Miners in Drumheller measured their workday by the pound. They measured their free time by the inning.
Baseball and history buffs alike are hoping to capture that spirit to celebrate 100 years of coal mining in the valley.
A committee has been working diligently to mark 2011 as the centennial of the beginning of the industry that built the valley. One of the plans is to stage an old timers baseball game and slow pitch tournament.
Remie DeFoor, who is sponsoring the tournament, said the events will take place on the weekend of June 17-19, 2011. On Friday night they will be staging the 5-inning baseball game and are inviting any former ball players it the valley to play.
Because many are approaching an age where they might not be able to play, they are looking for former players to fill in as managers. They would also encourage former players to come out with some of their memorabilia to exhibit from the days when miners dug for coal and dug for ground balls.
The competition within the valley, with teams such as the Midland Yankees, the Ploeg Street Pluggers, the Round House Hornets and the Rosedale Midways were always fierce in days gone by. The competition in the valley helped the team hone their skills as they went outside winning provincial trophies. A few went on to even greater heights including Glen Gorbous who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, and also still holds the Guinness record for longest throw of a baseball.
Following the game, the weekend will be packed with a slow pitch tournament, and within it, they hope to revive some of the valley’s historic rivalries. Each team will take the name of a mine, and the team will have to design a logo and t-shirt for the tournament. Funds generated by the tournament will go towards helping to raise money for a miner’s memorial in downtown Drumheller.
For more information on the tournament, to enter as a player for the old-timer game, or enter a slo-pitch team, contact DeFoor at 403-820-1314.
