Wally Harasen was born in the Yorkton area on Jan. 15, 1913.
During Harasen's playing career in the 1930s is he made a strong impression on those who watched him. His baseball career is based on a lifetime of comments by fans, teammates and opponents. He had a noteworthy talent that didn't become widely known because times were tough, communications limited and contacts didn't exist.
He played the game in relative obscurity, but he played with distinction. Harasen represents a particular constituency in the baseball community that needs to be remembered. He played for a ball club that took the name of Kessock, which was a hamlet that largely served as a grain delivery point.
His son Lorne, first learned of his father's baseball skills when, as a small boy, he discovered a beat up uniform stored in a trunk. That uniform has since disappeared, much to Lorne's disappointment, but he learned Harasen was a right-handed pitcher who threw a wicked fast ball, knuckle ball and curve.
Physically, Harasen was a strong man and it wasn't unusual for him to pitch two games in one day. He was a power hitter who could play virtually all positions with equal competence.
He was a natural. He loved playing the game and it brought enjoyment to those who watched him.
Harasen was frequently courted as a hired gun. Many teams would try to entice him to join their roster, or to secure his pitching services for tournaments.
A sister of Harasen noted, "He was the best pitcher in the community for years, everyone knew that and talked about it."
Comments by Michael Swenarchuk, a Rural Municipality Secretary Treasurer, implied that Harasen's capabilities on the baseball diamond were appreciated far and wide in the province, and if he had lived and played in a metropolitan area, a professional career could have been a real possibility.
Although Harasen never told his son he was a great ball player, every person who saw him play, as well as those that played against him, unanimously held the view that on the ball diamond he was special.
Harasen hung up his cleats 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, but never played baseball again. He coached another son who seemed to have his pitching arm, but that son was killed in an accident on a highway at the age of 16.
Harasen died 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 annual induction, Saturday, Aug. 20.
Along with Harasen, individuals to be inducted are the late Anton Belous, Wally Blaisdell, Roy Burns, the late Hugh Carr, Don Dupuis, the late William Erhardt, Lyle Johnson, Rick Morrice, Larry Orth, the late Ed Stefureak, and Ken Townsend will be inducted.
Entering the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in the team category will be the Kindersley Klippers and the Lashburn Linnets/Cardinals. In the family category will be the Biensch family from Marsden and Wilkie will be inducted in the community category.
