In today’s era of sport superstars who specialize in one discipline, it is rare to find an athlete that excels in two. Hugh Gustafson excelled in three: baseball, football and hockey during the late ‘30’s and early 40’s.

Gustafson played three years for the Deer Lodge junior football squad and they captured the Manitoba title in each year. He left the gridiron to pursue his dreams on the ball diamond.

In baseball, Gustafson pitched and played first base for the Sherburn junior ball team in 1935. At old Sherburn Park, he was the glue that held the Winnipeg Maroons (Class “C” professional) together in the late ‘30’s. In the Northern League, Gustafson was an all-star first baseman, leading the league in hitting (.367 avg.) and in fielding (.985 avg.). Prior to the Second World War, he moved up to Madison in Class B and then Milwaukee in AA of the American Association. In those days, the American Association was one step away from the major leagues of professional baseball.

The sport of hockey saw Gustafson play junior and senior with the Winnipeg Falcons. He graduated to the American Hockey League with the Philadelphia Ramblers and then the Providence Reds. Just as he was headed for the original six NHL, war broke out. Gustafson joined the U.S. Army (he was born in Hibbing, Minnesota) in the prime of his athletic career. He played some post-war hockey in Rhode Island. He also did some coaching in the ManDak Baseball League for Alex Turk’s team.

A phenomenal all round athlete, and arguably one of the greatest baseball players Manitoba has ever produced, Hugh Gustafson dominated the local sport scene during his era.