OMER, MI -- For 70 years, baseball reigned on ballfields from Bay City to Bentley and Ogemaw to Alpena.
More than 50 towns had a team at times, and there was never a dull moment in the Northeastern Michigan Baseball League.
Now the former staple of summer action celebrates an era gone by with its annual NEM Reunion and Hall of Fame ceremony, set for 1 p.m. Sunday, July 15 at the Arenac County Historical Society Museum in Omer.
The banquet is open to anybody who would like to honor the players, coaches, umpires and teams of the men's baseball league that flourished from 1916 to 1986.
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Dave Rozema is the guest speaker at the banquet, which includes a chicken, meatball and polish sausage dinner. Cost is $17 for adults, $8.50 for kids age 8-12 and free for ages 7-under.
Contact league historian Bob Pelton at 989-846-9644 for details.
The Hall of Fame opens its doors to the Class of 2018, which includes eight Pavelka brothers -- Steve, Frank, Joe, Tony, John, Tom, Mike and Andy. Ernie Nahgahgwon, Frank Smutek, Bob Erickson, Jim Dominowski, Ted Beechum, Art Krawczyk, Everett Schram and Barney Cliff are also being inducted.
The museum opens at 11 a.m. and features relics, photos, uniforms and memorabilia from NEM history.