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Mardigan, Edward L. (2002)

Writer: Maine Baseball HOF
Maine Baseball HOF
Aug 12, 2019
2 min read

Mardigan, Edward L. (02)

Ed “Hooks” Mardigan gained that nom de diamond from the sharp benders he loosed from a variety of pitcher’s mounds on behalf of Deering High, Hew Hampton Prep and several semipro combines in the latter ‘40’s and well into the ‘50’s.

But the curve was only a part of the Mardigan equation.

Essential to the effect on batters was the Mardigan delivery, unique to say the least.

It was described as “quirky” by one writer. Another analogized “like shoveling the ball out of his shirt.” One way or another, the idiosyncratic launcher took its toll.

Mardigan capped a strong senior year at Deering – football guard and basketball forward as well – with selection to the All-Telegram Baseball team with a 5-1 record for the runner-up Rams.

Mardigan actually pitched the Purple into a Telly title tie with South Portland before the Red Riots edged the Rams in a playoff.

Two no-hitters were among the Mardigan Twilight League highlights. Ed shut down D.A. Fogg, 8-0, allowing 3 walks and striking out 11, in an 8-0 season opening win for Pallotta Oil’s eventual TWI champions. Hooks boosted his cushion with a home run.

Ed almost aped Johnny Van Der Meer with a one-hitter over Eastern Oil in his next start.

Next season, Mardigan was personally perfect for his seven-inning stint with Portland Copper in a 9-0 victory over Bar Mills. Ed didn’t walk a batter as errors accounted for the three base runners.

The Mardigan resume also includes a trophy as New Hampton Prep’s top athlete for the 1949-50 school year as a three-sport star.

Mardigan, flinging for Ames Furniture, shared the TWI victory pinnacle with Fogg’s Tony Hopkins at 9-2 in 1950.

Like many National Pastime veterans, Mardigan eventually turned to softball where he played third base and helped the Century Tire Club to City of Portland and state fast-pitch titles.








Edward Lawrence Mardigan "Hall of Famer" Edward L. Mardigan of Portland died peacefully after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease on Tuesday, Nov 5, 2013 at the Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough. Edward was born on May 5th, 1931, the son of Armenian Immigrants, Lucy Amergian Mardigan and Sooren Mardigan in Detroit Michigan. Raised in Portland, Me. Edward went to Deering High School and was an " All Letter All Sport Athlete" excelling in baseball as a pitcher, basketball and football. After high school, he went on to New Hampton Prep. School and attended Bates College where he was a star athlete at both schools.


Tom Legere from FL wrote on Nov. 16, 2013:

"My family grew up across the street from the Mardigan family. Ed "Mr. Mardigan" often played catch with us, coached us in baseball mechanics, and would throw some wicked curve balls and sinkers (not even his best stuff). He always had something new going on and had an interesting story to go with it. "

 
 
 

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Meet the 2026 Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
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Portland Press Herald 4/10/2026
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/10/meet-the-2026-maine-baseball-hall-of-fame-inductees/?copylink=true

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Former St. Dominic and current Gray-New Gloucester coach Bob Blackman and Cony coach Don Plourde are among the 11 members of the newest class. Four coaches currently preparing for the upcoming high school baseball season are among the 11 inductees in the 2026 Maine Baseball Hall of Fame class.

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Gray-New Gloucester’s Bob Blackman, Brewer’s Dana Corey, Hampden Academy’s Jon Perry and Cony’s Don Plourde are all part of the class that will be inducted on Oct. 4 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. Blackman coached St. Dominic High School to nine state championships in 22 seasons before the school closed at the end of the last school year. He was named the coach at Gray-New Gloucester in September. Corey hit .359 at the University of Maine in 1971. He played two seasons in the Chicago Cubs system and has been the head coach at Brewer for 18 seasons.

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Perry hit .381 at the University of Maine in 1981 and helped the Black Bears reach the College World Series. He has coached for the past 45 seasons at the high school, American Legion and collegiate levels. 

Plourde is in his 17th season as the coach at Cony High School and has been named the KVAC Coach of the Year five times. He has been coaching at various levels for more than 30 years. 

Others earning induction are: 

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• Al Cloutier, who has been involved in baseball in Augusta as a player, Cony High and American Legion coach, Babe Ruth League director and volunteer. 

• John Kolasinski, who was a college coach at for 37 years, first at Husson and later at Siena Heights University in Michigan. He is a five-time New England Coach of the Year winner.

• Mark Littlefield, a Portland High graduate, who is now in his 36th season working on the medical staff of the New York Yankees organization. 

• Scott Littlefield, a Portland High graduate, who will be inducted posthumously. Littlefield coached at Florida State University and the University of Southern Maine before working for 34 years as a Major League Baseball scout, including 16 as a player personnel special assistant for the Texas Rangers.

• J. Ronald Livington, who will be inducted posthumously. Livingston was an All-Star infielder for the semi-pro Presque Isle Indians in the Northern Aroostook League in the 1930 and 1940s. He also coached and was a director in the South Portland National Little League.

• Mike McCullum, of Portland, who hit .338 at the University of Southern Maine and earned ABCA Division III All-American honors in 1999. 

• Jim Taylor of Lewiston, who was a founding member of the Central Maine Board of Approved Baseball Umpires and was instrumental in starting the Maine chapter of the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Association.

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Maine Baseball Hall of Fame day  Delta Dental Park aka Hadlock Field 7/19/2026
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