EVELYN MOROZ Women’s Baseball Pioneer

Evelyn Wawryshyn Litwin Moroz is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, where a special exhibit honours the women pioneers of the sport.

Evelyn played in the All American Girls’ Professional Baseball League, formed in 1943 by Chicago Cubs’ owner and chewing gum magnate Philip K. Wrigley. The softball organization evolved into baseball and fastball (fastpitch), thriving throughout the US until 1954. More than 500 women from Canada, the US, and Cuba played in the League, which had 10 teams at its peak. Evie at 2nd base The movie A League of Their Own was based on the League—the film’s theme is the song the girls used to sing. A teacher at the time, Evelyn was scouted for the League at age 21 in Winnipeg. Protocol was strict. The ladies had to have chaperones and feminine hairstyles and could not wear pants in public. In the early years, the players had to attend the League’s charm school, wear makeup and short dresses, and visit the beauty parlour. They earned between $40 and $100 a week playing daily games. Evelyn has fond memories of her sporting life. “Women were doing everything then,” she says. Granny and my mother “The women were doing what the men did because they had gone to war. I kept in touch with some of the girls. You make friends that last a lifetime.” Winnipeg is home to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, established to honour Manitoba’s greatest athletes, sports figures, and teams.

Evie is in there, too!

Collector Alert: There is an Evelyn Moroz baseball card!

With my mother, sister Linda, and my wife Teresa at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Autographed baseball card

Statistics and batting averages

…some people come into our life as blessings and others come as lessons.

famous for its limestone. I had many adventures in the fields and bush.

When I was 6, Mother married Henry, a teacher. They bought a house in Winnipeg near the Red River and had 4 more children, all girls. I was a little spoiled growing up, but they say I am a sensitive man. I am truly blessed to have 5 sisters who take such good care of our mother. Henry passed 6 years ago, just shy of his 84th birthday. He was a good man and I miss him.

One uncle owned “Teddy’s Dance Hall and Billiard Room” in Tyndall and my uncle Archie ran the hardware store and post office. After a big dance, my elder sister and I would get up early, collect all the bottles, and cash them in at the general store. Then I would go to my uncle’s store and usually buy a gift for my mother. One gift was “Evening in Paris” perfume. I thought that sounded pretty exotic and it seemed to fit her.

When I was a young boy, I remember looking through her baseball scrapbooks and seeing pictures of beaches and palm trees, scenes I had never seen in Manitoba. I asked where on earth that place was. Mother replied, “Cuba!” During her baseball career, Spring training was held in Cuba, along with the Brooklyn Dodgers!

Years later, my wife Teresa and I decided to visit Cuba to retrace some of my mother’s steps. Mother had told me of the fabulous old hotels where they danced on the rooftops. As she was reminiscing, she said, “Ah . . . and then there was Carlos . . . ”

“Carlos?” I asked. “Who is Carlos?

“Oh, he was a fellow I met before your father . . . Carumba!”

We just celebrated Mother’s 97th birthday on November 11, Remembrance Day. Needless to say, I have never forgotten a birthday for my mother.

These are the some of the things I learned from my mother. • What love is • Faith and a belief in God • The importance and love of family • The Golden Rule and to help others less fortunate if you can • To have courage • To follow your heart and dreams • To be a good sport and play fair • To always have hope • To never give up • To lead by example • Unconditional love

She has been the most devoted and loving Mother and Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. Everyone loves going to her home where she’s usually in the kitchen, the heart of the home. The piano is in the living room where the ivories are tickled now and then, especially when the kids arrive and love abounds. Happy to say, Mother still lives in her home.

Mother Teresa, one of my mother’s favourite people, said that some people come into our life as blessings and others come as lessons. I am most fortunate to have had both in my mother.

My Notary Career

School in Winnipeg was filled with sports and a variety of musicals. When completing my Grade 12, I told my parents I was moving to Toronto with my friend Howie to see if we could make it in music and arts! Howie and I had our own band, had been involved in a variety of musicals at school, were involved in the Manitoba Theater Centre (acting and dancing), and had been paid to do a few shows at Rainbow Stage, an outdoor venue in West Kildonan Park.

After a discussion about where I would live, how I would eat, and so on, I had second thoughts and decided to enroll in the University

During her baseball career, Spring training was held in Cuba, along with the Brooklyn Dodgers!

Leonard Neal celebrating his 90th birthday

of Manitoba Commerce Program— an extreme change, but I’ve always wanted to have my own business. That led to a banking career, with CIBC, Royal Bank, and the Bank of BC (now HSBC).

Travelling back from a holiday to Victoria, I passed through the beautiful City of Penticton and knew in my heart that was where I wanted to be.

Soon I resigned from the Royal Bank, packed up my truck, and headed west to Vancouver. Although I had sent résumés to several financial institutions, I wanted to find a job at once. I walked onto a construction site in Delta where they were laying drain tile and asked the foreman for a job. “Can you dig a ditch?” he asked. “Yep,” I said. That job lasted a few weeks until a few of the financial institutions came back with offers.

I chose the Bank of BC, a smaller bank, thinking I could rise to the top in no time. Well, I didn’t get to be President but I did progress well and received a transfer to Penticton as their Administration Manager. I had reached my destination at last!

After 4 years, I was approached by Notary Leonard Neal who would change my life forever. He was my good client at the bank. Over coffee, Len said I should be a Notary Public.

When I asked how I could make a living witnessing signatures, Len explained the many services a BC Notary can provide. After reviewing his Profit and Loss Statement, I thought it might work for me and we struck an agreement. As my mentor and friend, Len truly changed the course of my life. I will be forever grateful to him.

I have been practising as a BC Notary for over 35 years now and enjoy my profession very much.

I am a former Director of the South Okanagan Brain Injury Society and of the Penticton Soupateria Society, aka our “Soup Kitchen,” for the past 25 years. I am known as The Chili Man—I cook chili on the first Friday of each month. s BC Notary Greg Litwin has offices in Penticton and Oliver.

Travelling back from a holiday to Victoria, I passed through the beautiful City of Penticton and knew in my heart that was where I wanted to be.