By IAN WILSON
From the mounds of Moose Jaw to repeatedly representing Canada on baseball’s international scene, Rod Heisler has found a Hall-of-Fame home in Saint Marys, Ontario.
Heisler – a left-handed pitcher who played in a record 14 international competitions for the men’s national team – is one of a half-dozen inductees recently announced as part of the 2024 class by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I was so thrilled, I assumed that it was our Olympic team nominated and the guys were getting called about the news,” said Heisler about getting the call.
“That took me by total surprise,” he added in a press announcement. “Not in my craziest dreams would I have put myself in any consideration for such an honour. Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame – no way! Not a person of too many words, but I was speechless.”
Heisler was born in Moose Jaw in 1957 and the southpaw went to Bemidji State University in Minnesota, where he received All-Conference nods in 1978 and 1979, as well as All-District recognition in 1979.
He pitched for Canada’s national team at the Amateur World Series in 1978, where he recorded a 2.63 earned run average (ERA). Heisler wore Canada across his chest in that same tournament again in 1980 and 1982. He was excellent in his final tournament appearance, registering a 3-0 record and a 2.35 ERA on his was to being named to the event’s All-Star squad.
Olympic appearances followed, including trips to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea. Heisler got the start in Canada’s first contest at the ’84 Olympics – where baseball was a demonstration sport – and allowed only eight hits and two runs in his 10.1 innings of work. Canada ultimately lost that game by a 4-3 score – it was a 12-inning marathon matchup against Nicaragua.
In addition to his stellar play at the Amateur World Series and the Olympics, Heisler’s international record includes pitching appearances at the Pan Am Games (1979, 1983, 1987) and three International Cups in the 1980s. He also appeared in the Pacific Cup in 1986 and the World Cup in 1988.
“It was awesome playing for Canada in the ‘80s. Meeting people from every country was so special because we were welcomed everywhere we went. No matter where we were, people were cheering for Canada,” Heisler recalled during a Zoom conference call with members of the media.
“We were liked. That was special to be welcomed wherever we went … we were in tough a lot, but as true Canadians we battled.”
Heisler said despite not having much of a national program or training camps back then, Baseball Canada gave him the opportunity to travel the world, adding the program has experienced tremendous progress over the decades.
This is not the first Hall of Fame recognition for Heisler, who also played NCAA Division 1 hockey in university. He is a member of the Bemidji University Hall of Fame, the Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame, and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (as a member of the 1984-85 Moose Jaw Generals hockey team).
His other honours include four Government of Saskatchewan Merit Awards, a Government of Canada Merit Award, and a Kinsmen Sports Lifetime Achievement Award.
At the end of his playing days, Heisler returned to Moose Jaw and worked as a teacher and a baseball coach.
“I went away and played ball and played hockey, but when I came home, it was home and I was able to have a family and make Moose Jaw my home, and that was the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” said the long-time high school teacher at Vanier Collegiate Institute in a 2017 media interview.
Joining Heisler as part of the 2024 class are Russell Martin and Jimmy Key, who were both All-Stars with the Toronto Blue Jays; former Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Godfrey; Toronto Leaside Baseball Association executive Howard Birnie; and Ashley Stephenson, who played for the women’s national baseball team before becoming a groundbreaking coach with the Vancouver Canadians.
The six will be inducted at a June 15th ceremony at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ontario.
“Each member of this year’s class has had a tremendous impact on the game of baseball in Canada,” said Jeremy Diamond, chair of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s board of directors.
“We look forward to celebrating their outstanding careers in St. Marys this June.”
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