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Ed “Bucka’’ Beaumier Bucka Beaumier set his course toward professional baseball when he was named to the AlI-Tele League team while only a freshman at Westbrook High School in 1940. The following spring, the left hander accepted a contract with the Boston Braves and was assigned to the Bradford, Penn., Pony League, where he was coached by Winthrop's Del Bissonnette. World War II interrupted Beaumlers career and nearly ended it, when he was wounded in his pitching arm. He recovered, he pitched for the Third Marine Division under Pee Wee Reese and posted an 18-2 record with 11 strikeouts per game. After discharge, Beaumier was 16-10 with Landis of the North Carolina State League, leading the league with 228 strikeouts. With Rome, N.Y.. of Can-Am League, he was 10-9 in helping the Colonels to the pennant. He split the 1949 season between Lynn, Mass., of the New England League and Liverpool of the Nova scotia League, finishing 10-4 Beaumier returned to play for the Portland Pilots under Fred Harlow. He is retired from the S.D. Warren Co.

Respected and admired as much for his high, severely tested personal qualities as for the extraordinary scope and prime caliber of his sports and community service, Jim Beaudry spread his sound baseball message in the high school and collegiate ranks literally from one end of Maine to the other, and beyond, in his 38-year career in education. The all-seasons stand-out at Cheverus High School, Class of 1941, in time was head or assistant coach in seven sports -- baseball, boys and girls basketball, football, soccer and cross-country. Baseball beneficiaries of the patented Beaudry acumen and positive outlook included Danforth High School and Ricker Classical Institute and College in Aroostook County; Wells and Oxford Hills High Schools and the University of New England in Western Maine. Product of the fabled Portland Boys Club sports foundry 1n the pre-World War II era, Jim was a radio and communications specialist in the U.S. Army's 109th Anti-Aircraft Battalion that registered the second highest toll of German planes in the great conflict. Educated at the University of Maine-Orono via the GI Bill. Beaudry ultimately put his considerable seasoning in war and peacetime to good use, in civic affairs as well as athletic. That breadth of experience made Jim the ideal athletic director, to go .with his coaching, at the University of New England where he taught several courses as an associate professor. And his readiness to share the fruits of that background has earned Beaudry a bevy of recognition and awards. These include: Charter member and Executive Committee member of the Maine High School Coaches Association Executive Committee, Vice Chairman, District Five, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NGAA). National Association of Basketball Coaches 1980 merit award. Biddeford Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Board of Directors, Diocesan Camping Board, Diocese of Portland. (Commissioner of the Biddeford Wastewater Commission. In sum, Jim Beaudry, exemplary follower as well as leader at many stops along an epic sports Journey -- with baseball never far from a great heart.

PHILIP (TONY) BEGOS Top-shelf leadoff hitters are about as hard to discover as uranium, so when one comes along as good as Tony Begos— former star shortstop and captain of the classy Worumbo Indians—admiration is warranted. A native of Compton, R.I|., Begos, was a master of the hit and run. Nicknamed the “Rhode Island Flash,’ he was all-state as a shortstop (he also played a steady second base) for West Warwick High. That prompted the Providence Bulletin, which picked the all-state squad, to describe Begos as “‘a clever infielder with the ability to go as far to his right as to his left, possessive of a strong throwing arm and a fine batting eye. There wasn’t a better shortstop in the state.” After high school, the 155-pound Begos starred at Providence College, then later in the Providence Amateur League. He also played in the Cape Cod League, The Eastern Professional League and finally with Lowell of the New England League. His stellar play at each road stop was enough to get him selected to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame this year, his seasons with the semi-pro Worumbo Indians among his finest. An avid horticulturist, sunflowers were his specialty. Philip Anthony Begos was a quick thinker on the field, fast with a swarm of stolen bases, and a real competitor, which is why he was captain of the ‘Indians from the moment he stepped onto the diamond. In tight spots, the infallible Begos also used two slogans to stay loose. If he was up at bat with a chance to win the game, he would tell himself “‘c’mon, Joe, be tough.” lf the present Lisbon Falls resident was in the field with the game on the line, a time when many fielders with the ball would go to anyone but them, he would Keep repeating “stay loose.” These pep talks in the heat of battle somehow worked.

