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From SI Vault https://www.si.com/vault/1962/05/14/592948/happy-blend-of-sport-and-cash The beautiful Lena Home sings a song in which the lyrics go, "Can't stand baseball. The game's insane." Therein she speaks for virtually her entire gender. Women go to baseball games with their men rather than stay home alone, and some even follow the results in the press so they can appear interested. But few really enjoy the game for its own sake. Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson of New York City, Long Island, Maine, Kentucky and Florida is a notable exception. Mrs. Payson is so fond of baseball that she has put up more than $4.5 million of the $5 million it has cost to install the New York Mets in the National League this year. "Why did you do it?" someone asked Mrs. Payson. "Because I'm a fan," she replied simply, "and I can't bear to see New York without a National League team." During the first two weeks of the 1962 season, Mrs. Payson staunchly followed her new team through an eight-game losing streak. Then, on Easter Sunday, she took off for Europe and the Greek islands on a long-planned holiday, her chin in its usual forthright position. An optimist to her sporting fingertips, she hadn't even considered the possibility that the Mets could be anything but a huge success. Mrs. Payson became addicted to baseball almost without noticing it. "I don't remember when I first saw the Giants play," she has said. "My mother used to take me to the Polo Grounds when I was a little girl, and I almost feel as if I'd grown up there. Mother, of course, adored the game. One of my earliest memories is of watching her playing baseball at Palm Beach in the old days." It wasn't until 1941 that Mrs. Payson's interest in baseball became intense. That year she took a season box at the Polo Grounds, and for the next 16 years she was a fixture at Giant games, sitting in her seat opposite first base with a Giant cap perched on her head. Her loyalty reached some sort of high point when she allowed newsmen to photograph her chauffeur wearing a Giant cap as he drove her from the ball park. The two qualities that most thoroughly explain and describe the Whitney family are loyalty and sentiment. Mrs. Payson's mother was brimming with both. She once directed everyone in all her households to eat Wheaties so she could collect the box tops and help Joe DiMaggio win the Wheaties award as the most popular major league player. Mrs. Payson's loyalty to the National League and her Giants was still so great after their western migration that she preferred to eschew baseball entirely rather than patronize Yankee Stadium. It is no wonder, then, that she was so ready to help finance a new baseball team for New York when the Continental League was in its formative stages. At the urging of Dwight Davis Jr., son of the donor of the Davis Cup, she originally agreed to subscribe one-third of the stock; various others, mostly wealthy fans like herself, would hold the rest of the shares. The Continental League, it will be remembered, died unborn in the fall of 1960 when the American and National leagues gobbled up its four best franchises. New York was one of these, and Mrs. Payson was anything but blue to learn that her new team would join her favorite league and bring it back to her home town. Actually Mrs. Payson's role in the complicated negotiations that have preceded the birth of the Mets has been a passive one. Her friend Grant now serves as board chairman of the Mets and represents her interest in all matters affecting the team. G. Herbert Walker Jr., a New York investment banker whose father gave the Walker Cup to golf, is the only other of the original investors still owning stock. He holds 6%, Grant 5% and Mrs. Payson the rest. Naturally, she has had to get rid of her Giant stock, which was the largest individually owned block outside of the Stoneham interests. She has given it to New York Hospital, one of the charities to which she has donated many millions in past years. Asked what her position is in the Met organization, Mrs. Payson gets a rather vague expression on her face and says, "I think I'm some kind of a vice-president or something." Grant puts it another way. "Mrs. Payson likes to know what's going on, but she knows enough not to be a part-time interferer," he says. There have been only a couple of times when Mrs. Payson seriously injected her opinions into the Mets' upper councils. As a Giant fan she admired Willie Mays above all other ballplayers, and she made it known to Horace Stoneham that no price would be too high if she could buy him for her new team. Stoneham, of course, laughed off the proposal. Last summer, at the second All-Star game in Boston, Mrs. Payson was introduced to Mays for the first time in her life. "Willie," she said to him, "I wish you were back in New York." "It's not time yet," was his reply. "I really don't think he had any idea who I was," Mrs. Payson told a friend later. It was fairly common knowledge both inside and outside the Mets organization that Mrs. Payson was eager to have at least one or two prominent National League players on her team, particularly ones who had previously made a reputation in New York. Among these was Gil Hodges, the once-great Dodger first baseman, and the Mets did acquire him for the draft price of $75,000. Another was Johnny Antonelli, who had helped pitch the Giants to their 1954 world championship. Antonelli was drafted from the Milwaukee Braves, but having suffered through several dismal seasons he finally decided to abandon his baseball career. Mrs. Payson was very impressed during last year's World Series by the flashy performance of Elio Chacon, the young Cincinnati second baseman, and he, too, was drafted for the team. Otherwise Mrs. Payson has kept her opinions to herself and left the decisions to George Weiss, the Mets' president. "He'd shoot me if I interfered," Mrs. Payson has said with conviction. Just after last year's World Series Weiss offered the job of field manager to a reluctant Casey Stengel, who had spent the previous year in semi retirement, and Mrs. Payson helped talk Stengel into signing on. "Thank God you didn't take his no," Mrs. Stengel later told Mrs. Payson. "He's been miserable without baseball." http://www.centerfieldmaz.com/2019/02/the-first-mets-owner-woman-pioneeress.html Joan Payson became the first woman in America to buy a majority share of a sports team. She was the NY Mets majority stock holder, team President actively involved in baseball operations from 1962-1975. She loved her team, and was very good to her players. They also had a deep respect and admiration for her. The Mets organization was like a close knit family throughout her active years. She was always seen in the front row of a Shea Stadium box seat rooting on her team, never in an owner’s box, away from the action. She would welcome bringing in New York players of the past, for nostalgia & box office draw. Former NY players came to close out their playing careers, or coach & especially Manager, Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges & Yogi Berra. Her dedication was rewarded with the success of the 1969 Amazing Mets winning the World Championship. In 1972 she got Willie Mays back to New York to finish his career as a New York Met. With him the 1973 Mets she enjoyed an NL Championship & another World Series. The Mets Could Have Been Named The Avengers, Bees, Or Burros https://deadspin.com/the-mets-could-have-been-named-the-avengers-bees-or-b-1702440839 "That the fans already are deeply interested is manifested by the countless suggestions that keep pouring in daily. Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson, one of the principal owners in the franchise, is deeply interested. Right now she is working on a plan she hopes will eventually enable the best of these contributions to emerge. As Mrs. Payson points out, “If you pick the wrong manager, you can correct that by paying him off. But when you pick a name, you’re stuck with it and it better be a good one.” https://www.ozy.com/the-huddle/the-heiress-who-loved-baseball-so-much-she-bought-her-own-team/81553 "When New York Mets left fielder Cleon Jones closed his glove around a fly ball from Oriole Davey Johnson to end the 1969 World Series, the scene at Shea Stadium was nothing shy of bedlam. But all was calm in the office of Mets manager Gil Hodges, a taciturn Marine who had seen combat in the South Pacific in World War II. Among the crowd in his office was Joan Whitney Payson, the team’s owner, and when the phone rang, she was the one to answer it. On the line was none other than President Nixon, a devoted sports fan, calling to congratulate the team that had gone from a record-breaking 120 losses in its first season to being world champions in seven years. Payson, in her jubilation, was rendered speechless by the call. “Here’s Gil,” she fumbled, handing the receiver to Hodges — in that moment reflecting the opposite of her true self: the unflappable first woman to buy a major league team in any sport."

