BATTLEFORD — Eleven Individuals and three teams were inducted into the 40th annual induction dinner of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame at the Alex Dillabough Centre on Aug. 16.
Individual inductees were Kasmer Andreychuk from Yorkton; Glenn Connor from Beechy; Sherman Cottingham from Clinton Township, Mich.; Penny Fitzsimmons from Saskatoon; Murray Gray from Maymont; Ken Hamilton from Assiniboia; Logan Hofmann from Muenster; Kevin Payne from Lloydminster; Rye Pothakos from Saskatoon; Darren Schaan from Regina; and the late Max White from Goodwater. Team inductees were the Riverhurst Thumpers Baseball Team 2005-15, Melville Bantam A Millionaires 1978 and Battleford Bantam A Beavers 1992.
Dignitaries present were Ames Leslie, mayor of Battleford, Jeremy Cockrill, MLA for the Battlefords, and Carla Beck, NDP Leader of the Opposition.
Jeff Rogstad from CTV was the MC for the night. Inductees were marched in by a procession led by Piper Jim Ramsay and RCMP Inspector Ryan How.
A special presentation was made to CEO of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Jane Shury, acknowledging her husband, Dave and herself for starting the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 40 years ago.
Dr. Sherman Cottingham was guest speaker at this year’s 40th Inductee Ceremony.
Cottingham was born in Acadia, La., in 1936. His interest in baseball started at a young age when he realized the same motion he used to skip stones across water could be applied to pitching.
He was recruited by baseball legend Satchel Paige to play on his All-Star Team. Paige gave him the nickname “Little Professor” because Cottingham was the only player on the roster who had graduated from college. Under Paige’s mentorship, he developed a fastball in the low 90s and an effective slider.
Cottingham was called up to play for the North Battleford Beavers 60 years ago (1964-65). He said that was the best call he received. When he lived in North Battleford, he was treated with the most respect and dignity that he has ever had.
He recalled, “I came out of a racist situation in Louisiana, but when I came to North Battleford, I was able to sit at a restaurant or play pool in the pool room without somebody calling me the ‘N’ word," something he said left a lasting impression.
In 1965, Cottingham threw a no-hitter and was named the team’s MVP. His pitching skills earned him many accolades, but it was his sportsmanship that made him a respected figure in the community.
He told the audience that no achievement is made alone and credited teamwork for every success. He described baseball as a story of resilience, with failures and opportunities to rise from them.
Cottingham went on to earn his PhD in education and later worked as a school teacher. He said the lessons he learned in North Battleford helped shape his life after baseball.
The ceremony concluded, as always, with attendees singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game.
