By S. Andreas
“In baseball as in life, all the important things happen at home.”
Randy Trautwein, born and raised Leaderite, is scheduled for induction to the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame on Aug. 18 in Battleford, Sask. This farmer and family man is well-known to our community sports fans.
Leader Barons Randy Trautwein.
Trautwein didn’t have much to say regarding his upcoming induction but was thankful for the nomination from Ken Rauch; he noted how very fortunate and honoured he felt that the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame selected him.
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Trautwein was born in Leader, Sask., on July 12, 1954. He always had an interest in athletics and his maturity at a young age allowed him to fit in with older players. When he was a pre-teen Trautwein could be found playing cards with the Leader Flyers hockey players in their dressing room.
This maturity, supported by the instrumental coaching by Ron Frey, allowed Trautwein to join the Leader Barons at the young age of 15.
Known for having a strong arm, a smooth natural swing as a left-handed batter and a natural fielder, Trautwein was a fan favourite. He spent his field time platooning with Paul Nagel at first base as well as playing the outfield positions.
Trautwein was a gifted left-handed pitcher respected by his teammates and the opposition. He struck out 442 batters in 505 innings. Statistics report an earned run average (ERA) of 3.51 and a .957 fielding average.
At bat Trautwein was famed for his tape-measure home-runs and line drives that would gap the outfield. At his career-end Trautwein celebrated a .341 batting average with a recorded 73 home-runs.
During his time playing for the Leader Barons in the SaskAlta League the team made playoffs 13 of 14 years, winning seven league championships. The Barons won the prestigious Medicine Hat Rotary tournament four times during Trautwein’s time with the team.
Unfortunately the Leader Barons folded in 1983; Randy was only 29 and this would be the end of his baseball career. There is no doubt Trautwein’s statistics would have been even more amazing if he’d continued playing.
Though his baseball career ended, Randy still hit the ice with the Leader Flyers Senior Hockey Club. During his hockey years Trautwein had a brief stint in the Junior hockey ranks as well as playing for the Medicine Hat College Rattler Hockey Club.
From hockey, Trautwein moved on to the curling ice, skipping his team to the Southern Saskatchewan Brier curling playdowns multiple times.
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