At virtually any baseball game, at any level, it is almost certain that a few scattered boos and threadbare barbs will greet the appearance of the umpires.
That's not true in the case of Ray Stevens whose many years of service have earned respect, admiration and much-deserved induction into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.
We were quite happy to see Ray appear at the park," said Jerry Davis of Falmouth. As a coach and director of Falmouth Little League, Davis is thoroughly acquainted with Stevens and the quality of his work.
Although Davis is most familiar with Stevens for his several leadership roles in Falmouth, he recognizes the eclectic nature of his contributions.
I am happy to recommend Ray Stevens to the Board for consideration for induction into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame," said Davis, "even though knowing he started his umpiring career in the South Portland National Little League, which always gave me fits as a coach, because we could seldom beat them."
For nearly 20 years, Stevens was active in District 6 as Assistant District Administrator and later as District Administrator, succeeding Bill Melaugh.
Stevens duties included helping Greater Portland communities establish new Little League franchises. He also conducted seminars and clinics for administrators, coaches and umpires. During his term, District 6 grew from seven to 1/ leagues.
“Kay was one of the most dependable and conscientious contributors to Little League at local, state and national levels," said Melaugh. ‘I could go on and on telling you of his many helpful deeds.”
Stevens has been active in Maine baseball beginning in 1953 as Melaugh's assistant. In 1965, he was the third recipient of the Ellsworth W. Millett Award presented Maine's outstanding volunteer Little League umpire.
During the National Little League championships that year at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, Stevens worked behind the plate in the final game.
Ray was one of six umpires selected nationally.
it wasn’t just his presence calling balls and strikes or working the bases that symbolized Stevens’ status. He helped to organize and lead the Little League enterprise, an avocation that required many hours.
Stevens had high personal standards and colleagues discovered that he set the bar equally high for them.
He is remembered with great admiration in South Portland where he began his affiliation with Little League.
I have known Ray since 1953 when he began umpiring Little League games in the South Portland National! Little League," said Reg Hall (MBBHOF 1999). He became a major contributor to the league's success as umpire-in-chief." in addition to Little League, Stevens became a Western Maine Board approved umpire, serving local schools, Twilight League, Telegram League and American Legion from 1967 through 1981.
His leadership abilities and love of the game were obvious to all who associated with him," said Hall. Ray conducted himself in a very professional manner and was extremely well liked by the athletes, fellow umpires, coaches and league administrators."