Bob Bencks’ contributions to Maine baseball have been largely concentrated at its roots where young boys and girls learn the fundamentals and traditions of the great American pastime, Little League Baseball. Bob has been a coach, administrator, organizer, promoter and fan of Little League in Maine since 1949. His patience and understanding of baseballs fundamentals have started many young players on a love affair with the game. His perseverance and positive attitude have benefited the teams he has managed and the programs he has been associated with. Bob’s teams in the Cape Elizabeth Little League were always well coached in the fundamentals of baseball. His teams won many league championships during the 1960’s and 70's. A highlight in his coaching career came when his 1965 Cape Elizabeth Ail-Star team captured the Maine State championship; other All-star teams won District championships in 1966 and 69 and were State runner-ups in 1968. In 1976 Bob received the Kenneth C.M. Sills Award as Maine’s outstanding Little League manager. Bob has also promoted Little League baseball off the field In numerous organizational capacities including league president and Little League District Director. Bob’s efforts helped more children play baseball in Maine by the introduction of the T-ball program and the Big League program of Little League baseball. Bob’s love of the game has kept him involved in other aspects of baseball as well. For many years he assisted baseball journalist, Leo Cloutier, in promoting the Annual Baseball Dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire. Bob is an active member of the Society of Baseball Research and frequently attends the All-star game and World Series. In 1995 he was Press Host at Oriole Park in Camden Yards for Cal Ripken’s 2131st consecutive game. Bob’s dedication to youth baseball and his love of the game make him a welcome addition to the MBHOF. Whether he is watching a sandlot game at a Little League field, studying the prospects for the Portland Sea Dogs from his box seats or attending an All-Star game “Baseball Bob” is an extraordinary ambassador for Maine baseball. The license plate on Bob’s car says It all. It is BSEBAL.

Charley Bennett is one of Portland High School’s greatest all-time athletes. His exceptional accomplishments earned him state-wide recognition and honors not only in baseball, but also in football, basketball and tennis. Legendary P.H.S. coach Jimmy Sibson emphasizes his “outstanding character, versatility and leadership qualities”. At Portland High School, Charley was the spark-plug of Bulldog baseball for three seasons as the team’s shortstop. During his years at P.H.S., the Bulldogs captured one Telegram League title and were runners-up in another season. His baseball prowess earned him an invitation during his junior year to Fenway Park for a Red Sox tryout. After accepting an all sports athletic scholarship to Boston College, Charley started at halfback for the B.C. Eagles as a freshmen in the fall of 1945. However, his college career was interrupted by a three year stint in the United States Navy, where he did play three years of high level service baseball. Upon his return to college, Charley transferred to Bowdoin College. He originally played football (All State), basketball and baseball, but academics and injuries eventually curtailed his Polar Bear baseball career. During the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, Charley also played semi-pro baseball in the Portland Twilight League. He played on two championship teams, the Emerald A.C. and the Haskell Aces, along with several other MBHoF members - Andy Lano, Carlo Tucci, Sonny Noel, Willie Greenlaw, Frank Nappi, etc. in 1955, Charley began a 37 year career in education, from Biddeford High School to Portland’s Jack Junior High to the Kennebunk Middle School. he coached at all three schools, including football, basketball, tennis, swimming and baseball (18 years). Charley officiated a combined total of sixty seasons of football, soccer, basketball and baseball. in addition, for thirty years he ran recreation programs in Portland and Kennebunk. Charley and Marie, his wife of 45 years, now reside in Kennebunk. They raised nine children - Charles Ill, Jonathan, Stephen, Peter, Michael, Paul, Mary, Victoria and Sara - and currently have eight grandchildren.