Bart Peverada belongs on a special plateau whenever Greater Portland boys are concerned. He was “Mr. Portland Boys’ Club” for more than 49 years before he retired a few years ago. Despite a calendar that had more busy days circled on it than that of an IBM executive, Peverada handled the full burden of ticket and dinner arrangements for the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame from 1974-83. A humble individual, Peverada did a remarkable job. The Maine Baseball Hall of Fame will always be indebted to his yeoman efforts, his contagious enthusiasm. As Portland Boys’ Club program chairman, Peverada never hesitated to tap former members for help, using their special talents to the fullest. Former members had so much adulation for Peverad:; that they rarely turned him down, the Boys’ Club always benefitting. Peverada would explain his workhorse role as solely to keep the Boys’ Club name visible. To accomplish that objective, the wizard of finance became even more adept at promotion and public relations. His contacts were limitless, and the fact that many of the city's businessmen and civic leaders grew up in the Boys’ Club athletic programs simplified salesmanship and fostered promotion. An avid baseball fan, Peverada played more football than baseball as a youngster. However, his loyalty to the national pastime never Is questioned. However it is his wisdom of Solomon to the thousands of youngsters who attended the Portland Boys’ Club that puts Peverada into an ivory tower throughout the Portland community. His one-on-one huddles in proper privacy, no matter the problem, have endeared him to too many to recount. From Legacy Pages https://obituaries.pressherald.com/obituaries/mainetoday-pressherald/obituary.aspx?n=john-peverada&pid=174317829&fhid=11167 July 10, 1927- March 3, 2015

If the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame was divided into sections, where would you place Bob Philbrick? Player? Definitely a good one — four years of varsity baseball (1947-50) at Morse High of Bath where he was also a basketball standout; five years of Legion Baseball with three State Championships; three varsity campaigns at Boston University (52-54), where he was a teammate of the late Red Sox first baseman, Harry Agganis; and many seasons of summer ball in Maine and Canada. He was a third baseman who also did a lot of catching. But he really played wherever needed because he could swing a good bat and would give 100% at any position. Coach? Let the record speak. From 1958 to 1968 his South Portland Junior High teams won every league title and sent several outstanding players to SPHS. He also had stints with Windham, Hanson (Buxton) and South Portland high varsities. From 1958 to 1978 his semi-pro teams won 8 league titles and post-season tournaments — mostly by the South Portland Merchants and Ametek Redskins, where he teamed with Bernal Allen, also a Hall of Famer. Umpire? Always in demand. From 1956 to 1984, Bob called balls and strikes at every level of play as a member of the Western Maine Board of Umpires. Administrator? Excellent credentials. Directed summer baseball in Campbellton, New Brunswick in 1957; Portland Twilight League president 1960-1978; Twilight League Commissioner 1979 to the present; field director for the Maine State Legion program 1983-1987. Certainly there isn’t much the Gorham resident has not done with the game he labels “‘the greatest.’’ And he also qualifies with his wife, Mary (Callan), for the Hall of Families with nine children, all of whom have pastimed as Gorham Ram athletes. From Legacy Pages https://obituaries.pressherald.com/obituaries/mainetoday-pressherald/obituary.aspx?n=robert-dean-philbrick&pid=177148777&fhid=6223 1933 - 2016 Bob was an athlete at Morse High School, where he excelled in baseball and basketball. He was particularly proud of playing on three American Legion Baseball state championship teams with Smith Tobey Post of Bath. He earned a baseball scholarship to Boston University graduating in 1954. He earned a master's degree in education from the University of Southern Maine. Bob taught school for 34 years beginning at Windham and Buxton High Schools before moving to South Portland Schools, where he spent most of his career. He coached basketball and baseball and was a long time athletic director at South Portland Memorial Junior High School. During the summers of his college years, Bob played semi-pro baseball in Canada. An avid sports enthusiast, Bob was involved in numerous sports activities. In addition to playing and coaching, he umpired and refereed for more than 30 years. Bob was active in the Portland Twilight Baseball League for many years as a player, coach and commissioner. The Deering Oaks baseball field was practically a second home. After his time with the Twilight League, Bob volunteered another 30 years with American Legion Baseball as a team general manager, zone commissioner and state field director. Bob was also the first permanent recreation director (part time) hired by the Town of Gorham. He was instrumental in organizing Gorham youth soccer, basketball, baseball and softball leagues. He also oversaw the building of many new fields and courts in the villages of Gorham, Little Falls and White Rock. In 1988, Bob was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame and in 2006 the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honor.

Norman (Ed) Phillips, formerly of Portland, heads the players' list by virtue of major league service as he was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1970. He travelled from his home in Louisville KY to attend the festivities. PPH 1979 From The Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/94b21f1a This article was written by Bill Nowlin Right-handed pitcher Ed Phillips appeared only briefly in the big leagues, working in 18 games for the 1970 Boston Red Sox. His record was 0-2, a win proving elusive. Phillips was both born and died on September 20. He was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on September 20, 1944, as Norman Edwin Phillips Jr., the son of Maurine and Norman Phillips. He died on September 20, 2017. Ed attended Portland’s Longfellow Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High, and Deering High School. He was an active athlete at Deering High, participating in baseball (22-5 in three seasons), basketball, and football. H. When he graduated in 1962, he was 6-foot-1 and listed at 190 pounds. He had a three-quarter arm motion, according to Portland Press-Herald writer Tom Chard, who added that he “didn’t overpower hitters, using a strong breaking ball and pinpoint control.” Chard quoted Deering teammate Paul Pendleton as saying, “Speed wasn’t his forte. Eddie had great control. He rarely walked a hitter. If he walked one or two in a game, that was it. He kept his composure and if a player made an error, Eddie would bear down that much more. It was always about the team.” Pendleton added, “Eddie pitched us to three state titles,” said Pendleton. “Little League, Pony League and (American) Legion.” There was one game at Deering that stands out in retrospect. During Phillips’s junior year, his team faced off against another undefeated team, the Cheverus Stags. Left-hander Dick Joyce was pitching for Cherevus. In 1965, Joyce pitched in five games for the Kansas City Athletics. The battle thus pitted two future major leaguers against each other. Cheverus won that game and finished their season undefeated. Phillips went on to Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where he played basketball, and baseball for coach John Winkin. There he compiled a 16-5 record, with a 6-0 (0.50 earned run average) in his final year. One of the wins in his senior year was a 5-1 no-hitter on May 10 against the University of Maine. On June 8, the Boston Red Sox selected him in the 16th round of the amateur draft. He learned of it during a game that day while pitching at Fenway Park for the first time in the NCAA District 1 final.3 He had come into the game with an ERA of 0.56, but suffered his first loss of the season, 5-4, to Northeastern. Two days after graduating in 1966, Phillips signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox for a reported $9,000. The signing is credited to Robert H. Murray. He was assigned to the Oneonta Red Sox in the Single-A New York-Penn League. He maintained a good earned run average there, 2.80 in 15 games (seven of them starts). His record was 4-4. In 1967 with the Single-A Greenville (South Carolina) Red Sox in the Western Carolinas League, he split his time between starting (19 games) and relieving (15 games). He got in 163 innings of work and was 14-6, with a 2.37 ERA. He also started three games for Pittsfield in the Eastern League, a Double-A circuit, and was 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA. For whatever reason, he started 1968 in Single A once again. This time it was with Winston-Salem in the Carolina League. He was 10-9 with a 2.65 ERA, one of the wins a perfect game on July 17 at Ernie Shore Field in Winston-Salem, beating visiting Rocky Mount, 3-0. He also homered, accounting for the first Red Sox runs.6 He struck out each of the last three batters.7 “I didn’t see any possible way it could happen,” he said afterwards, declaring his slider his most effective pitch of the day.8 His perfect game gave him “the unique distinction of having pitched at least one no-hitter at every baseball level, Little League, Pony League, high school, American Legion, college, and professional.” He pitched 14 complete games that year, and appeared in 10 games for Triple-A Louisville, 1-0 (1.88). After the season he went to Sarasota to play in the Florida Instructional League, and on to San Pedro de Macoris where he pitched for Estrellas de Orientales, going 2-1 in the Dominican