Born in 1909, baseball builder Curly Haas started his first ball team around the old Seymour Farm neighbourhood. In the mid-1920’s he started with Columbus Club but moved to Portland, Oregon in 1929 where he became involved with Legion and sandlot baseball. Haas returned to Winnipeg to coach Columbus Club in 1946 with “Mr. Baseball”, fellow Hall-of-Famer Eddie Cass (inducted in 1980). He also established the storied Elmwood Giants upon his return, where he was extremely active in junior, senior and semi-pro ball for many years.
Haas was elected President of the Greater Winnipeg Senior Baseball League in 1965 and became Commissioner of the Manitoba Baseball Association in 1968. He also served on organizing committees for the 1967 Pan Am Games held in Winnipeg, and was General Manager of Canada’s team at the 1971 Pan Am Games in Cali, Columbia. Curly Haas worked behind the scenes with the Canadian Polish Athletic Club with Jack Kolt (inducted in 2001) and was active in hockey with the Buffalo Club (precursor to the Maroons) and Catholic Parish hockey with Saint Joseph’s. The Manitoba Sports Federation presented him with the Builder Award in 1971 for his dedication to sport.
b. 1909
d. February 19, 1977
