NORTH BATTLEFORD - A former resident of southeast Saskatchewan will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Father Leonard Albers grew up on the family farm 15 kilometres south of Bengough. He spent six years living in Estevan after his ordination in the 1950s. He also spent several years in Manor.
In 1940 his father arranged for him to attend Notre Dame College in Wilcox, where he obtained his Grade 12 diploma in 1941 and his bachelor of arts in 1944. His influence on Saskatchewan baseball had its roots with the Notre Dame Hounds, where he learned the game from Leo Sullivan, who had played centre field for the Harvard baseball team, and playing under Frank Germann, who managed the Notre Dame Hounds baseball program for decades.
In 1944 Leonard entered the seminary in Regina and was ordained into the Roman Catholic Priesthood in 1948. He continued to play baseball, mostly in the outfield, with the Notre Dame Hounds, while preparing for the priesthood. It was during his baseball experience with the Hounds in the 1940s that he developed his passion for the game of baseball.
He believed in playing the game the right way. Although he was not blessed with great natural ability, he always played the best he could and as a playing coach and manager, he demanded the same from every player.
After his ordination, Father Albers was assigned to Estevan during which he took a hiatus from the game as his superior would not hear of a priest playing baseball. Albers, however, was successful in developing minor baseball in Estevan as well as having a ball diamond built.
In 1955, Albers was appointed administrator of St. Joseph’s Parish in Langenburg. Here he played shortstop for two years with the Langenburg baseball team.
Albers was then transferred to Manor in 1957 where he organized a 15-and-under baseball team. At that time, this age group was known as the Babe Ruth League. After they graduated from this group, Albers took this group of teenagers and formed a senior team, with Albers catching, that became one of the best senior teams in Saskatchewan.
In 1964 Father Albers was transferred to Wynyard, where he and Dudley Peterson organized a senior team that competed with Leroy, Wynyard and Quill Lake region.
Returning to Wilcox, he played with the Notre Dame Hounds from 1970 to 1974, retiring from baseball at the age of 50 years.
Albers did not accumulate provincial or Western Canada awards, was not awarded MVP honours or win a batting championship, however, his contribution to grassroots baseball in Saskatchewan was incredible.
Albers died in 2014.
