CHARLES F. (CHARLIE) TURNER Big Charlie Turner will always be remembered as a very colorful semi-pro manager and an ardent supporter of countless youth programs.
A legendary baseball figure for 50 years, Charlie was labeled by sportswriter, Dick Doyle, “one of the most successful baseball coaches or managers the state has seen.”
Charlie got his introduction to the diamond as a good, versatile player at Yarmouth High, North Yarmouth Academy and semi-pro nines of the World War era.
But it was his direction of summer programs of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s that earned him a niche in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame and the label, “Mr. Baseball.”
in 1957, his Falmouth Lions won the State Pony League championship - a program for 13 & 14 year-olds that is now defunct in Maine.
in the 1940s & ‘50s, Turner’s Yarmouth Townies relied almost exclusively on homegrown talent, but in the ‘60s, Charlie attracted many stellar performers from all points of Western Maine. So many stars that at least 20 of “Charlie’s guys” are already members of the Hall of Fame.
The Yarmouth Townies won seven Portland Twilight League titles, including six straight from 1961 to 1966. This Yarmouth dynasty was finally ended by the rise of the Ametek team from South Portland.
In 1957, 1963 & 1972, the Townies captured Maine Amateur championships. Also in 1963, Yarmouth won the Carl Willey Semi-Pro Invitational Tournament when star pitcher, Capt. Johnny Thoits, went the distance to defeat host Lamoine, 9-4.
Charlie is fondly recalled by his former players.
Dick Hill says, “He had a heart of gold and baseball was his love.” Pat Feury, for many years Charley's playing-captain, gave him a ringing endorsement for HoF induction.
Charlie also devoted nearly 50 years to railroading, and for a number of years was a popular agent-operator at the Village Green Station of Yarmouth.
Mr. Turner passed away in 1977.
