Hockey might be Canada’s favourite pastime but as far as this corner is concerned, Canada Day is made for baseball.
Though our neighbours to the south often claim ownership of the game, the actual origin of baseball is very much up for debate. Historians do however agree the first ever baseball game was not played in Cooperstown, NY, as is so often claimed. Being the home of Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame, there’s a vested interest in their part in perpetuating this myth. Records show a game very closely resembling baseball was played in Beachville, Ontario in 1838, a full year ahead of the supposed 1839 date of the Cooperstown game.
Regardless of the sport’s origins we do know this: a warm July afternoon, the smell of grilled hot dogs in the air and the sound of bat meeting ball-there’s nothing better. After being forced to spend the last two Canada Days away from the diamond due to the pandemic, being out at the old ballgame this past weekend was all the more sweeter.
Here in Napanee there was ball played all weekend at the Fairgrounds as the U17 Express hosted a provincial eliminations-the first major tournament held in town since 2019. The home team Express didn’t disappoint either, playing all weekend in the summer heat and making it to the finals where they finished as runner-up.
Best of all, this weekend’s tournament was just the start. There will be plenty of ball to follow this summer at the fairgrounds, including the U20 Canadians Aug. 2-7. As entertaining as the pros can be, there’s something to be said for watching some of Canada’s best amateurs playing for nothing but the chance to bring home gold for their province-and the love of the game. Fortunately for residents of Greater Napanee, we’ll have the chance to see it live and in person, all right in our own backyard.
– On a sad note, it’s with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of one of our own in Chris Morrison.
Son to long-time Beaver publishers Earl and Jean Morrison, his passion for keeping the family’s newspaper legacy going in honour of his parents was always very evident. Much like his parents, he shared a keen interest in preserving community journalism in a time when small town publications were being swallowed up and silenced by much larger corporations.
One memory that will always remain: sitting at my desk just minutes after having been promoted to manager editor of the Napanee Beaver, the phone rang.
“Hello, I’d like to talk to the editor,” said a vaguely familiar voice, but one I couldn’t place.
“Uh, I guess that’d be me,” I answered.
“It’s Chris, I was just calling to say congratulations man,” said the voice on the other end of the phone.
His vote of confidence is one I’ll never forget, nor will I forget his willingness to give me an opportunity in this business. May he rest in peace.
-Adam Prudhomme