Ben Adelman
Athlete Category | Ben Adleman’s illustrious softball career spanned a period of ten years from 1945 to 1954. From 1947 to 1948, Ben’s teams were crowned the 20th Century League Champions. As well, in 1948 the Shore & Sons Sashman team, with Ben Adleman anchoring the team at 3rd base, won the Manitoba Senior A Championships. Over the years, he played with a number of teams but in 1952, Ben found a home with the Legion 141 team. That year Legion 141, after winning the Winnipeg and Manitoba Senior championships, represented the province at the Western Canadian Championships. Legion 141 won the Winnipeg and Manitoba Senior championships for the next two years. During his decade in softball, Ben’s name was often mentioned in the local papers for his outstanding defensive play at third base and his offensive ability with the “willow”. |
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Albert (Ab) Deleau
Athlete Category | Albert Deleau started organized softball at the young age of 6 playing with his school team. Once reaching high school Ab switched over to baseball. It was not until the late 60’s that we saw him turn his attention once again to fastball. In the 1960’s, Ab organized and played with the Deleau Ruffies Fastball team, playing along side his son Bob. He also took on the challenge of coaching the Souris Blues women’s softball team from 1976-1982. The Blues experienced some of their best years with Ab at the helm and were inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame in 2006. With the advent of Slo-Pitch, Ab once again stepped on the diamond as a player with the Southwest Silver Bullets, later to become known as the Manitoba Coyotes. At the MSOS Games, Ab earned five gold medals as well as gold at the 2002 Canada Senior Games in P.E.I. Being a snowbird, Ab also won five world series rings while playing Slo-Pitch south of the border. |
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Bobbi (Little) Janaway
Athlete Category | Bobbie Janaway was born in Poplar Point to a well known athletic family. Her mother was Olive Bend Little and her father was George Little. She started playing minor league ball in Poplar Point at the age of 12. At the age of 15 Bobbi was recruited to join the CUAC Blues Senior Girls and played with the Blues from 1959 to1971. CUAC won twelve consecutive provincial championships during this time and Bobbie’s pitching was an integral part of many of the team’s victories. In 1966 at the Canadian Championship in Toronto she was selected as the All-Star pitcher. In 1969 she was a member of Team Manitoba at the Canada Summer Games in Halifax. After retiring from CUAC and taking a bit of a break Bobbie played masters softball from 1987 to 1999. She was inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame as a member of the CUAC Blues in 2005. |
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Ken King
Athlete Category | Growing up in Seven Sister Falls, Ken King refined his windmill delivery at an early age. At the age of 15, Ken joined the Seven Sisters fastball club in 1959. From 1959 to 1966, with King on the mound, Seven Sisters captured the Northeastern Manitoba Championships on seven occasions. Once the Intermediate provincial competition commenced, if Seven Sisters was not attending; King was always recruited by the league champion to lead their pitching corps. He led Pine Falls to two Intermediate provincial championships in 1967 and 1970. In total, King pitched in provincial championships on twelve occasions. Recruited by Claude Gagnon, manager of Winnipeg Kiewel Seals, he pitched senior fastball in Winnipeg in 1966. Rated as one of the top pitchers in Manitoba, King was also considered a dangerous hitter. He retired from the diamond in 1979, but continued to excel in curling and golfing. |
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Ernie Peters
Athlete Category | Ernie Peters journey in softball began with his playing minor softball in Steinbach. Over the next few years he honed his pitching skills and led the Southeast Mennonite Church team to a league championship. Advancing through the Cloverleaf Fastball League and the Winnipeg Industrial League, Peters' senior softball career began in 1966 with the Molson Canadians. They won both the Winnipeg and Manitoba Senior Championships that year. Peters moved to the Black Knights in 1967, a team that captured the Industrial League and Manitoba Intermediate Championship in 1967 and 1968. Moving back to senior competition in 1969, the Black Knights dethroned Molsons in an eight game series to capture the Manitoba Senior League Championship. In 1969, Peters was also recruited to pitch in the Canada Summer Games in Halifax. As a member of the Black Knights, Peters represented Manitoba at the Canadian Senior Championships in 1970 and 1971. |
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Wayne Deschouwer
All-Around Category | Throughout his forty plus years of being involved in this great game Wayne Deschouwer has played a prominent role as a player, coach, umpire and administrator. At the age of thirteen he began his playing career with the Mariapolis Blues. He also began to coach while still in his teens. He started with Bantam boys working his way up to Senior A Men, and then switched to Midget A girls and Junior A Women. As he did in coaching, he completely immersed himself within the officials program offering his time and expertise as on field official, mentor, recruiter and administrator. Throughout his thirty-eight years of officiating, his ability as an umpire led to numerous trips to Westerns and Canadian Championships. Since 2003 he has served as President of the Smitty’s Softball Organization where he continues in developing our sport. |
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Faye Finch
