The Carlyle Cardinals baseball team will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in August of 2018.

Since 1902, baseball has been part of the fabric in the community of Carlyle. According to Saskota Baseball League President and current Carlyle Cardinal, David Lemieux, it came as a surprise at first.

"Someone had reached out to me a year and a half ago and said we would like to nominate Carlyle for the Sask Baseball Hall of Fame and know that you guys have had some success," Lemieux said. "I met up with him and he asked me to provide a write up on the history of Carlyle baseball."

"I didn't hear much after that, and then in the middle of March I got the call. It's pretty exciting, preparations are underway for it, and getting exact numbers of guys who are going," he concluded.

The Cardinals have been dominant in the Saskota Baseball League over the last 21 years, winning 12 championships during that time.

They will be inducted under the Team Category on Saturday, August 18, in the Battlefords.

Story and information provided by: David Lemieux

Baseball in Carlyle has been recorded as early as 1902. For many years the team name was the Carlyle Lakers who participated in various leagues including the Moose Mountain League during the 30’s. A story from 1915 states the struggles to get to a ball tournament in Wawota in which the players traveled all night in wet and muddy conditions in order to make a 10 am baseball game. The team successfully made in on time for the game. Baseball in Carlyle ceased during WWI and WWII as few men were left in the area to play ball.

Baseball was again recorded in Carlyle in 1948 which continued on until 1979. Some of the highlights of those years included:
• Double Headers first recorded in 1959.
• An international tournament was hosted for a couple years beginning in 1959.
• A game between the Carlyle Lakers and the Satchel Paige All Stars in 1963.
• League Champions in 1971 and advanced to the SBA playoffs in 1974.

In 1981 baseball was again being played in Carlyle. Carlyle entered the Southeast Saskatchewan league under the name of the Carlyle Astros and two Carlyle teams were entered for the 1983 season. The Astros continued until the late 80’s in which their home games were now played in Carlyle at Lions Park.

The current team of the Carlyle Cardinals was formed in 1993. Currently the team is playing in the 10 team Saskota Baseball League. The Cardinals most successful years have been from 1997- Present. Some of the highlights of those years are listed below:
• Saskota League Champions: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016.
• Provincial Champions: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016.
• Saskatchewan Baseball 2016 Senior Team of the Year Award

There have been many players and coaches involved with the Cardinals, Lakers and Astros throughout history. Their commitment and dedication to the game has been a major part of their success. Many years the team would spend 5-6 nights a week playing, practicing and completing diamond maintenance.

The Cardinals have always traveled to many tournaments throughout Saskatchewan, Manitoba and North Dakota. They host one of the biggest senior baseball tournaments in Western Canada that has drawn some of the best teams from the Prairie Provinces as well as North Dakota and Montana. The Big Moose tournament has run for 18 consecutive seasons.
Continual fan and community support has contributed to the success and sustainability of the team. Pride has always been taken in growing the game of baseball in our supportive community. It is an amazing feeling to be part of a community with such rich baseball history.

The members of the Cardinals are honored to be nominated to the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame. We would like to thank the committee for their time and consideration.