The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, in partnership with the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM) and the Indian Head Museum (IHM), is honoured to host a special Meet and Greet Event with Nat Bates and Willie Reed, two original members of the groundbreaking Indian Head Rockets baseball team. This public event will take place on Wednesday, June 11th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.
The Indian Head Rockets, an African American and Latino baseball team, played and barnstormed across Saskatchewan and Alberta in the early 1950s, challenging racial barriers and elevating the level of play across the prairies. In 1952, Bates, Reed, and three friends from Richmond, California, joined the team, bringing speed, power, and extraordinary skill to every game. Now in their 90s, Bates and Reed return to Saskatchewan as living legends to share their stories and connect with the community that welcomed them decades ago.
Nat Bates and Willie Reed.
“We’re incredibly proud to honour these trailblazing athletes and to provide the public an opportunity to hear from them directly,” said Erin Stankewich, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. “Their contributions to the game and social progress through sport deserve recognition and celebration.”
The event will include a short introduction, opportunities for conversation with the players, and displays of historic photographs curated in collaboration with the Indian Head Museum. Attendees will also hear from Carol LaFayette-Boyd, Executive Director of SACHM, and Robyn Jensen, Vice-President of the Indian Head Museum, who will speak to the significance of preserving stories like the Rockets’ and ensuring they are recognized in the province’s broader historical narrative.
“The Indian Head Rockets are an important part of Saskatchewan’s African-descent history and our sporting legacy,” said LaFayette-Boyd. “Events like this allow us to honour those contributions and pass them on to new generations.”
This event is free to attend and open to the public.
Bates and Reed will also attend the Regina Red Sox’ Western Major Baseball League game that evening (7 p.m., Currie Field). The Red Sox will wear Indian Head Rockets hats for the game to mark the team’s 75th anniversary. Commemorative baseballs will be distributed to young fans in attendance, and special baseball card sets will also be available for purchase.