Manitoba baseball HOF names its Class of ’25

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This article was published 27/11/2024 (650 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Nov. 5, the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame announced its induction class for 2025. The baseball hall has a unique way of making its announcement. Media conferences are held in Winnipeg and Brandon on the same morning, which makes it easy for new inductees to attend. Country hardballers from the western part of the province can go to Brandon and those in the east or from the city can attend the announcement at Sport Manitoba in Winnipeg.

This year’s group consisted of nine individuals and three teams. Lindsey and Matthew Dahl are twins who grew up in Portage la Prairie. where they played youth baseball. They then played junior in Carman. where they both won Manitoba Junior Baseball League batting titles and MVP awards. Moving to senior with the Elmwood Giants, the twins helped the Winnipeg team win two Western Canada championships. Lindsey was a catcher, while Matthew pitched and played infield.

The Winnipeg contingent included Scott Kelman, Fred Matsubara, and Jack Scott. Kelman played for St. James A’s from peewee to senior. His lengthy list of accomplishments includes being named junior league MVP in 2001 and Winnipeg Senior League MVP in 2011. Matsubara was an outstanding pitcher for St. Boniface in junior and senior. From 1987 to 1990, while at Mayville State in North Dakota, his record was 23-4. In 1990, he played in the world championship with Canada’s national team. Scott was a top catcher from the 1960s to the 1980s playing from the Little Canadian level to senior. He also coached the junior St. Boniface Legionaires and served as MJBL commissioner for three seasons.

The three inductees from western Manitoba are pitcher Clark Andries from Roblin, Jim White of Neepawa and Ryan Scott from Irishtown N.B., who got his start in Minnedosa. After his junior and college career, Andries played seven seasons in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League (MSBL), with Brandon Cloverleafs and Birtle Blue Jays.

The versatile White, who played all over the diamond for the Neepawa Cubs and Farmers, was a 13-time all-star during his 17 seasons in the MSBL. Scott’s career in the MSBL included stints with Hamiota, McAulay – where in 1993 he was the league MVP, batting champion and all-star centre fielder – Neepawa and Brandon. While at Mayville State, he was an All-American scholar-athlete.

The HOF also is inducting sportscaster Clayton Dreger. There is no special media category but if there was Dreger would have been first on the list. In addition to covering the sport in southern Manitoba since 1985, he has served as the induction dinner master of ceremonies on 22 occasions and has been the emcee of the Baseball Manitoba awards night since 2013.

The 2012-2018 Brandon Cardinals, who won the Brandon Senior AA League championship five times, will be inducted in the senior club category. The 2003-2006 Crocus Plains Plainsmen, who won three provincial high school championships, will enter in the minor club category. Team Manitoba, which won silver at the 1985 Canada Summer Games, will be recognized as a special team.

Stewart, Wilf, Randy and Greg Clayton from Kaleida/Manitou/Snowflake will be inducted as a special group for their contributions both on and off the diamond. The Altona builders – known as the Field of Dreams committee – were responsible for raising the funds and building the Access Field in the community.

The newest honorary life members of the HOF are Bill Kirkup and Murray Zuk of Souris and Al Robertson of Hamiota.

The 27th annual Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame induction will take place at the Access Events Centre in Morden on June 14, 2025.