2012 Legends Diamond Dirt
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9th Annual Peter Hallman Ball Yard June 21-24, 2012 Published by John Thompson 2012 and Sue Sherry FASTBALL LEGENDS WERE IMPACT TROIKA Three of our 2012 Legends shared not seasons, but decades as team-mates in the glory days of fastball in Ontario. Harry Bartley, Jim Brown and Rick McCaw doffed uniforms for many St. Thomas-London area teams including St. Thomas Western Memorials, Empires, Pest Control and Durston Pools as well as the famed London Dukes and Cable TV and competed in the Memorial, Ontario-Michigan and Hamilton Big Four leagues, OASA and Canadian championships. The trio shared several Memorial League championships, were part of the 1967 host Champions St. Thomas for the Ontario Eliminations, and two of them travelled to Winnipeg for the 1970 Canadians with London Cable TV. All were noted for excellence in their defensive positions, and were “tough outs” in the heart of the batting order. Awesome in their own right, and mildly comparable to MLB Yankees’ “Murderers Row”, all three held great respect for pitchers Detroit’s Bonnie Jones , Reno Patenuzzi and southpaws Pete Landers and Brad Underwood as tough combatants. HARRY BARTLEY JIM BROWN RICK McCAW Venerable veteran Fearsome foe Superb centre-fielder Born – Feb. 15, 1945 Born - Nov. 22, 1938 January 10, 1942 - June 16, 2012 Hometown – Belmont, ON Hometown – St. Thomas, ON Hometown – St. Thomas, ON Harry’s career started in baseball in Jim played baseball with his hometown St. Sadly, Rick McCaw passed away last hometown Belmont and St. Thomas and Thomas Elgins, mentored by player/manager weekend after battling cancer. His career switched to fastball at age 17 when he Tommy White and as a junior “call-up” was started in Union ON, playing in a men’s joined Glanworth in the London Major part of the Inter-county Sr. Championship league before he was a teenager and later League. team in 1958. At age 23, he changed to baseball for the St. Thomas Tom Cats. He An accomplished hockey player, Harry fastball with the Western Hotel squad in the then concentrated on fastball in Glanworth played with the London Jr. B Nationals and St. Thomas and District League. before joining St. Thomas Western later with area senior hockey teams. The popular figure of “Casey at the Bat”, Memorials in 1963. Rick’s championship teams included OASA In mid 1960s, he joined St. Thomas Royal who struck fear into opposing hurlers about titles in 1964 & ‘67 and the Canadians in House senior team, and was a member of to deliver a pitch to the plate, is an apt image the St. Thomas host Ontario Championship 1970 where he was named an All-Star. of Jim Brown in the 1960s in the Memorial In CF, Rick was fleet-of-foot, aggressively team in 1964, again in 1967 as well as in Fastball League. charging balls hit in his direction, coming 1996, earning a few MVPs along the way. Jim’s broad shoulders and sinewy arms were up throwing, and earning respect as one of Incredibly, he played in the Canadians in indeed intimidating, and the total package the best. For imagery, think of the talents of Saskatoon in both 1967 and 1997, bridging was punctuated by his menacing black Brian Paton and Ryan Wolfe – now you get a thirty year span. moustache and dark, penetrating stare as he the picture. Harry “Hat” Bartley was the 3B cornerstone focused on the delivery from the mound. Rick won the home run derby one year in where his wide stance challenged hitters to The pinnacle of success came with the famed the Memorial League and had a memorable put one by him – they rarely did. London Cable TV squad in 1970. His 1964 game in OASA playdowns hitting A similar posture in the batters box seldom defensive abilities behind “the dish” were three homers against the Oshawa Tonys. let good pitches pass – Harry could hit for second to none, and during his career, he More than simply a player, Rick worked power and average to every field and was a was battery-mate to acknowledged legends tirelessly as a manager, recruiting players to game-breaker with timely clutch hits. Dick Hames, Metro Szeryk and Steve Virag. help keep the St. Thomas juggernaut intact Defensively he was a master of deception, “Browny” was the catalyst and solid for many memorable seasons. often goading runners into trying to stretch foundation upon which batting orders were Rick had received special OASA doubles into triples. His decoy stance at 3B built. In 1970, he was named All-Canadian recognition for his stellar play as well as his would culminate with a snap tag that would at the nationals in Winnipeg as London went contributions to coaching. Typically snuff out rally opportunities. undefeated and captured the gold medal. In Canadian, Rick played hockey in the winter, Harry and wife Dianne have one son Sean, 1977, Jim slugged his way to the 1977 and enjoyed golfing, fishing and camping. and