When asked to talk about Kevin Bernier as a candidate for the Maine Baseball Hall Of Fame, his former coach at Oxford Hills High School and an accomplished man of letters, Hank Burns, probably summed up what those who know and played with Kevin would say. His response was, “Ah, Kevin Bernier!”, as if remembering a rare jewel. Kevin certainly sparkled from many facets on the baseball diamond though you will never hear it from him. Kevin’s baseball roots go back to the 1950’s and 1960’s when a quick look at The Lewiston Daily Sun would reveal no less than six amateur baseball leagues flourishing in the Lewiston/Auburn area. In fact, if you check a box score from the West Minot teams of that era, you will find a Bernier patrolling the outfield. That would be his dad. The West Minot / Hebron area had many accomplished role models for a young man to learn from. In addition to Kevin’s father and grandfather, he was around some great baseball men -The Gammon brothers, a Clough or two, and the Trundys. One of those Trundys, his uncle Jeff, will be going into the Hall today with him, and that is appropriate. Their baseball lives have always been intertwined. His uncle recalls, "I vividly remember pitching to Kevin for hour after hour in a little makeshift ball yard that was constructed in the field next to my parents' home. Even from the start, he loved to play, and he loved to hit." Coach Trundy goes on to say, "Even in those early years it was apparent that Kevin was a throwback of sorts, because he would constantly want to play and hit, and not just wait for an organized game." When you talk to those who played with him, they will all talk about Kevin’s work ethic, his leading by example. And his penchant for playing the game the right way." There is not much doubt that Kevin sunk his baseball roots in very fertile ground. From the dusty fields of West Minot, it was on to Oxford Hills High School. It was there Kevin met the aforementioned Coach Burns. His former coach describes Kevin as being, “a bit too small with a swing that every coach remarked on. ‘sweet’, they said.” Coach Burns also recognized Kevin’s strong baseball roots and his understanding of the game. His uncle, a long time coach at Cony High School, got a chance to see Kevin’s skills from the other side of the diamond as did Mike Coutts as he competed against Kevin both on the high school level and in American Legion ball. Later they would be teammates on some of the most storied UMaine teams. Then it was on to the University of Maine. Though Coach Winkin did not recruit him heavily, Kevin journeyed to Orono to pursue degrees in Wildlife Biology and mathematics with the idea those degrees would allow him to follow two of his other passions, hunting and fishing. Coach Winkin certainly had an eye for potential, and the ability to develop it. He spent his freshman season toiling on the jayvee team. After a summer playing for the Auburn Asas in the Twilight League, however things took a very sharp turn upward. You could say that playing for his uncle that summer Kevin really blossomed. Though he did not make the spring trip with the Black Bears, Kevin suddenly got the call to swing the bat, and swing he did. After a surprise call to hit in the second game of a doubleheader with Vermont, he was off to the races, playing a major role throughout Maine’s playoff run that year by hitting .438. In a 1980 article from The Bangor Daily News received heavy praise from Ed Pickett who called him "A pinch hitter supreme", from Pete Adams who said that Kevin was, “the best clutch player we've got” and from former opponent Coutts who simply called him, “Unbelievable”. Coach Winkin observed, “Kevin has a good, quick stroke. All he needs is experience. He runs well and is a pretty good fielder.” Coach Winkin would provide that experience. The Bears were off on what stands as one of the most remarkable runs in Maine baseball history. The next year he shared first base with Jon Perry. After that, he laid claim to it. 1982 saw Kevin hit .347. He also became one of five players ever to be named to the College World Series All Tournament Team. In 1983 his teammates recognized his quiet leadership and his position as a role model by naming him captain. Kevin is quick to cite the powerful influence Coach Winkin was on his career and his knowledge of the game. However, Coach Winkin was not the only one who had an appreciation for Kevin’s talents, so did his teammates. In the words of Mike Coutts, “Above all, Kevin was a great teammate. You could always count on him to do his very best - day in and day out. He was passionate about