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| Don 'Smokey' Campbell
Athlete Category | At 16 in 1969, Smokey started playing fast-pitch fastball with the newly founded Minto Mustangs. Except for injury and the birth of his oldest daughter, he played every game until the team folded 30 years later in 1999. In Minto, with a population of 100, he was a stabilizing force for a team whose players 'came and went' and an encouragement for players to return. He was the 'go to' first basebam whose 'home-run' threat usually had him batting clean up. He was central on a team that won repeated league and provincial championships - first in the Southwest Fastball League; later, in the Brandon Centennial Major Fastball League. In the latter, he was chosen league All-Star First Baseman three successive years 1982-84, and in 1984, league batting champion with a .400 average and league MVP. Smokey- a consistently fine player; a class act of a guy. |
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Les Ellchuk
Athlete Category | At 15 in 1975, Les was given an at-bat against Inglis with his brother Dale's Elphinstone Movers. It was the beginning. By 1976, he was a full-time player with the Sandy Lake Comets and from 1976-84, he developed into a fine catcher and hitter with the Elphinstone Outlaws. From here, it was an incredible climb to prominence. Until his retirement from Softball in 2013, he played in provincial, western, national and international championship teams during most of these years. Through he was committed to his local teams including the Elphinstone Outlaws, Portage Diamonds and Gladstone Whips, he was repeatedly asked to join teams qualifying for western, national and international play. In 2007, he was awarded the Wayne Gilbert Memorial Award as Top Male Player in the province and named MVP at the Western Canadian Masters. A talented player and a really fine guy. |
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Gordon John Falk
Athlete Category | Gord was one of these rare athletes who never played minor league ball. He immediately played Men's fastball with Sanders. He played on many teams, won many championships and was placed on many All-Star teams. From 1976-2001, he repeatedly played in provinical and at the Westerns with teams including Sanders, Boissevain's Pringle Pirates, the City Centre Cougars, B&R Sports, the Minto Mustangs and Clanwilliam Greys. In 1984, he was awarded MVP of the Southwest Softball League, and 1987, he had the highest batting average in the Southwest League. Gord's skill and competitive nature made him a much sought-after and exciting player in Manitoba Softball. |
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Lois Johnston
Athlete Category | For 23 years, Lois Johnston was a dominant player in Manitoba Women's Softball. With her behind the plate and her bat in the line-up, teams invariably won provincial championships and the opportunity to compete at the Westerns. Playing Senior 'B' in Brandon and District Women's Softball League, she was the league's top hitter in 1974, 75, 79 and 1980. She was the League's MVP in 1970, 75 and 1985. In 1968, 69, 71, 72 and 77 she was selected to catch for teams representing Manitoba at out-of-province tournaments. Her 1977 team won the Western Canadian Championship. An exemplary catcher and hitter; a pleasure to watch. |
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James (Jim) Frederick Richards
Athlete Category | At 15 in 1971, Jim joined the Clanwilliam Greys. Manager/coach Al McPherson saw his talent, and he soon became the regular center-fielder. During the next 30 years, it's estimated that Jim played in 1500 games with 1500 hits. He won the Leech Printing Top Defensive Fielder Award during 9 seasons, was named league All-Star in 14, named team MVP in 1982 and league/team MVP in 1985. His batting averages topped anywhere from .323 to .417. A remarkable player, who on nights when the team managed few hits, would strike for game-winning hits. Often these were home runs. A fun-to-watch player. |
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James Charles Bradford (Brad) Wright
