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Henry (Hank) LaVallee Hank LaVallee was a born leader. His leadership credentials are astounding. He was one of the most successful baseball coaches and athletic directors 1n state history at South Portland High. He was a member of the Bates student council; manager of the Bates Glee Club; a major in World War II; class speaker at Bates; and a well regarded history teacher. This ‘‘man for all seasons’’ was also an excellent athlete. At Thornton Academy, LaVallee played basketball, football (he was a shifty quarterback) and was the captain of the baseball team in his junior and senior years. At Bates, he shone as a pitcher, after also having played shortstop at Thornton. The southpaw was a Maine scout for the Milwaukee Braves. The tutoring he received at Bates from ex-Boston Red Sox manager Bill Carrigan helped LaVallee in his scouting capacity. LaVallee was a sparkling blend of humor, humility and gratitude. And he never forgot his roots. Upon retirement alter 25 years at South Portland High, he returned to Thornton Academy as executive secretary of the school’s Committee on Development. who also excelled in semi-pro baseball, found time to coach in Junior Legion and Little League, besides a short stunt coaching basketball and baseball (including one league title) at Thornton Academy. But it was at South Portland where LaVallee ruled the Telegram League, leading the Red Riots to five league crowns and three state championships. The Red Riots captured four straight league titles (1947-50). LaVallee’s ball clubs were known for their discipline and neat appearance and they played aggressive baseball. Taking the extra base and exploiting hit-and-run tactics dazzled opponents. But winning wasn't paramount to LaVallee. He preferred getting each player totally involved in the athletic programs to reap full benefits. LaVallee cared about his players as human beings, not as tools to his winning kudos.

From Wikipedia Otis Carroll Lawry (November 1, 1893 – October 23, 1965) was an American professional baseball infielder with the Philadelphia Athletics of Major League Baseball. Lawry attended the University of Maine, where he played college baseball for the Black Bears from 1914 to 1916 . Nicknamed "Rabbit", he played in MLB during World War I from 1916 to 1917. Lawry was born in Fairfield, Maine, and died in China, Maine. He is buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Fairfield. From Baseball Reference https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawryot01.shtml Otis Lawry Positions: Second Baseman and Outfielder Bats: Left • Throws: Right 5-8, 133lb (173cm, 60kg) Born: November 1, 1893 in Fairfield, ME us Died: October 23, 1965 (Aged 71-356d) in China, ME Buried: Maplewood Cemetery, Fairfield, ME School: University of Maine at Orono (Orono, ME) Debut: June 28, 1916 (Age 22-240d, 4,488th in MLB history) vs. NYY 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB Last Game: September 29, 1917 (Age 23-332d) vs. DET 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1917 season Full Name: Otis Carroll Lawry Nicknames: Rabbit

Brad Leach’s baseball career had finished before his 23rd birthday. But In that short career, Leach was one of Maine’s best-known and most successful pitchers of his era. The 6-foot1 Thornton Academy graduate was a two-time All-Telegram League selection striking out 196 batters in his final two seasons and posting a 18-4 three-year record. Leach twice led the Owen-Davis American Legion Post 96 from Saco to state championships in 1954 and 1955 and was selected as the state American Legion most valuable player following the 1955 tournament. Charlie Mistos, the Owen-Davis Legion coach and a former minor-league pitcher, had a big influence on Leach. “Charlie knew a lot about pitching and he was a great teacher, said Leach. “You just had to learn something from him.” Leach would trade a football scholarship at the University of Connecticut after his freshman year for a chance to play baseball and eventually signed a big league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 3, 1961. He was sent to Asheville, N.C., in the Sally League and then posted a 2-1 record in Hobbs, N.M., before coming home to Maine to pursue a teaching and coaching Career. “Nobody knew about me as a baseball player when I went to Connecticut, said Leach. “| noticed one of our pitchers was offered a big contract with the Milwaukee Braves and that’s when | thought I’d give ft a try. I saw baseball was going to be more lucrative.” As a sophomore, Leach threw a two-hitter that helped UConn get into the College World Series. However, an arm injury at the end of his junior year would ultimately slow his climb in the big leagues. Still, Leach posted an 11-4 record with a 2.44 ERA, including a 1.08 ERA as a senior at UConn. His size, fastball and potential attracted the scouts. "Scouts were all over the place,” said Leach. “My arm wasn’t right but that didn’t seem to matter to them.” Leach thought he’d give the big league career at least three years but when Deering High called with an offer of teaching and coaching positions, baseball was put on hold. The scouts kept calling but the decision was made. “I was married and had a young son, said Leach. “| don’t regret my choice.” Leach served as a baseball assistant to legendary Deering coach Freddy Harlow. After one year away from the game, Leach’s arm recovered - and Leach credits part of the recovery to Harlow and his enthusiasm for the game. “| rested my arm for almost a year and it was alive.” said Leach. “it was better than ever.” “Freddy was unique, I wish I had met him before I left baseball. ” But after one year at Deering, Leach was on his way to a successful football coaching career at Thornton, winning the state championship in his first year in 1963. He would coach for eight years and later serve as athletic director for 21 years, retiring in 1991. Now, he’s considering a comeback with a team of Senior Olympic players. Though Leach was a baseball standout, he was best known as a football player in high school. He was a two-time All State halfback and led the maroon and gold to a state football championship in 1955 when he was named a high school All American and the state's top player. He was also a standout in track and basketball. Leach lives in Saco with his wife Jean, and has three children, David, Alison and Dan.

