Big Red's Wildpitch

The first diamond I ever layed eyes on was Pembroke School,it was old,run down,and it had discker blades for bases,rather innovative,concave shaped ,a safety feature ,for sure,the diamond was next to the village cemetery,I would go and watch the senior room boys play there and have fun!Mostly Id go home and throw a rubber ball against the barn,that way I would learn to field as well,rather innovative ,at my age I thought!! We played against area schools as co-ed and learned the main principals of softball and soccer at school,we also had track and field events,just wish we would've had the fall sponges they have today! The first time I held a ball ,it sure felt BIG,,I did have short fingers!!!!!Over the years the ball evolved to a standard size,thank goodness! For my part a baseball sized ball would have been perfect!The diamond was in rough shape and no lime was invented so all things were left up to our own discretion. Lots of cheating,no!!!!!!  I remember the equipment bag was a potato bag,had 2 or3 balls and at tops 3 bats and a couple old gloves,I think the Sawatzkys owned that,so you have to respect the fellas for giving dreams to some younger boys and girls. I was one of them!

Here is a look at the Pembroke Kings 1942-43,Pete Teichroeb-catcher, Jake Sawatzky-pitcher, Abe Friesen-1st, Jake Neudorf-2nd, Jack Schmidt- SS,John Janzen( Catcher as well)-3rd,outfield was Jake Janzen,Pete neudorf,and Jake Teichroeb,The boys played ball against Hague,Gruenthal,Blumenheim,Neuhorst,and would go to Rosthern and Warman sports days for evening matches ,as the main attraction!All the boys had where Sweaters and running shoes!The boys had one more thing,a desire to learn the game and play it,these guys gave us the hope and dreams to pursue the game,Later on.Im told Mr.Miller moved in, and he was a good ball player and coach,that improved the scene a lot:For transportation they paid 10 cents to the Janzen boys and with the two ton truck ,off they went ,to,PLay BAll,way to go guys ,and,thanks!Thanks a lot!!!!!This info came from my oldest brother Abe,Pete, a little younger is going to give me info on the follow-up to the  Kings,the Wings,look for  the addition of Hochstadt players added like the Peters girls and boys,hera is where brother Pete started to pitch and so on ! I sincerely salute the early years of this game,Brother Abe was  great hitter and bro Pete was a pitcher !! thanks guys!!!

Born in Illinois in June 1855, Cy Warman grew up on a homestead given to his father by the U.S. government  for gallant service in the Mexican War. He had a meagre education, and got his first job, at the age of five, as water boy for a railroad construction crew. When he was older he thought about being a wheat buyer, but lost all but 50 cents when the market crashed on his $1,000 investment. He failed at several other business, and went to Colorado in 1880, first helping to plant an orchard in Canon City, then moving on to work a 12-hour night shift in a smelter and reduction plant.

He began writing verses and short stories about railroad life. Railroad friends backed him in publishing a magazine called The Frog in Denver but it failed financially. In 1888 he became editor of the Western Railway Magazine, a semi-monthly; it also failed. The Rocky Mountain News hired him to cover railroads, crimes and politics, but he wanted to edit his own paper, and Creeds beckoned.

After a time with the News however Warman became restless. He first went to Washington; then moved on to Canada.

Growing up was a tough chore for most of us ,yet pleasant as well,I remember some incidents of significant consequences,I believe each one was supported by a real good licking from papa !I was 5 years old ,we recieved the Free Press and the Western Producer in the mail,Ford had an ad in there pushing their new 1949 Ford cars and I said,one day I will own one,till then my Red Flyer wagon would do!The wagon was in good shape ,except for one wheel,was bent,John Zacharias said he had an extra wheel and we would install,he went home to get it ,then we had to remove a cutter pin/nail from the axle,we got our axe and we decided to hammer and fix,boom!!! I had my head too close to Johns strikes,and he hit me on the head,between the left eye and temple,I must have been out cold,all I remember John hi-tailing it ,to tell my mom and he was out of there.