All-Around Category | Born in 1951, Faye Finch started playing competitive softball at the age of 10 with the Earl Grey Community Centre team. At the age of 17 she joined the CPAC Falconettes in 1968 and played with them until 1977. According to numerous knowledgeable softball people of that era, Faye was the best outfielder of the time. She was known for her speed, her excellent glove, her strong arm and her quality hitting from the left side of the plate. Throughout her illustrious career, numerous provincial titles and individual league and provincial awards came her way. While still playing, Faye recognized the need to give something back to softball and thus began a lengthy involvement with Softball Manitoba at the executive level. Her leadership led to new leagues being formed and to new programs being developed and implemented throughout the province. |
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Allan Sharpe
All-Around Category | Raised on a farm outside of Crystal City, Al Sharpe played shortstop for his local hardball team. He came to Winnipeg in 1961 and the following year he joined the powerhouse Kiewel Seals softball team. From 1970 through the 1974 season, Al was a valuable infielder and then later an outfielder for the Seals, the Black Knights and St. Anne Saints. He attended three national men’s softball championships. In 2001, Al returned to softball and continues to play competitive slo-pitch in the Manitoba Slo-Pitch League. During the mid 1970’s he became heavily involved in coaching and the administrative end of the Manitoba Baseball Association. This experience led him back to softball when in 2003 he became a member and volunteer of the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame. |
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Ross MacIver
Builder Category | Ross MacIver joined the Flashback Senior Slo-Pitch organization as a player in 1992. In 1993 he, along with two other members, Ray Kuran and Morris Deveson, were asked to locate increased senior slo-pitch competition and participation. This small committee decided to create the first ever Senior Slo-Pitch Tournament held in Mahnomen, Minnesota, which still continues today. He was instrumental in developing the “Canadian Polar Bear Classic” which became the first ever World Qualifying Tournament held outside of the United States in 1995. MacIver continued to strive for recognition of Senior Slo-Pitch and was rewarded for his efforts as he hosted the Senior Softball USA sanctioned World Championships in Winnipeg in 2000 and 2003. As a player, coach and manager, he has successfully guided the Carefree Getaway Flashbacks 70+ to gold medals in the Manitoba Society of Seniors, Provincial and Western Canadian competitions as well as World Qualifiers. |
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Eva Peters
Builder Category | Eva Peters did not become involved in the sport of softball until 1969 at the age of 22. After one year in the Industrial League she joined the Royalettes. She caught, pitched and covered 3rd base for the Royalettes from 1970 to 1977. During her playing career she won numerous MVP awards not only at the league/provincial level, but also at Western Canadians. After her playing days were behind her, Eva still had a passion for the sport of softball. She decided to join “Team Blue”. This was not an easy task as provincial and national officiating crews were predominantly male at this time. Eva was one of the first female officials to break down this barrier. As well she was instrumental in promoting the role of women in the field of officiating. She was a keen student of the game and willing mentor, passing her knowledge onto rookie and senior officials alike. She umpired at the league, provincial, regional and national levels - from minors to seniors. |
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1923-1928 Ramblers Girls Softball Team
Team Category | The Ramblers Girls Softball team from 1923-1928 was the first top female softball team in Winnipeg at that time. This was a team that played in front of thousands of fans and erased the stigma that was once attached to a “ girls’ game”. The girls actually made a scientific study of the game as they spent many evenings in blackboard talks and the tactical study of softball. George Percy and Gordon Little formed the Winnipeg Ramblers from the St. Johns Presbyterian Church and the Lord Selkirk girls’ team. They entered the newly organized Winnipeg Girls Softball League in 1923. They won their first 104 league games and it was not until 1927 that they suffered their first defeat at the hands of the Tigerettes at John M. King School. |
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1967-1972 Black Knights Fastball Team
Team Category | From 1967 to 1972 the Black Knights were the dominant force in Manitoba men’s fastball. Though known by several names during this period depending upon sponsorship, the Knights were originally composed of a group of young men of the First Mennonite Church here in Winnipeg. It was not until 1967 that the first Black Knights player not connected with church joined the team and this was the year that the team began to build towards a challenge for the Manitoba Senior Fastball title. From 1968 to 1972 the Knights were provincial champions. The Knights won the Intermediate a championship in 1968 and followed this up by defeating the Molson Canadians, perennial senior league and provincial champions, in 1969. In all, the Black Knights won three out of four Senior championships and represented Manitoba at Canadian championships in 1970, 1971 and 1972. |
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1987-1992 Beavers Senior A Men
Team Category | The Beavers Senior A Men’s’ Slo-pitch team's success and longevity are second to none in Manitoba. Dating back to 1975, the Beavers captured five consecutive league championships in the Green Brier Blooperball League, which was the early version of slo-pitch softball. The Beavers joined the Winnipeg Men’s Slo-Pitch League in 1980. During the years between 1981 and 1998, the Beavers won 10 league championships and a record 17 consecutive Provincial Championships. The Beavers accomplishments during the time frame of 1987-1992 included playing in six consecutive league championships, winning five, appearing in and winning seven consecutive Provincial championships and representing Manitoba at the Senior Men’s Canadian Championships during that six year period. Including tournaments, the Beavers regularly played 100 or more games per year losing very few. |
