Ernie Weimer, Fox Valley, will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, on August 20, 2022, in Battleford. For information on tickets call 306-446-1983.”
Ernie Weimer was born in January of 1941, in Leader, Saskatchewan. As a youth, Ernie loved the game of baseball, however, he excelled in track and field as well. Ernie started playing organized baseball in 1952, at the age of 11 years. The St. Johns’ team [a unique community center 10 miles north of Fox Valley near the Weimer farm] was a catholic team made up of farm boys. Ernie’s raw talents were guided by his coaches, Pete Fandrick and Mike Mickilesky.
At 15, Ernie 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, Ernie became one of the elite pitchers.
In 1958, at the age of 17, Ernie helped Fox Valley edge out Hilda 10-9 in the Sask Alta Baseball League final game, taking the championship. Ernie scored the winning run from second base in the bottom of the ninth, as well as a homerun 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 Ernie’s many accomplishments on the baseball field in hitting, pitching and fielding! Another tribute was that he was in such demand to play for other teams in the area for baseball tournaments.
In 1964, Ernie unfortunately sustained an injury to his right arm that ended his playing baseball. 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 4 sons over the years. Ernie took his love and respect of the game another step forward and began umping, working Sports days, Sask Alta playoffs and the Twilight League which was highlighted in 1982 when Leader hosted the Provincial Maxi Tournament. Ernie with his stellar muscular build and powerful voice settled disputes quickly.
Ernie and his good wife Lillian, still reside on the farm 10 miles north and 1 mile east of Fox Valley, Saskatchewan. Ernie 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.”
