The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of David Burke of Kindersley into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category as a builder Saturday, Aug. 15.
David Burke began umpiring in 1983 having been encouraged by Earl Berard to get involved with the game. While attending an umpire’s clinic, some great umpires like Brian Janzen and Brian Watson took him under their wing.
In 1984, the World Youth Baseball Championships came to Kindersley and Burke began his umpiring career. Like any umpire in Saskatchewan, he began umpiring local baseball thinking that was all he would ever do. Janzen encouraged Burke to go for a Level 3 clinic in Davidson. He stayed as a Level 3 for a time and started working on his game. Burke was very lucky to work minor baseball in Kindersley. Burke’s wife, Janzen, Brian Watson and others encouraged him and soon he was umping Kindersley Royals baseball.
In preparation for the World Youth Baseball, Jack Sell moved into town in 1984 and as senior umpire he encouraged Burke to keep improving his umpiring skills.
Burke did just that, later teaching umpiring in Zone 7 and holding clinics in different areas in Saskatchewan. all of which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Here are some highlights of Burke’s career. Started umpiring in 1983; started level one umpiring then moved up the ladder; zone director 1989 to 2005 or 2006; became zone governor in 2007; returned as Zone 7 umpire director in 2008, retiring in 2011 from Board; helped in Zone 7, then in 2013 became directors chair; umpire instructor 1991 to 2013; 1997 umpired Midget AAA Red Deer, Alberta; 1998 umpired Midget Blue Jay Cup, Stonewall, Man.; 2002 Midget AAA St. Albert, Alta.; 2003 Bantam, Windsor, Ontario; 2004 Midget, St. Albert, Alta.; 2005 Pee Wee, Summerside, P.E.I.; 2009 Canada Cup, Kindersley; all levels-Western Canadian Baseball; all levels Provincial Baseball; supervised provincial playoffs, Zone 7, as well as worked games; umpired Saskatchewan Summer Games , Prince Albert; umpired Saskatchewan Summer Games, Lloydminster; SMBL League as umpire supervisor; awarded Saskatchewan Baseball Association Umpire of the Year; Awarded Saskatchewan Baseball Association Builder of the Year; worked a 19 inning baseball game, longest on record was a 21 inning game in 1919. [per museum]; 2008-2009 committee member of Baseball Canada.
David Burke continues to call Kindersley home.