playing, and always played not to let his teammates down. The desire to be a great teammate was a driving force for all of those CWS teams.” Kevin not only left Orono with a goodly number of personal records, he also left with the respect of his coaches and teammates. Kevin has continued to give to the game of baseball. He has been very active in the Lincoln Little League, leading two teams to regional titles and into the state tournament. While his son Lance was a player at Mattanawcook Academy, Kevin was a volunteer coach sandwiching work around baseball and daughter Megan’s tennis matches. In the fall after the 1982 CWS, Kevin returned to West Minot to speak to a group of young players from the West Minot Athletic Association. When he finished his talk, he was most likely surprised, and probably a little uncomfortable if yon know Kevin, when one of the organization’s leaders produced an essay entitled “Why I Like To Play Baseball” written by Kevin in 1974. In part he wrote, “Baseball is a game of skill, speed, strength and much more, but to me, the friends you make, the things you learn, and the places you go are the most important.” Leave it to a great hitter to meet it right on the screws. “Ah! Kevin Bernier.”

Berry, from Portland’s East Deering section, was a standout pitcher for Grand Trunk Railroad and the Oxfords from the early 1900’s up to World War I.

“Baseball has played a huge part in my life. But, if it weren’t for the people who took the time and effort to guide me during my baseball career, on and off the field, this induction would probably not have happened. It is with the utmost sincerity that I thank everyone, including the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame Committee, for bestowing this incredible honor on me.” - Gerry Berthiaume Gerry was an all-around athlete, had great talent and truly loved to play the game.  He had fun and made it fun for others as well; he was a pleasure to have as a teammate and friend. - Al BEAN Gerry Berthiaume was born on September 9, 1955 and raised in Biddeford, Maine. He began his baseball career watching his Dad coach his older brother Paul. After each game Gerry could be found running the bases. At a young age he was a student of the game. Gerry attended St. Louis High School, but the school closed in the spring of 1970. Gerry then attended and graduated from Biddeford High School in 1973. He played three years of Varsity Baseball under legendary baseball coach Art Descoteaux and his assistant Jim Maguire at BHS and was named co-captain his senior year. Although he played well as an outfielder, pitcher and first baseman, he never achieved All-State status. However, his one big moment came in the spring of 1973 when he pitched the Tigers to a 6-4 victory over the soon to be Telegram League champion powerhouse Deering HS Rams of Portland. He struck out Garry Smith in the top of the ninth inning with two on and one out with the score 6-4. Smith was a highly sought after high school baseball player (who went on to play in the New York Yankees minor league system) and there were a number of Major League scouts in attendance to watch him play. Gerry then proceeded to induce the next batter to hit a ground ball back to the mound and Gerry flipped the ball to the first baseman in what was to be his finest victory as a pitcher. NOTE: Games back then were 9 innings long and Gerry went the distance in this game. After graduation Gerry drove to the Gorham campus of the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham to visit the baseball coach, Joey Bouchard. It was an unplanned visit as Gerry was trying to find a way to play baseball at the next level…college. Coach Bouchard was in his office and was somewhat surprised by Gerry’s visit. Gerry asked him if there was a chance for him to play baseball at UMPG. Bouchard’s response was “Are you that lefty from Biddeford?” When Gerry replied yes, Bouchard said “Welcome aboard”!! His first year playing college baseball was a disaster. Gerry hit .239 for a team that went 5-13. But something happened in the summer of 1974 that would change Gerry’s outlook on the game. He attended a Cincinnati Reds tryout camp in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and the regional scout, Porter Blinn, who conducted the camp, took a liking to Gerry immediately. Gerry was the talk of the camp and was told by Blinn that he would be watching Gerry’s college baseball career and told him that if he worked hard things would begin to change. And change they did. Berthiaume worked tirelessly every day following the tryout camp; hitting, running, throwing and getting