Don Schmall (1959-) Neepawa MB
Don Schmall pitched 18 years in the MSBL for
the Neepawa Cubs (1977-81) and Neepawa
Farmers (1982-94) when most teams relied
on import pitchers. He is the Farmers all time
leader in innings pitched (609), wins (39), and
strikeouts (274). Don pitched a no-hitter against
Dauphin Redbirds, June 28, 1991, and was
named the MSBL playoff MVP that season. Don
was also named the Farmers regular season
MVP in both 1984 and 1992. Don pitched with
the Team Manitoba All-stars at several Western
Canadian and National championships. He
helped Manitoba collect two gold, two silver,
and one bronze medal during the 1980’s. Off
the field Don served as Secretary-treasurer of
Baseball Manitoba for five years and has been
active in coaching minor fastball and serving
on the Neepawa Minor Baseball Association
Executive.
Peter Thomson (1930-) Winnipe
g MB
Peter Thomson had a relatively sho
rt but outstanding baseball play
ing
career in Manitoba. He started out
with his hometown Miami senior
team in 1945 as a 15 year old sho
rtstop with good range in the field
and speed on the bases while pitc
hing occasionally. He became an
outstanding pitcher after moving
to Winnipeg and joining the CUA
C
Blues of the Winnipeg Senior Lea
gue in 1953 while also playing seve
ral
other positions. In the 1954 leag
ue semi-finals against Transcona
Peter
was the winning pitcher in all four
CUAC victories. In 1955 he was the
winning pitcher in the League all-s
tar game but arm problems limi
ted
him to being primarily a position
player in 1956-57. During this era
he also played tournament ball for
Miami and was a member of the
Miami 1956-61 team inducted in
2013 to the Hall of Fame. After the
Winnipeg Senior League folded
in 1958 Peter went on to a successf
ul
fastball career and later a slow pitc
h career while also helping to coa
ch
Little League and Senior teams to
championships.
)
a Farmers (1993-1997
Major Team: Neepaw
st success as
ate
gre
ir
the
ed
iev
ach
The Neepawa Farmers
ague during
Le
all
seb
oba Senior Ba
a member of the Manit
the MSBL
3-1997. They went to
the five years from 199
n league titles,
1993 and 1997 they wo
finals all five years. In
year run by
e
fiv
they capped off the
and in the latter year
‘93-97 regular
eir
Th
ip.
A championsh
winning provincial AA
but they were
59 wins and 43 losses
season MSBL stood at
s against only
yoff action with 31 win
particularly good in pla
eady been
alr
ve
ers of their roster ha
16 losses. Four memb
h two more
wit
F
HO
BB
into the MB
inducted as individuals
entering in 2017.
Special Category: Gilbert Plains Legion
Bantams 1965-68
Made up almost entirely of local players
this small country town youth team
dominated the Bantam age baseball
classification in Manitoba and Western
Canada for an amazing four year period
from 1965-68. Organized, managed, and
coached by MB Baseball Hall of Fame
inductee Mel Stoughton (2016) the team
won five Manitoba titles in the four years
and captured three Western Canadian
championships. Originally a Bantam B
classified team from 1965-66 they won
the Manitoba and Western Canadian titles
both years. After winning the Bantam B
provincials again in 1967 they moved up
to the Bantam A class for playoffs that
season. They then won the provincial
Bantam A title while finishing as Western
Canada finalists and in 1968 they
captured both Manitoba and Western
Bantam A championships.
32 / sportslife
Special Category: Eastern Manitoba All Stars 1978
This team was formed from members of the Eastern
Manitoba intermediate Baseball League to compete
in a provincial playoff to determine the Manitoba
representative at the Western Canadians to be held
in Nanaimo. Two separate simultaneous provincial
tournaments were held with the two winners, Carman
and Eastern All-stars, meeting in a best of three game
final series. In their tournament held at Carberry the
All-stars lost the first game and were required to win
five straight 9-inning games to earn the victory. They
also lost the first game against Carman in the finals
but Don Maskiw pitched and won two 9-inning games
on the same day to secure the trip west. That trip was
almost cancelled when Air Canada went on strike but a
chartered DC3 and a bus ride got them to Nanaimo just
four hours before their first game. However, the All-stars
were determined and talented as they went undefeated,
climaxed by a 10-3 win over B.C. for the title. Carl Watson
earned the top pitcher award in the tournament and
John Hindle earned the top hitter award.
MC Scott Taylor with some of the inductees at the Manitoba Sports Hall of
Fame from left Peter Thompson, David Nychuk, Dan Roulette and Charles
Cochrane, both from Ebb & Flow, John Melnyk and John Hindle