Douglas Expos celebrating with 50th anniversary event

This is a photo of the Douglas Expos, who won the South Renfrew Senior Baseball League championship in 1969 and then beat Ottawa's West End Braves in a best-of-three challenge series. Back row, left to right: Pat Gallagher, scorekeeper Johnny Dicker, Jackie Welsh, coach Larry Moriarty, Rod Wilcox, Donnie Shean, Tom Gallagher, Paul Shirley, Danny Gallagher, Jim Welsh, John McEachen and Jim Gallagher. Front row: Doug Lavallee, Michael Gallagher, Barry Breen, Michael Moriarty, Dick Willie and Bernard Gallagher. Kid in front is Shawn English. Missing is John Gallagher.

August 31, 2019

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

A lot of things happened in 1969. Astronauts walked on the moon, the Montreal Expos were born and the Douglas Expos won the championship in Ontario's South Renfrew Senior Baseball League.

The Douglas Expos will be holding a 50th anniversary reunion at the Douglas Tavern Sept. 1 on the exact date the Expos won the championship in Douglas, an 11-3 victory over Killaloe giving the Douglas side the series 4-1 in the best-of-seven final. My brother Jim Gallagher hit two homers to lead the Douglas attack.

Douglas won the first three games of the series but Killaloe forced a fifth game by winning Game 4 in Killaloe Aug. 31.

In semi-final play, Douglas ousted Cormac in an emotional, tense series 4-2 after Cormac had won the first two games. Killaloe beat Barry's Bay in the other semi-final series.

But the season didn't end there. Several weeks later, we upset Ottawa's West End Braves, in a challenge series 2-1 with one game tied in a best-of-three set. The Braves had won the Hull Senior Baseball League championship but the city slickers weren't quite up to snuff with the team from wee-little Douglas.

Michael Moriarty and myself led Douglas with three hits apiece in the 10-2 win that clinched the series win over Ottawa. John McEachen, Doug Lavallee, Michael Gallagher, Dick Willie, Jim Welsh and Rod Wilcox added two hits each. Douglas' other win was also by an impressive count: 13-4.

Many of the Douglas players and scorekeeper Johnny Dicker are expected to attend the reunion and they will receive a commemorative bottle of red wine made up by Grapefully Yours in Scarbrough -- along with 2018 World Series hats donated by Major League Baseball and Montreal Expos hats donated by prestigious MLB supplier New Era Cap. A food spread will be supplied by Jesse Welch's Backyard Gourmet Barbecue Company.

A moment of silence will be observed for late coach Larry Moriarty and players Doug Lavallee, Don Shean, Wayne Quade, Dick Willie, Jackie Welsh and Paul Shirley.

This is the fourth reunion the Douglas team has organized. Previous events were held in 1979, 1989 and 1999.

A silent auction will also be held with proceeds going to Hospice Renfrew. Among the items up for grabs will be autographed balls by Expos legend Andre Dawson and Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen. The Blue Jays have also donated a number of T-shirts and hats for the occasion. Baseball books and other items will also be on the auction table.