Plumas' 'Mr Baseball' earns spot in Hall of Fame
- Details
- Published on Thursday, November 6, 2014
L to R: Tom Yandeau, Gladwyn Scott and Joe MacPhee
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
A familiar name to the baseball scene in Plumas will soon be enshrined in the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame, as Tom Yandeau is one of eight individuals who will join in 2015.
The latest inductees include outstanding players, builders and teams from across the province, who have left their legacy both on and off the baseball field.
For Yandeau, his love for the game was instilled into him at an early age by his stepfather, Ray Walker. Tom was also taught the rare plate skill of being a powerful switch hitter. That piece of his game proved extremely valuable when he started playing senior ball at 14 years old and continued for 32 years for the Plumas Pirates in the Santa Clara League.
Over a span of 480 league games, Yandeau hit 182 home runs and posted a .440 lifetime batting average. He also played on teams representing Manitoba at Western Canadian championships in 1995, ’96 and ‘98 and was awarded the 2007 MBA Volunteer of the Year award for his remarkable off the field work.
Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board member Joe MacPhee said the commitment Tom and his family have given to the community both on and off the field needed to be recognized.
“It’s a very worthy honour for Tom,” said MacPhee “It’s just incredible what’s been going on in Plumas. The community has such a great tradition for supporting baseball and Tom has been a part of it for a long time.”
Gladwyn Scott, current board member, as well as a 1998 inductee into the Hall of Fame, helped present a trophy to Yandeau on Monday, Nov. 3, while Tom’s stepfather Ray and a large contingent of other family members looked on. Scott said it’s a well-deserved honour.
“I helped nominate [Tom], and he’s just a fine man,” said Scott, “He’s very hard working and has been committed to baseball.”
In a brief statement, Yandeau thanked the Hall of Fame for the honour and noted it was extremely special for him and his family to share in this achievement at this time.
The Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame will hold its 19th annual induction banquet on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at the Morden Event Access Centre where the Hall of Fame is located.
