From Little League to minor baseball all the way up to Western Canadian Baseball League, Nickel has been a fixture on fields all over the province and at all levels of competition.
His contributions to the game have been so numerous that in 2019, Baseball Sask presented Nickel with the Umpire Lifetime Achievement Award.
And when something like that happens, it’s only a matter of time before a Hall of Fame comes calling.
That’s exactly what happened late last week when it was announced that Caronport’s Nickel was one of 12 players, two teams and the Village of Gray as part of the 2020 class for the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame.
Joining Nickel will be Moose Jaw’s George Guillaume, who emerged as one of the top hitters and pitchers for the Marquis Wheat Kings while playing in the Southern League in the late-50s and early-60s.
Also being inducted in the individual category are the late Father Leonard Albers (Bengough), Fred Curts (Holdfast), Allan Fitzsimmons (Saskatoon), Al Greschuk (Yorkton), Elemer Jerkovits (Regina), Rick Johnston (Maidstone), Kevin Kusch (Lloydminster), the late Roy Taylor (Saskatoon), Neil Urlacher (Okotoks, Alta.) and the late ‘Goldie’ Wiggins (Fillmore).
Inducted in the team category will be the Aquadell Flyers from 1947 to 1972 and the Kamsack Cyclones.
The 2020 Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame will take place on Saturday, Aug. 15 in the Battlefords.
