HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-06-29, Page 66Hall was their man...
*from page 12b
were a poor judge of baseball
talent. The Legion suggested
they look for somebody bet-
ter and Charlie and Bob told
them they didn't have to look
far, if they would only pay
the price.
The next scheduled game
was in Clinton against the
Air Force team and they
were good.
Lucknow didn't want to
lose any more games, so the
Legion gave Charlie the go
ahead to get Hughie Hall.
They arranged to meet Hall
at the border because the
game was in Clinton at 6.30
p.m. (There were no lights
and all games were held in
the early evenings).
Recruit Hughie
Bob Simpson picked up.
Hall at Port Huron and
brought him to Lucknow in
time to pitch the game. Half
of Lucknow was down to
Clinton to see the game,
because Charlie was so hap -
c, -py he told everybody he
knew. How many Bob told,
Charlie isn't sure. He's like
Al Arbour -of the New York
Islanders; his expression
never changes.
Lucknow beat Clinton 7 - 4
and they never got a hit off
Hall. Hall struck them out,
but the catcher dropped the
ball because he couldn't hold
on to Hughie's pitches and
the runner ran on the third
strike making it to first
before the catcher retrieved
the ball.
It was clear they needed a
better catcher to make it
work. Hall knew a catcher in
Detroit but it would cost $85
a week and "no work".
The Legion called a meet-
ing and the members said,
"Get him". They told Hall if
the catcher couldn't hold
him, the deal was off.
The .catcher was a big
left-hander named Luke and
he took with the .fans right
off. He was one of the most
affable' fellows in the world.
Lucknow started winning
their games and people sure
turned out. It was costing the
Legion $250 a week instead
of $50. The players wouldn't
work and Silverwoods had to
back out of the arrangement.
The price of admission was
adults, 25c and children 15c.
Adults paid 35c to watch a
playoff game.
The schedule called for
one home game and one
away game each week. They
had to work in exhibition
games during the week to
defray expenses. The first
year teams from Centralia,
Clinton, Seaforth, Wingham,
Walkerton and Hanover
played exhibition.
Intense Rivalry
The rivalry between Wing -
ham and Lucknow was hot.
Between 1,500 and 2,000
people showed up to see
playoff games and regular
games attracted 1,000.
People came from Palmer-
ston, Mount Forest and
Elmira to see the games.
By the middle of August
the team was $1,400 in the
red. Crowds were growing
and the team came up
against Walkerton after de-
feating Wingham in the play-
off series. This was natural.
Walkerton had a top-notch
pitcher, Zuk and a good team
behind him.
Best Of Seven
The series was a best of
seven. The first three games
of the series were split three
and three. The seventh had
to be played on neutral
ground in Wingham.
Charlie still thinks it was
the biggest game Wingham
has ever held in their park.
People were up on the roof
tops and the grounds were
roped off out to the bowling
green and they had bleachers
behind home plate, along the
first baseline and third base-
line.
If memory serves Charlie
right, admission was 50c for
adults and 25c for children.
After expenses, each team
claimed a little over $500
from the gate receipts. Exp-
penses i,icluded 15 per cent
for WOAA, ball park rent,
radio advertising, halls and
two of the best fastball
umpires from Toronto,
Maxie Schell and Kenny
Holnshaw.
Playing for Lucknow at the
time was George Chin, who
had left before this game to
attend college in Ann Ar-
bour, Michigan.
Turn to page 15b•
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 29, 1983—Page 14b
Mahood Lu
er
312 Durham Mkt. Kincardine 396-3355
Expresses a sincere Congratulations to our
neighbours in Lucknow on the occasion
of their 125th Anniversary.
The beginning of our service to Kincardine
and area dates back to 1919, and like
yourselves we take pride in our
historical background.
"On behalf of myself, my family and
the Province of Ontario, I wish to
express very best wishes to the
residents and natives of Lucknow on the
occasion of the 125th anniversary of the
incorporation of the Village. Keen parti-
cipation by area residents and natives
has been the hall mark of a vibrant
village. I know that this anniversary
celebration will be a great kickoff for the
next phase of Lucknow's development.
Congratulations to organizers and part-
icipants alike as Lucknow's anniversary
is celebrated."
"MURRAY J. ELSTON, M.P.P.
Huron -Bruce"
CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE PEOPLE OF
LUCKNOW
ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR
125THANNIV[RSARY
1901 OLDSMOBILE
74 Kingston Street Goderich
From Your Friendly Cher -Olds Dealer
Jim, Hayter
Before you Bu' - Give Jim a Try
1965 CHEVROLET
524-7,314