WILLIAM (CHICK) LEAHEY Veteran Bates College baseball coach William J. “Chick” Leahey just finished his 28th year at Bates College, compiling a record of 213 wins, 257 losses and three ties. Leahey’s 1962 Bobcat team finished second in the NCAA Eastern Regional tournament. His 76 team took the ECAC Division II-III]tournament and this year’s club was the ECAC Division II-III runner-up. Leahey signed with the New York Yankees after one season playing under former major leaguer Ben Houser in Winthrop. After turning pro, Leahey played in Joplin, Mo., in Class C, and moved up to Class A Norfolk, Va., in 1948 where he was a teammate of future Cooperstown Hall of Famer Whitey Ford. Leahey left the pro ranks the next season and enrolled at Bates, graduating tn 1952. He played for the Auburn Asa’s in the Downeast League from 49-52 and also managed the club in the '51 season. Leahey admits he spent many a game trying to figure out how to beat Freddie Harlow and Ed Hadlock. By Bates News. Published on March 28, 2016 William ‘Chick’ Leahey ’52, revered Bates baseball coach and mentor, dies at age 90 https://www.bates.edu/news/2016/03/28/william-chick-leahey-52-dies-at-age-90/ At Bates, he coached his baseball teams to 300 wins, including the 1976 ECAC title among other post-season appearances, and his 1984 team was the NCAA Division III leader in batting average and runs per game. In 1986, as president of the New England Collegiate Baseball Coaches Association, he issued a directive to regional coaches to ban smokeless tobacco by players and coaches. He was a member of the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame and the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1990 the college’s baseball field was named in his honor and in 2014, his baseball jersey number 11 became the first Bates baseball number to be retired. He was inducted into the Bates Scholar-Athlete Society in 2011 for upholding “lifelong values of sportsmanship and competition” and for “lifelong commitment to the development of scholar-athletes.”

Ralph William (Bud) Leavitt Jr., Maine's outstanding sports journalist, ex-columnist, personality, has colorfully covered Eastern Maine and the state field — plus territory well beyond — in a 54 year career that’s being extended on a once-a-week basis since his official retirement from the Bangor Daily News last Oct. 28. Although he was most visibly identified with the fish-game world for 40 of his 42 years with the News, Bud freely testifies that he’s been “‘a life-long baseball junkie. I've never lost my love for this same — the best one of them all.” Bud recently told a cute story about his roots in the National Pastime: ‘My career in baseball began as a six-year old kid batboy when Jimmy Fitzpatrick came from Boston College to pitch for and manage the PCF team in the old and original Eastern Maine Baseball League. My dad hired Jim. That's how I became batboy. ‘I remember picking up the bat off home plate when Jimmy had ordered a squeeze play — with himself on third base — and in sliding home was badly spiked. God, when I saw the blood running down his stocking leg, I actually cried. Fitzy was my pal. (Bud hereby joins the beloved Fitzy in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame; both also Maine Sports Hall of Famers). Leavitt describes himself as becoming a “‘fifth-class first baseman in the local circuits’”’ — Old Town and Bangor area — but, it should be added that he quickly became a first-class writer, starting at age 17 for the former Bangor Commercial. As a scribe, he’s covered and columned baseball at all levels with his inimitable, witty, yet considerate style and as sports editor developed many capable young writers. Bud has covered Six World Series, innumerable other major league games but will be forever remembered for his friendship with New England's own immortal, Ted Williams, dating from the Splendid Splinter’s rookie season in Boston in 1939. That strong tie, of course, has kept the legend of Teddy Ball game very much alive and on the Maine and New England scene through the humorous series of TV commercials as Bud and Ted swap jibes in behalf of Nissen’s bread. Bud had his own television sports show for over 20 years. His “Woods and Waters” show was judged No.1 in the country by New York critics in 1979. His Maine peers twice chose him Sports Writer of the Year. From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_W._%27Bud%27_Leavitt_Jr. Sometimes Leavitt was joined on his Maine TV show by friends like broadcaster Curt Gowdy, or baseball players Brooks Robinson or Ted Williams. "He was to outdoor journalism what Norman Rockwell was to art," wrote longtime Bangor Daily News sports columnist Larry Mahoney. The comparison was apt. Leavitt was not known for his eloquent turns-of-phrase, but for his directness and lack of artifice—what some might call his 'Maine-ness.' Leavitt's friendship with baseball player Ted Williams spanned decades, and the two were frequent fishing buddies.Leavitt had been sent to Boston's Fenway Park in 1939 to write about the Boston Red Sox, where he met Williams, then a first-year rookie already making a name for himself as a slugger. Overhearing that the cub sportswriter was from Maine, Williams asked about the fishing up north. A lifelong friendship ensued. "One journalist with whom Williams had a genuine friendship was the late Bud Leavitt, former sports editor and outdoor writer for the Bangor Daily News," wrote Tony Chamberlain