himself in shape for the upcoming spring 1975 UMPG baseball season. When all was said and done Berthiaume hit .362, had 2 home runs and 25 RBI’s for a team that barely missed the Regional Playoffs. He was named the MVP of the team and was also named All NAIA District 5 Outfielder. The hard work had paid off. He received a call from Porter Blinn following his stellar season and was signed as a free agent by the Reds and reported to the Class A Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League in Billings, Montana. One of his teammates was Larry Rothschild, the current pitching coach of the NY Yankees. Unfortunately Gerry suffered two injuries that summer while playing, which cut his playing time short but he still managed to hit .293 for the season. He got off to an unbelievable start in Spring Training in 1976 going 4-4 in his first two games of the spring and was looking forward to heading to Tampa, Florida for his assignment. However, on April 7, 1976 Gerry was released by the Reds, the final day of Spring Training. After his return to Biddeford, Gerry was named the junior varsity baseball coach at Biddeford High School and coached under the direction of Art Descoteaux and Jim Maguire in the spring of 1978. After one of his junior varsity baseball games, Dr. Neil Serpico, the head baseball coach at Division 1 West Chester University of Pennsylvania approached Gerry with an offer he could not refuse; go back to college and attend West Chester University and join Dr. Serpico and his coaching staff on the baseball team. Gerry enrolled in the fall of 1978 at West Chester where he received his BS in Health and Physical Education in 1981 and received a “baseball education” from Dr. Serpico. Upon graduating in December of 1981, Gerry took the Amtrak train from Philadelphia, PA to Hollywood, Florida where the annual “Baseball Winter Meetings” were taking place. There Berthiaume met Joe Buzas who owned Minor League teams in Reading, PA, North Carolina and Bristol, CT. Gerry met with the GM from the Bristol Red Sox club and was asked to join the team in the winter of 1982 as the team’s Business Manager. He was officially back in professional baseball. The team moved to New Britain, CT in 1983, won an Eastern League Championship that year with pitcher Roger Clemens winning the deciding game on September 10, 1983. Gerry was then named General Manager of the team in January 1984 a position he would hold for the next 15 years with the New Britain Red Sox and New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern league. The team would change affiliation in 1994 from the Red Sox to the Minnesota Twins and then moved from Beehive Field to a new $15 million dollar New Britain Stadium in 1995. In August of 1997, the parent club Minnesota Twins played an exhibition game against the Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium to a packed house, arguably the most defining moment in Gerry’s GM career. The team was sold after the 1999 season. Gerry turned down an opportunity to become the General Manager of the Salt Lake Buzz in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Triple A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins to pursue other business opportunities. In his years with the Sox and Twins Gerry was able to see a number of players go on to play in the Major Leagues. Namely; Roger Clemens, Steve Lyons, Mo Vaughn, John Valentin, Jeff Plympton, Ellis Burks, Jeff Bagwell, Torii Hunter and David Ortiz. His managers included; Butch Hobson, Gary Allenson and John Russell. One of the more famous visiting managers included Buck Showalter. Gerry is a Lifetime Member of the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America. He was inducted into the University of Southern Maine Hall of Fame in 1993. His glove and bat that he used in Billings, Montana are on display in the HOF room. On another baseball note, Gerry played a major role in donating a catcher’s mitt that was found in Belgium in 1944 by an American GI who found the glove during WWII. That catcher’s mitt is now a part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame WWII American baseball collection as Gerry and the GI’s son, Ted Pisk personally handed over the catcher’s mitt in a ceremony in Cooperstown, NY in November 2009. (There’s way more to this story). Active in community service, Gerry was named the 1998 “Rotarian of the Year” by the New Britain-Berlin Rotary club. Gerry served as President of the club during the 2003-2004 year and was also named a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honor for a Rotary member. A member of the New Britain-Berlin Rotary club since 1991, he founded the club’s annual golf tournament and still serves as its’ treasurer. University of Southern Maine Athletic Director, Al Bean remembers playing with Gerry Berthiaume; “I was fortunate to play with Gerry Berthiaume for two years at USM as we were beginning to build the baseball program under Dusty Drew in the 1970s.  