Athlete Category | At 14 in 1972, Brad joined his father, Jim and his brothers Lynn and Vaughn on the Scarth Suns fastball team playing in the Virden and District Centennial Fastball League. He played 2nd base, shortstop and center field. In 1976, he started pitching, and by 1978, he had become a sufficiently strong pitcher to allow the now Scarth Premiers to join the Brandon and Disctrict Centennial Fastball League. Each year during 1979-83, he was awarded the league's Murray Chapman Top Pitcher Award and named the league's All-Star pitcher. In 1982, the Dauphin Boulevards asked him to join them for the Westerns in Kelowna. He pitched 57 consecutive innings for a team Bronze Medal and a personal tournament MVP Award. Brad was a remarkable player and person. He was repeatedly asked to join higher level teams, but he alwayas graciously declined saying that would have left Scarth without a pitcher. Brad was one class guy. |
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Waldren Blythe (Wally) Essie
Builder Category | Wally lived his life on the Sioux Valley First Nation's Reserve. As a boy in 1964, he walkeed 12 kms to buy his first softball glove. He wanted so much to play ball at his Kenton Elementary School. And so he did. He played high school softball at Arthur Meighen High School in Portage, and later, Senior Men's softball on the Sioux Valley Reserve. From 1976-2002, he served in many capacities as community organizer, coach, manager/coordinator, as committee member, treasurer and president. He was simply someone everyone could trust 'to get the job done'. A fine man who contributed to his ccommunity in significant and wonderful ways. |
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Bill White
Builder Category | For four decades, Bill gave much of his life to the game of softball he so much loved. After playing softball in Brandon from 1967-75 including one year with Brandon's Esso Westman in the Winnipeg Senior Men's Softball League, he started his many years as coach and umpire. In 1975, he coached Junior Women's Softball, and in 1976, his 'Pic A Pop' team won the Junior Women's Provincial Championship. For two more years he coached the Red Oak Inn Red Peppers before becoming a full-time umpire. From 1975-2010, Bill rose through the provinical and national ranks to become a respected and reserved umpire. During these years, he served as umpire and or Umpire-In-Chief at provincial and high school Championshups, at three 1st. Nations Nationals Championships, and at Senior Men's and Women's Western and National Championships. In 2005, he was awarded the 'Indicator Award' at the Umpire's Blue Convention in Calgary. Bill's dedication and skill brought excellence to the officiatiing of softball in Manitoba. |
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1974-1978 Brandon Pizza Place Ladies Fastball Team
Team Category | Brandon Pizza Place Senior Women's Fastball team dominated during the years 1974-78. They won the Brandon and District Fastball League Championship in 4 of these 5 years, and the Senior B {rovincial Championship in 1974 and 1975. Players excelled. In the provincials of 1974, Ev Oliver had two wins and Betty Couling batted .400; in 1975, Lois Johnston, the winning pitcher, was named tournament MVP. |
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1957-1958 Jacobson & Greiner Men's Fastball Club
Team Category | In 1956 when Brandon had one select Senior Men's Fastball Team competing in a Winnipeg league, the construction company Jacobson & Greiner supported Brandon softball players to build a softball diamond at 4th St. and McTavish during 1956-57. In 1957, the organizers established a 5 team league and a draft system to man each team. Teams included J&G, Crests Dry Cleaners, LaSalle Grill, McGavins and 7-Up. J&G won the league in both 1957 and 1958. Their skill and tenacity in these tightly contested games drew droves of fans. It was one great era in Brandon Softball, and Jacobson & Greiner were always in the 'thick of it'. |
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1948-1952 Rumford's Ladies/ Curly McKay's Girls Softball Team
Team Category | The Rumford's Ladies Fastball Team started in the mid 1940s as a community team called The Central Vics playing games at Brandon's South End Community Club. In 1948 with Rumford's Laundry as sponsor, they dominated the Westman area during the years 1948-52 winning the Brandon and District Girls Softball League championshiptroophy during 4 successive years. In 1952 when Rumford's Laundry was sold to Perth Dry Cleaners, Curly MacKay sponsered the team that then played in the Minnedosa Girls Softball League. As well, they won numerous tournaments. Every town seemed to have a softball tournamanet. These players are now in their 80s. They were great team-mates and have remained great friends. |
