Category Archives: Baseball

WILLIAM “HUCK” CAESAR

Huck Caesar was only a lightweight in physical proportions but he was “giant” on a baseball diamond. He never weighed any more than 135 pounds soaking wet
but he hit more balls for extra bases than any other Collingwood ball player we ever saw or knew.

He covered centre field like a blanket and ran the bases like a gazelle. As tough as leather, his active playing career lasted thirty-seven years and he spent two decades of the amazing career on Collingwood baseball, softball, hockey and lacrosse teams. He was the driving force on the great Collingwood baseball team of 1935, winners of the John Ross Robertson Trophy and the All- Ontario Intermediate baseball championship – the only Collingwood ball team to win a provincial intermediate title.

Born in the village of Proton in 1903, Huck moved to Alliston with his parents in 1908. He made the Alliston team at age fifteen and helped the club win three
league titles in 1924-25-26.During his career, he played in several hundred tournaments for various teams.

The Bank of Toronto moved him to Havelock in 1926 where he played baseball and hockey. Collingwood claimed him in 1927, but this town had no baseball club that year and Huck signed Creemore and later played with Thornbury for six years.

During his stay in Collingwood he helped organize the Senior Softball League where he managed and starred with the Bankers, five-times champions. He played
intermediate hockey for the Shipbuilders in the thirties and even took a crack at lacrosse, when that game made a brief comeback in the depths of the depression.

When intermediate baseball went into a decline in Collingwood in the late thirties, he played five years with Meaford and helped that town with the Ontario championship in 1939.

Huck left Collingwood in 1947 but he kept playing baseball and was with the Watford intermediate champs in 1947 and 1948. He was still playing at fifty-five and after his retirement, he wound up his diamond career by coaching his home town Alliston team to Ontario Midget title in 1957.

JOHN HILL

John Hill and his wife Marie and sons Jim and Gary, are lifetime residents of Collingwood.

John has participated in and organized many sports. He has also volunteered  and officiated for numerous sports and leagues.

The following is a list of his personal achievements:

1947……….Ontario Baseball Association Bantam Finalist

1947-48…….O.M.H.A. Bantam Group Champions

1953……….O.H.A. Jr. C Champions (beating Ingersoll 4-1 series)

1954……….Georgian Bay Sr. Boys Basketball Champs

1954-55…….Captain Jr. C Belairs- Won league over Midland Redwings 9-2.

1955-56…….Legion Sr. Town League Champs

Jan. 1956…..Received a letter for New York Giants to attend rookie camp in Melborne, Florida

1957……….Stayner Motormen O.B.A. Int. A Champions

1960……….Midland Indians O.B.A. Sr. A Champions-defeated Oakville

1964……….Orillia Majors O.B.A. Sr. A Champions

1968……….Tremont Hotel Blue Mtn. Fastball Champions

1969……….Orillia Majors. O.B.A. Sr. A Finalists

1972……….Orillia Majors O.B.A. Sr. A Finalists

1979……….O.A.S.A. Slo Pitch B Div. Champions, Canadian Mist

The playoffs provided John with the opportunity to lead his respective teams. As Captain of the Jr. C Belairs, John singlehandedly defeated Midland accounting for 5 goals/3 assists in final game.

On the ball diamond, it was during the 1960 O.B.A. Championship Series when John’s baseball talents were put on display as he played and excelled in three positions against Oakville – Pitcher, Left fielder and Catcher. Incredibly, John batted .419 throughout this playoff run.

He was a volunteer member of the Collingwood Recreation Board from 1967 to 1985 and served as its chairman for 6 years.  Working alongside Ron Ralph and Brian Sayer, John was  instrumental in organizing Slo Pitch in Collingwood.

-Pitch, Kinsmen Slo Pitch and Hockey Tournaments along with the Beaver Lumber Annual Oldtimers Hockey Tournament.

John was a long time member of the Collingwood Hall of Fame Selection Committee. His local sports history was often referenced by others and his stories always brought a smile. Until his untimely death in 2012, John was an active Director. The reprint of the 2012 Sports Hall of Fame book was the result of John’s passion to update the original 1978 publication.

He has coached minor hockey and baseball, and has also umpired in Fastball, Baseball and Slo Pitch.  He has refereed Little N.H.L., O.M.H.A. and O.H.A.

On January 1, 1988 the Order of Collingwood was bestowed on him, acknowledging his many years as a community volunteer.