winter league playoffs. The first win was a 1-0 shutout of the Leones de Escogido of Santo Domingo, where he faced all three Alou brothers, with only Jesus Alou getting a single off him. Phillips pitched the full 1969 season at Louisville, mostly working in relief (he only started 4 of 34 games). His record was 7-4, 3.25. His manager at Louisville in both 1968 and 1969 — Eddie Kasko — was named manager of the Boston Red Sox for 1970 and first met with the press on October 2. He noted Bill Conigliaro, Luis Alvarado, and Ed Phillips as among his charges who might make the majors in 1970. Later in the month, Phillips was added to the major-league roster, and even worked for the team during the offseason. He joined the Red Sox for spring training in 1970. Phillips had a good spring training, won a bullpen spot with the team and had his major-league debut on April 9 during an afternoon game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees held a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. After Vicente Romo gave up a two-out single, Kasko brought in Sparky Lyle. But Lyle gave up back-to-back walks, loading the bases. He seemed to have nothing that day, and Phillips was waved in. Down by just one run and with the bases loaded, it was a difficult situation but he threw just two pitches. The first was a called strike and on the second, Phillips induced New York first baseman John Ellis to pop up to his counterpart at first base, Boston’s George Scott. The Sox failed to score, but Phillips had done his job. After the game, Kasko said of bringing in his rookie reliever, “You might as well use them and find out. Phillips did well for a spot like that.” Phillips told a reporter he was still nervous 20 minutes after the game was over and that he was glad he’d had his first appearance on the road, since he had so many friends in Boston and would have felt more pressure there. He said of Ellis, “I faced him last year in the Little World Series playoffs and knew he couldn’t hit the breaking ball very well. That’s what I kept thinking about coming in from the bullpen. I had to get the breaking ball over first.” On April 12 in Washington, he got in a full inning of work, allowing one single but striking out the three other batters he faced. By the end of April, he’d appeared in six games, thrown eight innings, and had yet to give up a run. That changed in May. He gave up one run in each of two games, unfortunately losing the last one on May 6, but still had just a 1.80 ERA when he was sent back to Louisville in mid-May on 24-hour recall to make room for Mike Nagy, who was having an excellent year there. Phillips did not pitch well in Louisville. He was 1-5 with an ERA of 6.62 in 53 innings. When Jim Lonborg had to go on the disabled list, Phillips was brought back to Boston on July 1. He lost a second game, again just surrendering one run, on July 8. His ERA was 2.19. Then he had a couple of poor performances, both times giving up four earned runs. His last appearance was on August 29. He finished with a 5.32 ERA and the 0-2 record. He’d worked 23 2/3 innings and struck out 23 batters, but had given up 29 hits, walked 10, and been tagged for 14 earned runs. He had had three at-bats, without a hit. He successfully converted the one fielding chance he was presented. Why had he not lasted longer in the big leagues? Eddie Kasko was asked more than 20 years later. “He’s got nothing to be embarrassed about…I don’t think anyone worked harder than he did. When you get there, it’s the opportunities that are presented to you.” Kasko felt that the implementation of the designated hitter rule in the minor leagues in 1969 had meant that Phillips got less work since relievers got less work as the DH was first brought in. He didn’t get enough innings in during 1969 or, in particular, 1970, to stay sharp. “Today,” wrote Roberta Scruggs, “Phillips would be a classic set-up man; then, his role was never clearly defined.” In 1971, Phillips played for Double-A Pawtucket (0-1, with a 12.00 ERA in nine games), and very briefly for both Louisville and Tidewater in the Mets organization, then retired from baseball. Ed Phillips was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 and into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. The 2016 induction was attended by numerous family members and friends as well as several members of the 1957 Portland Little League All-Star team that he helped pitch into the Maine State Championship and regional playoffs in New York. In 2016, his number 15 baseball jersey was retired by Colby College. When Fenway Park celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, his daughter Brooke had accompanied him to the celebration. Tom Chard said she had asked her father if he was going to be nervous after being introduced and having to walk across the field at Fenway in front of the sold-out crowd. “I was nervous when I was the one walking out of the bullpen to the mound,” he told the Press Herald. “It will be a lot easier to go out there with a couple of hundred other players.” https://www.pressherald.com/2017/09/21/former-deering-high-star-and-red-sox-pitcher-ed-phillips-dies-at-73/

Edwin “Poochie” Pickett was born in Lewiston and raised in Augusta. The son of Edwin and Jean Pickett, Ed grew up with his brother Paul and sisters Karen and Angie. Ed now resides in Topsham with his wife Jenny. Ed has four stepchildren, Nikki, Kristin, Johnny and Mallory as well as six step grandchildren. Professionally, Ed works in the Insurance industry managing his own agency. Ed’s first claim to fame came in 1971 when he and his brother Paul were elected to the Augusta East Little League all star team. That team would go undefeated all the way to the Little League World Series. They lost their first game to the European team from Madrid Spain, but defeated Kentucky in the consolation game 1-0. Although Ed was the only eleven-year-old on the team, he would knock in the winning run for the team from Maine. The structure of the LLWS was quite selective in 1971, only allowing four teams from the United States to play in the World Series as opposed to the eight teams today. This makes this feat even more impressive as they had to compete with the best teams in the Eastern Region. Ed would attend Cony High School in Augusta where he was named all conference from 1976 to 1978. As a power hitter, Ed would go on to set the Home Run record which lasted over twenty years. Ed went on to college at the University of Maine at Orono where he played varsity baseball for Coach John Winkin from 1979 to 1982. During that time, Ed would compete in the College World Series in both 1981 & 1982. In 81, Ed made the all NCAA Northeast Regional all tourney team as a catcher with a tournament average of 500. Ed was also named Academic All-American in 1981. In 1982, UMO would finish 3rd in the country. Batting clean up, Ed would lead the team in hitting (376) and home runs with six. Ed was named All Tourney in New England’s, the Northeast Regional’s and the World Series as a designated hitter. Coach Winkin had respect for Ed both as a player and as a person. “His uppermost concern is that the team does well, and I admire him for that. Nobody loves the game more than Poochie.” Ed is also the only player from Maine to play in both the Little League World Series and the College World Series. He is in very good company with other whom have achieved this milestone such as Gary Sheffield, Jason Varitek, Dwight Gooden, Boog Powell and Lloyd McClendon. According to Ed, the most impressionable baseball people in his life were his Mother, his Father and his Brother Paul. In addition, his most impressionable coaches throughout his career were his little league all star coach, Charlie Gallant, High School coaches, John Coughlin and fellow inductee Jeff Trundy and his college coach, Mr. John Winkin. They all had a strong impact on his career. Ed played baseball for the love of the game and is very thankful for what the game has given back to him. Ed will tell you that many of his closest friendships were developed from playing baseball. Ed Pickett exemplifies the best of what Maine Baseball is all about. From Central Maine https://www.centralmaine.com/2013/07/26/maine-baseball-hall-of-fame-cony-graduate-pickett-set-for-induction/ As early as age 15, Pickett drew the attention of major league scouts because of his strong arm behind the plate and power hitting. By that time, he had played in the Little League World Series at age 11 and the New England Regional Ruth Tournament. The Augusta team that reached the Little League World Series in 1971 had to win 11 straight games without a loss since the tournament in those days was single elimination. “What that Little League team did will never, ever be duplicated in the history of Maine baseball,” PIckett said. There were no playing time rules then either, and as the youngest member of the team, Pickett got into just one game in the World Series, making the most of it with a game-winning hit against Kentucky. Pickett made the varsity team his freshman year at Cony and played for John Coughlin, who he said “had the biggest impact on my baseball career.” Pickett played three years for Trundy, a coach he said helped him greatly. “I kept him late after so many practices, throwing extra batting practice,” he said. AUGUSTA - Edwin D. Pickett, 72, of Augusta, Maine . May 3, 1933 - Aug. 13, 2005 Ed graduated from Cony High School in 1952 and from Higgins Classical Institute in 1953. He then attended the University of Maine. Ed was an outstanding three sport athlete at Cony High School. He was a member of the Kennebec Valley Football Officials Association for 12 years and officiated for that many years. He was involved in coaching and administering junior sports in the Augusta area for many years.