Dr.Mom fixed me up some how ,she used ointment,wonderoil,and tore strips from an old sheet and bandaged me up ,I was put to bed and rested and slept till supper time,later on Mom and Dad decided to go for a walk around the village ,a good 2 hour walk,as we approached the Zacharias home John and Harry were playing tag,their  parents sitting in the shade,when John saw me ,he came running to me ,and gave me a hug,and whispered :",boy,am I glad you are alive,I thought I had killed you  ",wow ,our friendship continued thru the years ,playing ball together and double datig later on in life ,hard lessons,with great outcomes!!!!This was1949.

 Love is a burning thing,except when you burn down the chicken koop!!!! We had a sloppy looking chicken shelter ,Ill call it,it was not an entirely closed koop,3 walls ,some chicken wire and a quater roof for shade and protection from the elements,I was getting instructions on how to smoke,roll a Daily Mail,matches and light it and smoke it ,no inhaling ,what a site,however I dropped my butt on the gound and thought we had put it out ,not the case ,we went away for a walk ,looked back and saw smoke ,we ran back,and by" golly nacn ah mole eint",fire ,we got pails of water and got it out ,however,KFC had begun,several chickens died and the koop was half gone,when mom and dad came home from Watrous,Dad delivered another one of his belt wavin spankings,I was a nice boy ,dont you ever forget it,just so darn inquisitive and daring ,we had some chicken to eat and ,actually,mom said it was time to build a real koop ,thats what my oldest brother came and did ,a nice koop for a good purpose,I also recieved many spankings in school,I dont know why,or what for ,I was a good boy !!!1954

Weyburn--Battleford--Saskatoon--Prince Albert--Gronlid--Melfort--Star City--Pembroke--Warman--Osler--Pashendale--Hague--Dalmeny--Langham--Maymont----Richard---Clouston--Abeerdeen==Ituna---Bruno--Karokie--Smuts--Humbolt--Seamans--Yellowknife--Calahoo--Spruce Grove--Edmonton--Calgary--Camrose--Wataskiwin--Duck Lake--Regina--Saskatoon--Rush Lake-- Casper---Brandon--Portage---Winnipeg---Gimli--Herbert--Neville--Burnham---Kyle--Conquest--Central Butte--Morse--Yorkton--- Melville---Weyburn---Estevan---Plentywood--Havre--Missoula--Great Falls--Grasswood---Red Deer--Kelowna--Victoria---Vancouver---Blaine---Tacoma---Lethbridge---Medicine Hat---Redcliff---Brooks---Upshaw---Sutherland---Rosetown---Minot--Grand Forks---Bengough---Lake Alma--Fillmore--Sedley---Cupar---Wolsley--Rivers---Oak River--Vanguard---Toronto---Ancastor---Burlington---Niagra---Lansing---http://www.radiorecollections.com/chooradio1.html

Swift Current--Las Vegas---Palmdale---Lancaster--Edwards Base---Corona---Los Angeles---Chula Vista--Nogales---Tempe--Phoenix--Flagstaff---Colarado Springs---Salt Lake City     Oceanside----Neuhorst---PA Penetenchry--Muenster---Estevan---Scottsdale---Shell Lake--Blaine Lake---Rosthern     Laird----Waldheim---Smuts--Alvena---Wymark---Elrose--High River--Midale---Oxbow---Saco---Nogales,Mex---Arm River--Two Hills--Lloydminster---Cochan Beach---Leask---Lashburn---Whitkow---Ogema---Oak Lake---Carberry----Cabri-- Moose Jaw--Chaplin-- Pennant--Tribune--Unity--Wilkie--Stettler--Abbey--Consul--Dodsland--Donavon--Delisle--Asquith--Fiske--Brock--Glaslyn--Lang--Milden--Conquest--Milestone--Parkbeg--Acadia Valley   Leask     Schellbrook      Avonlea     Notre Dame       Yuma      Exshaw    Daysland     Three Hills    Wymark   Shilo  Yellowgrass  Cupar  Grenfell   Pipestone,sorry I missed a few places Im sure!!!,Witkow  top   

       Erin and Mom Shelly,Grad 2010                                                           

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