Phyllis Bomberry facts for kids

Phyllis "Yogi" Bomberry (born 1943 – died January 3, 2019) was an amazing Canadian softball player. She was a catcher, known for her incredible skills. Yogi Bomberry won many national championships and made history by becoming the first female to receive the Tom Longboat Award. This award celebrates the best Indigenous athletes in Canada.

Early Life and Sports

Phyllis Bomberry was born in 1943 in Ohsweken, Ontario. This area is part of the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. She was a member of the Cayuga tribe, from the Wolf Clan. Phyllis grew up with four brothers and two sisters.

From a young age, Phyllis loved sports. She played many different games at school, including hockey, football, volleyball, badminton, and lacrosse. She often said that competing with boys when she was little helped her become so competitive. Phyllis would often catch baseballs for her dad and brother, who were both amateur players.

She started playing softball in local leagues on and off the reserve. People gave her the nickname "Yogi" because her catching skills were as good as the famous baseball player Yogi Berra. Her softball career lasted for 25 years, from 1951 to 1976.

Softball Career Highlights

Phyllis Bomberry began her official softball career in the minor league in Caledonia. She played there from the mid-1950s until 1963. In 1960 and 1962, her team, the Ohsweken Mohawks, won the Intermediate B Provincial Softball Women's Union Championships two times in a row!

After playing with the Mohawks, Phyllis moved to Toronto to finish high school. Her talent was quickly noticed. She was asked to play for the Toronto Carpetland Senior A Team, which was a top team in the Ontario Senior Women's league. The Carpetland team even helped her find a job in a factory, so she could work and still make it to all the team practices.

Phyllis and her team won the Canadian Women's Softball Championships in 1967 and 1968. They also won a gold medal at the Canada Games in 1969. At the 1967 championships, Phyllis was named the Top Batter. After her win at the 1969 Canada Games, she was honored as an All-Star Catcher and the Most Valuable Player. Sadly, a knee injury forced her to stop playing in 1976.

Life After Playing Sports

After her softball career ended, Phyllis Bomberry lived on the Six Nations Reserve in Ohsweken, Ontario. Because of her knee injury, she couldn't play competitive sports anymore. However, she still loved watching sports on TV. She also enjoyed making native crafts and artwork.

In 2010, Phyllis had a special honor. She was chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Six Nations before the Winter Olympic Games.

Awards and Recognition

Phyllis Bomberry received many important awards for her achievements:

• In 1969, she became the first female to win the Tom Longboat Award. This award, started in 1951, goes to the most outstanding Indigenous athlete in Canada.
• In 2009, she was inducted into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame. This means her amazing contributions to softball are remembered forever.
• In 2023, she was given the Order of Sport, which led to her induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. This is one of the highest honors for athletes in Canada.