of The Boston Globe. "Leavitt fished often with Williams in the lakes and streams of Maine and Canada. Most of their fishing up north was for salmon, and Williams fished with Leavitt near the writer's home along the Penobscot River.' From The Day I Met Ted Williams https://www.islandportpress.com/press/the-day-i-met-ted-williams.html 11/12/2018 By Paul Betit The Day I Met Ted Williams first appeared in Islandport Magazine, Winter 2018 By the time I met the Splendid Splinter, I was a seasoned journalistic veteran. I just had to keep my cool and be professional. It was the year the Sox ended up losing the World Series in seven games to the New York Mets. Williams had teamed up with longtime Maine outdoor columnist Bud Leavitt for a series of television commercials for J.J. Nissen Baking Co. It was August and they were filming on the golf course at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. Williams, who at one time was tagged as the world’s best sports fisherman as well as being arguably baseball’s greatest hitter of all time, and Leavitt were longtime fishing buddies. I was writing a feature for the Maine Sunday Telegram about their relationship. Both men said they met during Williams’ rookie season in 1939. At the time Leavitt was a cub sportswriter for the old Bangor Commercial and was covering the BoSox. Sportswriters were allowed in the dugout before each game, and when Williams heard that there was a young sportswriter from Maine covering the game, he sought him out. “Hey, Rook,” Williams recalled saying to Leavitt. “How’s the fishing up in Maine?” “You’ll have to come up and see for yourself,” the blunt-speaking Leavitt retorted. The two young men hit it off, and Williams took Leavitt up on his invitation. Back then, Monday was normally an off-day for the Sox, so sometimes following a Sunday doubleheader at Fenway Park, Williams took the train to Bangor from North Station. After spending Monday fishing with Leavitt he’d take the last train that night back to Boston. It seemed like a nice little story. As I wrapped up the interview, Williams asked for my opinion—possibly the only time in more than forty years as a journalist anyone I was interviewing wanted to know what I thought. “What about that trade?” Williams asked. “Is it a good one?” A couple of days earlier, the Red Sox dealt shortstop Rey Quinones, pitchers Mike Brown and Mike Trujillo, and a player to be named later (who turned out to be outfielder John Christensen) to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Dave Henderson and shortstop Spike Owens. In those days, Williams spent most of his summers casting dry flies for Atlantic salmon in the upper reaches of the Miramichi River on the northeast side of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. As far as media reports were concerned, it was a virtual black hole back then. Williams wanted to know the details. That very morning I read a story about the trade in the Portland Press Herald. I knew the stats of every player involved and could give Williams an honest appraisal. “Dave Henderson is a real good center fielder and he has some power,” I told him. “A lot of people don’t know it, but he’s hit seventy-nine home runs in three seasons with the Mariners, and that’s the team record.” “As for Owens,” I continued, “he’s got good range at shortstop, and he’s a switch hitter.” Gesturing with my hands, I added, “He’s a good bat from the left and a good bat from the right.” Williams nodded. “Seems like a good trade then.” “I think so,” I answered. That brought the interview to a close. The film crew had to wait to set up the final scene of the ad shoot. Armed with a thirty-five-millimeter Canon, I also waited so I could photograph the two stars while they sat at a picnic table munching on sandwiches made from Nissen bread. The crew set up next to the fairway on the par-five fourth hole. The signature hole at The Samoset, it ran for about 500 yards down a hill toward the famed Rockland Breakwater, a stone jetty that extends for more than 4,000 feet out to a lighthouse marking the entrance to Rockland Harbor. While we waited, Williams sprawled out in a golf cart to catch some rays. At this stage of life, Williams, just a few days shy of sixty-eight, was a big man. He nearly filled the entire seat. Every once in a while, a golfer, while looking for his ball in the hay-like fescue next to the fairway, recognized Williams and exchanged waves with the baseball legend. One intrepid golfer, a hacker from New Jersey who had shanked his second shot wide left, began talking baseball with Williams. I sat close enough to hear the conversation but too far away to participate politely. I didn’t want to intrude anyway. “What about the trade?” the golfer asked. “Seems like a good one,” Williams answered. Then he leaned forward and spoke with authority. “Dave Henderson is a real good center fielder and he has some power,” Williams explained. “You know, a lot of people don’t know this but he’s hit seventy-nine home runs in three seasons with the Mariners, and that’s the team record.” “As for Owens,” he continued, “he’s got good range at shortstop, and he’s a switch hitter.” Williams then gestured with his hands. “A good bat from the left and a good bat from the right.” The golfer was impressed. “Wow,” he said, shaking his head in wonderment as he walked past me after leaving Williams. “Teddy Ballgame has still got it.” “He certainly does,” I agreed, just loud enough for only the hacker to hear.