Gerry was a very good athlete and had outstanding baseball skills.  He was a line drive hitter with a very quick bat, had excellent speed on the bases and in the outfield and was exceptional defensively.  Gerry also possessed one of the strongest and most accurate throwing arms I have seen, even to this day.  He also took the mound whenever needed and was a tough southpaw with very good stuff.  Gerry was an all-around athlete, had great talent and truly loved to play the game.  He had fun and made it fun for others as well; he was a pleasure to have as a teammate and friend.  In addition, it was very exciting when his son, Jordan, came to USM and was a catcher for the Huskies a few years ago.  I’m very pleased that Gerry is being inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame; he is certainly most deserving of this honor.” Gerry is married to Jenny (Mathieu) (33 years) and they have two sons; Joe, who resides in Portland, Maine and Jordan who recently moved back to work in Connecticut.

Edmund Brand Beyer was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1946. His mother Audrey (White) and his father Walter were from South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, respectively. His father was a teacher at Milton Academy in Massachusetts when he was born and Ned (nickname) spent summers in Cape Elizabeth as he was growing up. Ned loved baseball from an early age and spent hours playing with friends in his grandmother’s apple orchard which was used by many of the kids as a neighborhood ballfield. Ned played a year of Little League and a year of Babe Ruth ball in Cape Elizabeth and a couple of years at Camp Timanous in Raymond, Maine. He played every year at Milton Academy from the 7th grade onward. His big break came in the summer of 1964 when he made the Morrill Post American Legion team from South Portland and played the outfield. He had played varsity ball at Milton earlier that spring and pitched and played the outfield and had hit well. The following spring in 1965 Ned went undefeated as a pitcher as Milton won the Private School League title in Massachusetts. That summer Beyer joined the Mon-ill Post again and the team tied for the League title during the regular season but lost in a playoff to a very strong Manchester Post team. Ned was awarded the Earl P. Bartley Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship at the end of the season. Ned was asked by Charlie Turner, manager of the Yarmouth Townies in the Portland Twilight League, to join his team for the end of the season and the playoffs. Ned was fortunate enough to single in the winning run in the championship game after the opposing team intentionally walked two hitters to get to him. The following year. Ned played freshman baseball at Bowdoin and had an excellent season playing center field and batting .406. The team went undefeated. He was recruited by Fred Harlow to play on the Harris Oil team in the Twilight league that summer. That team went 24-6 in the regular season but lost in the playoffs because two of its top pitchers, Ed Phillips and Roger Farrar, signed professional contracts with the Red Sox during the season. Beyer missed his 1967 sophomore baseball season at Bowdoin due to illness, an illness that would eventually be diagnosed three years later and force his medical discharge from the Army in 1971. In the summer of 1967 Ned played in the Portland Twilight. League again, this time for the Ametek team managed by Bob Philbrick, Ametek had an excellent team that year with strong pitching and hitting and won the Southern Maine playoffs. Joe Walsh, Bob Curry, and Dave Sprague were my teammates on that team and all are in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. Ned returned to Bowdoin and had an excellent season in the spring of 1968 batting .359 and was voted to the State of Maine College All State Team as an outfielder. Ned returned to the Twilight League in the summer of 1968 playing again for Ametek. Ametek won it all that year both in the Twilight League and the playoffs. Four future Maine baseball Hall of Fame players in addition to Beyer were on that team. Ned’s final season at Bowdoin in the spring of 1969 was good and the team did well against strong competition. Ned was again voted to the