Baseball was a way Of life for James "Mimi" Pickett when he was growing up in Sanford in the 1930's and 40's. Pickett’s neighbors included the six L'Heureux brothers including Walter.. (Maine Baseball Hall of Fame 1982) and Charles and Bryce Beattie (former Freeport basketball coach). They spent countless hours playing baseball or just hitting rocks. If Mimi wasn’t with the L'Heureux brothers or Beattie boys, he was usually down at the playground, involved in a game of sandlot baseball. Pickett was smaller than most of the athletes his age. As a result, he didn't make the baseball team at St. Ignatius Grammar School.Then fate intervened. One day Mimi was attending a game in the absence of the coach, Donald Jackson, a friend from the playground sandlot, put Pickett in the game at third base. Before the day was over, Mimi was pitching in relief. He won the game 4-3, made the team and finished the year with a .549 batting average. At Sanford High School, played four years of baseball, three on the varsity. As a senior, he finished his high school career by hitting .618 in the Telegram League in 1945. Also in his final year, he managed the basketball team, was co-captain of the football team and captain of the baseball team. Mimi was also recipient of the Campbell Cup, an award presented by the men of the faculty “to the boy in the graduating class who, during four years, has shown the most improvement in athletics, scholarship and character." Pickett enrolled at Fordham University in the fall of 1946. He made the baseball team as a walk-on and was assigned to the junior varsity. Before the Rams began play in the New York City Metropolitan Conference, he had turned some heads with his heavy hitting and was at first base for the Varsity. During the summers, Paul Demers (Maine Baseball Hall of Fame 1977) always found a job for Pickett playing baseball in Sanford for the strong Goodall Sanford team and the Gonic Manufacturing team in Gonic, N.H. in 1949, after graduating from Fordham with a B.S. degree in chemistry, Pickett began work for Goodall Fabrics in Sanford. This also provided an opportunity to continue with baseball as a coach for the American Legion Thomas Cole Post team. https://www.fosters.com/sports/20161221/1946-legendary-year-in-local-baseball Pickett, the youngest player on the team, fresh out of high school, was the most “timely” hitter on the team, driving in 32 runs in 27 games while batting .291 From Legacy Page https://obituaries.pressherald.com/obituaries/mainetoday-pressherald/obituary.aspx?n=james-b-pickett-mimi&pid=186412618&fhid=18577 James B. "Mimi" Pickett April 18, 1928 - Aug. 16, 2017 James attended St. Ignatius Grammar School and graduated from Sanford High School in 1945, where he was the recipient of the Campbell Cup. While there, he was the co-captain of the football team and captain of the baseball team. In 1945, his batting average was .618 in the Telegram League. Jim played baseball for Fordham University, the Goodall-Sanford team and Gonic Mfg. Co. of Gonic, N.H. He was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.

Rick Lashua was as competitive and self-driven as a baseball player that you would find on the University of Maine at Orono (UMO) Black Bears Baseball Team from 1981 through 1984. He was one of the chief catalysts of a team that earned four straight trips to Omaha, Nebraska to play in the prestigious Division I College World Series. Rick and his teammates were well-known not just in Maine and New England, but also at a national level competing annually against the likes of universities such as Miami, Texas, Stanford and Oklahoma State. The team had fans in Maine on the edge of their seats as they followed their success in the local newspapers and highlights on the evening news. Rick grew up in a small rural community of Danville. He is the seventh of eight children born to Martin and Beverly Lashua. Strong work ethic and commitment to family were instilled in him and modeled by his parents with how they provided for their family. Many of Rick’s first sporting ventures came through the neighborhood pick-up games with his siblings and friends. During these times, he often would play against others who were several years older than him. The guys never took it easy on him and challenged him to get better or not play. The grassroots of Rick’s athletic development were well established by competing daily with his siblings and neighborhood friends. Auburn Suburban Little League (ASLL) was well known as a youth baseball powerhouse in the 1970’s. ASLL is where Rick fell in love with the game of baseball. He enjoyed everything about the game including the practices, repetitions, competition, learning from successes and failures, and most notably the time with his teammates including Jim Turcotte and Rusty Case. His 15-year old senior little league team had a good showing at the New England tournament. Rick credits his senior little league coach, Al McCarthy, for showing confidence in him and being a great mentor during his ASLL days. Arriving as a student athlete at Edward Little (E.L.) presented its challenges. Rick began competing on the gridiron playing football in the fall and on the diamond with baseball in the spring. He caught the eye of E.L. varsity baseball coach Dick Osgood. Coach Osgood saw enough potential in Rick to start him in left field as a sophomore and bat him fifth or sixth in the lineup. In 1979, his junior year at E.L., Rick won the Telegram League Triple Crown (led the league in average, homeruns and runs batted in). College coaches and professional scouts were taking notice. Rick had caught the eye of UMO Coach John Winkin who had established a very good college baseball program within the state of Maine. As a Senior in 1980, Rick was the recipient of many intentional and “non-intentional” walks out of the third spot in the batting order. He still batted .412 and was named to the first team all-state baseball team for the second consecutive year. That summer after his senior year, Rick played on the New Auburn legion baseball team for Coach Al Carson. Coach Winkin offered Rick a spot on the UMO roster. Due to the very limited scholarship money available to the team, financial aid and family contribution would be the primary sources of funding Rick’s education. During his senior year, scouts from a few professional organizations had watched him play. Rick considered looking into the potential of signing professionally as an option. The Pittsburgh Pirates invited Rick to attend an invitation only tryout. Rick attended and left a very favorable impression with the coaches. The Pirates sent up one of their organization officials to watch Rick play in a few legion games and attempt to sign him. Coach Winkin caught wind of the Pirates interest. He urged Rick to attend UMO with the school finding additional aid to assist with the financial burden. Rick decided that attending UMO was the better decision as he turned down the Pirates offer. Fall baseball began and Rick began building relationships with his new baseball teammates. The college team’s drive for excellence fit right in with Rick’s will to compete daily. He earned the starting assignment in centerfield which he would keep a strong hold on for all four years. During his four years at UMO, the team was highly successful with a team record of 129-63 and appearing in the College World Series (CWS) all four years. Rick was the leadoff hitter for three of those years while having a career batting average of .337. Upon graduating from UMO, Rick held 11 school records, nine New England Division I records, and had been named the 1984 Division 1 New England Player of the Year. Maine played a very difficult schedule including their annual spring trips. The University of Miami (Fla.) (national champions in both 1981 and 1982) was always an opponent on the trips and later in the season during the CWS for three of the years. Most of the opponents that Maine played on the trips were teams that were at an advantage of practicing and playing outside while UMO was confined to indoor practices due to weather conditions. The team found a formula for excelling at the fundamentals inside that allowed them to compete with their opponents. There were several big wins for the program during the four years. The team earned trips to the CWS all four years. In 1981, the team advanced to the CWS, but lost to eventual national champion Miami (Fla.) and then South Carolina