The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the selection of the Late Doug Dodd, Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan, to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, player and builder, Saturday, August 20, 2016, at Battleford, Saskatchewan.
Doug was born in Kanahar, Saskatchewan, moved to Borden where his mother died when he was 14 years old, then later to an aunt’s in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. It was at this age of 14, that Doug began his baseball career while attending school in Unity where he was scouted by Eddie Major, the coach and manager of the Unity baseball team.
He played with many teams throughout Saskatchewan, including Saskatoon 55’s, Biggar, Langham, Rabbit Lake and North Battleford Beavers.
During his baseball career, he also played for Prince George Lakers and Panoka baseball teams.
Doug was respected as a spectacular left handed pitcher, but he also played first base.
He was selected to attend the Brooklyn Dodgers training camp in Georgia, playing in the minors later in the 1940’s.
Doug played with the North Battleford Beavers in 1948 to 1951.
Doug was instrumental in reviving baseball in the Rabbit Lake area. He put together a team mostly of Allchurches’, Moore’s and Pauls. Up to 15 team members would travel in Doug’s half ton truck with a makeshift wooden cap and school bus seats attached to the floor, to the many ball games and tournaments, having to get out of the truck while stopped in a ditch, to put on the heavy woolen uniforms before getting to their destination. Doug served as coach, manager, umpire and groundskeeper.
He was an inspiration to all!
He was a member of the group of people that started the North Saskatchewan Baseball League in the early 1970’s.
Doug was community minded and was the first President of the Rabbit Lake Recreation Board.
At Doug’s funeral in 1995, displayed behind the pulpit was his baseball uniform top, glove, spikes and 4 baseball bats. His cousin gave the eulogy then led the congregation in “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”
Obviously, Doug’s last thoughts included his love of the great game of baseball.
