Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

DRESDEN SPORTS

HALL OF FAME

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1953

DRESDEN JUVENILES

BASEBALL TEAM

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INDUCTED 2003

(inscription on plaque awarded to each player)

Clark Wallace, 2b (d)

Bob Peters, 3b

Bob Davis, ss (d)

Bruce Huff, c

Floyd McCorkle, cf

Dick Wright, p, 1b

Larry Ennett, lf

Jim London, rf (d)

Dean McLachlin, 1b (d)

Larry Browning, of (d)

Carl Shaw, p (d)

Tom Ruckle, c

Len Bedell, manager/coach (d)

Don Brooker, asst. coach (d)

*Note to viewer: click on above story to enlarge the image.

A TRIBUTE TO LEN, "THE CHIEF"

Coaching can be a thankless job, I know from firsthand experience. Come to think of it, who am I to talk? I never did thank Len Bedell for all the time and effort he devoted to coaching our Juvenile and Junior teams in Dresden in the early 1950s. To my knowledge, no one else did either.

While Dresden Legion sponsored us, Len was pretty much left on his own to manage and coach the teams which meant, in addition to onfield duties, arranging games, umpires and transportation for away games and liaison with sponsors and league officials. And, of course, who else but the coach to lug bats, balls and catching gear to practises and games, and who else but the coach to gather it all up again after wards. First to arrive and the last to leave, that was routine for Len.  Always ready with a laugh.  He never had a team uniform per se, just the same old baggy jeans and a T-shirt straight from work.

Len was easy going and noted for his hearty laugh, but his knowledge of the game and his ability to manage young players was not to be dismissed lightly. He was a strong field general and respected by his players. I do not recall even once when a player had a disagreement with him, and that's saying a lot considering the heat of competition at times. He knew his players well and juggled the lineups effectively to maximize their potential in game situations.

Len and his wife Eldine tried very hard to have their own baseball team but fell short by two players. Their seven children include Connie, Woody, Cynthia, Mary Melanie, Dean, Darcy and Tracy.

Apart from his family, winning the Ontario Juvenile "C" (OBA) championship in 1953 was "The Chief's" crowning achievement. They both looked good on him -- and Eldine.

So Len, this may come 60+years too late, but "thanks..." Hopefully Hack, Hook, Clarkie, Slats, Boo and Larry have conveyed that same message to you on the other side.  -- Dick Wright, "The Kid".

OUR FAVORITE BAT BOY:

Tommy "Beans" Craig

OUR FAVORITE SCORE KEEPER:

Jim Blackburn

OUR FAVORITE UMPIRES:

Fred Peardon, Lonnie Mason, Pat Hinnegan

OUR FAVORITE FANS:

Fred Steeper of "Raaaaa, tu, tu, tu, tu, taaa!" fame

Lila McFadden, an umpire's worst nightmare

Bill Johnston, Jim Manderson, Tom Whitson of Legion Branch 113, faithful collection takers

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Mr. & Mrs. Red Blackburn (lawn chairs on rt. field foul line)

Walter "Dyna" Dynes

Ern Wells

Elmer Pailing

Harvey Hopkins

Wid Bedell

Bob Davis Sr.

Jack London

Tom Houston

Jim Blackburn, scorekeeper

Carmen Peters

Garnet Little

Gerry Weese

Doug Weese

Pauline Elgie

Claudette Marks

Dr. Lloyd Payne, driver

Dr. Jack Woods, driver

Don Dusten, driver

The Girls from Wallaceburg

The Girls from Dresden

...and many others