers in his softball clinics. Greg, the great pitcher, great team-mate and great guy.

Garth German was a talented softball player who was born and raised in Brandon MB. At 13, he already played men’s softball with Modern Dairies. In Winnipeg 1975-2002, he has played with teams that won 20 provincial championships and represented Manitoba or Canada 30 times. He was named all-star shortstop many times, but his prestigious awards include the 1987 All-Canadian Shortstop at the Senior A Canadian Championships and Manitoba’s Outstanding Male Player. An amazingly successful softball career playing with teams at 4 levels of competition - intermediate, senior, masters and slo-pitch.

Bob Taylor is a legend in western Canada fastball. At 16 and 17 in 1954-5, Bob pitched in the Senior Men’s Mercantile League and was selected All-Star in 1955. In 1956-7 with Kiewels in the Senior A Men’s Fastball League, the team won the championship and he was selected All-Star both years. During these same years - 1957, ’58 and ’59, he managed and coached the Dominion Bridge Steelworkers of the Men’s Industrial League where the team finished 2nd. in 1958 and he was selected league all-star all 3 years. 1960-68 he pitched in Regina; 1971-3, in Vancouver. A great orthodox pitcher, a great ambassador for the game.

Fred Taylor is a legend in Winnipeg Senior A Men’s Fastball. In 1954, he started pitching as teen in the Men’s Senior League with West End Paint Spots and ended in 1982 in the Industrial League with Shell Oil. Memorable moments include pitching against Eddy Feigner the King and his Court in Winnipeg and against his brother Bob and his Regina Royals in an International Tournament at Taylor Field, Regina and in 1960 at the International Tournament in Atikokan when he pitched Kiewel’s to a 14 inning, 1-1 tie against Duluth on Saturday night and 3 more innings Sunday morning to win 2-1. One of the last great orthodox pitchers.

Great as his playing days were, it was not until he retired from active play that he made his huge contribution to the administration of softball. 1974-78, he was Manitoba Softball Board Member; 1978-80, Vice President and then President of the Manitoba Softball Association; and in 1979, 1980, 1983-85, he was Commissioner for the Canadian Amateur Softball Association. It was during this time that he with others like Jim Adams and Kent Morgan significantly grew the Softball Association membership, innovated and fostered coaching and umpire training programs and established the Association’s Awards for Excellence Program. This methodical development of The Manitoba Softball Association prompted the opening of an office with a hired employee and the appointment of an Umpire-in-Chief. Ron gave 13 dedicated years of excellence to the administration of softball in Manitoba

Joe was born July 6, 1923 in Hernik Czechoslovakia and emigrated to Sprague, Manitoba in 1936. He loved sports, and after serving in the RCAF in WWII, he settled in Lac Du Bonnet where he coached the Huskies fastball team to a Northeastern Fastball League Championship. When he moved to Winnipeg in 1971, his interest and success found renewed life. For 5 years, 1975-79, his junior softball teams continued to do well in senior men’s league play as well as compete significantly at the National Junior Softball Championships. Joe was a great coach and fine as ambassador for softball.

Nick was born in Portage La Prairie in 1919. As youth, he played baseball, hockey and football; as adult, fastball and slo-pitch. After the Central Manitoba Intermediate A Fastball League was formed in 1950 and expanded to 4 teams in 1951, the Portage Mercurys recruited him as their coach in 1953. He soon established a fastball dynasty that repeatedly won league and provincial championships for the next 11 years. From 1953-63, they won the league championship 9 of 11 times. As well, the team captured 5 Provincial Intermediate A titles. In 1966, he retired from his highly successful fastball, coaching career. In 1981, the Manitoba Softball Association awarded him with a Long Service Award.

Keith played, coached and managed before becoming the highly skilled and respected umpire. Growing up, he played ball in Lac Du Bonnet before moving to Winnipeg in the early 1960s where he played in the Men’s Industrial Fastball League. For 25 years, Keith served as umpire in the Winnipeg Men’s Industrial Fastball League, the Winnipeg Fastball League, the Winnipeg and District Senior Ladies League and the Western Major Fastball League. Later, he helped develop umpire clinics where he also served as instructor and evaluator. For another 25 years he served Manitoba Softball as board and executive member. A great man, a great contributor to the game.

The Uneedas, 1927-30, were fierce competitors in Winnipeg Senior Softball. Since recreation in these years focused primarily on softball and hockey, player and fan involvement was loyal, intense and constant. In 1927, this newly formed team won the Intermediate League Championship; in 1928, they entered the Diamond League and won 3rd. in the playoffs losing to YMHA in the finals; in 1929, they won the city championship against the Nifties; and in 1930, represented the Diamond League at the Northwest Softball Tournament in Minneapolis. One report notes that as many as 8000 fans attended playoff games. A great team playing for passionate fans.

The Pine Falls Canadian, 1967-70, dominated southeastern Manitoba softball. They repeatedly won league championships in a league with Pinawa, Lac du Bonnet, Whitemouth, Seven Sisters and Beausejour. At tournaments in others parts of the province, they often defeated the powerhouse team from Tyndall. They won provincials in 1967, Canada’s centenary, and in 1970, Manitoba’s centenary. In 1969, they lost to Thompson in the 3rd. game of a best of three series. This great team brought its loyal and passionate fans an exciting series of summers.

1994-96, Smitty’s Terminators Midget Girls won an unprecedented three successive National Champions. Only two previous Manitoba teams had won nationals - CUAC in 1965 and Molsons in 1967. In these 3 years, they went 30-3 and scored 230 runs in 33 games allowing only 48. . It was one huge commitment from players, parents and coaches Dennis Chester, Joe Storozuk, Dale Newsham. They endured a grueling schedule. For example, in 1994, the team played 85 games, had 51 practices, had one free weekend between April 16 and August 8 and raised 17,000.00. This was one great team both ‘on and off the field’.