Page 25 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 82

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #82 September 2019 25

SUB Place • Business Cards
• Posters
• Menus
• Print Ads etc.
YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR DISPOSAL OF UNWANTED FIREARMS
WE P A Y dilly
WE PAY
CASH FOR GUNS Home of the Great Sub! Designs
S S
FREE IN-STORE APPRAISALS
FREE IN-ST ORE APPRAISALS
3045 Pitt St Cornwall • (613) 932-0717 613-932-6033 Lynn Dillabough
www.fencedepotltd.ca 407 Pitt Street, Cornwall 613-349-4694 • dillydesigns@eastlink.ca

Jim Riddell’s Sports Talk with Area Senior

Bill Fields

By Staff Writer would be to find another ump at the
last minute. I called Keith out at 1st
ill Fields was born in Montreal in base, Muriel thought that he was safe
B1937, moving to Summerstown and she didn’t talk to me for about a
when he was six years of age. He week – we still joke about it but to
began his long association with the this day Muriel still maintains that
sport of fastball when he was fifteen Keith was safe.”
playing in a local men’s league for For the next several years Bill
the next five years. In 1959 Bill was umpiring fastball in Cambridge,
joined the military spending the next Preston, and Hespler. In 1975 the
two years in the Royal Canadian family moved back to Cornwall with
Regiment (RCR). Bill working at Versatile Knitting,

In 1962 Bill married Muriel Leblanc which was a part of Courtaulds.
and in 2019 they celebrated 57 years “It wasn’t long after we returned
of marriage. Bill and Muriel have to Cornwall, we were living in the
four children, Roy, Keith (deceased), Glendale subdivision and I got a call
Jean, and Cathy. In 1964 the Fields from Paul Wannamaker, the umpire-
moved to Cambridge where Bill in-chief of the Border League, saying
was employed by Canadian General that he had heard I was an umpire
Tower, an automotive upholstering and asked if I would like to do some
manufacturer. Roy and Keith were work for him. That phone call was
soon playing pee wee hockey and Bill the start of a long relationship. Paul
was the league convener of peewee was always a class act and I enjoyed
division. working with him”

Bill recalls that the boys’ team The Border League had teams
played an exhibition game against in Apple Hill, Summerstown,
Wayne Gretzky’s team. We didn’t do Williamstown, Lancaster, and
very well – I think that they beat us Bainsville. Bill was soon umpiring
about 13-2, with Wayne scoring most seven nights a week, and over the
of his team’s goals. I met Walter years was umpire-in-chief for both
Gretszky at an old timers’ game this the Woman’s Commercial League Photo Submitted
spring and we talked about that. and the Burger King Tournament
of Champions. Bill remembers states. “If a batter swings at a pitch his choices 1st base: Steve St. Pierre,
Bill also coached Roy and Keith’s umpiring an all-star game for the that is down around his ankles that’s 2nd base: Larry Keen, Shortstop: Bob
peewee softball team, winning the one thing, - but if he doesn’t swing Boivinneue, 3rd base: Harold McRae,
Sportsman League where he and
league championship. In 1965 the the other three umpires had more and I call that same pitch a strike – Catcher: Jimmy O’Neil, Pitcher: Bill
family’s next door neighbour Len than one hundred years of combined then it’s on me. The one thing that Covney, Outfield: Brian O’Neil,
Fry approached Bill asking him if you can never do is to compensate Bobby Grant, and Dean Holmes.
experience between them.
he would be interested in umpiring for a bad call by making a second Coach: Gerry Guay, Umpire: Paul
minor ball. Bill, who was coaching Bill’s son Roy followed in his one. So, if Ray Barnes is reading Wannamaker. The longest home run
his sons’ team at time, got his footsteps becoming an umpire this – Ray, I’m always going to owe that Bill ever witnessed was one hit
certification as an umpire. and officiating for several years you one, - but you’ll never be able to by Bunny Warner in Williamstown
in the woman’s league. On the collect it.” that cleared the pine trees beyond the
“Because of that, I had a very quiet
weekends there were plenty of left field fence. Bill Fields umpired
week around our house one summer. tournaments in Cornwall and nearby Having umpired in the various
Bob Spurgeon and I were coaching Cornwall fastball leagues for forty- his last ballgame in 2012 at 75 years
towns of Morrisburg, Vankleek of age. “I met a lot of people over
the boys’ team and one night the Hill, Chesterville, Williamsburg, five seasons Bill has seen many very
umpire didn’t show up for our game. good ball players and could have those years and I can honestly say
St Polycarpe, Limoges, and the that I could sit down now and have a
It was easier for us to go with one picked more than one all-star team
Newington Fair. “Umpires are only beer with any of them. I had a lot of
coach and for me to ump than it from over those years but here are
human and we make mistakes” Bill fun and I still miss it today.