Snake Siddle
Siddle, who was called Bill, but better known during his baseball career as Snake, was born in Stratford, Ont. in 1895. In 1911, be began playing senior baseball in Winnipeg and was with the Arenas and briefly with the Elmwood Giants before World War I.
In April 1918 theManitoba Free Pressreported that "Snake Siddle, one of the best players Winnipeg had ever produced, pitcher and fielder, is over there." He continued playing through the 1928 season.
In April 1925 when Siddle was moving to Vancouver, the senior league honoured him with a gift to show its appreciation. The Free Pressdescribed him as "one of the finest and best all-around baseball players ever developed in this city." The article said he played every position other than catcher, was always battling for the batting lead, and had no peer on the bases. As it turned out, Siddle returned from Vancouver and played for Arenas that season. In 1929, when he joined the touring House of David team, he came to Winnipeg to play a series against a local all-star team. This time he was called "the most popular ball chaser who ever donned a uniform in this city."
Siddle selected as the shortstop on the Manitoba All-Century Team by a Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame committee in 2005 and was inducted in the provincial shrine the following year as a player/builder After his playing career ended, he became one of the city's top umpires. When he died on Nov. 11, 1976, a tribute began, "Snake Siddle was without question the greatest baseball player ever developed in Winnipeg."