Maine State College All Star team and his overall batting average for three years ended at .342. Ned graduated from Bowdoin and played again in the Twilight League in the summer of 1969 for the South Portland team. This was an abbreviated season, however, as Ned completed his military obligation at ROTC Army Summer Camp and was commissioned as a 2LT in the Army in August. Ned entered the Army in November of 1969 to serve his country in the Vietnam War. Beyer returned in the summer of 1971 to play for the South Portland team again. The team won the 4th annual Southwestern Maine Invitational Baseball Tournament at the end of the season. Beyer played the outfield and had a good season. Ned’s baseball playing days in Maine were over but Ned’s coaching, umpiring, mentoring, and managing were just beginning. Ned left the Army in the early fall of 1971 and entered graduate school to get an MBA from Northeastern University in Boston. Ned started to umpire baseball in 1972 and is now umpiring in his 47th season. In addition to his umpiring he has coached Little League for 5 years, Babe Ruth for 6 years, and the Milton American Legion team for 3 years. He was the President of the Milton Babe Ruth League for 11 years, Vice President for 2 years, and Treasurer for 3 years. He has umpired Babe Ruth Baseball, American Legion Ball, High School baseball, The Boston Park League, The Yawkey League, the Mens Adult Baseball League, Cranberry League, and Little League all over the eastern part of Massachusetts for the last 47 years. His relationship with the Milton Babe Ruth League lasted 25 years. Ned has also had the pleasure of coaching, .mentoring and managing his sons Jim and Charlie as they played competitive baseball through high school and enjoyed their success in this great sport. Andrew played baseball briefly as other sports were more to his liking but he is an avid baseball fan and supporter of his dad’s love of the game. Ned is now starting to give tips to his grandson, Connor, a ten year old with a passion for the game. In 1997 Ned stepped back into playing for a summer and joined two teams in different leagues. At the encouragement of has friend Paul Gleason, Ned joined the Orioles in the Over thirty league located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Despite being the oldest player on the team (50) he won the team MVP award and hit .580 for the season. He also played in the Yawkey League for the Al Thomas A’s, a very competitive baseball league in the greater Boston area. He had the pleasure of playing with his son, Jim, who was a pitcher for the team. By far the oldest player on the team Ned still enjoyed the competition and hit reasonably well...without striking out once the entire season. Ned has been married to his wife, Joan for the last 44 years. They met at his first job after graduate school at the Deaconess Hospital in Boston where she was a nurse and Ned worked in administration. Joan loves watching baseball especially when a family member is involved. She has always been very supportive of Ned in his many baseball endeavors.

B’s abound in the story of our next inductee, Art Bishop. Though Art excelled in baseball and football at Thornton Academy in Saco, Maine and passed time on numerous town teams, the Twilight League, and Semi-pro ball in Canada, it was at Bowdoin College that Bishop carved the records that warrant his nomination to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. For over 25 years “Deacon Dan” MacFayden, a former major league curve baller was the highly respected coach at Bowdoin and Coach MacFayden labeled Art Bishop one of the two best to play for the The Polar Bears — and some say #1. Among the Bishop records established from 19501952 we find: Most basehits in a career - 60 - 1950-52 Most runs scored in a career - 43 - 1950-52 Most RBI in a season - 21 - 1952 Pitching, best won-lost in career - 3-2 1950-1952 Yes, Bishop was noted for his versatility. he was labeled a “well trimmed speedster”. At home on the mound as well as the batters box.In 1952 Art Bishop hit an astounding .457 State Series Championship. Blessed with two other outstanding hurlers Paul Clifford, a Lewiston lefty, and Lou Audet, a right-hander, Bowdoin won the State Series in 1951 and 1952, and finished tied with UMO in 1955. Among Art’s contemporaries are included Andy Lano and Al Hackett, also .400 hitters in the State Series action. Art Bishop is retired after over 20 years as Brunswick High’s baseball coach. Art, who lost his wife in the early 1960’s has one son Brad who is also a teacher/coach and Art follows Brad’s boys around the sports world.

