Reunion to honour past stars
from the Pembroke Daily Observer - Jamie Bramburger
Bob Clinton was one of the most colourful umpires to ever work a fastball game. Known for his bellowing voice and trademark strike three call, Clinton was a jolly presence on the field and called many games in the Alice and Fraser Men's Fastball League.
By contrast, Don Brown was a quiet man at the ball park but he was always a presence on the bench as general manager of Miller's Beverages. Miller's won the league championship in 1987, the final year the league operated, but it wasn't the end of the road for Brown as a manager. He was at the helm in the early 1990s when the Casey's Restaurant team set a league record in the Upper Ottawa Valley Men's Fastball League when it put together an undefeated season.
Both Brown and Clinton are among several league officials, coaches, umpires and players who will be recognized posthumously for their contribution to the Alice and Fraser Men's Fastball League when a reunion tournament is held Saturday, June 14 at the Alice and Fraser Recreation Centre.
The others who will be remembered are Michael McCaughan, Arlin Bramburger, Todd Noack, Brian Watson, Bob Biesenthal, Shawn Smith, Don Nagora and Gary Bohemier. League president Harold Bramburger, who held the presidency for the final few seasons the league operated, will also be remembered.
Organizers of the reunion are inviting the families of each of these league participants to share in the ceremony, which will take place at approximately 6 p.m., just prior to the final of the one-day tournament. A memorial made of granite will be installed just outside the home run fence in right field on the main diamond at the Alice and Fraser Recreation Centre, where the league played its games throughout the 1980s.
Five teams will be competing in the reunion including Unique Insulation, Miller's Beverages, H.E. Brumm Construction, Red Bargain Barn and Cassidy's Transfer and Storage. Former Stalkie's Shell pitcher Graham (Fuzzy) Faught and past league president and Police Association infielder Rob Dickie will throw out the ceremonial first pitches before the opening game between Red Bargain Barn and Miller's at 10 a.m.
In its prime, the Alice and Fraser Men's Fastball League was known for great pitching. Many of those pitchers will be back at the reunion to try to strike out the opposition one more time, including Len Burger, Ernie Schroeder, John Biesenthal and Tim O'Meara.
Admission to the tournament is free and all fans of fastball are encouraged to attend the reunion. It's a great opportunity to "take someone out to the old ball game," where the players may be a bit older than they were when they played in the league, but their love of the game will still shine through with every pitch and every at-bat.
As Bob Clinton would have said, "Gentlemen, it's time to Play Ball!"
Bob Clinton was one of the most colourful umpires to ever work a fastball game. Known for his bellowing voice and trademark strike three call, Clinton was a jolly presence on the field and called many games in the Alice and Fraser Men's Fastball League.
By contrast, Don Brown was a quiet man at the ball park but he was always a presence on the bench as general manager of Miller's Beverages. Miller's won the league championship in 1987, the final year the league operated, but it wasn't the end of the road for Brown as a manager. He was at the helm in the early 1990s when the Casey's Restaurant team set a league record in the Upper Ottawa Valley Men's Fastball League when it put together an undefeated season.
Both Brown and Clinton are among several league officials, coaches, umpires and players who will be recognized posthumously for their contribution to the Alice and Fraser Men's Fastball League when a reunion tournament is held Saturday, June 14 at the Alice and Fraser Recreation Centre.
The others who will be remembered are Michael McCaughan, Arlin Bramburger, Todd Noack, Brian Watson, Bob Biesenthal, Shawn Smith, Don Nagora and Gary Bohemier. League president Harold Bramburger, who held the presidency for the final few seasons the league operated, will also be remembered.
Organizers of the reunion are inviting the families of each of these league participants to share in the ceremony, which will take place at approximately 6 p.m., just prior to the final of the one-day tournament. A memorial made of granite will be installed just outside the home run fence in right field on the main diamond at the Alice and Fraser Recreation Centre, where the league played its games throughout the 1980s.
Five teams will be competing in the reunion including Unique Insulation, Miller's Beverages, H.E. Brumm Construction, Red Bargain Barn and Cassidy's Transfer and Storage. Former Stalkie's Shell pitcher Graham (Fuzzy) Faught and past league president and Police Association infielder Rob Dickie will throw out the ceremonial first pitches before the opening game between Red Bargain Barn and Miller's at 10 a.m.
In its prime, the Alice and Fraser Men's Fastball League was known for great pitching. Many of those pitchers will be back at the reunion to try to strike out the opposition one more time, including Len Burger, Ernie Schroeder, John Biesenthal and Tim O'Meara.
Admission to the tournament is free and all fans of fastball are encouraged to attend the reunion. It's a great opportunity to "take someone out to the old ball game," where the players may be a bit older than they were when they played in the league, but their love of the game will still shine through with every pitch and every at-bat.
As Bob Clinton would have said, "Gentlemen, it's time to Play Ball!"
posted by fitzroyfastball | 5/30/2008 07:47:00 pm
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