Spero Leakos

Builder (1986)

Baseball

Baseball and Spero truly go hand in hand. While he has developed an interest in all sports, it's baseball that received most of his attention. He played the game in various age divisions and had strong interest in soccer and hockey and coached and played baseball at the University of Saskatchewan and the city level. For many years, he and 29 other shareholders were associated with the Saskatoon Gems baseball team.

In 1958, the Leakos family took over the team and Spero became the general manager and the club name was changed to the Commodores. Some of his players from the 1961 squad, John Boccabella, Tim Cullen and Ray Lamb eventually played in the majors. When the Western Canada Baseball League folded, Spero coached teams in the Northern Saskatchewan League. He helped out at the midget and junior level and led his Junior Commodores to the national title in 1970.

He was honoured in 1970 Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year. In 1982 he was honoured by Century Saskatoon. In 1986 Spero was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame.

** Deceased

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" I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Spero (Leakos). He knows his baseball. I was so impressed with him that I made him my No. 1 choice for World Series tickets at Wrigley Field next fall. " -- Chicago Cubs infielder Ernie Banks at the 1966 Saskatoon Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner