The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the selection of Leo Wurtz, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, as a player/builder, Saturday, August 20, 2016, at Battleford, Saskatchewan
Leo Wurtz, is the son of Andrew Wurtz Jr. and Mary [Waldner] Wurtz, that farmed south of Dalmeny, Saskatchewan. Leo loved the game of baseball as a youth and to this day, continues to enjoy the game and researches and supports Saskatchewan baseball history.
Leo played with the Saskatoon Optimist Juniors when the team won the Provincial Junior Championship before losing the Western Canada Junior Baseball Championship final, played in Edmonton Renfrew Park, to Edmonton.
In 1958 and 1959, Leo played for the Saskatoon Gems Junior baseball team, losing the 1958 championship. In 1959 the team won the Saskatoon and District Baseball League championship by defeating the Asquith Braves in the league semi-final, then defeating the “mighty’ Saskatoon Mac’s in the final. They were in provincial playoffs but again, fell short of taking the championship. Leo played first base with the Gems, batting 5th in their powerful line up, with a consistent personal 300+ batting average.
In 1960 and 1961, Leo played first base with the Marysburg Royals, [replacing his boyhood idle, Glenn Hall ] winning many tournaments as the team traveled every Monday,Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the province. Both those years saw Marysburg compete in the Provincials, but losing out to Swift Current in 1960 and to Yorkton in 1961. In the 1960 Saskatoon Exhibition Tournament opening game against the Kindersley Klippers, the outstanding pitching of left-handed Bentley MacEwen of the Klippers, defeated the Royals 10-2, allowing only 2 hits until the 9th inning, when 3 of the 5 hits off MacEwen were by Leo Wurtz, the Royals 1st baseman.
In 1962, Leo played with the Revelstoke Spikes, in the BC Caribou League and they won the North Okanagan Baseball Championship. In the fall of that year, Leo returned home and played with the Saskatoon Quakers team coached by Joe Zeman.
Leo also umpired throughout the province, including the Long Lake Baseball League for nearly 20 years from the early 1950’s through 1971, many of which were Provincial finals from Senior A to Intermediate A Championship Tournaments.
Leo has been a very committed member of the Selection Committee of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of fame, as well as very active supporter for the organization.
Leo taught school around the province including the City of Lloydminster. He is a very community minded citizen and was involved extensively in hockey in that City.
He and Brenda, his wife, continue to live in the City of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
