Don McIntyre will be among the 2019 inductees into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame later this summer.
Don was born August 16, 1945, in Lashburn, Saskatchewan, and raised on his parent’s farm north of Neilburg, Saskatchewan. He was very sports minded, enjoying track and field, racing, as well as becoming very proficient at pole vaulting.
Don eagerly awaited to play baseball with the Neilburg Monarchs, along with his brothers Bob and Brian. Don fondly remembers when his Dad would hit endless ground balls to him and Brian to develop their baseball skills. His Dad hung a mattress on the barn door and outlined the strike zone. Don would spend hours, often well into twilight, pitching to an imaginary batter.
When Don was 16, he played shortstop, second base and catcher, as needed, on the Monarchs team. As he grew older, he became an accomplished pitcher, playing for years with Neilburg in the North Saskatchewan Baseball League, as well as participating in yearly baseball tournaments in Kindersley, Unity and the Saskatoon Exhibition, where they enjoyed varying success.
The North Saskatchewan Baseball League merged to become the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League, which meant playing baseball across Saskatchewan.This league also played an interactive schedule with the Alberta Major Baseball League, but, in time it became difficult to replace the older team players and remain competitive, and the Neilburg Monarchs withdrew from the league. Don then continued to pitch for Unity Cardinals and North Battleford Beavers. He enjoyed much pitching success with the Beavers. Don remembers when the Beavers hosted a touring American college team, the San Mateo Bulldogs, and winning by a score of 8-4. This was the Bulldogs only loss of their tour. Don pitched the whole game!
In 1974, North Battleford hosted the Canadian Senior Baseball Championships, featuring teams from across Canada. Don was the starting pitcher in the opening game against Quebec, which the Beavers won. He also was the starting pitcher in the game against British Columbia to get into the semi-finals. Don struck out the BC team in the ninth inning to win the game. After the game, Don was approached by the scout for Baseball Canada, and invited to join Team Canada for the Intercontinental Cup in Florida. He attended camp in Daytona, successful in making Team Canada. The team was competitive playing against USA, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. Don pitched against USA and Puerto Rico with good outings. He felt very proud to wear the Maple Leaf and to play for our country, Canada!
During the next season with the Beavers, Don developed a torn rotator cuff shoulder problem, basically ending his pitching career. He started coaching. A team, the Neilburg Blazers, was formed with Midget aged players competing in the North Saskatchewan Baseball League. Don’s shoulder had healed so he was able to pitch again. Moving up into the Junior ranks, the team made the 1984 Saskatchewan Junior Championship finals against their rivals, the North Battleford Junior Beavers. The Blazers lost the battle in the last inning with the tying run on third. That year the Saskatchewan Baseball Association named Don McIntyre “Coach of the Year.” Don continued to coach at Coaching Clinics across the province. He was the assistant coach at the Canada Summer Games in St. John, New Brunswick, in 1989 and in Saskatoon in 1994 where the team made the semi finals.
Don was an avid curler, but golfing is now top priority. Don states, “I am very grateful for the opportunities that baseball in Saskatchewan has given me. I made so many great friends over the years who continue to be friends.”