to finish the season 32-14. In 1982 regular season wins included against #2 ranked Stanford, Washington and Wisconsin. In the CWS the Black Bears defeated Cal State Fullerton and Stanford again before losing to eventual national champion Miami (Fla.). The team settled for a national third place finish and a 35-13 record. In 1983, the team advanced again to the CWS but lost its first two games to Michigan and Arizona State. In 1984, Rick’s senior year included a fourth straight trip to Omaha. The regular season included big wins against Oklahoma and two wins each against both Michigan and Miami (Fla.). During the CWS, UMO lost its first two games to Oklahoma State and Miami (Fla.) finishing the season 33-20. In 1982, UMO defeated #2 ranked Stanford during a west coast trip. Rick hit his first homerun which gave the team the lead. The game situation appeared to call for a sacrifice bunt. After short conference with Coach Winkin, Rick was given one strike to work with by his coach prior to bunting. He played the situation up that he would be bunting. Rick even squared to bunt when the pitcher attempted a pick-off to first base to see if he may tip off his intentions. When he got the next fastball, Rick cashed in and hit a three run homer. He was always thinking of what the game may call for and staying one step ahead of his opponent. Always up for a challenge, Rick decided to become a switch hitter for his senior season. Remarkably against Division I pitching, Rick was very successful with his new skill. His batting average for the 1984 season was .420. Rick hit four homeruns from each side of the plate during the season. After his Black Bear playing days were over, Rick spent a summer playing with the New York Yankees Minor League Affiliate Oneonta Yankees in the New York-Penn League. He enjoyed the summer playing ball and learned a lot about the game. The coaching staff included notable baseball names with Manager Buck Showalter, Third Base Coach Brian Butterfield, Hitting Coach Bucky Dent and Pitching Coach Hoyt Wilhelm. Rick worked for years in the automobile industry. He met his future wife, Carol, while selling her a car. They have two children Drew and Emmy. Both of the kids were active in sports in which Rick coached them from early youth playing days. Rick was a board member of the Auburn Suburban Little League Association for nine years where he gave countless hours coaching baseball and softball as well as tending to the fields and doing the “odd jobs” to improve the facility for the kids. Rick assisted the baseball team at Edward Little High School for seven years. He also coached football in the Auburn community for nine years. He was successful in coaching, making it enjoyable for youth athletes and giving back to the community in which he gained so much from during his childhood playing days. Rick has played and coached a game that he fell in love with as a young boy. Baseball has given him many opportunities in life and he has given back to the game out of his appreciation and respect for the game. Out of all the accomplishments he had garnered, Rick appreciates and is thankful for the memories, relationships and friends that he has made along his baseball journey. https://www.sunjournal.com/2019/07/25/rick-lashua-reflects-as-maine-baseball-hall-of-fame-beckons/

“I think about baseball when I wake up in the morning. I think about it all day, and I dream about it at night. The only time I don’t think about it is when I am playing it.” - Carl Yastrzemski Anyone who knows Tim Olore could not help but smile while reading those words. One does not have to spend much time on social media to know that another “No. 8” is alive and well in Presque Isle, Maine. Tim was a very young man who was growing up in Presque Isle with his Mom, Jane who is now deceased, his Dad Hugo, his sister Rebecca, also deceased, and his brother Stephen when he quickly developed a passion for baseball and the Red Sox. That passion led him to “No.8”, The Captain, Carl Yastrzemski. His admiration for the left fielder was fanned by many trips to Fenway Park. Hugo was an attorney and as it turns out, he happened to be the attorney for…. Wait for it…. Carl Yastrzemski. One can only imagine the intensity of the pressure on Hugo to bring his famous client home, which he did. The Sox star was a gracious guest, and his connection to Tim continued to grow. Life is full of ironies. It is doubtful that the Legend of Fenway could have known that he was visiting with a future legend of baseball in Aroostook County, Maine, but he most certainly was. Tim took Yaz’s dedication and love of the game with him to play and coach in Presque Isle, which is in Northern Maine. Really Northern Maine, next door to Canada, Northern Maine! Spring does not come early there and almost all of the road trips are really long ones. It would have been easy to surrender to adversity and take up skiing full time, but that is not how this “No.8” did it. Tim Olore has been a major figure in baseball, not only in Aroostook County, but throughout the state of Maine as a player, coach and umpire. In fact, after today he will lead The Captain in Halls of Fame, three to two, as he is already in the Presque Isle High School and the University of Maine at Presque Isle Athletic Halls of Fame. One last point on this Yastrzemski thing. One does not win the triple crown without capable teammates. I did not have to spend much time in the Olore home to realize that Tim has such a teammate in Carole, his wife. To do the job Coach Olore has done takes a staggering amount of time. There are many late meals, lots of weekends traveling to games, and maybe a tad of crabbiness after a loss. When Carole spoke to me about spring trips to Florida and Massachusetts, building pallets to pay for those trips, she used the pronoun “We” and referred to “their” boys. Tim has had good protection in the batting order. Tim embarked on a very successful playing career in the mid seventies. He distinguished himself at every level. He was an MVP in Pony League, the Most Improved Player, an All Aroostook Class A Pitcher, an All Aroostook County MVP and well as a PIHS MVP. He was recognized with a Best Teammate Award and the Jim Dyer Award as The Most Outstanding Player in Aroostook County. In a foreshadowing of what was to come, he also was involved as a baseball coach for the Presque Isle Recreation Department. At UMPI he was an All NAIA District 5 first baseman who carried a .357 batting average and was recognized as the Athlete of the Month. We did say earlier that he was close to Canada. Tim played in the Tobique League in New Brunswick where he was selected as Tobique League MVP and won the Tobique League batting title. As a Senior League player for the Woodstock Shiretowners he was team MVP, Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year, and a Sr. League All-star. It is pretty clear that he didn’t just think about baseball a lot; he also played it pretty darned well. In fact, he played it well enough to be scouted by MLB teams. As impressive as these playing credentials are, Tim’s most powerful and enduring impact on baseball in Maine has been as a coach. In twenty nine years at Presque Isle and one year at Fort Fairfield his teams won 356 games. They qualified for the playoffs in 23 of those years. Presque Isle teams ranked number one both in Class A (1991) and Class B (2005, 2012). The 1991 team was Eastern Maine Class “A” runners-up. The Wildcats won multiple Big East championships in both Class A and Class B. Coach Olore was recognized as Big East Class “A” Coach of the Year (1990, 1991), PVC Class “B” Coach of the Year (2012), and Maine’s Golden Diamond Volunteer Coach of the Year (1987). Many of his players were recognized for individual excellence. Four of those players won the Packy McFarland Scholarship. That is a noteworthy point as it shows Coach Olore imparted some lessons that had a longer impact than how to spin a curveball or to hit behind a runner. He taught what once upon a time were called “life lessons”. Read what a few of those former players have to say elsewhere on these pages. Read further what fellow Maine Baseball Hall of Famer, Bill Casavant has to say about Tim wanting to stay involved in the game. Really Bill? Wanted to stay involved with the game? Who would have thought? I would venture to say after reading what these fellows had to say, that we may not be around to see the day that “Coach” has left the game.

