Skip to content

Hall of fame set to induct two more

Neil Russell Hogg, of Swift Current, will be inducted into the individual category of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, as a player, Aug. 17. "Hoggsy" was born Sept. 28, 1950 in Moose Jaw.
GN201310307189985AR.jpg
Neil Hogg is set to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in Battleford next month.

Neil Russell Hogg, of Swift Current, will be inducted into the individual category of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, as a player, Aug. 17.

"Hoggsy" was born Sept. 28, 1950 in Moose Jaw. He moved to Gull Lake in Grade 1 and played all his little league years there.

In 1971, he moved to Swift Current to play for the Swift Current Jr. Indians. The team had no catcher and although Hogg had never played that position, he was the catcher that day and he went on to win the team's most valuable player award that year.

The next year, he moved up to the Swift Current Indians of the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League. He was the catcher the first year then switched to pitching in the second year. Again, the team was short of pitchers and so Hogg stepped up and took the challenge. He stayed with the Indians until the team folded following the 1975 season.

The next season, Hogg played with the Hazlet Elks of the South River Baseball League. He played and coached with the team until 1985, winning the team batting championship in 1976 and 1979, and the team most valuable player award in 1976 and 1980.

In 1982, Hogg served as the assistant coach for an all-star team from the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League. The team won silver at Westerns and then competed at the Senior Nationals in St. John's, N.L.

When the Swift Current Indians reentered the SMBL, he was hired as the head coach for 1986 and 1987. Hogg then stepped down due to work commitments. He did, however, remain on the team's board of directors until 1989.

He also became involved with Sask. Baseball in 1988, where he volunteered in numerous capacities. Hogg has been a member of the Saskatchewan Baseball Coaching and Development Committee for years, and has worked as an evaluator for Team Sask. for more than 20 years. This involved attending the Midget Selects tournaments and various camps around the province, evaluating players. To Hogg, using his holidays to play or coach baseball was a holiday. As an assistant coach for the Canada Cup in 1990-93, 2007, 2008 and 2010-12. The team won bronze in 1992, silver in 1993 and 2011. With Hogg as head coach, the team finished fourth in 2005.

Hogg was the recipient of the Saskatchewan Baseball Award of Merit in 2005.

He was also a guest coach with the junior national team in 1993. In November of that year, he attended an old timers' tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. with the Saskatoon Sportsman.

Then, in 1994, as head coach for Team Saskatchewan, they won their first and only gold medal at the Canada Cup in Moncton, N.B. He and the assistant coach won Canada's coach of the year award that year.

In 1995, Hogg was the head coach of the Western Canada Summer Games team, as well as guest coach with the senior national team. Again, Hogg attended the old timers' tournament with the Saskatoon Sportsman in Phoenix.

In 1997, he coached at the Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Man., in London, Ont. in 2001, and in Charlottetown, P.E.I. in 2009.

He has been involved as a prospects coach since 2000, attending numerous tournaments in September with 15-and 16-year-olds.

Throughout the years, Hogg has coached many minor baseball teams, either bantam, midget or mosquito, winning medals at the western and provincial levels.

Although Hogg continues to spend most of his time coaching, he still plays the game, having been with the Gull Lake Oldtimers since 1987.

Along with Hogg, Ronald Garfield McKechney, from East St. Paul, Man., will be inducted into the individual category of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, also as a player.

McKechney was born July 27, 1936, in Bienfait, where he grew up and learned to play baseball.

He married Margaret Dodds and they have three sons, Garnet, William and Craig.

McKechney played baseball for nine years with Estevan and six years with Swift Current for a total of 15 years in the Southern Saskatchewan Baseball League.

Ronald played second base, third base and catcher.

Ronald played with the Estevan Maple Leafs, the Saskatchewan Baseball team champions in 1956.

He was a player with the Swift Current Indians, Saskatchewan Baseball team champions in both 1963 and 1965.

Individual awards include two batting titles in 1959, with Estevan, his batting average was .380, earning him the Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy. McKechney also won the title in 1965 while playing for the Swift Current Indians. His batting average of .403 was enough for another Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy.

In 1965, McKechney was also the recipient of the Rogers Memorial Trophy for the most valuable player.

During the years of 1954 to 1968, McKechney's teams in the Southern League had a record of 200-189.

In 1960-61 McKechney played baseball for two years with the Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn.

In 1976-77, McKechney was the playing coach for the Thunder Bay A's in Thunder Bay, Ont. That team was Senior Baseball League Champions in 1976, and McKechney had a batting average of .312.

In 1988, he was inducted into Bemidji State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

The McKechneys now reside in East St. Paul.