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The Canadien Champion, Friday, August 29, 2008 - Al19 SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail sIebIanc@miItolcaadialchamPiOl.com Glory days Camnpbellville teams' dynasty chronicled in The Village Nine When one thinks thesrt Montreal Canadiens, Boston Celtics and New York Yankees arc n h m-ost hikely tbet names that corne toan mind. Not if you're a longtimne resident of a village iînmediately west of here, however. While neyer gracing the cover of Sports lllustrated or rnaking it on TYV the Campbellville Merchants intermediate mensq basebail club enjoyed a cbampionship heyday tbat nivals that of any tearn - in any sport, ai any level. Even those responsîble for the success sitl [md it bard to believe that during Len Andrews' 16-year mun as manager (1952-67), tbe Villagers captured an astounding 12 Ontario titles - not to mention claiming the Halton crown il nimes in a row and arnassing an nxerall record of 411-122-16. It's near impossible, wben you tbink about it," said Cliff Bill, an outfielder who was part of tbe original team in '52. 1 don't know if you want to use the word magical, but it kind of was. It'îl neyer be done again." Local fans tan now re-live tbose glory days ail over again tbrougb The Village Nine, a recently-released collection of newspaper articles and pbotograpbs cbronicling the areas mnost prosperous sporting era. Collected by a now-departed Andrews, the reports - pri- tnanly fiomi the Chaiaron - fonn the bulk of a 518-page book thats been extremcly well receivcd by both players and fans alîke tbîs summer. its broîîgbi back an awful lot of fond imîrînries," said Ken Moore, wbo played the most number of games during the dynasty and assisted Andrews' son-in-law Dan Waterson and granddaughiter Katie in completing tbe project. "Lens father had played tbe era before, but there was very little written back then. lit almost became tbe stuff of folklore, and Len wanted to make sure this ('50s and '60s dynasty) was rernerbered. He passed away two years ago, but iCs great to see bis bopes for ibis book realîzed." Made possible by a grant frorn the Carnpbellville Historical Society, The Village Nine includes a forward frorn Andrews' son Peter, wbo recounts his years spent delivering bis fatbers game reports to the Champions Carnpbellville cor- respondent. That Monday rnoming rimuai is just the tip of the iceberg when it cornes to tbe flavour provided in tihe book - wbicb along with the newspaper coverage of tbe day includes LOOKING BACK: Above, former Campbellville baseball players (from left) Harry Hamilton, Don Joyce, CIiff Bill and Jack Roberts dis- play sonne old uniforms and equipment in front of the nid score- board. At left, the nid bail park's plaque listv the villages provincial championship teams, including the 12 during the era chornicled in The Village Nine. GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION schedules, stats and a îeam photo frorn eacb year. 0f course, one aspect of the cbarnpîonship reîgn that would be dowrngbt impossible ro cnnvey on paper is just bow rnuch the seann captivated the village and its snrround- ing harnlets. Conprised almost entirely of local boys - some with very little basebaîl experience before corng under Andrewsý tutelage - tbe Merchants galvanized tbe village and sut-rounding harnlets like few young fans today cati pos- sibly imagine. '0f course that was before TV was really around and golf was s0 popular," said former ace pitcher Harry Hamnilton. "Basebaîl was a way of life back tben and they'd corne a long way to see us." .see SUPPORT on page A20 sOR I l 1