Lester Jordan was a heralded 3-sport athlete when he graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 1951. He attended the University of New Hampshire on a partial baseball scholarship. He played baseball on some very fast service teams while stationed in Korea and Japan. But that resume, impressive as it is, pales in comparison to a singular, unforgettable accomplishment in the summer of 1951 - coaching the Suburban Little League All-Star team all the way to the Little League World Series. It was the very first year Maine had Little League teams, and the feat has only been accomplished twice since that magical season. For this historic achievement and exemplary baseball resume, the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame is pleased to present to Lester Jordan the Sonny Noel President’s Award. Lester was born July 15, 1932 and raised in Cape Elizabeth, the youngest of 7 children of Raymond and Vesta Jordan. The Jordan name is, of course, synonymous with Cape Elizabeth and Lester proudly traces his lineage to Robert Jordan’s landing on Richmond Island off the Cape shoreline in 1627. Growing up on the family farm on Two Lights Road, there was no shortage of siblings or farm hands to get a pick-up baseball game going. There was no organized youth baseball but Lester wrangled a job as the bat boy for the local town team and eventually worked his way onto the playing field at the age of 14. Lester was a standout 3-sport athlete at Cape Elizabeth High School, playing basketball and running track in addition to honing his baseball skills under the legendary coach Durward Holman. After graduating in 1951, Lester was hired as the playground director of Fathers and Sons Field, located at current day Plaisted Park. The 19 year old was also asked by Harris “Bud” Plaisted, known as the “father of Maine Little League,” to coach the Cape Elizabeth entry in the new Suburban League, one of the first Little League sanctioned leagues in the State. Lester’s team went undefeated and he was selected to coach the Suburban All-Star team, comprised of the best players from teams based in Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Scarborough and Westbrook. “We never lost a game until we got to Williamsport,” recalls Jordan. “We were always the underdog, even in Maine, but we found a way to win.” The Suburban LL All-Stars dispatched Portland and South Portland to win the Maine title, and added wins over Manchester, New Hampshire and Corning and Port Chester in Schenectady, New York to win the regional title and earn the coveted trip to Williamsport. By then, the fan base back in Maine had grown considerably and the entire state was following the improbable baseball journey of Lester’s plucky band. “People stopped at work to listen to our games on the radio,” recalls Jordan. “This was big doings here, but I was too naive back then to know it was something. I just liked baseball.” The boys from Maine lost to Texas 3-1 at Williamsport but fan enthusiasm didn’t wane. On the trip home, the team was honored by the Brooklyn Dodgers and their manager, Maine native Clyde Sukeforth, at Ebbets Field. Upon arriving by train at Union Station in Portland ,the team was celebrated with a fire-truck parade down Congress Street with 10,000 fans lining the streets. Following the once-in-a- lifetime summer, Lester attended UNH but was drafted into the Army the following year. He continued playing baseball for the 14th Infantry while stationed in Korea and Japan. Intra-service rivalries among the branches were intense and many who played were already under contract to professional teams. One of Lester’s fellow Army recruits was Maine Baseball Hall of Famer Harold Ware. The connection led to Lester’s meeting Harold’s sister Audrey. Lester and Audrey were married in 1955 and the two enjoyed 62 years together until Audrey’s passing in 2017. Following his discharge from the Army in 1954, Lester returned to Maine. He resumed coaching in the Cape Elizabeth Little League and Babe Ruth League and played Twilight League ball with Harold and Bob Ware for several years. In addition to lobstering for more than 30 years, Lester and Audrey started L & A Farm growing vegetables and flowers to sell at the Portland Farmers Market. Having just celebrated his 87th birthday, Lester easily recalls the storied events in his life, particularly the poignant details from the glorious summer of 1951. He was just a teenager but he was the right person at the right time to coach and counsel an intrepid band of 11 and 12 year olds in their improbable march to Maine baseball immortality.