JIM McALLISTER

A very talented athlete since 1958, JimMcAllister dominated area ball diamonds throughout his 20-year fastball career.

Recognized for his excellent control with his drop, rise and slow pitches, Jim was a catcher’s dream as he seldom refused a pitch signal and on the rare occasion the catcher could expect ‘heat’ on the following pitch. He knew what his job was when he stepped on the mound and made sure he did his best for himself and his team.

His reputation elevated him to local legend status with the community often referring to him as “Big Jim” or “Wendell”.

A great team player, Jim’s maintained his focus on the job he was asked to do on the mound with little concern of what was going on around him. He never showed frustration and just worked harder!

Although it was his pitching exploits that are often referenced, his batting abilities were characterized as heavy moon shots that often soared over the outfield
fences.  Throughout his career, he would close out his own game at the plate!

Upon review of his career, many of his personal statistics deserve recognition in League Ball comprising of 3 time – Most Valuable Player, 5 time –
Batting Title, 5 time – League Championships as he recorded 4 No-Hitters per season, 15 Strike outs per game while allowing only 3 hits per game.

Additional achievements included:

1963                  Pitched First No-Hitter in Collingwood Softball

1965-66           Blue Mountain Softball League Batting & Home Run Champion

1967                 Top Pitcher in Wins-Losses (210 Strike Outs)

1968               Blue Mountain Softball League Most Strike Outs

1969              Blue Mountain Softball League MVP

1970             New League Record of 300 Strikeouts in 20 games

Jim’s local Competitive Career:

Co-operators Insurance Fastball Team                               1958

Beaver Valley League Champions                                         1958

Collingwood Shipyard Fastball Team                                  1959

Browns Lumber Kings Fastball Team                                 1960-1965

Beaver Valley League Champions                                        1963 & 1965

Gurney’s Sports Fastball Team                                             1965-1966

Collingwood & District League Champions                       1966

Fisher Electric Fastball Team                                               1967

Elmvale Palace Hotel                                                             1967 – 1970

LOF Glass Fastball Team                                                      1968 – 1971

Blue Mountain League Champions                                   1970

Blue Mountain League All Star Team                              1970

Woods BA Senior Fast Ball Team Barrie                        1971-1972

George’s Furniture Senior Fastball Team – Angus       1972-1974

Clarkson Hotel Senior Fastball Team – Barrie              1976-1978

DEVERDE “SMOKEY” SMITH

There was no question about the Collingwood Athlete of the Year Award back in 1935. Deverde “Smokey” Smith won the honours hands down!

Deverde came from down eastern Ontario way with a infectious smile. Nobody paid him particular attention until he turned up at the Exhibition Park one day and he
wanted to try out for the junior baseball team.

Veteran baseball men like Huck Caesar, Dr. Bill Blakley, Father Hugh Ellard and Roy Burmister just couldn’t believe their eyes.

Here was a kid with magic in his left arm and only sixteen years old. His curve looked like the ball was coming at you from first base, the high hard one looked the size of an aspirin and his sinker dropped five feet from the point of delivery to the plate. That evening, this reporter hung the name “Smokey” on him and moniker stuck.

The kid became Collingwood’s skater that very day and baseball was back in Collingwood. I t was too late to build a title winning team that year but in 1935 Collingwood lured catcher Paddy Young away from Creemore as Smitty’s battery mate and the rest is sporting history.

In 1935, Smokey curve balled the Shipbuilders to the Ontario championship and in the process defeated Penetang’s, Phil Marchildon, who was destined to star in the American League with Conny Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics, seven out of nine times with two more games ending in ties.

He pitched a perfect game against Coniston in the Semi-final round and had two more no-hit no-run games in the regular Georgian Bay League schedule. His 1935 pitching record with 22 wins – 3 losses while striking out 310 batters. He went on to a professional career in the Canadian-American League and had the pleasure of beating Marchildon in the same league 2-1 in a game that went 12 innings.

Deverde did not seriously pursue a pro career and he hung up the glove after joining the Ontario Provincial Police.

STAN SWAIN

They called him “Possum” when he was a nipper and the moniker stuck  throughout his fine athletic career in the fields of hockey, football, baseball and hockey. Born in Collingwood, he was a son of the late Herb Swain, one of this town’s best baseball pitchers for over a twenty year span.

He first gained recognition as a plunging halfback on the Collingwood Collegiate
Junior Football team in 1929. That year the juniors played eight games going undefeated by lop sided scores.

In 1933 and 1934 he was a key player with the C.C.I. seniors, Central Ontario
Secondary School Senior Finalists.

