The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Association is pleased to announce the selection of Jamie Flanagan of Kindersley to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, Saturday, Aug. 19, in Battleford.
Jamie was born May 9, 1960, in Kindersley. Jamie’s love of baseball came naturally having played ball while growing up in the community. As well, Jamie and his brother were towed around the province to watch their father Jerry play baseball, along with their mother Valerie. Back then, to be a batboy for his father’s team was a huge accomplishment. You got to wear a uniform, helmet and got a little money.
Jamie had a great set of hands and with a good eye at the plate, was a good hitter and tough out, with baseball instincts. He was one of the best second baseman with the starting or turning the double play. Over the years, Jamie was surrounded by many great coaches and players.
After Jamie’s last year of Midget baseball, he joined the Kindersley Royals senior team playing in the Russian Thistle League. Their second year in the league, the Royals won against a powerful Leader team to win the championship. The Royals then entered the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League and quickly rose to perennial contenders in the league, winning not only the prestigious 33rd Annual Lacombe Lions Baseball Tournament with a 6-5 win over the Saskatoon Patrick Liners in 1982, but also the SMBL Championships in 1984, 1985, 1990 and 1991. During these years, Jamie was picked for Team Saskatchewan in 1982, competing in Saskatoon at the Senior Western Championships where they placed second behind Saskatoon. However, both teams were eligible for the Nationals in St. John's, N.L. that fall. Jamie said it was an incredible tournament, remembering “Spaceman” Bill Lea pitching for the Quebec team with Saskatoon losing in the finals. Flanagan and the Royals played a total of 17 years and in time, with family, players and managers moving on, the Royals folded.
In 1983, Jamie, along with several other Royals team members attended Blair, Nebraska College, playing college baseball, travelling to Florida, Oklahoma and the Midwest. What a great experience!
Jamie coached his son Sean’s teams throughout his minor baseball, highlighted with a Bantam A Championship in 2007. In 1994 Jamie coached in the first ever Western Bantam AA Championships that were held in Kindersley. His team won!
Jamie also played some Twilight baseball.
Jamie Flanagan was a Saskatchewan Baseball Association director for Zone 7 for several years and served as an assistant coach with Lorne Nielsen for Zone 7 Bantam Selects team. He was President of Kindersley Minor Ball and ran camps for both baseball and softball. He was co-chair of the 2009 and 2010 Canada Cup Baseball hosted by Kindersley. Jamie has been a driving force behind keeping Berard and Flanagan Fields in great condition, allowing Kindersley to host such prestigious events.
Jamie and Sherri, his wife of 31 years, have three children, Kayla, Lacey and Sean. Jamie and Sherri reside in Kindersley and Mesa, Ariz.