Ron Leeman of South Portland today joins fellow 1952 All-Telegram League selection Dick Black in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2002. With ball playing brothers Dick and Duddy, Ron’s sandlot days were spent on Jordan Field behind the Frank I. Brown School on Highland Avenue in South Portland. There he came under the tutelage of Keith Jordan, five-letterman at Portland High School, who coaxed Ron into catching in fifth grade, a position he never abandoned throughout his career. Ron played alongside Eddie Norton, Doug Standley, and Gene Class and won city championships in three sports. Following a year at Norway High School and the death of Ron’s father, the family returned to South Portland. Ron became the team’s starting catcher as a sophomore and enjoyed three outstanding years under coach Henry LaVallee capped by his All-Telegram League selection as a senior in 1952. Leeman hit .371 that year and led the league in home runs, including a memorable one off that tough lefty from Cheverus, Dick Black. Leeman’s South Portland teammates included Dickie Coggins, Ron Harris, John Libby and Gerry Davis and this talented Red Riot nine beat Cony for the State title in 1952. Following graduation, Leeman spent his summer pastiming in the highly-regarded Down East League for the Farmington Flyers. Ron attended Springfield College where he was elected captain of the freshman team and was one of four from that group chosen to play for Grand Falls, New Brunswick in the Maine-New Brunswick League that summer. Leeman joined the Army in 1954 and played two years for Fort Devens on a post team that won the First Army Championship and was eliminated in the semi-finals of the All Army Tournament by a Fort McPherson team that featured three big-league pitchers in Vinegar Bend Mizell, Taylor Phillips, and Billy O’Dell. Leeman caught all but a couple of games during his tour and hit .379 in 1955 including a game-winning home run in the All-Army tourney off Billy Loes. Leeman’s ability to handle big-league pitchers, both behind the plate and with bat in hand, caught the attention of professional scouts and Ron signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1956, Ron notes wryly that his $4,000 signing bonus was four times that received by another rookie that year, Mickey Mantle of the Yankees. Leeman only played one year of pro ball before an attractive job offer from Portland Pipe Line and family considerations lured him back home to South Portland. Leeman continued to play several years for the South Portland Merchants in the Twilight League, catching local legends Ed Hadlock and Dick Carmichael among others. Now retired, Ron lives on Cummings Road with his wife of 47 years, the former Geraldine Lord – yes, the same Gerry Lord who was valedictorian of South Portland High School Class of 1950. Ron’s four daughters and six grandchildren all live in Maine and join us today in welcoming the lanky Red Riot into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

“Pound for pound, there may not have been a better performer and competitor than Ron Lemieux” — Al Bean, USM Athletic Director and former pitching coach. (HOF 77) in the summer of 1970, Ron pitched sparkling ball in the State Babe Ruth tourney for the Portland All-Stars. He was 3-0 with 28 strikeouts and he yielded only 6 hits in 21 innings. He was an obvious choice tor the Frank Vail trophy awarded to the MVP of the tourney. The next year, Ron went 7-1 for Cheverus and led the telegram League in strikeouts. He was an All-Telegram League selection. in the summers of 1971 and ’72, Ron was a vital contributor to two Caldwell Post American Legion State titles. Lemieux attended UMO before falling victim to tendinitis in his sophomore year. He transferred to USM and still holds the Huskies’ record for lowest career ERA for pitchers of more than 100 innings - 2.56. He yielded only 6.8 hits per game, another USM record. in 1977, he fired a no-hitter against UNE and in 1977 and ’78, played for USM district champions. In 1978, Ron was chosen for All-Conference and All-District teams. As good as his playing career was, his coaching record is better -in fact, it is unparalleled: 11 years in the Portland Babe Ruth League 6 regular season titles 10 All-Star State Championships 1 New England All-Star Championship (1981) - first Maine team to play in the World series - 4th place finish 4 years coaching Andrews Post American Legion team 3 State Titles 2 New England regional finalists. The only person to play for consecutive Babe Ruth State Championships and to coach 3 straight champions (1985-’86-’87) Coached 5 seasons at Greely 9 years at Cheverus In 1993 lost to Deering in Western Maine final. Also qualified for 1994 tournament. Also coached Greely softball with daughter, Brianna, his leading hitter. A telling testimony to Lemieux’s influence comes from Mike D’Andrea, current coach of Deering High’s State Champions: “When | think of youth baseball during the late 70s through the mid-80s, | remember a decade of Portland youth baseball dominating the state. The person who led that domination was Ron Lemieux.” Mike Rutherford labeled Ron ”fair, hard-working and honest’. Garry Smith noted his “class and dignity” and everybody lauds his knowledge and love of the game.