His baseball career started in 1931 with Collingwood. Thornbury lured him away in
1932 but he was back in Collingwood in 1934. His baseball career reached its crescendo in 1935 when the Collingwood Shipbuilders won the Ontario Intermediate “A” championship. Stan was the team’s second baseman, the key man in the Shipbuilders famed double play combination.

In 1936, he went to Penetang but came back to play with Meaford in 1940 and
Collingwood in 1941.

He commenced his hockey career with the East End Fishermen in the old Collingwood Junior Hockey League and played five years with the Collingwood Juniors before going back to Penetang to play Intermediate in 1936. He finished off his hockey career with Kirkland Lake Bird Goldmine and Omega in 1937-38-39 in Senior O.H.A. Stan starred at basketball at the C.C.I. for 5 years. The 1933 senior team went to the Central Ontario Secondary School Senior basketball final.

PETE SWITZER

Born in Collingwood on November 14, 1930, Peter’s accomplishments in baseball and
hockey were quite impressive given his relative short career. A graduate of Victoria Public School and Collingwood  Collegiate, Peter and wife, Grace have two children Bill and Janet. A lifelong citizen of Collingwood, Peter’s untimely passing in 1973 at the early age of 43 continue through the athleticism of his son Bill and Bill’s daughter – Jodi.

Peter’s tutelage in the Collingwood Minor Hockey system returned great dividends for
the town. A member of the formidable Collingwood Greenshirts Junior C team he played a large role in 2 – OHA Championships in 1949-50 and 1950-51. In 1951-52,  he was a member of the Collingwood Shipbuilders – Intermediate A Ontario Champions. His provincial championships were not limited to hockey as Peter was a member of the All Ontario Baseball Association Midget B Champs – Collingwood Cubs.

Peter’s successful playing career is recognized by his induction as a member of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame on June 12, 1998 in the Players’ category.

LEN COOKE

A few years ago, the Ontario Hockey Association singled out the Collingwood Jr. ‘C’ Greenshirts as its Team of the Century for capturing four straight provincial titles in the early 1950s.

One of the leading scorers on that first championship team was Len Cooke, a skilled left-winger who was an all-around exceptional athlete during his elementary and high school days in Collingwood. In a span of five years, Cooke would play on four Ontario-champion hockey teams, beginning with the Brown’s Taxi juveniles in 1948-49, followed by the Greenshirts, followed by the Intermediate ‘A’ Shipbuilders during their celebrated run to glory. Then in 1952-53, an employment opportunity brought him to Simcoe, where Cooke helped the Gunners beat out Collingwood for the OHA crown. “What mattered most about those teams was that there were no individual stars and everyone did their part, right down to the executive,” Cooke said. “There are a lot of good memories and great people involved.” The native of Honora Bay, Ont., which is on the north shore of Manitoulin Island, also excelled in baseball and football in his youth.
He managed Beaver Lumber and Cashway Building Centres around the province until retiring four years ago. Cooke is a keen golfer with a five handicap who boasts club championship trophies from Blue Mountain, where he dueled often with fellow 2004 Hall of Fame inductee, Brian Jeffery, along with Port Dover and his current home course, Brantford Northridge. “I’ve lived in a lot of different places but I always consider Collingwood my hometown,” Cooke added. “Memories slip by but I’ll always remember what a great nucleus we had for those Jr. ‘C’ Greenshirt teams.”

This evening, October 23, 2004, the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame welcomes Len Cooke as an enshrined member for his Athletic achievements.

PAUL PURSIAINEN

Paul, nicknamed “Percy” was born in Rouyn, Quebec on March 29, 1930, living in Collingwood from 1945 to 1960. Alongside his wife, Isabel, they have three children Douglas, Constance and Patricia. Paul was a graduate of Collingwood Collegiate.

Paul favoured the warmer weather to excel in his sporting career. Throughout the greener months, his accomplishments were numerous on the baseball diamond and track & field pitch. As a member of the Collegiate Track & Field Team, Paul established a long list of school records including;
Senior Long Jump – 20’ 6”, Senior Pole Vault – 11’ 4 ½”.These records, alongside numerous invitational titles culminated in 1950 when Paul was the All Ontario (OFSAA) Senior Pole Vault Champion.

