Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

09/04/2026

Pick up your tickets at the Baseball Museum.
We have debit payments available now!!

09/01/2026

Golightly covered all the bases in a 39-year baseball career

By Joan Janzen

Jim Golightly is a familiar name in southwestern Saskatchewan. His name made headlines when he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in the Individual Category as a Player/Builder back in 2018. His 39-year baseball career began at the tender age of 14 years.

He shared part of his life story at his new residence at Eatonia Oasis Living, where he has been living since May of this year.

Jim was born on April 16, 1938, and lived on his family's mixed farm located three miles from Mantario.

"Sometimes we got snowbound out there," Jim recalled. He was the oldest child in the family and had two sisters and two brothers.

He attended a two-room school in Mantario where the classrooms were located upstairs and downstairs. He and his siblings would get a ride to school in the family's truck. In 1949 they purchased their first family car.

It was about that time when Jim's youngest brother was diagnosed with polio. "They took him to Empress hospital where they took towels as hot as he could stand it and wrapped up his leg," Jim remembered. "Later on, you would have never known he had polio.”

He chuckled as he remembered one of his friends throwing a cup of water into the aisle of the classroom. When the teacher pulled on Jim's ear and asked if he thought that was funny, Jim promptly said “No!"

"Then, as she walked away, I said yes I did," Jim laughed. "I got expelled from school and had to walk home with a sprained ankle.”

His punishment didn't last long, because that night his parents met with the school board and Jim was back in school the next morning. "I got along real good with the teacher after that," he added.

The Mantario students were bused to Eatonia school when they reached Grade 9. Jim ended his school days after Grade 10 and started his farming career and his 39-year baseball career.

He was only 14 when a station agent in Eatonia was getting together a softball team and asked Jim to play. He played with the team for four years. "All the other players were in their 20s, but they treated me real good," he said.

Jim played junior baseball in 1956 and 1957 with the Eston 44s junior team. In 1957 the team had an excellent season with 45 wins and three losses, which coincided with Jim's change in batting.

"I batted right hand, but when I was about 18 I started batting left hand and it worked out pretty good," he said. "I batted more left hand because there's more right-handed pitchers."

In 1968 he played with Eatonia in the SaskAlta League and was selected for the All Star team that entered and won the Saskatchewan senior playoffs. He played in the Saskatoon Exhibition four times with Eatonia and once with Kindersley. In the Medicine Hat Optimist tournament, he played four times with Eatonia and once with each of Leader, Oyen and Sibbald.

"I coached in Eatonia and played at the same time, and I coached for eight years at Sibbald," he said. "In Sibbald many of the players were 16 or 17 and still going to school."

Jim married his wife Yvette in 1974 and they spent many winters living in Arizona. They lived in Mantario and then Eatonia. Yvette died in 2007, and Jim continued to live in Eatonia and spend winters in Arizona.

From 1976 to 1995 Jim played twilight baseball with the SaskAlta team.

"In the winter I curled a lot, but I didn't start that until I was 22," he said.

He's been a longtime member of the Lions Club. "It will be 60 years this year," he reported. "Might be time to retire.”

He farmed near Mantario from 1956 to 2017, and every year the machinery kept getting bigger. Now he enjoys life at Eatonia Oasis Living where many of his old friends are his neighbours.

Thanks for sharing your memories, Jim. I enjoyed the visit.

08/25/2026

08/20/2026

Yesterday Rick and his siblings were inducted into the to the Sask Baseball Hall of Fame!!

“The Flaman Boys” wreaked havoc on the opposition back in the day !
🥰🥰🥰

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

Over the weekend, the 2026 Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Induction Ceremony took place, and longtime Baseball Saskatchewan umpire Trevor Drury of Outlook was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame.

It is a tremendous and well-deserved honour for someone who has dedicated decades to baseball, umpiring, leadership, and the development of officials across Saskatchewan and Canada.

Trevor’s impact on the game is extensive. He served two terms as Baseball Saskatchewan Provincial Supervisor, totaling eight years, and has continued to contribute as a clinic instructor, evaluator, committee member, mentor, and on-field official.

His résumé on the field speaks for itself. Trevor has umpired games from 11U through the Western Canadian Baseball League, along with experience in the former Canadian Baseball League and Golden Baseball League.

He has also represented Baseball Canada on the international stage, including:

2010 World Youth Championships – Thunder Bay
2015 18U World Championships – Osaka, Japan — 1st Base, Gold Medal Game
2017 18U World Championships – Thunder Bay, Ontario

Trevor has umpired at 8 National Championships, participated in 2 Tournament 12/Blue Jays Showcase events, and supervised 11 National Championships, consistently receiving Outstanding ratings. In 2019, he stepped in as crew chief at the 21U National Championship on short notice, earning an Accomplished rating and the Gold Medal Plate.

His commitment to developing umpires may be his greatest legacy. Trevor has been an exceptional mentor to countless officials, helping umpires throughout Saskatchewan reach higher levels of officiating, including national and international assignments. He has also played a major role in developing umpires and supporting baseball in his hometown of Outlook.

His dedication has been recognized throughout his career:

2003 – Baseball Saskatchewan Senior Official of the Year
2019 – Baseball Canada Dick Willis Memorial Award

The Dick Willis Memorial Award is Baseball Canada’s highest national honour for an umpire and recognizes leadership, excellence, and commitment to the officiating program.

From driving hours to work a game, to leading a clinic, evaluating an umpire, or sharing advice between innings, Trevor has always been willing to give back to the game.

Congratulations, Trevor, on your induction into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.

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