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Rick Johnston selected to be inducted into Saskatchewan’s Baseball Hall of Fame

"Mr. Johnson has been selected to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame at the 36th Annual Induction August 15, 2020, in Battleford Saskatchewan," said Jane Shury, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

"Mr. Johnson has been selected to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame at the 36th Annual Induction August 15, 2020, in Battleford Saskatchewan," said Jane Shury, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Rick Johnston was born to a farming family with a passion for baseball. His grandpa, mum, dad and siblings all played the game.

He played minor baseball in Maidstone, playing third base and outfield, then at the age of 15 years he began playing for the North Battleford Midget Beavers, then the Junior Beavers for five years, followed by two years with the Senior Beavers.

Johnston continued playing with the Senior Beavers in the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League until the team folded.

While in North Battleford Beavers Club, he helped the Midgets win provincials, competed in two Nationals with the Juniors and one with the Senior Beaver team.

Returning home, Johnston joined the Standard Hill Lakers Baseball Club, playing intermediate baseball at the Silver Lake Regional Park near Maidstone. He played, coached, organized and worked the annual tournaments for years.

He was picked up by the Wilkie Brewers in 1975 and the team won the provincials.

Johnston coached the Lakers, winning the Provincial Championship held in Davidson in 2004.

An injury sidelined him for a while, so he turned to umpiring Standard Hill and Maidstone minor ball, as well as working games for the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League, the Saskatchewan Junior Baseball League, the Saskatchewan Summer Games and the Western Canadian Junior and Intermediate levels.

Johnston served as president of minor ball and assumed the duties in a small town that included organizing equipment, diamond maintenance and umpiring.

He joined the North Battleford Oldtimers in the Maxi in Assiniboia, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Strasbourg and North Battleford.

Johnston coaxed his hometown buddies from past Lakers teams back onto the ball diamond and entered the Standard Hill Oldtimers in the 1988 Mini.

The 1988 Mini was hosted by Standard Hill with Johnston as chairman. He managed and played with the Oldtimers for 25 enjoyable years.

Johnston was an active farmer, a purebred Polled Hereford Breeder, serving on the Saskatchewan Hereford Association, the Canadian Hereford Association and the Western Agribition for several years, as well as several other community organizations.

Johnston also played and coached hockey.

Johnston and his wife recently retired to golf and to watch their grandchildren play baseball and hockey.