From Portland Press Herald ~ Maine Sunday Telegram 10/26/1975 Vern Putney Staff Sports writer George E "Duffy" Lewis was left fielder on three world champion Boston Red Sox teams and manager of the Portland Mariners of the New England League in the late 1920's. A Salem NH resident, Lewis was the Sox left fielder on the 1912, 1915 and 1916 championship teams. Together with fellow outfielders Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper they formed what is said to be the best outfield ever in baseball. At 87, Lewis has prominently been mentioned as National Baseball Hall of Fame candidate and threw out the first ball for last Wednesday's historic game 6 of the 1975 world series. He also opened the Sox' 75th season last April with a ceremonial first pitch. From Wikipedia George Edward "Duffy" Lewis (April 18, 1888 – June 17, 1979), born in San Francisco, California, was a left fielder and right-handed batter who played Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox (1910–17), New York Yankees (1919–20) and Washington Senators (1921). Lewis attended Saint Mary's College of California. Biography Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper — Boston's famous "Million-Dollar Outfield" In Boston, Lewis belonged to the outfield trio which included Tris Speaker (CF) and Harry Hooper (RF) and is considered perhaps the best ever in fielding skill. At bat, Lewis was a renowned line-drive hitter who consistently finished in the top ten in most offensive categories despite a short career which was interrupted by World War I (Duffy served as a petty officer in the US Navy). In 11 seasons, Lewis batted .284 with 38 home runs, 793 RBI, 612 runs, 1,518 hits, 289 doubles, 68 triples, and 113 stolen bases in 1,459 games. In three World Series covering 18 games for the Red Sox, Lewis posted a .299 average (20-for-67) with 8 runs, 1 home run and 7 RBI. During his tenure in Boston patrolling left field, Fenway Park featured a ten-foot-high mound that formed an incline in front of the left field wall, now better known as the Green Monster. The young outfielder mastered the incline to such an extent that it was nicknamed "Duffy's Cliff". Sports cartoons of the period often depicted him as a mountain climber making catches amid sheep and snowcaps. The mound was eventually reduced in 1934, long after Lewis had left the Sox, and was not completely eliminated until the field underwent a major renovation following the 2004 season. Duffy Lewis died in Salem, New Hampshire at 91 years of age. He was selected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002. From the Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/5f9f3a44 This article was written by Mark Armour For decades after they last played together, the Boston Red Sox’ outfield of Duffy Lewis, Tris Speaker, and Harry Hooper, who toiled next to each other for six years in the Deadball Era, was often considered the greatest in baseball history. Although all three, especially Speaker, were fine hitters, their reputation was due largely to their exceptional defensive play. Lewis, the left fielder and the only one of the three not in baseball’s Hall of Fame, was long remembered for the way he played the incline at the base of Fenway Park’s left-field wall, a slope of grass that bore the name “Duffy’s Cliff.” Hooper thought Lewis was the best of the three “at making the backhand running catch at balls hit over his head.” A powerful left-handed batter, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Lewis typically batted behind Speaker in the cleanup position, and often ranked among American League leaders in home runs and runs batted in. OCTOBER 24, 2018 BY TOM CONMY Pastime Portraiture: Duffy Lewis https://behindthebag.net/2018/10/24/pastime-portraiture-duffy-lewis/ Here’s another Dodgers and Red Sox Series special, harking back to the 1916 variety, and Boston’s star left fielder and 3-time World Series champion (1912, 1915 and 1916), Duffy Lewis (photo from the legendary Bain Collection, in the Library of Congress). Of those 3 titles above, Duffy sure earned his playoff shares in ’15 and ’16 – after only hitting .188 in the 1912 Classic (this despite 3 doubles, although he had 34 at bats in what turned out to be an 8 game series) and committing a key misplay in the field (see below), he led all Boston regulars in batting average in both the 1915 and 1916 World Series, along with many clutch performances. In 1915 he almost single-handedly won the Series by himself – batting .444 with 5 RBI in the 5 games, he had the walk-off winning single in Game 3, the eventual game-winning RBI in Game 4 and an 8th inning, game-tying 2-run HR in Game 5, as Boston beat Philadelphia 4 games to 1. He nearly repeated the feat in October 1916, batting .353 in 5 games, doubling in the first run of the Series in Game 1, successfully sacrificed over the eventual game winning run in the 14th inning of Game 2, giving Babe Ruth the victory, getting 2 hits and scoring 2 runs in Game 4 and tripling and scoring the first run in the decisive Game 5, as the Red Sox won their second Championship in a row. Since 1912, Lewis was often tested more than the others due to having to contend with a quirk in new Fenway Park, a 10 foot rising hill along the left field wall (the future Green Monster), often done to meet the field level with the street level beyond. Lewis was so adept at playing this hill that it became known as “Duffy’s Cliff” in honor of his mastery in scaling it to track down deep fly balls. Duffy Lewis is the only one of the “Golden Outfield” not to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, he is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, and was certainly indispensable to their Championships in 1915 and 1916. With only one more World Series title in the rest of the 20th century, his feats of October were long remembered by generation upon generation of Boston fans, and were not, or will not, soon be forgotten.

