21-05-2025
Kelman to be inducted into Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame
St. James-Assiniboia
On June 14, former St. James A's baseball star Scott Kelman will join Manitoba's baseball elite when formally inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame. It's the ultimate tribute for an athlete who lived for the game.
'I'm over the moon,' Kelman said. 'To be recognized for my favourite sport and biggest passion is the greatest honour.'
Kelman taught himself to read with baseball cards. He has fond memories of family road trips to watch baseball. He played as soon as he could.
Supplied photo
Former St. James A's baseball star Scott Kelman will be inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame on June 14.
'The diamond was a bike ride from my house,' Kelman said. 'My summer was spent pitching to my dad, Craig, and hitting balls. My grandpa walked in the outfield with a cane and collected the balls. I have so many good memories of that.'
His accolades include Manitoba Pee Wee Bantam Player of the Year, Midget Player of the Year, Manitoba Junior League MVP, Winnipeg Senior League (WSBL) MVP and two WSBL batting titles.
When 16, Kelman threw a no-hitter at the Blue Jays Cup. In 2001, he played for Team Manitoba at the Canada Summer Games.
Because Kelman was equally successful at hockey, multiple crossroads loomed. Shortly after joining the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds, he hurt his shoulder, ending his pitching career.
For a time, Kelman successfully juggled the two. In the summer of 1998, he made the national baseball selection camp for baseball and played for Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. After being drafted 15th overall by the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes in 1999, GM Bobby Smith forced him to retire from baseball.
That lasted three years, until Randy LeBleu convinced Kelman to come back with the A's for a season culminating in a Canada Summer Games berth. Then, another retirement. While his body may have been away from the diamond, his heart never left.
'I'm not sure I had the same passion for hockey as I did for baseball,' Kelman said. 'There's something magical about stepping on that field, smelling the grass and hearing the bat. I don't know if hockey ever gave me anything like that. The feeling of blowing a fastball by someone was one of my favourite memories, outsmarting a batter, that feeling you're in control.'
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Kelman's last hockey stop was with the Coventry Blaze in England. That's where he met his wife, Fay. They have two daughters who are also fine athletes. Tori, 13, plays club volleyball and premier soccer, while Claudia, 11, plays AA hockey and soccer. Watching his daughters pursue their passions is the latest in a life of special sporting moments.
Supplied photo
Scott Kelman with daughters Tori and Claudia. Kelman, who enjoyed a successful baseball and hockey career, will be inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame on June 14.
'I love seeing them recapture the feeling I had, the excitement of games as a kid,' Kelman said. 'A world of possibilities, and they're loving being out there. It's been a blast.
'They love sport and are intense, but also teach you not to take losses personally. They seem to be able to get over losses a little bit better than most boys.'
When he returned to Winnipeg, Kelman resumed his baseball career in the WSBL. That was only possible because of Fay.
'She made so many sacrifices,' Kelman said. 'When we had the girls, and I was out a lot of nights, she was my rock, allowing me to pursue my passion by watching the girls while I played a game.'
Tony ZeruchaEast Kildonan community correspondent
Tony Zerucha is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email him at tzerucha@
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