HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-30, Page 43Some members of the Port Albert Pirates included from the left back, Bill Tigert, Clarence
Doherty, Grant Chisholm, Gord Martin, Ed Tigert, Elwin Petrie, Norm ,Hoy, Joe McGee,
Stan Doherty, Don Bowden, and front, Art Dickson, bat boy, Mel Dickson, manager, Joe
Martin, Sam Mabon and Elt Draper.
Hort Albert Pirates were
dedicated ball players
BY SHARON DIETZ
People have always liked their ball in
Port Albert. The Port Albert Pirates soft-
ball club formed in 1949, joining the
Western Ontario Athletic Association in
Wingham which was a very strong
--organization in western Ontario.
"They were a very- dedicated bunch of
boys," says manager Mel Dickson . "Spr-
ing training started in .front of Petrie's
= store while there was still snow on the
ground."
There -were a .couple -off lean- years -and ---
then the boys came into their own, 'says
Mel. They finally started winning their
group which they did for quite a few years
but, they never won the western Ontario
finals.
"If you have good pitching, you can
always put a team around them," says
Mel. They started with Grant Chisholm
and Billy Tigert then Don Bowden came
along with the windmill pitch, a new pitch
around here at that time and later Stan
Doherty took over.
Mel' remembers one series with
Belgrave when Port Albert was into the
WOAA semi-finals. Grant Chisholm was
pitching. Grant had a pitch that rose as it
crossed the plate after a delivery' where
his hand almost touched the ground. The
Belgrave team got onto Grant's pitch as
the series progressed and things were star-
ting to look bad.
Mel put in ,Don Bowden whose windmill
delivery caused the ball to sink as it cross-
ed the plate and he struck out every batter
he faced. Port Albert won the game and
the series.
A funny thing happened at that same
game against Belrave, Mel recalls. The
Pirates had just had a raffle and bought
new uniforms from a sport shop in
'Wingham. As it happened the owner of the
sport shop was at the final game which
was played in Wingham. WOAA president
Tory Gregg and Charlie Crossitt were sit-
ting behind this fellow and he was really
cheering for Belgrave who was beating
Hort Alb er t:._
Tory Gregg reached over and tapped the
fellow on the shoulder and said "It's
alright for you to cheer for Belgrave, after
you got all Port ALbert's money (for the
new uniforms)." He never said another
word, laughs Mel.
It was after that, BowdEn was brought
into the game and Port Albert won the
series.
The Pirates played in a league with
Dungannon, Benmiller, Londesboro,
Ripley and Union coming up against teams
from Sebringville, Formosa, Belgrave and
Ailsa Craig in the playoffs.
Members of the team included Joe Mar-
tin, Sam Mabon, Elt Draper, Bill Tigert,
Clarence Doherty, Grant Chisholm, Gord
Martin, Ed' Tigert, Elwin Petrie, Norm
Hoy, Joe McGee, Stan Doherty, Don
Bowden, Frank Doherty, Jim Doherty,
Bob Bowden, Arnold Stothers, Norm
Stewart, Lawrence Ribey, Earl Martin,
Bill Black, Art Dickson, bat boy and Mel
Turn to page 21
Best Wishes To
PORT
ALBERT
Happy 150th Birthday
PETRIE'S
GENERAL
STO R E
PORT ALBERT
529-7419
Page 19
Congratulatisfl$
Port A\lbert!
Du
From Yo _r Friends at
Motel
HWY. 21 N., GODERICH
524-8781
•
Hope everyone
has a great time
at this weekend's
Sesquicentennial
Celebrations.
Congratulations.to our many.
friends and customers in PORT. ALBERT
M -W AUTO BODY & COLLISION
Grant MacPhee
184 East St., Goderich
524-2113