The way baseball threaded its way through the life of Henry L’Heureux – Depression-era youth honing a life-long passion for the game, heroic yet unheralded service in World War II, and a sparkling post war career for one of the premier semi-pro teams in the state – is emblematic of so many Maine Baseball Hall of Famers, and Henry’s posthumous induction today is a well-deserved addition. Born in 1925 in Lyman, Henry was raised in Sanford, and had to look no further than the L’Heureux family circle to find his first baseball game and teammates. Six L’Heureux brothers, including older siblings Art and Walter (Maine Baseball Hall of Fame 1982), developed their skills in and around the sandlots on Foch Street, using baseballs held together with several layers of black tape and bats often carved with an ax. “We ate, slept and drank baseball,” Henry claimed in an article written by sports journalist John Cochin. “If we couldn’t get enough guys together for a game, we’d use the side of a barn as a backstop and take turns trying to strike each other out with a hard rubber ball.” Pushing each other up the learning curve, the brothers L’Heureux honed their baseball skills as teen-agers, acquiring invaluable instruction in the fundamentals from Sanford high school coach Joe Nunan. After playing two years at St. Ignatius High School as well as the Cole Post Junior legion team, Henry left for Army boot camp in April, 1943 at the age of 17, joining four brothers who had enlisted previously. Henry served meritoriously in the Army 3rd Infantry Division, seeing action in Marseilles, France and the Anzio beachhead in Italy. Returning home after the war Henry caught on with Goodall-Sanford one of a handful of strong semi-pro teams (including Portland’s Pilots, Auburn’s Asas and Augusta’s Millionaires) that laid the foundation for the explosion of town team baseball that would soon follow. Teaming up with brothers Art and Walter, La famille L’Heureux anchored a powerhouse nine that racked up an impressive record against independent, semi-pro teams from all over New England. Other than a 2- year stint with the Allain City Club out of Rochester, New Hampshire, and a summer with the Granby, Quebec semi-pro club, Henry was a fixture behind the plate for 5 years with Goodall-Sanford as was Art at third base and Walter on the mound. According to Cochin, “the three played pretty much together from 1946 through the early 1950’s. Rarely was a game won without at least two and sometimes all three of the brothers being instrumental in victory.” As with most successful catchers, Henry possessed an intuitive feel for the care and handling of pitchers and a throwing arm that would-be base stealers feared. His clutch bat produced this headline in the local paper on one of the rare occasions when he played against his brother: “Brother Henry’s Single Beats Walt L’Heureux and Allains.” Henry continued to play ball in the local twilight leagues for several years after his Goodall-Sanford days had ended. Henry worked as a painting contractor most of his life and used his talent to do interior restorations, including several churches, as well as artistic paintings and sketches. Henry continued to enjoy baseball in retirement, often riding his bike to his beloved Goodall Park to watch the Sanford Mainers play. He was active in fund-raising efforts to restore Goodall Park after it burned down several years ago and his name is engraved on a stadium seat which he purchased himself. Henry passed away July 4, 2008 following a courageous battle with mesothelioma and after having been informed on Christmas Day, 2007 by General Chairman Sonny Noel that he had been selected for induction into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. The affable, gregarious “Pepere”, as he was known to many, would doubtless have relished this day and the chance to spin a few more baseball yarns about the L’Heureux brothers. https://www.journaltribune.com/articles/front-page/brothers-in-arms-four-sanford-siblings-fought-in-world-war-ii/

He grew up in the Great Depression, where Baseball fields were enjoyable escapes for youngsters. In Walter L’Heureux’s family baseball was a way of life. His two brothers — Henry and Art — also starred in baseball in their hometown Sanford area. Walt started Out as a catcher but after getting hit in the eye by one of Henry's pitches he switched to pitcher with Henry going behind the plate. Walt turned into a super pitcher, Henry became a feared catcher. Much of the family’s baseball was against a barn, used as a backstop, where the three brothers would take turns trying to strike out each other with a hard rubber ball and bat carved by an axe. They collectively ate, slept and talked baseball. Walter, nicknamed “Lefty,” was one of the state’s pest pitchers for three decades (1930-50). He hurled Cole Post into the state American Legion championship game in 1939, losing the game 2-1 to Waterville in 11 innings despite throwing no-hit ball for 10 innings. A year later, Walter was again dealt a bitter hand when he no-hit Lynn, Mass., in Legion play only to lose 1-0. He was a fine Twilight League pitcher also. And in 1943, when he went into the service for World War Il, he pitched for a legendary service team. Honored as the Army’s starting pitcher, the game in Brisbane, Australia, also included the likes of Phil Rizzuto, Dom DiMaggio and Charlie Wagner. DiMaggio said L’Heureux’s curve ball was one of the best he ever batted against, which helped account for his stellar strikeout record throughout his star studded career. After the war, he pitched in a Canadian professional league, where, naturally, he was a standout. He was just as successful playing semi-pro ball for Goodall Sanford and Allain’s of