There will be three different connections to the City of Yorkton when the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame holds its 27th Annual Induction this weekend in Battleford.
There will be upwards of 20 inductions made in total, but Larry Orth (Esterhazy), Wally Harasen (Yorkton area) and Ed Stefureak (Yorkton baseball contributions) will be made that night as well.
Wally Harasen was born in the Yorkton area on Jan. 15, 1913.
His playing time in the 1930s is the time period that made the biggest impression on those who watched.
He was said to have a noteworthy talent that didn't become widely known because times were tough, communication was limited and due to 'contacts' that didn't exist.
People who saw him play indicated that Harasen played the game in relative obscurity, but added that he played with distinction.
Harasen played for a club known only as 'Kessock' which was a hamlet that served as a grain delivery point. Harasen was a right-handed pitcher known for a wicked fast ball and an equally strong curveball and fastball. Physically, he was a very strong man, it wasn't unusual for him to pitch both games of a doubleheader. Offensively, it was said he had no problem and no shortage of skill playing any position. Other teams apparently took note of this and he was considered a "Hired Gun" (teams would try to woo him into pitching for their team for tournament play. According to a sister of Harasen's, he was "the best pitcher in the community for years. Everyone knew that and talked about it."
A professional career was widely considered to have been a real possibility. Wally Harasen hung up his baseball cleats for good to enlist in the army at the outbreak of World War II. After serving in combat in the European theatres of war, he returned to civilian life, however he did not return to the baseball diamond. He allegedly never told one of his sons about his baseball ability, and another son was taken in a highway mishap at the age of 16. Wally Harasen died on Oct. 10, 1979 at the age of 66. The Late Wally Harasen will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame at the 27th Induction Night, Aug. 20, 2011 at Battleford.
