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Oldtimers Tourny Honours Community Leaders
Aside from the baseball, maybe the best part of the yearly MVBL Oldtimers Tourny is the Awards Banquet that sees community volunteers get recognized for all their contributions to the community and to baseball.
Every year the MVBL Oldtimers Tournament features a banquet that honours people from the four communities represented in the tournament for their service to their community and to the sport of baseball. For the past few years, the banquet is held the weekend before the tournament, and is a wonderful tribute the regular people who have contributed so much to their communities through volunteerism and baseball. This year the banquet also saw two people receive special awards for their efforts in Chatham head to make it the great place that it is.
Pat Lange: Sullivan said Lange started a Facebook of photos from Chatham Head that is widely seen and used. Sullivan said Lange also pitched in and hlped design and write the program for the 40th MVBL Oldtimers Tournament, a program that was called "something like you'd see at Yankee Stadium" by someone at the banquet. Presenting the special volunteer award to Lange was Sunny Driscoll. In accepting the award, Lange said "When I think of all the wonderful volunteers we have in Chatham Head, I don't think I deserve this award. I am very humbled by this, thank-you very much. I go walking everyday with Sunny (Driscoll) in Chatham Head and he asked me one day if I'd like to walk in Newcastle, and I said no, I'd like to just stay in Chatham Head."
The second special award went to Gary Goguen, who was a long serving president of the Rec Centre and could be seen volunteering at most of the events hosted at the centre. Sullivan said the Rec Centre and the ball fields are in fabulous condition, and it is because of the group of volunteers who look after them under Gary's leadership. "On behalf of the Oldtimers Committee, I would like to give Gary Goguen this award for helping us achieve our goals," Sullivan said, and presented Gary with the award. The Rec Centre has seen many improvements and expansions over the years and is a facility rivalled by one in the area. Under Goguen's leadership, the rec committee brought the organization from the brink of extinction to vibrant committee of up to 80 volunteers, with the resources to grow their community and facilitate events to help people in need.
The award was a surpise to Goguen. "You got me there," he said when accepting the award. "I'm caught off guard. It has been an easy job, stressful at times but when we needed something done, we drew from our list of 70 to 80 volunteers to get things done. I am so proud of what we have accomplished, I am blown away. When that many volunteers show up to help, it blows me away. My hat goes off to everyone here."
Gary was not willing to sit down without recognizing the efforts of Sullivan himself. "John Sullivan's fingerprints are all over this community, from the rec centre to the ball fields, to the church tot he father Smith Manor... I honestly don't know how our community would function without John. He is a friend to everybody, treats everyone the same, and he deserves this too."
The first Community Service Award went to Brad Vautor of Douglastown. "
Brad has followed the Vautour family tradition ofkeeping baseball in his life. He played his minor ball in Douglastown and grew to be a very talented ball player, helping his team to win many titles. Brad mainly played infield but could be called upon to play any position anytime. He became a big right handed pitcher, gaining many wins on the mound. Always a good hitter, he took great pride in wearing his father Gary's #10, and like his father played with class and sportsmanship.
Chatham - Frank Kane
One of the best athletes of his generation, Frank Kane was a standout on the diamond with
the Ironmen. Frank started as a 16 year old call-up to the Ironmenin 1949 and stayed
with the team until 1963. In his first game, he belted out two hits and played second base. He would soon mov.e to became a fixture for the Ironmen for many years. After his
success on the field, Frank became involved in helping out the local teams by coaching or managing and then in field upgrades and maintenance. Frank is also an original oldtimer playing in 1977 and continuing to 1986. During that time he had a 429 average.
Michael Dunnett (Newcastle) played all his minor baseball in the Newcastle Cardinal system and has
played on Miramichi, provincial and national championship teams. His abilities have led
him to Canadian baseball institute in Vancouver, Rhode Island and the Cape Codleague. He was an all-star where ever he they won college world series, Back home he played agreat shortstop for Chatham when Alpines the national championship at Ironmen fieldin 1995. He also helped the Saint John capture gold in 2001. An exceptional athlete, Mike took to coaching in the Miramiehi
Twins organization when his senior career was finished. Dunnett had kind words to say about former coach Eddie O'Donnell in his acceptance address.
Sam McArthur (Chatham Head) -
Sam played for the Tigers from 1958 to 1960, before leaving for a year with the army. In 1961 he played with Chatham Head in the Industrial League, moving to Toronto in 1962. When the tournament started he began making his annual pilgrimage from the big city to the oldtimers event. That started in 1977 and continued for 30 years until he moved back to the Miramichi in 20o7. Sam immediately became involved with the organizing committee and has been a valued member since. His tourney stats show 20 hits in 67 atbats for a .299 average. He hammered out a homer in 1978.
The Anthony Goguen memorial Award is given to the top volunteer in the community each year. This year's recipient is Johnny Henry. He is a tireless
volunteer in the community. He has put countless hours as the treasurer at the rec center over the last
14 years. Always one for getting his numbers straight, he has his books in tip top shape. Johnny has been an integral part of the oldtimers committee for the past 30 years and once held the chairman's post for three years. However the majority of his time in the summer is spent at The Waldo Henderson Memorial Ballfield. It is here, along with Gary Dunn that they look after the upkeep of the field. They have made our field one of the best in the country. Hours upon hours of volunteer time has produced the great playing facility we have today. Johnny also finds time to be assistant coach of today's Tigers. A great representative of volunteering in the community, Johnny's name goes on the honor list. Johnny was happy that his family was in attendance when he received the award, including his parents who recently celebrated thier 70th wedding anniversary.
