Cardinals back in nest, 50 years after big win

Cardinals back in nest, 50 years after big win

Columns

By: Jim Thomas

A fraternity is often described as a union or an alliance.

In a day of political correctness, a sorority is accorded equal respect.

However, when it comes to bonding, be it male or female, nothing attains the level of group permanency as those associated with sports.

And, in Stouffville, nothing could possibly symbolize a quality of togetherness like the Cardinal baseball club.

This was displayed in 1958 when the team, managed by Murray Stewart and Ike Hodgson, won the all-Ontario Jr.  C championship.

It was repeated in 1988 and 2003 when management and players gathered for a reunion.

And it occurred again Saturday when the boys with golden gloves, now men with grateful hearts, gathered for maybe one last time to relive a memory.

“It’s really amazing,” said Bob Stover, “that, after 50 years, an entire team can come together like this. It says something for the kind of organization it was.”

Amazing, but true. Like Lynn Taylor and wife Gayle from Calgary, Alberta; Lawrence Wideman and wife Barbara from Kingston; Murray Holden and wife Doreen from Peterborough;  Harry Barber and wife Pat from Elora; and Carl Arnold and wife Anna from Orillia..

Plus others closer to home including: John Little and wife Joan of Scarborough; Eric Barber and wife Judy of Port Perry; Murray Stewart and wife Tiny of Lincolnville; Don Haynes of Brampton; Bob Stover and wife Nancy; Gord Eckardt and wife Fran; Ted Suzuki and wife Chris; Ross Madill, Glenn Jackson and John Lehman all of Stouffville.

The reunion, organized by Bob Stover, Gord Eckardt, Murray Stewart and John Little, was held at the Stouffville Lawn Bowling Club.

A half-century of reminiscences were shared during a buffet dinner served by players’ wives. Like a play described by catcher Don Haynes.

“Murray (Holden) threw me an outside pitch just as a baserunner was breaking from first. I caught the ball in my bare right hand and fired it to second.  After the out, Murray motioned for me to come to the mound. You made me look bad,” Don recalled Murray saying, “that was my fastball.”

There were loads of other laughs, too, as management and players remembered the fun times of 50 years ago, amusing moments that, for most, seemed like only yesterday.

And sobering thoughts as well, all associated with Harold ‘Ike’ Hodgson, the lone missing member from the roster.

“We really worked well together,” co-manager Murray Stewart said. “Ike took all the calls because, back then, I didn’t have a phone.”

Don Haynes, the team’s leader, recalled the cohesive attributes that identified the Cardinal club both on and off the field: Harry Barber’s blazing fastball; Gord Eckardt’s powerful bat; Ross Madill’s accurate throws; Ted Suzuki’s basepath speed; Lynn Taylor’s pivotal turns; John Little’s  flawless glove and Bob Stover’s steadying influence.

An afternoon highlight was a player presentation of ash and maple walking sticks, hand-hewn by Murray Stewart. An engraved plaque was imbedded in each with the words Stouffville Baseball Champions 1958 – 2008 Reunion.

I, The Tribune’s sports scribe at the time, received a beautiful commemorative, including an attached framed photo of the club.

So what’s happened during 50 fleeting years? Family wise, all proudly have something to show.

Murray and Tiny Stewart have three sons, Terry, Michael and Craig and four grandchildren; Harold and Marion Hodgson have two daughters, Christine and Patti and four grandchildren; Lynn and Gayle Taylor have two sons, Dale and Randy and five grandchildren. Harry and Pat Barber have two sons, Tim and Kyle; three daughters, Leslie, Sue and Sarah and 10 grandchildren; John and Joan Little have two daughters, Tanis and Tara and four grandchildren; Lawrence and Barbara Wideman have a daughter Leslie; a son Steven and two grandchildren; Murray and Doreen Holden have three sons, Wayne, Jon and Keith and six grandchildren; Don Haynes has two sons, Scott and Matthew; two daughters, Tammy and Heather and six grandchildren; Gord and Fran Eckardt have a daughter Lori; a son Bill and two grandchildren; Ted and Chris Suzuki have two daughters, Jordan and Alexis; Eric and Judy Barber have a son, Ken; a daughter Sue and three grandchildren; Ross and Joyce Madill have two sons, George and Wayne and one daughter, Gayle; Glenn  Jackson has a son Glenn and a daughter Christine.

The Cardinal family tree has grown considerable over five decades.       

Jim Thomas is a Stouffville resident who has written for area newspapers for more than 50 years.

All content contained in this or any other yorkregion.com website including but not limited to textual, audio, video and any graphics are copyright 2000-2008 Metroland Media Group Ltd. and can not be used in any part without expressed written permission, with the exception of content in the yorkregion.com Pen & Pixel section, which requires the written consent of the authors.