Unity’s Cory Hoffman and team to be inducted into SBHOF

UNITY — Cory Hoffman of Unity will be one of the team members from the Battleford Bantam B Beavers, from 1992, who will join 11 other individuals and three team inductees at the 2025 induction ceremony taking place Aug. 16 at the Saskatchewan Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame. This will also mark the 40th anniversary of the SBHOF event, which is one of the museum’s biggest events, drawing large crowds and serving as a key fundraiser for this one-of-a-kind sports museum and hall of fame.

Since 1985, the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in North Battleford has been honouring people who have made significant contributions to baseball in the province. Not only are players and teams honoured, but the museum is also home to countless pictures, stories, uniforms, bats, balls and more.

Hoffman was part of this team to be inducted. He told the Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald and SaskToday, “I played my entire minor ball career out of just Battleford and then North Battleford and Battleford combined teams as I got older. After moving to Unity, I played with the Unity Senior Cardinals until I was in my 40s.

“It feels great to be inducted with some lifelong friends that I played with from the time we started playing ball up until we graduated high school. This was a highlight in my life that I still think about and reflect on. I hope one day my boys can get to experience something like this,” he added.

Hoffman said he has stayed in touch with most of the players over the years.

“After the announcement of the induction, I have been in touch with almost all of them,” he added.

The soon-to-be inductee said he feels fortunate to coach both of his boys through their years in baseball.

“I continue to do this, and it has been a rewarding experience to give back to the youth like the great coaches I had when I was growing up.”

The 1992 Battleford Bantam Beavers were often dubbed the little team that could, as they were classified as a B centre but entered to compete in the A classification. The SBHOF nomination tells of a team that did not have a league to play in, so competed in tournaments and exhibition games. They won provincial playoffs hosted in North Battleford that year, which earned them a berth into the Western Regional Baseball Championship, held in Stonewall, Man. An extra-inning win in the final advanced them to the Canadian Baseball Championships, held in St. Albert, Alta.

Even though they did not win the Canadian Championship, the Saskatchewan Baseball Association named the 1992 Bantam Beavers ‘Team of the Year.’

Hoffman recounted a highlight of this experience: “One highlight that sticks out to me is being fortunate enough to score the winning run in the Western Canadian Final in extra innings, which was a great personal highlight, but the best part of the whole experience was getting to play with some great friends and getting to win championships with the group of childhood friends I was lucky enough to play with.”

The August induction ceremony for this team, which achieved beyond what was predicted for them, will serve as a reunion for those who are able to attend.