Rochester, N.H. He once turned down a contract from the New York Yankees because of family obligations. L’Heureux, Walter J. (82) Walter L'Heureux, 85 The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram 12/21/2007. SANFORD -- Walter L'Heureux, 85, of Sanford, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007. He was born in Sanford on Nov. 19, 1922, their son of Albert and Blanche (Fontaine) L'Heureux. He attended local schools and served in the U.S. Army in World War II. While serving time in the military he played baseball against many well known stars including Dom Dimaggio, Johnnie Pesky, Joe Cronin, Ted Williams and Vic Wertz. Throughout the next several years Walter played professional baseball in Canada for the Granby Red Sox and later declined a contract to play for a New York Yankee affiliate in Geneva, N.Y. and returned to Sanford to raise a family. In 1982 Mr. L'Heureux was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

DENNIS LIBBEY--TOUGH BATTLING BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD CHARACTERIZES THIS H.O.F. CAREER Athletes sometimes like to joke about the supposed importance of their chosen hobby or vocation: “Life is just like baseball,” they might say, “only not quite as important!” Pose that question to Dennis Libbey, University of Maine standout shortstop from l970 thru l973, and valued foursome member annually at the Black Bear Baseball golf tournament, and you might get a slightly different answer. “I had Grade 4 renal carcinoma,” Libbey recalls of the news he got, coincidentally, shortly after September ll, 200l.  “The doctor gave me two options. One was surgery.”  The odds of successful surgery?  “Five percent,” Libbey recalls. Libbey, of course, went thru a tremendous ordeal. His family circled the wagons. He heard from both good friends and people long out of touch.  Well wishers all. Should he have surgery? What about the risks? If surgery, whom to do the two four-hour procedures? “Dr. (Richard) Long explained it all to me. He was just great. He had that look, you know? He was the guy I wanted,” said Libbey, sounding like he was at a middle-of-the-inning mound conference telling his struggling teammate to throw strikes, and where. Let’s get two and get you out of this. He had the surgery. All went well. He has bounced back remarkably. Now what about that sports background? Did he have a great baseball career, leading to being one of only l7 diamondeers being inducted into the Black Bear Hall of Fame, because of the type of person and fighter he was? Or did he fight thru this health crisis with his wife, Jayne, and children, because of the lessons he learned in sports? “We went to visit him at the hospital” before surgery,” said long-time friend gilbert Coffin. “ A bunch of us went in together--Tommy Roberts, Dan Lux, and Gary Tracy....  We had thought we would never see him alive again.” Dennis had explained to his visiting buddies what he was facing. He cried. They cried. Suddenly, things changed. “Within three or four minutes, he went right back to being Dennis,” Coffin said. “He helped US get thru what was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” Dennis’ friends make sports analogies about what he went thru, and how he beat it. They love to tell the story that the first thing Dennis wanted after surgery and recuperation was a radio. “I asked my wife to go home and get a radio so I could listen to the Bangor football game,” he admitted in an interview for a feature story in the Bangor Daily News. As for Dennis, however, his take is a bit different. He credits some good karma from hospital mate Shawn Walsh, the UMO hockey coach who passed on the message to patient Libbey that he was praying and rooting for him.  Libbey also remembers a guardian angel dressed in a white nurse’s uniform. “Heidi Johnson Black, a nurse, she sat on the edge of my bed,” he says. “She said, “I heard what you have. I know your percentages don’t sound good. But you’ve got something special....Something tells me you’re going to make it through this.’ “She’s a great person for this profession,” Libby chuckles. “She gave a great pep talk.” Human beings everywhere, and Maine state baseball fans, cheered Libbey’s recovery. There was much to want to keep alive, and not just memories. Libbey grew up in Mattawankeag, and played baseball for Lee Academy.  He also played for his “town” baseball team. “Remember, back then, town team ball was a big deal, back in the l960s,” says friend Ray Cota. Dennis got to play with brothers Ken and Herb on those town teams. Dennis went on to play ball at Orono. He started at shortstop for four years, graduating in l973. He was one of the last four-year players for the late coach Jack Butterfield. Sacrilege to some baseball hard-cores, Dennis went onto play top-level softball after his baseball career ended. As far as Libbey was concerned, it was an activity with a ball, bats, gloves and four bases.  Not surprisingly, he played for several state championship softball teams. Veteran umpire and HOF member Al Card remembers Libbey as a great shortstop for the Black Bears in the early 70s.  He says when Libbey went into the Maine Black Bear Hall of Fame in l997, he joined some elite company. “Only l7 baseball players had gone in--DeVarney, Ferris, Butterfield, Swift, Flaherty, Merrill, Bordick.... some good company,” Card says. Did Libbey stop at that?  