In the late sixties (1968) a new fastball team was formed as the Langenburg Bel-aires were folding and the Langenburg Braves were evolving. Sponsored by the Kountry Kitchen, which was owned by Trent Fieseler, the Braves started their fastball journey.
The first coaches for the team were Reinhold Haas and Dave Petz. The original recruits included players such as hard throwing pitcher Shawn Wiley, Frank Petz, Edgar Radbourne, Jim and Edgar Weinheimer. Shawn Wiley was such an amazing pitcher that at one point the King and His Court asked him to join their squad.
Later on, John Moskaluke did some coaching.
In the mid-seventies Chuck Nelson joined the squad. Nelson was a pitcher that threw orthodox style which in the new era of fastball confused most batters. He was one of the best in Brandon, MB, and was always proud of his roots as he hailed from the Wolverine District.
Also joining around this time were players like Rolly Zimmer, Ron Morier and Lyle Soberin. They were all members of the local RCMP detachment. Also, Alfred Bergman, Kasper Bergman, Brian Ingjaldson, Gary Haas,Ben Valberg. Nester Knash joined who was a grain buyer who sourced some new uniforms for the team. The green and white were replaced with the striking red and gold.
Rolly Zimmer assumed the coaching duties, while also playing until August,1980 when he was transferred.
Then Edgar Radbourne and Don Vermeersch assumed the coaching roles until the late eighties when the team folded.
Over the years the team had the honour to play against the King and His Court as well as the Queen and Her Court.
A major highlight for the Braves was winning the Yellowhead Men’s Fastball League in 1979.
The Yellowhead Men’s Fastball League was a great league. It was started in 1978 by a group of fastball enthusiasts. The teams that won this coveted trophy were true champions as the competition was fierce!
Several Borderline Legend players will be profiled throughout this 2021 Borderline Legends Fastball Campaign.
At this time, the Four-Town Journal and the Westman Border Fastball Museum committee would like to salute Rolly Zimmer for his contribution to fastball along the Man./Sask. Border Region. Below is a highlight of Rolly Zimmer
ROLAND (Rolly) ZIMMER BIO (Man./Sask. Fastball)
Rolly was born in the early 1950’s in Roblin, MB., and was raised on the farm near Shevlin MB.
His introduction to the game of fastball started early in life as he went to tournaments with his father. He would chase foul balls during the games and then in between games. Zimmer filled the trunk of his dad’s car with empty drink bottles and the next day he would take his bounty to the Shelvin store because the cash was better there than at the tournament booth.
Rolly started playing fastball at the Shell Vale School and he went on the occasional Friday for a game.
At the tender age of fourteen, Rolly caught on with the Shelvin Panthers/Aces under the tutelage of his father Herman, the coach/player. Shevlin for several years was in a league made up of local school districts including Bield, Shortdale, Shell River, and Shelvin; but, as time progressed, these teams found it difficult to fill their rosters.
Thus, the Roblin Hoods were born. The Hoods were a team that was made up of players from those school districts and also several former Inglis Regals.
There was commitment in developing and staying together for a time to win a Provincial Championship, which was accomplished in 1972 in Flin Flon, MB.
Rolly Zimmer played for the Roblin Hoods (charter member) for several years before entering the RCMP Training Academy in Regina.
Upon graduation from the RCMP Training Academy, Rolly was posted to Langenburg, SK where he began his playing and coaching career with the Langenburg Braves for five years.
Rolly was always committed to the team as coach and player, so much so that on July 23,1977 when Rolly was working the 8 P.M. to 4 A.M. shift, his wife Gwen was due to deliver their second child. A call was received at 3:30 A.M. from Gwen saying that the contractions had commenced but not to hurry. Rolly immediately proceeded to drop off his partner in Churchbridge, headed back to Langenburg and was able to get Gwen to the Langenburg Hospital by 4:30 A.M.. Their second child, son “Shane” was born at 5:30 A.M.
He made sure that all was well with Gwen and the new son and then headed home, poured a celebratory drink with the family’s good friend Dr. Balharry, who had delivered Shane. But there was little time for chit-chat with the good doctor, as he had to be at a tournament for a 9:00 A.M. game. Rolly played and coached, and all was good as he was back in town by supper time. Needless to say, the Braves did not make the final that day, but Rolly gained a son.
While with the RCMP, there were many weekends where he would work till early morning, grab a couple hours of sleep and then head off to a tournament and back to work the next evening. When the team did make it to the final game, the corporal was requested to cover the shift till the final game was over.
The Braves played in the Yellowhead Men’s Fastball League, which Rolly was instrumental in establishing and served as president of the league for several years.
Russell, MB also had two teams in the league. Several of his Zimmer and Nernberg relatives were on their rosters, there was even an uncle umpiring.
A memory from the final game in the Langenburg tournament was when the Braves faced off against IMC Esterhazy with Cousin Kelvin Nernberg on the mound for IMC and Chuck Nelson pitching for the Braves. What a match! After five innings the score was tied 0-0. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rolly hit a double, stole third base and then scored on a sacrifice fly. It was game over; the Braves won with a final score of 1-0.
After the game in the beer-garden, Kelvin commented, “Wouldn’t you know it, it had to be a Zimmer that beat us today”. But he was proud to be part of the family.
Being in Langenburg also gave Rolly the chance to play in the two tournaments a year that were hosted at Asessippi Beach.
But there was also apprehension, as father (Herman) was an umpire, and he was always concerned that people would think his dad would be biased and he did not want his dad to face criticism if the Braves won; rarely was there controversy as his dad was very professional.
Another memory shared of his early playing days at the Asessippi Beach involves his brother (Larry) who at the time was nine years old, (unfortunately due to a car accident was taken far too early).
Rolly had previously hit a home run in the game and before his next plate appearance, Larry in his own speech tone, approached Rolly and said, “Rolly, I will give you two bits if you hit the ball farther.” I guess he had heard someone in the crowd say this but also, he was a ball chaser and was paid 25 cents to return the ball. Well, Rolly obliged and put the ball in the Shell River and Larry received his two bits.
A most memorable fastball account was playing on the Family Zimmer team in 1973 with his brother Danny, nine cousins and uncle Audie, winning the fall Asessippi tournament against some of the top teams in the province of Manitoba.
After being transferred to Tisdale the commitment to fastball continued both playing and coaching there for many years. Rolly’s coached teams always had several high school players involved, making sure the roster was preserved for the future.
Rolly also served as President of the North East league for years.
During his time in Tisdale, he was still able to get back to the old home area as some teams would have him come back to play for them in tournaments in the Langenburg area.
Zimmer also had the opportunity to play on several Saskatchewan Provincial RCMP/POLICE fastball teams at the Western Canadian Police Fastball Championships.
During his tenure in fastball, several players such as Donnie Halyk, who had a strong reputation as one of the best and Chuck Nelson stand out. Chuck was the most memorable, one of the last orthodox pitchers. His riser at times was almost unhittable especially if you got him riled. Chuck was capable of pitching 3 to 4 games in a tournament with no problems.
Chuck often commented on how he had played with a Zimmer on his team since he started playing fastball but Rolly was “the Boomer”.
In closing, Rolly had the opportunity to play and coach on many teams along the border of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He was involved with fastball for approximately 35 years. Many weekends were spent playing in tournaments and they were a total family affair as Gwen and their children were always there with him; for that he would like to thank Gwen for her commitment to the sport.
Towards the end of his fastball career, fastball was declining so he turned his attention to baseball in which his sons were heavily involved, coaching at the local, provincial and National Level.
Yours in Fastball Friendship – Information provided by Rolly Zimmer
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