Andrew Zwack – Builder
Mention the sport of baseball in Saskatchewan and the name Andy Zwack almost immediately enters the conversation.
Zwack’s involvement in the sport ranged from player to umpire to executive member.
Born in Cudworth in 1917, he began a seven‑decade association with the sport as a player in the city school system eventually graduating to the Junior program in the Prince Albert and District Baseball League. From 1933‑39, Zwack played on three provincial junior championship teams and in 1940 began a three‑year stint with the Prince Albert Bohemians’ in a senior circuit. Zwack ended his competitive playing career in 1943 with an appearance in the Western Canadian championship as a member of the Norvans in the Greater Vancouver Commercial Baseball League.
The following year, Zwack took up umpiring and worked in the Prince Albert and District & Northern Saskatchewan baseball leagues. After 7 years in that capacity, Zwack expanded his portfolio to become the initial umpire‑in‑chief of the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association.
In 1957, Zwack became both the president of the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association and umpire‑in‑chief for the Saskatchewan Baseball Association. During his two‑year tenure as the minor baseball president, Zwack initiated the formation of a midget baseball league.
In 1966, Zwack assisted with the formation of the Western Canada Baseball Association, not only serving on the board of directors but also becoming the association’s first umpire‑in‑chief. The following year, Zwack became president of the Saskatchewan Baseball Association. He was also named to the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball board of directors and became umpire supervisor for the federation.
From 1970‑76, Zwack was on the board of directors of both the Western Canada Baseball Association and the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball along with being the first executive director of the Saskatchewan Baseball Association. He held the latter position until his retirement in 1986.
Zwack’s honours for his involvement in baseball include life memberships in the Saskatchewan Baseball Association, the Western Canada Baseball Association and the Canadian Federation of Amateur Baseball. He was named the Prince Albert Citizen of the Year for 1961 and also has been honoured as the Prince Albert Sportsman of the Year.
Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
