The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame has announced the selection of Barry Erickson of Regina to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in the individual category, as a player/builder, Aug. 20 at Battleford.
Erickson was born April 24, 1958. Including going through the minor leagues, Erickson’s baseball career lasted 50 years. His number one asset was his hitting ability, always in the high average, hitting in the middle of the team’s defence. He played all outfield positions with great skill.
In 1972-73, Erickson played bantam AAA in the Regina Columbus Boys’ League and on the all-stars provincial team. From 1973 to 1976, he played in the Regina High School League. In 1974-75, Erickson played midget AAA in the Regina Optimist Boys’ League and was picked up by the Prince Albert Raiders for the 1975 Westerns. From 1976-79, he played on the junior team that played in the Molson’s Men’s Senior Baseball League.
Erickson was with Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, Was., in 1978. From 1980-84, he was with the Regina Red Sox in the Saskatchewan Major League. In 1980 he played on the combined Regina/Saskatoon team. In 1981 he was picked up by the Saskatoon Patrick Liners for Westerns and nationals, followed in 1982 and 1983, playing on the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League all-star provincial team.
From 1985 to 1990, Erickson played in the Molson’s Men’s Senior Baseball League with the Regina Capitols. From 1991-2007, he played with the Regina Ghosts in the Qu’Appelle Valley League, and was picked up in 1994 by the Regina Jets for Westerns, the Lumsden Cubs for provincials in 1995 and, in 1997, by the Saskatoon Outlaws for Westerns.
Erickson played 15 times with the Ghosts in the Men’s Senior World Series in Phoenix, Ariz., and in two Canadian Oldtimer Championships with the Ghosts and once in Prince Edward Island with Kindersley.
Between 1972 and 2013, Erickson played on 11 provincial championship teams including bantam, junior, intermediate and senior. Between 1975 and 1993, he played on teams that won provincial silver, including midget, junior and intermediate, and once with the team that won provincial midget AAA bronze in 2012.
Erickson played on Western Canadian Intermediate Championship teams in 1985, 1987 and 1997, and four Western Canadian silver teams in midget, junior and intermediate between 1979 and 2012.
He also played with the midget AAA Prince Albert Raiders bronze winners in 1975, as well as in three senior major/senior AAA Western Canadian qualifier wins in 1980, 1981 and 1982.
Between 1980 and 2001, Erickson played with Canadian championship teams, once with senior major/senior AAA and twice with Canadian Oldtimers.
Erickson was the recipient of the 1976 MVP high school award; the 1980 Saskatchewan Major Baseball League Rookie of the Year; the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League All Star outfielder from 1980-1984; the 1985 Most Valuable Player at Western Canadian Intermediate Championships; 1985-1986 MVP Molson’s Men’s League; All Star Molson’s Men’s League outfielder from 1985-1990; and 1988 All Star Western Canadian Intermediate Championships. Erickson also won a Qu’Appelle Valley League MVP and all-star selection several times.
From1983 to 2014, Erickson coached bantam AAA, midget AA and AAA and senior baseball, including a prospect tournament in September and a showcase tournament in Peoria, Ariz., in October, 2014.
Awards won as a coach include 1987 Manager of the Year plus 1987, 2002 and 2003 SBA Team of the Year awards.
Between 1987 and 2012, Erickson held many executive positions in midget, junior, senior, zone and Premier Baseball League organizations.
Erickson continues to live in Regina.