two daughters – Debra & husband Jeff Memorial League “triple crown” batting Rick is survived by his wife Sue; two with three grandchildren Derek, Catherine title. daughters, Laurie & husband John, Stacy & grand-daughter Lilly; and son Steve & wife & Sarah, and Colleen & husband Andy with Jim has two daughters Catherine and Cheryl Kim & granddaughter Mariah. two grandchildren Lauren & Nathan. and four grandchildren – Jackilyn, Jennifer, Rick worked for GM Diesel in London, Harry worked for 40 years with 3M in Nicholas and James. London and as well, operated the family lived in St. Thomas and has the memorable Like any Canadian athlete, he also enjoyed distinction of having played fastball with his farm in Belmont. Life now is more simple – hockey and continues to enjoy golf, fishing farming and golfing. dad Bill, as well as suiting up with his son and visits to the YMCA. Steve in senior ranks. “LEGENDS” CRITERIA KEITH WAGLER RON HERGOTT Selections of individuals who have been afforded recognition as part of the Menacing moundsman Sport versatility “Legends” tournament are based on Born – Oct. 18, 1947 Born – Dec. 31, 1942 varying contributions and for their fastball Hometown – Tavistock, ON Hometown – Kitchener, ON impact. Keith Wagler, born on the family farm in Ron originally played baseball for East Zorra Township near Tavistock started Kitchener Panthers in mid '1960s, Many considered for nomination as a playing competitively with Tavistock switching to fastball with Waterloo Bridge “Fastball Legend” participated in the game Midgets (1965), and led his Juveniles to the Sports (Inter-County League) and CHYMrs in by-gone eras, when the opportunity to be 1966 OASA championship. To develop (Inter-City League), and later Kitchener selected to a national team were limited. strength and endurance, coach Fred Currah Evergreens (OFL 1977-79). • True, unquestioned legends of the game insisted that Keith warm up a full hour As a young athlete, he focused on hockey, – Dick Hames, Pete Landers, Chubb before each game. playing with OHA Niagara Falls Flyers and Tangaroa, Steve Virag, Darren Zack In 1970, Keith joined the Kitchener Forwell later professionally during 1964-70 with • Players who represented Canada with Super V’s (later Evergreens/Edelweiss Portland Buckaroos, Long Island Ducks, distinction at the international level – Tavern) senior team. In an era when New Haven Blades and Muskegon Ontario, Inter-City and Memorial Leagues Bob McKinnon, Brian Paton, Adam Mohawks, sandwiching two Canadian were at their peak, Keith’s devastating rise- Smith, Ray Tilley senior Allen Cup championships with Galt ball stymied the greatest hitters. Hornets in 1969 and 1971. His skill was • Players who had an outstanding career in In 1972, Keith played 104 games, with a revered – winning the scoring women’s softball, at either the local, win-loss record of 79-13, leading Tavistock championship one year at right wing – and national or international level – Marg Merchants to the South Perth crown and duplicating the feat as a defenceman – the Skillings, Lori Sippel, Karen Snelgrove Kitchener to the Inter-City title, copping the only player in senior hockey to achieve that • Players who had an outstanding career in league’s pitching award with a 1.07 ERA. distinction. the local southwestern Ontario area – 1975 was memorable as Kitchener In fastball, Ron was a feared hitter, Lorne “Gump”Daer, Bill Fidlin, Dan Evergreens beat Hamilton Waxmen in the homering often in the wooden bat era. A rd Donahue, Chuck Hendricks, Barry OASA Eliminations and finished 3 at the memorable dinger occurred in Port Musselman, Doug Neil, Dick Parker, Canadians. Colborne in the top of the 16th inning with Brian Stere, Dan “Doc” Werby, Dan In his last full season (1978), Keith sported “Hergy” launching a “moon shot” over the Yantzi an ERA of 0.75 and was top pitcher in the outfield fence… and over a house… to win Memorial League. Spanning 17 seasons, • Individuals who made a significant the game 1-0! An 80 year old veteran fan Keith also played for Stratford, Woodstock contribution to the game including congratulated Ron, stating that in 65 years and Norwich, and was forced to retire of watching fastball, he had never seen administrators, coaches, managers, (arthritis) in 1979 having recorded 21 no- media, sponsors, and umpires – Terry anyone hit a ball that far. hitters, of which five were perfect games. Ron’s versatility went beyond serving as a Baytor, Bob “Bongo” Baird, Bruce Keith favorably recalls his years in Bierman, Jack Fireman, Bill Horne, first baseman, feeling comfortable at all Kitchener, with intense encounters with defensive positions, including a season at Bruce Huff, Larry Lynch, George legends Wally Dick, Bob Domik, Dick Ryder, and Joe Todd shortstop as well as assuming catching Hames and Pete Landers, that resulted in chores and patrolling the outfield.