Peter Hallman Legends of Fastball Classic

June 21 - 24 2012

Peter Hallman Ball Yard, Kitchener, Ontario

Proceeds from

Legends of Fastball

support the

Children's Wish Foundation

Kitchener and Area subchapter

and other local charities

CONGRATULATIONS to 2012 Legends Champions

Hill United Chiefs

LEGENDS CLASS OF 2012

Five fastball inductees were added to the roster at the 9th annual Legends of Fastball Tournament at Peter Hallman Ball Yard in Kitchener on Saturday June 23, 2012. Front row inductees and back row presenters (left to right): Steve McCaw for father Rick McCaw (passed away June 16, 2012, St. Thomas and Larry Lynch, chair of Legends, Kitchener; Harry "The Hat" Bartley, Belmont and former team-mate/coach Bill Horne, St. Thomas; Keith Wagler, Tavistock and former team-mate Dan Donahue, Cambridge; Ron Hergott, Elmira and former team-mate Barry Musselman, Waterloo; Jim Brown, St. Thomas and former team-mate Dick Hames, Burlington. This brings to 36 the number of honorees, dating back to the first four years of the prestigious tournament hosted in Woodstock from 2004-2007 and subsequently in Kitchener, 2008-2012.

2012 Legends of fastball diamond dirt now available

Click here to download

Legends Honours Five More "Yesterday's Heroes"

The Legends of Fastball Classic is pleased to announce five more members will be added to the Legends of the Game honour role for 2012. This years class will include Keith Wagler, Ron 'Hergy' Hergott, Jim Brown, Harry Bartley and Rick McCaw. These five will join 27 other fastball legends that have performed with distinction and ferocity, thrilling fans and teammates for decades with their individual skills on the diamond.

Keith Wagler, the pride of Punkeydoodles Corners, was a dominant pitcher in the 1970’s and 80’s who toed the rubber for great teams in Kitchener, Woodstock and Norwich . His rise ball was as devastating as anyone in the game and he was a menace to opposing batters in the toughest leagues in Ontario. In 1978 alone he sported a meager 0.750 ERA for the entire season. ‘Wags’ pitched in an era when there were 3 great leagues in Ontario; the Ontario Fastball League, Inter City Fastball League and the Memorial Fastball League, was a dominant performer against teams in all three. When he retired he continued to give back to the game, coaching, instructing and fund raising to build the softball programs in nearby Tavistock.

Ron ‘Hergy’ Hergott was a two sport phenom throughout the 1960’s and 70’s. He played OHA major junior hockey with the Niagara Falls Flyers, spent years in the minor pros then won two Allen Cup championships playing Sr. A with the original Galt Hornets. On the diamond he could play all 9 positions, hit for power and was a tremendous leader and teammate. He played on numerous local teams but enjoyed great success with the legendary Waterloo Chym’rs and the Kitchener Evergreens. He was a colourful performer who cited teamwork about his own success. He always said the teammates were the greatest reason he played the game.

Jim Brown, was without doubt one of the games most feared performers in the 1960’s through the mid 1980’s. His broad shoulders and sinewy arms spoke nothing but power. His menacing black moustache and dark stare put fear into opposing pitchers. His ability as a catcher was second to none. ‘Browny’ was the lynchpin of every major team in the London –St. Thomas area and he was the battery mate of the greatest pitchers in the game in that era, including Dick Hames, Metro Szeryk, Steve Virag to name a few. He is one of 3 of the 2012 Legends honourees who were members of the Legendary London TV Cable and London Dukes teams of the 1970’s.

Rick McCaw was the benchmark by which all outfielders were measured in the 1960’s until the late 1980’s. Before there was a Brian Paton, before there was a Ryan Wolfe, the centre field spot in Ontario was the domain of Rick McCaw. He never went after a ball that he did not charge and he came up throwing every time. He was fleet afoot, powerful and his swing could destroy a ball with his muscular back and shoulders. His leadership ability was unquestioned and while he toiled every game in the outfield he also kept the St. Thomas fastball juggernaut alive for years as a manager and recruiter. He was a member of the London TV Cable National Championship team of 1970 and shared the diamond with many of that alumni on some great St. Thomas teams as well.

