Dick Cormier brings to the Hall of Fame a glittering record of consistent slugging through high school, college and semi-pro ranks.
Undoubtedly, he ranks as one of Eastern Maine's outstanding power-hitting outfielders.
it Was a rare season when Cormier was not atop the home run derby.
The slugging saga began at Fort Fairfield H.S. where Dick was a 4-year letterman, 1946-1949. He was the Aroostook League's homer leader in 1948 and 1949, and in the letter season he hit over .500. One of his home runs was recorded as 422 feet.
At Fort Fairfield, Cormier was also a pitcher who helped his club to an Eastern Maine runner-up finish in ‘49.
After a summer with the fast Augusta Millionaires semi-pro outfit, Dick attended Houltons Ricker College, 1950-53. Here he teamed with Portland’s fire-bailing lefty, Dave Redmond (HoF '82). Redmond is Cormier's big booster, still recalling with awe some of his Herculean clouts.
At Ricker, Cormier led the club in homers in all four seasons and in batting average, three years.
During the summers, Dick cavorted the outfield for fast Maine and Canadian semi-pro teams: Houlton Collegians, Halifax, N.S. Capitals and Presque Isle Indians.
in 1950, he shared the lead in homers for the Maine - New Brunswick League. Gene Hunter, best known for his basketball coaching but himself a fine baseball player, labels Cormier a graceful fielder who could throw, and a fine hitter - “a definite prospect" and “one of the pest”.
The first of two professional offers beckoned in 1951, when "Doc" Gautreau of the Boston Braves tendered a $3,000 bonus.
But signing would necessitate leaving college and making Dick liable to the draft.
He “turned the contract down, although, during later years, I sometimes wish I had accepted .
After a 3-year stint with the U.S. Army, where he led his Fort Benning team in homers and batting average, Cormier got his second pro opportunity.
The Pittsburg Pirates offered the 25-year old a minor league opportunity, but again he declined.
From 1955 to 1961, he was a player-coach with New Brunswick nines while beginning a long career in education.
He taught at Oakfield H.S. before moving to Van Buren H.S. in 1959. At Van Buren, he served as assistant-principal and A.D. from 1969-73 and as principal until 1986.
"Dick" Cormier, 82, of Ocala, Fla., passed Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, at Munroe Regional Hospital after a brief illness. He was born March 3, 1930, in Fort Fairfield, son of the late Jack and Anna Cormier. Dick was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Della Cyr Cormier of Van Buren .
