Wilkie celebrated 100 years of existence last weekend and along with the 100 years of town pride, baseball has been a cornerstone of the community for nearly that long as well.
In 1918, the first baseball club was organized and by 1922 Wilkie played in a league consisting of Scott, Wilkie and Unity. Eight years later, the league expanded to include Rockhaven and Leipzig.
The fervour for baseball extended downward to the younger generation and in 1936 the Wilkie Juniors beat the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox for the provincial title. Over 200 fans witnessed the triumph. The Town of Wilkie honoured the team with a parade and banquet after the championship.
The interest in minor baseball continued to flourish as witnessed by the election of two prominent Wilkie supporters being chosen as president and secretary of the Saskatchewan Minor Baseball Association. David Shury, founder of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, became president and Mike Thomas was the secretary/treasurer.
As players were eventually needed in World War II, baseball slowed to a crawl in the area, but then, a revival.
Inverallan Flyers, a rural based team decided in 1955 to move into Wilkie under new management. The team became the Wilkie Cardinals. The team had a modest record, but held it's own in the league consisting of Scott, Unity, Cando, Landis and Wilkie.
By 1956, the Wilkie Little League boasted 72 playing members making four little league teams.
In the early 1960s there was a lapse when slo-pitch became popular, but Wilkie continued to field competitive teams. In 1962, much due to Hall of Fame Inductees Joe Wandler and Henry (Hank) King, the Wilkie Bantams reached the provincial finals. Unfortunately in those days the provincial finals usually meant facing a team from Regina or Saskatoon. Again in 1963, the Wilkie Regals the bantam team reached the provincial finals.
Later local businesses donated uniforms and more diamonds were built in the park and baseball was flourishing in the small community.
Wilkie's big sports event was July 1 and 2 for many years. These days were known as "Wilkie Days" and featured baseball and horse racing. Wilkie always had a team in these events.
In 1974, the Wilkie Brewers team was organized and the team won the North Battleford Tournament that year.
In 1987, Wilkie hosted the Western Canada Baseball Championships. The regional park was redesigned with new diamonds, dugouts and booths. During the following years the Brewers remained a strong provincial contender.
In 1997 a resurgence was evident. The Brewers continued to play in the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League with teams from Unity, the Battlefords, Edam, Mervin, Kindersley, Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, Standard Hill and St. Walburg.
The team continues to compete in tournaments in Saskatoon and other centres to this day. The Brewers were league champions in 1998, '01, '05, '06, '07 and '08 and won provincials in 1998, '03, '05, '07 and '08. In 2003, the Brewers hosted the provincial tournament and won with great support from fans and sponsors.
In 2007, the Brewers were named the Saskatchewan Senior Baseball Team of The Year.
The Brewers are heading into the NSRBL playoffs once again, which begin Wednesday and will be playing in the senior A2 provincials in Meadow Lake in August.
In the past decade, the minor baseball teams have proved to be provincial championship contenders with titles at the A2, A and AA levels, including a midget AA provincial championship and western Canadian silver medal in 2004 by the Wilkie A's.
Minor baseball is still operating today with volunteers and managers. There are now several, fenced diamonds with bleachers for minor baseball, but not enough players to field teams in all categories, so as players advance, they are recruited by other centres.
Ball players, however, are still being raised in Wilkie and indeed, Wilkie is a baseball town.
The Town of Wilkie will be inducted in to the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in the community category at the 27th annual induction, Aug. 20.
Joining the community of Wilkie in the induction ceremony will be individuals Anton Belous, Wally Blaisdell, Roy Burns, Hugh Carr, Don Dupuis, William Erhardt, Wally Harasen, Lyle Johnson, Rick Morrice, Larry Orth, Ed Stefureak and Kenneth Townsend. The Kindersley Klippers and Lashburn Linnets/Cardinals will be inducted in the team category and the Biensch family of Marsden will be inducted in the family category.
