Oct. 7, 2016

Professional umpire marries at Toronto’s Talbot Park

By Scott Langdon
Chris Graham has umpired big games in his amateur and professional career but his appearance on the field at Toronto’s Talbot Park on Friday was life-changing.

Graham, 31, from Newmarket, Ont, is one six Canadians umpiring in pro ball in the minor pro ranks. He re-enacted his wedding vows to Toronto’s Tricia Cwenar at a ceremony in front of family and friends seated in the stands behind home plate and along the baselines at Talbot Park, also known as the Shrine, home of the Leaside Baseball Association.

Howie Birnie gave the happy couple the permit for the diamond use. The Shrine is where Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Ron Taylor and CBHOFer Ron Roncetti scouted him.

Talbot was home to Ontario sandlot legends Joe Irvine, Alife Payne, Bob Johnstone, Tim Ampleford, Davey Wallace, Dave Peyman, Steve Breitner, Bill Reade and Buck Reed. 

As well NHLer Jack Caffrey, who played for the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mike McEwen, who played for the New York Rangers, Colorado Rockies, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers, plus Dick Todd, who went on to coach the Peterborough Peters and boxer Shawn O’Sullivan,

The on-field ceremony began after the playing of the U.S. and Canadian national anthems, just like the MLB wild card game at the Rogers Centre won by the Blue Jays in extra innings a few nights before.

“The idea to have the ceremony at Talbot Park came from Trish. We thought it was a good way to honour both my grandfather and my Dad. My love of baseball and umpiring came from them,” Graham explained.

Grandfather John Graham, now 95 and in attendance at Talbot Park and father Billy, who passed away at the age of 50, were both long-time, well-known amateur umpires in southern Ontario. They passed the love of the game to Chris. He credits his Dad as the major influence in his chosen career.

“I umpire because I love the game of baseball. I grew up with it because of my grandfather and my Dad in particular. I know my Dad would be proud not only that Trish and I honoured him with the ceremony at Talbot Park, but also that I have managed to make my way so far to the Double A level of professional baseball,” he said.

Graham completed his 2016 season in the Double-A Eastern League umpiring in the playoffs, one of a few umpires selected for the assignment. Among the others was another Canadian, Scott Costello of Barrie, Ont. Surprisingly, Graham says, it wasn’t the first time two Canadians made up half the umpiring crew in a professional baseball playoff series.

“I actually umpired in the New York Penn League playoffs a couple of years ago with Chris Marco,” Graham said. “Two Canadians among the four playoff umpires and, oddly, all four of us were named Chris.”

Like Costello and Marco, who hails from Waterdown, Ont., Graham’s goal is to umpire in Major League Baseball.  

“My goal is to get to the big leagues. Baseball has always been a huge part of my life and I feel like I’m meant to be involved in the sport. That’s a feeling that comes from my Dad. Baseball was always something we shared including umpiring many amateur games together. To this day, every time I step on the field I know he’s there and that he would be proud of me. Baseball and umpiring is a connection we will always have.”
 
No doubt father Billy would also have been proud were he in attendance at Talbot Park when Chris stepped on another ball field, although this time with a different goal in mind.