When players step on the field donning a Marysburg Royals uniform they are not just a Royal but a part of the Royals family.
The Royals family, which included everyone who played a part in the Royals success over 100 years, returned to Marysburg to celebrate the Royals’ 100th anniversary, July 13-15.
Leo Wurtz, a member of the Royals from 1960-1962, was one of approximately 250 Royals family members who returned to Marysburg to join in the celebration.
Wurtz, who had not been to Marysburg since 1993 when the Royals turned 75, said it was really nice to come back and catch up with his former teammates.
“I enjoyed playing with them immensely. It was an excellent atmosphere, the guys were tremendous to get along with. I really enjoyed those three years,” he said.
“A lot of old friendships, old acquaintances. I didn’t recognize some of them but they made sure that they introduced themselves to me and it’s been great.”
The weekend featured a weekend long celebration, which kicked off with an informal registration on July 13.
July 14 was the busiest of the three days, with the Royals playing the Saskatoon Stallions in a league contest, former players gathering for a slopitch game after the Royals’ league contest, and an informal reception and dance.
The weekend wrapped up July 15 with a mass and pancake breakfast.
Prior to the Royals’ contest against the Stallions, Arnold Strueby, the oldest surviving member of the Royals threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Arnold, 91, played parts of three decades with the Royals from the 1940s through the 1960s.
Current Royal, and longest tenured member of the squad, Curtis Strueby admitted that seeing Arnold throw out the first pitch, and seeing all of the players catching up after years apart, really made it set in how special the 100 year anniversary is.
“We say 100 years but it doesn’t really hit you until you’re actually there. And to see these older gentlemen come back and to watch Arnold Strueby throw out that first pitch being 91years old, it really hits you when you’re there actually and it really makes you think how lucky you’ve been.”
Seeing the Royals hit the field provided a nostalgic moment, said Wurtz, who noted he has not seen the club play since playing in a provincial tournament in Lloydminster six to eight years ago.
The Royals were able to put on a solid show for the former members of the club as they picked up a 7-2 win over the Stallions, thanks in large part to a six run sixth inning.
Looking back on his time as a Royal, Wurtz says he has many fond memories including his first tournament, playing at the Saskatoon Exhibition, his first post-game stop with the team, and the chicken roasts after games, but says his fondest memory will always be the camaraderie.
“The guys were always very accepting of me. I was an outsider yet they made me feel very welcome. I really enjoyed the camaraderie and many of us have remained friends through all those years.”
Overall, Curtis said it was a special weekend, and said he really enjoyed watching the former players catch up after several years a part, which included players he played with and some he even graduated high school with.
“It was pretty special to reminisce and talk about old times,” he said.
“To see kind of the response that the reunion got and to see how these guys and their families came back to watch and to take part in the weekend, just goes to show our other guys how special it actually is or was for those who came back.”
Curtis would like to thank everyone for coming out, and especially thank everyone who helped make the weekend “a big success.”
