Syd Church began his softball career as a 16-year-old with Alexanders and played competitively for 31 years. At age 45, he was named to the Winnipeg senior league all-star team and when he retired in 1961, he still was rated as a top player. Considered by his peers to be the best third baseman in Winnipeg, he won city championships with Airports in 1942 and 1943 and Western Canadian championships with Globelites in 1944 and 1946. Church also played for Ray-O-Vacs, Legion 141, Northern Hotel, Willards, Foresters and Selkirk Aces and was the playing manager for Fort Garry Frontier when the team won the city senior A championship in 1960. Church passed away in 1988.