FOX VALLEY, Sask. — Ernie Weimer was born in January of 1941, in Leader. As a youth, Weimer loved the game of baseball, however, he excelled in track and field as well. Weimer started playing organized baseball in 1952, at the age of 11 years. The St. Johns team [a unique community centre 10 miles north of Fox Valley near the Weimer farm] was a catholic team made up of farm boys. Weimer’s raw talents were guided by his coaches, Pete Fandrick and Mike Mickilesky.
At 15, Weimer joined the Fox Valley Lions of the Sask Alta Baseball League. This young, smooth fielding short stop had a cannon for an arm. With this powerful right arm, Weimer became one of the elite pitchers.
In 1958, at the age of 17, Weimer helped Fox Valley edge out Hilda 10-9 in the Sask Alta Baseball League final game, taking the championship. Weimer scored the winning run from second base in the bottom of the ninth, as well as a home run earlier in the game.
In 1962, Fox Valley won the league pennant as well as the league championship. Excerpts from The Leader News states, “Ernie Weimer toed the rubber for the Lions, pitching nine innings of superb baseball, offering up very few hits in a 9-0 victory over Burstall.” League archives, such as newspapers easily recognized Weimer’s many accomplishments on the baseball field in hitting, pitching and fielding. Another tribute was that he was in demand to play for other teams in the area for baseball tournaments.
In 1964, Weimer sustained an injury to his right arm that ended his baseball participation. He was only 23 when he gave up playing the game he loved, but began coaching minor ball for many years in Fox Valley, bringing out the best in his team both on and off the field. This included his own four sons over the years. Weimer took his love and respect of the game another step and began umping, working sports days, Sask Alta League playoffs and the Twilight League which was highlighted in 1982 when Leader hosted the Provincial Maxi Tournament. Weimer with his stellar muscular build and powerful voice settled disputes quickly.
Weimer and his wife Lillian still reside on the farm 10 miles north and one mile east of Fox Valley. Weimer truly loved the game of baseball [after Lillian and the kids, of course], then his farm followed by pheasant hunting in the fall and ice fishing in the winter.
The prairie winds of summer still whisper the sounds and echoes of a day gone by where baseball was played on a field, and memories are the link to the past.
Thank you, Ernie, for those wonderful memories and your efforts over the many years in keeping the game of baseball alive in all of us.