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=bissode01 Del Bissonette of Winthrop was Brooklyn first baseman from 1928 to 1933 with a lifetime batting average of .305, and holds the Sunday Telegram League all time batting record of .600 . Bissonette, a one-time terrifier of batters and later terrorizer of moundsmen. Del the superb southpaw pitcher who s a schoolboy set down on strikes such sluggers as Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby, the Winthrop walloper, who wouldn’t be denied major league entry even when his pitching arm went dead while at Georgetown University. BISSONETTE, whose .600 telegram League batting average hasn’t been approached, batted his way to the Brooklyn Dodgers where he set a National League homer record his rookie year, and exited six years later with a .305 lifetime average. Even more the measure of a man was his response in 1947 to old friend Haley’s need for a manager for Haley’s Portland Pilots. This move by a diamond giant saved for a season or two the local franchise. Del also managed the Boston Braves in 1946. "The man who would have been the Babe Ruth of Maine: that’s the label generally bestowed upon Del Bissonette." Read more here at https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/del-bissonette/ "I am guessing that Bissonette is wearing a Portland Pilots uniform. that was the team that he managed in his home state of Maine in the late 1940's. before that, however, he was a ballplayer touted as a Babe Ruth type talent, largely because he was both a left-handed pitcher and a skilled batter. he hurt his arm at some point before signing with Brooklyn, and so focused solely on hitting. as a rookie for the Robins in 1928, Bissonette played in a league-leading 155 games, and hit .320 with 25 home runs and 106 rbi. He was the Robins' first baseman for the next three seasons as well, and after his first four years in the majors, Bissonette owned a .308 career batting average with a .376 on-base percentage and a ops of .870. not Ruthian, but not bad, either. unfortunately, Bissonette severed his achilles tendon in a spring training volleyball mishap in 1932, and he missed the entire season. he was back in 1933, but underperformed and was traded away. He failed in his attempts to return to the majors, and eventually went into managing - both at the minor and major league level." https://garveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com/2015/03/sunday-morning-target-dodgers_15.html

Richard Black One of the standout Maine pitchers of the 1950’s was Dick Black, a slender southpaw. Black resided in Portland and chose to toe the mound for Cheverus High School from 1949 to 1952. Pitching for Bill Curran, Dick completed his high school career with a Telegram League All-Star selection in 1952. In his senior year he was 5-3, with 41 walks and a league –leading 123 strikeouts. His pitching All-Star teammates were junior, Willie Greenlaw and Garth Carmichael and senior, John Maher. While a schoolboy, Dick was always involved in summer play, beginning with Legion baseball with Frank Archer’s (HoF ’75) Mallia Post nines and the Caldwell Post. From 1952 to 1954, Dick pitched for Freddie Harlow (HoF ’74) in the Maine-New Brunswick League. It was in this league that “Blackie” experienced what be termed his most enjoyable win – the championship game in 1953. “Okie” O’Connor, a Dodger scout, was present, liked what he saw, and arranged for Dick to talk to the Villanova Wildcats coach, Art Mahan. Mahan was looking for a left-hander and gave Dick a scholarship. In 1955, the Wildcats went 15 and 6 with Black, one of a strong staff, with 4 and 0. In the summer of 1955, Dick played about a month in the Nova Scotia League until he picked up a sore arm, curtailing his activity for a while. But Black struck out 17 against St. Joseph’s in 1956. After graduation, Dick played Twilight League baseball off and on. In his Twi debut in 1955 for Portland Motor Sales, he pitched a three-hitter against Blue Rock Quarry but also hit a two-run homer and a double. Dick and Ginny live in Cape Elizabeth and have three adult offspring – sons, Michael and David and daughter, Susan, who is married to Jim Ray.