Upon the completion of the Track & Field season, Paul’s baseball career began to materialize from his early days in the Collingwood Shipyard Town League (Softball) in conjunction with his numerous Fastball teams. As a pitcher in both disciplines, Paul took home many team titles including: 1952 – Collingwood Shipyard League (Softball), 1953 & 54 – Coop Insurance League Champs (Softball), 1955 & 56 – Allenwood Georgian Bay Rural Champions and MVP (Fastball), 1957 & 58 – Minesing Barrie Senior League Champions (Fastball), 1960 & 61 – North Bay League Champs (Fastball), 1963 – Northern Ontario Intermediate A Champs and All Ontario Finalists (Fastball), 1978, 81 & 84 – Alliston Softball Champions. Paul’s fastball career featured a No Hitter, 1 – One Hitter, 13 Championships and 2 MVP awards.

Paul became a member of the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame on June 12, 1998 in the Players’ category

CHARLES FRYER

In Collingwood, Charlie Fryer was known as an all-round athlete, but he was best known in baseball and hockey.

The only position Charlie played on a baseball field was pitcher, and later in the fifties after pitching spectacularly with the Collingwood Chev-Olds baseball club, Charlie would continue to show his excellence by being invited to the spring training camp of the St. Thomasclub in the Inter-County baseball league, not making the club due to injuries.

As a hockey player, Charlie was no stranger to championships, having been a defenseman on six all-Ontario championship teams.

Charlie eventually worked his way up to be captain of the Collingwood Greenshirts that won three consecutive all-Ontario Junior “C” titles in 1952-53-54.

As well as playing for the Greenshirts, Charlie while still junior age, was called up to play on the intermediate Shipbuilders team.  Again, his play and leadership style helped win two more Ontario championships.

Charlie has been a referee of minor and recreational hockey for 30 years.  He is carded to referee CMHA finals, OMHA, the Central Ontario Hockey League and Western Ontario Hockey League.

When he finished playing hockey and baseball, Charlie returned to Collingwood where he was assessor for the town form 1960 -1987, leaving that position due to health reasons.  During that time, Charlie stayed involved in the Collingwood Minor Hockey Association coaching Midget and Juvenile teams.

JAMES “TUB” BARRETT

James “Tubby” Barrett was one of the slickest stick handlers in  Collingwood’s long hockey history and one of the games most potent scorers.

Small of stature but as tough as a pine knot, the “Tub” made monkeys out of
the opposing defensemen thirty years ago when the famed Collingwood Greenshirts
won four consecutive O.H.A. Junior “C” titles and the Intermediate
Shipbuilders won two back to back titles in 1951 and 1952.

In his hey day he worked on a super forward line with Allan Morrill and the late
Frankie Dance. The scoring records of this remarkable junior hockey trio will
probably stand forever.

One night I saw this line rack up 37 scoring points in a 20-3 win over Barrie. Barrett collected five goals and nine assists, Morrill had six goals and six assists and Dance
chalked up three goals and seven assists.

During the four-year reign of the Greenshirts in O.H.A. Junior “C” company,
Tub scored 174 goals, 139 assists for a total of 313 points in 113 games.

The line of Barrett-Morrill and Dance scored 444 goals during that four-year span.

At the same time, Barrett and Morrill, took part in the Intermediate “A” play-offs in 1952 and 1953, adding two more O.H.A. Medals to their collections. They played no small part in the winning of the two Intermediate titles for Eddie Bush. Tub Barrett and Allan Morrill picked up six O.H.A. championship medals in four years-the record still stands.

Barrett started his hockey career with the Collingwood Midgets in 1945 and was a member of the star studded Collingwood Clubs, winners of the Ontario Juvenile title in 1949. He tool a fling in the Scottish League in 1954 but came home before the end of the schedule and finished that season with Bracebridge. He played two more seasons with Collingwood before calling it a career. We have no way of
compiling an accurate record of Barrett’s goal scoring total over his brilliant ten year span, but a conservative estimate is four hundred goals.

His athletic prowess was not confined to hockey. Tub was a member of the
Collingwood Midget baseball team, Ontario Midget champions in 1947, under the
coaching of Brit Burns.

He was good enough to receive a pro tryout at a baseball camp in Toronto in 1949 as a catcher. From 1949 to 1952 he played baseball with Collingwood, Thornbury and Creemore and was a member of The Stayner O.A.B.A. Intermediate champions in 1957 and the Collingwood provincial finalists in 1958.

His shelf of silverware, with medals and trophies, representing provincial
championships, include: one juvenile, four junior and two intermediate hockey
medals, plus a junior and an intermediate medal for baseball at the provincial
level.