Gerry Janz named to Baseball Manitoba Honour Society

Baseball Manitoba held its 2026 annual awards evening honouring their best coaches, officials, players, teams, volunteers, and honourary members for their performances and/or contributions to the sport of baseball on October 17 in Brandon, MB.

Gerry “Sal” Janz began his minor baseball career playing out of Cartwright and Baldur before moving on to the Baldur Regals senior baseball team, beginning what has become a remarkable baseball journey spanning nearly 50 years.

When Sal joined the Regals in the 1970s, he became part of a team that never lacked effort, although losing was far too common. In those days, getting four outs in an inning might have been considered a good inning! Despite the results, there was never a shortage of fun, camaraderie, and team bonding, regardless of the outcome.

As Gerry developed as a senior baseball player, his individual accomplishments began to stand out. He was selected to several league all-star teams, earned the South Central League’s top hitter award in 1983, and was named the league’s all-star catcher in 1989. Along the way, he was also chosen as the Baldur Regals’ Most Valuable Player on multiple occasions.

During the 1990s, Gerry was part of the Regals’ resurgence as the team found its stride, capturing the Santa Clara Baseball League championship four times.

When his two sons, Jesse and Drew, came along, Sal’s coaching career began. He guided young players to league championships at the U10, U12, and U14 levels, helping develop talented ballplayers, including Darrick Jones and Nathan Ramage, among others. In 1994, his team represented Manitoba at the Bantam B Western Canadian Championships.

As Jesse and Drew grew old enough to join the Regals, Baldur made the move to the Manitoba Senior Baseball League. This marked another important chapter in Sal’s baseball career, as his coaching abilities continued to flourish at the senior level. In 2001, he was named an MSBL All-Star coach.

Following a short hiatus from baseball, Gerry returned to lead the Baldur Regals into the Border Senior Baseball League. Under his leadership, the team captured six consecutive league championships from 2007 to 2012. Between 2007 and 2015, the Regals also won 8 provincial banners and two Western Canadian championships. In recognition of his outstanding coaching abilities, Sal was named Baseball Manitoba’s High Performance Coach of the Year in 2009.

Perhaps the greatest highlight of Gerry’s coaching career came in 2015, when Baldur hosted the Western Canadian Senior Baseball Championships. With the support of the hometown crowd behind them, Sal guided the Regals to a Western Canadian championship on their home diamond. Making the victory even more special, both Jesse and Drew were members of that championship team.

Gerry’s contributions to baseball extended beyond playing and coaching. He also gave back to the game through umpiring, including working at a Western Canadian championship.

His commitment to the Baldur Regals goes well beyond the field of play. Sal has always taken tremendous pride in maintaining the Regals’ baseball diamond, widely regarded as one of the finest in rural Manitoba. He has dedicated countless volunteer hours to weeding, mowing, edging, and tackling whatever else needs doing to keep the facility in top condition. Remarkably, he continues this work to this day.

Of course, no tribute to Sal would be complete without mentioning his collection of baseball stories. Gerry has plenty of them and shares them regularly. Some former teammates know these stories practically word for word.

From his playing days and individual achievements to his coaching success, championship victories, and countless volunteer hours, Gerry “Sal” Janz has made an extraordinary contribution to baseball in Baldur and throughout Manitoba.

Congratulations to Gerry “Sal” Janz on a richly deserved induction into Baseball Manitoba’s Honour Society. His dedication, leadership, and lifelong commitment to the game have left a lasting legacy for the Baldur Regals and the generations of players who have had the privilege of playing for and alongside him.

Gerry ‘Sal’ Janz (left) received a plaque from MBA President Roger Langlais to acknowledge his enrolment in the Manitoba Baseball Association’s Honour Society. PHOTO SUBMITTED