SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Man’s best friend provided one of the most memorable moments for Gerard Dalton on the baseball field
Dalton, who played at Legends Field from the late 1940s to the early 1950s, was one of the 2019 inductees for the Legends Field Honour Roll at Queen Elizabeth Park in Summerside on Saturday afternoon.
“One memory I have and it was funny at the time,” said Dalton. “I hit a double and as I was rounding first base all of a sudden my dog (a collie named Monty) came bursting out of the big crowd and was running down to second base with me.
“I get down there and I am embarrassed and the dog is standing there looking up at me wagging his tail. Somebody took him off the field and I was laughing and (the late) Bob Schurman, manager of CJRW, was laughing doing the broadcasting.”
The late Johnny Carroll, Greg MacDonald, George MacNeill and the 1951 Holman’s intermediate team joined Dalton in the Class of 2019.
“I’m really happy,” said Dalton. “It’s nice to be remembered and this is a big day for me. I have lots of memories here.”
The well-attended ceremony included a presentation of certificates in the infield of Legends Field before the unveiling of the bronze plaque featuring the 2019 inductees on the monument located on the first-base side.
Dalton was described as a fleet-footed centre-fielder. He said he enjoyed playing that position because he loved catching the ball, running and making plays.
“When I was 13 or 14 I used to come up to the field and I would be here every day,” he added. “That was a lot of fun. Some of the best days of my life were here.”
Late Johnny Carroll
Carroll came to Summerside in 1952 and coached minor and junior ball for the next 10 seasons. Roger Ahern, who played under Carroll, accepted his certificate.
“He was like a legend from Boston,” said Ahern. “He remembered everybody’s name and taught us all the skills.
“I remember when we started he taught you to bunt and do all the proper things. As we grew along in baseball and softball, all those guys could bunt and play the game.
“He always talked about leadership and respect your elders, never argue with an umpire and all the things you need to do.”
Ahern said it didn’t take Carroll long to earn the respect of his players.
“He knew the game and we all knew when he said something that was the way to do it,” said Ahern. “A lot of people remember Johnny Carroll for many reasons, but for me, it was because he was a really nice person.”
Greg MacDonald
MacDonald said he “was quite surprised and obviously honoured” to be recognized.
“Any time you get any recognition it’s always nice,” said MacDonald. “For me, it was never about recognition. I just enjoyed playing and being around the park.”
MacDonald was described as “an all-around ballplayer” in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Although he was mostly an infielder, MacDonald was praised for being able to play any position.
MacDonald developed a passion for the sport at a young age.
“We were little ball nuts,” said MacDonald. “Hal Birch and I would be up here every day playing fence. It was the thing to do.
“When we were growing up you were out of the house at eight o’clock (in the morning) and you had to find something to do. We pretty much went around the ballpark.”
MacDonald also went on to star in softball.
“It kind of went in cycles here,” said MacDonald. “Baseball was really big growing up and then all of a sudden it went dead and fast pitch took over and I played that for a number of years.
“Then baseball has kind of rebounded, which is nice to see.”
George MacNeill
MacNeill was described as an individual “considered to be one of Summerside’s great athletes.”
He began playing Little League ball in the 1950s and continued to play into the 1990s.
“He stopped playing because of a shoulder injury, and that’s when he gave up ball and hockey,” said his wife, Linda, who accepted his certificate.
MacNeill played numerous positions, including catcher, shortstop, pitcher and second base, and led his team to the Maritime bantam championship and was a leader with the Summerside Junior Legionnaires, who won the Maritime championship in 1964.
“He loves his ball and sports of all kinds,” said Linda. “He loved to be active.”
MacNeill’s influence was felt off the field as he was described as having a “humble” personality who was an inspiration to his teammates.
“He loved to play ball and loved the trips,” said Linda. “I remember they went out to Manitoba for one year and were billeted in private homes.
“He often talked about that.”
1951 Holman’s Intermediate Team
The Holman’s squad won the P.E.I. league and lost to Middleton, N.S., in a sudden-death Maritime final in the Nova Scotia town.
The team had a mixture of players from Summerside and RCAF Station in Summerside.
Kenny St. John of Summerside represented his father and team member, Frank St. John, at the ceremony.
“It’s certainly an honour to accept this (certificate) on my father’s behalf and for him to be associated with a team that is recognized is just wonderful,” said St. John. "I used to play catch with him in the yard and I knew he used to play a little ball.
“I knew in the RCAF he played with several teams wherever he was posted throughout Canada, but he never really talked about it a whole lot.”
St. John did share a story about how Frank did not have to go far for batting tips.
“My mother (Mary) used to tell me she used to coach him a little bit when he would go into a slump at the plate,” recalled Kenny. “She prided herself in saying, ‘I brought your father out of his slump.’”
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