Fort William Nationals Senior Little League (1964)
Fort William Nationals Senior Little League (1964) was a senior little league all-star baseball team from Fort William that won the Canadian championship and represented the country at the World Series. The team was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.[1]
Overview
- Sport: Baseball
- League or level: Fort William Royal Canadian Legion Senior Little League
- Season: 1964
- Achievement: Canadian Champions
- Inducted: 28 September 1985[1]
Season
The 1964 Fort William Nationals were an all-star roster selected from an eight-team baseball league supported by the Royal Canadian Legion branches in Fort William. The squad traveled to Stoney Creek, Ontario, for the national championship. On August 17, 1964, they secured the first Canadian Senior Little League title for their region by defeating a club from Valleyfield, Quebec, with a final score of 14-2.[1]
Following their national victory, the team flew from Toronto to Louisville, Kentucky, to participate in the Senior Little League World Series. They were the inaugural team to represent Canada at this international event. The players received official tournament uniforms labeled with the country's name upon arrival. Their opening game took place at the State Fairground Stadium, a venue with a capacity of 20,000, where they played under stadium lights against a representative from Brenham, Texas.[1]
During the World Series game, the Fort William side held a 4-3 lead after the first inning. They maintained this advantage until the fifth and sixth innings, when the Texas team scored four unanswered runs. Despite recording nine hits to their opponent's eight, the Nationals lost the game 7-4. Because the tournament followed a single-elimination format, the loss concluded their competitive play, though they were recognized for a competitive performance against the American side.[1]
The team's return to the Lakehead was marked by significant public celebration. Over 500 local residents signed a telegram sent to the players during the tournament. When they arrived at the airport, a crowd of more than 1,000 supporters met them. A motorcade featuring fire trucks and convertibles escorted the athletes through the city to the Fort William Gardens, which was filled to capacity. Formal recognition continued the following day with a civic banquet at the Royal Edward Hotel, where the Legion presented the players with watches. The festivities concluded with an autograph session and a dance featuring the band Donny B and the Bonnevilles.[1]
Roster
The names below come from the Hall of Fame profile and its team photograph caption.[1]
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dave Bragnalo | player | 3rd base |
| Ron Busniuk | player | catcher-pitcher |
| David Hudyma | player | short stop |
| George Kenno | player | pitcher |
| Robert Kochan | player | 2nd base |
| William McEwan | player | right field |
| James Montroy | player | second base |
| John Pimenow | player | outfield |
| Alan Rawlyk | player | catcher |
| Rick Sandberg | player | pitcher |
| Don Sawicki | player | pitcher |
| Greg Smith | player | first base |
| Bill Sutherland | player | left field |
| John Tafe | player | centre field |
| William Nesbitt | coach | |
| Roddy LeBlanc | manager |
Honours and achievements
- 1964 Canadian Senior Little League Champions
- First team to represent Canada at the Senior Little League World Series
- Defeated Valleyfield 14-2 in the national final
- Out-hit the Texas representative 9-8 during the World Series[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Fort William Nationals Senior Little League", team profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/team-profile/7fca8baf-de75-48d2-8878-e5d41ca7c837 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.