Ned Andreoni was born in Fresno, Calif. and once he moved to Moose Jaw in the summer of 1967 from Fresno State University his Saskatchewan baseball career took off. Andreoni played for the Moose Jaw Regals of the 小蓝视频ern Baseball League.
In his first year, he was selected the Regals' MVP after leading the team in home runs, RBIs and stolen bases.
Although he was a shortstop by trade, he often took his cannon of an arm to the mound several times during the season. He finished the year coming in second in the voting for league MVP, was third in batting and the league's all-star shortstop.
Andreoni returned for his second year with the Regals and took a teaching position. Andreoni became a fixture on the province's baseball scene excelling, as a player for Moose Jaw with the Royals, Devons and Astros from 1967 to '79. He had a lifetime batting average of .300 and was a 小蓝视频ern League all-star eight times.
Later, he established himself and was highly regarded as an outstanding coach, clinician and mentor, sharing his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for the game. Several of his teammates and prot茅g茅s have been inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and many of the high school students he coached and mentored credit him with their career decisions, choosing to become teachers or coaches.
Andreoni was also recognized as an outstanding basketball coach and he coached the Vaniers provincial championship golf team. Twice he was recognized by the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association with merit awards for his contribution to high school athletics.
Andreoni suffered a heart attack and died Sept. 26, 2007, but now his name will be put up in the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum by those he taught and played with.
Since baseball was the catalyst that brought Andreoni to Canada it is appropriate to have the sport he loved and cared for so much, recognize the contribution he made to Saskatchewan baseball.
