Baseball was a way of life for so many great Saskatchewan athletes and Peter Fylyma was no exception. Fylyma will take his spot in the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum this summer, as he will be inducted as a player.
Fylyma's baseball career started at the age of six with the North Battleford Fireman Phillies. Since that time he has become one of the most talented players and colourful personalities to ever grace a baseball diamond in Saskatchewan.
Fylyma was a great catcher defensively with a great arm and a leader on the diamond. He was a left-handed power hitter, who had a great average and great eye and was always among the team's best in on base percentage. His great on base percentage was just half the problem. Once on base he was always a threat to steal a base and proved that after stealing home five times in one season.
Fylyma loves baseball and makes sure up and comers have the same opportunity as he did, as he donates his time, effort and money for baseball in Saskatchewan. He sat on the executive of the Saskatoon Senior League for 22 years and was president for 12 of those years. Both Fylyma and his wife Elaine volunteered countless hours at Cairns Field and Leakos Park in Saskatoon and Fylyma also coaches his son Kale.
He won his first senior men's baseball titles with the North Battleford Beavers at 20 years old. Fylyma went on to win another 11 championships, including an incredible 10 straight as player/manager of the Saskatoon Outlaws.
He collected two gold, four silver and three bronze medals at the Western Canadian Senior Men's Baseball Championships over his career.
His baseball journey has taken him to countless small town tournaments where he devoured more home baked pies than any other player in the history of Saskatchewan baseball.
Peter lived large and played larger. Some of his achievements include a 1978 provincial title with the North Battleford Beavers, Rookie of the Year honours in 1979 in Virden, Man., 1982 Rookie of the Year in the Saskatoon Senior Baseball League, SSBL MVP in 1985, '88 and '90, SSBL batting champion in 1988, SSBL's Top Defensive Player in 1991, recipient of the Mike Babyak Memorial Trophy in 1999, '06 and '09, six SSBL league championships and dozens of batting trophies from provincial and western championships.
Fylyma also has the record for most SSBL games played, at bats, hits, doubles, walks, runs, stolen bases, innings pitched and RBIs.
Aug. 21, Fylyma will be one of 13 individuals who will join one family and one team in induction ceremony. Tickets for the event are available by phoning 446-1983 or e-mailing saskbaseballmuseum@sasktel.net.