One does not have to be an archivist to find a wealth of background material on Loren Ritchie. An article entitled A Maine Life written by Emily Adams in 2011 and Jim Baumer’s book When Towns Had Teams were very important sources for this piece. I can, however, tell you that nothing beats a sit down with him in his Greenville living room. In the words of the late songwriter Harry Chapin, “I spent a week there one afternoon.” For those of a certain age who remember the heyday of town team baseball in Maine, there is not a more pleasant way to pass the time. The fact that Mrs. Ritchie makes outstanding cookies and sandwiches adds to the experience. Loren was born in Presque Isle, Maine in 1932, the son of Wallace Ritchie (1911-1990) and Reta (Craig) Ritchie (1913- 1990). As an only child, Loren admits to being, “spoiled right to the core”. A great many folks would agree that the final product turned out fine. The Ritchie’s were farmers in a time that many of us have only read about. The Ritchie homestead featured neither running water nor electricity. There were no tractors. Work in the fields was done with horses. The family knew the meaning of hard work. In addition to being a homemaker, Reta also worked at Newberry’s. Loren was active in sports at an early age. Travel to practices and games was a chore, yet his father made certain he got there and nurtured his son’s interest in spite of the challenges. I will not be the one to steal Loren’s thunder, but I suspect those who listen to his speech will hear about a certain catcher’s mitt. The family moved to Caribou where Loren spent his junior high years and his first three years of high school. He was active in baseball, basketball and track. Track meets and baseball games were scheduled on the same day. That meant, “So, I would run the mile and the baseball coach would come over and haul me off the track and get me back to the baseball field where I’d warm up. I was a pitcher, so I’d pitch a game after running a mile.” His experience at Caribou was a very good one. Many of his schoolmates have remained lifelong friends. Farmers know that life is a field full of rocks, and Loren’s life hit one at the end of his junior year. Wallace had gotten a position at the Greenville branch of the Guilford Trust Company, necessitating a move. It was not a move Loren was anxious to make. In retrospect, it was a good one. It was there he met and married Liz. He is quick to say, “I love that woman profoundly.” They are blessed with four sons, Kevin (Kendra), Kirk (Carrie), Kent and Rob (Nikki) and eight grandchildren – Aaron, Arika, Edwin, Isaac, Jordyn, Grady, Natalie and Connor. Gramp has had the opportunity to see two grandsons square of as opponents on the ball field The move from Caribou also put him in the right spot to be involved with some top-notch baseball and also what some might say was a calling. Loren has said that he has “defaulted his way to success.” He never had contemplated a career in education, but he got a call from Ed Hackett, principal of PCHS in Guilford who was also brother of MBHOF member Al Hackett. The call resulted in a teaching position that evolved into a nine year stay. Ed gave him a piece of advice that stayed with him through stops at the newly minted Warsaw High School in Pittsfield, Katahdin High School in Sherman Station, and the Maine State Department Of Education. That advice was, “ If you have to chew a kid out, and he or she gets down, before the day is over, find that kid, hug ‘em and talk soft and honest to him or her and restore your relationship.” It is pretty clear Loren applies that to more than school kids. Loren’s stay at Katahdin lasted eighteen years. He then spent six years working with the college of education at UMAINE while also traveling about the state working as a private consultant. After graduation in Greenville, he spent two years at Husson where he played basketball and baseball. He also volunteered for the draft that resulted in his time in Korea with the 31st Infantry. After the armistice in 1953, Loren returned to graduate in 1957. He worked in downtown Bangor to support his family and to fund his education. He was involved with the Greenville Lakers in The Tri County League. Loren says it was a good team that gave him the opportunity to play with college players as well those who were local. That first job at PCHS allowed him to stay active in baseball on a pretty high level. Teachers at the high school got together to play basketball. The logical next step was baseball. That brought about the Davis Brothers team that later became The Guilford Advertisers. By 1966-1968 the Advertisers were as good as any town team in the state. The roster included Maine Baseball Hall Of Famers Roger Clapp, Ted Clark, Willie Boynton, Dave Gaw, and Ron Marks, who was no slouch at UMaine. During those years they were regular contestants at the YABC tournament then held at Auburn’s Pettengill Park. In fact, in 1968 they won the tournament earning a trip to the regional in New York. They were the whole package -the arms of Clapp, Gaw and Boynton, the speed and defense of Marks, and the power of Ted Clark, Gaw, and Ritchie. In 1968 they hit 52 home runs in 38 games. One contest began with five straight Advertisers homering. They came up against the best pitchers in that ’68 tournament. Bitsy Ionta who held them in check and Bob Baumer, who did not. Marty Roop from Baumer’s Roberts 88ers had this to share, “Saw the list of new inductees. Glad to see Ritchie made the list- very deserving. They batted me lead off in a game at Greenville. Ritchie was pitching. He had a very good curveball. I had never seen one. It didn’t take him long to figure that out. He struck me out three or four times. Totally embarrassing.” The Advertisers had a great chemistry. Loren cites Clapp, Clark and Gaw as having a profound influence on him. “Their conduct, attitudes and respect for the game helped me to no end.” There was also an edge to this group. They were not above a well-placed needle to an opponent or a teammate. Gaw and Ritchie often kept up a play by play from their outfield positions. One night at Pettengill they were having a discourse out there that would have been rated parental discretion advised at the minimum. They were chagrined to learn that the damp night air and the acoustics of the park had made their words reach the grandstand with amazing clarity that precipitated a rousing ovation from the fans as the two players headed to the dugout. The main character of this piece gained fame (notoriety) for taking the opportunity to moon a vehicle they passed on returning from a game. The other vehicle contained the school board chairman. If you read Baumer’s book, you may notice that other rules of safe driving were bent or studiously ignored. Yet the Gas House Gang was not totally irresponsible. They waited until catcher Flip Thompson graduated from high school before they involved him in the transgressions. I will let Loren’s words finish this paragraph. ‘To my teammates -It was a great run. It was pure fun, the way baseball is supposed to be. And a beautiful way to become friends for a lifetime. You are all pretty precious to me. I wish we could do it all over and over again. Baseball has been special and good to all of us, but remember, we too, have been good for baseball.” Now, a conclusion I think Loren will appreciate; these guys played basketball all winter. They played baseball all summer. Liz will be the closer for this. “You guys are never home! You don’t get paid.” This refrain has changed a bit. Now it goes like this-“You’re always home!”

Michael William Parquette was born in Augusta, Maine in 1948. His mother, Mary Fisher and father Alonzo “Bill” Parquette were from Fort Fairfield and Augusta, respectively. Growing up in Augusta, Mike has fond memories of his early childhood days, playing pick-up baseball at Williams School, two blocks from his house. Playing catch with his father and local pick-up games were daily events. “The local pick-up games would last until the street lights came on. Broken bats were held together with wood screws and black adhesive tape,” Mike recalls. He had early success in baseball when in 1960 he was selected as the starting catcher for the Augusta East Little League All-Star team. The team won the Maine state championship against Portland and ultimately ended up one game short of an appearance in the Little League World Series. Mike went on to attend Cony High School in Augusta, where he was the starting catcher. At Cony, he was named team captain and MVP and was also named to the Hearst All-New England team. The Baltimore Orioles pursued Mike following his graduation from Cony. However, Mike opted to continue his education and play collegiate ball at Thomas College. While at Thomas, Mike was chosen as the baseball team’s MVP during his Junior and Senior years. He was also listed in the 1972 publication Outstanding College Athletes of America. With degree in hand, Mike joined the working world at Central Maine Power Company where he excelled for over 40 years in the electric industry. Despite working full-time, his love of baseball persisted and he found his way to the wacky world of umpiring. When Mike went into umpiring he simply had to trade in his catcher’s mitt for a small plate brush and indicator. Mike was asked why he decided to continue wearing the “tools of ignorance,” when moving from baseball player to umpire. “Growing up, baseball was an important part of my life and working behind the plate was very gratifying. Once I graduated from college and entered the work force, I decided that umpiring was the closest thing to staying involved in a game I so much loved, at the same time remaining competitive and staying