Submitted by EBBA
Sixty years ago, former New York Yankee and Pittsburgh Pirate Frank Colman, along with Gordon Berryhill and George ‘Mooney’ Gibson, both of whom also played major league baseball, formed a youth baseball organization and named it Eager Beaver Baseball. The start of the season was marked with a parade down Dundas Street that ended at Labatt Park, where numerous exhibition games were played.
Today, the league and tradition are still alive. EBBA is going strong with over 450 players on rosters this season, ranging in age from 4 to 22 years old. House league divisions from Little Slugger to Junior, and competitive teams from Rookie to Junior proudly carry on Frank Colman’s dream of providing youth baseball for the community.
Players may not parade down Dundas Street anymore, but Labatt Park is the site of Colman Day, a fun-filled day of T-ball and all-star games for house league players. On July 12, all-star players from EBBA — who have been chosen by their teammates — will compete against all-star teams made up of players from surrounding leagues.
The day starts at 9am when over 100 T-ball players will take to the field to both show off their talents at skills stations and to scrimmage on the big field. The Rookies take the field at 12 noon for their all-star game, and the day ends with the Midget game at 8pm. While sitting in the dugouts, having their names announced over the loud speaker, and running the bases in the red clay, all the players get a small taste of the ‘big league’ experience.
Friends and family of participating players are, of course, welcome to come out to Colman Day, as is the general public. Players and coaches will be admitted for free. Admission for adult spectators is $2.00, which includes a raffle ticket. There will be 50/50 draws, raffles for donated prizes (including Blue Jays tickets), and full concessions available.
Frank Colman’s son and his family will be on hand for the ceremonial first pitch at noon. The event brings together the community in a way that would certainly make Frank Colman proud.
www.ebba.ca
