OTTAWA- Baseball Manitoba has reason to celebrate as Executive Director Morgan de Pena has been inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame. The honour was presented June 5th at the 14th annual induction ceremony. Mr. de Pena was inducted as both a player and a builder as his impact on the sport in Manitoba has been felt in both areas.
“It was quite an honour, I always thought I’d get some consideration, but maybe 20 years from now,” said Mr. de Pena with a chuckle.
Mr. de Pena’s career as a player started the same way most kids do, he began playing organized baseball as a 12 year old with a local league where he lived. He enjoyed the game and continued to play throughout his teens, and it was as a 15 year old that Mr. de Pena was given a chance to pitch.
“My first game I struck out 16 guys in 6 innings,” explained Mr. de Pena. “I thought, oh, this is kind of fun.”
Mr. de Pena went on to play a couple of years of midget before moving on to the Manitoba Junior League. He was able to pitch at Minot State a small NAIA school in North Dakota during the school year and return home in the summers to play in the Manitoba Senior League. A highlight of his playing career was capturing the Redboine League’s MVP award in 1982.
While still playing senior ball (which he did until the age of 44) Mr. de Pena was approached by former Baseball Canada President David Olsen to be the pitching coach with his midget team, this began a 26 year run in coaching that is still going today.
“David asked me to come out and help with the pitchers,” said Mr. de Pena. “I found that I really enjoyed it and I’m still doing it today.”
Mr. de Pena’s coaching career has spanned all levels of baseball, he is most proud however of the fact that he is now able to coach his own kids.
“It’s kind of funny I’ve coached for 26 years and have only spent the last 6 years coaching my own kids,” added Mr. de Pena. “I spent 20 years coaching other people’s kids.”
It is easy to see that Mr. de Pena has a deep passion for baseball when talking to him. This passion is displayed when he speaks about his kids and the fact that he really enjoys the bond they share through baseball.
“I told my son when he turns 16 that we’re going to get him into a senior league game,” said Mr. de Pena. “He’ll catch and I’ll pitch, I don’t know it could be one game, one inning, or maybe even one pitch I throw, but it would be so cool.”
Mr. de Pena has received various awards and accolades during his coaching career including the Redboine Coach of the Year in 1990 and Manitoba High Performance Coach of the Year in 2000.
On induction night Mr. de Pena was surrounded by close friends and 24 family members, including his wife who he coincidentally met on a baseball field which provides another great memory in Mr. de Pena’s baseball (and life) journey.
“I see this women playing second base, then she plays shortstop, comes into pitch and is coaching third base,” said Mr. de Pena of the story. “I spoke to her after the game the next thing you know we’re dating and then she’s my wife!”
From talking to Mr. de Pena it is easy to see that the game has had a major impact on his life, but as the Hall of Fame induction proves, his impact on the game in Manitoba and his impact on people’s lives through baseball has had an even greater impact.
