Present and History of Optimist Baseball Park
The Regina Optimist Club was chartered on December 9, 1957. The club’s first involvement with youth activities was a sponsorship in 1958 of a boys’ baseball team in the Regina Pony League. This involvement continued until early 1962 when an Optimist Juvenile Baseball League started and games were played at local High School diamonds. In 1961, talks with the City of Regina officials had begun regarding the development of a park at Dewdney Avenue and Grey Street. The park was to include a baseball field, a football field and a go – cart track. The inclusion of a go- track raised the ire of the citizens in the surrounding area and threatened the idea of any park in the area. After meetings with the City, concerned citizens and Optimist Club members, it was decided to eliminate the go – cart track.
Development of the Park began in 1962
Work by private contractors, City of Regina workers and Optimist members continued through 1962 and games in Optimist Juvenile Baseball League began at Optimist Park in 1963. Records indicate that the first Baseball game was played at Optimist Park on May 16, 1963.
The Juvenile League continued until 1965 when the league was changed to a Midget Baseball League and continued until 1968. The League reorganized again and team sponsorships were changed to include the Regina Optimist Club (the Royals), the Downtowners Optimist Club (the Astros), the Highnoon Optimist (the Orioles) and the Regina Pacers Men`s Club (the Pacers).
In1969, baseball teams sponsored by the Regina Optimist Clubs won the City Little League Championship, Provincial and Western Canadian Midget Championship and in 1971, the Regina Optimist Royals won the League title and their first Provincial Midget Championship.
Improvements continued at The Park and in 1972, the Regina Optimist Club budgeted $42,000 as their contribution towards the additions to the clubhouse facilities. In 1974, the expanded clubhouse, including the dressing rooms, was opened. In 1975, a major turning point arrived when arrangements between the City of Regina and the Regina Optimist Club were concluded whereby the Optimist Club would take over the day – to – day operation of the Park including maintenance and scheduling.
In1975, the Optimist Baseball Association hosted their first major championship: the Western Canada Midget Championship. Play continued at the Park in the Regina Midget Baseball League throughout the 70`s and 80`s, with the formation of Midget A, AA, and AAA Leagues and additions of teams from outside of the city – Moose Jaw and Weyburn.
In 1986, plans were developed for a major rebuild and upgrade to the Park. The Regina Optimist Club, as the major sponsor, contributed over $350,000 of a total $650,000 rebuilding cost including lights, grass infield, and new fencing. The sponsorship won international recognition for the Regina Optimist Club as Optimist International presented them with the International Community Improvement Award at the Optimist International Convention of 1987. In 1991, Optimist Baseball was awarded their first major tournament at the upgraded park – the Canadian Selects Tournament.
Since 1991, Optimist Baseball has hosted tournaments of all descriptions for all Leagues Playing out of the park. These tournaments included Saskatchewan Baseball Association Senior Men's Provincial and Midget AA and AAA League, Provincial, and Western Canada Championships culminating in 2011 with the prestigious Baseball Canada National Midget AAA Championship.
For the Saskatchewan Baseball, Western Canada Baseball, and Baseball Canada tournaments, OPtimsit Baseball acted as both sponsoring agency and field/park supplier. Optimist Baseball also supplied facilities for championships hosted by Little League Saskatchewan including Senior Little League and Big League Canadian Championships.
Since 1991, Optimist Baseball has hosted tournaments of all leagues playing out of the park. These tournaments included
1988 - Prairie Regional Midget Championship
1991 - Selects Midget National
1994 - Western Canadian Midget Championship
2005 - Canada Summer Games
2006 - Midget AAA Provincial
2006 - Midget AAA Western Canadian Championship
2007 - Senior Men's Championship
2009 - Junior Provincial Championship
2010 - Junior Western Canadian Championship
2011 - Midget AAA Canadian Nationals & Blue Jays Camp
2013 - Western Canadian Junior Championship
2013 - Midget AAA Provincial
2014 - Host Site for Baseball North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) & Blue Jays Camp
2015 - National 21u Junior Championships & Blue Jays Camp
2016 - National 21u Junior Championships
2017 - Provincial Junior Championships & Blue Jays Camp
2018 - Provincial Junior Championships
2019 - Baseball Canada Cup & Blue Jays Camp
2021 - Awarded Baseball Canada Cup - cancelled due to covid
2021 - Provincial U18 AAA Championships
2022 - Western U18 AAA Championships, Senior Provincial Championships
2023 - Baseball Canada Cup
Have sponsored a Canada Day Midget Tournament for 20 years
We have sponsored High School Baseball for 16 years and in 2013 began as a league sponsor for Optimist High School League and hosted practise seesions for the World's Children;s Baseball Fair and were the site for the wind - up ceremonies and game.
Regina Optimist Baseball is dedicated to the support of Minor Baseball in Regina through sponsorship of leagues and teams and through delivery of a top flight baseball facility.
Latest renovations to the Park included: 2012 built brand new dugouts; 2018 and 2019 major renovations to infield; 2019 and 2020 back padding installed from dugout to dugout behind home plate; padded railings for dugouts, and 2019 and 2020 purchase of new equipment for maintenance of Park.
The Regina Optimist Baseball Association/Park has the Regina Optimist Junior League, Midget AAA, Midget AA, Martin Acadamy, as well as Senior Leagues come to play and pracitce at the Park.
The current 2024 list of Regina Optimist Baseball Directors includes:
President: Jeremey Palanuik
Vice President: Nolan Dezotell
Secretary: Sharon Bergerman
Treasurer: Jim Paisley
Director: Rod Palanuik
Director: Norm Loehr
Director: John Hoffman
Director: Warren Pielak
