The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fameis proud to announce the selection of Robert Wayne Thompson of Edmonton, Alta. into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, as a player on Aug. 20 in Battleford.
Thompson was born April 12, 1941, in Semans. His parents lived on the family farm a few miles from town. Thompson attended the country school where his mother was a teacher, and where there was also a makeshift ball diamond. That was where Thompson got his first taste of baseball.
Being an all round athlete, baseball emerged as the sport he loved the most, and his great skills in the game proved he made a prudent choice.
In 1957, under coach Gordon MacMurchy, the Semans juvenile team competed at the Provincial Juvenile Championships, losing in the final. Thompson won two high school championships with Semans in the Govan School Unit. He was also picked up to play junior baseball with Raymore, who won two Provincials Championships.
In the late 1950’s, Semans senior team played in virtually every sports day for miles around. The team was a powerhouse. Thompson was the clean-up batter and was a major factor in the team’s success, with Seamans coming in first at tournaments in Raymore, Cupar, Southey, Guernsey, Imperial and Nokomis over a two-year stretch.
In Nokomis in 1958, the park was filled with fans to watch Govan and Semans in the final game of the season. Thompson, in a very unassuming manner, batted an amazing four for four, and crushed one for a triple in the top of the ninth, driving in a run to put Semans up 4-3.
Govan then loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the ninth, and sure hitting Lorn Mortenson nailed one to left field, where Thompson made a spectacular over the shoulder game winning catch.
Thompson played in left field. He ran like a deer and had an arm like a rifle. He also had excellent batting skills. When at bat, Thompson would not only hit the ball, he would crush it.
He played the great game of baseball the way it was meant to be played with passion, honour and great sportsmanship.
Thompson and his wife Ann, live in Edmonton.