in shape. Mike took on that challenge and became one of the most consistent plate umpires in Maine. He worked hard at his new venture, catching the eyes of coaches and scouts. His consistency of calls, overall hustle, and calm demeanor helped him rapidly move up the umpiring ladder. The legendary baseball coach from the University of Maine, John Winkin, once stated that “Mike was the best umpire in the state.” As an umpire, Mike was a member of the Kennebec and Somerset Umpire Associations, the College Baseball Umpire Association (CBUA), the Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Word spread fast about this highly talented and respected young umpire. He was selected as an alternate for the Maine Guides (AAA for the Cleveland Indians) from 1984 to 1988. He also served as alternate for the AA Portland Sea Dogs from 1994 to 2010, where he would fill-in whenever a member of the regular umpiring crew was missing for a game. Ray Valliere Sr., of Manchester, NH, a life-long friend who worked many events with Mike, was the Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) for both the USAB and IBA. He called Mike, “One of finest young umpires that I ever met and worked with. When Mike walked onto a baseball field, you could just tell that the game was in good hands. I used to call him the 3-C umpire — ‘Cool, calm, and collected’.” Mike’s national career continued to flourish. He made four appearances in the American Legion World Series - 1988 at Middleton, CT; 1989 at Millington, TN; 1990 Corvallis, OR; 1998 Las Vegas, NV. From 1992 to 1998, Mike worked in 6 NCAA Division 1 regionals — 1992 Central Regionals, Austin, TX; 1993 Mideast Regionals, Knoxville, TN; 1994 Central Regionals, Austin, TX; 1995 Midwest Regionals, Knoxville, TN; 1996 South Regionals, Baton Rouge, LA; 1998 Atlantic 11 Regionals, Tallahassee, FL. Following the 1996 regionals at Louisiana State University (LSU) the tournament director, Ted Stickles, stated in a personal letter to Mike, “I enjoyed the chance to meet you and watch you work, and I hope maybe you can get back to Baton Rouge in the near future for another tournament. Thanks for doing a great job.” In 2001, Mike was selected as the crew chief for the NCAA Division III world series in Appleton, WI. Next came four appearances in the National Athletic Interscholastic Association (NAIA) World Series held in Lewiston, ID (2002-2005). Along with his vast national and international assignments, Mike worked numerous Maine state high school and American Legion tournaments, giving back to the sport that he loved. When the tall and talented umpire decided to swap his catcher’s equipment for a small brush plate and indicator he never realized how far this avocation would take him. When asked about his enjoyment of umpiring he said, “Unequivocally, umpiring filled the void associated with not playing the game - the camaraderie with other officials, the love of the game, and the desire to stay connected and give back to the sport. Every game presented the challenge of calling a good game - the mental challenge of knowing the rules and always striving to improve. I enjoyed and miss umpiring.” In closing, Mike expressed his feelings on being inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame: “For many years, my eyesight was questioned, my hearing was questioned, and even my ancestry was questioned. But with the help of many great friends who encouraged me to continue with my umpiring, this honor has made all those questions worthwhile. I am deeply honored that the selection committee found my umpiring accomplishments and contributions to the Maine baseball community deserving of election to the class of 2019. To be listed among the best in Maine is both gratifying and humbling.” Today, Mike spends most of his free time with his son Mark, daughter Kacey, and grandson Oliver. In addition to his hobbies of hunting, working out and traveling; Mike spends the winters in Florida with his significant other of 20 years, Mary Nickerson.

Today’s class of inductees marks the fiftieth anniversary of The Maine Baseball Hall Of Fame. Historians will find many interesting nuggets to plumb from those fifty years- the great catches, the unhittable pitchers, the sparkling plays in the field that snuffed rallies,teammates and umpires who were true characters, and even the playing fields, many of which are long gone. The fellow who disappeared into the cornfield was on the money with his description of the game. The historians will tell you that Tim Scott joins his father, Jack, and his brother, Dick, in the Hall with his induction this year. They will tell you that Tim was part of some of the halcyon days of Ellsworth High School baseball and some of the winningest teams that UMAINE has fielded. Tim, his Dad, and Brother Dick are members of the Ellsworth High school Hall Of Fame. A number of current members had a wealth of good things to say about Tim’s selection. Dave Gonyar, when I reached out to him about contacting Tim, said, “I agree with you. He should be a shoo in.Jim Cameron called Tim “a very worthy candidate”. Dennis Damon’s response was, “He certainly should join his father and brother in the Hall. David Paul echoed those sentiments saying that Tim was, “most certainly worthy of consideration.” Tim is currently the co-owner of Scott’s Lawn Service. He is the son of Jack and Nancy Scott and he grew up in Ellsworth with brothers Mike, Dick, and Jeff. Tim and his wife, Deb, are the parents a son, Cameron, and a daughter, Brooklynn. The historians among us will not be surprised that Tim cites his parents for all of their love and support and for the countless hours spent getting him to games and practices. His Dad was the most influential person in Tim’s baseball experience. His Dad’s ability to teach the game and the fundamentals of the game the game made the job of playing much easier. Tim also expressed his thanks to his brother, Dick, for being a great role model. While Dick was a player, he gave Tim the opportunity to travel with him several weeks in the summer and experience the life of a professional player during that time. These weeks gave me the drive to try and get to that level.” This year’s Ellsworth High baseball team recently won its first state championship since 1988. For you historians still reading, Tim Scott was part of that 1988 team as well as the state championship team of 1987 and the state runners up in 1986. Dan Kane had this to say, “I was an assistant Coach under Jack Scott for one season when Tim was a player and he was one of the keys to the team’s success in winning a state title. Tim then took his talents to UMO and became an important member of Coach Winkin’s teams.” Tim was also a standout in other sports at Ellsworth High. He authored the “Miracle Minute” of the Eastern Maine High school basketball tournament. In 1988, The Maine Sunday Telegram named him Athlete Of The Year in three sports. You won’t get much of this from Tim himself. He is far more likely to credit teammates and coaches for his success. One of his most memorable “baseball moments” involves a teammate and is pretty self effacing; “I was playing in the Portland Twilight League the summer that I had graduated from high school. The coach told me to play leftfield. There was a fly ball hit to me. I turned left, then turned right, then back to the left only to make a circus catch over my shoulder. This would have been a routine catch for most outfielders. Mike Bell, who also played on the team, went to the head coach and said ‘He’s going to Maine to play the infield.You should put him there.’ I never played outfield again.” Well, he did play some infield at Maine. He lettered in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. He was captain of the 1992 team. The 1990 team went 42 and 20. The 1991 team went 48 and 18 . There were some pretty ambitious schedules for the Bears in those days. The spring trip was truly a test. Maine and Miami had some memorable meetings. Quite a few Hurricanes of that era ended up in the major leagues. Almost anyone who has played the game knows that with each ascent to a new level of competition comes an awakening. A little more control or elevated velocity can quickly make a good hitter not so good. Bat speed and strike zone command can turn outs into base hits. It is not an accident that there are many levels of development leading to the big leagues. Some days you get the bear, and some days he gets you. Tim was in the lineup against Miami. Alex Fernandez, who had command and velocity, was pitching for Miami. He had stifled the Black Bears through about four innings. Not much contact, none really, sort of like a silent movie. Tim dug in. The pitch came in. He rapped a grounder to second, was thrown out, returning to the dugout to hold one of those silent celebrations hitters do. In 1992 Tim was drafted by the Colorado Rockies and spent two seasons in the system at the A and High A levels. Getting paid to play speaks volumes. One last anecdote. The night I met with him to get some background for this essay, Tim finished with a story that I have come to believe shows clearly who he is. It seems that the historic Black Bear team were to be honored before a game. It seems there was some difficulty at the establishment where they were staying. As a result, they adjourned to another spot, and spent until the wee hours enjoying each other. Tim said it was sort of like one of those old road trips. I hope Tim gets the chance to sit around and talk with these guys again. He will have even more in common with many of them after today. The Maine Baseball Hall Of Fame welcomes Tim Scott. https://goblackbears.com/news/2019/4/18/baseball-heroes-get-remembered-but-legends-never-die-finale.aspx