Saskatoon produce Aron Braun will join other outstanding baseball builders Aug. 18 in Battleford when he is inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame.
Braun, born in 1930, was introduced to the game in 1958 and it became his passion.
Losing his right leg above the kneed to cancer in 1949 did not keep him from becoming involved as a builder, founder, executive, manager, coach, trainer, clinician, umpire and mentor for the past 53 years.
Braun has a long list of involvement in various levels of the sport. In 1958 he was president of the Saskatoon Senior Sandlot League. From 1958 to '69 he was manager of the Saskatoon Orioles Senior team and he was involved with building the Optimist Park during this time. Again starting in 1958, Braun was a member of the Saskatoon Baseball council and president and past president of the Saskatoon and District Umpires Association until 1984.
In 1969 Braun was chairman Anavet Junior Sandlot League and throughout the '70s his involvement continued as a builder of the Kilburn Park facilities, home of the KC Mosquito Baseball League, coach of the Orioles sandlot to midget baseball teams; Saskatchewan Baseball registered umpire and president of Bantam League for which he wrote the constitution.
He was also founder with the group of nine, Saskatoon Baseball Council in the '70s as well as initiating the Nutana Kiwanis Baseball Parks, home of the bantams. He was chairman of the Cairns Field upgrade committee and an executive member of the Elks Beaver League. He coached the Bantam Tigers, Bantam Orioles and Midget Raiders.
From 1982-88 he was manager of the Saskatoon Miazga National Senior Baseball Club, members of the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League.
In 1983, Braun facilitated an umpire clinic featuring National League umpire Randy Marsh.
He was a volunteer in charge of security for the baseball venue at the 1989 Jeux Canada Games.
In 2000 Braun coached the Braves zone team and in 2005 was a member of the Peewee AAA Provincial Championship Protest Committee. From 2006-12 Braun has served as a member of the Louis Slotsve Baseball Mentorship Program.
Bruan has also earned awards including an Excellent Service Award in 1984 from the Saskatoon District Baseball Umpires Association. In 1989 he became an Honorary Life Member of the association.
In 2006 he was named one of CTV's 100 People 100 Reasons during Saskatoon's Centennial. That same year he was awarded a Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.
Bruan's passion for baseball has been passed on to his children and grandchildren. His wife, Betty, supported him throughout the years, as well as scorekeeping and doing secretarial work.
Braun and his wife continue to live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
