The Impeach Richard Nixon Flyers played softball in Toronto and lived to see RMN dead, if not impeached.
approximately
as they appear- click on underlined names for more
"details"
Barry Cromartie Russell Hughes Nick Pashley Bill Usher Paul Ennis
Gary Nicholson Chuck Owen Ron "Sox" Severin Jim Phillips Ross Phillips Bill Purchase Charles Simon
Barbara Gowdy Anne McIlroy Linda Cook Sue Miller Nellie Frair Chris Tamarow
Umm well... I found this picture doing some tidying last summer ('97) just in time to take it to the "Walk to the Ballpark™". (I suppose Nick will get around to doing a Web site at some point). Anyway, it seemed too good to waste, and if I keep taking it to the Walk, or the Magnolia Festival, either it will get lost, or (more likely) irreparably stained with beer, or a beer by-product... So better to use this web wide world thing for something "useful". No doubt some children will have a laugh or two at their parent's coiffures... just remember we didn't know a thing about tattoos or piercing then. My apologies to those Flyers who do not appear in this picture- I will happily add more pictures (including modern ones!). Also any corrections, additional information etc. etc.
Patrick Lee March 8 2006
Barry "The Crow" Cromartie, an outstanding fielder and pull hitter was born and raised in the Welland area. He currently exhibits moving pictures in the western reaches of Toronto.
Russell aka Rusty aka "White Meat" Hughes, a superb athlete in his day ( to this day?) in almost all sports, from pool to demolition derby to street hockey. He helps to keep the water Torontonians drink as pure "as the driven snow".
Nicholas Pashley loved the game of baseball with such a passion that at times he could not play it... or even discuss playing it. I won't even bring up the acid trip in left field. In later life he has achieved renown as the CEO and majority shareholder in the internationally famous "Walk to the Ballpark™". He will also sell you a book, if you aren't careful.
Bill was and is a musician, and was a methodical pitcher, always in control, sure and certain. He can bang on a drum with style.
Paul Ennis- another musician- a concert pianist. Always able to put good wood on the ball. Like Barry, Paul hailed from the canal zone of Southern Ontario.
Charles (not Charlie) Simon had an interesting baseball nick name, but I am afraid I have quite forgotten it. At one point he worked for the Federal Government, but he got over that. Oh, and he learned to skate quite recently- good for you Charlie! He was a fine 3rd baseman in the tradition of Brooks Robinson.
Gary Nicholson, when not playing baseball and pursuing other interests, has made a fine career of selling things... and his beard is much neater now. Gary used to have a nick-name, but it is not suitable for this page.
Chas. Owen looks almost identical to this picture... rather more so than many of the others here. He was probably the best baseball player on the Flyers, but he sometimes was rather silly on the field. Now he lives in the country, near to Norman Jewison... who would a thunk it? If you visit my Home Page, I have started publishing stories by Chuck Owen
Universally known as "Sox", Ron was the youngest of the Flyers in years, but far from the least mature. His natural competitive spirit was in contrast to the more laissez-faire (or "slack" in today's parlance) attitude of some players who need not be named (such as Chuck Owen).
Thanks to Chuck Owen for supplying last names!... for the Phillips brothers. Jim used to work at PFA Labs and I would occasionally pick up rolls of film from him during my days in film editing.
Jim and Ross were (and are I suppose) brothers. I was dubious about Ross's name until reminded by Chuck. Possibly a subconscious block on my part as Ross used to catch me out playing short stop.
Two Bills and two Charlies make for a good baseball team. Bill P. was then a film editor, and later ran a restaurant on the volcanic island of Montserrat. Now, I hear, he is in the real estate trade in the far west- Guelph, or possibly Kitchener?
Barbara showed zeal as a baseball player, but she has risen to greater heights in another field (letters). Like Chuck Owen, her contemporary appearance is almost identical to that pictured here... although she has a much better hair do now.
Anne "Anne Shuffleboard" McIlroy looks even younger today than in this picture! She forms the other (better) half of the management team of "Walk to the Ballpark™", a division of Pashco.
Another name recollected with the aid of Chuck Owen. I seem to recall that Linda was a legal "secretary", to use the term that was fashionable a generation ago.
Sue "Sue Gumby" Miller was our catcher and a fine one too (she could hit as well). Her nick name descended to her from her brother, which seems unfair, but then life often is.
Nellie Frair was a fine player and had a very infectious laugh. She used to work at the Partners film company, helping to make television commercials; nobody is perfect, although Nellie came rather close.
Chris is another from the film business - a cameraman, or camera person. I think he lives in the Western Ontario now.
Finally the author of this page, and one-time manager of the Flyers. What can I say... I am glad the sidies are no longer with me, and I think (hope) my chin is a bit smaller now.