Harry ‘Hat’ Bartley was the cornerstone of every team he played on. His wide spread stance at third base challenged hitters to put one by him; they rarely did. His similar stance in the batters box rarely let a good pitch get by, and he was without doubt one of the toughest outs in the game. Harry could hit for power and average, hit to every field and was a master of breaking up games with timely and clutch delivery. He was a master of deception often goading runners into trying to stretch a hit into a shot at third base. His decoy stance would culminate with a snap tag that would totally change the complexion of many rally opportunities. Harry was always in the middle of the lineup and his skills put him on such great teams as London TV Cable, London Dukes and many St. Thomas teams.

2012 Legends of Fastball Classic Enhances the Field

The 2012 Legends of Fastball Classic is gearing up for another outstanding weekend of fastball scheduled to kick off on Thursday June 21, at Peter Hallman Ball Yard, Kitchener, Ontario. Legends has grown into one of the premier softball events in North American since its inception in Woodstock in 2004 and this year’s edition will be no exception.
The Legends concept is built on showcasing the best of yesterday, today and tomorrow in major men’s fastball, and this year will add a four-team master’s division to its ten-team major men’s and four-team junior men’s divisional setup. The men’s and junior divisions will kick off with games on Thursday June 21 while the master’s will jump into action on Friday June 22.

The Legends has always attracted the best players and teams in the game and the line-up thus far is a who’s who of the top club teams in the game today. Pull up a lawn chair or dust off a bench to watch two-time ISC World Champion Jarvis Travelers, ISC finalists New York Gremlins, AAU Champion Hill United Chiefs, ISC World Tournament hosts Midland Explorers, former ISC II champions Port Elgin Blue Devils and the Kitchener Cubs — all of these confirmed.

Not good enough yet? How about the New Zealand Black Sox making a return trip to Kitchener to defend their Legends crown won in last year’s final against the World Champs from Jarvis. The Black Sox will also be touring the area and bringing their National team to a number of communities throughout southern Ontario before and after the Legends weekend. The rest of the field will be announced in the weeks to come but rest assured there are a lot of teams scrambling to be a part of this world class event.

Not good enough yet? The New Zealand Black Sox will be making a return trip to Kitchener to defend their Legends crown won in last year’s final against the World Champs from Jarvis. The Black Sox will also be touring the area and bringing their National team to a number of communities throughout southern Ontario before and after the Legends weekend.

The field gets even tougher with the recent announcement that the Argentina Men’s National Team will again bring their high spirited and fast-paced line-up back to Kitchener. The Argentineans participated in Legends a number of years ago and have developed a stable of some of the best pitchers in the world since that time. Look for them to also play some exhibition matches as they tour through the area.

The final two teams in this year’s men’s line-up include the former two-time National Champion St. Thomas Centennials and the “new” Toronto Gators, looking to earn the respect their predecessors did as the Canadian softball team of the ‘90’s.

The Junior division was a tremendous addition to the Legends in 2011. This year’s tournament features four of the best junior teams in Ontario, including the Owen Sound Volkswagen Selects, Southern Ontario Jays, Nappanee Express Juniors and the Wiarton Red Devils who are moving up from midget after winning the Canadian Championship in 2011.

The Master’s division should be a treat for a lot of long-time fastball fans and will be highlighted by the return to the diamond of the 1993 and 1995 ISC World Champion Toronto Gators. Yes, Jack is back! The entire Gators juggernaut of the 1990’s is “coming out of the swamp” to prepare for a run at the World Master’s Games softball title, scheduled for Torino Italy in 2013. The Gators will face some tough opposition their first time out with the Waterloo Classics, Stony Creek Scrappers and a team from Ottawa rounding out the field.

Sounds like a great weekend and this is just the warm-up for summer!

Information on the Legends Classic tournament

Sounds like a great weekend and this is just the warm-up. Make your plans now and circle your calendars for JUNE 21 TO JUNE 24, be a part of Canada’s greatest softball event in its premier facility, PETER HALLMAN BALL YARD, KITCHENER, ONTARIO.

Games kick off at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday June 21 with five games and five more on Friday night. There’ll be a total of 43 games and tickets will be available at the gate all weekend.

Watch Al’s Fastball on the web or email Al at fastball@pmihrm.com for details, updates, schedules and ticket information.

The Legends of Fastball Classic is brought to you by Kitchener Fastball Promotions, the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada and the best volunteer team in the country.

For information on the 2012 Legends of Fastball Classic Larry Lynch at llynch9@rogers.com

Tickets will be available at the gate on all 4 days.

Weekend Pass - $20.00
Thursday & Friday Night - $5.00
Saturday and Sunday - $10.00
Children under 12 - Free

HOST HOTEL

Reservations: 519.895.2272 or conestoga@stayrcc.com open 24/7