Did he begin to devote himself to putting together a king-sized scrapbook documenting his many baseball accomplishments in Mattawankeag, Orono, Cape Cod League, and elsewhere? No. He headed to the Bangor West Side Little League. About 20 years later, he can say he has helped hundreds of kids with developing baseball fundamentals--and maybe even a love for the game. “At one point, he had done about l6 years with the Little League, and also coached some l3 and l4 year olds in all star competition to a fourth place finish in the Eastern Regionals,” says Cota. “Many of his players went on to have outstanding high school and college careers. More than baseball skills, Dennis taught sportsmanship and other life lessons.” The youth sports coaching came back to visit Dennis in a meaningful way in the hospital while he was recuperating from surgery. What was it they say about baseball and its relationship with life? Or vice versa? “I got a letter in the hospital from a kid, a senior at Bangor High School. I had coached him. He (wished me well). It was so touching...I am so blessed with the people around me--my family, co workers (at Sargent, Tyler and West Insurance in Brewer), and players.” https://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/11/sports/mattawamkeags-dennis-libbey-earns-maine-sports-hall-of-fame-honor/ BANGOR, Maine — There were 12 players on Dennis Libbey’s Mattawamkeag High School baseball team. There were only 83 kids in the entire school. When he jogged out to shortstop for tryouts at the University of Maine, there were 14 other shortstops waiting to take ground balls. “And I had thought I was special,” quipped Libbey. “The funniest thing was the guy next to me’s name was Rico Petrocelli. His real name was Paul, he was Rico’s nephew.” Rico Petrocelli was a former Boston Red Sox shortstop. “I was shaking and I think I booted that first ground ball,” recalled Libbey. “Nothing was guaranteed back in those days. With [coach] Jack Butterfield, you earned your way. Nobody was given anything.” Libbey took a “deep breath” and competed for the position. “Eventually, they started moving players around, some guys got cut and, by the time it was all done, I was left standing [with the position],” said Libbey. He had played on the undefeated freshman team — freshmen weren’t allowed to play varsity at that time — and wound up starting at shortstop for all three years on the varsity. When he graduated in 1973, the hard-nosed leadoff hitter owned the school record for singles and hits in a season as well as runs scored and stolen bases in a career.

In 1970, Mattawamkeag High was destroyed by fire, incinerating all information and statistics concerning Herb Libbey’s storied baseball career at the school. The numbers were lost, but nothing can erase the memory of Libbey's skill. “What’s amazing,” writes his daughter-in-law, Laurie Libbey, who compiled the family’s history of Herb’s career, “is that the stories are retold as if the storytellers had a record book held in front of them.’ At Mattawamkeag High where he never struck out in four seasons, 1948-1951, Libbey compiled a batting average of more than .400 The 1951 team was Eastern Maine Class S champion. Following high school and after turning down a tryout with the Boston Braves, Libbey played for the Mattawamkeag Merchants, appearing in more than 1,200 games over 30 years. From 1966-1970, he was player-manager. No one can remember Herb missing a game. “Herb and his brother, Ken, were the backbones of the team along with manager Dick Lowell,” said teammate Ron Marks.“Ken was one of the best second basemen and Junior (Herb) was equally adept at first. Later, younger brother Dennis joined the team and we had three Libbey brothers playing at the same time.” Marks remembers Herb as a disciplined clutch hitter who played the bag with finesse and saved infielders many errors by scooping low throws out of the dirt. “As good as Herb was with the glove, I think he was even better as a hitter” said Marks. “He was a left-handed batter and always made good contact. He hit lefties as well as he hit righties.” Libbey’s ability to hit in the clutch was demonstrated against Lamoine in the Keag Invitational. Marks singled and stole second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Lamoine brought in former Major Leaguer Carlton Willey.“This was just 4 couple of years after Willey retired and he was still very good,” said Marks. ‘Herb promptly doubled to drive me in with the winning run of the same and tournament.’ Herb Libbey had a genetic predisposition for baseball. His father, Herbert, Sr., worked long hours as a woodcutter, but played for the town team. He taught his sons to play with dedication and seriousness of purpose. “Junior” grew up as a fan of Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. “Herb used a Jackie Robinson model (bat)”, said Jerry Hallett. “It had a thick handle.” The late Raymond Coombs was a teammate of Herb Libbey’s in the 1950s and remembers his presence at the plate: During one of our games at Garland Field, Herbert hit the longest ball I’d ever seen against ace pitcher Ron Soucie. ‘I played ball for two years with Roger Maris and Herbert always reminded me of Roger at the plate, they had the same swing.’ He was known as Junior, June or Lib, but always played the same - all out. Libbey’s respect for the game is passed on to his children and grandchildren.“Don’t ever walk on or off the field - run!” Genealogy Trails http://genealogytrails.com/maine/penobscotco/obits_l.html LIBBEY, HERBERT S., JR. MATTAWAMKEAG - Herbert S. Libbey Jr., 78, passed away June 3, 2011, surrounded by his loving family at his home. He was born April 11, 1933, son of Teresa (Stanley) and Herbert S. Libbey Sr. His jobs included H.C. Haynes, Madden's Store, The Pumping Station, Murray's Motormart and Suburban Propane Co. He enjoyed bowling and other sports, but baseball was his true passion. He loved playing on Mattawamkeag's semi-pro team with his brothers, sons and several players who became his best friends. He was inducted into Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.